Help rookie with upset wife.

[TheGoat]

Blow off the road trip and book something in Leavenworth around the middle of January.

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Hungry Goat Lawn Service, Deltona, FL

[Paineless Creations]

Lawn care business tips

To answer some questions as I read through: Do I think my marriage is on the rocks? I don’t think so; she just very firmly expresses her opinion to me as I build this business and is very clear that she wants to be with her man. We have worked on our business plan together and she does think I should have an employee, maybe even sooner than 2-3 years, but we want to take it slow and not build too fast. Was this snow thing unexpected as to how busy I would be? Yes, this has also been a shock as she had been waiting all summer for me to spend time with her and BAM! we had a very early big snow fall. I ran out, bought a machine (with her blessings-see? She’s supportive!) and was gone for hours. Yes, I’ve done the math – with the machine I bought I will have my (ROI) in 2 snow falls. The first commercial account I have is an employee’s husband (at the reg. job). He is a lawyer and needed me to clear the parking lot of snow before opening, as he is very concerned people will fall. I did notice he has a fairly small to medium lawn area that looks very easy to manage so I am going to go after that after the snow fall. I also do snow removal at his house and his wife (who I work with) said I will be doing their lawn this upcoming year. I couldn’t do it this year as they were in a contract. Then the secretary of the lawyer’s office (who pays the invoice and has my info.) told someone who runs another office with a medium sized parking lot and they called me to come clear off the snow. At this account there really is not any lawn care needed as they are attached to the side of a strip mall. But the lady that runs the account ALSO asked me if I could go to her house and clean off her driveway. So, of course I did and I mentioned my specialty is lawn care, so there’s a chance I will land her house just from the way the conversation flowed. Also while I was at her house cleaning off her driveway, a neighbor ran over and asked if I could do his driveway! I did it right on the spot and gave my info. I mentioned I do lawn care. Both have nice medium sized lawns. As far as the trip, the wife and I discussed it last night and we are going no matter what. It is just now a matter of what do I do for the business and my customers. The good thing is, the lawyer’s wife works with us and knows how hard we’ve worked in the last two and half years at the non-profit (tons of hours, hard work and no time off ‘cuz we run the place) and she would be HAPPY for us to take a vacation. As far as snowfall-do I think it will snow while I am gone? “Maybe” I have lived in this area for 3 years; it has never snowed this early or this much so it is a sign of a harsh winter this year. We mostly get snow snowfall from January on. So this year is different. I am not very comfortable with subbing my work out and I don’t know who I would sub out to or how I would start. So I think I am just going to tell them I am closed for the holidays for family time. I am gone for 11 days but the two commercial accounts are open for only 4 days since my trip falls between Christmas and New Years. And how both of these commercial accounts work is if it snows Friday night, I don’t touch their parking lot till Sunday night or Monday morning. Just in case it melts off before open hours. I appreciated hearing everyone’s thoughts as it helps me make decisions about my own business and life choices.

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[Paineless Creations]

Originally Posted by TheGoat

Blow off the road trip and book something in Leavenworth around the middle of January.

leavenworth is pretty cool we have been there a couple of times never for the tree lighting festival. Hey check out this video I found about leavenworth

http://www.youtube.com/user/WoodyTheNutcracker

[MrLank]

Originally Posted by Paineless Creations

As far as the trip, the wife and I discussed it last night and we are going no matter what. It is just now a matter of what do I do for the business and my customers.

I don't know what your snow is like or whether you even need the money coming in, but do you think if a big storm hits and they contact someone else to come clear it that you'll lose them? If you want the money, then I'd suggest getting a sub for the "just in case" factor. I'd post an add on the General labor section of craigslist in your area. Something simple like "Looking for a sub for snow removal. Must have plow/blower/shovels." I know that I don't pass on any income. Depending on what you get the sub for, you probably will still make money from him clearing it while your gone. Just a thought.

[Paineless Creations]

Originally Posted by MrLank

I don't know what your snow is like or whether you even need the money coming in, but do you think if a big storm hits and they contact someone else to come clear it that you'll lose them? If you want the money, then I'd suggest getting a sub for the "just in case" factor. I'd post an add on the General labor section of craigslist in your area. Something simple like "Looking for a sub for snow removal. Must have plow/blower/shovels." I know that I don't pass on any income. Depending on what you get the sub for, you probably will still make money from him clearing it while your gone. Just a thought.

You make all very good valid points!! Hmm decisions

[Steve]

What is fascinating to me about this topic is how one side can see things one way and the other side can see it in another. You may think your significant other is on board for this or that and be totally 100% wrong.

I am not directing this comment at anyone, it's just a reflection on it for all to consider.

I can't tell you now how many of my friends have gone through a divorce because they didn't have time to be around.

They would work their butts off to give their family what they considered to be the very best, yet because they weren't around, their marriage failed.

We tend to grow up thinking, if we provide our wife or family with the bigger house or the better car or more money to spend, they will be happier, but that seems to not be the case.

If small course corrections aren't made over time, they tend to allow things to really get off track and then one day we wake up and wonder, what the heck went wrong? How did this happen? I thought I was doing the right thing.

[Creagers Lawns]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Back in the day when we all worked for other people, we would have to ask our boss when and if we can take a vacation, lol.


Weigh in what you have to gain, and what you have to lose.


I honestly don't think you'll lose your wife over this, that's way too dramatic.
I say stick with the business, you just started and it requires the attention now.

You could get these properties for lawn maintenance too, no? If you don't do the snow, your chances of doing the grass are out the window.

You can then be the guy who says, "Hey, I do these properties" as you hand stunning photographs of your work to other property owners.........

The next person who hires you (commercial) could possibly give you more money then you thought possible in order to have work done - but only if you take this chance now. <- sounds like an Ad... "CALL NOW AND RECEIVE...


Also;

Never sub out at early stages of your business, that's literally giving your business away. Subbing out is good for when your at the greedy stage of your business, I can't wait to get there. When you have enough work for yourself, take on more and let other companies have at it' - beautiful! lollll

I agree building a business takes time and dedication I started 7 years ago and i'm thankful for a supportive wife who knows if she dont she goes back to Walmart slaving away for a company who doesnt care about its employees, so when she gets the "Need to be with her MAN" she gets on a mower and works with me. We found that vacation time for us comes all year long. We both love the outdoors and hunt and fish so when we want to enjoy those things we simply just work harder get what we need to get done and we take a little break do what we want when we want. We know if we don't take care of the business and our customers we both go back to working for someone else making them rich having to wonder who has more senority and going to bump us out of our vacation. Suggestion get wife involved with your business build it up she can quit her job (if she has one) then you both can hustle get it done enjoy life not have to bust your humps for someone else who could care less about you and your family and remember "Don't LOWBALL" our future depends on it

[Hedgemaster]

Just be thankful that you even have this "dilemma".

We haven't taken a vacation in at least six years. It's either no money, or a health issue that has prevented us from doing anything more than a day trip.


I'm glad to hear that you are going to make it work. Enjoy yourselves!

[tjgray]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Just be thankful that you even have this "dilemma".

We haven't taken a vacation in at least six years. It's either no money, or a health issue that has prevented us from doing anything more than a day trip.


I'm glad to hear that you are going to make it work. Enjoy yourselves!

I hear ya Hedgemaster lol I was wondering myself ...what's a vacation

My husband and I both work in our company and while we do take several smaller trips through out the year we haven't taken a real vacation since we started our business 7 years ago...

In fact, both of us have been so super busy this year, that we were looking forward to some down time this month *no snow in TX* but all the leaves haven't fallen completely from the trees yet and we are still knee deep in clean-ups...

I just keep telling myself that in such an unstable economy it is good to be working

[tjgray]

Originally Posted by Creagers Lawns

I agree building a business takes time and dedication I started 7 years ago and i'm thankful for a supportive wife who knows if she dont she goes back to Walmart slaving away for a company who doesnt care about its employees, so when she gets the "Need to be with her MAN" she gets on a mower and works with me. We found that vacation time for us comes all year long. We both love the outdoors and hunt and fish so when we want to enjoy those things we simply just work harder get what we need to get done and we take a little break do what we want when we want. We know if we don't take care of the business and our customers we both go back to working for someone else making them rich having to wonder who has more senority and going to bump us out of our vacation. Suggestion get wife involved with your business build it up she can quit her job (if she has one) then you both can hustle get it done enjoy life not have to bust your humps for someone else who could care less about you and your family and remember "Don't LOWBALL" our future depends on it

I had to read this twice to make sure I didn't write it