Texas_Signmaker I am grateful for your encouragement. As to how many do I have, I have the one who started years ago. They have made it very clear that they want to work with me for many years to come.
How many others right now? Several have begun to have conversations with me to get acquainted and begin to sort out what is best to do next. They are all facing the idea that habits are hard to change. Two are wishing to sell their business and retire. They would like to do what I am attempting to get going. They also are facing challenges. Three are looking to hire new employees. They struggle with high turnover. Again, they are having some challenges. (My personal perspective is this: If you do not have a waiting list of qualified people who want to work for you, then there is plenty of room for improvement. That is just the way I see it.) And then, I have had conversations with those just starting out. And, a few have had one or two conversations and decided it was not a good fit at the time. Maybe later.
All of these potential long-term clients are thinking through whether they just want to fly by the seat of their pants or also keep an eye on the dashboard.
How many would I like to have? I am watching to see how that plays out. I am projecting that maybe somewhere between ten and twenty might be the number, but I will wait and see. One at a time.
My intent is to be helpful with the business management side of sign-making.
In the last few months, I have developed a network of people who are state-of-the-art business coaches on numerous topics. All of these wonderful people are available to me if I should need them. Everything is moving forward, with many bumps and boulders in the road. We shall see which way the wind blows.
I often remind myself of the challenges Thomas Edison faced before the light turned on.
