Easy does it,,,

One day at a time,,,

the more I think about it, the better the idea I mentioned in a previous post, the more comfortable I get with it.

Talkin’ Mobile Mechanic.

SADLY, here, my current digs, that may be an issue. Mostly because the fallout of “Great Depression” mentality,,, I see it all the time with Bossman and Son of Bossman, griping about ‘gotta send it to collections’ or ‘they keep griping something ain’t right, only because they are sitting on the money’ etc etc etc

Now, there are ways around this, and things I have suggested to the bosses, like Half down UP FRONT, Earnest money so to speak,,, Collecting on payments isn’t really the issue, Cash talks, but debits and credits in this modern world of connectivity, have some weight too. I already have two options on electronic payments (one is in use here via my TIP JAR button) Paypal has been pretty reliable, and I also have a Square Banking app, that allows me to take cards IRT.

Now, there is no way in hell that I am just going to go for broke and jump in with both feet. I’m gonna maintain the J.O.B. for a time and just take sidework on weekends and evenings, BUILD THE REP, get known for skill and ‘professionalism’. Many I have dealt with already know my reputation, but I want to expand on that, and the best way of doing that is word of mouth. I truly do not like setting up Social Media accounts, but this world moves more along those lines, AND, most people that play in that ‘world’ tend to be “PAYERS”, not scams.

No oil changes,,, NO service/maintenance scheduled stuff. Diags and repairs only. As Fred mentioned, a spill in a parking lot is a major hassle, and sure to get some agency on my case. I recall an EPA investigation in one of the established shops I worked in, and it made us Techs life, a living hell for months. Even a dripping oil filter during an oil change would get us the side-eye from our watchdog. Never mind that 1981 Volvo parked in the lot with every single gasket and seal blown out,,, Thats wasn’t the customers fault, that was ours since it was in OUR LOT,,,

Shit like that will be my paranoia for awhile,,, I’ve seen how that game plays out and its expensive and usually terminal.

I’ve been thinking about it a whole lot more since last eve, even thinking about one of those 10’x10′ portable canopies for inclimate weather stuff. They don’t take up much space and I have a rather large box behind the cab that has some serious real-estate in it. (big enough for a full size shovel and post hole diggers to lay in and not get in the way of the doors closing,,,)

Yeah,,, this idea is growing on me. I’ll maintain the “McGuyver” aspects, for a time since I will be using this truck for the J.O.B. as well. Hell, just leave it like it is, only adding to what I carry/use as need be. She is a one-ton after all.

Just no fluid stuff,,, Oil changes are so low on the margin that they don’t pay squat until you hit QUANTITY,,, I recall that from my managerial days at VIOC,,, And we had the advantage of being in a parent company that ‘gave’ us the oil at cost,,,

Yes. I have ‘done this’ before, just not as my own business, and not where I have to handle every aspect of it: like advertising and accounting. (I did have a certain amount of number crunching we did on the monthly, but when it came to monitoring cashflow in both directions,,, not so much. I just knew what I was told on expected output and tried to meet or exceed it; let the pinheads in corporate handle the payroll and overhead numbers.)

No, I won’t be taking on any Emps,,,

In other news,,,,, I don’t know for certain, but I would say that tomorrow is another ‘freeday’. Two of our ‘critical’ Emps are taking the day off, the weather looks to be complete shit, and We do have a big job at a remote location that needs to be “Everybody on deck” for. I await the text message,,,

Crankshaft did NOT come in today,,, they say ‘Tomorrow for certain’, but I aint’ gonna hold my breath at this point,,, Planning for the weekend to be another wrench fest, and not before. I picked up some fuel hose to cover the rod bolts so they can’t score up my brand new journals during install. I also picked up a transmission jack (cheaper version, for when on stands) ’cause, lets face it, I ain’t getting any younger and wrasslin’ gear boxes ain’t no fun even when you are in your prime. May be a once a year tool, but its there now. Da looked relieved when he saw it. I figured he recalled the mess I dealt with in hanging his transmission during his clutch install a few months back, and wasn’t looking forward to standing aside helplessly, while I cussed, cursed, swore and raised Cain on mine (which is even heavier despite being only a RWD version,,,)

Fact: I need this, I need something I have more control over that brings me income of some level. I can’t be chained to the whims and fluctuations of someone else’s business model. I may be ‘late to the game’ but I recall the automotive world, quite well. Every set of wheels on the road is a potential customer and there is NO END of that potential here in the U.S.

More tomorrow, maybe even a podcast if I get an early enough start on it before that one key part arrives. Spud sorta gave y’all a prompt on some of my thinks about it, and I will expand on them when I start jabbering at a microphone.

more laters,,, Love y’all

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