KickStart: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”😲 Yogi Berra, Baseball Hall of Fame catcher/manager and pithy folk philosopher.
Good for Yogi! He was a man of action! But Yogi overlooked a very important part of any “fork in the road”.
Recognizing that a decision “masquerading as a small choice” now can have HUGE consequences later in life!😲
For example, remember that cute chick you started casually flirting with many years ago?💖 How long have you been married now?
Your very worst option? To stay undecided long term and not take either “fork in the road”! Come on, how long have you waffled between A) staying small in business or B) scaling up into a residential services operation that will run smoothly without you?👍👍
NOTE: I call this second “B” choice a Critical Mass Business (CMB) and for most of us it is a much better option! So I beg you to…
Carefully ponder on the dangers of staying a solo owner-operator business long term.
WARNING: The real peril of being indecisive long term? You may slide into staying on “The Road In-Between” (RIB) which is a terrible business model and a “Hell on earth” existence!
In other words, you’re “too small” to hire mid-level managers but “too big” to enjoy the (supposedly) easy life of an owner-operator. So. it is ALL on you!
I know, you may be thinking, “Steve, I tried getting big before and it was horrible. I make more money with less stress just staying small with no employees.” Understood…
I fired every one of my employees once and downsized too!😥 Staying small can be oh-so-very tempting! But before you go the “Lone Wolf” route consider the down side…
1. You’re “fragile”. Yeah, I know- you’re an Iron Man. SORRY- one false step can put you on crutches for two months! Don’t ask me how I learned this a few weeks ago!🙄
2. No “recharging” time off. As a solo Lone Wolf that darn cell phone follows you… even on vacation! You feel if you’re not available 24-7 even supposedly “loyal clients” will… just leave! So your phone (and business) winds up holding you hostage!
RESOURCE: In our 3 hour, online SFS: Winning over your caller! LIVE seminar we’ll share how even Lone Wolves can easily book prospects who contact you by text, email, Facebook, website chat or even… the phone! HERE are our upcoming class dates…
3. You’re deep down TIRED! Servicing client’s homes is a tough business physically! So, your body can easily start breaking down.
4. No emotional support. Running a business all alone is at best emotionally exhausting! NOTE: Be very careful about “bringing the business home” with you. Your family needs YOU, not a needy, I’m-sick-of-it-all entrepreneur!
6. Little or no sale potential. Even a highly profitable one-person residential services operation won’t appeal to a potential buyer. After all, a well-heeled buyer (You don’t want to sell out to someone with no money!) doesn’t want to “buy a job”. (Jobs are easily available now… for free!)
7. Limited earning potential. Yes, we already discussed in #1 that you’re an Iron Man! Even so, you personally can only do so much work per day!💲 (Dramatically raising your prices will help but only so much!)
FULL DISCLOSURE: Honesty compelled me here to share the downside of staying as a small, one (or two) person cleaning or restoration business.
However, if you’re convinced a Lone Wolf business is best for you, ya gotta “do it right”.
Where Is YOUR “Sweet Spot” as a Home Service Pro?
Groucho Marx said it well: “I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.
Are you convinced your personal “Happy Place” does not involve multiple trucks and many headac… I mean “employees”? IF you’re absolutely resolved to build a solo “Lone Wolf business” please allow me help you “do it right”!👍👍
NOTE: I define the Lone Wolf business model as a solo owner-operator doing most of the actual work. (Possibly with a helper.) Then when a big project comes in instead of adding more full-time employees (and more personal pressure) Lone Wolves use casual labor and/or subcontractors .
Let’s start out by working on YOU! (Going forward I’ll focus on Lone Wolf finances, marketing and logistics.) Above all else…
Never allow anyone else to define your personal success for you!
Your biggest challenge? The well-meaning but unceasing pressure from friends and family to “make something out of yourself” by scaling up into a big business. Sadly, some view an entrepreneur without employees as an somewhat pitiful failure.
Yet I know many solo Home Service professionals that are extremely successful … IF you define success as being a happy, fulfilled individual with the freedom to live their life as they please!💖 Here’s a few tips for any Lone Wolf…
1. Dump envy by being grateful. This one’s for you personally. The American Way is to acquire MORE! More service vehicles, more clients, more employees, more money, more possessions, etc. The problem?
Your self-image and ego will definitely take a hit UNLESS you periodically remind yourself that you made a conscious and deliberate choice for… LESS! As in less problems, less issues, less sleepless nights, less heartache and less drama in your personal life.😎 (As we’ll learn going forward the Lone Wolf life can mean “MORE (not less) money”!)
2. Embrace (and promote) your “one-person show” status. When people learn you’re a business owner they’ll often ask, “So, how many employees do you have?” Suddenly, you’re on the defensive when you’re forced to shamefacedly reply, “Ummmm… it’s just me…”
Instead, adapt your 30-second “elevator speech” to start with, “I own and operate Craftsman Remodeling. Honestly, I’m probably a little too obsessed with quality (self-deprecating smile here) so I’ve chosen to personally do most of the work with a few part time workers helping me. We focus on…”
Marketing NOTE: Promote the “exclusive boutique” aspects of your owner-operated business. Use words like “fussy” or even “obsessive” when talking about your quality. Help new clients feel comfortable about you working in their home by including photos or stories about your family.
RESOURCE: I share exclusive Lone Wolf strategies in our 3 hour, online SFS: Winning over your caller! LIVE seminar. Click HERE for 100’s of ‘Lead Conversion’ ideas and systems to easily book prospects who contact you by text, email, Facebook, website chat or even… the phone! HERE are our upcoming class dates…
3. Learn to gently but firmly “Just say no!” This was (and still is) very difficult for me!😲 Remember, the joy of being a Lone Wolf is that… it’s just you.💖 So don’t let the “I gotta have it done today…” callers guilt you into working more than you want! Simply set clear parameters on what type of service jobs you’ll accept, where you will work and (most importantly) when you’re available. Then kindly but firmly stick to your guns! 👎
NOTE: Waiting list getting out of control? Limit it by charging more! We’ll focus on Steve’s exclusive “Point of Pain Pricing Model” soon!💲💲💲
Meanwhile, shouldn’t you be analyzing one simple but profound question… “Where is my personal ‘Happy Place’?”🤔
Steve