What a Mess!!! Our Artist is Out Sick

[Shawn (EIP)]

Learn and master everything , if someone is out sick your not screwed. I'm the sales rep,manager,accountant,artist,pre press,press,clean up, the whole nine yards. I spread myself very thin at times , I'm not sure how I got through a very busy 6 months but here I am. But if I'm out sick , I'm screwed. 

[Socalfmf]

Shawn..I disagree...if you do everything you cannot grow...you need to have a working knowledge of how to get things done...


I can do just about everything, but at the pace we keep, I have to have alternatives....we are doing 8-12 jobs a day with 30-40 screens...there is no way I can do that all and stay up with it...you have the build your TEAM...once you do that there is nothing you cannot achieve....

Sam

[mk162]

sam is right, I am running into this now.  I am working on identifying my strengths and building a team that compliments each other. 

[Socalfmf]

Brad...I am always right...you are now just figuring this out?

ahhahahahahaha

[mk162]

not always, you do use NES as your #1 supplier...i think my rep has died, it's been 2 years since he's called or been in my office.  We did nearly 60K with them 2 years ago, and they were our second call.  We are down to about $7K with them this year.

I never get to see new products, I found out from you they are carrying thread, 3 weeks later my inside rep called me to let me know.  To top it all off, they put me on COD because they credited a cash payment I made at the warehouse incorrectly...they never let me know I was put on credit hold when I went to pick up a rush order.

They are far and away the worst of the big 3 that I deal with.

[3Deep]

Brad, how do you know whos who they are always buying each other out anyways ,like Sam NES is our #1 rep and wife talk all the time.

Darryl

[Gilligan]

Shawn..I disagree...if you do everything you cannot grow...you need to have a working knowledge of how to get things done...


I can do just about everything, but at the pace we keep, I have to have alternatives....we are doing 8-12 jobs a day with 30-40 screens...there is no way I can do that all and stay up with it...you have the build your TEAM...once you do that there is nothing you cannot achieve....

Sam

100% agree with that... BUT, like Shawn said, you do need to Master everything... otherwise you end up like Alan is right now.  But just learn it all, don't do it all!

[Socalfmf]

Gilligan...no way......business 101 is to know "how to get results" not do all the work...

[Gilligan]

If you say so Sam... but I'd rather be ABLE to do what NEEDS to get done when X happens to the guy that does that task.

Maybe cross training other employees... but depending how busy you are that might not help.

I personally enjoy sitting back and watching the show.. so IF the need arises, I usually have the time... but I'd rather not have employees with extra time... because that's just EXTRA overhead.

[alan802]

Well, I'll agree with both philosophies but, I'm going to be able to do it all, but have others do it while I focus on long term solutions and fix short term problems as they pop up.

[mk162]

alan is correct, there needs to be redundancy.  even if it means outsourcing.

[Socalfmf]

Gilligan...now you are saying you need to be able to do it...but at first you said MASTER it...big difference...I can get around in Illy, but not proficient in it, however Jill is...

again...you need to build and layer you team...not just one person....and build a business not a job...

sam

[Gilligan]

Well, I'll agree with both philosophies but, I'm going to be able to do it all, but have others do it while I focus on long term solutions and fix short term problems as they pop up.

Boom!

[Gilligan]

Well Sam, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

When you have to sub in for one of those links, if you are are ok being the weakest one then roll with it.

[alan802]

HE'S BACK and I am so glad.  We were handling it and getting by but I sure like seeing his ugly ass when I round the corner.  I can now print out film and other little things like that so now I'm going to be spending more time over his shoulder learning some of the harder things.  It's so good to be back to normal, and it didn't cost us near as much as I thought it was going to.