You know, of late I have been doing as much machine work (making big pieces of metal into smaller pieces of metal) as I have communication installing, but I got a call from a good customer last week who needed some cabling done for a bunch of new APs to integrate with an inventory management system. I was originally working for the plant management company (my current client) on behalf of a company I had never worked for before, but is a plant use client of theirs.
It didn't seem particularly challenging technically, but after the first day when I worked until the batteries died on my scissor lift I was actually looking forward to going to work. I normally get the kids off to school and go back to bed for an hour or two. The last couple days I have had my first cup of coffee before its time to wake them up, and I've been out the door right behind them.
Along the course of the job I coordinated with the IT guy for the company requesting the work. Basically he was going to wait for me to run the cable and install a new J-box to hold the new equipment to accommodate the additional APs. Then he was going to hop on the corporate jet and fly down to tie everything down and install the new hardware.
I asked him a few questions and each time he had an issue I had an answer. The cost of the job nearly doubled, but they will save that just in jet fuel. Their guy is no longer coming down at all. As soon as the new switching equipment arrives, I'll be tying it all in for them.
The work itself is enjoyable, but there are several things that made it really a positive job for me. Every time they had a concern or a problem I had an answer. They didn't expect me to provide all the answers at the original price estimate. (Residential is notorious for that.)
I have had some pain is the keester customers with both residential and commercial, but I have to say the most fun and profitable individual jobs tend to be commercial. This isn't really a big job for me, but it's the most fun I've had with a screwdriver in a while.