Re: WHAT recession ?

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Jan 13, 3:34=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Jan 13, 12:16=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
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>
> > On Jan 13, 9:58=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > RHC: Yes Jim, I remember my statements well ! When my old partner
> > > retired and my son joined the company 10 years ago, I figured as long
> > > as I was careful to ONLY take on good accounts, I could go to about
> > > 1000 to 1200 accounts without service overwhelming me. I'm now just
> > > under 1200 and things are busy, but not excessively so. But I am
> > > limiting growth severely, only doing a couple of installs a week, and
> > > we've stopped doing takeovers pretty much completely. So as a
> > > business, we're coasting, but the money coming in is more than
> > > sufficient to allow us to do that at this point.
>
> > > I have to say, it's becoming difficult though to sit still and watch
> > > the large companies up here offer these new 2 Gig technologies, with
> > > whole house monitoring and all sorts of "whoopee" feature sets, and
> > > not respond. Especially so since I know how marginal most of this
> > > stuff is. Also they are targeting the high end of the market,
> > > appealing to consumers that like everything controlled from their cel=
l
> > > phones. IMO, excellent "home convenience" but rather sub standard tru=
e
> > > "home security" compared to conventional panels with add on modules.
> > > But with monitoring rates bordering on $55 a month, you gotta wonder
> > > who's right and who's wrong...:).
>
> > Again .... as I've said. There are people out there who would never be
> > my customer in the first place.
>
> > I don't see any reason what so ever to compromise my integrity by
> > offering them nothing for something simply to get their business. I've
> > got to feel as if I've offered and given them something of value. On
> > the other hand, feeling that way, I find that I still take it as a
> > personal loss when I occasionally lose a customer. It's not simply
> > business with me ... I guess.
>
> > I was just thinking the other day while I was working ..... that
> > now ..... I install for the satisfaction it gives me to do a job that
> > meets MY standards. I doesn't seem to make as much difference anymore
> > how much short term profit I make on a job as long as it's installed
> > and operating the way that I want it to. And the way I want it to is
> > always better than the client expected. Maybe that's one of the little
> > thought of factors that keeps bringing the business in over the long
> > run. Although I guess you could call it reputation.
>
> > > I do know if I so choose, I could do the same thing with the purchase
> > > of a $165 module for the newest line of Paradox panels, and offer
> > > pretty much the same kind of thing at NO increase in monitoring rate.
> > > Being well versed in IP technology, once again I'm tempted to move
> > > ahead and jump in, but I know if I do, I'll be swamped with business =
I
> > > don't want or need, living off the "avails" of their advertising
> > > stimulation. I've thought about expanding from my "core business"
> > > interests and offering IP cameras, since this is easy and reliable
> > > technology today, and can be so inexpensive to do, that it's a bit
> > > mind blowing (I set up 5 cameras around my home as an experiment, at
> > > very little cost, and I can see instantly from anywhere in the world
> > > via a smartphone)
>
> > > My son and I have some hard decisions to make soon, since I don't wan=
t
> > > to do the physical stuff anymore, and I personally don't want to
> > > expand into new markets. I can look after the admin side of the
> > > business, and do the tax work, but climbing ladders and running in
> > > attics ain't my cup of tea anymore. I also love the IP stuff, so that
> > > temptation is always there...
>
> > > So many decisions, so little time....(sigh)-
>
> > Well, it seems likely that it might be time to see what your son would
> > like to do since the old man is beginning to step back some. After
> > all, he's the one that's going to carry it in the future. If the
> > company doesn't keep up with the trends to some extent, it's just
> > going to dwindle away. Sounds as if HE's the one who's got to do some
> > soul searching. As you know, there's always a tendancy for the younger
> > to THINK they know what it takes to run a business but many times they
> > just know the routine but not what's at the heart of being successful.
> > There's an inclination to just let things go as they are because it's
> > been successful. YOU know that there has to be that sense of the heart
> > beat of the company and the market to forsee and take action before
> > there's a problem. If you're like me, you do these things without even
> > thinking about it. You do preperation and inquiries in multiple areas
> > and make decisions on the fly that seem insignificant to you but that
> > is constantly guiding the direction that things progress. Someone
> > watching from the outside think that it's just the "flow" of things.
> > You've got somewhat of a similar background as I, in big busines and
> > had the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of
> > others in a large work force with some insulation to the consequences
> > for errors. Someone who hasn't had that experience, watching you run
> > your business cannot imagine what history, knowledge and background
> > you are drawing from to make your decisions. So don't assume that just
> > because your son has been working along side you that he knows that
> > all that other stuff is going on or even exists and which is so
> > necessary to keep things moving forward.
>
> > It's like the installers, in the past, who have worked for me. I've
> > offered to teach them the trade. Send them to school. Work with me for
> > at least 5 years. Pay for their training for earning their license.
> > Eventually start buying me out and taking over the company in maybe 10
> > or so years. Every one of them left prior to two years. Went off on
> > their own and failed before they reached 100 accounts. Sure, they know
> > about panels and installatons and buying equipment and technical, but
> > didn't know that there's more to running a business than doing
> > installations.
>
> > Yes, there are decisions to make at =A0your end but it's your son who's
> > got to do some serious soul searching about his talents, interests and
> > limitations. It takes quite a number of years for the subtleness of
> > the talents necessary to the success of a business, to prove
> > themselves. And sometimes it's all just intertwined in the personality
> > of the leader with no way to identify, define it or pass it on.
>
> RHC: Jim, know that I've forwarded on the content of your message to
> my son. I will keep this post handy for the future. I thank you for
> putting it so eloquently-

Thanks Robert. That's a nice compliment.