Obsessing

[NS'Creter]

So is it the nature of us concrete decoratin' beasts to obsess? Do we all waste time and effort on things that only we will notice? I've been known to do just that. Oh they call me "Mr. Anal" and "Dr. OCD" and all of that, but I thought it was what would set my work apart/ahead of other's. I'm startin' to question if maybe I need to dial it back some. I wasted at least 2 hours today trying to get an exact match with color...the client came along and I spoke with him about it...turns out he didn't really care. What I had thrilled him. This guy is picky,picky,picky and it was good enough for him, yet I was obsessing. We woulda finished that job today were it not for my wasting time. Now, we gotta finish it Monday. Who else does this? Is there a support group? A 12 step program? Sheesh.
I've also obsessed over random flagstone shapes and stuff that apparently only those of us with our noses down to the surface would ever see. I figure that the time I stop doin' this it will be on the job of someone just as anal as me and I'll catch Hell for it.

[ECI]

Good question, I am kind of like that but everything I do I try to do the best I can and will spend countless hours getting there.
I guess I figure our name is on everything we do and if I am paying someone I want the best job possible. I did not get a discount for a lesser job. I am not the one to answer that question Trevor. I have never been a good enough type guy and
neither are you . I ponder the job even after its done!! ;D
Looking forward to some other ideas for sure.

[alexwright]

I am pretty picky myself, what I try to do is as the customer sees it I ask how it's looking and they themselves will tell you with their response where you are and how your doing. If they are not around, no choice but to be picky. Even though we still continue to be picky ourselves for conscience sake. The flagstone pattern I just cut and that's it, I do not do touch ups really because your simulating stone and stones are not perfect. I once had a customer that looked at my sample that I had not yet finished and loved it, I finished doing MY touch ups and second coat, when she came back she asked me what did I do to it. Anyhow when I went to clean the floor for the rest of the project I ran the sanding screen over it and she loved it. Go figure!!

[NS'Creter]

Yeah..."good enough" isn't necessarily good enough is it? In that particular instance I was trying to color match with the brick on the house and just couldn't get it bang-on. The client came along and said that the darkest color I had was great for him. Oh well, it will definately be better than what he had before we came along. We'll finish it tomorrow and start another.

[Lindy]

We're all obsessed, with colors and textures, patterns and details, trying to make obsessive customers appreciate our creative skills and high quality quality workmanship. Even when the job is done, the customer tells us the transformation is better than they ever expected, we can usually find some minor imperfection (which we must be careful to just think, not error by actually saying out loud to anyone).

I have gone back to reseal older jobs, only to again obsess about how much my own work may have improved due to trial/error or new ways to achieve perfection.

If we were not so obsessive we would not be the true craftsmen we strive to be; instead we would be contractors that have a nomad like existence, roaming from town town/State to State, never looking or caring what they left behind them (in other words "taillight contractors"). We live and interact in the community that we serve and strive to have no stains on our reputation; referrals are a direct result of our obsessive nature so why even consider fixing what's not broken (stay obsessive and prosper).

[NS'Creter]

Yeah...so it's a good thing that makes me nuts ;D I can't imagine doin' the slap-bang kinda job, I sleep little enough now. At least I'm in good company with my affliction if you're all the same.