I lost a metal shop and an agency by trying to grow both
I split my time between a working agency and a shop I didn't know how to run.
I ran my agency and a 10,000 sq ft metal shop at the same time, took on too much, too soon, and lost both.
Context
I started a metal shop with a former customer. We had a falling out, and I ended up holding a 10,000 sq ft shop I didn't know how to run. I moved my agency into the same building and tried to scale the agency and the shop at the same time.
Problem
I was 24 or 25 and making real money for the first time, and I thought I could do anything. I didn't know anything about running a shop, and every hour I gave one business was an hour the other went without me.
Approach
I split myself between the two businesses and pushed both to grow. I made every mistake in the book along the way. It was too much, too soon.
Result
I messed up both. The mistakes dug a hole the businesses couldn't climb out of, and both went under.
Impact
I humbled myself. Instead of trying to build a large company on my own, I shifted to consulting and now support other businesses case by case.
Lessons
I should have doubled down on what was working instead of scaling a shop I didn't know how to run.
Who this is for
For owners tempted to start a second business before they've doubled down on the one that's working.
Get a quoteThe method behind this result
- Workflow DesignWorkflow design helps sales and onboarding teams agree who accepts a customer. Missing information needs a return path and someone responsible for resolving it.
- State Machine EverythingA change compiles, passes code review and gets merged. The page it was meant to fix is still wrong. Each person completed the job they were given, but nobody checked the result the customer would receive. A useful workflow has to name the evidence that permits work to move, who evaluates it and where the work goes when that evidence is missing.