Broke My Arm, Cant Work

shelf guy

I am seriously freaking out. My business was going great, and I broke my left arm over the weekend. Now im in a cast for at least a month and have very limited ability to do anything with one hand. At the present I have no clue how im going to make it through. I do have some skilled helpers but there are still several things I HAVE to do.

So tell me how much of an idiot I am for poor planning, etc.

What is your advice?

J F

Sorry to hear it man....as for how much of an idiot you are...it's almost impossible to start out with all the insurances (i'm talking health and disability here), help (someone able to take your place if need be) when you're first starting out.

It's tough starting from scratch, sometimes you gotta just wing it to get started.

Do you have anyone in mind (another contractor) that can give you a "hand"? (poor pun, I know)

Good luck.

J

shelf guy

i have health ins, thankfully, so the medical bills wont really be an issue.

EricTheHandyman

Are your helpers capable of doing the work if you are there to supervise them?

skymaster

Am sorry to hear you got hurt. That said FIRST THING; STOP freaking out!
95% on any biz and job is YOUR BRAIN and ya still got a few bits of that left LOL. All you need is maybe another helper,pair of hands, PATIENCE.
So for next few weeks ya stand there and say the following: You do this and YOU over there come over here and help. OR you go over there and do that. You are on the job, so nothing gets screwed up. Let your customers know what happened and just tell them things will slow up a bit till you heal but nothing has changed and their jobs will be done as planned maybe a few days later than originally scheduled and thank them for their patience.

Railman

shelf guy,
Tough break!

What are the tasks that have to be done by you?

I think that your guys would relish the opportunity to learn what you know, & would be glad to help you out. It may be a win win situation if you approach it right. It may be a blessing in disguise.

I went through three broken bones during my MX days...left elbow, & both collar bones. You'd be amazed at what you'll be able to do in a couple of weeks once the swelling goes down. You learn to improvise.
Keep your chin up, & good luck.
Joe

MALCO.New.York

First off there is NOTHING that you do that is exclusive to you. Not beating you my friend, just stating that it may be time for you to have your help "step-up" and prove their worthiness. What ever these things are that you do have someone else be your hands and walk them through it. They just might surprise you!!!!

As for the freaking out part.....This too shall pass. Stop projecting and just do what needs to be done RIGHT NOW. You will get through it IF you go forward. Easier said than done UNTIL you actually do it then it all seems so simple!

Keep venting here in the Forums. It will help!

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Susan Betz

This is a good time for you to start putting what you know into teachable structure. That is, figure out step-by-step exactly what you do, and teach your guys to do it. You don't have to teach them everything, just enough to get the work done.

You may find this is a blessing in disguise -- you will be forced to act as the business owner instead of the chief worker.

Meanwhile, good luck. Broken arms heal.

__________________
Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

shelf guy

the thing is, my helpers are both part time, and only work afternoons and weekends with me, as they both hold full time jobs. and one of them has a pregnant wife at home and i feel bad about asking him to give up all his free time to help me.

wizendwizard

I agree...STOP FREAKING OUT!!
What makes you think you can't work because you broke your arm? OK, you can't swing a hammer. This don't end your career.

Stay focused. Delegate responsiblillity, Put one of your helpers in your place. Even your wife if need be.
A broken appendage doesn't stop you from being the boss. I know from personal experiance.

Now I will relate to you MY story from last year. May 4th, 2007.
A certain "big dumb guy" climbed onto the top step of a 6 ft ladder while nailing some soffit. This guy didn't listen to his lovely wife that morning and was home alone and decided to work on the soffit. This guy didn't have insurance. This guy had 3 remodels lined up to start 3 days later in succession. Needless to say this big dumb guy fell off that ladder and broke his heel bone "OFF". 3 years heal time on this type of break.

He didn't give up. Called in his guy's told them what was going on and they went on the jobs the following monday and completed almost $200,000 worth of work while sitting on a golf cart on the jobsite in a cast.

Continued with the help of his partner (wife) and put in and won almost $100,000 worth of estimates. On crutches!!!!

YES, I'M THIS "BIG DUMB GUY"

I hope this makes you see your broken arm in a better light and I sincerely hope you heal well and fast.

Now! Get up, You aint hurt!!!

__________________
"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

Susan Betz

Do you have any buddies who are contractors who could sub you out some work/workers? You need people who have certain skills, not necessarily knowing how to build shelving. In this market, if you've got work, I guarantee you can find someone who needs it. Pick up the phone and make some calls.

__________________
Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com

MALCO.New.York

Part timers..........Step up or Step off.

As Susan says....Become the conductor and not the lead violinist. You are now forced to become the business owner who works from a computer and a phone and goes to Puerto Rico for 3 months out of the year!!!!

Delegate. Delegate. And when you are done delegating have some else do it!

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

shelf guy

hi, thanks for the support. another thing is that im currently in the middle of a cash-flow crunch, which is kinda exacerbating the problem, in my eyes at least.

ive talked to my father, (who has built houses) who will help me if need be.

Michaeljp86

You need to drink more milk, I got hit by a car going 55mph and only broke a leg. I drink about 1 gallon of milk a day and took some nasty falls with no broken bones. My mom always had us drinking milk when we were little and now Im addicted to the stuff.

Or you could learn to use your feet like a chimpanzee.

__________________
I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson

Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system.

wizendwizard

I agree with the milk thing. Or at least calcium supplements. I take 400mg per day and drink lots of whole milk. They told me after my last xray that I have the bones of a 90 year old. I'm 37.

The chimp remark....lol! You'd be surprised at some solutions I had to come up with while immobile. Cooking dinner from a rolling chair? Using a mechanics rolling cart to lay and grout tile.

__________________
"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

Michaeljp86

Ive know alot of people who drink very little milk and get hurt very easy. Ive been in alot of places where I though I broke something and never have and the only thing I can think of is it must be my like addiction that caused my bones not to break.

Last year I had a brain fart and was using the drill press with gloves on. The piece of metal hung up and spun with the bit grabbing my glove and wrapping my hand upbackwards, my palm was facing out so the back of my fingers were wrapped up tight against the 1/2bit. I unwrapped my had knowing I broke all my fingers and my hand was purple but was a little knumb but worked fine. Luckly I used the little 1/2hp delta, the big drill press has a 6hp motor.

Using the creeper cart for tile is a good idea for large floors. Could save alot of back pain.

__________________
I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson

Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system.

wizendwizard

It sure saved a lot of foot pain!

__________________
"If you start the grout process over, you too could use sparkly grout!"
There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant, they are either illegal or immigrants.
I'm Retired, or a student, don't really know anymore.

Michaeljp86

Ive got a powerful 12v motor with a step pully on it Ive been wanting to build a cart to lay on and have a electric drive and drive down the rows in the garden to pull weeds. That gets hard on my back so I think I could go alot faster and have a better time doing it. I could put a roof on it so I wont bake in the sun and I wont need my sombraro.

__________________
I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson

Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system.

Floordude

I broke my leg, tib & fib, back in 2002. I work solo, it took 4 months to rehab. I would have lost it all, had it not been for my AFLAC supplimental insurance. It paid my bills so I didn't lose the house or have the utilities turned off. My savings dwindled, also.

Sounds like you have more options then I did.

Just get on the job and dictate and be a hard ass. Then blame it on the meds.

__________________
**Education is the key to success. Learn more, earn more.**
http://www.AustinFloorguy.com

Brock

Left arm? I could still get alot if not all my work done with the right, as long as a couple of the fingers on the left still worked. I broke my left wrist once and to be honest I liked the feel of the cast on that arm while it was on. They even let me play football with a special pad over it so I wouldn't miss any games. Also I broke my right ankle playing basketball and I invented a special device that strapped onto my thigh that allowed me to walk with a peg leg instead of crutches. You would be suprised how the human can adapt after a seemingly debilitating injury. Sure there will be times you have to drag something instead of picking it up and carrying it. It's all about making the adjustments, and you will find that that missing that left arm is not as big of a hindrance as you think it is right now.