I recently read some encouraging advice about maintaining a fulfilling work life as you get older. It came from what you might consider an unlikely source, American rock musician John Mellencamp. At age 60 and 17 years after suffering a heart attack, Mellencamp told an interviewer that he always forces himself to get back on that tour bus and head down the highway to the next concert.
“It’s human nature to give up. I think people give up too early, and they shouldn’t,’’ Mellencamp told The Associated Press. “I’m very tenacious. And I’ve always rolled the rock up the hill. I enjoy rolling the rock up the hill. I don’t really care about getting to the top of the hill, I just like the struggle of trying to get up there. And I think that’s what being alive is all about, struggling. People think it’s their God-given right to be happy. It’s not.’’
Work makes Mellencamp happy. So he doesn’t entertain any thoughts of retirement. I’ve talked to a lot of portable sanitation company owners who feel the same way. They’ve been lugging those units to construction sites for 30 years, and come hell or high water, they’re going to get up tomorrow, fire up the pump truck, and do it all over again.
God bless ’em, both Mellencamp and all the AARP card-carrying member PROs who keep pushing that rock up the hill. I hear waste haulers joke that they’ll die with their boots on, that they live for the good feeling they get working the route. I also hear from contractors who are past age 60 and are looking for a way to retire, and that’s fine, too. They should enjoy the fruits of their labors.
DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND
But if you’re one who won’t be contemplating a retirement home in Florida or daily tee times at the golf course, you need some strategies to keep the pedal to the metal as you get older – to keep thinking and dreaming of new opportunities for your business and the best ways to meet the physical and mental demands of the job.
After all, if you work hard enough to stay in business, goal No. 1 should be to maintain a thriving, profit-making enterprise. And that means coping with the aches and pains, keeping pace with modern technologies and seeking a helping hand when you need it. Failing tostay current with the industry and your customers, frankly, is to devalue your business. And I’m sure you don’t want to do that.
Maybe you’re considered a senior member of the industry, or you’re the son or daughter of an older PRO who has the grit and determination to keep running the business. Either way, I’ve come up with several tips that will help keep you pushing that rock up the hill along with John Mellencamp for many years to come:
Take care of yourself
It’s often said that without your health, you have nothing. So you need to stay in, or get in good shape to handle the rigors of the work as you get older. There’s nothing more important than a healthy diet and exercise to keep you on the job. Maybe you sleep four hours a night, horse around restrooms all day, and then refuel with a greasy burger and a few beers. At some point that program doesn’t work anymore. Follow the doctor’s orders to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, eat your fruits and vegetables and get enough rest. And if you’re carrying around a few extra pounds, do what you can to lose them. Your back, knees and heart will thank you.
Find a wing-man or woman
Recognize when you could use a little help and don’t be afraid to ask for it. If you drive a daily route, at some point you might want to find a partner to help carry the load. Yes, this will cost you additional wages, but the extra hands might allow you to service customers more efficiently, avoid injuries that lead to costly downtime and make service improvements that could justify up-charges. If the helper allows you to clean 10 more restrooms per day, you might be able to eliminate one route a week and save money in the long run. And working one-on-one with someone allows you to train them to do the job the way you want it done … in the event you can’t show up one day.
Work smarter, not harder
Your day might be longer than it needs to be, and long, stressful days are a big part of why older workers get fed up and want out. Is there a way you can improve efficiency, say by automating accounting or billing procedures, or route-running? How would you feel if you could eliminate those late nights catching up on paperwork after hustling all day? Take a hard look at how your business runs and find ways to limit paper shuffling, unnecessary steps or backtracking on a service route.
Continue to think long-term
Older small business owners can fall into a trap of thinking, “Why should I bother buying a new truck or adding a service offering when I may want to hang it up in a few years?’’ I hear folks in the younger generation who are frustrated with this attitude in parents who still run the family business. If you’re not thinking ahead and exploring new opportunities, your business will suffer. You are either cheating yourself by devaluing your company when it comes time to sell or your children will inherit an outdated business when you decide to step down.
As much as it’s financially possible, think about your business like it will be around for a long, long time. When you see a demand for services, make smart investments in equipment and staff. Why? First of all, hopefully you’ll be around for a long, long time and reap all the benefits from the investments. Secondly, if you keep up with technology and trucks, your business will be better-positioned to sell and you’ll get the investment back.
Systemize for succession
Do you have a handbook providing a step-by-step guide on how every routine task should be completed? If you don’t, you’re inviting mayhem for your business in the event you are suddenly unable to report for duty. If you create a well-thought-out system for every job, you can quickly train a new worker to perform those duties to your own high standards. Bigger companies systemize everything for greater efficiency and you should do the same thing. It will help you make more profit in the near term and seamlessly hand the business over to your children or an outside buyer when the time comes.
Stop and smell the roses
Just because you decide retirement is not your cup of tea doesn’t mean you don’t need to get away from time to time. Don’t be afraid to turn the reins over to one of your employees while you take a well-earned vacation. Let go of some day-to-day decision-making and enjoy yourself. Don’t keep putting off rest and relaxation or that “bucket list” until tomorrow. We know you love your work, but it’s good for your body and soul to pursue other interests, too.
Recharge your batteries at the Pumper & Cleaner Expo
OK, this is where I insert another shameless plug for the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International (Feb. 27-March 1) at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. But it’s a worthy piece of advice. Attending the Expo will help you tick off every point on this list. At the Expo you’ll see the latest equipment to enhance your business, learn new techniques and strategies during Education Day seminars, and mix business with pleasure. And there’s no better way to mentor a valued employee than by bringing them along to show why this industry is so great.
