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So in light of Covid shutting down a lot of my Union electrical projects I've found myself with a lot of free time. I've decided to start a handyman business to fill up this time and keep me headed forward in a direction. I thought I would keep a process/execution journal and share some of the processes that I'm going through building an unsexy handyman/dirty deeds task company from the ground up. No previous existing customer base, no revenue, $0.00 in starting capital. I hope this helps some of you guys on your own endeavors, as your own posts have helped me over the years in my own.
2021 DIRTY DEEDS BUSINESS JOURNAL
I had an Anxiety attack Friday night driving home. I should feel excited about this side job, but I’m worried about not being able to do it, about messing up and failing, about losing what little bit of freedom and self-reliance I have created in the last 2 years. Every call that comes in I worry will I be able to schedule them and honor my word, or will something outside of my power prevent me from doing that.
I can’t run any jobs today because I promised my son I would chaperone him and his girlfriend. So I started reading a business book about Mattress Mack (Houston, Tx) a lot of what he has gone through really resonates with me like the below entry.
“The lack of work and purpose in life depressed me. In addition to my growing frustration over the bankruptcy, I was personally running out of money. When things were going well with the health clubs, I wasn't uneasy about going into debt to buy a nice car or to build more clubs. However, now that no money was coming in, I felt the pressure of my creditors. It happened gradually, but it was grinding and relentless. First I sold my car and began to use public transportation, mostly the bus to get around town. Next, I broke the lease to my apartment and moved back home with my parents. The final straw, the last move that convinced me that I had lost everything, was when I was served divorce papers.
I spent days at a time without leaving my parents’ house. I felt like a failure. When I look in the mirror, I thought to myself I even look like a failure. A mostly shy and private person already, I was now becoming even more withdrawn. Talking became a burden. My depression began to feed on itself. The more depressed I got, the less functional I became. The less functional I became, the more depressed I got. It became a vicious cycle that anyone who has suffered from depression knows all to well. I had always had something to lift my spirits when things were not going well--football, weight lifting, business, Now I wasn’t sure what to do.”
2021 DIRTY DEEDS BUSINESS JOURNAL
1.25.2021(MON)
No news from Henderson Electric on when I’ll get to work this week. Starting to worry about how long this slow down is going to last. I can’t exactly quit my apprenticeship, but my resolution to continue walking this path gets harder with each workless day.1.26.2021(TUE)
I’ve decided to start taking on handyman/appliance repair customers again. Even if it doesn't bring in six figures it will give me something to do to occupy all this idle time I seem to have on my hands lately. I signed up with Thumbtack and so far I have had a few inquiries for my services. We shall see where this goes. I had three of my friends who I have done work for in the past write me glowing reviews to try and boost my search results on thumbtack. I've decided to name my endeavor Trident Home Services. I created a logo on Canva wile waiting in the car rider line for my daughter. Researched customer management systems and best practices for invoicing customers dr1.27.2021(WED)
I got called into work this morning by Henderson Electric. I managed to eke out 8 hrs today($125 after taxes) on a project, but things are not looking good for Electrical work with Henderson. I get that I'm not the only one suffering hours wise, but it's getting harder to fight the anxiety that comes with not working consistent hours on a project. Honestly it's not the lack of money that bothers me, it's the lack of purpose in my day that feeds the depression.1.28.2021(THU)
Decided to take inventory of all the tools and skills I have available at my disposal to try and get myself out of this rut with Henderson. I have a truck, assorted power and hand tools, and a lifetime of experience making the best out of shitty situations just to get by. I actually had a customer call me today to get a quote for some handyman work( fixing a door that won’t shut, hanging some blinds, replacing some rotten wood around her garage doors.) I also had my JATC Electrical code exams today (scored an 84) and left the campus at 10pm.1.29.2021(FRI)
Got up this morning and had some coffee at a local restaurant that I use as my mobile office. I met with my customer this morning at 10am to take measurements and worked up a bid for her project. ($865). She just approved via text messaging, so now I'm waiting on her to send over the deposit so I can order materials and start work on Monday(2/1) at 9 am. I’m feeling really anxious about this, and the fear that I may screw this up sometimes keeps my feet planted firmly to the ground. I’m having to learn how to bill out and invoice all over again, Trying to set up systems to track the 6 leads I've gotten so far, as well as the estimates I have pending.1.30.2021(SAT)
Woke up this morning to 2 more Appliance repair leads. Responded to them, and texted my first customer about collecting her Deposit. Materials are only going to cost me $150 but that's money I'd rather not spend on someone I don’t have a business relationship with. Some of that has to do with having so many customers at Maverick First Aid, not paying us for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Safety and first aid equipment. I like my clients to have a little skin in the game before I commit my resources to them.I had an Anxiety attack Friday night driving home. I should feel excited about this side job, but I’m worried about not being able to do it, about messing up and failing, about losing what little bit of freedom and self-reliance I have created in the last 2 years. Every call that comes in I worry will I be able to schedule them and honor my word, or will something outside of my power prevent me from doing that.
I can’t run any jobs today because I promised my son I would chaperone him and his girlfriend. So I started reading a business book about Mattress Mack (Houston, Tx) a lot of what he has gone through really resonates with me like the below entry.
“The lack of work and purpose in life depressed me. In addition to my growing frustration over the bankruptcy, I was personally running out of money. When things were going well with the health clubs, I wasn't uneasy about going into debt to buy a nice car or to build more clubs. However, now that no money was coming in, I felt the pressure of my creditors. It happened gradually, but it was grinding and relentless. First I sold my car and began to use public transportation, mostly the bus to get around town. Next, I broke the lease to my apartment and moved back home with my parents. The final straw, the last move that convinced me that I had lost everything, was when I was served divorce papers.
I spent days at a time without leaving my parents’ house. I felt like a failure. When I look in the mirror, I thought to myself I even look like a failure. A mostly shy and private person already, I was now becoming even more withdrawn. Talking became a burden. My depression began to feed on itself. The more depressed I got, the less functional I became. The less functional I became, the more depressed I got. It became a vicious cycle that anyone who has suffered from depression knows all to well. I had always had something to lift my spirits when things were not going well--football, weight lifting, business, Now I wasn’t sure what to do.”
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