In a message dated 5/15/00 8:21:29 PM Central Daylight Time, veda88@usa.ne writes: << We have a really good clientele around here with not much competition in the area. Alot of our friends and customers are encouraging me to learn the business and take up where Jim left off. I don't know exactly how to do that, since he left me so unexpectedly soon -- and i don't know if an old girl like me who's almost 50 could learn to do something so new anyway -- >> I sympathize deeply with you loss. I too, am a widower at a young age, 47, having lost my beloved at 43. I know that the overwhelming grief and bewilderment of the loss, the urgency of all that must be done, the discomfort of having to now do the work of two with little or no experience at it. But let me reassure you that you are not too old to learn and do well with this profession. I hope you give it a try. I would suggest getting Randy Potter's correspondence course. Hiring another technician sounds like a good idea but from what you say, not much competition around there, it may not even be possible. You may have to get a few people to tide a few customers over but eventually, you need to run that business yourself or sell it outright to someone who wants to move to that area. The latter may not work either. I have always noticed that the women technicians in PTG are very strong, self-motivated people just as the men are, they have to be. It has traditionally been a male dominated profession and the typical customer may have a preset idea that the piano technician is an older gentleman. As a youth of 17 when I started, I had a lot of credibility to generate before enough people would hire me so that I could actually make a living. As I see it, you have a way to earn your living and build a retirement fund for as long as you are willing and able to do so. That's what most piano technicians do. But above all, join the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) and plan to attend every Chapter meeting, Regional Seminar and Annual Convention that you can possibly afford to attend. These investments in educational materials and experiences will be the best investment you can make in your future. You may be able to contribute your business experience to PTG by giving a Chapter technical session on what you know about organizing and running the business. I think you'll find that what you already know, whom you already know (your customers, the ones anyone else would have to get but you already have) and your age will all be to your advantage. You will only need to learn to listen in a new way and become skilled with some very specialized tools along with some common ones as well. My most sincere best wishes, Bill Bremmer RPT Madison, Wisconsin
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