What do I do all day long?
At a recent family gathering, my dear cousin Tammy (aka Mrs. Darling) -- who is snoopier than an old blood hound in room full of long-haired cats -- decided she needed to know what on earth we (JD, Nick and I) could possibly do all day long at the box factory.
Well, I can tell you what I do all day long, but I am not my brother's (or cousin's) keeper, so I will not attempt to speak for my business partners. As long as our customers are happy, our bills are paid, and we stay busy; I could really care less what goes on in the other offices. There are times when one of us is busier than another, and vice-versa. We all have our own responsibilities, head-aches, and frustrations; just as we have our own strengths and weaknesses.
There are plenty of slack times when we don't seem to have much to do; but, when the chips are down, the jobs get done. Should we feel guilty when those slack times come, and there's nothing more to do than surf the internet? I don't think so. We have all put in 15+ years getting the business where it is today, and we have earned the right to goof around every now and then -- as long as we aren't slow all the time, it is just fine.
So what could I possibly be doing all day long? Well, I'll tell you...
Here is what I did Monday, July 10th...
6:45 - Punch in. Check status of orders in production.
6:55 - Help driver unload empty pallets from our truck.7:20 - Collect worksheets, write up packing slips for driver's first load.
7:25 - Write up rush order and take to shop with orders for tomorrow.
7:30 - Get new orders off of fax machine. Check prices, get worksheets, write up orders.
7:45 - Move our truck so Jose can unload supplier's truck (53' curtain van).
7:50 - Enter new orders into system (MS Excel).
7:55 - Fax confirmation of orders to customers.8:05 - Write correct addresses on worksheets.
8:15 - Rush order comes in. Price, write up, enter, and take to shop.
8:25 - Print out map to Austen's Body Shop (for our truck driver).
8:30 - Another order on fax. Write up worksheet and order material from the mill (written purchase order).
8:45 - Write up packing slips for driver's next load.9:00 - Read Gramma_s. ;-)
9:15 - Driver back from first load. Send him to Austen's Body Shop with truck. Follow him in the van and pick him up at Austen's.
9:50 - Back from Austen's... enter order into system.
9:55 - Check status of orders in the shop.10:00 - Check out the Dishpan. :-)
10:01 - Discuss the need for a new stamp with JD.
10:05 - Discuss need for a new stamp with Jose.
10:10 - Short break... discuss Roth gathering with JD & Nick.
10:25 - Call Hiway Tire Factory... schedule appointment to fix leaky axle seals (Chevy van).
10:30 - Clean up garbage along the road and on the CBS 'tarmac'.11:15 - New orders on fax. Call customer to verify dimensions.
11:20 - Write up worksheets and purchase orders.
11:45 - Fax purchase orders to mill.
11:55 - Enter orders into system.12:10 - Fax confirmation of orders to customer.
12:15 - Begin making new training aids for driver (he's only been with us two weeks).
12:50 - Write up packing slips for the next load.1:00 - Another order on the fax... track down worksheet.
1:05 - Fax confirmation to customer and enter order.
1:10 - Take lunch.
1:30 - Driver returns, has questions about training aid... discuss briefly.
1:40 - Customer needs a sample box ASAP. Take worksheet to shop for Jose to produce.
1:50 - Order on fax. Make worksheet, check price, order material.
1:57 - Enter order and confirm to customer.2:05 - Go out to shop to check status of orders.
2:11 - Write up packing slip for rush sample (JD takes to customer).
2:25 - Toyota forklift rep. shows up with new ClearCap roof for our forklift. Discuss installation.
2:30 - Install roof on forklift.
2:48 - Driver done for the day... discuss next days deliveries.3:15 - Jethro, out.
I would consider this to be a slower than average day, especially compared to what it was like in June. Note that on any given day, the following things could be thrown into the mix to create additional headaches (and keep me even busier)...
Equipment breakdowns
Truck breakdowns (or accidents)
Quality control issues
Employee discipline (typically performance or attendance)
Personnel changes (hiring and firing)
Lawns to mow (about 1 acre at work, and about 1.5 at my mom's)
OSHA related issues (safety)
Employee training (forklift, lock-out, etc)
Delayed material from mills
Making deliveries (if we are overloaded, or if the driver is absent)
Ordering of shop supplies (glue, tape, strapping, WD40, nails, pallets, etc)
So there you have it. My job no longer involves a lot of physical labor, but there are times when I do have to get my hands dirty. I do what it takes to manage the daily operation of a small business, and I have found that hiring good people and delegating out tasks is the best way to accomplish this. There are still jobs that I like to do my own way, but if a competent employee is available to do a job, I will pass it along to them. Some days I run around like a mad-man, trying to get things done; other days I end up surfing the net or shooting the breeze with my co-workers... that's just the life of a small business owner.
Comments
Are you dissing Mrs. Darling? Shame on you. Now about the Broccoli salad....
My email addy is [editted by Jethro] :-) Or, does your wife prefer not to give out recipes? If so, I'll try to forgive her. and me will try by me lonesome. :-(
Posted by: gramma_s | July 11, 2006 2:40 PM
Pop laughed at your description of Mrs. Darling till he nearly choked.
Posted by: gramma_s | July 11, 2006 2:46 PM
I would never diss Mrs. Darling. I usually quite enjoy her pot-sturring, but this time I felt I needed to make a response... well, and I thought it would make a good weblog entry, anyway. ;-)
I editted out your email address... I already know what it is. My wife doesn't have a problem giving out her recipe, but she needs me to type it out on the computer... which is why you haven't received it yet. Hopefully I will have time tonight.
It sure was nice to see everyone on Saturday, wasn't it? :-)
Posted by: Jeff | July 11, 2006 2:56 PM
Okay I am NOT snoopy. I am interested in other peoples lives. ANNNNDD for the record let it be said that I was asking this question to JD when a certain man that goes by the alias, Jethro, overhears and comes strolling over to hear the conversation!!! Admit it now! You, Jethro, came sniffing across the yard like said bloodhound in search of a juicy bone! I didnt go sniffing after you! However, once you arrived at my end of the yard I asked you the same question I asked JD! So you see it wasnt my fault you were in the doghouse!(teehee; I slay me)
Now having read all of the above, and being of a sound mind, I am left to wonder if you're doing it all over there. How can you stay hopping from one thing to another while JD has ten hours to shoot on the internet?!
I'm impresssed at your business. Not once did you research lawn tractors.
Posted by: mrs darling | July 11, 2006 9:45 PM
OK, I'm sorry Mrs. Darling, for over-exaggerting your snoopiness... but I just had to go with it once I had written it down, ya' know what I mean Verne? ;-)
And yes, I did come strolling over across the lawn to join the conversation... and that was only to try and [unsuccessfully] correct what my coworkers were saying about me. But it was your voice I heard above the din that got my attention in the first place.
And as far as lawn tractors go... that really gets me. If anyone asks JD what I do at the box factory, the answer is, "he spends all day at the lawn tractor forum".
Posted by: Jeff | July 12, 2006 7:36 AM
Aw I see you know what it means to be the brunt of an untrue joke. Now you can just hop into the boat with me as that is my lot in life. Sigh
(psst, I actually thought your description of me was quite funny!)
Posted by: mrs darling | July 12, 2006 11:12 AM
What does diss mean? I can't find it in my dictionary. :-) Does it mean something bad? I was only following JD's example. :-) Actually she makes lots of good weblogs, eh, I mean she makes, (as in writes)lots of good weblogs, now doesn't she. :-) (the fact is I'm kinda envious of her writting abilities, but then, since she gets her writting abilities from me, I no longer have them , do I?) She took 'em. :-) Now,I will remove myself from commenting again, and be good from henceforth.
Posted by: gramma_s | July 12, 2006 4:46 PM
One more thing, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE SATURDAY !!!!!!!!
Posted by: gramma_s | July 12, 2006 4:48 PM
gramma_s, the term 'diss' would be short for 'disrespect'. It would likely be found in an 'urban' dictionary rather than a conventional one. Although, now that my 'rural' Mennonite aunt has used the term, I'm not sure it can still be considered 'urban'... ;-)
Posted by: Jethro | July 12, 2006 5:59 PM
She used that word because a lady on her site said her post was good except the part where she dissed me. I think the word dis is from the black community more than the rural community.
And mom I'm so glad I got your writting skills. Ahem! The word is writing! Mercy me.
Posted by: mrs darling | July 13, 2006 12:08 AM