Some days feel like pure momentum — a steady roll from one task to the next, no real breaks, just forward motion. Today was one of those days. Not flashy, but a day I’ll be glad I logged.

Warehouse Find: Pallet Crates
Before really getting the day started, I swung by a Facebook Marketplace pickup. I only needed one pallet crate (for now), but ended up grabbing three since the seller was moving out of his warehouse. In hindsight, I should’ve been more aggressive with my offer — but live and learn.

First Pickup: Missed Opportunity
Our first pickup was the 10x20 pop-up tent and cocktail tables I dropped off Friday. It hit me that I missed a clear upsell opportunity. When I delivered the equipment, the client had concerns about their muddy yard — and I didn’t offer our outdoor flooring.

To be fair, it would’ve required another trip and another set of hands, but I still need to tune my ears better for upsell cues. Here's how the job numbers looked:

  • Total Job Cost: $123

  • Profit: $353 (74.24%)

  • Revenue: $476

  • ARA Calculator Profit: $293.37 (61.62%)

  • Difference: -12.62%

I’m now tracking profitability based on my actual solo labor reality but still comparing it against the ARA standard for future staffing planning.

Second Pickup: Tight Margins
The second stop was a quick table and chair pickup for a neighborhood event. Here's how it broke down:

  • Total Job Cost: $125

  • Profit: $235 (65.31%)

  • Revenue: $360

  • ARA Calculator Profit: $185.07 (51.40%)

  • Difference: -13.91%

Definitely a smaller job and just barely met my profit margin goal. I’m hoping for a Google review to make it all feel a little more worthwhile, but after a few follow-ups, it’s looking iffy.

Back to the Warehouse: Small Wins
After pickups, I made it a point to unload everything — including the new pallet crates. I even started transferring inventory into the crates. Small win, but a big visual difference in the warehouse.

Closing Out with Outreach
I finished the day sending out quotes and doing some follow-up outreach. It made for a full, solid day. Nothing glamorous, but it moved the ball forward.

Until next time
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