Scared

I am encountering more and more plumbing companies whose owners are scared. I am not sure if it is scared of success, or scared of change, or scared of asking for help. Why do people with the dream of going into business, think that they know it all and can’t ask questions?

A doctor goes through 4 years of college, 3 years of medical school, and 2 to 3 years of residency. Then if they want to specialize, 2 or 3 more years of school. If they open their own practice, they hire a business manager to run it because they know medicine, not running a business.

A plumber is very similar to a doctor in many ways. It takes 4 to 5 years to get your Journeyman’s plumbing license, while doing their residency or apprenticeship at the same time. Then another 1 to 3 years to get a Master plumbing license. They know plumbing, like a doctor knows medicine. They still don’t know squat about running a business! But they open their own business anyway. They make a lot of mistakes, undercharge for their services, work 7 days a week and wonder why their family suffers. They have this dream. The dream, however, was not supposed to be this way. Yet, when help is available, their pride is so strong, they will not ask for it.

I have talked about business executives and sports figures in the past who have coaches. Tiger Woods, the most recognized golfer in the world, has a golf coach. Baseball teams have pitching coaches and batting coaches. Football teams have many coaches. Even Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, has a coach. So, plumbers, what makes you so special that you don’t think you need one? Or, would you rather let yourself and your family suffer?

Here is what a plumbing coach can do for you; establish the correct price to charge based on your overhead; establish standards of day to day operations; establish benchmarks to make you run smoothly and be profitable; help you hire the right people; set up and teach you the financials of the business; establish best practices that the company will follow; be a sounding board because the coach has  past experiences; point you in the direction of success rather then failure; and the list goes on and on.

Oh, and let’s not forget, this is not free. Free advice is rarely correct and it is generally from someone who knows absolutely nothing about your business. Does this coaching have a price? Yes, but would you invest $150 to make $10,000 or more?

I love what I do. I want to see every plumber earns what he deserves and provides for his employees, his community, and especially his family. If you are tired of the struggle, and will set your pride aside so you can learn the right way to run a plumbing business, you need to contact me. I will take your business to where you always dreamt it would be. Quit being scared! Just act today to learn what you are missing.

The Plumbers Coach. Detailed personalized business coaching and training for plumbing contractors. See us on line at ThePlumbersCoach.com, like us on Facebook @ThePlumbersCoach, follow us on Twitter @T_PlumbersCoach, and on LinkedIn @KeithGlass1.