I had some interesting thoughts this last week as I pondered some of the things presented in my class. One thought was, “why do I have to think like everyone else?” If I am my own person than why would I want to think and act like everyone else? I thought that I was independent and had my own ideas. I have been told I am so stubborn that if something was not my idea I would never go along with it. While this may be true I find that I like being in the status quo. Doing things because that is how everyone else is doing it.
Another thought that was brought up is why would I go into business if not just for the profit. Initially I went into business to make money. I received my contractor’s license to secure insurance to make sure the money I had stayed mine. So, why do I stay in business now? This question has two answers. First, is I still need the money to maintain my household expenditures. Could we cut back and not need the business income? Of course. This is not why I stay in business though. The biggest reason I stay in business and why I chose plumbing as a way to make money is because of the nature of the work. When I go to someone’s house to work on something that is broken it is called, “a service call.” This describes how I feel my business is contributing to society. These problems are fixed through service. I do get paid for them but the satisfaction I enjoy most of all is the smile on my customers faces when I am finished, and the problem has been fixed. The other reason I continue to have my business is the people the business has helped. I know I have mentioned this before. To date, JJ Claymore Inc. has employed in one way or another ten people plus me. This was work that they would not have had the opportunity to have had the business not been going. One of my employees was only doing the job to save up some money to start a family and get married. He enjoyed the work so much that he decided to become a plumber as well.
I don’t think I will ever know the complete impact the business has had on other people, but I have had many opportunities to give back. I strive to make this part of who I am and thus it is part of the business. I am truly grateful to have been blessed with such opportunities.
Lessons Learned
Having a business is more than about me.
Lessons yet to be learned
What greater purpose will my business be for?
JJ Claymore Inc. 