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Once you’ve learned how to become a contractor and then put in a few months of hard work you might start to have a few doubts or frustrations, so I present to you an analogy that might help. I think we’ve all had that favorite sports team that was short on talent but positively brimming over with persistence and tenacity. A few Duke basketball clubs come to mind. It’s the kind of group that will drive other teams nuts because while they might fall behind by a few points they refuse to roll over and die. They hang around and keep fighting, just waiting for that opportunity to spring when the more talented team gets lazy or frustrated or allows an open window. As soon as the other team starts to crack, they’ll take advantage and bust the game wide open, usually leaving their more talented opponents in the dust. More often than not these kinds of teams are highly successful, and occasionally, with a little luck, they are champions.
Your fledgling business needs to be just as tenacious, just as persistent, and just as patient. In the early stages you’re sure to have setbacks. Startup costs will be more than you’d planned, getting systems in place will be a hassle, you’ll have few references and contacts, and there could be added stress on your home life with you pulling 60-hour weeks on your business. The novelty of owning your own business will quickly wear off and you might even occasionally doubt your ability to pull it off, but the trick is in finding a way to weather all the storms and tough it out.
It might take six months or it might take a year, but eventually that rickety vehicle that is your business will start to run smoother, the wheels will begin to turn more easily, and the 
competition will come into view directly ahead of you. As time goes by it will generally get easier as you learn the business, start to build a customer base, and work on solidifying a reputation in your city. And if you stick with it long enough you’ll start to be given huge opportunities to propel your business past the competition. It could be a large contract from the city, or a big write-up in the local paper, or a scandal in your competitor’s business, but eventually that day will come when your persistence will be rewarded by a huge leap forward for your business. Often times you won’t see them coming, but they WILL come, and only if you’re still in the game can you take advantage of them.
Most people will fall behind early and give up like a team of undisciplined punks, but if you have the fire in your belly to keep pushing forward you’ll eventually come across big opportunities to exploit and destroy your competition. You don’t have to be super-talented or a genius to go big with your business. You just have to stick around long enough to see your competitors throw in the towel.
My name is Jeff and I created this blog in 2007 to help and inspire contractors and home service providers. It’s come a long way since then.
I would like to know if you have taking any Moderate Business classes? The reason i ask is because i had a life changer happen to me and had to learn a different means of makin a living for rehabilataion reasons.. No, not drugs. motorcycle wreak and busted up body.. I learned to sell cars.. The company i sold for offered a business course thru Williams@Associates. Everything you covered, do’s and dont’s, following up leads, being sure and condfident, dress for success, well u get the point. They take you step by step in a repeatable cycle of proven skills and techniqus of the sale. I learned and followed to a tee and continued to follow it in everything i do. U should post to future business owners and folks wanting to succeed. If you are new to dealing with the public and performing business tasks, you need to check out this course offered before setting the first stone in starting a business. Believe me when i say ” I always had it in me to push forward and wanted something more and bigger out of life, Williams@Associats just gave me the tools and confidence to put it in play.” I learned to take free good advice whenever it’s offered… One last thing, Could you post information and proper steps towards taking OVER an EXISTING and ESTABLISHED 2 man crew and owner REMODELING and CONSTRUCTION company 40yrs. and still running strong. This is alittle new to me and I want to make sure all my I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed. If you have hope and ambition, and a positive busniess plan or idea, then all the rest should fall in place. I also want to thank you for all the detailed information and proven techniqus check-list. The advertising info was very helpful. im going to taken advantage of the internet and power of the people. POST ON BROTHER!
David,
No, I’ve not taken any business classes to speak of…what I know comes from the school of hard knocks, from my own experiences, and from my unending willingness to teach MYSELF the things that need to be learned (this often means hours of research on the net). I have never heard of the course that you mention but it sounds like a good one. Some people need a classroom to learn these things, and that’s fine. As for me, I’ve always just preferred the “self-taught” route to things.
Taking over an existing business…well, that’s a huge topic. That’s a good idea for a future post though. I’ll try to get around to writing that soon. In general, though, I guess I’ll offer some common sense advice: get a lawyer to look over the deal first, scour the accounting records and hire a pro to translate them for you, know what you’re getting into as far as potential liabilities or past obligations that have never been fulfilled, etc. Taking over somebody else’s business is a whole different animal and I would just take it slow and make sure you know what you’re getting into before you make the leap. Best of luck to you.