One good thing about being in business for myself is that I get to meet a variety of people.
I have had the good fortune to operate for the last 20 + years in the more affluent areas of the valley and in doing so have made the acquaintance of some very interesting people that I have learned a tremendous amount from.
I have discovered that when asked people will share. I always take a great interest in what people do and I always ask about them. I could care less about talking about myself due to the fact that I know who I am and what I do. However when asked I always go to great length to make sure people understand what I am doing.
This job of surveying has led me down many a path. I have met rock stars, heavy duty business people, a couple of actors, a lot of well known athletes (they all live in PV), significant government officials, doctors, attorneys, very influential people in the community, the list goes on.
The one thing that all of these people share is that I took in interest in who they are and I actually learned something from all of them albeit good or bad and some I am still in contact with.
That brings me to the point of this post.
This last week I met an incredible couple. I was retained by them to help straighten out an issue with a municipality.
I gave them the appropriate cost and they reluctantly hired me. I think in hind site they are happy that they did. I really saved them a lot of heart ache and I knew the correct questions to ask the city.
I arrived at their home to do a small amount of field work and after I was finished I knocked on their door. I was immediately invited in which is unusual and we all sat at the kitchen table for a bit while I explained what was happening and the evidence that I had collected.
I will tell you right now that this is the first time doing this job that I felt welcome and comfortable in a clients home. I usually never go in and request that they step out but this time it was different.
Why was it different? I think that we just got along well and also there was a little fate involved in our meeting. We actually had a bizarre inadvertent meeting 3 days prior and when we started talking we discovered this fact that I will not go into here. It was actually quite amazing.
Our conversation while it mostly revolved around the survey took different turns and before I knew it I had probably been there a little to long. A couple of days later another conversation ensued that was even better and had really nothing to do with surveying which I love. Talking about surveying is something I avoid unless it's with a colleague.
There is a massive amount of things we can learn from a client. Everyone has something to offer and if we slow down and listen it may end up being one of the best experiences you could ever have.
The Business of Land Surveying
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Been a While
The other day I did something that I have not done for a very long time. I turned down a job.
Yes that's right, I turned down a job.
You may be asking yourself why on earth would he turn down any kind of job??
Well it's like this. I was asked to give a price to do the staking for a custom home on the side of a massive hill. When I received the call about it something in my gut told me to decline right then. However things being what they have been I always say yes to any project.
Something was just eating at me about. Did I mention that I did the topo on this lot? Well something was just eating at me, screaming at me "Don't do it!!!!!". I kicked it around for quite a while and figured that I would just high ball the estimate in the hope that I would just get beat.
The guy called me on Friday looking for his numbers. I called him back and told him that I would be unable to do his project due to the fact that my work load has become such that being able to give him the kind of service required would be difficult for me at this time, which is actually true.
I figured that this job because of the retaining wall system and extensiveness of the layout would have been 30+ trips and the liability would have been a nightmare. I have had many projects like this in the past and this one just yelled at me that the contractors would be 100% reliant upon me and if anything went wrong I would be the shit eater. Been there, done that, no thank you.
Upon making that call I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders.
Thinking back I should have done this so many times in the past.
I have a problem though. I am a driven business man and I am in love with my bottom line, however when I have blown off what my gut was telling me, most of the time the heartburn that incurred because I did not listen would have been worth a lower bottom line and in most cases it dropped because of issues.
Today I think I took a huge step for myself.
Whoever gets this project I hope you have a lot of time, patience and E&O insurance.
Yes that's right, I turned down a job.
You may be asking yourself why on earth would he turn down any kind of job??
Well it's like this. I was asked to give a price to do the staking for a custom home on the side of a massive hill. When I received the call about it something in my gut told me to decline right then. However things being what they have been I always say yes to any project.
Something was just eating at me about. Did I mention that I did the topo on this lot? Well something was just eating at me, screaming at me "Don't do it!!!!!". I kicked it around for quite a while and figured that I would just high ball the estimate in the hope that I would just get beat.
The guy called me on Friday looking for his numbers. I called him back and told him that I would be unable to do his project due to the fact that my work load has become such that being able to give him the kind of service required would be difficult for me at this time, which is actually true.
I figured that this job because of the retaining wall system and extensiveness of the layout would have been 30+ trips and the liability would have been a nightmare. I have had many projects like this in the past and this one just yelled at me that the contractors would be 100% reliant upon me and if anything went wrong I would be the shit eater. Been there, done that, no thank you.
Upon making that call I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders.
Thinking back I should have done this so many times in the past.
I have a problem though. I am a driven business man and I am in love with my bottom line, however when I have blown off what my gut was telling me, most of the time the heartburn that incurred because I did not listen would have been worth a lower bottom line and in most cases it dropped because of issues.
Today I think I took a huge step for myself.
Whoever gets this project I hope you have a lot of time, patience and E&O insurance.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Shout
I want to give a shout to Dan Muth for starting an interesting new blog. http://dmjmpls.blogspot.com
In my opinion Dan is a very articulate and well spoken guy. I am sure he is going to have a lot of interesting things to say. I encourage anyone that reads my page to check his out.
Next, to Mike Miller at the City of Phoenix. Last week I posted a request for info on Topica and he was on it within the hour. He provided me with some old surveys that proved a couple of monuments I was using.
And then there is Brian Dalager. Dude, your GDAC program is by far the best thing that has happened to surveying in Maricopa County. It is one of the tools I use on a daily basis and it has enhanced my bottom line like you would not believe. They should issue a coin in your honor.
I know I keep saying how great GDAC is and I will continue to do it. It is a trend setting site.
Keep up the great work guys.
Thank!!
In my opinion Dan is a very articulate and well spoken guy. I am sure he is going to have a lot of interesting things to say. I encourage anyone that reads my page to check his out.
Next, to Mike Miller at the City of Phoenix. Last week I posted a request for info on Topica and he was on it within the hour. He provided me with some old surveys that proved a couple of monuments I was using.
And then there is Brian Dalager. Dude, your GDAC program is by far the best thing that has happened to surveying in Maricopa County. It is one of the tools I use on a daily basis and it has enhanced my bottom line like you would not believe. They should issue a coin in your honor.
I know I keep saying how great GDAC is and I will continue to do it. It is a trend setting site.
Keep up the great work guys.
Thank!!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Evolution
In order to stay on top of the game we as professionals must change.
There has been a lot of trepidation about the new board rules that are impending.
I am going to tell you right now that I disagree with some of them and some of the changes being suggested are good.
I have said this many times before. Small companies record more doc's and file more maps than anyone.
This is a major problem, in that I personally see very little participation from the small guys. (I could be wrong).
I will tell you now that if I had time I would be right there in peoples faces bitching about a few things and trying to make things it right for all. Unfortunately time is one thing I am very short on.
This is something I feel very bad about. While I know very few of you, I think that I would like to make things better, even if I dislike you, you still deserve good things because we share the survey profession.
While my hands are tied on time and I am sure that other small companies are in the same boat I would like to hear some suggestions from small guys.
Yes we do need to progress our standards as time moves forward.
Bottom line boys and girls, the change is here. Just roll it with and bone up on the wording in your contracts to cover your ass. And just follow the rules.
In time we will all adapt to whatever rules are passed. It's kind of like getting a new software or taking on a new car payment. You just kind of grow into it.
Peace out surveyors, it's gonna be a crazy week. Have fun and be safe!!
There has been a lot of trepidation about the new board rules that are impending.
I am going to tell you right now that I disagree with some of them and some of the changes being suggested are good.
I have said this many times before. Small companies record more doc's and file more maps than anyone.
This is a major problem, in that I personally see very little participation from the small guys. (I could be wrong).
I will tell you now that if I had time I would be right there in peoples faces bitching about a few things and trying to make things it right for all. Unfortunately time is one thing I am very short on.
This is something I feel very bad about. While I know very few of you, I think that I would like to make things better, even if I dislike you, you still deserve good things because we share the survey profession.
While my hands are tied on time and I am sure that other small companies are in the same boat I would like to hear some suggestions from small guys.
Yes we do need to progress our standards as time moves forward.
Bottom line boys and girls, the change is here. Just roll it with and bone up on the wording in your contracts to cover your ass. And just follow the rules.
In time we will all adapt to whatever rules are passed. It's kind of like getting a new software or taking on a new car payment. You just kind of grow into it.
Peace out surveyors, it's gonna be a crazy week. Have fun and be safe!!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Pain
There other night I had to stand in a public forum and explain why I am professionally qualified to sit on a board.
I wrote up my pitch and thought about it and went over it for a few days.
I got there, had it all memorized right down to my delivery. I had it stuck in my head that they were going to love me and I was going to waltz right on to that board.
When I arrived there were some people in front of me and they seemed rather calm and did a great job although they were very dull.
It was my turn and when I got up there and looked at that panel and it all went away, I forgot everything that I was going to say. I was a deer in the head lights so I did what I thought was best, took a step back and punted.
I babbled for about a minute and a half and then froze. Every thought I once had again left my brain. I looked at the panel and said "that's it" and threw my hands up palms facing them and said "frozen", I smiled and said thank you.
Then came the part that I got pissed off about. The person that nominated asked me if I realized that a certain qualification was required to sit on this particular board. I was a little dismayed and wanted to remind the person that they gave me the nomination, but instead I respectfully stumbled through an answer.
If you ever want to have a humbling experience try this. You will get an adrenaline rush that is out of this world that will last you for days. I still get butterflies in my gut when I think about this.
Oh, no I did not get appointed.
A little humility goes a long way, especially when you tube it in public.
Ha!!
I wrote up my pitch and thought about it and went over it for a few days.
I got there, had it all memorized right down to my delivery. I had it stuck in my head that they were going to love me and I was going to waltz right on to that board.
When I arrived there were some people in front of me and they seemed rather calm and did a great job although they were very dull.
It was my turn and when I got up there and looked at that panel and it all went away, I forgot everything that I was going to say. I was a deer in the head lights so I did what I thought was best, took a step back and punted.
I babbled for about a minute and a half and then froze. Every thought I once had again left my brain. I looked at the panel and said "that's it" and threw my hands up palms facing them and said "frozen", I smiled and said thank you.
Then came the part that I got pissed off about. The person that nominated asked me if I realized that a certain qualification was required to sit on this particular board. I was a little dismayed and wanted to remind the person that they gave me the nomination, but instead I respectfully stumbled through an answer.
If you ever want to have a humbling experience try this. You will get an adrenaline rush that is out of this world that will last you for days. I still get butterflies in my gut when I think about this.
Oh, no I did not get appointed.
A little humility goes a long way, especially when you tube it in public.
Ha!!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Auto Topo
The other day I was out in the Rio Verde area doing a Boundary-Topo job.
I have done work in that section before and once again thanks to GDAC and it's interactive map with points and some solid surveys I was calc'd and ready to go when I got there.
Since I am a diligent monkey I went around the 1/4 section and established my measured data. The center of section was there and checked as shown on some other surveys, so I accepted it.
I proceeded to search for the lot monuments and found them all and they checked well, so now they all have nice new LS caps on them in the color of blue which is what I have always used. However when they are gone I am going to go 100% with brass and aluminum tags.
I then started the topo. I walked the lot and located all of the vegetation and dirt roads. There were no definitive washes so no need for cross sections.
After I was finished with all of that I went back to the truck and pulled the gps off of the rod and put it on a back pack that I rigged with a pvc cage to hold a small rod in place. I got everything hooked up, changed my HR and went into auto topo mode. I proceeded to walk the lot and take about 1700 shots on top of the already collected info.
This took about an hour. 1700 seems like a lot of shots but this was a 3 acre parcel and I had the DC set at 3 second intervals.
I am a huge believer that it is easier to take points out of a drawing than have to go back and get more.
Now hear is the best part about this job. Field time with travel 5.5 hours. I accomplished this because of my pre-job research and calc's and because of technology.
The office time took quite a while because I had re-calc the boundary to my measured section which actually brought the lot monuments in better and had to prepare 2 drawings, a topo and and ROS which I will file in the next month or so when I get a few stacked up. I always wait to get a few to save on the fuel cost and trip time.
I have spoken many times about how technology has enhanced out lives and made it easier to turn a profit on a job. I has also allowed me to increase my level of customer service, get things done quicker with more data and turn out a very professional looking product that I can be proud of.
Go technology!
I have done work in that section before and once again thanks to GDAC and it's interactive map with points and some solid surveys I was calc'd and ready to go when I got there.
Since I am a diligent monkey I went around the 1/4 section and established my measured data. The center of section was there and checked as shown on some other surveys, so I accepted it.
I proceeded to search for the lot monuments and found them all and they checked well, so now they all have nice new LS caps on them in the color of blue which is what I have always used. However when they are gone I am going to go 100% with brass and aluminum tags.
I then started the topo. I walked the lot and located all of the vegetation and dirt roads. There were no definitive washes so no need for cross sections.
After I was finished with all of that I went back to the truck and pulled the gps off of the rod and put it on a back pack that I rigged with a pvc cage to hold a small rod in place. I got everything hooked up, changed my HR and went into auto topo mode. I proceeded to walk the lot and take about 1700 shots on top of the already collected info.
This took about an hour. 1700 seems like a lot of shots but this was a 3 acre parcel and I had the DC set at 3 second intervals.
I am a huge believer that it is easier to take points out of a drawing than have to go back and get more.
Now hear is the best part about this job. Field time with travel 5.5 hours. I accomplished this because of my pre-job research and calc's and because of technology.
The office time took quite a while because I had re-calc the boundary to my measured section which actually brought the lot monuments in better and had to prepare 2 drawings, a topo and and ROS which I will file in the next month or so when I get a few stacked up. I always wait to get a few to save on the fuel cost and trip time.
I have spoken many times about how technology has enhanced out lives and made it easier to turn a profit on a job. I has also allowed me to increase my level of customer service, get things done quicker with more data and turn out a very professional looking product that I can be proud of.
Go technology!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Roof Top
One of the things that I genuinely love about surveying is the stuff we get to see and do.
Unless you are a construction monkey every job is different.
I personally take something new away from every job.
So there I am last week in Tucson at U of A breaking down a block that the Marriott sits on.
First I have to tell you that the ground view at that college is fantastic. It took me back to a much simpler and more intoxicated time in my life where the only things that were important was beer and girls. Oh yeah!!!
Flashing to present day I was surveying the block and getting ready to go on the Marriott's roof.
All was going well thanks to AZ Cors and the Pima County GIS site. I had my control and was ready.
I got up on the roof just in time for AZ Cors to take a dump due to Leica maintenance so I had to go to plan B which was go back down and set up the base.
Upon doing so I proceeded to have the crappiest GPS day I have had in years. I got tied into the ground control, went back up on that roof and what should have taken 20 minutes took 2 hours.
I was in hell. There I am above everything with a wide open sky with the wackiest constellation I have ever seen. Ugh!!
Every shot seemed to take forever so I went to plan C. I made a detailed sketch, measured everything up and shot the bare minimum.
When I got off that roof and walked outside the first thing I saw was a beautiful girl and all that BS frustration instantly left. I even got a smile out of her :)
Life can be good in the field even when the technology hands you a pile of shit. It's remarkable what a pretty face will do to my mind.
Unless you are a construction monkey every job is different.
I personally take something new away from every job.
So there I am last week in Tucson at U of A breaking down a block that the Marriott sits on.
First I have to tell you that the ground view at that college is fantastic. It took me back to a much simpler and more intoxicated time in my life where the only things that were important was beer and girls. Oh yeah!!!
Flashing to present day I was surveying the block and getting ready to go on the Marriott's roof.
All was going well thanks to AZ Cors and the Pima County GIS site. I had my control and was ready.
I got up on the roof just in time for AZ Cors to take a dump due to Leica maintenance so I had to go to plan B which was go back down and set up the base.
Upon doing so I proceeded to have the crappiest GPS day I have had in years. I got tied into the ground control, went back up on that roof and what should have taken 20 minutes took 2 hours.
I was in hell. There I am above everything with a wide open sky with the wackiest constellation I have ever seen. Ugh!!
Every shot seemed to take forever so I went to plan C. I made a detailed sketch, measured everything up and shot the bare minimum.
When I got off that roof and walked outside the first thing I saw was a beautiful girl and all that BS frustration instantly left. I even got a smile out of her :)
Life can be good in the field even when the technology hands you a pile of shit. It's remarkable what a pretty face will do to my mind.
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