managing a crew is 10% actual work and 90% babysitting grown men
Been running a hardscaping operation for about four years now. currently got 8 guys on payroll. honestly nobody warns you that when you start a sweaty business you basically become a camp counselor.
My entire crew is obsessed with sports betting. it started with me just holding the cash for their weekly bets because they'd always argue over who owed who on monday mornings. then guys from a roofing crew we share a lot with started wanting in on the action
next thing I know Im getting texts at midnight on a saturday trying to calculate spreads on a piece of scrap drywall. it was getting ridiculous and honestly pulling my focus from actually bidding jobs and running the business.
eventually I just threw the whole little operation onto a Pay Per Head platform so the math and tracking is just handled. I dont have the time or energy to be playing excel spreadsheet bookie when im already trying to coordinate 14 yards of gravel delivery for monday morning.
anyway... anyone else end up managing these weird accidental side things just to keep your guys happy and focused? swear to god the landscaping part of this job is the absolute easiest part.