[pct-l] Contracting Biz Prep For Thru

[Mike Smith]

So far as prepping your electrical contracting business for your absence:
  1) I assume you have competent, trusted estimator(s), foremen, and admin
people. You might want to review that and perform any additional training
or hiring as necessary. When you get off the phone (see below) the last
thing you want to be thinking about is whether the employee understood what
you needed accomplished and knew how to do it. You will want to get your
mind back wrapped around the Trail.
  2) You will want to review the types of decisions that you make and see
that you have others that are capable of filling in except, maybe, for the
biggest ones. One way to test this might be to do a 2-3 week hike next
year. It will help you test your gear (that can be the excuse), but it will
also allow you to find out if there are some decisions or tasks that your
organization was dependent on you of which you were not aware.
  3) I assume your normal responsibilities are marketing, bank relations,
setting the tone for the organization, major hires, and major decisions.
You will need to be happy with the trajectory before you leave.
Particularly your bank and major customers should know that you will be
absent and agree to carry on business with your employees as needed.
Promise them great stories when you return.
  4) You can have access to a phone at nearly every resupply point (either
cell coverage or pay phone for calling card). This will give your employees
a chance to tell you everything is fine or on rare occasions you can
participate in some discussion and decision that absolutely needs your
participation. If an employee asks you for a decision that, in you mind, he
or she has been delegated to make, tell them so and then move on to another
subject without giving an answer of any sort. A couple of those experiences
will make your point.
  5) I watched one thru-hiker try to stay up with the detail of his
business while on the trail. He even had a laptop in his bounce box so
employees could upload spreadsheets and documents for his analysis. I
recommend against this. If you have good employees, you will be pleased (or
maybe shocked) at how little they truly need you.
  6) When you return, your employees will be experienced at operating more
or less without you. You can take this opportunity to take your business to
another level - or go back out on the trail. :-)
Hope this helps.
 --Lightfoot