Trying to keep up and take care of my clients, but I've been making some 'smaller' errors (I've been accused for a large one but that's a different subject), that under normal conditions, I'd pick up on before they became that. But the work load is starting to get to me and I have to find a way to fix this. Sorry for the ramble...enjoy your Tuesday.
I'm fairly new to this corner of town. From what I can tell, the drinks are cold, the pretzels are complimentary and about everyone hear knows where you're coming from.
Ramble on.
Joe the Surveyor, post: 336418, member: 118 wrote: But the work load is starting to get to me and I have to find a way to fix this.
It's time to consider your options. Do you want to grow? Will your anticipated work load justify additional employees? You and only you can answer those questions. It is not a decision to be hastily made either. Whichever route you choose wish you the best of success. B-)
I like to keep checklist for my plans and tick them off to make sure I don't miss any small details. Works well for standard plans.
Sounds like about any other day around here. Old mentor of mine gave me some good advice back when, learn the power of 'No'. I've always tried to say yes to whatever comes my way and figure out how to deliver later. I've since learned that at times it's a good idea just say no rather than bury myself and end up doing a half a$$ job of everything and hating everything I use to love.
Joe the Surveyor, post: 336418, member: 118 wrote: Trying to keep up and take care of my clients, but I've been making some 'smaller' errors (I've been accused for a large one but that's a different subject), that under normal conditions, I'd pick up on before they became that. But the work load is starting to get to me and I have to find a way to fix this. Sorry for the ramble...enjoy your Tuesday.
Joe,
That sounds about par around here....I call it "pre-Alzheimer's"....just getting geared up for when it really sets in.
On a serious note I might suggest something that seems to work for me. A number of years ago I was so busy that small and aggravating things were slipping through. I realized while I was working on one project, I actually had others on my mind. Bad habit. Focus on one at a time. Complete what you're working on...then move on to the next. It takes some discipline, but it works. Good luck.
I have found that my multitasking skills are diminishing. The 7days a week of 14hr days and being a one man office personally dealing with every client, every phone conversation, 3 crews, all computations, work sheets, final drawings and property descriptions and putting out 20å± final products a day are long gone.
Nowadays, I process one job at a time and have a few on the backburner all the time.
Stress is a challenge that has gotten the best of me in the past and now I strive to be as free of it as possible.
B-)
Just say No.
No means no.
My current backlog is several months. I would like to provide this to you in a more reasonable time frame but I have other commitments that require my full attention.
I am more practicing than suggesting as I have the same trouble with saying No to clients.
Joe the Surveyor, post: 336418, member: 118 wrote: Trying to keep up and take care of my clients, but I've been making some 'smaller' errors (I've been accused for a large one but that's a different subject), that under normal conditions, I'd pick up on before they became that. But the work load is starting to get to me and I have to find a way to fix this. Sorry for the ramble...enjoy your Tuesday.
Raise your rates.
Andy Nold, post: 336500, member: 7 wrote: Raise your rates.
I'd like too...just not always up to me.
paden cash, post: 336472, member: 20 wrote: Joe,
That sounds about par around here....I call it "pre-Alzheimer's"....just getting geared up for when it really sets in.On a serious note I might suggest something that seems to work for me. A number of years ago I was so busy that small and aggravating things were slipping through. I realized while I was working on one project, I actually had others on my mind. Bad habit. Focus on one at a time. Complete what you're working on...then move on to the next. It takes some discipline, but it works. Good luck.
trying to implement this. But I don't always have total control of the load.
Joe the Surveyor, post: 336587, member: 118 wrote: trying to implement this. But I don't always have total control of the load.
It's a dance on a tight rope. Scheduling, field time, screen time and weather and all those things that roll through the surveyor's head constantly create cacophony. While true control and implementing these factors are necessities for continuity of profit (I made that term up myself), they ARE also the distractions.
I like to go to my "happy place" while focusing on a job. My 'happy place' was way back years ago when I was a PC and whatever job I was on was the one I focused on.
I try to remember my clients are paying for my abilities, not my demons!
When things were booming, every two months Vicki would find me staring at the screen, accomplishing nothing, but just paralyzed from too much work. She would make the reservations and drag me off somewhere nice for a complete week away, then I'd be a new man when I returned.
