This Podcast Is Episode Number 0199 And It Will Be About Contractors Are Self Motivated To Be Successful A person makes the decision to become a contractor. It’s easy. Now you are the boss; no one to tell you what to do, how to do it when to do it. Yes – It’s easy.  It’s Morning, Are you ready? In Washington State being a contractor is fee-based. If you are not choosing one of the mechanical trades, there are usually no addition tests or licensing. Each state has different rules. Some states have a General Contactor’s test that confirms you have the most basic construction skills. Others states start most contractors out under a Handyman License.     What are some of the things you thought about being when you grew up and out on your own? From a small child, preschooler, then from grade school kid to the teenager to the adult.   I suspect you and your friends you never played contractor and customer; and yet life happened. Most people pick up a few “Handy Skills” from living in a house, condo or apartment. Simple common things that need to be fixed starting with hanging pictures on the wall (now it is the TV) Add the surround sound, link your equipment together. Buy furniture, table and chairs, end tables, bed, take it out of the box and ASSEMBLE. The word ASSEMBLE is in almost every box. Add shelves, installing cabinets, changing light fixtures. Again, the word ASSEMBLE.  Go to the garage and add a few tools to work on the truck. Get a lawn mower, edger, wheelbarrow, and suddenly you have grown your “Do-It-Yourself Skills.” It actually happened over time, one task at a time.   Whether it happened because of most things the landlord took too long to come; it wasn’t part of what the landlord did (move, assemble furniture), or you own your first home, current home, and you are “oops” The Owner.   If you want something done you that cannot do – You need to call a Contractor, Landscaper, Pest Control. So the range of skills you have continues to increase. You may find all things mechanical easy.   My Father would tell stories about how as a small child I would help him work on cars. Dad said, I got quite good at changing out carburetors (I don’t remember any of this). But it might explain how I can hear “funny noises” that never seems to happen when I take the car to the mechanic. I guess he taught me by “ear” to hear when the car was out of tune. Maybe too, it would explain why I would rather shop for good quality Truck Tires than spend time at a Makeup Counter.   Now, my brother he became a mechanic. He is the Happiest when he is under the hood of a car. Could I have become a mechanic? Yes, Probably. Would Randal have supported it? Yes, he would have then and now. I just never thought about it as an Opportunity. The Opportunity of being a Contractor is a gift. It doesn’t matter if you are a One Man Band – Doing all of the work or have a larger business with Subcontractors and / or Employees.     There are many paths that lead a person to become a contractor Trainee, skilled employee trusted employee, management, co-owner, owner Embracing the Opportunity to buy an existing business from someone else Embracing the Opportunity to be part owner of an existing business Embracing the Opportunity to start a business from scratch   The Why you became a Contractor is as varied as the number of the contractors that exist. Parent is or was a contractor, and you became a contractor as a matter of tradition or by default Career Changer who is thinking about career paths chosen and wants to do something different An employee in another industry and Lost Your Job and needed to do “something.” Many Contractors started out as being an employee for someone else.  There is no risk as an employee and a guaranteed paycheck.  Usually, more reasonable hours as employees can go home based on time served.   ...