How cleaners/restorers can avoid the “Mercedes Benz Syndrome”
Chuck Violand explains why restoration and cleaning business owners should carefully weigh their purchases.
personal success
American Airlines files Chapter 11- so what?
American Airlines was once the largest airline in the world and it now is struggling to survive. Anyone that has flown them over the past year could see the signs- in the AA employees! So can you learn an important lesson from AA’s sad example?
Focusing on the “right” cleaning business goals (Part 2)
Growth for the sake of bragging rights is meaningless, dangerous and might just possibly be fatal to your company. Chuck focuses on how to find the right numbers and how to make them even better.
Will a partnership help me grow my carpet cleaning business?
An Idaho cleaner is in between hiring his first employee or forming a partnership. Uh-oh! Time for another one of “Steve’s rants”!
How much do you charge to be a SFS “member”?
Dedicating 5 days to the SFS seminar (and gaining SFS membership) IS a big investment. Is it worth it? You be the judge after reviewing what is included…
Al Paulsen: “I was too stubborn to cut off my ponytail!”
Before I attended SFS I was on my way to “partial retirement”. But the things I learned from the SFS program really moved it along. I now take about 16 weeks of vacation a year and the business just “keeps on keeping on”!
How to reverse “Owner Arrogance”
Chuck warns owners with 3 bad outcomes from executive arrogance. Then he shares specific tips on how to harness this negative energy for personal and business growth.
The destructive results of “Owner Arrogance”
It takes a healthy self-confidence to open and run a small business today. But Chuck Violand reminds you to not let this confidence morph into destructive pride and arrogance.
How Mac W. Skiver found “Sawadee” at SFS!
Mac Skiver was starting out in carpet cleaning at 58! So he didn’t have 20 years to learn from the School of Hard Knocks. See how SFS brought Mac success AND the freedom to retire in just four short years!
WARNING! Nothing “Recedes Like Success”
One of our greatest threats is past success. Chuck shares two common “success pitfalls” for cleaners.
Compulsively measuring your success with customer comment cards
Most cleaners invite reviews; but not everyone examines them like they should. Steve revisits the “customer comment card” with a few modern tweaks.
Tom Barr uses SFS concepts to “clean up” in restoration.
Ex-paratrooper Tom Barr took the scariest “jump” of his life several years ago when he opened Platinum Restoration. Now Platinum is thriving and Tom credits much of his success to attending SFS twice!
“SFS changed my life”- Brad Macauley
Illinois carpet cleaner Brad Macauley found the push he needed to make a real change for the better in his business and life. How and why did he do it?
Read on …
David Gargan discovers “cleaning freedom”!
Industry veteran David Gargan just loved the physical act of cleaning carpets … until he hit the big 4-0! Learn how Dave “broke free from the wand” and discovered the wonderful gift of personal time with his family.
The best business books from 2010- Pick one.
Remember in 2011 you were going to read more than the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition? Well guess what? No more excuses! If you walk into Borders you will be overwhelmed by choices so let us help!