Tough topic.?ÿ The thinking is that every opportunity will be beneficial.?ÿ Will it??ÿ Really?
Accepting Project A may return a net of $135 per hour.?ÿ Accepting Project B may return a net of $225 per hour.?ÿ You can do A or you can do B but trying to do both is not realistic.?ÿ Too many try to do both and hope nobody notices the problems that underperforming can create.?ÿ Sloppy work and shortcuts do nothing to help your reputation and all you have to set you apart from others is that quality reputation.
I have no problem saying no, there's plenty of work out there. My fees are what they are, admittedly higher than others but my customer service and turn around rates are better than the local competitors. We are staffed up with trained employees to deliver timely and quality service and few balk at it.
I will admit to highly recommending another firm today that will do a fine job by using a convenient excuse that I can use temporarily. The truth is the caller had called me over a year ago about the exact same project. I did some research, called her back and suggested she try to get her money back from the seller. She apparently forgot all about that conversation
High spot on the tract is probably ten feet below the BFE. No utilities available to the tract. One way in, same way back out. Well, unless you cut the cable that prevents traffic from taking a rickety old bridge into the cemetery and higher ground. The only other way out of the cemetery will be flooded if the tract is flooded. The client lives on the West Coast in a mobile home. No local ties. Just wants out of that state (which I understand fully). I just don't want to waste my time on a project when I know the end result will be very bad for a client who refuses to hear the truth. The following movie ending will not cure her ills: "In the end, it is revealed that Dorothy can return home by simply closing her eyes, clicking the heels of the slippers together three times and repeating the phrase, "There's no place like home."
What is this 'not realistic' you speak of? I hear it from my wife quite often and do not understand what she means. I mean what are the 25 hours in a day for if not working (and apparently indulging in in BeerLeg).
Yes!
I have seen the ruby slippers. At the Smithsonian.
Ha I saw them along with the dress on the bicentennial train tour
The income stream required to keep a business afloat is too frequently an inefficient driver for taking/accepting projects. As soon as you have effectively committed your entire stock of resources, you are then in a bad business position for taking on new projects. Do you accept the project but lie about when it will be completed or let the opportunity pass? Who knows? Tomorrow an ever brighter prospect may appear but you know you are already in a bad position. Do you lie again and promise the moon? Do you attempt to farm out certain aspects of the job to local lowballers but retain a cut of the profits? How will your business be viewed by those who discover too late that you were blowing smoke from the very start? Will they use you in the future?
Who do you truly want to serve? The residential sector? The commercial sector. The construction sector. The heavy construction sector. Government-funded sector? All of them? Half of them? Only one or two?
One reason I basically accept no construction staking projects is that they want to own and control you. Deciding your work schedule for you. But, if that works for you, go for it. Similarly, residential surveying is typically the lowest net income for the greatest degree of challenges, but, you tell them what and when you will do and they accept it or go find someone else. Another opportunity will appear within hours or a day or two to take its place.
The income stream required to keep a business afloat is too frequently an inefficient driver for taking/accepting projects.
A-men, brother, preach, yes!
