Masonry Magazine September 2009 Page. 19
The King of the Concrete Jungle
STIHL
McCann Industries, Inc.
5435 Rohtwing Road
Cedar Rapids, IA
(8:30 627-8717)
Campbell Supply Co
2127 N. Towne Lane NE
(219295-0061)
Chicago, IL
Leary's Contractors
4554 W. North Ave.
(77) 252-6000
Hanover Park, IL
Bracing Systems, Inc
47050 Die Gary Ave
(630) 665-2732
Lemont
Concrete Clinic
13009 Main St.
(8300257-5440)
Marton L
Mathayon Supply
1046 W. Jefferson St
TS 410 STIHL Cutquik
STIHL
75-420
The X2 Air Filtration System extends the life of filters for up to a year. The newly redesigned anti-vibration system reduces vibration up to 43% over previous models. Both systems allow you to work longer with a powerful and fuel-efficient, low-emission engine. Comes with 12" wheel.
TS 420 STIHL Cutquik
Includes all of the technologically advanced features as the TS 410 STIHL Cutquik cut-off machine, but with a 14" wheel.
TS 700 STIHL Cutquik
Equipped with the X2 Air Filtration System, this machine is designed for extended service cutting. It features a five-point vibration control system, integrated water attachment and a durable polymer protective housing. Comes with 14" wheel.
stihlusa.com
Chicago, IL
Tarek & Son's
1310 S. Jefferson St.
(312) 850-1330
Chicago, IL
Way-Ken Supply Co.
44WB Ave
(773283-2413)
Crystal Lake
Lee Jensen Sales Co
101 W. Tema Cotta Ave
(815) 459-0829
Devenport, A
Gierke Robinson Co
2829 West Ruer Road
(1140322-1725)
Dubuque, IA
J&R Supply Inc.
220 Frestres Lake Red
(5747-650)
Est Pearis
Ahafer Rerts
601 W. Washington St
(309) 694-9898
Carroll Dist & Const. Supply
205 South low A
(641)683-1888
Palatine,
Multiple Concrete Assoc
20094 N Rand Ros
(347)438-2000
River GIL
Murphy Contractor
2420 N. River Rd.
(708)456-6900
Urbandak, IA
Logan Contractor Supply Inc.
4101 106m St
(515) 253-9048
Warrenville, IL
JConstruction Supply
30W. 180 Butterfield
(630) 350-9000
Waskegan, IL
Burris Equipment Co
2216 N. Green Bay Rid
(847)336-1205
MVS9-3MAG-87078-5
READER SERVICE #214
STIHL
If You're Winning Horse Races, do you Start Breeding Show Turtles?
MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
If you're into racing horses, and you know what it takes to win horse races, why would you get into the business of breeding show turtles? Just as a horse racer would probably lose money breeding show turtles, mason contractors who jump into businesses they know nothing about often lose money in their new ventures. So, just because you are successful in the masonry business, doesn't mean you can be in other businesses.
Have you made a lot of money in the masonry business? If so, are you considering starting a business in a different field to diversify your future? I can tell you this personally hard-leamed lesson: Be careful. Straying from what you know and do well often turns into a disaster for contractors. I am sure you have heard the slogan, "Pigs get slaughtered." Well, business people who become pigs and think they can run any business and be successful get slaughtered, too. Listen well, for I've been there and done that. Here are some experiences of my own.
Fifteen years ago, having achieved success in my masonry business, I started a child care center. (I guess I had too much money and not enough kids to watch.) So, I drained my extra cash into the business for a couple years and ended up losing $80,000 before closing the doors. Luckily, I was still doing well in the masonry business, so I could weather the loss. A few years later, I must have forgotten what happens when you stray from your major occupation, when I bought a Convenience store. How hard could that be, right? After 10 years of headaches and $500,000 in losses, I finally sold it. I must have a stubborn streak, because seven years ago, while I was still thinking the Comer Store would come around, I started a business pouring architectural precast. I dropped another $400,000 over about 1.5 years before closing the doors on it. Wow! I wish I had all that money lost to help survive this economic storm now. One can only take so many scrapes and still survive, so I hope I have learned my lesson about getting into businesses I know nothing about.
I am not saying that you should not invest money into securing your future, because you should. Just be careful and smart, and assure you are investing with people you trust and/or ones who are specialist. Hard-eamed money is hard to come by, so make sure you do your research and know what you are getting into before you invest a dime of your extra funds. If you don't do your research, like me, you will most likely lose your cash. You have to work a lot harder to build that nest egg again.
By the way, if you call and ask me about breeding show turtles, I will tell you that I am not sure there is even such an occupation. This is just something a friend of mine tellis people that he does, when they ask him what he does for a living. It always piques their interest. I will have to tell you the rest of the story over a few beers some night, or maybe in another contractor tip on down the line. For now, just remember that just because you are successful in the masonry business, doesn't mean you can be in other businesses.
Damian Lang is a mason contractor in southeast Ohio with three companies that do combined sales of $20 million. He is also the author of the book "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry." To order a copy of his book or to attend one of his seminars held specifically for mason contractors, call Sherry Wittekind at Lang Masonry, 740-749-3512.
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Massery Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grost Corp.
READER SERVICE #314