Helping Others
  • Fred Mattson
    152
    I received a message from Matt Sonnenburg this morning regarding questions on the installation of jute carpet pad in a project that he is working on. I called Matt and spoke with him directly about the project and addressed the specific concerns that he needed to address. We also talked about the patterning and installation of the carpet.

    I commend Matt for reaching out and asking for help. Too many times a trimmer will not seek any assistance directly from another trimmer because of fear of ridicule or they may feel sub-par to another trimmer, so they push on and turn out a project that is not as good as it could have been.

    Helping others be successful has always been my goal. When you achieve success, the industry as a whole grows and is better served by those that advance it.

    I am very grateful to be able to help answer questions and offer my services to those that are looking for help and/or have run out of alternatives to learning. Thank all of you for keeping on with the good fight for a better industry.
    Fred Mattson Options
  • Adam Gabriel
    16
    Good to know, thanks for helping him and us out!
    Adam Gabriel Options
  • Darren Rawlings
    6
    What a fantastic attitude. Good to know people like yourself.
    Darren Rawlings Options
  • Joseph Bennell
    5
    Fred you are a top bloke, I'm so glad that the majority of members on this forum think this way, i always help as much as possible if any trimmers contact me for advise or help and hope that they would do the same.
    I think holding back information and skills slows the growth of the industry massively and only in resent years have trimmers started to realise it, a huge amount of skills and techniques have been lost to time because they weren't passed on through books or passing on the information to the younger generation of craftsmen.
    I know of trimmers that have asked for help and been turned away by more experienced trimmers which i find infuriating.

    Keep up the good work mate.
    Joseph Bennell Options
  • Jens Jesberg
    50
    I totally agree with you!!!! The fact that I found "The Hog Ring" was one of the most important successes I achieved last year - although I also got a highly acclaimed business award ... (L) ;) (L)
    And I believe that through you and the cooperation with you in the future also great enrichments of knowledge and experience for me and my business. In the past, all saddlers used to pull their things out with extended elbows and only saw the others as competitors.
    Since the 2 years in which I am now the business I try to go another course. Meanwhile, I am friends with my direct "competitors". We exchange ideas intensively and also have ordering co-operations to get better shopping conditions.

    But I have to say that we have enough work here. Therefore, it is easy to see the saddlers in the area as not a competitor
    Jens Jesberg Options
  • Fred Mattson
    152
    We are not competitors in this business. If we ran an oil change store or a pizza parlor - well that is competition.

    The work we do is individual, custom to the client and very specialized. This cannot be replicated or franchised. If all you do is sun roof installs and leather seat cover exchanges for dealerships, then that could be a competitive situation.

    I earn each and every job because of who I am and my customer chooses my work over others based on merit, quality and knowledge of the cars I work on. I also talk to potential customers that do not want to do business with me. I am thankful for that too. They can go somewhere else and get the job done that they are willing to pay for.
    Fred Mattson Options
  • Nadeem Muaddi
    86
    We are not competitors in this business. ... The work we do is individual, custom to the client and very specialized.

    I completely agree.

    @Fred Mattson, your contributions to our craft are invaluable. From helping fellow trimmers with questions about projects, to writing articles we can all learn from, to publishing a book that will inspire the next generation of trimmer, you continue to go the extra mile to see this industry grow and thrive.

    Thanks for being a great example to us all.

    If you guys haven't picked up a copy of Fred's book, do so today! It's a must-read. Here's where you can buy it: https://goo.gl/mStCsb
    Nadeem Muaddi Options
  • Matt Sonnenburg
    15
    Definitely a great guy with a lot of knowledge. He offered and I took advantage. He helped me understand some areas where I am inexperienced and passed on some of his experience. Really appreciative and glad to have made a friend. Yes as mentioned the book is great!
    Thanks Fred
    Matt Sonnenburg Options
  • Keith Mayne
    38
    Thank you, just ordered the book after your recommendations.
    Keith Mayne Options
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