Staying balanced

[Walt]

A friend of mine called on friday to say he just spoke with a property manager about switching their carpet cleaner. He's worked with them for many years and golfs with him every now and again. My friend is very successful and does a tremendous amount of work for them.

Anyway, they were interested in getting a new carpet cleaner to maintain 1.7 million square feet of mostly high end office space. After hearing his referral, they just needed to meet me and get me started on a few smaller jobs to make sure I could handle it. But other than that, the work was mine for the taking.

My first inclination was to go for it. What a great opportunity, right? But then I started thinking about the cost to my life - night and weekend work, more office work for my wife etc. And then I thought about my other obligations.

So I called him back and said, "no thank you." I think he was floored. Truly, it was a hard decision to make. And there still is a little regret in the back of my mind. But, I am positive it was the right decision for me.

What have you given up to stay balanced? Do you think about it?

 

[Royal Man]

I had the same experience. I would of been over a million sq ft. But, It could only be completed after 9pm Friday night untill Sunday am. Every week. I would of been a very negative impact on my family.

 

[adamh]

A great man once said

" No amount of success outside of the home can compensate for failure in the home"

No amount of money is worth unhappiness in the most valued of places.....the home.

Good for you!!


Adam

 

[mirf]

Know when to hold them ....
Know when to fold them.

Sounds like you made the right call for you and your family.

 

[Art Kelley]

Toeburn will be here to tell you that all you need to do is hire some guys with their own Ford Escort station wagons who can bring a climax to the sites and you would be set for life.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Toeburn will be here to tell you that all you need to do is hire some guys with their own Ford Escort station wagons who can bring a climax to the sites and you would be set for life.

not sure it's quite as easy as it may sound, but i don't think he's far off the mark.

sounds like Walt is in a position that many owner/ops choose to be in.
to "cherry pick" their jobs and has no interest (or need) to expand the biz and start the move off the truck .
Nuttin' wrong with that



..L.T.A.

 

[Mike Draper]

We had the opportunity to clean 48 stores twice per year within a 120 mile radius of us. My price was accepted and as we talked back and forth for a couple weeks before I came to the conclusion that I would be away from my family 2 nights a week every week of the year and we wouldnt be home many times until 230am. Snow storm, holidays, b-days, the stores still needed cleaning. I thought it would be great in the winter when where slow, but in the summer I just dont think I could keep up. It would have added a lot of money to our business, but in the end I felt that my family time was worth more than the money. I have not regretted the decision 1 bit. I love being home with my family every evening.