Never Stop Courting
Chuck Violand explores the similarities between the relationship of a courting couple and you with your employees, customers, suppliers, and other business “partners” who support you every day.
carpet cleaning technician
Steve’s Top 5 “Grow Your Business TIPS”
Increased sales can bring growing pains that have destroyed many small business contractors. Here is some help …
Cell phone use by janitorial employees?
A Portland janitorial service manager deals with the frustrating plague of techno-addiction. What is YOUR policy on cell phones and their usage in the field? Steve gives his preferred guidelines.
Respect? You have to earn it first!
It is simple- to get respect you have to give it first. Harried business owners especially need to be wary of breaking this rule. Consider carefully Chuck’s thoughts on enhancing your “respect earning potential”…
Cut your home owner complaints by placing this “Spot and Stain Card” after the cleaning!
Don’t you just hate those nasty call-backs and complaints after you are convinced you left the carpets looking great? (Especially when the customer wasn’t even there when you did the work! Grrrr …) Here is one great way to pro-actively solve this problem before it even starts …
Cut your stress with Red Tags!
Increase profits and efficiency (and lower your blood pressure!) when you avoid missing equipment on the job by insisting on “Red Tagging” the steering wheel!
The best (and cheapest) employee motivation? Recognition!
Three steps to keep your field technicians motivated in the endless pursuit of making the cheerleader. Hint- a fun combination of cash and public acknowledgement.
The hardest phrase to utter …
Many entrepreneurs struggle with verbalizing their gratitude to others. SFS instructor Chuck Violand shares why saying “thank you” is so important and how you can do so …
Two carpet cleaning techs instead of a solo employee?
Create positive Moments of Truth for both the home owner AND your employees by scheduling two person crews for residential carpet cleaning.
Make a “day before” phone call
A “day before” Confirmation Call creates efficiency and profitability for you. Even better, it is a great positive Moment of Truth for the home owner…
Gently ‘encourage’ marginal employees to move on!
Nothing is more important to your financial future (and personal happiness) than finding stellar employees that “buy in” to your business vision.
Avoid negative cell phone Moments of Truth
You’ve worked really hard to polish your company image. Don’t let bad cell phone habits bring it down. Get started with these TIPS from the frontlines of a really successful carpet cleaning operation.
Consider part time instead of full time workers
Ready to hire your first employee? Or maybe due to expansion you are eying the possibility of hiring more. Steve highlights the benefits of using part-time help.
Should I Hire Techs or Stick to Cleaning Myself?
Steve revisits the thorny topic of feeling torn between the undeniable ease and lack of problems of not having employees versus the advantages of not just “owning a job” and being “chained to the scrub wand”.
After 15 years as a “Lone Wolf” carpet cleaner, should I expand?
A Portland carpet cleaner is at a cross roads in his life. Get big by taking on employees? Stay small as an owner operator? Steve’s answer may surprise you …