DN: I've done some furniture repair, fixed lots of toilets and installed many faucets and light fixtures as well as shelving. I also do bicycle repair. I forgot to mention that I worked at a bike store throughout my teen years. I've also done woodworking projects with a couple of teenage boys. I helped design and build a solid oak nightstand and am currently working on a chess table with one student.
with kids and his childhood drawings of cars by Heidi Goldfein
JB: Which projects give you the most personal satisfaction?
DN: I always enjoy a good punch list. If I am able to spend a few hours at someone's house and fix a bunch of stuff that's been making them crazy, that's great. I had a client whose front door had never closed easily. I was able to tighten up the hinges and every time I speak to her, she thanks me.
JB: I know exactly what you mean. You fixed my ceiling fan which had been squeaking for so long that I forgot it didn't have to. What a relief! How did you know how much to charge for your services? Did you consult with other handymen or tradesmen?
DN: The only other "handyman" I ever consulted was the owner of a business that hired handymen and dispatched them to job sites. He would pay them half of the hourly rate he charged. When I first started, I was only charging $40/hour. It really felt too cheap, especially if I had to travel. Once I got on to Angie's List, I raised my rate to $50/hour which is still very reasonable. I know many services charge a lot more.
JB: So, a year or so in, how are you feeling about this career change? Are you about where you expected to be at this point?
DN: Something I did early on was hire a "business coach" to help me get things going and strategize and set goals.
JB: How did that go? Was it worth it?
DN: Yes, he was very helpful and taught me how to think about my business in ways I couldn't have otherwise. The goals he set were reasonable and I think I have surpassed them. I have an excellent rating on Angie's List and that's been a huge boost. I am enjoying the work and feel really good about this career. I sometimes say "my job is to make people happy" and "I now have the best boss ever!"
Open mic by Heidi Goldfein
JB: Cute! I recall you telling me that you also are a musician. Am I remembering correctly?
DN: Yes. I played in rock bands since high school and college and I play guitar, piano, harmonica and sing and write songs. I'm currently hosting an Open Mic at Brother's K coffee shop in Evanston on the first Saturday of each month.
JB: Nice!
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