Re: WHAT recession ?

[Frank Kurz <tech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 13/01/2012 11:33 PM, Jim wrote:
> On Jan 13, 3:34 pm, tourman<robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx>  wrote:
>> On Jan 13, 12:16 pm, Jim<alarmi...@xxxxxxx>  wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Jan 13, 9:58 am, 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 cell
>>>> phones. IMO, excellent "home convenience" but rather sub standard true
>>>> "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 want
>>>> 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  your 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.
>

This is definitely one of those diamonds Jim often talks about.  A
keeper.  :-)

--
Frank Kurz
www.firetechs.net