100%. I've owned an engineering company for 25 years, and learning to say no was one of the best things I've done. Great video, well explained, and presented.
You made great points on how and why to say no, for your business and your own sanity. You have to do it to keep your head clear and focused to keep your business running smoothly. I think your business videos should help anyone who is trying to run their own shop
I run a one/man welding and machine shop. I started my business part time in 2015, and in 2018 quit a job I had for 21 years to go full time. Most of my work is from a major plant in our area. I fix and build the things their maintenance department cannot accomplish. I can bill out 40 hours per week very regularly. I also tinker around with small engines as a hobby and for pocket money. I have learned to say no after a few lessons early on, and I have learned to tell myself that I am just being honest when I turn down a job.
Very good advice and not what you typically hear when you're starting out. The customer is NOT always right and many times they are not the RIGHT customer.
Years ago one of my brothers buddies fired all of his customers and only took work building high dollar racing muscle cars, makes way more money and he is much happier and more successful
My philosophy in my speacilty Automotive engineering business was if the customer was right then his car wouldn't be in my shop. Retired now but I was always polite and friendly but I knocked back many jobs .Hope you're advice helps others who haven't had this education. Cheers Australia.
I already do this, great advice though. I am super picky now. Got tired of the entitled ignorant idiots who brag how rare there car is but cant grasp that I cant get them any part for their car at the corner store. And why isnt the whole build done in the 6 days like on TV! Haha! Great advice!
Thanks for putting this out you are 100% correct. This is all things I am trying to work on, get better with running my business and have had to learn the hard way. Its great to hear others have struggled with it and validate some of my current ideas and practices. Keep up the hard work and I enjoy the videos!
Excellent advice Mike, so true. Also need to get over the mentality that equates 'no' with 'I can't do that'. Don't take jobs just to prove you can do it or to impress someone with your skills.
I always have to clarify to people that I can do the work but cant take the project on. I get people responding to no as in oh you cant do it, and feel that it needs to be clarified as to not start the rumor mill turning
Started my own business 12 years ago (CNC machine shop). It took me a very long time to get in a position that I could say no. And even longer, as you elude, to learn how! I could not agree with everything you said in this video more.
I can relate ... if I had a dollar for every time I heard the customer is always right I could of retired a lot earlier ... "nope... not interested" ...
Same here, as soon as a client says " the customer is always right" i say yea, you would have to be a customer to be right and you are no longer a customer here so you have the right to leave
Mike, truer words were never spoken for any established business. It's hard to do it when you're starting out but as you evolve, you must learn to say no. All business is not good business.
Great advice Mike, I love this type of content. It was the part of the podcast that I appreciated the most. As someone who has been in the trade for many years but only on my own since 2020 this type of advice is key to navigating a path forward with my business.
Great video Mike and you hit the nail on the head, it is always difficult to say no especially when starting out, supporting a family and wanting/ needing to earn a income from your own business is difficult enough, but when you find where your meant to be and your own market, mine was tiling and picking who YOU want to do business with, well you will never be out of work and the quality of your work will speak for itself, loving your content Mike best wishes from Australia mate 🇦🇺
Mike i love all your videos ,your a true inspiration to all of us ,love the longer video's say around 30 minutes or more ,you and some other youtubers have probably shaved years of the learning curve ,maybe one ill be able to tske one of your classes ,it would be cool just to hang out at your shop and watch you work ,YOU are 1 if not the best metal shaper/fabrication experts ive seen on you tube ,THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HELP FULL VIDEOS ,YOUR THE MAN ,THANKS AGAIN MIKE :)
@cornfieldcustoms guess those people aren't true car people Oh your right about the tig welder to Mike no regrets ,hopefully next purchase is a power hammer ,can't afford that beautiful 1 you have ,but the Sosa shape-amatic ,the one you build yourself is within reach ,thanks again Mike
I didn't know you were a one man shop. Been in business since 2000 and employees have been the single biggest headache and expense. Sometimes it's felt like all we are doing it paying their mortgages! Good video. Thanks for the reminder.
Great video, and oh so true especially in the metal shaping industry most don't respect the hours and thought process that goes into solving and creating the end result. Great wise words Mike so so true thanks for your explanations and great videos
I don't know if you have more to add. I'd be interested in more of the process in vetting a customer. My current and scheduled customers are word of mouth and people I either directly know or know someone close to them. What steps do you take with someone you don't know anything about and on face value, they seem ok.
Thanks for watching, vetting clients is a challenge. some are easy to spot while others have gotten good at hiding their true selves until they get in the door. I tend to just fire problem clients when the sneak through
As a new business owner, I find these videos quite informative. I’d also be curious to know what some of your best investments have been for the business
Not sure if you have a video in it but how do you manage working on different projects through a week. Do you put in a certain amount of hours for each project every day
being good at a business doesn't mean your a good business person - GREAT ADVICE , and "Thank you" , GREAT MESSAGE to the way people should handle themselves when dealing with a gifted and talented people that are truly trying to help - the customer is Not always right "well said"
I'm 68 years old and been in business my whole life and what you are saying is soooo true.
Thanks for watching
100%. I've owned an engineering company for 25 years, and learning to say no was one of the best things I've done. Great video, well explained, and presented.
Thanks for sharing
Most of the time saying "no" is the smartest decision you can make, and usually with no regrets.
fully agree
As the owner of a small welding business in Southern California this video is spot on. Good job.
Thanks 👍
You made great points on how and why to say no, for your business and your own sanity. You have to do it to keep your head clear and focused to keep your business running smoothly. I think your business videos should help anyone who is trying to run their own shop
Thanks for watching
I run a one/man welding and machine shop. I started my business part time in 2015, and in 2018 quit a job I had for 21 years to go full time. Most of my work is from a major plant in our area. I fix and build the things their maintenance department cannot accomplish. I can bill out 40 hours per week very regularly. I also tinker around with small engines as a hobby and for pocket money. I have learned to say no after a few lessons early on, and I have learned to tell myself that I am just being honest when I turn down a job.
Yep no can be tough to say but super necessary
Very good advice and not what you typically hear when you're starting out. The customer is NOT always right and many times they are not the RIGHT customer.
Thanks for watching
Please keep doing these, thank you
Definitely one of the hard things to do
Years ago one of my brothers buddies fired all of his customers and only took work building high dollar racing muscle cars, makes way more money and he is much happier and more successful
Yep some times that is needed
My philosophy in my speacilty Automotive engineering business was if the customer was right then his car wouldn't be in my shop. Retired now but I was always polite and friendly but I knocked back many jobs .Hope you're advice helps others who haven't had this education. Cheers Australia.
Yep i say the same thing, I also try to be polite but sometimes you have to not be so polite about it
I already do this, great advice though. I am super picky now.
Got tired of the entitled ignorant idiots who brag how rare there car is but cant grasp that I cant get them any part for their car at the corner store. And why isnt the whole build done in the 6 days like on TV! Haha!
Great advice!
Thanks for putting this out you are 100% correct. This is all things I am trying to work on, get better with running my business and have had to learn the hard way. Its great to hear others have struggled with it and validate some of my current ideas and practices. Keep up the hard work and I enjoy the videos!
thanks for watching
Excellent advice Mike, so true. Also need to get over the mentality that equates 'no' with 'I can't do that'. Don't take jobs just to prove you can do it or to impress someone with your skills.
I always have to clarify to people that I can do the work but cant take the project on. I get people responding to no as in oh you cant do it, and feel that it needs to be clarified as to not start the rumor mill turning
Definitely spot on. Especially the part about projects representing you and your business.
Thanks for watching
Hit the ball out of the park with this one 👍👍
Thanks
Thanks Mike, new business owner here... 8 months in. This couldn't have come at a better time.
Glad it was helpful, good luck in business
@@cornfieldcustoms thanks Mike
Agreed. Took me years to figure this out.
thanks for watching
Good advice
Thanks for watching
Good stuff, I am a one man sign shop owner and have found to that to be very true
Very well said, I'm always struggling with that, good advice!
Same here, thanks for watching
Mike. I 100 percent agree with you. Especially with choosing who you work with.
Started my own business 12 years ago (CNC machine shop). It took me a very long time to get in a position that I could say no. And even longer, as you elude, to learn how! I could not agree with everything you said in this video more.
Solid advice. A friend who owns a repair shop and I had a conversation about this very topic years ago.
Thanks for watching
Great video Mike. As a one man shop learning the ropes I really find all of your business related videos very helpful. Thanks!
Thanks for watching, glad you find them helpful
Thanks for posting 📫 video
Thanks for watching
Long ago, I learned that 95% of your problems come from 5% of your customers. Fire those customers and you will have a much better life.
Thanks a fact
Good advice! Sometimes its real hard, but you're better off saying No!
Thanks for watching
I can relate ... if I had a dollar for every time I heard the customer is always right I could of retired a lot earlier ... "nope... not interested" ...
Same here, as soon as a client says " the customer is always right" i say yea, you would have to be a customer to be right and you are no longer a customer here so you have the right to leave
It's also difficult but necessary to say no to friends, being to busy to finish the project can stress out a friendship. Great advice you shared.
Yep I dont do friends or family projects any more
So true a very good subject good for some customers to listen to aswell 👍
Absolutely
Mike, truer words were never spoken for any established business. It's hard to do it when you're starting out but as you evolve, you must learn to say no. All business is not good business.
Great advice Mike, I love this type of content. It was the part of the podcast that I appreciated the most. As someone who has been in the trade for many years but only on my own since 2020 this type of advice is key to navigating a path forward with my business.
Thanks,glad you liked it and found it helpful
👍👍😎👍👍 ...... "no" truer words - thanks Mike!
Thanks
Great video Mike and you hit the nail on the head, it is always difficult to say no especially when starting out, supporting a family and wanting/ needing to earn a income from your own business is difficult enough, but when you find where your meant to be and your own market, mine was tiling and picking who YOU want to do business with, well you will never be out of work and the quality of your work will speak for itself, loving your content Mike best wishes from Australia mate 🇦🇺
Thanks for watching
All good 👍
Thanks for checking it out
Valuable information and so relevant. Thanks for sharing.
Tough decisions are just that.... Tough.
Thanks for watching
Most important word in business!
I agree 100%
Mike i love all your videos ,your a true inspiration to all of us ,love the longer video's say around 30 minutes or more ,you and some other youtubers have probably shaved years of the learning curve ,maybe one ill be able to tske one of your classes ,it would be cool just to hang out at your shop and watch you work ,YOU are 1 if not the best metal shaper/fabrication experts ive seen on you tube ,THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HELP FULL VIDEOS ,YOUR THE MAN ,THANKS AGAIN MIKE :)
Thanks man, i am torn with longer format stuff, i enjoy it but the average watch time on my videos is 8 mins as it is.
@cornfieldcustoms really that it ? I watch all your videos till the end and always want more ,and definitely can't wait for the next 1 ,thanks Mike
@@-donkey_696_ yep, i am always shocked by the low average watch percent. Most drop off after 90 seconds
@cornfieldcustoms guess those people aren't true car people
Oh your right about the tig welder to Mike no regrets ,hopefully next purchase is a power hammer ,can't afford that beautiful 1 you have ,but the Sosa shape-amatic ,the one you build yourself is within reach ,thanks again Mike
Thank You this is a very important life / business lesson, I build custom boats and your spot on and wish I would have learned this earlier
Thanks for watching
I didn't know you were a one man shop. Been in business since 2000 and employees have been the single biggest headache and expense. Sometimes it's felt like all we are doing it paying their mortgages!
Good video. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for watching. Yea I havent had employees in a long time.
He doesn't "do" bodywork, he Makes bodywork!
Thanks for watching
Great video, and oh so true especially in the metal shaping industry most don't respect the hours and thought process that goes into solving and creating the end result.
Great wise words Mike so so true thanks for your explanations and great videos
Thanks for watching
Very well said.
Thanks
This took me way too long to learn. Awesome advice 👍👍👍
Yep its a tough lesson to learn
Great video Mike thank you that's much right
You are very welcome
Thanks, Mike. Great video. Agree.
Thanks for watching Pat
Brilliant video, superb timing for me! Thank you👍🏼
Best video yet..... thank you !
Great inputs.
#STAYSAFE
#PHILLYPHILLY 🇺🇸
Thanks
I still have My sanity as an engine builder BECAUSE i learned to say no, a long time ago.
Good advice 👍👍
Thanks 👍
I don't know if you have more to add. I'd be interested in more of the process in vetting a customer. My current and scheduled customers are word of mouth and people I either directly know or know someone close to them. What steps do you take with someone you don't know anything about and on face value, they seem ok.
Thanks for watching, vetting clients is a challenge. some are easy to spot while others have gotten good at hiding their true selves until they get in the door. I tend to just fire problem clients when the sneak through
@@cornfieldcustoms do you have contracts signed prior to accepting the work that lays stuff like that out?
@@ChasingPerfection usually yes. More so on larger projects
Another Great video Mike. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it
As a new business owner, I find these videos quite informative. I’d also be curious to know what some of your best investments have been for the business
Thanks for watching, glad your finding them helpful
NO !!!!!! 😂😂
Not sure if you have a video in it but how do you manage working on different projects through a week. Do you put in a certain amount of hours for each project every day
I do weekly blocks on each project.
👏👏👏
having it written down is a cover your backside ,, thumbs up on the video
Say no unless it's for a gay wedding and you are a cakemaker.
😊👍 It's a choice.
being good at a business doesn't mean your a good business person - GREAT ADVICE , and "Thank you" , GREAT MESSAGE to the way people should handle themselves when dealing with a gifted and talented people that are truly trying to help - the customer is Not always right "well said"
Thanks for watching