It's Been A Great Month...

since I downsized. Some may remember a couple of months ago I talked about downsizing to just me. Well, I decided to just cut one full-time tech position and see how the rest of the year goes with me and my other two techs. The guy I let go was with me for over five years and was doing great until about six months ago. I had been so stressed out everyday waiting for either him to call with a problem, or for a customer to call with a problem with this tech's work/attitude. This has been my best month mentally in a long time .
1. The three of us worked a little harder and handled the same amount of business that the four of us were doing.
2. I saved over $3200 in payroll expense, $600 in fuel, and insurance savings that haven't been realized yet.
3. I save about 30 minutes per night on finalizing/sending the schedule and dealing with issues from the day.
4. I have lost 10 pounds.
5. I sleep much better at night due to less stress and more time pushing the RX20.
6. I am getting very good tips$$.

If things stay the way they are my two techs (one's been with me six+ yrs, and the other almost two yrs) - now earning $750/wk each plus tips know they have a job for life. And they know if they slack off, I will let them go.

Good for you.

Yo Joe, way to go. That sounds like a smooth running machine. Had a young man working on and off with me lately. He is top notch, 2nd day he was a step ahead of me when setting up/take down.
Then he flaked out on a big day that was coming up.

Good to hear Joe sounds like you might have found the sweet spot.

Reducing stress while improving efficiency is a great accomplishment. So often a small business will grow too fast and it just becomes miserable. Sounds like you have found your perfect formula.

It is funny how a good employee can flake out. I have an excellent sub that works on one of my larger contracts which requires working evenings and weekends at times. It has been this way for 2 years then he tells me that he isn't willing to work weekends any more during football season.

I like football too, but what kind of response is that?

Glad to hear someone has reduced their stress around here.
Way to go Joe.

carpetdaddy wrote:since I downsized. Some may remember a couple of months ago I talked about downsizing to just me. Well, I decided to just cut one full-time tech position and see how the rest of the year goes with me and my other two techs. The guy I let go was with me for over five years and was doing great until about six months ago. I had been so stressed out everyday waiting for either him to call with a problem, or for a customer to call with a problem with this tech's work/attitude. This has been my best month mentally in a long time  .
1. The three of us worked a little harder and handled the same amount of business that the four of us were doing.
2. I saved over $3200 in payroll expense, $600 in fuel, and insurance savings that haven't been realized yet.
3. I save about 30 minutes per night on finalizing/sending the schedule and dealing with issues from the day.
4. I have lost 10 pounds.
5. I sleep much better at night due to less stress and more time pushing the RX20.
6. I am getting very good tips$$.

If things stay the way they are my two techs (one's been with me six+ yrs, and the other almost two yrs) - now earning $750/wk each plus tips know they have a job for life. And they know if they slack off, I will let them go.  

Right on Joe, good for you bro :-)

Trimming dead wood, nice job of pruning. Eliminate the unproductive growth and grow!

milspec6 wrote:Reducing stress while improving efficiency is a great accomplishment.  So often a small business will grow too fast and it just becomes miserable.  Sounds like you have found your perfect formula.

It is funny how a good employee can flake out.  I have an excellent sub that works on one of my larger contracts which requires working evenings and weekends at times.  It has been this way for 2 years then he tells me that he isn't willing to work weekends any more during football season.

I like football too, but what kind of response is that?

In all honesty, sounds like a response from someone who prioritizes football, over making money or helping a partner.

Can't really say if that is bad or good, but I would say  it isn't a dependable work relationship. Maybe time to find someone else more dependable.

I am shopping around, I suspect that my sub will bail on me at some point and I don't want to be caught short.