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What do you do?

| Posted in Business on January 12, 2002 06:25am

*
When face with the question “What do you do?” (pertaining to the line of work your in). How do you guys answer that question?

Since working as an independent I’ve always answered that question by the license I hold “I’m a builder”. But I’m not, in the traditional sense. I think people link the title builder with new home construction, squeezing a McMansion on a postage stamp lot. I’m a one-man show doing basically anything to make a dollar (you guys know what I’m talking about). So I don’t think the title “builder” is marketing my business or myself well. I would like to have a quick title that will make people think about the new kitchen cupboards or front door they’ve been wanting.

By the way Handyman is out.

What do you do?

Scott R.

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Replies

  1. Mike_Smith | Jan 04, 2002 03:41am | #1

    *
    scott.. i thought about this for a long time.. and i do exactly the same type of work that you do.. here's what i came up with......

    1. Michael_Rimoldi | Jan 04, 2002 04:20am | #2

      *Hey Mike...ver ynice logosignage. It looks very traditional yet not too old fashioned. I really like it.Scott, I cringe when people ask me as for some reason it always leads to their contractor bashing story, or them looking down on me for doing something soooo blue collar. When I hear folks at parties or such asking the "profession question" I run the other way. Mike

      1. GACC_DAllas | Jan 04, 2002 04:52am | #3

        *I tell people I'm a carpenter.No one is impressed unless they need some work done.Ed.

        1. E_Pinkston | Jan 04, 2002 05:09am | #4

          *Remodeling and Repair ContractorEric

          1. Danial_T | Jan 04, 2002 05:14am | #5

            *Dan's Maintenance Service. Should read Glorified Handyman and that is how I describe myself. I do handyman work for upper middle class and somewhat affluent clients so I can charge more than the standard handyman. My sales point is that they can trust me,I do good work, I give advice even if it costs me a few bucks and I am on time. Working well so far. DanT

          2. calvin_ | Jan 04, 2002 05:15am | #6

            *Same as Ed, then listen to the "oh.....you work with your hands, how lucky" or better yet, "we could sure use one of those". Course, many times they don't have a stinkin idea what a carpenter does. "Do you put in doors?". "We need a new kitchen, do you do that?". Best yet is when they jump right into thinking you lay carpet, and that's meant as no offense to you carpet layers. I swear, some of these parties are populated by those folks that would fail a simple civics test. I don't know if there is a good quick term for those of us who do general carpentry. Things are so specialized anymore, it just seems to befuddle the public. Just tell em you're a carpenter and then yup yup, nope nope all the rest of their queries.

          3. Mark_McDonnell | Jan 04, 2002 05:19am | #7

            *Most folks figure what I am....a carpenter.Must in the way I move! Or it could be that belt and bags.........So when they ask the obvious, What do you do? I reply, "I solve problems".They either pursue it with more questions, specifics, or they leave me alone.

          4. Tommy_B. | Jan 04, 2002 06:20am | #8

            *I usually tell them I'm a ditch digger, but I dabble in construction.Either that or I just say I work at McDonalds. Both of these will get you more respect than if you say you are a contractor.Seriously, my byline is "expert remodeling and new construction". A little cocky, but I could call myself a master carpenter like Norm does. I recently saw a guys ad that said something to the effect of "I'm not perfect but I do a pretty good job" which doesn't seem to inspire too much confidence. Someone recently referred me as a "guru" and I'm kind of uncomfortable with that.

          5. Mr.T | Jan 04, 2002 06:39am | #9

            *Sometimes I say CarpenterSometimes, Remodelersometimes, Construction foremansometimes, Undiscovered PornstarMr. T

          6. Stan_Foster | Jan 04, 2002 06:58am | #10

            *I just say I am a doctor of construction-------------I practise carpentry.

          7. S._Lykos | Jan 04, 2002 07:05am | #11

            *You got it right, Stan. What we "do" is a result of what we "are."I tell people that I "am" a remodeling contractor. What I "do" is specialize in the Professional Execution of Small Projects, and sometimes I say up front - I'm not cheap. In other words: I solve other people problems with their homes and/or offices. I am not a handyman. If you want one, I have several names and numbers for you to call.

          8. Rich_Beckman | Jan 04, 2002 07:57am | #12

            *I do home improvement and repair, and I supply professional handyman services.Rich Beckman

          9. James_DuHamel | Jan 04, 2002 08:20am | #13

            *I simply tell them I am a Home Repair and Improvement Contractor, specializing in repairs of their homes. James DuHamel

          10. Tim_Thompson | Jan 04, 2002 09:41am | #14

            *My simple answer is I am a general contractor. My long answer is I specialize in high end custom remodels and desing/build work.

          11. SHGLaw | Jan 04, 2002 02:01pm | #15

            *Years ago, I had a bunch of cards printed up that say:Armadillo Breeder"Bring a little joy into their lives"[email protected]

          12. Jim_Walters | Jan 04, 2002 04:10pm | #16

            *I went from Homestead Construction Co when I built houses to Jim Walters Carpentry.....for some reason it makes a difference as I now get many calls for cabs/trim stuff.....plus carpentry comes before remodeler in the newspaper adds column so they see me first.

          13. Scott_R | Jan 04, 2002 05:58pm | #17

            *> What do you do? I reply, "I solve problems"Mark I like it! The statement will make people ask questions, which allows me get more detailed into my work and pass out a card.Sonny I must admit right now, when I first saw your statement "professional execution of small projects" I really liked it and borrowed it. I hope you don't have copy righted, if you do I owe you.I have told people I'm a carpenter but then they assume I work for a large union shop outfit.Thanks for the input, some really good ideas. This will help facilitate my word of mouth business. My mouth!Scott R.

          14. Steve_Joyce | Jan 04, 2002 11:37pm | #18

            *You could always say you run your own business. If they ask what type of business you go from there into more detail. If you are worried about status of white vs. blue collar in their perception this should convey that you aren't just a handyman. Not that it matters but I have been know to say I'm a professional conversationalist and then shut up for a while. If they pursue it, I will tell them that I am hired by whoever throws the party to mingle and promote conversation amongst the guests.SJ

          15. S._Lykos | Jan 05, 2002 04:06am | #19

            *Scott, be my guest. As you've already determined - it says it all nicely.

          16. David_H._Polston | Jan 05, 2002 05:44am | #20

            *I have tried "House Guru", "House Doctor", "Hammer and Nail Swinger" and many others. Usually I tell people I am a "Home Improvement Contractor". But if I really was honest, I'd tell them "I sweep ... Sawdust"!David

          17. RonTeti | Jan 05, 2002 06:07am | #21

            *Petrolium Distribution TechnicianPortable Sanitation Engineer who temporarily installs hydraulic sanitary stations for use by both public and private sectors.

          18. Thomas_Cummings | Jan 05, 2002 04:22pm | #22

            *When asked, "What do you do?", I respond "I own a construction company".Never mind that it's just me, a pick-up truck, lottsa tools, a home office and a computer!If you say you are a carpenter you are going to get asked to work for wages on the spot.I give out a card and tell them they are welcome to call for a consultation or appointment.Thomas

          19. Mike_Smith | Jan 05, 2002 04:42pm | #23

            *Thomas... and scott.. that's along the line of what i finally decided on when i had to develop my marketing campaign..what did i want to convey in the reader's mind?was i a b Carpenter ?.. yes.. but i was also an engineer (small "e" )...foundation specialist...personnel manager... designer... architect (small "a")..laborer...estimatorso what did i do ?..i "built" things....well , if everyone was familiar with construction terms then they knew i was a General Contractor.. but that had a lot of problems..it wasn't warm & fuzzy.. it was two words instead of one.. and the average joe had no idea at all what GC meant.. so.. i decided i was exactly what we've been since the middle ages.. a builder..with all of the skills associated with that...

          20. FredB | Jan 05, 2002 08:23pm | #24

            *Of all the posts Ed and Thomas have got it right in my opinion. Ed is a sub-contractor so to his market being a carpenter puts it right up front for the GC whose looking for a sub. Thomas puts the fact that he is a businessman first in his public face.Different markets, different faces but they are the best.Now on the other hand, Sonny you have really done a good job of finding a cash cow in a niche in the barn and milking her for all she's worth. Bet no one gets more milk out of that cow than you do. But, I don't think your experience can be blindly generalized to the rest of the world. So, you score a close second. No take that back, you score first in the Niche Development and Exploitation category.

          21. Bucksnort_Billy | Jan 05, 2002 09:26pm | #25

            *I tell 'em I am the PRESIDENT of a constuction corporation...nobody asks presidents for anything free...

          22. Adrian_Wilson | Jan 05, 2002 10:26pm | #26

            *I'm a cabinetmaker. Most people don't have a clue what that is, so I get called a carpenter a lot.A couple of times (marriage license, legal documents), those people have asked what I do....I tell them. On those occasions, they wrote down 'businessman'. Made me think, and I'm still thinking.

          23. piffin_ | Jan 06, 2002 12:15am | #27

            *I like to call myself a builder or remodeler.What I do is to find satisfaction making people happy with their homes. If they enter into further conversation on the subject, they find out how exciting that is. It's hard to resist someone who is passionate about what he does.

          24. Orlo | Jan 06, 2002 01:17am | #28

            *Scott R, I would like to offer a opinion here.Over the years I can't begin to tell you how many times that someone would tell me, your making to much money for a carpenter. And on several occasion the customer did not what to pay me the agree amount because he/she thought this was to much money to pay for the time spend on the project are the amount of time it took to do it. I believe that the average person think someone working with his/her tools should only be make between $10.to $30.per hour.And because of this,I haven't worked by the hour in 25 years, only with a contract agreements. This is just my opinion.Larry

          25. piffin_ | Jan 06, 2002 03:57am | #29

            *Ask them if it makes any diff how much time is spent assembling the car they drive when they negotiate the purchase price. I think ford is at 18 hours and GM is at about 42 hours. For a thirty thousand dollar automobile, that is ridiculous. By comparison, A stair case rail that might take me about 2 to 2-1/2 days at $40/hr to install would seem to take Larry 4 or 5 hours (is that with a helper?) with his tools and experience.A specialist can almost always do it cheaper and better.

          26. Orlo | Jan 06, 2002 06:05am | #30

            *piffin, No helper, because I like to work alone. And normally if your working alone and specialisting in something you will always do it easier, faster and better because time is some ones money. And when I'm working with my tools, I would just like it to be mine.Larry

          27. Jim_A._Jensen | Jan 06, 2002 08:04am | #31

            *I say, that I'am a Professional Laborer..

          28. Sean_Parker | Jan 07, 2002 04:59am | #32

            *I think larry and piffin bring up a good point about how long something takes and the cost involved. I am just a DIYer that has lots of experience working for family members that are contractors in various trades but when I can't find time to do something I know of a retired carpenter that is willing to work for $25/hr. He does outstanding work and the price he charges for the jobs just can't be beat. Usually we come to some agreement on a total price for the job before he starts. In other words I call him, explain the job and he tells me the cost and then I ask when can you do the job, no dickering or bidding around etc... One time he completed a job in half the time if you worked it out at $25/hr and my wife was a little upset that I paid him the full amount agreed upon because when you talk to him about costs he always tells you it is $25/hr. I told her that I didn't care if he did the job in 10 minutes instead of the predicted 4 hours, thats not what matters. The price was to do the job etc..... Plus there have been a couple of times when he has taken longer to complete the job, much longer, and he always just asks for the agreed upon amount and never comes back with excuses on how he misjudged the labor etc.. It goes both ways. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be when working for people that are clock watchers and at the same time you are trying to make them another happy, satisfied customer. There is this very small Italian resteraunt by my house. It has outstanding food, great prices but sometimes the service is terrible. If you complain the owner will just, speak his mind and show you the door. Since the owner is this way all the employees feel they can act the same. I have lived here for 17 years and that place is still packed with people waiting outside the door everyday of the week. Now if it was a 5star place that had expensive prices it would of went out of business years ago. So whats better, high volume with low prices and less customer headaches or low volume with high prices but lots of customer service. I don't know.My cousin use to build custom homes, now all he does is foundations, production only (250 slab foundations a month). I am sure it is different for each person.

          29. piffin_ | Jan 07, 2002 05:40am | #33

            *My foundation man used to build as a GC too but tired of dealing with people and whims like blue so he does sub specialty.

          30. ken_hill | Jan 08, 2002 07:58am | #34

            *Never use the word 'handyman' altho it probably is pretty descriptive of my range of knowledge and ability. When people ask, 'carpenter'. My business card - 'craftsman'.

          31. blue_eyed_devil_ | Jan 08, 2002 12:15pm | #35

            *I now have three answers."I'm a Carpenter Contractor, specializing in rough frames. I'm a real estate investor. I'm a Pr* P**d legal insurance independent agent."Soon, the the Carpentry contracting will cease to exist, except in my memories.If you aren't proud of what you do, you should be doing something else. If you are proud and want people to know, tell them!blue

          32. J_Stein | Jan 10, 2002 04:50am | #36

            *Scott, you should tell people you are a businessman. More than likely they will ask you , what kind of business your in. Then you proceed to explain the details i.e. (carpentry, remodeling, concrete) whatever you do.

          33. Terry_Smiley | Jan 12, 2002 05:52pm | #37

            *BlueI agree with being proud of what you do. I've been putting on slate roofs for 21 years. I didn't chose this profession as much as I evolved into it. In the early days I was embarassed to say I was a roofer, we all know there can be a negative stigma attached to roofers even among other trades people. It took me years to get over it. Then one day I realized all that I had done, and could do to elevate the stature of the roofing profession and I became very proud to say "I'm a roofer". I would be just as proud to be a doctor or a janitor if I did my work as well as I do. If your not proud of what you do, Why? "I'm a roofer"Terry

          34. Mike_Maines_ | Jan 12, 2002 06:25pm | #38

            *Just had new cards made up that say "carpentry contracting". It's a change from my last batch which said "carpentry and woodworking", to better reflect my newfound focus on running a business. When people ask what I do I say carpentry...but I like that idea of saying "I run a business."

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