owner operator lifestyle

data farm 26

data farm 26

Been here a while
Location
Casablanca
How do you set yourself up for success in this lifestyle?

What do you do to keep yourself from getting entirely absorbed? But also engaged enough so the wheels don't fall off....

Do you hold yourself to 24hr's to return calls, texts, emails or let it linger a bit longer?

Butch used to always say "delegate" but I have this compulsion to do it all myself, which is fine but can get overwhelming.

For years I just worked in the field 3 days a week, one day for bids and take a nice 3 day weekend and mostly resting my body for 4 days was nice. Now I've been going in the field 4-5 days a week, doing calls, emails, bids, meetings after work or on the 5th day. It's pretty exhausting! Maybe it's just unrealistic to think I can do that and I need to dial it back again but money problems say otherwise lol. I feel like one needs to be a little or a lotta insane to live this lifestyle, which I definitely am but damn I'm gassed here in the late summer...

What kind of work loads are you folks taking on and managing to have some sanity at the end of the week?
 
Monday-Thursday in the field. Typically under 8hrs. Friday is for office/quotes/maintenance/or just off.

I'm to the point where I screen calls. If they don't leave a message, I don't return the call. Messages get a response by end of next business day. Same with emails.

I'm in a relatively small city so quotes in town can usually be done when I'm in the area (typically within 2-3 days). Out of towners get stockpiled for a Friday I feel like doing some driving. Or I tell them my hourly rate and they can yay or nay it.

I take vacations in the middle of busy season....in fact I've been off all week...and set my email/phone response to out of office until xxx date. PUT YOUR PHONE ON DO NOT DISTURB!

I don't think you can ever completely shut off, there's always some work related thought circling the brain, but you can eliminate a lot of distraction.

I've found this year my biggest change has been not caring. Not caring if I don't get that job. Not caring if I don't answer that call or reply to that email. Not caring if people sound disappointed when I can't schedule them for 6 weeks even though I "could" fit them in on a Friday. I'm working for me, the trees aren't going anywhere, and patience is a virtue. It's all been working very well for me so far this year.
 
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I don't worry about getting more clients, at the moment.
No way do I make the 24 hour timer.

So many are repeat customers that I put them in the "Jobs to be completed" queue, when they initially call. We may text back and forth about things a time or 2. If I don't find time to get to the bid for 3 weeks, I might know what's entailed, show up ready, and do the work on the spot--- repeat view pruning or a hazard tree removal close to the house, but in the woods, is often no clean-up, partial day job.




I don't schedule specific dates for jobs. i tell them a rough time line and let them know when I have openings coming that match the logistics of their jobs (some are partial day-no clean up, or half a day without or with only one trailered piece of equipment like a chipper or loader). I usually aim to start a large job on Monday. Pace ourselves. Finish when we're done, filling in with small jobs (often ahead of when predicted), and maintenence day and bids toward the end of the week.

Outsource things that are low- dollar, like house cleaning, laundry, landscaping if they allow you to do more higher profit tree work.
 
southsoundtree said:
I don't worry about getting more clients, at the moment.
No way do I make the 24 hour timer.

So many are repeat customers that I put them in the "Jobs to be completed" queue, when they initially call. We may text back and forth about things a time or 2. If I don't find time to get to the bid for 3 weeks, I might know what's entailed, show up ready, and do the work on the spot--- repeat view pruning or a hazard tree removal close to the house, but in the woods, is often no clean-up, partial day job.




I don't schedule specific dates for jobs. i tell them a rough time line and let them know when I have openings coming that match the logistics of their jobs (some are partial day-no clean up, or half a day without or with only one trailered piece of equipment like a chipper or loader). I usually aim to start a large job on Monday. Pace ourselves. Finish when we're done, filling in with small jobs (often ahead of when predicted), and maintenence day and bids toward the end of the week.

Outsource things that are low- dollar, like house cleaning, laundry, landscaping if they allow you to do more higher profit tree work.
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I like it except for the not scheduling thing that's too helter skelter for me!
 
I never know how long a job will take.
If I'm scheduled, and my shoulder hurts, I'll more likely work when I should rest.
Other days, I'm energized, and may work 10 hours, starting before and working after an employee's shift.

Once working the job, I don't try to predict when we will be done. Time pressure---> increased risk.

My market has a lot of retired folks, and folks working from home. Few wires, almost no 'line drops'.

Weather is a big factor here, at different times of the year. Wind, rain, sun, heat, access.

I'll go wreck a tall, dead tree easily on a calm day, but it would be white- knuckle in the wind.
 
L3VI said:
How do you set yourself up for success in this lifestyle?

What do you do to keep yourself from getting entirely absorbed? But also engaged enough so the wheels don't fall off....

Do you hold yourself to 24hr's to return calls, texts, emails or let it linger a bit longer?

Butch used to always say "delegate" but I have this compulsion to do it all myself, which is fine but can get overwhelming.

For years I just worked in the field 3 days a week, one day for bids and take a nice 3 day weekend and mostly resting my body for 4 days was nice. Now I've been going in the field 4-5 days a week, doing calls, emails, bids, meetings after work or on the 5th day. It's pretty exhausting! Maybe it's just unrealistic to think I can do that and I need to dial it back again but money problems say otherwise lol. I feel like one needs to be a little or a lotta insane to live this lifestyle, which I definitely am but damn I'm gassed here in the late summer...

What kind of work loads are you folks taking on and managing to have some sanity at the end of the week?
Click to expand...
Levi, climbed with the crew until 2pm. Did estimates until 5pm. Had dinner and just finished office work. Same tomorrow and Sat. My lead guy was talking about life/ work balance today. I laughed thats for people who work for other people. Business ownership is a lifestyle. I recommend talking to a finacial planner or investment person to help set goals for your retirement and finacial goals. This will help remind you why you are doing this and give you a more guided since of purpose.
 
southsoundtree said:
I don't worry about getting more clients, at the moment.
No way do I make the 24 hour timer.

So many are repeat customers that I put them in the "Jobs to be completed" queue, when they initially call. We may text back and forth about things a time or 2. If I don't find time to get to the bid for 3 weeks, I might know what's entailed, show up ready, and do the work on the spot--- repeat view pruning or a hazard tree removal close to the house, but in the woods, is often no clean-up, partial day job.




I don't schedule specific dates for jobs. i tell them a rough time line and let them know when I have openings coming that match the logistics of their jobs (some are partial day-no clean up, or half a day without or with only one trailered piece of equipment like a chipper or loader). I usually aim to start a large job on Monday. Pace ourselves. Finish when we're done, filling in with small jobs (often ahead of when predicted), and maintenence day and bids toward the end of the week.

Outsource things that are low- dollar, like house cleaning, laundry, landscaping if they allow you to do more higher profit tree work.
Click to expand...
No disrespect Sean but in the market Levi and I work in that layed back casual approach would get you ran over by the competition around here. I agree with the outsource comment.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
How do people who live above the Snow Belt, where deep snow and attention getting cold are in place for 3 months. plan your work year?

I never counted on having any work for winter. That forced me into a mode of doing 100% of my work in 75% of the calendar. Made for many 6 day weeks.
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I can't speak for elsewhere, but around here the calls start slowing down come October and by end of November they've all but stopped. Then it's just filling the days until you're out of work. Usually just before Christmas.

As to the second part. That sounds like overextending. If you're having to do 6 day weeks of 10 hour days I would say the alternate options are turning away work or added an additional crew.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
How do people who live above the Snow Belt, where deep snow and attention getting cold are in place for 3 months. plan your work year?

I never counted on having any work for winter. That forced me into a mode of doing 100% of my work in 75% of the calendar. Made for many 6 day weeks.
Click to expand...
I schedule as much winter work as possible. Lots of apple pruning, frozen ground jobs, summer people jobs. We have been doing work on a private island for a number of years which may get to in fall or winter or spring depending on weather and work load, have boated around ice flows before… We work year round but take off a few weeks here and there in the winter.
This past Feb:
894EC6DE-C129-4240-9FE5-DCA804470931.pngF4B2CC8B-53EA-430B-9F2E-004FB49E8F6C.png

A previous January:
FA23B24A-CDA4-41F5-A28D-68D1249A55D4.png
 
Great discussion to have.

I think for every business owner at one time or another you may find yourself in “work mode” even when not working. Always things to think about, things to do, etc.

For some people this may not be an issue, and may actually be good for an individual if it’s what they enjoy and or need to stay busy and focused on something (for whatever reason). I can relate to this personally. But there are times where I do draw the line not so much to give myself a break physically but also mentally.

Most recently, I’ve started turning my email notifications off around 3pm-5pm and any emails I get can be dealt with the next morning. I may still be working at that time or sometimes later into the evening, but I allow myself time to take a step back and not have that pressure of calling customers, scheduling appointments, etc. I’ve been doing this on the weekends too. Any calls or emails after around 1pm on Saturday I will likely return on Monday (with some possible exceptions).

I didn’t always do this. As a former tow truck driver I’m used to a 24/7 work schedule.

The one thing that I do that I think helps with everything else I do is working out / fitness. Not just to stay at the top of my game physically but also because it has such a positive impact on my mental health / mindset. I think it’s important to have something that you’re doing for yourself that makes you feel good and helps you stay grounded and focused.
 
This is much easier for me as to, I'm mostly contract climbing. Same thing with my other trades.... I'm called upon for the larger jobs. I do little of my own work these days. I stay quite busy this way, although I miss some of the big paying jobs my own.

I keep thinking about going full bore into tree work. As hard as the trade is, I have a love for tree work. I am not even sure why. It could be running a saw, rigging, or the climbs. Sometimes it's just the satisfyingly reward of dragging some brush to the chipper ..... to watch it disappear. Other times, it's the crane jobs or trying out new gear.

One company I climb for, the owner doesn't typically work. He does if his agenda is complete like, setting up jobs, emptying chip trucks, estimates ..... exedra. I'm not sure I could operate that way myself. I like being a team player at the work site.

Levi, you still do a lot of work with your brother? If so, how about splitting some of the task work loads. Giving one another a break on a daily or weekly basis?
 
I actually kind of hate working too much and would rather just sit by the river. That's what I'll do once my kids are growed. I was able to sustain my lifestyle with 3 six hour days for years but got in some debt and had to grind again. Almost done with that. It kills my spirit, I'm just a little snowflake.
 
L3VI said:
I actually kind of hate working too much and would rather just sit by the river. That's what I'll do once my kids are growed. I was able to sustain my lifestyle with 3 six hour days for years but got in some debt and had to grind again. Almost done with that. It kills my spirit, I'm just a little snowflake.
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I tell you what Levi, it’s a strange thing, I’m older than you, 60 in a few months and I am thinking of retiring in 2/3 years depending on circumstance.
Often these days when I’m doing a ballache job, or something tricky and I have the machines on the job, men, falling trees, lorries coming and going, then by mid afternoon the madness starts to clear, you start taking the stuff home, you got the job licked and you can relax a bit.
Well I absolutely love that!
I’ll miss doing something that means something, being part of the universe, taking money, spending money, giving money to the government who spend it on hospitals or bombing foreign countries or whatever.
Working is da bomb as the kids say.
Enjoy the journey, that’s where the real flavour lies.
 
I like to pick one afternoon a week for doing estimates. If it doesn’t work for client I explain that I can look at the property and we can discuss options afterwards. I don’t work weekends and I don’t work past 4:30. Allows me plenty of time for my family and recreation.
 
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