The years end...

For the first Christmas in a long time, I have an eagerness to begin work as soon as is possible. So much has changed for myself work wise the past two months it's unbelievable to even think 12 months ago it would have happened. From finally taking control and setting up alone properly, to having my work assessed and accepted by Dulux Select and TrustMark, to joining checkatrade it's been a whirlwind. But it also very exciting to see what the future is going to bring. Already booked up the first 5 weeks of the new year, with calls coming in for more.

What I have learned is to not take people at face value. There is a lot out there who will try and take advantage of you, something I will have to be more vary off moving forward. Personally I want to improve my own work. Whilst having your work assessed and praised is a good thing and a confidence booster, there is always room for improvement. So I am looking to take advantage of all the training options Dulux Select offer, invest in better power sanding equipment and dust extraction and upgrade any tools that might need it along with some new branded work wear. I will also try to go that extra step to make my customers happy, anything which will put my business ahead of my rivals. There is a lot of competition around here, whilst there is enough work for all it doesn't hurt to aim a little higher :-)

The onus when working alone is that you are solely to blame if anything goes wrong, and as much as you try it can go wrong. How you deal with it is the key. This is another thing I am actively working on. Not saying anything has gone wrong so far (touch wood) but I'd to think I will be able to deal with it in a sensible and positive manner when it does. Dealing with a poor review is one. Do I look at it as a attack at myself, my work or could it be down to the reviewer reluctant to give anyone a good review? I don't know. Say I walk away from a job with the impression the customer was happy with me personally and the work I have done, as they will tell me in person, then later I get a review which I know doesn't reflect the way they portrayed themselves to me or the work I did. That in turn drops my rating down, unfairly, and I can't do anything about it so then prospective customers will see that and have second thoughts. Then I am having to work that extra bit harder to increase my rating back to what it should be! I see so many companies on rated people, checkatrade, etc with flawless reviews and I often think are they really that good or are they just very clever in who they ask to review them? Surely not every person will give out 10 out 10 every time? If the reviews are accurate then fair play, gives me the motivation to push for perfection in my business and achieve that for myself and if I do get a review that is less than favourable, I will think of that every time I am on a job to ensure it won't happen again.

This year I visited the painting and decorating show for the first time, my arms nearly dropped off from the freebies! Seriously it was a good experience, enjoyed seeing what new products were available, what products I would like to buy in the future and what ways I'd like to move my business in. Next year I will stay a bit longer and talk to a few more people because I didn't do enough of that this year, network a bit more.

At the show I brought some sliver fox brushes. For a small brush it holds a lot of paint and for cutting in water based products it is superb. Lovely straight lines, smooth almost brush less finish, very impressed. Also invested in more abranet for my handy sander and orbital, I see the finish I get with the flex sander using abranet so can only imagine it will increase using a mirka deros. That's on the list for the new year!

I would like to wish all my customers, old and new, a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year!