Thanks, Mike, for the bump over into the Clean Room. This is such an important topic and I feel passionately about it. (As you could see from the video- BTW, Mike, I don't even remember you filming. Glad I didn't pick my nose or something!)
I always say there are two "dirty little secrets"(DLS) of our industry.
DLS #1- Because we get desperate for employees we sometimes send "marginal individuals" into our unsuspecting customer's homes that we would never want alone working with our own wives. How dumb is this DLS? Just plain WRONG! (And yes, I was guilty of this sin too in my over twenty years down in the trenches as a carpet cleaning business owner.)
DLS #2- We make a good living in this industry but never build a "real business". So my second DLS is that most carpet cleaning businesses never sell, they just wither away! So sad because the owner had spent a lifetime in it and just by tweaking a few things could have sold his or her company to help fund a comfortable retirement.
Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training and self-appointed Industry Gadfly!
Jon-Don's
Strategies for Success
PS Answers for the two DLS's above?
Possible solution to DLS #1- "Putting up with marginal employees." Seriously think about
SFS. Chuck Violand spends almost half a day in
SFS on advertising, hiring and interviewing quality employees. Then I spend an entire day on what I call the Five Steps to Implementing Value Added Service into your company:
1. Make it easier to do it wrong than do it right.
2. Hire and KEEP only the very best. (We analyze what changes you should make in your company so a quality employee will stay working for you long term.
3. Tell them what to do once you have hired them. (Orientation and training systems.)
4. Let them know how they are doing. (Feedback and recognition through regular evaluations and company staff meetings.)
5. If they still won't get on board then fire their bad attitude butts BEFORE they do something horrible to your customers, another employee or your company! (We review procedures on how to do this termination process legally.)
Possible solution to DLS #2- Building an "appreciating asset" out of your business instead of just "owning a job". Seriously think about the "Secrets to Building Your Business So You Can Retire Wealthy" seminar I am co-presenting in Houston on January 11 and 12th with Michael Gerber and Howard Partridge. We used to cover this topic in
SFS but even with five days we just did not have the time. Here are points I plan to cover:
• The 7 reasons most carpet cleaning businesses never sell.
• Avoiding “Desperation Selling” by recognizing now 3 problems and one Big Lie!
• Starting With the End in Mind: Your Business Sale Preparation Process (BSPP)
• The “Lifestyle Analysis”: 4 penetrating questions to ask yourself every day for the rest of your life.
• Setting Your Goals. (Hint: It’s not just all about money.)
• The incredible liberating power of a nest egg … and how to build one with a Personal Investment Program.
• WHO you will sell your business to. (Hint: It won’t be another carpet cleaner!)
• WHY someone will covet your business AND cheerfully pay a fortune to possess it!
• 7 Buyer Reassuring Emotions your company must display to sell for top dollar.
• The essential “Beauty Makeover Checklist” for your company.
• HOW to build a “Turn-key Business Infrastructure”.
• Setting a price for your business AND how to get it.
• Finding the “needle in the haystack”- a buyer who wants to be “just like you” AND has the financial resources to buy (and operate) your company.
• Handling the negotiation process and closing the sale.
• A few final words on the joys (and pitfalls) of complete freedom.
More info?
http://www.bnpevents.com/ICS/SBYB/
Can't wait till January to get started? Then just drop me a line to
stoburen@homefrontsuccess.com and I will e-mail you my free Special Report entitled "Cleaning Up: Building Personal Wealth in the Cleaning Industry". If, like Ron, you don't like to read (or like Mr. Sutley you have problems with big three syllable words!) then include your mailing address and I will send you a pretty good half hour DVD I made on these concepts. Once again, the DVD is free too!