WORK IN THE BUSINESS, OR OWN THE BUSINESS?
Starting your own business can often seem like the greatest idea – the cherry on top of your career, the big goal that everyone strives for. However, starting a business isn’t for everyone and it’s not the only answer to building your career. Was it a good idea for me personally? Yes! I started my company, Sonshine Girls Painting, in Nanaimo, BC, 25 years ago and it changed my life. While there were challenging times, I persevered because I love my work, I was driven to succeed, and I was willing to make sacrifices, knowing it would pay off for me and my family in the future.
As an entrepreneur, I am often asked, “what are the keys to success?” The answer is not always straightforward, but before embarking on starting a business, you need to weigh the pros and cons, consider your motivations, and understand what you are willing to sacrifice to succeed. Based on my personal journey, here are three things to assess before starting your own painting business:
1. Why do you want to be a business owner? Like many career paths, people don’t always think about why they want to progress in their career, they simply think it’s the logical next step in their professional journey. If you don’t know why you want it, when things get hard, and they will, you will question why you are doing it at all.
For me, I wanted more for my son. I wanted the flexibility and freedom to make every decision regarding my work and business. It took time to build my business, but eventually I was able to achieve my goals. And, along the way when I was tired and frustrated, my reason why kept me focused and motivated.
When I have spoken to groups about my painting career, people often only want to know about the “fairy tale” parts. It’s important to also understand the struggles that you might face so you can anticipate any challenges that may occur and better navigate the situation.
As an employee, your schedule likely does not vary. Most of my painters work Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the first five years of starting my business, I worked seven days a week, 10 hours a day. This didn’t leave a lot of time for relationships (but it did allow me the freedom to attend my son’s basketball games). Starting a business is like working two full-time jobs. It’s doing the work of painting and performing administrative duties. Eventually, as your business grows you can hire staff to assist with the workload, offering more balance and allowing you to focus on the parts of the job that you love.
List the things that are most important in your life and determine how starting a business fits in. Starting a business and succeeding at owning one will require sacrifices, but the rewards can be endless. And if you determine it’s not for you, remember that there are still many incredible ways to grow your career in the trades without being a business owner.
3. How do you differentiate yourself from the competition? Being personable, organized, efficient, and timely are keys to setting yourself apart from the competition. Here are a few takeaways that have attributed to the success of my company:
- Customer service: Ensure all correspondence is prompt and professional. Listen attentively to your customers’ needs and deliver with a personable approach.
- Attention to detail: A great painter is meticulous and delivers consistent and quality work at every jobsite. If you continue to stay organized and communicative with your clients, you will have happy clients, which can often turn into leads and referrals.
- Be efficient: Invest in tools and techniques that will help with your team’s productivity so you can get the job done quickly but effectively.
- Be on time: Stick to the schedule that you agreed to with your client and communicate if there will be any changes. This is key to earning respect and demonstrating that you are a dependable contractor.
Bottom line is, determine the lifestyle you desire and then take actions that align with your goals. I know my journey has been worth it for me, and the sacrifices I have made have paid off. I’m proud of the positive impact I’ve had on my clients and community, which continues to inspire and motivate me in my painting career. Wishing you luck in your own painting career journey and cheers to a successful future ahead!
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A flat sheen has a non-reflective finish that touches up well and hides minor surface imperfections.
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