We all like to think that we’re our own boss, but in reality, we all have many different bosses the drive our schedule every day. We may have children that dictate when we’re able to use our vehicle to go somewhere. We might have spouses that dictate what we do with our evenings and weekends. But regardless of those built-in bosses, we all have another boss: our home inspection clients. If we allow it, our clients can end up dictating to us when we do everything else in our lives.
Let’s start by cutting a little slack for that inspector just starting out in their inspection business. As the most important thing they can do right now is to make enough money to keep the doors open until tomorrow, we’re going to allow a little leeway in how strict they should be in maintaining their preferred schedule. When I was just a rookie inspector, I’d sell my soul if it meant that I’d be doing an inspection. Nights, weekends, holidays, miles and miles away, it didn’t matter; I was there doing an inspection (and making money.) For the rest of us that have experienced some level of success, it should be a different story.
Some inspectors allow their clients and agents to dictate everything to them. Yeah, they’re making some money, but if allowed to continue, this crazy schedule can end up ruining their lives. A hectic schedule is bad for our mental health. It’s been scientifically proven that following a set schedule is good for us. Being able to know exactly what time 99+% of my inspections are goin to happen (Monday – Friday at 9am or 1pm) is one less thing I’ve got to remember. That means I’ve got more mental capacity available to use in my daily life, freeing me up to think about more important issues.
That’s not to say that I never do any inspections other than those 10 time slots each week. If my best agent calls and wants a Sunday morning inspection, you can be I’m going to do my best to make that happen. Or if a commercial customer calls and wants me to do an inspection two hours away, you better believe I’ll be driving my life away.
But those days should be the exception rather than the rule. If we end up running here and there, any day of the week, at any hour of the day, we’re going to hurt ourselves in the long run, eventually double-booking ourselves and really pissing off some clients. (OK, maybe that happened to me.)
Having a hectic schedule is bad news for everyone involved. Having time slots set on your calendar can make things much easier and cleaner. Getting a grip on our schedule allows us to slow down and makes it easier for us to enjoy our lives and our businesses.
Now, all we’ve got to do it do it.
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Thanks, Joe
