My introduction to the Thumbtack community

ArnoldMenjivar

My name is Dominic Arnold and with my Partner Elmer Menjivar, We ar Arnold Menjivar FENCING LLC We are in the fencing design and install industry.

How we got started, so funny… I was hired by a company of which i am not allowed to name, as an operations manager. I was tasked to actually fire Elmer who is my business partner now. but mainly to run jobs make them efficient and profitable.

Elmer and i did not get along at all when we first met, but i saw his work and how poorly he was treated by the owner, and this almost paranoid delusion that Elmer was a horiible installer, I started to see Elmer for what he was, a very inspirational, highly intellegent humble great person who is what i consider a Master craftsman. and an educator of people he felt like were worth it to train and who loved this industry as much as he did.

I became a beleiver, i started to see the person who hired me for this person was. A competive jelous insecure stubborn out of touch owner. who thought they were the best at everything becuase this person had the ability to throw money at something. I began to stick up for and support the crews and formans that made this company what is was "almost successful"

I was terminated and half of the install crew quit and wanted me to be thier voice in the industry (sales and estimating)

Elmer and just prganically gravitated towards each other. and this company would not be what it is with the knowlege of my partner who has become lie a new brother to me.

The first leed i received on Thumbtack i closed the next day, and Arnold Menjivar fencing was born. Elmer and i have tried to wear many hats in the construction industry from landscape to concrete irrigation and painting. This has not worked well for us, we are a fencing company that is our bread butter. if you have a speciality i would master and build your brand around that specility.

Take your success with a grain of salt, your business id only as good as the serious effort you put into it. i have seen may pros become very arrogant and entitiled and that was the begining of their downfall.

your crew is the most important part of your business so mentor, support and hold them accountable for their ability., keep them focused on what they excel in and mentor and feed thier abilities even when theydont see how good they are, hold them accountable for what they can do and especially what they cant do. afterall this is not a training school you still pay them to do a job and you dont run a charity.

Show your crew how much you appreciate their hardwork. invest in them. but understand what your roles and their roles are. and for the most part keep trust them but verify everything after all its your name on the door.

listen and appreciste you customers give them what they want but charge them accordingly. Sell your job and charge for your quality. your name and brand should be the go to company for your specilaty. follow up ask them questins dont assume cause they smile that they are okay with your work. and for gods sake clean up your jobsite make it look better thanhow you found it. own your mistakes but keep evrything profesiinal. however for the most part you need to understand the relationship its business nothing personal. your price is your price be fair and reasonable. Do what you say and say what you do.

To my fellow pros, whats the hardest pat of being self employed, also what makes this life you chose inbeing a business owner worth it to you after you have poured your heart and soul in this. That keeps you going day after day.

Get in do the work get paid and get out on tot he next

ArvinC

Welcome to the Community, @ArnoldMenjivar ! 👋 Thanks for sharing the whole story, Dominic. It’s not every day you hear about a business partnership that started with one person being asked to fire the other! 😄 It’s clear that experience shaped a lot of how you approach the business today, from investing in your crew to staying focused on the work you do best.

And closing your very first Thumbtack lead the next day is a pretty great way for Arnold Menjivar Fencing to get started!

You also left the Community with a really good question. What’s been the hardest part of being self-employed, and what makes owning your own business worth it at the end of the day? Would love to hear how other pros answer this one. 👇