Contractor Startup Hell: The Next Level Down
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Remember how I said I was beginning to trust my crew to do things on their own? I'm rethinking that right now. I feel like these contractor startup problems are going from bad to worse. Today we go another level down in contractor startup hell.
If you're running a contracting business I feel your pain. Follow along as I painfully take this startup from $0 to $3 million in 2 years. It's a bumpy road, full of plenty of moments that make me wonder why I'm doing this to myself, but it's also some of the best times I've had in my life.
Oh man. I was crying laughing at the phone conversation on your way to the accident. Probably because I can fully relate to that pain and anguish. 😂😂 great stuff my man
It was terrible. I can laugh now but at the time I was highly irritated.
Thanks for this. Felt like my week was a little rough cause I only booked one job. It can always be worse I’m now realizing. Praying that everything goes good 👍 at least it made some good tik toks haha
Each week seems to bring its own unique challenges. It doesn’t matter how much experience we have. What separates us is how we deal with them. Keep at it!
Loving the content... we are feeling the pain brother.
Hopefully sometime will get around to feeling the joy!
Saw you at Fencetech yesterday, I didn't get a chance to speak with you. But I wanted to thank you for all your content, but especially for sharing the painful side. I had so many days like this last year (truck totaled when another contractor rear-ended one of my crew, a skid steer vs car, wrong fuel put in a new truck) seeing things like this actually help to get through those 10+ stress days.
Most people don’t talk about the day. Is that make you want to give up. Keep on fencing!
Hey Mark.
There is a lot to be learned from this one, but one thing I would always tell my guys, my team members, when they use the word "your" your this your that, I ask them to see things as ours, not just mine, instead of saying your tools were damaged, they should see it as our tools our damaged.
The same thing goes when I hear them talk to customers and say "they will call you, they this they that" I train them to never say they, it's we, ((we will call you, our office will call you in regards to this)) I noticed things are much better when they really approach everything as their own.
Good observation
I've been a contractor for 35 years. Yes, this can be a normal day. If you charge your crew for mistakes, there would be no crew because they screw up all the time. All you can do is terminate employment if it is really bad negligence, not accidents typically. Geez, they are tough on equipment all the time.
Weeding through the bad ones.
Hoooooleeeee crap 🤣 and you’re welcome. 😉 I always say film it in case something terrible happens. 😄
Nailed it😂
I used to manage an oil & gas company and this brings back Soooooooooooo many memories, was one of the main reasons I got out of management - you handled this way better than I would have ! It does look like you could do with an experienced supervisor to take some of the pressure off, but as always, where do you find good people that you can trust - not easy.
I think we’re just about there with the supervision. Everything takes time when you’re starting with nothing. The supervisor was me initially but clearly now I’m being stretched too thin. I’ve had a couple of people suggest that I hire better people but they are also the same people that tell me they can’t find anybody themselves so it’s a double edge sword. If I don’t hire anybody nothing will get done and if I hire the wrong people things will get messed up. This is all part of growing.
@@SuccessfulContractor Wise words Mark, great that you are sharing your experiences. I think people need to read your response here and let it sink in - what a great response. All the very best mate !
Thanks! There’s been a lot of comments on this video offering advice. So much of it seems to contradict itself and this and trying to prevent any problems from ever happening which is unrealistic. I think it has made for some very good discussion.
@@SuccessfulContractor Yep, delegation is something I always struggled with when in management as I always want to do everything myself...............stupid really, you need to let people make the mistakes, LEARN and move on - that's how they grow and the company grows with them - not easy though ! The joys of business ownership - great channel !
No candy covering just the best start up show on CZcams shit happens thanks a bunch
That means a lot to me. Thank you
My brother- I was feeling your pain- been there -done it- and this video is a great example of running a business with the unknowns. Glad the team members were safe and no one was injured. Keep on Fencing!!!
I think I have more to add on this subject now that I’m seeing some of the comments on the video…..
Every time you post I feel like this what I go through daily and I've been done with it for a while
Man that’s terrible. Sounds like you either need to find better people, better leaders, or make some other major change. Nobody should have to live like this for too long. For me this is a season and it will either pass or I will shake things up. I’m not going to deal with problems on this level for very long.
@@SuccessfulContractor it's like I get two or three really good guys and we make some money for a while but then one of them leaves or have to let them go for some reason or another and then back to square one and then start over and get to that point again and then the same thing happens
This is gold. Like you said everyone was safe, and that is what’s most important. The driver, and the whole crew, just learned a very valuable lesson. My best foreman started 100% green and never had touched a power tool. As many times as I wanted to cuss him, fire him or scream at him, I always did my best to teach him. He made a lot of mistakes but it paid off in the long run. He will be moving into a production manager spot next year.
You’re giving me hope. Yesterday was another plane crash (figuratively speaking).
"Its not a regular ditch, were talking 3' x 4' ditch" 🤣
😬
Always enjoy your vulnerability and absolute honesty. I respect your approach and overall handling of this, and thus far every, situation. Hopefully crew responsibility and accountability change or perhaps crew change time. I think you could have used the Tesla to get that out. I jest. Well done and glad no one was hurt. Looking forward to an update on the trailer inspection. Thank you for your content. Inspiring and frightening at the same time.
Thanks for watching as always Roger! I’m hoping we get some of these issues worked out in the next couple weeks with some new hires that I have made.
Them boys seemed downright excited to tell you how muffed up everything was! They work for your competition on the DL?
If we didn't have bad days we wouldnt know what a good looks like.
I would like to spread my bad days out a little further apart though. I think I’ve got the bad figured out but I would like to experience some of the opposition.
Mark I totally relate to thinking the absolute worst after getting a call like that. But that's what makes you a successful leader by your commitment to your business. Problems can always be solved by either making money or losing. Either way makes you successful .
Very true!
All of a sudden, I'm tired
.. anytime you spend a ton of unnecessary money
. It's time for a nap😂
💯
I'd say that's a heck of a advert for the Max D👍 plus gotta say, that strap job was on point, just a expensive training day
There’s a lot of people commending the strap job but honestly that doesn’t be DOT standards 😂
@@SuccessfulContractor still everything stayed in/on the trailer 🤷♂️
Been In the fence business for 20 years .
First thing hire experienced installers , especially for your very first crew . Afterwards if you choose to hire green young installers there’s experienced people that they can learn from .. secondly, get rid of the trailer and get a 16 ft or 18ft flatbed truck with under carriage tool boxes. you’ll be able to have your supplies securely strapped down and tools . A flatbed will be much easier for the men and your able to carry more material… your enclosed $14,000 trailer would be much better served by a landscaper carrying mulch ,Dirt landscaping equipment, fire wood, that sort of thing ..
I have two F650s being built currently. Everything takes time. As for hiring experience, I totally agree with you start where you are and work from there.’s there is no crying over spilled milk. Even with all that I will still have trailers and definitely a dump trailer for removal. Everything is also made more complicated when people overstate their ability.
F650s is definitely a good option.
I have 3 used gmc c5500 dump flatbeds .
Also where I am in richmond va , In house subs really make installs a piece of cake .
We’re knocking out 250/300 ft of custom wood , alum , vinyl fence per day per crew .
Of course we have our quality standards in place , but makes life so much easier employee wise and keeps us competitive and profitable.
@@shanelacks4691how did you like the c5500?
Damn thanks I needed to see to properly prepare
Never be surprised at what people are capable of 😉. That goes for both good and bad.
Your team members look pretty young. St. Augustine young. Young men in St. Augustine probably don’t have as much experience pulling a trailer like a Wyoming youngster.
You’re a dang good boss “what I need you to do is stop talking “ I would’ve slap tf out them dudes
Yes…please stop talking and that was the nicest way I could say what I was thinking. 🤣
Awesome video. 😂😂😂😂
Thanks….I think 😂
Seen worse 1 month ago here in san diego, alpine fence truck ran off Frey into a house at 10am with full load for job, happens, but fire fighters had 2 extract a female from truck, only problem with that is they have no female installers.
Lord please don’t let me experience worse!
Oof. They screwed up. I've been there with a truck and a payload. Gotta stop when you need to stop. Or else.
This was such a mess….luckily it all turned out ok.
So So Tired
hopefully you never kill someone while distracted driving
Ok
It did make a good tik tok it was shared to the one of fence Facebook groups lol
It was shared on Facebook and Instagram. Last time I looked the Chevy off-road channel that shared it had 2 million views on it almost. 😬
Like you said Mark it happens that's why we have insurance. But 2 million views I hope you're getting some kick back of that viral sensation 😆
How do you like all the Maxx d trailers?
They are amazing!
We are very happy with them.
you need better team leaders
I need team leaders. There was no leader in this operation on this day because I was the leader and I was 15 minutes behind them. It’s like raising your kids though. You can’t babysit them every second of the day and keep them out of harms way all the time. Eventually they will touch the stove, crash their bike, or any number of other things. Showing up to work Ready to think is the biggest thing that would have solved this issue. The same driver had been driving with that truck in that trailer accident free for the last three weeks. 🤷🏼♂️
That was easy.
You where over thinking to much
Totally