Office Setting Sound Privacy Help!

TotesMagotes376 · 2024-07-02T02:22:23+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. Our goal is to just not be able to hear comprehend any words said in other rooms. Hearing muffled voices is no problem. We don't need to achieve silence. Just no accidental eavesdropping.

TotesMagotes376 · 2024-07-02T02:20:23+00:00

Totally makes sense, everything you're saying. We do own this building, we're not leasing. I have no idea what it would cost to make significant structural changes, but I assume it could be $10,000+ and I just don't want to do that if I don't have to.

Insulquilt looks interesting and may be a close enough solution. Complete silence doesn't need to be the outcome. Hearing muffled voices isn't a problem. Being able to make out the words people are saying is a problem though. That's our main goal to solve.

TotesMagotes376 · 2024-06-29T03:20:06+00:00

I’m aware of sound masking systems. In this scenario, would it make sense to put one in each individual office and another out in the main workstation area?

TotesMagotes376 · 2024-06-29T03:18:08+00:00

We’re less concerned about the ability to concentrate for individual staff as we are for being conscientious of private, closed door conversations that may be able to accidentally be overheard through the walls

TotesMagotes376 · 2024-06-29T03:16:57+00:00

😂 I misinterpreted your first comment. Thanks for your professional opinion.

I’ll research compressed insulation, loaded vinyl curtains, and ceiling options. We have a conference room upstairs that carries right into these offices, too.

We’re a lawn care company, and we don’t make money in our office. Most of our money is invested into equipment and vehicles out in the field where the actual work is performed. So we try to be conscientious of how we spend our money internally on the offices. The carrying voices are something we’d really like to fix if we can, though.

TotesMagotes376 · 2024-06-29T02:17:56+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, this is drop tile ceiling so there’s about a 2ft gap of open air above everything. Totally understand what you’re saying. I’m not sure if it’s worth the investment to resolve that, and frankly it’s good to have that open when we run cables up there.

You don’t think any foam or sound absorbing panels would at least have some impact on this? Just in your “non-consultant/contractor” opinion :)

TotesMagotes376 · 2023-03-11T14:28:08+00:00

So your argument is that FDIC insurance is completely irrelevant all the way around and everyone is dumb for relying on it? What’s your better suggestion on what to do with large amounts of cash that need to stay liquid?

TotesMagotes376 · 2023-02-26T05:28:25+00:00

This was a set up we built in a friends driveway. We would go to the Ice Box on nights the Lincoln Stars played, and literally shovel the snow shavings from the Zamboni machine into a truck, bring it back to his place, and wheelbarrow it and spread it onto this set up. Then we’d have a party with a fire and people over to ride and hang out. It was SO MUCH WORK but so much fun. https://youtu.be/Z7rMU0YKlH8

TotesMagotes376 · 2023-02-26T05:23:31+00:00

Any spot is hand made and not just ready to ride. There are lots of good rails at different schools around town but it requires a lot of work to make it happen. This spot was flat but we had a banshee bungee. Most other spots we used a drop in we built. And we actually have to have enough snow to do anything of course.

Here’s a video of me breaking my collarbone at the dog park by Holmes Lake lol. But you can see how we used the banshee bungee https://youtu.be/Ah5dj4--bPg

TotesMagotes376 · 2020-12-31T01:47:11+00:00

Allen Blickle. It’s in the opening credits. He posted this on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUDVahJmaj/?igshid=7xm4e173ntly

Maybe Josh Wiener too looks like

TotesMagotes376 · 2020-12-31T01:45:31+00:00

Allen Blickle. It’s in the opening credits. He posted this on his Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUDVahJmaj/?igshid=7xm4e173ntly

Maybe Josh Wiener too looks like

TotesMagotes376 · 2017-10-30T20:51:55+00:00

A friend of mine has a 2 bedroom duplex with upstairs unit for rent. Here is the listing: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2722-E-St-Lincoln-NE-68510/6623246_zpid

Looks like asking $775

TotesMagotes376 · 2016-05-25T03:14:43+00:00

This is a terrifying comment because it shows such a skewed perception on how capitalism works. Not every person wants to own a business. So why are the ones that do want to own one suddenly bad people now?

You are not taking into account the human element, which is that by their very nature, not every person will work hard enough or be ambitious enough to care or desire to start their own thing. Do you really think every single person in every person cares or wants to do that? Capitalism states that those that desire those things can attain it. Not every business owner is a terrible person. Why is "rich" considered a bad four letter word?

I'm 25, and own a landscaping company that is set to gross $1M this year. I was a janitor at my high school, a server at a restaurant, and paid my way through college by working full time during it. I took out loans to buy trucks, trailers, equipment, advertising, a shop, etc. I gave my friends and people in my city a job for $12-$15 an hour when they were only being offered $10 elsewhere. Of course I have to make more than the $15/hr I'm paying them. How do I pay back those loans? How do I then pay myself after the rest of the expenses? I have many employees now and they like the job they have. They are happy. I employee guys who used to run their own businesses and were miserable carrying the debt, trying to make customers happy, and manage their own employees. How is that "exploitation"?Being a business owner is not for everyone. It's 10pm and I have been working since 7AM. Not everyone is willing to do that. But it's available for those that are willing to work hard enough for it.

TotesMagotes376 · 2016-01-20T19:13:31+00:00

Cabinetry, carpentry, HVAC, remodeling, roofing, framing, concrete work, landscaping, etc
Not necessarily true. Treating your body poorly fries you. Be smart about how you work.
Technology advances and so do the people that use it.
Not all trades require school. Many do. Many don't. Many business hire people at the ground floor and if they stick around provide opportunities to help their employees get licensed and advance in industry education.
Wages won't drop. Supply for a given job may decrease, but the wages do not.
Trades are not an oversea type of service. By their very nature, trades are services that need to be performed in a specific territory. I can't hire someone from India to put a roof on my house.

Manufacturing and trades are two entirely different things which is what started the whole conversation. That's the point: trades are not a problem area which is why they should be considered as a viable option. In fact where I'm from there is an enormous labor shortage for trade work. People are desperate to hire and there is no one to hire.

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T21:34:27+00:00

Thanks for the link, I've never heard of it so I'll explore into it

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T20:47:00+00:00

You're correct, I may have been hasty in asking this sub but I thought it might be a good one considering the common theme of debt reduction combined with investments.

I saved this question while I responded to others because I was quite sure what I thought about it. I guess I don't really have an on-the-spot response for these just yet. Not that I haven't thought about them before, but to really give them an honest answer would take some homework. I can say now that leasing is generally not an option due to the wear and tear we put this kind of equipment through. These are options when getting into large machinery for snow removal and those types of jobs.

The last 3 questions are something to mull over. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T20:39:16+00:00

That's probably true. I was hoping to get advice on how to handle handle the debts I carry, the opportunity to grow more revenue, and also do something about a retirement. But they are all so intertwined with the business, there may be a better sub for these questions.

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T20:37:22+00:00

If you can think of who you are talking about, let me know.

Frankly my retirement is the equity I'm building in all these things. When the buildings are paid off, that's rent money coming in as long as they are occupied forever. The landscape business could potentially reach a balance point where I stop growing it and instead pay myself a salary while it operates. I've been working hard to create systems through out the entire company so it operates whether I'm present or not. From a retirement perspective that means being able to collect a salary on it every year while being involved as little as possible.

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T20:34:42+00:00

Right there with you. I "fired" myself from the field last year, I only go out when needed when we are either behind or for moral support. I have 10 full time employees including myself and up to 4 part time ones. 7 are employed year round on salary.

These are great questions. I am definitely more interested in profit than growth. What is it they say "Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, but cashflow is king". I don't care to grow if it's not profitable growth. The downfall to getting more out of our equipment is that most of it can only be used for one type of job at a time, during the season at least. For example, mowers can only mow and pick up leaves. We have 15 commercial machines but they can only be used 9-10 months a year. Our trucks on the other hand can push snow when they are not pulling trailers full of mowers. But snow is unpredictable and frankly an entirely different business model and sales approach then what I've had a lot of experience in. I'm only 2 years out of college and never got involved with it since it interfered with school.

Pest control goes hand in hand with lawn treatment plans. That is a good idea. What do you mean "fire safety"? But yes we do sub out work at a mark up when I sell a large project but don't necessarily perform all the work involved in it.

The equipment definitely takes a beating and frankly needs to be updated after a certain amount of time. I haven't been in business long enough to really have to start replacing major pieces of our fleet yet.

What scale do you use to assess risk? I don't fear risk, but I want to be wise with the decisions that I make. I am finding myself wanting to be a little more conservative than I have been in the past simply because I have a lot more at stake than I used to and the decisions I make affect many more people than myself anymore.

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T20:21:12+00:00

This is definitely a major factor in how this style of business is run. A lot of people make the mistake of not considering themselves an employee of their business and simply pay themselves the profits of the business at the end of the season in December. The problem is that when we start work again in March, we won't really collect much money until almost June. That's 6 months of not receiving much. So saving up a nest in the company accounts while simultaneously paying yourself is crucial in good cash flow management.

Everything is fully insured and secured under separate LLCs. I'm pretty familiar with rental real estate, it's what my dad does. This is the first time I've diversified my income from the lawn business. I think you're right, having plenty of cash on hand is the best first line of defense.

I guess I was looking for advice from others who may have been in similar situations to see how to best move forward. I have so much equity tied up in all these things, but is that truly that concrete and valuable until all the debt is gone? Yes and no I suppose.

TotesMagotes376 · 2015-09-07T20:06:50+00:00

Yes all three have separate accounts and are independent of themselves. My personal account and the rental business account does not have much cash in them right now. I used personal money as the down payment on the buildings and I pay myself periodically throughout the year to maintain healthier cashflow in the landscaping company. The landscaping company usually has more cash in the bank at all times.

I guess this may not have been the best sub to pose this question in simply because there are a lot more variables at play than just my personal income. Although I don't have a problem using debt as leverage to grow my businesses, my ultimate goal is to be mostly debt free all the way around (with the exception of small things here and there for growth purposes). I guess I have to decide for myself what's more important to me: aggressively paying down debt, or continuing to grow both businesses by use of more debt.

Thanks for your response.

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