What a busy few weeks we've been having. Last week was pretty frustrating to me at points. We had a job with a pretty demanding-but fair-customer. We went through the whole process of sanding, staining and finishing the floor. The day after we were done, I got the call all contractors hate-about a problem floor. The customer described it as very poorly done, which instantly struck me the wrong way because we aren't perfect, but our work on a bad day isn't very bad. I met him at the job and agreed that the floor was completely unacceptable and we were glad to fix the problem, which turned out to be chatter. This struck me as odd, because we generally keep our machines running well. It turns out that the problem was caused by a small lump of dried filler on the wheel that created the roll in the floor. We didn't excessively hardplate because it was so subtle we couldn't see it until the final coat.
What a busy few weeks we've been having. Last week was pretty frustrating to me at points. We had a job with a pretty demanding-but fair-customer. We went through the whole process of sanding, staining and finishing the floor. The day after we were done, I got the call all contractors hate-about a problem floor. The customer described it as very poorly done, which instantly struck me the wrong way because we aren't perfect, but our work on a bad day isn't very bad. I met him at the job and agreed that the floor was completely unacceptable and we were glad to fix the problem, which turned out to be chatter. This struck me as odd, because we generally keep our machines running well. It turns out that the problem was caused by a small lump of dried filler on the wheel that created the roll in the floor. We didn't excessively hardplate because it was so subtle we couldn't see it until the final coat.
Sometimes you forget to apply what you were taught until it was too late. I have never really sat down with my employees beforehand and taught them to check the wheels and running condition of their machine because it has never presented a problem until now. I have always assumed that they know these things. That assumption has now cost me well over a thousand dollars and more time. I won't make this mistake next time. It makes me also think that the $150 fee for Wayne Lee's machine class is a bargain compared to the cost of a bad floor, yet I've heard people have complained about the cost of the class for some reason. We ended up fixing the floor and making it look great, but it wasn't free.
The old saying "You have to spend money to make money" is so true. I know that contractors are notorious for being thrifty (unless they end up in the tool aisle of the box stores, where it's like a candy store). You may be a contractor, but you're also a business owner and a professional. Technical training, tool maintenance, professional development, and marketing are costs that every contractor should build into their operating costs. Developing ourselves as professionals has a direct impact on our communication, which impacts how many jobs we sell and how profitable your business is. Consumers hire service providers who sound intelligent and qualified and can provide the service they need. It's all about distinguishing yourself from the crowd.
This past year there were a number of friends in the industry who I talked with for several months about coming to convention and they all said they were coming. When the time came, very few of my buddies actually had the money and time to come to Orlando. There are a lot of educational opportunities with the NWFA, but convention holds the biggest opportunity to network with the most people and make contacts. I'm talking about the kind of great minds you need to call when you have a problem or when you have a project coming up that you don't know how to do. For those who missed out, that's another year of waiting to meet great people face to face.
There are only nine months until the Expo in Dallas. If the momentum holds, then this next convention is going to be mind-blowing. There will be more great speakers and great moments with friends. Plan now for your costs, so you will be there next year. Plan now while things are busy to set aside the money to go, plane tickets, hotel, food, etc… Every dollar you put into yourself now will only pave the way for more and more success in your business over time.
