Re: Helper Woes

[Jim Davis <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 3:34:33 PM UTC-5, Bob La Londe wrote:
> On 1/27/2021 6:21 AM, ABLE1 wrote:
> > On 1/26/2021 11:24 PM, Jim Davis wrote:
> >> My experience just about mirrors Les's. Except I'm much better looking
> >> than he is.
> >>
> >> I've been in this trade since 1969 and have had many different kinds
> >> of employees. Some (very few) were actually good. But right off the
> >> bat, if you've hired a good one you know that they're going to find
> >> out that they're good soon and will go out looking for better pay and
> >> benefits. When I was in my heyday, I could afford to pay more and give
> >> more but there is always someone out there who can offer more. And
> >> additionally, more times than I can remember, as soon as one of them
> >> could install a number of panels, they learned some installing
> >> techniques, was able to trouble shoot on some service calls, they
> >> would up and leave and next thing you know there's a new company in
> >> the area and guess who owns it?
> >> .
> >> Well typically they sell a few dozen systems to their friends,
> >> neighbors and relatives and now it's time to learn how to market and
> >> actually sell a system and it's time to do the taxes and the licensing
> >> and the book keeping and the insurance, and buying parts and
> >> scheduling jobs and dealing with employees - - - - - TADA TADA TADA
> >> The big question is - - - - now that we've seen you install and
> >> trouble shoot the hardware, can you run a business? So that lasts
> >> about a year or so and next thing you hear is that they've sold/given
> >> their accounts to their central station because they couldn't keep up
> >> the payments - - - because they couldn't keep up with the taxes,
> >> because they couldn't keep up with payroll - - - TADA TADA TADA. Now
> >> they're to embarrassed to come back and ask for a job so they've opted
> >> to go with a National or Freebee alarm company where they can use
> >> their tremendous experience on their resume and get a job where they
> >> can hide and get away with only doing the least of what should be
> >> done. They actually think that all there is to running a company is
> >> installing the equipment. Well, actually - - - they don't think.
> >> .
> >> I gave that all up about 15 years ago ( maybe more, I've forgotten). I
> >> finally figured out that I was working 10,12, 16 hours a day chasing
> >> after incompetent people and not doing what I liked to do. I've never
> >> looked back and never regretted it. I'm of the same mind as Bob, - -
> >> - there are some people who have the knack of getting people to work
> >> competently for them. I don't have it. I'm not one to do a half assed
> >> job or be able to tolerate people who do. Now, when I do installations
> >> time is not a issue. How ever long it takes me to do the job and do it
> >> right is the amount of time spent. I couldn't tell you how much I make
> >> an hour. I take a check once a month for the same amount, for to many
> >> years to count.
> >> .
> >> I was in the alarm business before RMR was available to the small
> >> alarm companies. (That's about 10 -15 years before the digital dialer)
> >> So I had a lot of years to build up my account base, However, I've
> >> pruned it back substantially from years ago though. Got rid of all the
> >> bad, inconvenient and slow payers. Like Bob, that's during the time
> >> that I finally came to the realization that I was never going to be a
> >> millionaire.
> >> .
> >> But obviously now - - - the RMR is always there to fill in the gap
> >> when things get a little slow. But anyway, as long as the bills are
> >> paid and I get my check every month, I must be doing something right.
> >> When things get a little tight I just look at my back log of work,
> >> make a few calls and pick up speed for a couple of weeks and things
> >> settle down to coasting speed again. And the biggest and bestest thing
> >> of all ? I'm one of the lucky few who has a hobby that I can make
> >> money doing., Coming up on 53 years and still counting.
> >
> > Jim,
> >
> > Very well typed!! That is, except for the comment about being
> > better looking!! Because of that statement I have gone to
> > the mirror and have decided that you are absolutely correct.
> > LOL
> >
> > I was going to ask my wife for her opinion.............. but
> > then again I decided what would be the point!! After being
> > married 44+ years she would not agree with either of us.
> >
> > BTW there is so much truth in the rest of you typing that it
> > is scary. I have had many similar employee stories as well.
> >
> > My youngest brother asked me a number of years ago. "Why don't
> > you retire, your old enough?? I said, "What would I do? He
> > says, "Well you like electronics start a hobby in electronics."
> > To which I said, "I do electronics now, and people pay me."
> >
> > Bob has found his nitch as well. As have others. It is not learned
> > overnight. As in, you learn from your mistakes. Well some people do,
> > others not so much!! Just have to learn and stay on track.
> >
> > Best to all and have a good hump day!!
> >
> > Les
> >
> To be straight up I never really wanted to be a contracting business
> owner to start with. I wound up as one thru a series of events. I
> enjoyed being a technician and solving problems. I think the only
> reason I stayed in the business as long as I did was stubbornness and ego.
>
> I had a growing business as a computer service tech willing to work on
> machines other people wouldn't (or didn't know how) working out of my
> house. (I had a huge inventory of old parts and boards nobody else had
> too.) All the regulars here have read the story about how I wound up
> owning an alarm business instead I am sure before.
> --
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OOOW OOOW OOW Tell it again uncle Bob Tell it again!
OOOW OOW Please, please please !

(I can hear Lenny/ Lon Chaney Jr. pleading with George / Burgess Meredith, Tell me about the rabbits George. Pleese Please tell me about the rabbits again ___ in Of Mice and Men.)