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Best advice you've gotten in this industry?
This thread has 66 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 18:04
juliejacobson
CE Pro Magazine
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April 2003
3,032
I also posted this on CE Pro linkedin group, but would love to hear from you guys as well. I know we'll get plenty silly answers, but I'd really like to hear some valuable advice that you received -- and either ignored (regretfully) or heeded (thankfully).

Thanks!

Best advice you ever got in this business?

Please share some pearls of wisdom that you are grateful to have received. Who gave you the advice? What did you do with the info? Why are you grateful? [Thanks for sharing]

I was inspired by this nugget from Walt Reardon of Gulf Coast Audio Video, Biloxi, MS, who was recently profiled by Portal (supplystream):

How do your customers find you?

Mostly word of mouth and from referrals dating back to the 90’s. We’ve done some TV commercials lately. I even tried to built a retail store, and the developer was my customer. He told me, “You came to my house, after I had spent tons of money, looked at my system, told me what I needed. I spent $50k at your recommendation and you fixed my system that previously I had never been able to use. I can give you a showroom, but it’s a kiss of death. You don’t want to have to support that, I’d rather you stay in business." And he was right!
"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins
www.cepro.com
[Link: twitter.com]
Post 2 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 18:23
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
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8,470
"get out"
Post 3 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 18:31
highfigh
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8,311
On June 14, 2017 at 18:23, goldenzrule said...
"get out"

Dammit! Beat me to it.

Someone who ended up working in sales at a few audio dealers and a couple of AV distributors was a customer in the early-'80s, starting when he was about 16. He was playing a gig at a local club and it was the first time we had seen each other in a long time- he reminded me of what I had told him many years before. He had come in with a friend and said "This must be the coolest job!" and I replied, "Makes a better hobby".

This was around the time the president of the company he was working for pissed the sales department off so much most of them quit and went to work for a company across the WI/IL border.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 4 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 19:28
Dave in Balto
Super Member
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January 2008
2,771
Yep
Hey, careful man, there's a beverage here!

The Dude
Post 5 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 20:50
BlackWire Designs
Senior Member
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1,401
Buy from BlackWire :x :x :x
BlackWire Designs
Post 6 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 22:02
vwpower44
Super Member
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August 2004
3,662
"Look adversity in the face and say 'F*ck YOu!'"

"You are better than that piece of technology that is beating you. It can only run its program and it can be beaten. You are better than this stupid little box."

"Never give up, find a solution"
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish...
Post 7 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 22:06
brucewayne
Advanced Member
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March 2006
895
I can't remember who it was but. We were on a stressful job and the installers were complaining.

The project manager

He looked around and said " we get paid to do some of the coolest s$&@ in the world in some of the sickest house in world. Remember that
brucewayne
Post 8 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 22:29
TouchCommander
Active Member
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December 2004
602
No job to small, many to big!!!
No job to small, many to big
Post 9 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 22:58
3PedalMINI
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7,860
On June 14, 2017 at 19:28, Dave in Balto said...
Yep

yep!
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 10 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 23:07
Mogul
Senior Member
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May 2010
1,164
"Go buy the Rigid Shop Vac that looks like a toolbox...You'll never regret it..." [Industry Veteren, Peter Niemchak]:

[Link: homedepot.com]

I have not regretted it...Fantastic vacuum.
"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." [Sir Henry Royce]
Post 11 made on Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 23:26
highfigh
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On June 14, 2017 at 22:06, brucewayne said...
I can't remember who it was but. We were on a stressful job and the installers were complaining.

The project manager

He looked around and said " we get paid to do some of the coolest s$&@ in the world in some of the sickest house in world. Remember that

Some might, but the rest have to deal with uninformed customers whose "expert buddy" told them what they need, not to pay what is asked and to ask for the freaking moon after the quote comes in. They want the best, at a discount and they don't care whose nuts they step on to get it. Some clients buy a lot, want a lot and pay for it, but can be incredibly impulsive at times and that messes with the whole project. Some just don't know what they want and can't verbalize this, leaving us to read their minds. Then, there are the ones who think they can call and get us there at a moment's notice, especially when we're already busy. When it's slow, they say "No hurry". If we try to make them work with our schedule, we can lose business.

What the PM said doesn't pay the installer's bills or reduce their stress.

Fortunately for me, I also work on boats and that serves as a nice diversion from the BS.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 12 made on Thursday June 15, 2017 at 01:01
tomciara
Loyal Member
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May 2002
7,958
If you wanna make a million dollars, start with two!

Don't sell to clients like you are spending your own money.
There is no truth anymore. Only assertions. The internet world has no interest in truth, only vindication for preconceived assumptions.
Post 13 made on Thursday June 15, 2017 at 06:34
thecapnredfish
Senior Member
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February 2008
1,397
On June 14, 2017 at 22:06, brucewayne said...
I can't remember who it was but. We were on a stressful job and the installers were complaining.

The project manager

He looked around and said " we get paid to do some of the coolest s$&@ in the world in some of the sickest house in world. Remember that

Next time you get all happy looking around someone's cool house installing their future hdmi problems. Go home that night, flip on some great porn and don't touch yourself. Let us, well don't let us know how that goes.

I get you point though, it can be fun working on things you can't afford. Still don't like it.
Post 14 made on Thursday June 15, 2017 at 06:51
Rob Grabon
Founding Member
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November 2001
1,392
"Your clients can afford better lawyers than you can." -CEDIA class

Embodies all of these: Don't get behind on payments, don't spend their deposits on stuff other than their equipment. Contracts are for lawyers, find an aimiable solution whenever possible. Listen to that little voice that says walk away when interviewing. It's rarely the fault of the previous installer that he fired. If you wouldn't invite him to your picnic, he's probably a bad client. It's not done, if you can't answer anything but yes to said question. Don't take a big job for your ego.
Technology is cheap, Time is expensive.
Post 15 made on Thursday June 15, 2017 at 08:08
SWFLMike
Long Time Member
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Posts:
January 2007
354
"Use the right tool for the job."

That one is from Dad, who's easily the smartest all-around technical person I know. This one has been proven over and over, no matter if I'm doing A/V work, or trying to pull the pilot bearing out while doing a clutch job.

"Make double payments."

My former boss told me this right after I bought my first place. He said that despite 'having' a lot of stuff, he didn't actually own *anything*. The idea was to build some personal wealth early, for long-term stability. I paid the first place off about 5 years ago (in my early 30's), and that one was a game-changer. It's not industry specific advice, but if you have an aspirations of starting a business, any business, it's *extremely* helpful to have low personal overhead.

"If you're standing still, you're moving backwards."

This was actually the wife of a different boss, and that's something she said as I was leaving the company. But it's true - maintaining your position, over time, is a losing position in the field. You have to keep learning and adapting, all the time.

"Fortune favors the bold."

OK, well maybe that was on the Guinness truck, but I still took it as advice. And it's true. You can be a kick ass employee, but unless you have the stones to take the leap and try for greater things, you'll probably only ever be a great employee.
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