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VAST Instructor Jeff Cutshall SFS Instructors- Chuck Violand, Bill Yeadon and Steve Toburen All the SFS Instructor’s Blog posts in order of appearance:
Build morale with “Date Night” certificates! March 28, 2022Show me the big, easy money … March 5, 2022Maintenance plans for steady income August 30, 2021So is the “Principle of Reciprocity” manipulative? August 16, 2021“Hiring blind” can be a good thing August 2, 2021How your carpet cleaning or restoration company can not only survive but prosper with “Situational Awareness”! July 26, 2021The best way to train techs in customer service July 12, 2021Video: How to ‘convert’ a complaining customer February 17, 2021What is your biggest ‘Business Struggle’? November 18, 2020SFS: ‘Winning over your caller’ online LIVE seminar! September 12, 2020WHY you must get rid of ‘Marginal Workers’ in your company. June 13, 2020PLEASE offer more ‘ASO’s’ than just protector! March 3, 2020The life you save may be your own! (Or your customer’s life!) November 26, 2019The SFS ‘3-Legged Stool’ Business Model October 22, 2019Kudos to a great Seattle SFS: ‘Business Transformation’ Group! August 28, 2019Time to “Git ‘er done”! October 6, 2017The Customer Comes Second! December 26, 2016Step by step guide to put a price on your cleaning business! December 5, 2016I sold my restoration company for 22 times MORE than I paid for it! July 7, 2016New format for Weekly QuickTIPS December 29, 2015How to get paid BEFORE your client “disappears” November 23, 2015Affluenza … no one is immune! – Part 3 October 22, 2015Affluenza … where does it start? – Part 2 September 12, 2015Affluenza … are you infected? – Part 1 August 20, 2015Mind YOUR business August 7, 2015Core Principle #1: “Goods” vs. “services” July 20, 2015David Pollay’s “The Law of the Garbage Truck” July 2, 2015How should I write up an encapsulation proposal? May 29, 2015Alpha talk March 23, 2015It ain’t easy out there – #1 March 8, 2015Never give in! – Part 2 February 26, 2015Never give in! – Part 1 February 12, 2015So are we done with “belching at the table”? – Part 5 January 15, 2015Brave enough to “belch at the table”? – Part 4 January 2, 2015Are your employee’s “belches” growing? – Part 3 December 19, 2014Do your employees need to “belch at the table”? – Part 2 December 12, 2014Are your employees willing to “belch at the table”? – Part 1 December 5, 2014Are you loved? November 10, 2014Living Respectfully – Part 2 November 3, 2014Living Respectfully – Part 1 October 26, 2014Business Bullies – Part 4 October 6, 2014Business Bullies – Part 3 September 29, 2014Business Bullies – Part 2 September 22, 2014Business Bullies – Part 1 September 15, 2014Somebody always pays- Part 2 August 22, 2014Somebody always pays- Part 1 August 18, 2014Stay hungry, stay foolish – Part 2 July 24, 2014Stay hungry, stay foolish – Part 1 July 3, 2014Should you check your Google rankings? June 23, 2014So do you play “second fiddle”? – Part 2 June 12, 2014Should “second fiddles” be ashamed of their position? – Part 1 May 29, 2014These days Google Organic just makes more sense than Google Places May 22, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part VIII May 2, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part VII (Discipline) April 25, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part VI (Discipline) April 11, 2014April Showers Bring… Customer Appreciation Days! April 3, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part V (Discipline) March 20, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part IV (Focus) March 7, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part III (Focus) March 3, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part II (Focus) February 20, 2014Escaping Groundhog Day Management – Part I February 6, 2014When is a 99% failure rate considered good? January 23, 2014So are you being hurt by “Business Barnacles”? January 16, 2014Getting paid in restoration insurance losses January 10, 2014Alignment and Execution – Part 3 December 12, 2013Alignment and Execution – Part 2 November 28, 2013Alignment and Execution: Are you an “aligned” gazelle? (Part 1) November 14, 2013Are your managers trapped in the middle? – Part 2 October 31, 2013Are your managers trapped in the middle? – Part 1 October 21, 2013yp.com for Cleaners & Restorers: Getting Started October 3, 2013Maturing gracefully in business- Part 4 September 19, 2013Maturing gracefully in business- Part 3 September 16, 2013Maturing gracefully in business- Part 2 September 2, 2013Maturing gracefully in business- Part 1 August 16, 2013Leading your Cleaning/Restoration Business- Part II August 2, 2013Yahoo! Local Listings for Cleaners & Restorers: Getting Started July 22, 2013Leading your Cleaning/ Restoration Business- I July 18, 2013Finally! Fun and profits from Facebook? July 11, 2013The “Do’s & Dont’s” of business cards July 8, 2013Angela’s Spaghetti Sauce (Part 2) July 4, 2013Angela’s Spaghetti Sauce (Part 1) June 24, 2013Is this considered breach of contract? June 22, 2013Angie’s List for Cleaners & Restorers: Getting Started June 13, 2013Changing the focus in your company June 6, 2013Bing for Cleaners & Restorers: Getting Started May 31, 2013Will you “focus” on your people? May 25, 2013Should you play “Simon says” in business? May 23, 2013Foursquare for Cleaners & Restorers: Getting Started May 16, 2013What is a true “Landing Page”? (And why should I care?) May 13, 2013Stop “flogging” your best employees (Part 2) May 9, 2013Yelp for Cleaners & Restorers: Getting Started May 3, 2013Is a “texted” authorization legal? April 28, 2013Are you “flogging” your best employees? (Part 1) April 26, 2013Can there be ‘strength in numbers’? April 19, 2013Avoiding “Swarm Management” with a “good fit”- Part IV April 12, 20133 Big Mistakes Cleaners Make With Google Adwords April 4, 2013How to avoid “Swarm Management” – Part III March 28, 2013Who’s going to pay for this emergency water damage job? March 18, 2013The causes of “Swarm Management”- Part II March 14, 2013The dangers of “Swarm Management” February 28, 2013What message do you “telegraph” to your employees? February 17, 2013The “I say … they do” myth (Part 2) February 4, 2013Creating a mobile website using WordPress January 31, 2013The “I say .. they do” myth (Part 1) January 21, 2013Tips for making a mobile version of your website January 18, 2013Shipwrecked by complacency? January 13, 2013The context of “free” January 7, 2013Do I really need a mobile website? January 3, 2013“Success starts in your head” (Part 3) December 22, 2012Why (and how) to create a ‘Shared Vision’! December 19, 2012How to Get a Better Ranking on Google+ Local December 14, 2012Can you ‘Build your Business’ with SFS? December 9, 2012“Success starts in your head” (Part 2) December 7, 2012“Success starts in your head” (Part 1) November 22, 2012So what can SFS: “Business Transformation” do for you? November 17, 2012What is the difference between Google Plus Local and Google Places? November 12, 2012Solid decisions- NOT “wishful thinking” (Part 4) November 1, 2012An all new SFS? October 31, 2012Checklist: Does your cleaning website include these five features? October 26, 2012Dump the guilt … setup your Facebook page in 5 easy steps October 20, 2012Solid decisions- NOT “wishful thinking” (Part 3) October 19, 2012Solid decisions – NOT “wishful thinking” (Part 2) October 8, 2012Finding the best content for your restoration and cleaning website October 5, 2012Solid decisions-not “wishful thinking”(Part 1) September 24, 2012Google+ for Cleaners & Restorers: Small Business Benefits September 14, 2012Google+ for Cleaners & Restorers: A Primer September 12, 2012Jon-Don’s Nick Paolella honored at Connections September 10, 2012Love, hate and commercial cleaning September 1, 2012An often overlooked Google reminder! August 31, 2012Painting Your Success- Part 4 August 29, 2012The Three A’s – Part 3: Affability August 25, 2012Painting Your Success- Part 3 August 23, 2012Painting Your Success- Part 2 August 15, 2012The Three A’s – Part 2: Accessibility August 13, 2012Painting Your Success- Part 1 August 9, 2012The Three “A’s” – #1 Ability July 26, 2012The Real “Secret” to Marketing July 14, 2012Are you “naturally curious”? July 6, 2012The Story of Smith and Jones June 30, 2012Don’t disrespect “followership”- Part 2 June 18, 2012Don’t disrespect “followership”- Part 1 June 2, 2012I STILL don’t have a web site- HELP! May 24, 2012Management lessons from the USS Benfold May 21, 2012“Batting lessons” for business owners- Part 2 May 3, 2012“Batting lessons” for business owners- Part 1 April 26, 2012Do you PLAN your marketing? April 19, 2012Hey Business Owner: “Who’s your boss?” April 12, 2012Want to diversify into concrete floor prep? April 9, 2012Skills to be a better business owner (Part III) April 5, 20123 more “required skills” for entrepreneurs – Part II March 23, 2012Why can’t customer service always be this easy? March 17, 2012So what “Success Skills” are you lacking? (Part I) March 10, 2012Is Marketing Getting Harder? March 8, 2012You just never know who is calling … March 1, 2012Staying the course-Heads Up vs. Heads Down! February 25, 2012So how is your retirement funding coming along? February 23, 2012Groupon 2012: Is it for carpet cleaners? February 6, 2012To solve problems: “Less can be more” January 21, 2012PROFITABLE long term apartment accounts- guaranteed! January 12, 20122011’s TOP FIVE articles! January 7, 2012You deserve a “working vacation”! December 26, 2011The advantages of an “on-site” VAST seminar December 19, 2011How cleaners/restorers can avoid the “Mercedes Benz Syndrome” December 16, 2011Focusing on the “right” cleaning business goals (Part 2) November 25, 2011Focusing on the “right” cleaning business goals (Part 1) November 11, 2011Great managers keep great employees November 9, 2011Want to grow your cleaning business into something great? November 2, 2011Jon-Don’s new Denver Super Store is now open! October 30, 2011Communicating your marketing message with emotions October 24, 2011Having problems? Don’t follow the lead of Corporate America October 21, 2011Strategies for Success Seminar- October, 2011 (Jon-Don Chicago, IL) October 15, 2011Strategies for Success Seminar- September, 2011 (Jon-Don St. Louis, MO) October 8, 2011How to reverse “Owner Arrogance” October 7, 2011The destructive results of “Owner Arrogance” September 23, 2011The “Lone Ranger” Rides No More (Part II) September 9, 2011The “Lone Ranger” Rides No More (Part I) August 26, 2011Give your cleaning and restoration clients the “Royal Treatment”! August 12, 2011“The 20 Foot Rule”: Improving relationships. July 29, 2011WARNING! Nothing “Recedes Like Success” July 15, 2011Do you have a personal “Disaster Plan”? July 9, 2011Lessons in Enchantment from Guy Kawasaki June 30, 2011How to get plumber water damage referrals- FREE! (Part II) June 27, 2011Treat the 3 symptoms of an ADHDM manager! June 17, 2011Bringing order out of chaos for carpet cleaners June 5, 2011Are you STILL “just cleaning carpets”? May 25, 2011Solutions for an ADHD owner or manager! May 20, 2011Business ADHD: Are carpet cleaners their “own worst enemies”? May 5, 2011“Down in the trenches” at Mikefest 2011 March 25, 2011Does your service “Rival” your competitors? March 24, 2011Add fresh, valuable content to your website March 8, 2011How to get plumber water damage referrals- FREE! March 4, 2011The importance of “trust” for carpet cleaners and restoration contractors! February 18, 2011The “Law of Leverage” brings plumber referrals! February 16, 2011Increase your carpet cleaning website “conversions” February 14, 2011The importance of SEO February 4, 2011How to liberate yourself from your email Inbox! February 2, 2011Carpet Cleaner “Pinching Pennies 101”: Office software January 24, 2011Talk about Emotional Marketing! January 19, 2011The difference in “saving” vs. “investing” your time January 14, 2011The best business books from 2010- Pick one. January 12, 2011Oh no! It is New Year’s Resolutions time! January 1, 2011Mobile credit card processing for a carpet cleaner? December 31, 2010Facebook’s founder is TIME’s Person of the Year! December 16, 2010Is your cleaning business a “leaky bucket”? December 10, 2010The Baker vs. the Carpet Cleaner- Is there a difference? December 1, 2010Don’t be a “Chief Problem Solver”- Part II November 29, 2010Avoiding the “Chief Problem Solver” trap- Part I November 12, 2010What can a carpet cleaner learn from the “Three Stooges?” November 1, 2010When to jump from my part-time “job” to a “real” cleaning business? October 27, 2010How NOT to hire carpet cleaning techs! October 15, 2010Ricko the Rhino Gets Some New Pals October 9, 2010What can carpet cleaners learn from Honda? October 1, 2010Don’t expect success if you are a “Master of the Excuse”! September 17, 2010Do you have a really killer guarantee? September 15, 2010Technical cleaning help now available at SFS.JonDon.com! September 13, 2010Woody Allen- the next carpet cleaning industry guru? September 3, 2010The two BIG responsibilities of a good leader … August 20, 2010So what the %&?$#@* is this thing called “SFS”? August 12, 2010Finally- A sneak preview of the 2011 Strategies for Success schedule! August 10, 2010So how many more “carpet cleaning months” do you have left? August 6, 2010True leaders are willing to take the hit. Are you? July 30, 2010Feeding your carpet cleaning troops … July 23, 2010What if you could do your cleaning career “all over again”? July 9, 2010How commercial “encapsulation” cleaning transformed my company! July 3, 2010“Baking bread” by developing your cleaning/restoration business managers OR maybe just yourself! June 25, 2010So can a carpet cleaner “cash out” at a young enough age to actually ENJOY retirement? June 24, 2010How can cleaning and restoration contractors ‘differentiate’ themselves from their competitors? June 23, 2010The deadly trap of “assuming” when hiring carpet cleaning/restoration managers … June 21, 2010What can carpet cleaners learn from Disney? June 18, 2010Facebook can get you more carpet cleaning jobs June 14, 2010The Great Carpet Cleaning Pricing Debate- Part II June 11, 2010The Great Carpet Cleaning “Pricing Debate”- Part I June 2, 2010The dangers of “carcass feeding” in your cleaning/restoration business May 27, 2010Bill’s Pop Quiz Answers May 20, 2010Do college graduates make good carpet cleaning employees? May 19, 2010Social Media for over 35 (and counting) carpet cleaners! May 12, 2010Restoration and carpet cleaning business owners are headed to Atlanta, GA this week May 7, 2010Why carpet cleaners should ask “stupid questions” … May 6, 2010A few thoughts on successfully skippering your carpet cleaning venture … April 30, 2010Developing Contract Commercial Carpet Maintenance Programs April 27, 2010Steve’s “Cry for Help”- Keeping tabs on your employees with GPS van tracking April 27, 2010Are your carpet cleaning competitors “dummies”? Now let’s talk about you! April 26, 20103 hints on how to safely “captain” a larger cleaning/restoration business … April 23, 2010How to develop and manage your carpet cleaning/restoration business “crew”. April 16, 2010“Toto, I don’t think we’re cleaning carpet in Kansas anymore!” April 15, 2010So what type of crew members do you want to employ on your carpet cleaning “sail boat”? April 9, 2010Words to live by and not just for carpet cleaners either!!! April 5, 2010How I promoted my carpet cleaning business at my BNI group by ripping Steve Toburen’s stuff off! March 29, 2010The need to keep your carpet cleaning business “sailing forward” with sales! March 19, 2010Are you “sailing against the cash-flow wind” as a professional carpet cleaner? March 12, 2010Did you know your carpet cleaning technicians are “addicts”? February 26, 2010Which type of carpet cleaning business “boat” will you choose to sail on? February 19, 2010Never doubt the power of a Negative Cheerleader in your carpet cleaning business! February 10, 2010Opportunities abound everywhere for selling professional commercial carpet cleaning! February 4, 2010What can carpet cleaners take away from the Toyota mess? February 2, 2010How Carpet Cleaners Can Improve Their Natural Search Engine Rankings January 22, 20104 Reasons to Get Serious About Cleaning Commercial Carpet January 15, 2010I CAN write about more than just “carpet cleaning”… January 11, 201010 Questions Every Cleaning and Restoration Business Should Ask! January 8, 2010See how an old, washed up ex-carpet cleaner strikes back at Sprint! January 3, 2010The hardest phrase to utter … January 1, 2010Stay Focused!!! December 22, 2009Unintended Consequences? December 18, 2009Paging Vince Lombardi December 16, 2009Respect? You have to earn it first! December 4, 2009Hiring outside your “Comfort Zone”- Part 2 November 25, 2009Hiring outside your “Comfort Zone”- Part 1 November 20, 2009How much is your cell phone “costing” you? November 13, 2009How to avoid the ‘Boiling Frog’ syndrome in your company November 6, 2009Does your business suffer from “Boiling Frog Syndrome”? November 3, 2009The question every customer is afraid to ask! October 30, 2009Steve’s latest Value Added Service “field trip” October 22, 2009A richer life by “courting” your people. October 19, 2009Now the “courtship” is getting serious! October 9, 2009The “Courting” Process Continues … October 2, 2009Watch out for Problem Fabrics September 25, 2009Never Stop Courting September 18, 2009Avoiding cleaning business burn out … September 15, 2009Are you burning out cleaning??? September 9, 2009Recession proof your restoration business September 8, 2009One more nail in the Yellow Pages coffin … September 1, 2009When was your latest Press Release? August 28, 2009A sincere tribute to an industry giant (and not from one of his employees) … August 23, 2009Have you ever cleaned up after a rhino? August 21, 2009Marketing with low AND high technology … August 18, 2009Has Procter & Gamble Ever Been Wrong? August 11, 2009Where is their sense of urgency? Part II August 7, 2009Where is their ‘sense of urgency’? August 5, 2009Thanks Google! August 4, 2009How would you respond to this article? July 30, 2009Starbucks: Where’s the focus? July 29, 2009Delegating or Shirking? You Make the Call! – Part II July 24, 2009Slow Economy; Should I Discount? July 22, 2009Which Test Won? July 18, 2009Why carpet is disappearing July 14, 2009Delegating or Shirking? You Make the Call! – Part I July 4, 2009Lovin’ that new technology July 2, 2009An apology … and a clarification. June 12, 2009What is the most important word? June 8, 2009The ongoing “Methods/ Standards War” … June 5, 2009Why do I bother? Part II June 4, 2009Why do I bother? June 4, 2009Southwest & Starbucks June 3, 2009Door hangers: Just because they’re a great “old” idea won’t make them happen! May 29, 2009Are you the Applebees of cleaning? May 27, 2009No longer a “Man’s World” May 22, 2009Just because its old doesn’t mean its no good … May 8, 2009Sometimes the hardest thing to do is ‘reach out’ … May 1, 2009Learn while you drive April 24, 2009Welcome and thanks for stopping by! March 31, 2009SFS arrives on the Web! March 24, 2009Working Issues With Mom March 23, 2009Your biggest business problem??? March 20, 2009A rant for your health March 17, 2009Let the Experts Do the Heavy Reading March 13, 20094 smooth techniques to get your customer’s email address March 10, 2009Jeff Cutshall finds inspiration for VAS in the sky March 6, 2009Reflections on making things happen … Meg’s Story (Part 6) March 6, 2009The Burdicks build for their future by looking beyond truck mounts, RX-20’s and chemicals in “Meg’s Story” (Part 5) March 5, 2009Even carpet cleaners have to “start with the end in mind” … Meg’s Story (Part 4) March 4, 2009Should you do a Home Show? March 3, 2009Hiring a business consultant for her carpet cleaning business Meg’s Story (Part 3) March 3, 2009New vs. Repeat Carpet Cleaning Clients in “Meg’s Story” (Part 2) March 2, 2009“Meg’s Story” (Part 1)- Real world dispatches from a “front lines” professional carpet cleaner. March 1, 2009Fuel costs considerations February 16, 2009Lessons in Infrastructure from the 3rd world February 6, 2009$3,000,000.00 and they still don’t get it! February 2, 2009It always comes back to emotions … January 9, 2009Blogging with Billy in 2009! January 1, 2009
Steve,
just wanted to tell you that I have already started implementing many of your suggestions in the SFS class that was held in Salem, NH this past week. That was the best class i have taken for my business yet…..
Thank your team for me,
Michael Lalime
First Response Cleaning and Restoration
http://www.firstresponsecleaning-restoration.com
Thank you, Mike. Salem was a great class- even with the Truck Mount from Hell screaming outside! You are going to do great and do it even faster with the tools SFS has given you.
Steve
PS Just a tiny correction. I’m just one member of a very talented team at SFS. If we “belong” to anyone I’d nominate Papa Nick. He is the man who has funded this vision for the last 15 years AND is the guy who signs our checks! 🙂