Re: Anyone in S.E. Michigan?

[JoeRaisin <joeraisin2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 2/5/2011 8:05 PM, Jim wrote:
> On Feb 5, 5:58 pm, JoeRaisin<joeraisin2...@xxxxxxxxx>  wrote:
>> On 2/5/2011 5:19 PM, Jim wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Feb 5, 10:28 am, JoeRaisin<joeraisin2...@xxxxxxxxx>    wrote:
>>>> The company I work for is looking for folks in the thumb area of
>>>> Michigan.  A lot of work coming up in Detroit and Flint.
>>
>>>> It may not be right away 'cause the owner doesn't want to get into a
>>>> hire/layoff rotation.  But we're pretty sure of future work across
>>>> southern MI.  All our southern guys are in the Grand Rapids area right now.
>>
>>>> The job entails running of low voltage wires for burg/fire alarms,
>>>> camera systems, intercom and door access systems.  Experience in any of
>>>> these areas would be GREAT but if the boss feels they can pull wire,
>>>> follow instructions and do a good job he'll give 'em a shot.
>>
>>>> Right now it's subcontracts from one of the big boys - the really big
>>>> jobs they don't want to devote their folks to.
>>
>>>> A lot of ladder&    lift work, of course.
>>
>>>> If you know anyone have 'em shoot me an email.
>>
>>>> Thanks
>>
>>> What are they working on Joe .... low temperature and deep snow alarms?
>>
>> LOL - that would be up here in my neck of the woods.
>>
>> The Flint job is just keeping the fire alarms working during a phased
>> remodel of a large department store.  Some relocation/addition of
>> horn/strobes.  I don't know for certain what the Detroit job is.
>>
>> My boss has asked me to be project manager on the Flint job and the same
>> thing in Grand Rapids.  It will be just a few days at the beginning and
>> end of each phase (plus emergencies - which we can hopefully avoid).
>>
>> Apparently he's been happy with what I've done so far.-
>
> Keep up the good work.
>
> I don't know if you have designs of ever striking out on your own but
> if you are, approach every thing you do now, as if you were doing for
> yourself. This is the best school you could ever hope to find. In
> years to come, all the things that  you experiend now will be just
> second nature to you and you can direct more of your attention to
> running a business.
>
> The one advantage that has totally benefited me is the fact that even
> though I had the innate hands on capability and prior schooling in
> electronics, I started in this industry in the business end. After I
> had all that under my belt, I started my own installation company and
> have always had the advantage over others in this trade who mostly
> come to it only with installation experience.

Drumming up the work is where I failed.  Doing it is my strong suite -
coordinating it is something semi-new.  I've been lead tech on jobs a
lot, coordinating the activity of a few other techs - no jobs this big
though - but I figure as long as I have contact info, keep up on when to
be there and how long we will have, know what we have to accomplish and
have the equipment we will need (lifts) I should be okay.

But I asked the boss to stay available and be ready to "grade my papers"
as I do feel a little out of my element and want any oversights
discovered as quickly as possible.

Okay, I feel the urge to ramble here, but I'll spare you - obviously I
am excited at the new responsibilities but have to admit there is some
nervousness as well.  I like this company, it's less than a year old but
the owner and ops manager are good guys and they've been pretty
generous, so I want them to be successful and stick around for a long
time to come.

The only thing that has me worried is that all the work is coming from
one company - granted, we have become the "go to" guys for the big,
tough jobs, but it's still all coming from one direction. I've never
liked all my eggs in one basket.  The boss is working on some of the
other companies and they are looking at a small one man operation
licensed to install & service alarms, cctv & card access - the wire
pulling would be accomplished by the main company (subcontracted on
paper) and the device installation, programming and testing would be
done by the licensed company.  That's why I was asking about monitoring
companies (sorry, Tom, if I gave the impression I was looking for myself
- didn't intend to.).

Alright - I didn't spare you as much rambling as I had hoped...