About
So Why Start a Business Now?
That’s a great question. I’ve got a good job and I’m genuinely happy where I work, so why dive into the hassle of starting my own business? Well, have you noticed how everything’s getting pricier? Gas, food, electricity, water – it’s all going up. I used to joke about having the “Two Feet In The Grave” retirement plan, but now it feels uncomfortably close to reality. Despite my workplace being proactive with COLAs (Cost of Living Adjustments), they just can’t keep up with the rising costs.
So, I started thinking about a side business. Maybe I could learn internet marketing or something. But then it hit me – why not start a business doing what I already know? I’ve spent over 30 years in Park Maintenance and have been doing Backflow Testing for 15 years. It makes sense to leverage my experience and skills into something that could secure my future.
Starting a business might be a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity. It’s my way of taking control and ensuring that retirement isn’t just a dream but a reachable goal. So here we are, taking the plunge into entrepreneurship, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
So Why Irrigation Repair and Backflow Testing?
About 33 years ago, I was on the hunt for a job, bouncing from one temporary assignment to another. Eventually, I stumbled upon work in the Park Maintenance field. The pay wasn’t fantastic, but the benefits were outstanding, and I found that I actually enjoyed the work. After some time as a temp, I landed a permanent position at a park with a zoo. That’s where my journey with Backflow Testing began, quite by accident.
One day, an elderly gentleman got confused and drove up a sidewalk, hitting the big irrigation backflow. This created a massive geyser right there in the park. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this probably caused a backflow condition within the irrigation main (at least, that’s my theory). In the zoo’s shop, there was a drinking fountain connected to the irrigation main. (I should mention at this time that connecting a drinking fountain to an irrigation main is not a legal connection and was done probably 50 years ago) When we hosed out the bear cages, water, and bear droppings would splash into the Quick Coupler area, pooling there. I suspect that the backflow condition siphoned this contaminated water into the irrigation pipes. When I drank from the fountain, I got just enough of that “Bad Ju Ju” to make me sick for three months. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
Someone later suggested that the backflow incident was why I got sick. This piqued my interest, and when my Union offered a backflow testing class, I jumped at the chance. It would be 15 years before I’d use those skills professionally.
That same year, I was moved to the Irrigation crew, where I spent 15 years learning about irrigation repair and the Motorola Irrigation Central Control System. I became a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor. Later, I joined another Park District
where I used my skills to completely revamp their Motorola Irrigation Central Control System. The system was a mess when I got there – most controllers weren’t working. But with a lot of effort, I got it running smoothly. Along with this, I took on the Backflow Testing duties and have been doing that for the past 15 years.
This work has been a significant part of my life, and I’ve gained a lot of expertise in these areas. So, when I thought about starting a side business, it made perfect sense to focus on what I know best: irrigation repair and backflow testing. It’s a natural extension of my career, and it allows me to leverage my decades of experience.
In the end, it’s about doing what I love and using my skills to create a secure future. Starting this business isn’t just a way to make ends meet – it’s a way to turn my passion into something sustainable and meaningful.