Speaking of Commercial

["Bob La Londe" <none@xxxxxxxx>]

You know, of late I have been doing as much machine work (making big pieces
of metal into smaller pieces of metal) as I have communication installing,
but I got a call from a good customer last week who needed some cabling done
for a bunch of new APs to integrate with an inventory management system.  I
was originally working for the plant management company (my current client)
on behalf of a company I had never worked for before, but is a plant use
client of theirs.

It didn't seem particularly challenging technically, but after the first day
when I worked until the batteries died on my scissor lift I was actually
looking forward to going to work.  I normally get the kids off to school and
go back to bed for an hour or two.  The last couple days I have had my first
cup of coffee before its time to wake them up, and I've been out the door
right behind them.

Along the course of the job I coordinated with the IT guy for the company
requesting the work.  Basically he was going to wait for me to run the cable
and install a new J-box to hold the new equipment to accommodate the
additional APs.  Then he was going to hop on the corporate jet and fly down
to tie everything down and install the new hardware.

I asked him a few questions and each time he had an issue I had an answer.
The cost of the job nearly doubled, but they will save that just in jet
fuel.  Their guy is no longer coming down at all.  As soon as the new
switching equipment arrives, I'll be tying it all in for them.

The work itself is enjoyable, but there are several things that made it
really a positive job for me.  Every time they had a concern or a problem I
had an answer.  They didn't expect me to provide all the answers at the
original price estimate.  (Residential is notorious for that.)

I have had some pain is the keester customers with both residential and
commercial, but I have to say the most fun and profitable individual jobs
tend to be commercial.  This isn't really a big job for me, but it's the
most fun I've had with a screwdriver in a while.