It's an abstract way of thinking, yes. I will say that. How does one think like an owner? Are you born a leader? Do you achieve it? Can you learn it? I don't know yet. Will I? No clue. Big questions, no answers.
When I signed on with Budget as a formal employee/partner, I...well. Let's not sugarcoat it. I didn't know what the flying flapping flip I was doing. No clue. I knew how to clean toilets, and dust surfaces. That's it. I had no idea what goes into running a business. I knew it wasn't easy, but I didn't know it was this hard.
Everyone has had a job at least once in there life. Well, in most circumstances. Anyway, you may be used to doin' your thing, getting a paycheck, and then going home. Anything outside of your duties fell into a place where you simply didn't have to worry about them. Now that I am on the side that gives out paychecks, I can really see what an owner goes though.
We've had ups. We've had downs. When a company is failing (we're not, but hear me out), employees typically jump ship. Hell, I would have. Now, I see the value in sticking around. Working for it. Not just giving up and moving on to the next venture. There are things that need to be done, and they need to be done well.
Recently, very recently as a matter of fact, I've really started to think like an owner. Hell, I should right? This place will be mine someday. I watch my parents struggle, I watch the employees struggle, and I watch both og these parties rise up above the everyday shit of running a business and stay aloft on success. I still have a lot to learn, but you can be certian that I'll learn it all.
And Ill KEEP learning.
What about you? Do you think like an owner? Are you going to take on a business someday? Let me know.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Expansion
Logical progression of business typically indicates expansion. It's an interesting thing, expansion. From a business standpoint, looking at nothing but profit? It's attractive. Alluring, even. But what is the real cost? A scary endeavor. Budget has just expanded. We now service more areas, but it is a scary thing. Most people see an expansion as signs of a business doing well. And it is, but what some fail to see is how costly an expansion can be, especially if it is done incorrectly.
Sometimes, I've seen it as a last resort. A way to attract more customers to a failing enterprise. It always seemed stale to me, futile. So this begs the question, are we expanding (or you, for that matter) because we want more business and are doing well, or are we simply fooling ourselves?
Doubt is an ugly thing. That's why I don't have it. Well, I do. I was just trying to sound dramatic. But as far as Budget is concerned, I make my decisions carefully. But I make them. And I stick to them. So I guess I'll find out the answer when business starts picking up in different areas if I'm kidding myself, or I'm moving forward into greater things. What about you? Ever expand? Ever have trepidations about expansion? Leave a comment.
Sometimes, I've seen it as a last resort. A way to attract more customers to a failing enterprise. It always seemed stale to me, futile. So this begs the question, are we expanding (or you, for that matter) because we want more business and are doing well, or are we simply fooling ourselves?
Doubt is an ugly thing. That's why I don't have it. Well, I do. I was just trying to sound dramatic. But as far as Budget is concerned, I make my decisions carefully. But I make them. And I stick to them. So I guess I'll find out the answer when business starts picking up in different areas if I'm kidding myself, or I'm moving forward into greater things. What about you? Ever expand? Ever have trepidations about expansion? Leave a comment.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Holidays...Good and Bad?
Three day weekends are a special thing. They really are. The passing holiday this month marked a whole host of things, all the way from a new season, to students returning to school. Some businesses take the 5th off, some do not. Budget did. I understand that some businesses choose not to. Hell, it's an entire day of business that gets missed- profits, phone calls, e-mails, it all goes to the wayside to the next day. But what's more important? A day off, or a day on?
Many would argue that a day on would be better. You get those missed profits, you get those important calls and e-mails. But, what's the true cost? My last entry warned readers about working on your business opposed to in it. And that still holds true, but as humans, we need breaks. Even the most dedicated workaholics need to stop. The brain must rest, the body must rest. It's important to a business' health to make sure its employees are refreshed and ready.
Too many make the mistake of working themselves into the dirt just to get a little bit ahead. Just to get a little bit of an edge. And these is NOTHING wrong with wanting to do a good job, and wanting to work hard. But you must realize. If you have a good work ethic and are working hard without rest, your work quality will eventually slip. It's human nature. We're all mortal, after all. We need to eat, sleep, drink. If we ignore these basic things, everything else suffers.
So the whole purpose of this entry was to make one point, one point and one point only. Taking a break can sometimes be more important to the longevity of your business and yourself. Remember that. We can all only go for so long until we start to unravel.
Many would argue that a day on would be better. You get those missed profits, you get those important calls and e-mails. But, what's the true cost? My last entry warned readers about working on your business opposed to in it. And that still holds true, but as humans, we need breaks. Even the most dedicated workaholics need to stop. The brain must rest, the body must rest. It's important to a business' health to make sure its employees are refreshed and ready.
Too many make the mistake of working themselves into the dirt just to get a little bit ahead. Just to get a little bit of an edge. And these is NOTHING wrong with wanting to do a good job, and wanting to work hard. But you must realize. If you have a good work ethic and are working hard without rest, your work quality will eventually slip. It's human nature. We're all mortal, after all. We need to eat, sleep, drink. If we ignore these basic things, everything else suffers.
So the whole purpose of this entry was to make one point, one point and one point only. Taking a break can sometimes be more important to the longevity of your business and yourself. Remember that. We can all only go for so long until we start to unravel.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Work On your Business. Not in It.
I heard this phrase from a colleague recently, and how true it really is. If you're an owner, or soon-to-be owner, this is exactly what you should be doing. I cannot stress that enough. Here's why.
I have seen many men and women, owners/operators mind you, that do nothing but work. Nothing but. It's insane. 65-80 hour weeks. I also realize that time have changed, and more work needs to be done by fewer people. However, there must be time for being a person. You can love your career, but if it is all you have, then you have nothing.
Some have told me this is a bold claim. But hear me out. Passions, interests, whatever you want to call them, drive human beings. You can't deny it. Work can only satisfy these needs partially. There must be a phase,m or a piece of your life outside of the daily grind to make you whole. And there are only 24 hours in the day, don't forget. If someone tells me, "I don't have time to X" they are basically telling me that they work 24 hours a day. No sleeping. No eating. No drinking. Impossible.
It's up to you to decide what you are doing outside of work. You must look at it like your project. You cannot be an employee when you own a business. You cannot only work. You will come to resent your career, and where there was passion and love for your job, mediocrity and malice will seep in.
The phrase I mentioned earlier is two fold. Be something outside of your job, and see your business as something you can improve. Not just work in mindlessly until you die. Your business is only as good as the people that work on it. How will you improve your business today? What have you been putting off? Let's talk about it.
I have seen many men and women, owners/operators mind you, that do nothing but work. Nothing but. It's insane. 65-80 hour weeks. I also realize that time have changed, and more work needs to be done by fewer people. However, there must be time for being a person. You can love your career, but if it is all you have, then you have nothing.
Some have told me this is a bold claim. But hear me out. Passions, interests, whatever you want to call them, drive human beings. You can't deny it. Work can only satisfy these needs partially. There must be a phase,m or a piece of your life outside of the daily grind to make you whole. And there are only 24 hours in the day, don't forget. If someone tells me, "I don't have time to X" they are basically telling me that they work 24 hours a day. No sleeping. No eating. No drinking. Impossible.
It's up to you to decide what you are doing outside of work. You must look at it like your project. You cannot be an employee when you own a business. You cannot only work. You will come to resent your career, and where there was passion and love for your job, mediocrity and malice will seep in.
The phrase I mentioned earlier is two fold. Be something outside of your job, and see your business as something you can improve. Not just work in mindlessly until you die. Your business is only as good as the people that work on it. How will you improve your business today? What have you been putting off? Let's talk about it.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Not My Job
I hate that phrase. Not my job. You know that? How can anyone be "above" someone else's job? Sure there are exceptions, like being unable to do a certain piece of work, or being untrained, or sick. But, if there is no-one to say...clean an office. It has to get done.
Why can't everyone just band together and do it? Some people may think I have a pretty sweet gig because my parents are my bosses. I love what I do, don't get me wrong. However, I do get my hands dirty when the time comes. I still do carpet cleanings. I do laundry. I fold rags. I shovel snow. I repair vacuum cleaners. Hell, if need be? I'd clean accounts.
And I'm a salaried manager, which some people think entitles them to being immune to all sorts of labor that is not directly in their job description. How ignorant. Of course there are exceptions, and I trust each of you to be smart enough to recognize them.
But, the next time you want to say, "not my job", think about the context. Is it really not your job? Or are you just be lazy? What are some experiences you have had? What do you think? Lemmie know.
Why can't everyone just band together and do it? Some people may think I have a pretty sweet gig because my parents are my bosses. I love what I do, don't get me wrong. However, I do get my hands dirty when the time comes. I still do carpet cleanings. I do laundry. I fold rags. I shovel snow. I repair vacuum cleaners. Hell, if need be? I'd clean accounts.
And I'm a salaried manager, which some people think entitles them to being immune to all sorts of labor that is not directly in their job description. How ignorant. Of course there are exceptions, and I trust each of you to be smart enough to recognize them.
But, the next time you want to say, "not my job", think about the context. Is it really not your job? Or are you just be lazy? What are some experiences you have had? What do you think? Lemmie know.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Expansion
Okay, so Budget is looking to expand its carpet cleaning and commercial cleaning accounts into Bergen County, New Jersey. No, now wait- this isn't an advertisement. I'm not gonna do that on this blog. This is a...collection? Shall we say? Of my thoughts and worries.
It's exciting, I will say that. Starting up in a new place, meeting new people, gaining new clients, new money. The rewards are great, but there is always the thought- will this work? Can we do it right now? Will we find clients? Will we find too many clients? And let's not forget about (wo)manpower. There's a lot to do here, but I'm ready for it. Expansion is typically a logical step towards the total financial health of a company. But, like most endeavors, high reward means high risk.
I personally have never done, or even been involved in anything like this, and its is equal parts scary and exhilarating. There was a time in my life where something so...unpredictable would have been unthinkable to even plan, rather than commit to. But. Thousands upon thousands of people do this every day in their own business, so why can't I? There is no reason. I can.
So I pose this question to you- ever expanded your business? Been part of an expansion? I'd like to chat about this. Leave a comment, and we'll get to gabbin'.
It's exciting, I will say that. Starting up in a new place, meeting new people, gaining new clients, new money. The rewards are great, but there is always the thought- will this work? Can we do it right now? Will we find clients? Will we find too many clients? And let's not forget about (wo)manpower. There's a lot to do here, but I'm ready for it. Expansion is typically a logical step towards the total financial health of a company. But, like most endeavors, high reward means high risk.
I personally have never done, or even been involved in anything like this, and its is equal parts scary and exhilarating. There was a time in my life where something so...unpredictable would have been unthinkable to even plan, rather than commit to. But. Thousands upon thousands of people do this every day in their own business, so why can't I? There is no reason. I can.
So I pose this question to you- ever expanded your business? Been part of an expansion? I'd like to chat about this. Leave a comment, and we'll get to gabbin'.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Son of Owners
Hello again.
As you may, or may not know, I stand to inherit B.H.O.C. when my parents retire. A great opportunity, true, but I wanted to discuss the whole...prospect of being an owner's son. You see, many believe that when a child inherits a business, they are just handed an empire and then they can ride the coat tails of their parent's achievements and let core staff members basically run the whole thing behind the curtain. This, however, is not the chase with me.
Working at Budget has been some of the most exciting and challenging times in my life, and I earn every paycheck that I get. I'm not bragging, but just giving insight to a situation that many have become jaded, or even hostile, to.
Then there is the insecurity that I have to deal with. Sometimes, when I'm off my game, I ask myself, "are they keeping me because I'm blood?" "Are they paying me extra because I'm their son?" Doubt, confidence, reassurance, denial, all these worries and opportunities, and ideas slam around in my head, and it's my job to sort them all out and still do my job.
I have to prove myself. I have to work hard. And I want to, and I do! But, I will always have the stigma attached to me that I am an owner's son, and some may still believe that I'm a spoiled brat drafting behind the success of a business my parents built.
What do you think about this issue? Are any of you owner's children? How do you feel? Let me know, I'd be interested to hear.
Until next time then.
As you may, or may not know, I stand to inherit B.H.O.C. when my parents retire. A great opportunity, true, but I wanted to discuss the whole...prospect of being an owner's son. You see, many believe that when a child inherits a business, they are just handed an empire and then they can ride the coat tails of their parent's achievements and let core staff members basically run the whole thing behind the curtain. This, however, is not the chase with me.
Working at Budget has been some of the most exciting and challenging times in my life, and I earn every paycheck that I get. I'm not bragging, but just giving insight to a situation that many have become jaded, or even hostile, to.
Then there is the insecurity that I have to deal with. Sometimes, when I'm off my game, I ask myself, "are they keeping me because I'm blood?" "Are they paying me extra because I'm their son?" Doubt, confidence, reassurance, denial, all these worries and opportunities, and ideas slam around in my head, and it's my job to sort them all out and still do my job.
I have to prove myself. I have to work hard. And I want to, and I do! But, I will always have the stigma attached to me that I am an owner's son, and some may still believe that I'm a spoiled brat drafting behind the success of a business my parents built.
What do you think about this issue? Are any of you owner's children? How do you feel? Let me know, I'd be interested to hear.
Until next time then.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
We Are Back!
Okay, here's the deal.
I have tried to make a traditional cleaning service blog, but I bored the Hell out of myself and probably most of you. So. I've decided to do this thing the way I want to. And that is going do be my musings on being the inheritor of a company, as well as my views on the environment and the world. But, of course, I will be offering tips and answering questions on cleaning as well.
We've been doing a lot of new things at Budget, like opening our own carpet cleaning branch. Also, we're looking to expand into floor stripping and waxing. I will be providing tips and advice in my area of expertise, but it is going to be a lot more than that.
I don't want a traditional company blog. They're boring, and they make me cry inside. I want a blog that has REAL discussions and thoughts, real people sharing ideas, and real people telling me what they think (if you're going to make stupid comments, like spam or racial slurs and the like I'll delete them).
Budget Home and Office Cleaning is a family business that cares about people and the environment. We try to help people, and we listen to them. But we don't always get to have a dialogue with the public, or our customers. So, this is what this blog will be for.
Check out my Twitter feeds, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I post news articles almost every day. I want to spark discussions, I want people to talk. I want this blog to be more than just some guy on one end of the Internet spouting facts into the great abyss that is the web. I want to connect, help, and talk with real people.
So don't be a stranger. Leave some comments, post a tweet, go online and get involved! Ask questions. If you like what I say, tell me. If you don't, tell me anyway. Everyone deserves to be heard, and I want to be the person that listens.
I'll be talking to you all soon.
I have tried to make a traditional cleaning service blog, but I bored the Hell out of myself and probably most of you. So. I've decided to do this thing the way I want to. And that is going do be my musings on being the inheritor of a company, as well as my views on the environment and the world. But, of course, I will be offering tips and answering questions on cleaning as well.
We've been doing a lot of new things at Budget, like opening our own carpet cleaning branch. Also, we're looking to expand into floor stripping and waxing. I will be providing tips and advice in my area of expertise, but it is going to be a lot more than that.
I don't want a traditional company blog. They're boring, and they make me cry inside. I want a blog that has REAL discussions and thoughts, real people sharing ideas, and real people telling me what they think (if you're going to make stupid comments, like spam or racial slurs and the like I'll delete them).
Budget Home and Office Cleaning is a family business that cares about people and the environment. We try to help people, and we listen to them. But we don't always get to have a dialogue with the public, or our customers. So, this is what this blog will be for.
Check out my Twitter feeds, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I post news articles almost every day. I want to spark discussions, I want people to talk. I want this blog to be more than just some guy on one end of the Internet spouting facts into the great abyss that is the web. I want to connect, help, and talk with real people.
So don't be a stranger. Leave some comments, post a tweet, go online and get involved! Ask questions. If you like what I say, tell me. If you don't, tell me anyway. Everyone deserves to be heard, and I want to be the person that listens.
I'll be talking to you all soon.
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