Margins, Mistakes, and Staying Lean: A Day in the Grind - March 17, 2025

Hey Future Owner,

Chasing Margins and Lessons from a Closing Business

Today didn’t go exactly as planned (do they ever?), but we made progress. Kids were off school, which bought me a late start—but hey, sometimes they’re the perfect built-in excuse.

First stop: I skipped unloading the truck to make up time and went straight to my pick-up. Smooth enough—except for two sneaky steps blocking my path. That meant hand-carrying the chairs the rest of the way. Not ideal, but not a dealbreaker. Honestly, this is why I price deliveries with wiggle room. Stuff like this happens.

Here’s how the job shook out:

Total Revenue: $495
Job-related Costs: $134
Contribution Margin: $361 (73%)

Decent margin. These smaller jobs have to hit a higher percentage to make business sense. But this is the game right now—stacking solid wins while building the foundation. Now, if I can just lock down that review (mental note: follow up).

Inventory Run: A Reminder to Stay Lean

After unloading (yes, I actually did it), I hit the road—over an hour drive—to check out a company going out of business. Honestly? Not much impressed me. The equipment was dated, the inventory scattered (I hope the owner is not reading this, sorry!).

No shade intended, but it was a reminder: don’t become a packrat. Rotate inventory, stay fresh, and be willing to say no—even to paying customers. Otherwise, you end up with a warehouse full of…stuff.

It’s hard in the building phase because figuring out the niche is taking me some time. But this trip was a good gut check: staying lean is the move.

Auction Watch: Know Your Number

The auction ends tomorrow. I’ve got a few things on my watch list, but I won’t overpay. Saw some beat-up chairs already going for more than $5 each. No thanks.

My rule: anything over 30 cents on the dollar and I’m out. Discipline over desperation. Always.

I did make it home for (some) extracurriculars. Not the perfect schedule, but that’s small business life.

Closing Thoughts
Days like this remind me that margin and mindset matter just as much as revenue. Staying patient, staying disciplined—that’s the real win in the long run.

Catch you tomorrow!