Television is full of construction and remodeling shows, but we all know many of them leave false impressions of how fast and easy the process can be. But the pioneering program, This Old House, still shows viewers how complicated it can be. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the program, and they’re tackling a net-zero retrofit,
Mark and Victoria, with the help of the very funny Jack Handey, discuss a few of the deep thoughts they have recently had, and how the insights they gleaned from them correlate to running a successful business. Mark talks about how cognitive bias can lock you into dangerous patterns, thereby making it hard to simplify
Growing your remodeling company often means you have to change your processes and systems to keep operating efficiently. And as hard as that can be, sometimes it’s the easy part. The challenge comes with getting your team on board with you. It’s common for some employees to ignore the new systems and keep doing what
Almost every organization, at one time or another, talks about their workforce as a team. It sounds friendlier, and puts less emphasis on differences in roles and jobs. But not every company works as a team, getting better results, and lessening friction. It’s more than a feel-good term, and if your remodeling company isn’t running
So many remodeling companies start small, with the owner doing almost everything. But as your company grows, and you’re running multiple complicated jobs, trying to do it all only holds you back. But it’s hard to let go. You know you have to delegate some of your duties, but too often that merely leads to
Company culture — we talk about it frequently in our Podcasts, PowerTips Blog posts and in the Roundtables meetings with our members. It’s an important factor in attracting new employees, and in keeping your existing staff happy and productive. A good company culture encourages growth, and in this business environment, many remodelers are taking on
A lot of remodelers I speak with say they’re annoyed by email, and hesitate to send it to their prospects or clients so they don’t get annoyed too. I’m pushing back on this. Email is only annoying when it’s not relevant (helpful, entertaining, interesting). I’d argue that all marketing is that way — not just
We’re back with more PowerTips book recommendations for your summer reading list — take one along on vacation or relax in a hammock with a good book. In every episode of PowerTips Unscripted we ask our guests for the title and author of their favorite business book. This month, we round up those recommendations, following
It’s been another crazy year of fires, floods, storms, blizzards… heck, we even have volcanic eruptions and lava flows we are now keeping an eye on in the Pacific. Here in Maryland we just witnessed a 1,000-year storm hit the same exact area two years later, with hundreds of business washed away in a matter
Can you define a good Leader vs. a good Manager? Are they the same, similar or completely different? How can having a strong leadership team affect the success or your business? In Episode 16 Victoria and Mark welcome Bob Gallagher to the show to discuss how building the leadership team at Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
The Great Recession gobbled up a whole slew of remodeling companies, but more of them fail during an economic expansion than during a contraction. Growth is great, but it’s risky, and knowing how not to grow will put you ahead of the game. In this hot market, there are so many opportunities, you can get ahead of
The Locus of Control is a concept that highlights one’s ability to control the outcomes and events in their lives. When applied in a business, The Locus of Control can increase productivity, and breed ownership and support. The Tim Faller Show welcomes back guest Jef Forward, to share his experiences surrounding the locus of control
Reviewing employees in the remodeling world is, at best, a struggle. It is often an employee’s opportunity to ask for a raise and an employer’s opportunity for frustration. Tim Faller joins Mark and Victoria to talk about the necessary fundamental shift in the employee review process. Tim makes the transition from podcast host to guest
As a society, we spend nearly four hours daily on our smartphones, a 59% increase compared to just two years ago. The total amount of time each person spends in front of all media per day is 12 hours and 21 minutes, up 11% over two years, and the amount of time we spend socializing
It’s not about the money, rather the feelings the money can bring. In this episode, Jay Wheeler dives into the psychology of financial management and investing in order to provide listeners with the potential reasons behind the way they may manage money. Whether it’s business or personal finances, Jay describes how to better manage your