Sitting in Atlanta Airport

We joined Roofers Success International in Novemeber. The convention was this week. I just spent 4 days with roofers that did not complain once about Mexicans, subs, the economy, osha, or any other goverment agency. The only thing that was talked about was what works to improve your company and how to implement it.

Woody said "No matter how heartfelt I start out, they all seem to end with something about a lady from Nantucket."

That got me good first thing in the morning. Vickie and Lefty got me good too!

The written word can have many interpretations, the internet is serious business.

Back on topic: $24k is a lot of money no doubt about it. I didn't think it was per year though. One great idea, or a few really good ones could quickly pay for that.

Lefty Said: Mike, It is good to see your 2 posts here. One reason is, it is always nice to see good things said about yourself.

The main reason is Andy was calling me wordy in another topic, and with those 2 posts it will show him what wordy is. I have been called a lot of things. But wordy, I have never been accused of being wordy. Of all the things said about me this is crossing the line. I almost want to ask for a retraction from Andy.

Vickie, Andy was being hostile, calling me wordy.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...!!! As MikeH said, that shoe must've fit tightly...lol.

No retraction. I stand by my comments. B)

One thing is for certain there now VERY Many of these groups that will teach you how to run your business. I get emails and junk mail constantly as I'm sure most of you do.

If Lefty was looking for help, it seems to me he did his due diligence and hopefully found it. Plenty of sources around. @ $25k a yr. they must be worth it. (rumor has it)

What'd I get in the mail today? Contractor-a-Poolaza in Chicago next month? 2 free tickets VALUED AT $479 each. What a deal! Anyone get a postcard? Did I miss the boat to my true calling somewhere?

I'm ready for a concert and a beer to tell the truth

:laugh:

Kaller, RSI, CCN, ProSult, Remodelers Advantage....keep going.....What'd we all do...go into business without knowing a fucking thing about it? :woohoo:

Eventually it'll level out I guess. Seems there a goldrush on for now if you are positioned for this.

OTOH I was surprised in my business group how many college educated and 2nd generation owners were in there. Riddle me that Batman!

You're something else Miss Vickie....just like most of us here ;)

Sorry I didn't mean to over react. I started to skim and saw the word 'condescending' I though a fight was going to ensue. I am just trying to justify my existence by throwing my weight around.

I didn't even remotely think about banning you, Wywoody. "Why-Wood-I" (get it?) It's your computer, not me.

Nice thoughts, beautifully written EGG.

I see you've inspired the poetic side of TWILL. (Nice job Tom)

I don't have much luck with poetry. No matter how heartfelt I start out, they all seem to end with something about a lady from Nantucket.

And.....even I have standards too.

Like I said when I found out almost immediately how many "successful" contractors were simply subbing to illegals, it was disillusionment from the get go.

But I stayed on.....even tho silly me, my wife embezzled everything I had :laugh: Obviously the problem isn't lying, cheating dirty contractors, it's Tom Williams' wife's embezzling!

Silly me :side:

I must also add that I made some pure genuine friends in that group.

Ultimately it is about self growth as much as business growth. I've always been hard headed in this category. So some things have always been difficult for me. Making the transition from roofer to businessman for me....almost impossible. I did make strides in that group. IDK, it's a lot of words to get there, but maybe the key word is "mis trust"?

The more I got off the roof I would still get bitched at for "being on the roof". Guess what CHARLIE BROWN, I have not been on the roof all season long? CAN WE MOVE FORWARD now?????

So yeah, Long Distance love affairs can suck

:laugh:

An attack on RSI? possibly. In the end I don't see how these orgs can go the distance without everything being a formula.

What I found in my group was no matter what I did, no matter how well it worked for me, I was just plain wrong. I know it does not make sense to re-invent the wheel, but re-inventing my own wheels for someone else's purpose? I could see where this was heading.

I was pounced upon at the 1st meeting for not being in debt. Not being miserable. Or.....how do I know that My WIFE IS NOT EMBEZZLING FROM ME?

Fair questions? YES! So accept my answer ASSHOLE and let's move forward (no she was not embezzling)

Sorry but I was not "desperate" when I joined. I just wanted to grow my business.

I'm not saying that I didn't learn a lot. I did. Would I do it again? Yes. Am I glad I quit? Most days, yes. Not all days. Like every group of people....well you know the rest

Thanks egg for writing that. "Balance" is a word I have been using more in the last year.

But also as winter dies and spring rises, I am running the last bit of despair out of me. Not that it's the best place to be....but a garden in the works, some sunshine, some hope for the season.....I try to look past the hard dollars to earn and the expenses of starting a new season.

I guess we each got to look at the big picture....or maybe the little one: Thyself

equally important

That was a conversation that was held. An it is a legitimate point that needs to be resolved. Every point you said about my name is correct. They are not trying to run my business. They ask hard questions that you may never have asked yourself.

I will not change my name. Everyone in my market knows my name. They may not be able to pronounce it, but they know it. People will ask are you the roofers that use the bird. Other people before they sign ask "do we get a bird" before they sign? We have one customer that has 4 birds on her house. Every time we do something for her she asks "do I get a bird"?

If I can not make a case for my position, I would be crazy to get my feathers all ruffled instead of listening to their points.

Well, I like to say that I personally install because it's the only part of the job I like. Not quite true, actually. I love the hit I get networking with all sorts of people, love tackling problems and making ends meet. I even occasionally like the bookwork end. Love talking on the phone, at times, love doing shop drawings, at times, love buying and modifying equipment, at times, love coming up with trick ways to improve all sorts of tasks, move product, love providing work for others, at times, love not having to grovel, love doing for myself. In short, love how it is that being in a productive, practical, elemental and necessary business creates a viable, no-nonsense link with the world at large. Love anticipating what the next phase of a project will take, cogitating over it silently overnight, getting out in the weather and helping to make it all manifest, watching it come up right. Take away the personal installing and for me it would all be pretty dull.

Which gets me to my central belief. Know thyself. Things can look big or small from the outside, but what others say about us makes poor sense. Each of us alone has to be the final judge of what resonates with deep and abiding meaning. That is a profoundly personal and spiritual thing. The external appearance of what we create does not necessarily represent internal satisfaction. I wouldn't want to be Warren Buffett but I strongly suspect that he is deeply satisfied and sustained by what he has created. I very much doubt he would enjoy what I do but I am too deeply satisfied by what I have created to care. Despite the preposterous disparity of scale it wouldn't surprise me at all if we were both equally satisfied with our lives. In the end it's not about the money or the fame. It's about taking what you are and developing that in the directions that make you stronger and more balanced. Entirely different hungers can lead to very similar fulfillment. We all have different roads to travel, lessons to learn, ideas to explore, businesses to build on. To each the rush that can take the breath away and which only happens when we are totally involved with what we are doing.

All different art forms and as a sculptor friend of mine once said, "The life of an artist is its own reward."

That was funny... with a name like"hicks" it's relatable too.

I often tell people "Hicks. It's a tradition, not a description"

As I look back over this whole thing, I see that Lefty and I exist in parallel universes.

I first took offense when he said "if you're only goal I had was to personally install." I personally install still for only one builder. He builds mega-mansions that take years to complete. He has been my customer and friend for decades. That is just a small part of my business. The rest is maintenance and repairs on tile roofs. How much time does your company spend doing that, Lefty? Next to nothing? That's my point.

You know nothing about what I do or what my goals are. You know nothing about what I and the other smaller-than-you guys have accomplished or have in the works outside of roofing.

I have a couple of questions for you Lefty. You say you're doing it for family and employees. What if the best advice that you get is you need to change your name. Experts tell you people dont' know how to pronounce it, it's difficult to remember and spell. You're known for the birds, the best thing for your company is call it "Put a bird on it roofing". Or any other name that might make your surviving company more profitable? Would you do it or is it more important to preserve the name?

RSI has lots of names to choose from, although if I ever decide to join, I'm calling dibs on Wally Wallaby's Wacky Woofing.

OK, this is kind of a test to see if I'm banned or if my computer is acting up. I can't start to write anything and scroll up to read anything and return and still have what was previously written. If this comes up, I will respond in a civil manner, however I refuse to completely to suppress my honesty when I feel the need.

I don't envy you Vickie, do you want lively talk or reminiscing about how good it used to be? Look what gets hits.