My Story. Part 2: Money Money Money

The day I found out that I can make money doing chores was the beginning moment in my love of money.

I remember the excitement of going to Target with my mom and running around the store looking at all the nice things to buy...especially candy and toys.

It’s been a few years since then, and for some reason, I still want to buy the candy and toys...but now I can purchase most everything here from the computer, and I don’t have to chase my kids through the store, and hunt for them between the clothing racks.

My favorite hobby was to spend money growing up.  My second favorite hobby was to work to make money.

I would do a job long enough to get the reward, and then find out that there was a better way to make money, and so I spent a lot of time job hopping.  I would pursue any job just for the paycheck. I found that the harder worker, willing to get dirty, doing the part that others didn’t want to do, would get the raise first.

My favorite story is working HVAC/R.  I started as a grunt laborer and learned everything I could.  Always asking questions and doing everything I could to please the people I worked with so they would divulge trade secrets and tricks.

I worked for 7 different companies over one year’s time.  I began at $10.50/hr and ended up working a “Davis Bacon” job for the government.  Which meant that we would make $35/hr for the work.

After getting a taste for a large amount of money for a small amount of work, I became skilled in selling small jobs and finding an opportunity to make a lot of money quickly.

I learned that I have a skill for gaining people’s trust by teaching them what I know, and showing them that I know not only about the job they wanted, but about EVERYTHING.  Knowledge is the most powerful sales tool.

For instance.  You want to purchase a car.  You don’t really know what the price tag is.  You want a low interest rate.
They have many tools to get your money:

1. They can sell you at an interest rate slightly higher than what the bank sells them.
   
2. They can just increase the base price.
   
3. They can sell you additions (vehicle components you could purchase elsewhere)
   
4. They can add to the closing costs.
   
5. They can add to their own commission.
   
6. They can also do illegal things...but the list above is disheartening enough…
   

I love learning.  I sold cars. I sold vacuums.  I sold pest control (in Boise Idaho of all places).  I sell home renovations now. Each thing I sold, I learned everything I could about the product, competitors, pricing, specifications, processes, alternatives, and substitutes.  Then, I added my own personal flare. I cared about people.

Next to money, my favorite hobby is people watching.

I am very much entertained by people.  I love watching people’s mannerisms. I love to play on words and misconstrue people’s words to tease and provoke (in a passive way).  My children at home have learned to have tough skin by learning to handle dad’s teasing.

They would ask something simple like, “Can you watch me?”, and I would respond with the restatement of something close to what they said, “Canoe watch (pointing to a pretend watch on my wrist) for me?” and then I would hold out my hand and say, “I would love to see a canoe watch!”

Mind you, I was always willing to watch them, and play with them, and be together.  But this is a fun activity in our home. Now, back to the story.

I found out that being a business owner means that every day, every interaction is a sales pitch.  

I pitch my employees on the idea that I know what I am doing, and that I can help them be happy and successful in life by learning my trade and engaging themselves in it.

I pitch projects and additions to homeowners and they keep calling me with more potential jobs and opportunities.

I pitch everyone I interact with on the idea of building/creating a better world for themselves, especially when it comes to their place of residence!

I love building, designing, and creating solutions to fix the BAD HOUSE syndrome.

I also care about people, and am quick to sell people AWAY from a home remodel that just wastes money and doesn’t serve a useful benefit to the homeowner.  Many homeowners imagine projects that aren’t wise, or that just don’t fit a budget. I will be the first one to tell you that your idea is dumb, and a waste of money.  I love saying NO to homeowners/investors.

I once did a job for a sweet woman who wanted a lot of things...they were poor taste in materials and design...and I was very timid to say that it would be ugly and a bad idea…

I kept suggesting to her to change to something else, and trying to recommend another alternative...but I was too timid.
When everything was done and over with, she realised I had tried to sway her away from a bad choice and she told me, “You have to be more bold and forward.  You are the professional and if someone has a bad idea, they need to know it and you can help them to make good decisions.”

So now, I am quick to stand up for what I know to be good.  I will do everything for others I can to help them to make decisions that are wise for their home, their family, and their investments.