Crossroads
I’m at a crossroads. Metaphorically. Physically, I’m sitting on the couch in the long johns I wore under my insulated overalls today while I harvested stones out of the woods for a wall project here in wintry Maine. But it feels like I’m at a crossroads. Maybe that's the way having a business always feels?
I suppose it's healthy to continuously evaluate what you're doing and where you're going. Hence this most recent arrival at the crossroads. It’s been just over a year since I decided to do stonework with no full-time help and I'm trying to decide if I want to keep moving forward like that.
It’s been a great year. I’ve worked on some engaging projects and brought in and worked with some talented subcontractors. There were some bumps along the way; aren’t there always? To no one’s surprise but me, it took longer to get things done by myself than with two other people. But almost everything got mostly done. And now it’s almost spring again. Another season starts soon.
Do I want to do it the same way again?
I think I do.
Am I positive about that?
No.
Should I bring in some full-time help? Maybe someone to manage that help? And I can spend my days lining up work to keep them all busy, never touching a stone again?
It’s an option. It certainly has more leverage than what I’m doing now. But it doesn’t feel right.
Should I bring in more subs? Expand my network of professionals I work with and have a steady flow of work to keep an alternating lineup of pro's busy all the time?
Maybe.
A network of professionals that do great work and can do that great work without me present every day sounds like a good option. I love working with other pros. And there’s some leverage in this approach.
Could I take on two or three big jobs a year with an A-team of subs? And in between those jobs do some other fun, engaging, life-affirming, cool shit? Write, travel, build a house, start another business, just live?
That sounds pretty good.
It also sounds like I need more clarity on what I want.
The best and worst part of this is that it’s up to me. I get to decide. Just like you do with your affairs. All these options and an infinite more are possible. We get to choose how we do this. That’s some awesome responsibility.
What will we do with it?