It started with the idea of living in BC once again, I spent 13 years living in the Kootenay's and I have a lot of fond memories. I wanted to give my children the same opportunities to enjoy the mountains, lakes, streams & rivers in BC, along with the vast expanse of crown land like I had enjoyed growing up. The business & work opportunities in AB are vast, but it felt like a kennel for a heart th
at longed to be back in the mountains. I felt like the "farmed" elk caged by high fences in AB, I hated to see that majestic mountain animal penned up when driving past an elk "farm". I had a choice to make, back to the Kootenay's or north to PG. Family at both ends of the province & PG held the possibilities of staying in business for myself. The "welcome to BC" was a phone call from the provincial government wanting PST paid on all the equipment that the company brought into the province. Next was competing against a local door company that was charging 1975 rates in the year 2006 & another competitor who was well liked and respected in the city. I struggled against these challenges for 5 years, slipping deeper & deeper into debt along the way until a phone call in September 2010 from one of my competitor's to inform me of a rumor he heard, that my supplier purchased Central Installations in PG. I made a call to the president of WestGate to clarify the rumor and I was told "no, we did not buy Central Installations". March 2011, it was officially announced WestGate purchased Central Installations. I was lied to & I felt the weight of the world bearing down on me, how can I compete in this market that I had given my all to establish an existence, against the company I'm buying my product from. The stress of this scenario caused me to start passing blood and other physical symptoms' of extreme pressure on my mind, body & spirit. April 2011, I received a call from my Uncle Irv in the Kootenay's and was invited to discuss the possibility of taking over/purchasing the family door company. I spent extensive time considering and pursuing this option in light of what we were facing in PG, the thought of going back to familiar territory and taking over the company that I helped build sounded like a great opportunity. I drew up a proposal for my Uncle and presented it to him & the response was I'll look it over and get back to you. August 2011, a surprise phone call from Creative Door Services in Edmonton. They want to know if I was interested in a service contract for a company/customer in PG. I explained my situation & after a 45min conversation I was asked if the president of the company could give me a call, to which I agreed. The phone conversation with the president led to a flight to Edmonton for an interview and after 2-1/2 months thinking it through & asking a lot of questions, I agreed to work for them. Their need was great, the options seemed endless, and they offered me branch manager Fort McMurry, AB. Not what I had hoped for, but what I was facing seemed impossible to overcome. No answer from Irv, my supplier just getting their feet wet running a "door company" and a family to provide for. Steady pay cheque won me over, with the hope that I could move different directions within the company once aboard. I sold my phone number & customer list to WestGate, signed a non-compete clause for 2 years with a 200km radius, explained to my customers the situation and bid them farewell. November 29, 2011 I'm flying to Ft. Mac on my birthday, I've volunteered to work a project as an "undercover boss" to see the project get back on schedule before Christmas. That was an experience in itself that I could write a book about. After living in camp for 23 days straight, the project was pushed ahead of the promised schedule and the site foreman asked if I would be returning to the site. I explained who I was, and he asked me to consider coming back to the site to complete the second stage before moving into my management position. I agreed and returned to complete that project and then to start the transition of management. January - March 2012, I have never apologized so much in my life, especially for thing's I didn't do! From vendors to customers, I found myself apologizing for unpaid bills and broken promises. This was not a passing of the baton of management from one person to the next, it was here is all the crap from 20 years, now it's yours to deal with! It took me nearly 2-1/2 months to agree to work for this company & in a matter of days to decide on my next turn around that I would not be going back. I would do whatever it takes to make it work in northern BC verses this mess in Ft. March - June 2012, I'm back in the Nordor "saddle" & I managed to win back the customer's east of PG. I'm currently trying to expand my customer base north of PG, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge & Dawson Creek. I'm up against some stiff competition and if you think of me, please pray for success. I'm not asking to gain the whole world, I only want to provide for my family. I will be traveling west in the very near future & I hope to establish some business in that direction as well. I'm now a traveling door man ;)
So, if you wonder what I'm doing or how I'm doing, the adventure continues & I am trying to take one day at a time.
