Have you ever felt unlucky?

Unlucky or just stupid, that's what I say. I have always considered myself smart and business savvy, until I entered the roofing industry. I have earned three degrees in business, communications and marketing. I have started and sold small companies across industries including a roofing company.

The roofing industry has been good to me- made millions, but it's full of slick bottom feeders and low bidders. We have all been exposed to them. I have even been dooped twice by the same bottom feeder, costing me financially- but I don't consider myself unlucky, just stupid.

So before you call yourself unlucky, think about the decisions you make and who you partner with, including your customers. The roofing industry has so much opportunity for good, honest and knowledgeable roofers... but be careful out there!

I feel unlucky whenever I failed in getting what I want in life. It hurts me.

"... who you partner with, including your customers..."

Absolutely. Whether or not any of us choose to see it this way when we enter into an agreement with a client we do become partners. There's no cleaner way to perceive of it.

Living debt free is awesome and buying low and selling high is just smart business. With that being said, where I came from you had to be licensed, bonded and carry liability insurance.. not to mention worker's comp. My full time workers had benefits and company trucks. Even though everything I owned was paid for I still had overhead... and I believed in spreading the wealth with my employees.

After selling my business and moving- it is a great feeling not to bid on every project or get down in the trenches low-ballers- Now most of the time a lead will come in from my website and I will scope a building, make the presentation and bring the client several contractors. The property owner then has a choice of reliable contractors and everyone is happy and makes money!

Everybody and their mama is a roofing contractor these days. Especially in the last dozen years or so since immigrant labor has been so abundant, ( and cheap ).

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to throw out a few ads ( or knock doors ), give a price for a new roof and convince a naive home owner to sign some papers.

Next, just send out the hispanics and if anything goes wrong just send out some other hispanics to "fix" it.