Mike Hughes
Former Board Administrator
Hi there!
Let me apologize in advance for my verbosity, but it has been a long time……
I just figured I'd pop in and say hello. I have spent very little time in the last two years on bulletin boards..........quite a contrast to years past.
I have almost completely changed industries. I now work as a "Comfort Advisor"..........otherwise known as an HVAC Salesperson..........and I absolutely love it. Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted my own business. I subscribed to Entrepreneur Magazine at age 13! I started my own business in January of 1998, and was full time right from the start. By the end of 2004, it became apparent to me that I would have to find another line of work. Having two kids, over $1000 a month in Health Insurance premiums, and a mortgage was proving to be too much for me to handle while operating a business so greatly impacted by weather.
In 2005, I went to work as a salesperson for a home improvement company selling windows, siding, and rain gutters……and did pretty good at it. I kept my business in full time operation. I had two full time employees who were overall pretty good, and I ran the business via cell phone and laptop computer in between sales calls. Of course, it is not easy to work a full time job, have a family life, AND run a business, so I laid them off in November 2005 and simultaneously embarked into my new industry, HVAC.
I have found that a sales job encompasses everything I like about owning my own business ( freedom to set my own schedule, never in the same place, creating marketing materials, etc.) but with HALF OF THE HEADACHES. My family’s health benefits are now paid in full, saving me over $12,000 per year. My cell phone is free, unlimited minutes. Also, I no longer have to worry about employees and their whereabouts. I swear they are worse than having children!
The HVAC business is an entirely different animal. One of the things that makes it different then power washing is that EVERYONE needs it. A homeowner can put off power washing their home, but they can’t tell me they don’t need heat. (at least not in Pennsylvania) However, much like power washing, there is more than meets the eye. It is simply amazing how detailed the business is and the extent of knowledge required to succeed in it. I study it incessantly……to the point where people find it hard to believe that I have only been doing it for a little over a year, if I choose to tell them that.
A funny thing happened in the spring of 2006. I had my business phone line disconnected for a while. When spring rolled around, I started getting phone calls at my home. Customers tracked me down, and were asking to have their houses power washed, and decks cleaned and sealed. I somehow found the time to do about $10,000 worth of work in spring of 2006 myself, and subcontracted some more out to others I could trust.
It has been several months since I have done anything related to power washing/decks/gutters. I’m not sure if I ever will again. I still have all of my equipment, most of it in working order. Time will tell if I will pull it out again this spring and play in the water some more…….. I’ve been tempted to sell everything, but I have been holding onto it as somewhat of a security blanket…………something to fall back on should I need it.
My family is doing well. My wife and I are approaching our 10th wedding anniversary. My son Brian is now 7 years old ( !!! ) and is in first grade. My other son, Kyle, is now 2½………..and everyone is healthy, thankfully.
I hope all is well with all of you. I can be reached at sbnetwork@comcast.net Feel free to email me any heating or air conditioning related questions you may have.
Take care,
Mike Hughes
Let me apologize in advance for my verbosity, but it has been a long time……
I just figured I'd pop in and say hello. I have spent very little time in the last two years on bulletin boards..........quite a contrast to years past.
I have almost completely changed industries. I now work as a "Comfort Advisor"..........otherwise known as an HVAC Salesperson..........and I absolutely love it. Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted my own business. I subscribed to Entrepreneur Magazine at age 13! I started my own business in January of 1998, and was full time right from the start. By the end of 2004, it became apparent to me that I would have to find another line of work. Having two kids, over $1000 a month in Health Insurance premiums, and a mortgage was proving to be too much for me to handle while operating a business so greatly impacted by weather.
In 2005, I went to work as a salesperson for a home improvement company selling windows, siding, and rain gutters……and did pretty good at it. I kept my business in full time operation. I had two full time employees who were overall pretty good, and I ran the business via cell phone and laptop computer in between sales calls. Of course, it is not easy to work a full time job, have a family life, AND run a business, so I laid them off in November 2005 and simultaneously embarked into my new industry, HVAC.
I have found that a sales job encompasses everything I like about owning my own business ( freedom to set my own schedule, never in the same place, creating marketing materials, etc.) but with HALF OF THE HEADACHES. My family’s health benefits are now paid in full, saving me over $12,000 per year. My cell phone is free, unlimited minutes. Also, I no longer have to worry about employees and their whereabouts. I swear they are worse than having children!
The HVAC business is an entirely different animal. One of the things that makes it different then power washing is that EVERYONE needs it. A homeowner can put off power washing their home, but they can’t tell me they don’t need heat. (at least not in Pennsylvania) However, much like power washing, there is more than meets the eye. It is simply amazing how detailed the business is and the extent of knowledge required to succeed in it. I study it incessantly……to the point where people find it hard to believe that I have only been doing it for a little over a year, if I choose to tell them that.
A funny thing happened in the spring of 2006. I had my business phone line disconnected for a while. When spring rolled around, I started getting phone calls at my home. Customers tracked me down, and were asking to have their houses power washed, and decks cleaned and sealed. I somehow found the time to do about $10,000 worth of work in spring of 2006 myself, and subcontracted some more out to others I could trust.
It has been several months since I have done anything related to power washing/decks/gutters. I’m not sure if I ever will again. I still have all of my equipment, most of it in working order. Time will tell if I will pull it out again this spring and play in the water some more…….. I’ve been tempted to sell everything, but I have been holding onto it as somewhat of a security blanket…………something to fall back on should I need it.
My family is doing well. My wife and I are approaching our 10th wedding anniversary. My son Brian is now 7 years old ( !!! ) and is in first grade. My other son, Kyle, is now 2½………..and everyone is healthy, thankfully.
I hope all is well with all of you. I can be reached at sbnetwork@comcast.net Feel free to email me any heating or air conditioning related questions you may have.
Take care,
Mike Hughes
