Mistakes running a small business

**GCE** · 17-Oct-21, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by ians

Managing the admin side of a business ... 30 years later I still do all my own admin from quote to service sheets to time keeping to material costing and invoicing you name it ... dont be a fool ... get a admin clerk and use them ... if they have time to sit and play on the computer or cellphone ... get them to collect and deliver stuff to site to keep the important money making part of the business flowing ... we all know that wholesaler visits are a waste of time and money ... yet everyday I see bakkies full or employees pissing many against the wall from early in the morning.

Having an Admin person allows your supplier to deliver to the office rather than wasting time hanging around in wholesalers

With regards to putting away for a rainy day - As humans we have a habit of living to your income - A salary increase only last 3 months and then you have adjusted your lifestyle to meet the new income. The trick is to break that habit and ignore increases and ensure it goes towards a saving account or extra into bonds against debt.

**ians** · 17-Oct-21, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by GCE

Having an Admin person allows your supplier to deliver to the office rather than wasting time hanging around in wholesalers

With regards to putting away for a rainy day - As humans we have a habit of living to your income - A salary increase only last 3 months and then you have adjusted your lifestyle to meet the new income. The trick is to break that habit and ignore increases and ensure it goes towards a saving account or extra into bonds against debt.

I have been paying off any form form of debt rather than trying to save money ... credit cards and overdraft is paid up ... vehicles paid up ... all my equipment is paid for ... and I have just over a million invested in my property with a small bond ... which sounds like a lot ... but how long would a million last in this day and age ... and I would be homeless because my house would have to be sold to get the money ... I am watching the houses selling like crazy around me ... which is a little concerning ... are people trying to get out before it is too late ... are they trying to get money out while they still can ... all these kind of things have crossed my mind.

**ians** · 22-Oct-21, 08:15 AM

because I love what I do ... and the satisfaction of looking at a complete project or listening to comments when people walk into a factory and see the cable trays and cabling ... or the steel piping I did in a building where everything is laser leveled to perfection ... or the steel piping in the A/C plant rooms ... I got people in to finish the other ... eventually the guys came and told me I should rather the person who did the first one to come back and finish off the rest of them.

The frustration of watching people do things ... it drive me nuts ... silly things like put a mat down on counter tops before you start working ... using dust extractors on the machines etc etc ... it must be like an English teachers reading posts