Talk about a Bad Week

Actually it was running and I went next property over to cut a tree down(2 small fruit trees) so the guys could keep working while I grinded out the little bit of trace roots and the oil cap blew off and it puked out the oil by the time I notice and kid working with me( just started and he's a real nightmare, backed into the minivan this week with the dump)was right there, smoke was coming from the whole machine and making a awful noice. Then pop goes the weasel. Good help is hard to find.
 
Rickytree, bad weeks blow, we all have them. In an attempt to help may I make a suggestion?
When an issue such as this happens try this. Ask" why " 5 times. So just for fun apply it here. 1 why did my stumper blow up? My new guy didn't tell me there was oil blowing every where because the oilcap blew off. 2 why didn't he tell me? perhaps being new, he didn't know that wasn't usual for that machine. 3 why not? Perhaps he has no mechanical inclination. 4 why didn't I know he doesn't have that aptitude? Because maybe my hiring/interview process needs to be tweaked. Ahah! Usually before you get to #5 you'll find that most problems will lead back to a management/ training problem.
I know it doesn't put the motor back in your machine.... But it might help avoid it next time. I have a vicious temper and this helps me not lash out at my guys. At least that's what the judge told me!
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[ QUOTE ]
I have a vicious temper ....

[/ QUOTE ]

Not vicious - just short fused. And never violent, just "verbal steam".

Between our two tempers, its a good thing neither of us were the fist fighting type in 2005. Being the only two guys in a two guy company could have resulted in bloody nosez.
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Good help is hard to find because we usually look for it when we needed it yesterday. The pressure to find someone then overrides our judgement. We'll look for the superficial skills/experience we think we need and overlook the aptitudes and attitudes that will differentiate good from mediocre or worse just bad. Since we're running in crises mode we then elevate the expectations we have of the people we've hired to be able to just step in and "hit the ground running".

For someone to come into a new company there is so much more to learn and unlearn than we perceive. There will be procedural and cultural differences for a new hire to work through and for us to manage and train them to adopt. To top it all off how you teach may not be the way the new hire learns. Taking the time when it's at a premium for you to do all this is pretty unlikely. So, we end up blaming the help instead of looking at ourselves.

Dig your well before your thirsty.....
 
good help is easy to find. it's getting good help to work for low wages that is hard.

tell a man his value to you is $10/hr and he just might believe you and act like it.

this isn't personal to anyone, it is universal.

and it applies even to the bosses around here, because we all work for someone.

respect.
 
Good point though I don't entirely agree that good help is easy to find. Certainly money fits into the equation but at some point it becomes all about the money. If you offered a high wage some would apply simply for the money. When it comes down to doing the actual work they are no better for having been paid well.

As for bosses, how many times has it been done quick and dirty when we feel shortchanged on a bid.
 
hey RT hang in there !! i have had one of the worst years as far as repairs go . never experienced anything like this before . it always seems like something needs fixed . i just keep pushing and never give up . although it starts to get to you sometimes !!!
 
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