Sprinkler Blowout Land: The Future CEOs Report for Duty

There’s a saying that good help is hard to find.

But apparently, we’ve been looking in all the wrong places.

Today, The Maintenance Shop welcomed two promising new recruits to the sprinkler blowout crew. They came with absolutely no experience, questionable attention spans, and a combined age of less than seven years.

On the bright side, they showed up, were eager to work, and didn’t complain about the schedule.

I’m already impressed.

Three Generations of Questionable Management

Some years ago, when my grandson was just a little fellow, I started referring to him as the Future CEO of The Maintenance Shop.

It was mostly a joke.

Mostly.

He’s five now, and today he accompanied his dad, our Field Tech Supervisor, on sprinkler blowout duty. Along for the adventure was his little sister, who isn’t quite two years old.

Apparently, the Future CEO decided it was time to get some hands-on experience before taking over the company.

And he brought his own management team.

The photographs tell the story better than I can. There was hose pulling, equipment inspection, and a general willingness to get involved in whatever Dad was doing.

His little sister even got her hands on a pair of pliers.

Now, I don’t know what a nearly two-year-old plans to repair with pliers, but I admire the initiative.

At that age, most kids are still figuring out which shoe goes on which foot. She’s already checking the company equipment.

The Future CEO Takes Charge

Of course, there’s a certain advantage to being the Future CEO.

You don’t have to worry about payroll, insurance, fuel costs, scheduling, customer notifications, or explaining why a sprinkler valve box has apparently disappeared into another dimension.

You just show up, grab a hose, and look important.

Come to think of it, that sounds like a pretty good management position.

Meanwhile, Dad was there supervising the operation and making sure his junior assistants stayed safe.

Three generations of The Maintenance Shop, although Grandpa was back at headquarters handling the paperwork, answering messages, and wondering whether five years old is too young to start learning Google Sheets.

I suspect he’d figure it out faster than some adults.

Meanwhile, Back in Sprinkler Blowout Land…

The regular crews had a reasonably good day.

For a change, we didn’t run into the usual parade of locked gates.

That’s progress!

We did encounter a few properties where the technicians couldn’t locate everything needed to complete the sprinkler blowout successfully.

Sprinkler timers, valve boxes, and irrigation shutoffs have an unfortunate habit of becoming surprisingly hard to find when you actually need them.

A little preparation makes a big difference. Please make sure your technician can access the necessary equipment, that valve boxes are visible with their lids left on, and that pets are secured.

Our technicians are pretty good at finding sprinkler equipment, but we haven’t added archaeological excavation to the service menu yet.

Although, looking at some properties, perhaps we should.

A Family Business, Literally

I’ve spent a lot of years building The Maintenance Shop, and like most business owners, I’ve had my share of long days, headaches, and moments when I wonder whether retirement might be a sensible idea.

Then I get pictures like the ones my son-in-law sent me this afternoon.

My grandson pulling a hose.

His little sister proudly getting involved.

Their dad showing them a little of what he does for a living.

Those are the moments that remind me there’s more to running a business than invoices, equipment, and schedules.

It’s also about family, teaching the next generation, and making memories along the way.

Whether either of these two ever works for The Maintenance Shop is anybody’s guess. They’ve got plenty of growing up to do, and whatever paths they choose will be theirs.

But for one afternoon, they got to be part of Dad’s workday.

And Grandpa got a whole bunch of pictures to smile about.

As for the Future CEO?

His position is still reserved.

His little sister, however, may have other ideas about who’s going to be in charge.

She’s already got the pliers.

And in my experience, you should never underestimate someone who shows up ready to work and knows where the tools are.

Here are the routes for today:

Eddie in the Boise 83706 with Blowzilla

Cruzen Street
North Wilson Street
West Denton Street
West Tabitha Street
W Kipling Rd
North Owyhee Street
W Camrose Lane
Dill Drive
South Grant Avenue
S Division Ave
West Warren Street
South Division Avenue
East Parkcenter Boulevard
S Myers St
South Sumac Street
E Boise Ave
S Wyoming Ave
W Arizona Ln

Jesse in the Boise 83706 with Orange Julius (OJ)

South Broadway Avenue
West Linden Street
South Linden Park Way
West Gettysburg Street
West Elwood Drive
Raindrop Drive
South Falling Brook Way
South Stony Fork Way
E Twin Willow Ct
South Swallowtail Lane
E Woodvine Ct
S Betsy Ross Way
South Ticonderoga Way
South Maze Place
South Valley Forge Avenue
S Duston Pl
South Sun Point Avenue