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Re: Business advice???
I didn't have to read past the part where he lies to you. If he lies to you, he is no friend. It doesn't matter how bad you mess up, you should always be able to be honest with your friends. Especially your best friend for crying out loud.
I worked for one of my best bros when I first got into health club management. I used to mess up all the time and over sleep or something because I went out partying to hard the night before. It wasn't so much that I disrespected him but that I was irresponsible. However, I never once told him a lie. If I went and got hammered and over slept, I told him. If I met up with some chick and we stayed up all night and I was still phuked up the next day, I told him. If your friend is willing to lie to your face then he is not much of a friend. Like I said, it doesn't matter what happens, you should be able to tell the truth to your best friend. This is what my friend did to me. Everytime I over slept and didn't get to work on time he took $50 out of my paycheck. Eventually I got tired of getting money taken from me so I got smart and hired someone to work the Friday morning shift so I could got out Thursday night. It cost me a hell of a lot less than $50 too.
However, your problem is not as simple as that. You need this guy because of his quality of work. IMO, I would go on the hunt for someone who does as good a job as him. When you find that person, start them off with a 90 probation period and then start to give him a piece of the pie. As he further proves himself, give him bigger pieces. If the dude is quality, he will know other quality guys and you can take on even more business. IMO, I would put together a company of people much more talented than you and pay them like you can't afford for them to leave. They will work harder and better and your company will grow like a weed. No one expects to be a partnes right from the beginning. But, if you put it in writting that they will get a small percentage plus their wage they will work hard. If you put it in writting they have opportunites to get a bigger cut they will work hard. I have found that when you get a piece of the pie your mentality shifts from 'me' to 'company'. You want ALL your guys to have a 'company' mentality. Even if that means running half a dozen crews. You can do bonuses where if they finish a job early they get a bonus. Look at it like this: You give a crew 4 weeks worth of work and they do it in 3 1/2 weeks. What's that worth to you? Divide that into the whole year and you take on a lot more work. Just bonus the guys who make it happen and they will never leave you. If they are smart, they will finish every job early, get bonuses on every job and allow you to get more jobs done in a timely manner.
That's what I would do now that I know all the facts. You clearly can not count on this other guy. And you can tell him, "look, when you BS me I take it personally as if you don't respect our friendship. I can't have someone sorking for me that doesn't respect me. You gotta go." Then, bust your ass to find two guys who are good as him and give both a shot. One will step up to the plate. However, if you get lucky and both step up to the plate, your organized guy had better hit the streets and get you a lot more business. Never let a good employee get away. The little bit more it will cost to keep them is worth way more that what a bad employee will cost you. You are trying to build a business right now so forget about making any more money for the first year or two. Put all the extra cash back into marketing, bonuses, whatever it takes to build the most solid group of guys you can get. Then, a year or two down the road, you will really reep the rewards. Hell, if someone is doing awesome, give him his own team of guys and let them take off and you just take a small franchise fee or something. I don't know how that stuff works but it's an idea. Someone coming in with you and having the opportunity to have his own crew and all he pays out is a franchise fee. A smart guy will see the potential in that right away.
Good luck bro.
Originally posted by DJDIGGLER
I worked for one of my best bros when I first got into health club management. I used to mess up all the time and over sleep or something because I went out partying to hard the night before. It wasn't so much that I disrespected him but that I was irresponsible. However, I never once told him a lie. If I went and got hammered and over slept, I told him. If I met up with some chick and we stayed up all night and I was still phuked up the next day, I told him. If your friend is willing to lie to your face then he is not much of a friend. Like I said, it doesn't matter what happens, you should be able to tell the truth to your best friend. This is what my friend did to me. Everytime I over slept and didn't get to work on time he took $50 out of my paycheck. Eventually I got tired of getting money taken from me so I got smart and hired someone to work the Friday morning shift so I could got out Thursday night. It cost me a hell of a lot less than $50 too.
However, your problem is not as simple as that. You need this guy because of his quality of work. IMO, I would go on the hunt for someone who does as good a job as him. When you find that person, start them off with a 90 probation period and then start to give him a piece of the pie. As he further proves himself, give him bigger pieces. If the dude is quality, he will know other quality guys and you can take on even more business. IMO, I would put together a company of people much more talented than you and pay them like you can't afford for them to leave. They will work harder and better and your company will grow like a weed. No one expects to be a partnes right from the beginning. But, if you put it in writting that they will get a small percentage plus their wage they will work hard. If you put it in writting they have opportunites to get a bigger cut they will work hard. I have found that when you get a piece of the pie your mentality shifts from 'me' to 'company'. You want ALL your guys to have a 'company' mentality. Even if that means running half a dozen crews. You can do bonuses where if they finish a job early they get a bonus. Look at it like this: You give a crew 4 weeks worth of work and they do it in 3 1/2 weeks. What's that worth to you? Divide that into the whole year and you take on a lot more work. Just bonus the guys who make it happen and they will never leave you. If they are smart, they will finish every job early, get bonuses on every job and allow you to get more jobs done in a timely manner.
That's what I would do now that I know all the facts. You clearly can not count on this other guy. And you can tell him, "look, when you BS me I take it personally as if you don't respect our friendship. I can't have someone sorking for me that doesn't respect me. You gotta go." Then, bust your ass to find two guys who are good as him and give both a shot. One will step up to the plate. However, if you get lucky and both step up to the plate, your organized guy had better hit the streets and get you a lot more business. Never let a good employee get away. The little bit more it will cost to keep them is worth way more that what a bad employee will cost you. You are trying to build a business right now so forget about making any more money for the first year or two. Put all the extra cash back into marketing, bonuses, whatever it takes to build the most solid group of guys you can get. Then, a year or two down the road, you will really reep the rewards. Hell, if someone is doing awesome, give him his own team of guys and let them take off and you just take a small franchise fee or something. I don't know how that stuff works but it's an idea. Someone coming in with you and having the opportunity to have his own crew and all he pays out is a franchise fee. A smart guy will see the potential in that right away.
Good luck bro.
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