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This post has gotten my business partner and I talking probly more than any other post so far.
It is Dale's reply that has sparked the discussions. I was shocked in one of Dales other post to know he is around 300k in earnings because he sounds as though he runs a multi-million dollar company; and well at that.
We have HUGE management issues. Not to say we aren't successful. We are exceeding this years goals in sales and really showing nice profit. Paid 2 trucks off in full. Paid almost all of our debts in general. Going into mid November with work booked until Jan 1 and at higher rates that usual because we are so busy. We worked with about 6 LA's this year and ALL of them are lining us up to work on their jobs next year. PLUS, my business partner is doing steady design/install projects ranging from 10k - 60k and they keep coming in!
BUT!!! We are so desperate for good systems that we have the same problems Pelican was venting about. Broken and lost equipment, employees not following directions, employees who don't know how to use equipment, MESSY shop all the time (I hate that and it's my fault as well), poor communication on all levels, no clear definitions. My foreman is a godsend, but I can't figure out how to use his abilities to improve the management on my level. My BP and I have decided to follow one of Landscape Managemnts suggestions in their newest issue (2007 business planner) and dedicate small 10 minute chunks of morning time to training. Equipment training first I am sure.
1 Day-One guy ran over a new powerhead with the chainsaw attatchment on it. $250 right there. My fault for not creating a tool center on site for the clearing job we were doing. Everything in the tool spot and nothing can get lost. Same day he lost stihl loppers at $80 cuz he kept hanging it off the back of the dumping trailer. Of course they got dumped. Same day 2 crew, who I never trained how to use a chainsaw and assumed knew the basics, dug "holes" flush cutting stumps and dulled 2 new chains instantly. $45 and $25. I bent the footstep on the backhoe by getting too tight on a tree and jerking into it (hurrying too much), $100 for my guy to fix it.
ALL MY FAULT. Dale is pretty brilliant. It is so easy to blame the guy who ran over the tool and lost the loppers. He is clearly A.D.D. but works really hard and is well liked by everyone.
So... I need systems from the most mundane of things to the way I handle difficult clients. I have always "winged" it in all respects because I have good instincts from my backround in Psychology for what makes people tick. From new employees to clients. We are just getting too big for winging anything.
I really have a lot to do this winter while recovering from getting cut up.
Thanks Dale.
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