Your 2009 Goals

Nathan

Well, it's become a tradition here on ContractorTalk.com and just as we have done in past years (2006, 2007, and 2008), this is our yearly goals thread.

So... What are your goals for 2009?

Write them down in this thread and we will pull them back up at the end of the year and see how far you got.

Remember to set realistic goals but also to push yourself a little.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

WisePainter

Learn how to work with a General Contractor instead of strictly Homeowners.
So far it has been a major learning experience.
Re~evaluate my prices and hire a full time employee (yikes).

Grow my business to the next level.

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My advice: Hire a real painter to do it.

Teetorbilt

Get some freakin' work! The CBC's aren't building anymore and now they're starting to jump into my pond, cutting the pie into smaller and smaller pieces. Let's add insult to injury, most of these guys are my friends.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

BuiltByMAC

'09 Goals:

1.] 30 ramps through R-A-T

2.] Increase business revenue by 30% through commercial projects

3.] Pwn my boy for one last season of snowboarding (Bday at Mt. Bachelor!)

I've got a few more that don't get shared w/ the world...

Mac

genecarp

Finish most of my house, increase my concrete business----phase out some of my contracting work-fewer jobs running at the same time. 6 weeks of vacation. better health care. That should get me started. G

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MALCO.New.York

Push, Prompt, Goad, Kick-in-the-ass more persons in an attempt to have said persons see "what is", rather than what is accepted.

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Something to One may be Nothing to another!

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

Frankawitz

Well I am hopeing for Work, Here in Michigan things have been slow for many years now. I did take on some work from a GC I met through one of my customers. He has work and seems to want to keep me busy, which I aint complainin. I hope to keep my house from being sold for back taxes. would like to finish some more rooms in my house. I have spent allot more money on advertising this year, now if I could just get the phone to start ringing with jobs coming in to pay for all of it. Well I hope the best to all you guys and gals out there working in construction.


www.frankawitz.net

mikeybobo

finish off the renovations on my home

firemike

#1. Same here! I have had materials stacked in the back shed for three years to redo the LR and Kitchen floors (hardwood) and insulate and re-drywall the bedroom.

#2. Like Frankawitz and Teetor said, try to find some friken' work. Hopefully the automotive bailout will help a little. So many contractors trying to get the same piece of pie now. The McMansion market has slowed down so all the bigger guys are bidding on the smaller jobs just to keep going. It is common to see 6 or 8 contractors bidding on the same small project now.

I lost a $3,000 bid by a thousand dollars a month ago, it had a week and a half of work and my material cost was $1,500. Just goes to show how hungry people are getting here.

Add to that many of the layed off non-trade workers are now trying to get a piece of that pie too. Painting, carpentry, tile work, etc. Buy a tool belt, throw a ladder in their truck, and instant contractor. We full time contractors are now competing with them too. I lost a bid a couple months ago for that reason. Small $1,000 job replacing a few interior doors. The homeowners gave the job to their neighbor, a layed off auto worker. They felt sorry for him because he was layed off and only getting $800 a week in unemployment.....

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-Mike-

silvertree

Play music 1 hour a day.
Enjoy my job.
Spend more time with my family.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

SCCTrim

Expand my private client base, and also expand the list of people I sub from. I have got to get more work coming in..

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S.Colwell Construction
York County Remodeling
Adams County Remodeling

Jason Whipple

My list for this year;

• Finish up projects at my house so we can put it on the market and relocate.
• Improve Marketing to provide more leads from our web site
• Get our wood working shop on it's own legs so it can survive with or without our construction business.
• Get Health Insurance for me and employees.
• Take two weeks off (take a trip away from home and work)

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Dorman Painting

Try to squeeze by for three months on the money in the bank is the first order of business. Winter has taught me that January and Febuary are typically slow months in Indiana, now that the recession is in full swing I'm just trying to hang on.

Continue to build my relationship with a huge outfit here in the Midwest/Southeast. They're saying all the right things, so we'll see where it goes. Get through the winter...

Gus Dering

- Take my lovely wife on a real vacation of her choice

- Maintain the same gross sales as last year

- excede the expectations of all this years clients

- Find my general contractor friends work where I can

- Have more fun

rbsremodeling

1. quit smoking
2. loose 10-15 pounds
3. Open my showroom by summer
4. Kick ass in 09

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THINKPAINTING

We have been through a couple of recessions, so hopefully we will survive this one.

Our hope in 2009 is to survive anything else is a plus...........

Its going to be a very tough year. Good Luck.

j.m.s.

New guy.

Make more money than last year,
Buy real estate &
create my own work (if market allows),
and play more!


Joe

PA woodbutcher

Add 5-7 new customers who use me exclusively without price shopping.

Take my wife fishing and spend quality time with her.

Tell my chldren how much I love them at least once a week.

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'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' - Ronald Reagan

Bodger

Quit smoking.
Make the same money as last year or better in spite of all this s**t in the news.
Get better at running the business end of things.
Have my Ramp-A-Thon ramp built by 1 June 2009

WarnerConstInc.

All you guys that want to quit smoking, I am thinking about upping my intake, this life thing is long!!!