THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED ME TO START MY OWN BUSINESS.
I trained to be a college and university-level teacher. And, I was soon hired as Technical Director of Theater at a Denton, Texas University. I loved the teaching part of my job. But, I soon found out that I was not cut out for the politics involved in dealing with some fellow teachers and some superiors. So, before 3 years’ time, I left teaching and started a home painting business based in Denton, Texas.
Why Home Painting? As a speech teacher, I had developed fairly good salesmanship abilities. And, I liked the idea of being my own boss, and because, as a graduate student, I worked an entire summer painting houses along with 2 other graduate students that I hired to help me. As it turns out, many Tech Theater and Speech communication skills I learned during my academic life were invaluable as I transitioned to my home painting business.
And after some years had passed, I went back to teaching part-time In the Dallas County community college System. I had the best of both worlds. I could be my own boss, most of the time, at a job I loved, and I could also continue to teach a few subjects ( especially beginning Public Speaking Classes) that I had a life-long passion for, without dealing with too much of the politics that sometimes occurs in the teaching profession.
HOW I CHOSE MY COMPANY NAME.
At the beginning, I experimented with several different names, advertised with newspaper ads and handed out a variety of different business cards. After three name changes, I found one (Magic Brush Home Painting) that seemed to get the most responses. And, I have stuck with it for many years.
HOUSE PAINTING
APPLYING FINISH COAT
EARLY HABITS AS A BEGINNING HOME PAINTING CONTRACTOR
When I started my first real paint contracting job in New Orleans, while also working on my graduate degree at LSU in New Orleans, I soon realized that I lacked many of the skills required to be a genuine professional home painting contractor. So, early on I started the invaluable habit of asking different paint store managers to tell me who they regarded as the best and most honest paint contractors who shopped at their stores. After accumulating a sizable list of names, it turned out that many of these seasoned pros took the time to guide and coach me to becoming a better painter and problem solver on a variety of jobs. This habit continued as soon as I started my painting business in Denton many years ago. I have been fortunate enough to get sensible and solid painting advice from some of the best local painters as my business was growing. And, you are never too old to learn a little more. So, there are still times, even now, when I will call other trusted local painters for their advice on any painting challenge I face.
HOW MY BUSINESS HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS
My business has evolved from both residential and commercial to primarily residential painting almost exclusively in Denton County Texas. And I have worked on a very wide variety of homes, from the very expensive and challenging to the very simple and modest. My profession has, for the most part, allowed me to have much flexibility in my work schedule. And, my work has introduced me to many wonderful customers, of whom, many have become lifelong friends over the years.
Finally, another invaluable lesson I learned about running a small Home Painting business is this: You cannot take your eye off the ball, that is, you can never take for granted that you will always have a steady flow of customers. So, you always must do your best work. Show up on time, and finish your job as professionally and promptly as possible. Also, you must also be alert to potential new customers nearby, and those not so nearby too.
