Self-Employment, do's and dont's...

Self-Employment, do's and dont's...

As a self-employed individual for the past 13+ years I have helped many people with construction & home improvement projects. Along the way, it has given me quite a bit of insight about how to treat homeowners and people in general. I believe I have always had a keen eye for the little details when it comes to custom craftsmanship, and this is the first and foremost tip that I can offer to anyone in a related field. People love to be treated like a king, and if you can keep the queen of the castle (home) on good terms with the overall project, things tend to go very smoothly. Not to belittle the king, but if the queen isn't happy, nobody is happy. Remember, their home is their castle, and the single largest and most important investment for more than 80% of the population.

Besides paying attention to details, you have to have the mindset that you are going to do what you say you are going to do. This is paramount to building trust with the owners of the home. If your character reflects this trait, it makes it easier to maintain a good relationship. I have met and heard about too many sub-contractors that fail to show up, this has been a burden that makes everyone in the trades look bad. Luckily, you can defeat the problem by being an individual that understands this problem, and incorporates positive actions in their business.

Don't forget to make the call! If you should find yourself in a situation where you simply cannot maintain your schedule, MAKE THE CALL. Home owners LOVE it when you communicate with them, it keeps them in the loop while showing off your great communication skills. Usually, self employed individuals are not able to get everyday errands done because they are working as many hours as possible. Believe me when I say getting to the bank can sometimes be difficult. I know from experience that home owners understand these interruptions if you simply communicate with them on a regular basis.

Keep a positive attitude. Sometimes it can be difficult to mask frustration with a situation. It shows right through in your attitude. I know that self employment brings many frustrations out in me, but that is how I deal with problems. I try to use the anger to help me figure out how to solve whatever problems I am encountering at the time. It is not meant to offend anyone, but I have certainly offended a few people with my poor attitude. When this happens I try to apologize for my actions as soon as possible. That's how people are able to relate to you, based on how you relate to them. If you keep the golden rule in mind, it is easier for people to forgive your character faults.

Stand behind your work. Do not take the mentality of "That's good enough". My experience has shown me that if you do not do it right the first time, you will have to do it over for free. What a difficult subject for some people. Some people just do not have the patience for details, I don't have patience with those people because they are making me as well as others look bad. Your home owner should never be disappointed if you try to pay attention to the details.

By all means this article has not exhausted the issues of self employment, but it is a good start, with more articles to come.

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