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Re: Life Sucks, Then You Move On



JoeRaisin wrote:
> JoeRaisin wrote:
>> Lost my job yesterday. My regional ops mgr and supervisor are lobbying
>> to get that decision reversed but I'm not holding my breath.
>>
>> I'm receiving a military pension which helps in one regard but that
>> almost entirely offsets unemployment...
>>
>> Filed a DBA (Doing Business As) today for low voltage wiring and I'm
>> picking up liability insurance Monday. I have a few questions.
>>
>> I am NICET Level II Certified and hold a Michigan Fire Alarm Specialty
>> Technician License.
>>
>> 1. What's covered under a non-compete clause? I won't be installing
>> alarms but am planning on trying to subcontract low voltage wiring for
>> sprinkler companies. Mainly (I hope) it will be phones, TV, network
>> cabling - things like that (I don't know enough right now about sound
>> system cabling but I'm a quick study if it comes to it).
>>
>> With my license I can do NFPA Fire Alarm Inspections and am told (by
>> someone who may or may not know what they are talking about) that as
>> long as I don't solicit current customers of my former employer it
>> isn't a problem.
>>
>> 2. I know it varies from region to region but how would you guys go
>> about estimating a wiring job? By the foot? By the estimated hours? By
>> the number of drops? All of the above? Money up front or bill later or
>> a combination?
>>
>> As for contacting builders - I was thinking about doing a sort of
>> 'resume' thing that details my background, training and what services
>> I offer and visiting builders in person. Any suggestions?
>>
>> 3. Business cards - I googled free business cards and came up with
>> tons of sites - have any of you used such a thing and do you have any
>> recommendations? Simple/fancy - what info should be on them?
>>
>> 4. Supplies - I know I can get wire at Home Depot or the local
>> Electrical Supply house - what other options might there be? I've
>> worked with enough cheap wire before to know I want to use a decent
>> product so are there any brands I should avoid?
>>
>> I know these may be basic and perhaps dumb questions but I've never
>> had to deal with such things before and I have to admit I'm still a
>> little befuddled and off balance - pretty sick to my stomach as well.
>>
>> Is there anything else I should be considering? I am totally a fish
>> out of water here but, being in Michigan, there's a lot of folks
>> lining up for 7 buck an hour night stock jobs so, while I do plan on
>> looking for something, and who knows - this might work out.
>> Regardless, I've got to do something or we don't eat.
>
> Oh yeah... My NICET Certification is good to 2012 but how do I go about
> getting and documenting recertification requirements? That used to be
> done by my supervisor and at the time I wasn't interested in the process
> - I just filled out what they told me to fill out and went back to work.
>
> Did I mention that I'm one of those guys who has never really wanted to
> work for myself 'cause it scares the shit out of me...

Take it from someone who has been self employed since 1986...it's very
liberating.

Jim Rojas





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