| Trials & Tribulations - The drama of running a business and of life. It's not as easy as it looks. Running a business is full of drama. Customers, employees, money, family, time. You name it, it's a problem. Share with us your drama and how you handled it. |
|
|
|
I love my customers :)
Trials & Tribulations - The drama of running a business and of life.
It's not as easy as it looks. Running a business is full of drama. Customers, employees, money, family, time. You name it, it's a problem. Share with us your drama and how you handled it.
|
 |
|

07-29-2010, 06:08 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central FL
Age: 28
Posts: 249
Rep Power: 4
|
|
I love my customers :)
|
|
So. We all have customers that we love, and we hate.
I have 48 contracted (weekly/bi-weekly) accounts that i take care of. I pump them out in 3 days usually, have done it in 2 but, couldnt move afterwards.
Anyways, TODAY!
I dropped the news on my mother, that she is going to be a "grand mother..."
You would assume she was EXTACTIC. Negative! I havent been with my GF for more than 8months, and she is close to 4 months pregnant. She said some VERY mean things, meaner than i expected in my "****tie responce" idea i had in my head. Like, SHE BLEW THE HELL UP! I was at my last lawn today (pumped out 17 today *thumbs up*). I was at my last lawn (18 if you arent keeping up). And my customer saw me on the phone, saw the hand run through the hair and pinch the upper nose. Came out with a pair of cold Zeph bottles of water and told me to sit down. Asked me what the problem was... (is a retired phsycologist) i cracked a joke and he said he wouldnt bill me. I vented and actually cried in front of a customer. Was one of the most difficult days cutting lawns i have had (mentally).
I had billing ready for him, and awesomely enough, he had a check ready for me (and the last three months ive let him slide). He even had a tip on it. He doesnt know it but, im making July fo' free after todays littling issue. He also told me to take the rest of the day off and relax. So, i did, ill cut his lawn on Saturday morning before my clean up job i have scheduled.
The thing i dont know about my Mother is, why she is like she is. She has never really had the ut-most-confidence in me. We had a really bad outting when i was 17 and my father passed away. So, maybe thats the issue, im relentless to forgive her for kicking me out at 17 and she is relentless to accept i make more money that her . LMAO.
ON THE UPPER HAND FOR TODAY! I showed up to a basic service call (BSC) and landed three new contracts . All three paid me up front for two months; 7 months in, i have gone from my original 4, to 48, that is like 12x what i started with. I have never pushed upsells on anyone, i let them come to me. I do the work and leave them be. :P
Enough rambling from me. My customers are awesome, bottles of H20 always make me more happy than a tip
|
|
|

07-29-2010, 07:28 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 120
Rep Power: 4
|
|
Lawn care business tips
|
17 yards in a day? Awesome.
I've had customers give me Gatorade, stew, sandwiches, and an antique wooden ladder.
|
|

07-29-2010, 07:37 PM
|
 |
Andy
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,885
Rep Power: 8
|
|
Well for what it's worth Congradulations to you and your better half and I wish you the very best!
__________________
Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia
|

07-29-2010, 08:11 PM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 928
Rep Power: 4
|
|
Congratulations. That little one will definitely bring a joy to your life that nothing else can.
As for your mom, mine left when I was 6 and I did not see her again until I was 18. She will eventually come around. Just give it some time. Keep your head up as you have something to be proud of. A new family and a successfully growing business.
|

07-29-2010, 10:49 PM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 197
Rep Power: 3
|
|
hey man i am only 17 now. Lets just say my nephew had is first birthday party this past weekend. Man when my sister told my mom she was pregnant she blew up like the grand finale at disney world. She was Explicit and madder than heck. She slowly started being ok with it. When the baby was born it was like pissssssed offff................baby's birthday....... HAPPIER THAN EVER. It was a complete 180 degree switch. Now she spends every second she can with the baby. Shoot i'm lucky to even get too hold him for 5 min. Your mom will come around trust me. I work at baskin robbins part time and i have my regular customers that come in and talk to me as i am serving up their 5 quarts of ice cream. It takes about 10 min to pack a quart because you know they have to pick the hardest ice cream.But one woman had same thing happen to her. Then i met her mother. After a while she quit coming in and then came in last week. I asked how her daughter was and the baby and she like I wasn't excitied at all at first but now i can't freaking wait. Don't worry about your mom man. She'll come around. Its deff just because you make more than her. lol
|

07-30-2010, 09:07 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central FL
Age: 28
Posts: 249
Rep Power: 4
|
|
THanks guys
Yeah, i am totally excited about becoming a dad. She has a 3yr old that calls me dad. And i love her daughter like no other. *coughwithallthegirlsivehadunprotectedwithyoudimag ineidhaveonebeforenowandthisgirlieveplayeditsafewi th*
And Dillion. Being 17, working two jobs... dont burn your self out bro.
i work two jobs, i cut lawns 3 - 4days a week
i manage a pizza shop 2 -3 days a week. Exhausting.
I have sundays off to keep my sanity which has seemed to fail lately, im still a nervous break. I hope FL sees a hurricane so i can sit in a hotel room with my two special ladies for a few days as it passes. Be a short vacation.
|

07-30-2010, 02:18 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: newfield nj
Posts: 95
Rep Power: 4
|
|
@ 26 Mak you sure cant worry about what Mom thinks. My daughter attended my college graduation when I was 22. I have worked 2-3-4 jobs. It will all work out in the end, if you work at it. You seem to be doing well for yourself. My daughters 13 now her brother 10 and Ive been married 12 LOL. But my wife and I worked hard, have good jobs and a small business. And life is good. Im not gonna bad mouth my mother or mother in law. But the best advice I can give you is this. Turn off the negative and nay sayers and only take advice from those doing better than you. Good luck and congrats.
Rob
|

07-30-2010, 04:16 PM
|
 |
Administrator
|
|
Join Date: May 2003
Location: East Coast
Posts: 33,701
Rep Power: 10
|
|
Everyone has ideals for YOU. Mom, dad, sister, cousin, nephew, neighbor. When you don't walk the path they envisioned you walking, they get mad. What can you do though? Try to conform to anyone's ideal and you will make yourself unhappy doing it.
All you can ever do is follow your path and take your own journey in life. Some may approve and that is great. Some may not approve and that's ok too.
Congratulations on being a future dad and keep us posted on how it is all going. For every one person on here who talks about an issue, there are hundreds more who are dealing with it and afraid to bring it up.
|

07-30-2010, 05:32 PM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 197
Rep Power: 3
|
|
haha heard that about the Hurricane. I think this past week was the first it has rained here since may. The grass was drying up and stoped growing.
Shoot man i know its hard! since this is my first year i can't even begin to think how much free time i am going to have once school starts back in two weeks. I mean really i got burnt out on baskin robbins a while back. It is just crazy. I guess there is only so much ice cream you can scoop and only so much of rude customers having a bad day you can take while Scooping their stuff too. When i turn 18 and finally get my truck paid off I am probably going to switch to bass pro or lowes. I would like to work just mowing yards but once winter hits i don't know what i would do. I am trying to move out when i graduate but thats going to take a lot of money.
Man hang in there! Good luck!
|

07-31-2010, 02:42 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central FL
Age: 28
Posts: 249
Rep Power: 4
|
|
im stoked  .
I saw a guy out today doing a commercial job with his little son, probably 6 or 7. i dont think ill be doing the same but, i can envision the "daddy, i wanna go to work with you"
And 17lawns in a day, alone is not fun ride. 7am to 8pm, with a 20min lunch, 3 gallons of water and SPF100. Makes the entire day awesome  . When i started i could barely do 4 in 7 hours, now im pumping out a lot more. I love this industry.
matt
|
 |
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
» Landscape Product Categories |
|
» Free Lawn Care Business Flyer, Door Hanger, Contract & Logo Templates |
|
|
» Recent Threads |
| |
RatingTitle, Username, & Date |
Last Post |
Replies |
Views |
 |
36" Bunton Walk Behind...
LawnCareProfessional
Yesterday 04:36 PM
|
|
4 |
130 |
 |
Need some advice!
berryjam
Today 07:37 PM
|
|
0 |
1 |
 |
30 in toro time master...
LawnCareProfessional
Today 04:29 PM
|
|
5 |
52 |
 |
lol, 2012 video I never...
CHEESE2009
05-21-2013 02:23 PM
|
|
7 |
178 |
 |
How to move a small tree...
huebneroutdoor
Yesterday 05:29 PM
|
|
4 |
28 |
 |
Selling Truck, Aerator,...
ConvLawncare
Today 02:47 PM
|
|
1 |
34 |
 |
Yeah, but where the...
Hedgemaster
04-16-2012 09:35 PM
|
|
26 |
3,782 |
 |
Description and Benefits...
precisiongreens1
04-15-2013 05:07 PM
|
|
5 |
920 |
 |
Help with my Stihl Line...
cutnuplawnservice
05-20-2013 07:23 PM
|
|
9 |
247 |
 |
Starting out new
Marcus23
Today 09:25 AM
|
|
1 |
65 |
 |
New business owner
Hall36
Today 06:53 AM
|
|
1 |
64 |
 |
Ethanol free gas
jymie
Yesterday 11:17 PM
|
|
1 |
71 |
 |
Brush Mower
SECTLANDSCAPING
05-13-2013 06:04 PM
|
|
12 |
649 |
 |
Radio advertising
CDLAWNCARE
05-04-2013 06:26 PM
|
|
8 |
772 |
 |
Whats wrong with it
jasonw
03-02-2013 06:02 PM
|
|
6 |
762 |
 |
What Oil??
brian'slawncare
05-21-2013 10:11 PM
|
|
4 |
143 |
 |
Charlie's Lawn Service
charlie383
05-20-2013 12:28 PM
|
|
6 |
247 |
 |
Paypal
JRB6250
Yesterday 08:21 PM
|
|
8 |
128 |
 |
How would you handle...
LawnBoy0311
Yesterday 06:57 AM
|
|
9 |
224 |
 |
In need of help bidding...
Landscape Lady
05-21-2013 03:09 PM
|
|
4 |
186 |
 |
Shindaiwa T231 Trimmer!
LawnCareProfessional
Yesterday 04:31 PM
|
|
7 |
135 |
 |
payment prossessing
kslawn
05-21-2013 04:18 PM
|
Yesterday 11:12 PM
by jymie
|
4 |
177 |
 |
Uhm, yeahhh...
djm2013
03-26-2013 11:07 PM
|
|
17 |
1,252 |
 |
So Fortunate
Fireman Gus
05-21-2013 01:56 PM
|
Yesterday 12:30 PM
by Steve
|
3 |
166 |
 |
crossroads
djm2013
03-17-2013 08:43 AM
|
Yesterday 12:26 PM
by Steve
|
51 |
4,255 |
 |
Very overwhelmed
xandrew245x
05-19-2013 09:31 AM
|
Yesterday 12:18 PM
by Steve
|
14 |
490 |
 |
Teenager wanting to mow...
clutchcarrot
05-20-2013 09:17 PM
|
Yesterday 12:12 PM
by Steve
|
5 |
283 |
 |
ethics
t-10yrs2retire
05-19-2013 01:47 PM
|
Yesterday 12:06 PM
by Steve
|
9 |
337 |
 |
At Last!
Matther777
05-02-2013 05:51 PM
|
Yesterday 12:02 PM
by Steve
|
19 |
1,365 |
 |
The customer is ALWAYS...
cutnuplawnservice
05-18-2013 08:28 AM
|
|
5 |
374 |
 |
It's FRIDAY!!!
CHEESE2009
05-17-2013 05:18 AM
|
|
4 |
381 |
 |
Bad boy MX series or...
cpenn481
10-15-2012 02:04 PM
|
|
21 |
2,392 |
 |
Moss in grass in the...
tk4454
05-16-2013 11:19 PM
|
|
3 |
335 |
 |
Video, includes a little...
CHEESE2009
05-19-2013 11:21 PM
|
|
3 |
241 |
 |
no-compete agreement
CDLAWNCARE
05-18-2013 12:45 AM
|
05-20-2013 01:38 PM
by Steve
|
6 |
345 |
 |
Hello to all!
frankygarza
05-19-2013 08:59 AM
|
05-20-2013 01:32 PM
by Steve
|
1 |
219 |
 |
trailer leaf vac.
t-10yrs2retire
05-17-2013 10:44 AM
|
05-20-2013 11:57 AM
by Steve
|
3 |
344 |
 |
Bi-weekly question
schnide
05-15-2013 10:58 AM
|
|
19 |
783 |
 |
New to Gopher
NOLS GA
04-28-2013 10:42 PM
|
|
7 |
1,051 |
 |
Truck trimmer racks
SECTLANDSCAPING
06-16-2012 05:56 PM
|
|
21 |
3,330 |
 |
Trimmer Line
Shark1611
05-16-2013 07:56 PM
|
|
9 |
467 |
 |
New Toro Super Recycler...
Hedgemaster
03-20-2011 12:55 AM
|
|
134 |
25,934 |
 |
Yesterday, I had a...
LawnBoy0311
04-25-2013 05:30 AM
|
|
10 |
1,001 |
 |
When to mow, collect,...
cuttingedgeron
04-05-2013 01:06 PM
|
|
8 |
823 |
 |
Missing small amount of...
xandrew245x
05-13-2013 04:30 PM
|
05-18-2013 07:57 PM
by MBLC
|
17 |
776 |
 |
New Beginner here...
LawnCareProfessional
05-14-2013 12:05 AM
|
05-17-2013 12:00 PM
by Steve
|
8 |
707 |
 |
Flower bed cultivation...
Emar
05-15-2013 04:41 PM
|
05-17-2013 11:42 AM
by Steve
|
5 |
431 |
 |
Code violations
Greg'slawnandlandscape
05-16-2013 12:11 PM
|
05-17-2013 11:39 AM
by Steve
|
8 |
478 |
 |
problem #2..springs in...
t-10yrs2retire
05-11-2013 09:03 AM
|
05-17-2013 11:34 AM
by Steve
|
8 |
753 |
 |
Installing grass seed
thom
05-05-2013 06:35 PM
|
05-17-2013 11:29 AM
by Steve
|
7 |
900 |
|