This topic contains 24 replies, has 12 voices, and was last updated by 
Dan 1 month, 2 weeks ago.
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Ok you veteran carpenters . . . What is the SINGLE BEST piece of advice you can give a new guy starting out?
do not give attitude, its the first thing that will cost you your job. no elder will even look at you let lone take the time to teach you anything. always be early. be eager to do things but not over eager.. dont rush the task get it right, learn how to do good work dont worry about speed until youve done something hundreds of times. ask questions, technical ones . just be sure you get your in with a group of hacks you’ll become a hack also. get in with high end guys and learn to master the trade and honor it by doing the best work you can do and try to better than the next time ou
Great tips Jeff. Who else has advice for 5the new ROOKIE on the job site?
Dont buy dewalt. buy bosch so joe can put his kids through college :p
… and buy me drinks at the next media event! Thanks Joe
coffee robert coffee.. gotta been on the ball when selling to clients
Find a Master carpenter (Pro) and work with them.
Establish a relationship with your client up front. Very important that they like and trust you.
One piece of advice I got over 40 years ago. I’ve regretted it almost every time I’ve not followed it.
“Don’t buy cheap tools. They don’t work well and you will probably have to replace them and buy multiple times.”
My advice: “Don’t go to bed without getting the day’s paperwork done. Receive payments, record expenses, write bills, and respond to inquiries” Nothing worse than “what did I buy at Lowe’s for $23.32 on the tenth of the month?” unless it’s not billing for work done.
i would have to second – don’t buy cheap tools*
*with the exception on tools you do not think you will use often (defined by what you do “often”)
I agree completely. Cheap tools are a bad investment and just lead to frustration. There are some exceptions with things that you will either hardly ever use like John mentioned or things that you want to not worry about losing or wrecking. I have a cheap Mastercraft torpedo level that I keep in my tool belt if I’m working on scaffolding so that if I drop it several floors down it’s not the end of the world. My expensive levels stay at ground level with me.
When you run a business you have to make all your tool dollars count but a good quality tool is a solid investment that will make you money in the long run.
always return phone calls even if you can not do a job. You don’t know how many people tell me, I called 4 guys and you were the only one to call me back. even if you are not able to take on their project. That sticks with people.
You’re right on with that Brian. I find that good communication is key with running a successful business. Whether it’s calling people back that you can’t do a job for or keeping people in the loop with the progress of their project, people really appreciate good communication. The other thing is showing up when you say you will. I know that’s one thing that drives me crazy when I have a trade in my own home like furnace repair or phone service and they don’t show up when they said they would and don’t bother calling to let you know. Sometimes you can’t make it for the time you scheduled with a client because of something out of your control but a phone call goes a long way just to let them know what’s going on.
Spot on Dan / Brian
Learn all that you can, you can learn just as much from someone doing it wrong, as what not to do. Also get some good magazines.
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