Sparky's Life
Sparky's Life
EP 23 Finding Calm in the Christmas Chaos
The episode focuses on the chaotic rush leading up to Christmas and the pressures it places on tradespeople, emphasising the need for organisation and self-advocacy. We discuss how clients often rush last-minute requests and the vital importance of saying no to maintain mental health and quality workmanship.
• Stress of last-minute requests escalating before Christmas
• Dave the Plumber offers insights on organisation and planning
• Discussing the implications of unapproved renovations
• The heat-related challenges for tradespeople during summer
• Emphasising the necessity of saying no to protect mental health
• Sharing a joke and a motivational quote for light relief
If you like what you hear on today's show, make sure you share this podcast with your mates who are electricians or who are involved in the tradie world.
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Hello everyone, welcome to Sparky's Life. I'm your host, grant Dilko. Today on the show we'll be talking about the Christmas rush every year, quote of the week and the joke of the week, and I'll have some nice royalty free music to end off the show. So let's get the show started. So let's get the show started.
Speaker 1:Christmas is well over now and everyone has returned to work, but every year, without fail, the panic sets in. Within two weeks before Christmas, everyone's organisational skills, or lack of them, kicks into top gear, personalisational skills, or lack of them, kicks into top gear and all of a sudden, all those things on your to-do list that got ignored during the year has suddenly become urgent all of a sudden. For some reason, some people's expectations are at an all-time high every year and they see themselves as very important people and their expectations must be met. Otherwise they will self-implode and have a meltdown, like a child having a temper tantrum on the floor of the toy aisle in the supermarket or toy shop because their parents are saying no to whatever toy demands are coming their way. The daily subject matter becomes can you get this done before Christmas, or you need or you must do this before Christmas, otherwise the world will divide and everyone will perish. In the crack of the earth as it closes up, there'll be lots of screaming. Okay, I'm taking it a bit too far now, a bit dramatic, like a horror movie, but in the heads of those people that may be the case. In the heads of those people that may be the case, our friend Dave the Plumber explained it very simply to us the other day. His reply to these types of requests is you have had all year to get this work done.
Speaker 1:Your lack of organisation is not my problem or issue. I like Dave the Plumber. He has a lot of good ideas. Nothing stresses him out too much. If things get tough, there's always time to check out the surf or go for a motorbike ride. He also says why do you need to rush to get the work done? When you rush the job, that's when the mistakes are made. Because you're rushing to make an unrealistic deadline set by the owner or builder, because they're unorganised or haven't properly planned out the scope of works and or they have overbooked other trades to come in and start their work when your work isn't finished yet. So that is not your problem or issue. So everyone needs to chill and calm down. The work will get done. You cannot rush it, allow extra time and if it's going to be a problem, you as a tradesperson don't really need to take the work on. There is always other people around the corner who will appreciate your time on the job and your quality of work.
Speaker 1:I saw a gem of a request on social media not long ago. Some folks have decided to turn their shed into a granny flat 10 days before Christmas. 10 days before Christmas, they now require an electrician to rough in the electrical cables and also require a chip rocker to line the framework and shed. They are wanting this all done before Christmas. I am sure that they will find someone to do it, whether or not they are licensed or qualified. That is a worry. Or maybe they don't really care. But don't get me started on that topic, as it's a whole other dedicated episode for that one. I cannot believe how stupid some folks are.
Speaker 1:All these types of requests need a development application from their respective councils. Has the second dwelling been council approved with the DA? Has there been a connection offer made to Essential Energy or their respective energy distributor for the extra load in power on the grid? All these have to be approved to legally build a second dwelling, such as a granny flat, makes you wonder how many second dwellings such as granny flats are out there unapproved in backyards and in existing sheds on properties. Because there is a rental shortage and the rental prices are through the roof, homeowners and landlords are trying to cash in on it by building unapproved and illegal dwellings. I know of another person fighting with the council as he has large parcels of land with existing dwellings on them. He has installed portable, self-contained cabins on the sites to accommodate low budget housing. Some existing sites have an extra three cabins as well as the existing house. The rules are only two dwellings per site.
Speaker 1:Ceiling fans are also a big request just before Christmas. Everyone knows how hot it gets during and over the Christmas break. A lot of people are hosting guests over the break and in their spare bedrooms or sleeping areas there's no ceiling fan areas. There's no ceiling fan, no air circulation and their guests, family members or friends will be hot while sleeping. Once again, think ahead of time. Install the fans in the cooler weather or winter months. The electrician is not going to enter the ceiling space while the outside temperature is 40 degrees and above the temperatures inside the roof or ceiling spaces can reach 60 degrees and above. The electrician is not going to cook themselves in from inside out, just for you. So no, you're on your own on that one. Unless the work gets done between 5 and 8 o'clock in the morning, when the roof cavity is at its coolest, I cannot see that being our problem. And no, we won't be starting the work when you get home after 4.30 in the afternoon. We'll be home also at our own homes, but at 3 o'clock or earlier.
Speaker 1:This next one doesn't really relate to the Christmas rush, but it's important to most people all the time. They actually lose their minds when it happens. And here it comes. Are you ready for this one? And here it comes. Are you ready for this one? My TV reception has stopped working. You need to be here now. It's like the world is about to end. We get calls at 10 o'clock at night. Honestly, it's Go to bed or read a book or talk to each other. Don't bring us that late at night. I do believe people watch too much TV. Go out and do something more interesting with your life. Don't waste it in front of the box.
Speaker 1:Anyways, getting back to the Christmas rush, I'm convinced that these type of demanding people. Just think that the trades people are just sitting back doing nothing, just waiting for their calls. From my experience, we are glad to have some time off over Christmas. We deserve to have some time off as well. A time off the tools, a time to give ourselves a break from the grind, a time to work on our own mental health and wellbeing.
Speaker 1:Saying no won't hurt anyone. Maybe we should embrace saying the word no. Every person, every tradesperson and in every situation. We all need to assess our strengths and weaknesses, our skill sets and availability. There are a lot of jobs, work opportunities. There are also plenty of skilled trades people that can take on some of this work, and individual, small business or even larger businesses don't need to say yes to everything that comes their way or take on more than they can actually do. So the word no should be embraced and respected.
Speaker 1:My accountant says you can say no and it's a complete sentence. A sense of relief on yourself and one's mental health is invigorating. An explanation is not always needed or required. A no also prevents individuals or organisations taking advantage of your good hospitality. So say it proudly. Everyone will know.
Speaker 1:Hi there, I'm Grant Doolko, if this is your first time here at Sparky's Life, welcome. It's great to have you here. And if you're back here for more, welcome back and thank you for your loyalty and support. If you like what you hear on today's show, make sure you share this podcast with your mates who are electricians or who are involved in the tradie world. I want to reach out and help as many tradies as I can with this podcast. I want to help trades people break through to the next level in their career and in their lives.
Speaker 1:And now it's that time of the show for the joke of the week, and I've also got the quote of the week as well. So for the joke of the week, it comes from comedian the late Robert Williams. Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves? Now for the quote of the week, and it comes from Carl Hanoor. Your best ideas, those eureka moments that turn the world upside down, seldom comes from when you're juggling emails, rushing to meet the 5 pm deadline or straining to make your voice heard in a high-stress meeting. They come when you're walking the dog, soaking in the bath or swinging in a hammock. So that's all for now, folks, but before I go, if there is anything you'd like me to talk about on future episodes, maybe want to ask a question or be on the show? You can do this by contacting us on any of our media sites. I'll put the links to these in the show notes, and don't forget to follow the show and leave a review.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to Sparky's Life. I'm your host, grant Doolko. Keep safe and catch you on the next one To somewhere. Nothing from the past can hurt us anymore. We're free of what we lost. Not anything or anyone will hold us back, no matter what the cost, and I know somewhere. Somewhere's a place where we can build our memories. We'll be right back. Show me the way. Show me a way to somewhere. Show me the way. Show me a way. Show me a way to somewhere, to somewhere, to somewhere.
