Old Man Winter is here, Christmas is coming and your bank account is getting fat, right? Yeah, I wish, too.

It looks like another price-point, prospective-customer-feet-dragging fall bid season is coming to an end. For me, much like it is for all of you guys, it's like a game: A very annoying, nerve-wracking, teeth-grinding game. You go to the truck, check the phone. Go back out in the field, check the phone. Call the office for messages. Check the phone. I must do this 10 times a day. I guess I'm waiting for that one big call telling me I landed all 80 bids I put in, right?!

Well, I couldn't handle all those accounts if they came in anyways, so it's a good thing I'm striking out on some of them. My point is, how do you guys handle the stress of clients waiting until the last minute to make a choice with no regard for the planning, preparing and equipment designation on our part? It nearly drives me to drinking every fall — OK, too late for that.

I'll tell you how I handle it. Personally, I must check my cell phone, office line and email accounts – I have four – at least 10 times a day. If I'm out running errands and doing estimates, the phone is glued in my pocket so I can feel it vibrate. After all, I have to have the radio loud to take my mind off all the darn bids I'm waiting to hear back on.

In a word, fall bid season or spring bid season is maddening. One more "Whoops, sorry, you were too high, try back next year" call and I may just move to Florida. OK, I'm not really going to move to Florida, but you get the point. I nearly drive myself nuts every fall and spring and for what?

We all know it's going to snow. We all will be busy – well, most of us anyway – and there really is work out there. We all know we have to get leaner and meaner to survive the great recession. I've seen a lot of guys claiming they are making it big only to see an auction sign there two months later because they didn't know how to cut back. Times are tough, and our customers are tougher.

The best way I've found to deal with the stress is simple. Be thankful for what you have and remember without your existing clients, you're nothing. So I didn't get that big condo bid, so what? There will be more opportunities. And with the ridiculously low pricing we've seen this fall, there will be failures.

That's where you come in. Maybe you didn't get the contract, but it doesn't mean you can't remind them just how good your work is, and how reasonable your price really is. Position yourself as the hero, and when their low bidder doesn't make it, show up and save the day — and make some cash while you're at it. Bring the highest quality in your service, and when property managers start running into trouble, it's your signal they'll be shining into the sky.

But until then, hang in there. Just remember if we weren't all nuts to begin with, we sure as heck wouldn't be in this business.