Finding Time For Golf

Journeyman T

It’s common knowledge that many contractors like to play golf, but what I want to know is how they come to have the time. When starting a new construction company, countless hours are often invested to make it succeed. What are some of the things that some of you have done to reduce the time you spend running your business?

__________________

taper71

I love golf . I get out at least 2 times a week. All I do is work late or start early the day before golfing. The phone is shut off while golfing. I like to think of my buisness as a way to pay for the things I enjoy in life. Work to live not live to work is my motto. Besides I have got lots of business from getting out on 10 am tee time on a tuesday just because it seems like you are very successful when you can golf on a tuesday morning and not slaving away on a job site.

JumboJack

I am taking a break from golf as I don't have the time to play and practice as much as needed to play my best.I have been playing for a long time and got pretty good,2.9 low index.I cant hack,pun intended,playing poorly so I am gonna' take a break.The time spent with my kids is more fun anyways...

Journeyman T

I like your philosophy. Were you always able to make time for this? Do you make up every hour “starting early” or “working late,” or do find that you’re able to run the business just fine on fewer hours?

__________________

Journeyman T

I think that’s a good attitude. The point of my original post was not necessarily to find out how to play more golf, but to see what other contractors have done to run their business and still make time for other things. Did you always have this time to either play golf or spend with your family, or are there some things you’ve done since starting your business to manage it more efficiently?

__________________

taper71

I wasnt always like that. At first , like most people I wanted to have a huge company and make tonnes of money. I worked all the time, buisness came before anything else and I would justify it as Iam making life better for my familly. I became bitter, angry, and an alcoholic and lost everything. I learned the hard way that there is more to life than work. Now I only take on as much work as I can handle . I have no expectations of becoming rich with money. I give myself longer to finish jobs. I make this perfectly clear to my clients so I have the ability to do things like pick up my kids from school, go golfing at 10 am on a tuesday , or just be home with my familly. My dead lines are usually finished before time which makes my clients happy, and I make a crap load more money because I learned how to take the jobs that make me money instead of everything that comes my way. I also put money away for the times that are slow and invest wisely so my money works for me also. Life is soooo much better now. And I get to go glofing this afternoon.

Journeyman T

Thanks taper71.

Everybody: Is this all there is to it as far as reducing a company owner's time closer to 40 hours a week, or do some of you have more tricks up your sleeve?

__________________

dirt diggler

if i could get everything done in 40 hours - i'd look for more work. ill sleep when i die

wackman

I don't try to do it all myself (anymore at least).

I have guys who work for me who know a lot, sometimes more than me and they run the jobs. I take care of finding work, finacials, and upper managment.

Give yourself lots of room for mistakes and save as much money as you can for those "rainy days". That way one thunderstorm doesn't make you to panic or worse cause you to go under.

DON'T go out and buy lot's of tools/trucks/equipment just because you can. Sure you could use them, but only BUY them if they will make you way more money than just renting them, and think of the payments on those things that you'll still need to make during the slow times.

That's how I'm able to work less than I used to and I used to work 90 hrs a week.

Wack

joasis

Reminds me of a joke I heard a long time back...how did golf get it's name? The word sh!t was already taken!

I was down to a 4 handicap in the mid eighties, and it seemed improvement wasn't coming, and I just walked away. I have played with my son a few times over the years, but it just isn't fun......so little time, so many more meaningful things to do.

__________________

Journeyman T

Didn’t you just read The E-Myth Revisited, and say how much you loved it, less than a month ago? I just read the book, and it seems to be all about creating systems to run your business more efficiently so that you can spend less time running it. If you like to work so much that you don’t even have time to sleep, what exactly did you like so much about the book?

__________________

Journeyman T

wackman:

Thanks for the tips, and for being specific.

__________________

Journeyman T

I never really learned to play golf myself. I played one game once at a wedding reception, and it might be more accurate to say I was pretending to play. Golf never really interested me either, and if I did ever learn, it would probably be for business purposes only. I would be interested, though, in anything you’ve specifically done with your business so as to have more time for the more meaningful things you like to do.

__________________

wackman

I've just recently taken up golf. I've been getting invited to several "golf tournaments" from my suppliers, they're fun and good for networking but I'm tired of looking like an A$$ cause I suck. I'm gonna go to the driving range and putting green this winter and by next summer I'm guessing I'll not be too much worse than most of those jokers.

daArch

Golf is something I feel lucky to be able to do when times are a little slow, which happens. Last year I was able to get out every couple of weeks, this year only three times so far (I really resist the weekends).

It's also something I did when I was young, but then I got my licence and "discovered" girls and my golf went into "remission" for 40 years. Two years ago I had a "relapse". My father went into remission until after retirement, so his relapse was in his late-60's - I'd rather play at a younger age.

and wackman, take some lessons. If you go to the range without some expert advice, you'll just be reinforcing bad habits. BTDT

and I'm sure you've all seen Robin Williams' Golf bit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X04wZpqx3U

__________________
Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

wackman

Yeah, I heard that from some other people too, I think I will.

dirt diggler

yes, read it and actually reading it again.

to say it's "about systems" is an understatement and (imo) offers a deeper message


if i had a self-sustaining business (i.e. one that would not fall apart if I was gone for 3 weeks) I would find other ways to make more money. Whether investing or starting another business or adding another "division" to my existing company.


what did i like about the book?? that's a whole other thread ...