Business Tip of the Day

My business tip of the day is organization......Let me ask you, how do you feel after you clean off your workbench or you get finished cleaning your home or the yard, good? This is how you want to feel each and every day when you are out there trying to make a living. Organization is key to peace of mind and will give you a feeling of satisfaction. Lets face it everything we do in our life revolves around feelings, so lets make our self feel good.

My suggestion...Clean your truck, organize your tools, put them back in the same place every day, I know some days are long and it is so much easier to throw the tools into the back of the truck and deal with it later but you will drive away with a great feeling knowing that when you need something it is right there.

A saying that I use with all my subcontractors and employees is "if you are behind schedule, have upset the client in some way, at least you can maintain a clean and organized job site" please remember these words, I have spent countless hours over analyzing the thoughts, feelings and reactions of my clients and have found that if they feel they have chosen the right contractor for the job, that initial worry is gone but from there on the overwhelming thought they have is the project site and the smallest details worry them the most.

Organize your computer, remove all the junk right now and get serious, create files for each project (maybe even 1 for your truck and 1 for the office) carry the proper estimating supplies, stock up on pens, paper and the things you do not have time to run out of. Organize your schedule, do not work weekends or holidays, start your day at the exact same time each day and end around the same time if possible each day. Start your day by sitting down and creating a daily list, we create a list everyday and most of the time it has 20 or 30 things that need to be done. Let me ask you, the remodelor you compete against does not make a list but has the same amount of things that need to be done and you do have a list, who is going to accomplish more? The list should be phone calls, schedule or order for things coming up (not just today) and put a map with places you need to go but have never been, put phone numbers next to items or names that require a phone call, put quantities next to items that need to be ordered or picked up, try this and I promise you that you will accomplish twice what you are now and won't forget to call or order those things that can make or break a reputation.