Remodelers Advantage

Ep.135: The Introverts Guide to Networking with Matthew Pollard

January 14, 2021 Personal Development, Sales 00:37:53

Networking has been called the number one rule of business success. That’s fine for those outgoing high-personality types like Victoria, but what is the less-than-sociable remodeler supposed to do?

Our guest for this episode, Matthew Pollard, has written a new book in The Introverts Edge series that addresses just that. He shares some of the secrets from the book and other tips and advice about taking your networking to the next level.

Matthew’s system outlines how to build your dream Rolodex, from identifying high-level connections to getting them thrilled to be in your corner. The best part is, you don’t have to be someone you’re not.

Matthew is an internationally recognized consultant, speaker, blogger, author, mentor, coach, and serial entrepreneur with five multi-million dollar business success stories under his belt, all before the age of 30. He is the founder and CEO of Rapid Growth, LLC, dedicated to achieving maximum ROI for businesses of all sizes.

Victoria, Mark and Matthew talk more about:

  • What motivated Matthew to write about networking for introverts.
  • Why so many introverts struggle with, or even hate, networking.
  • Suggestions and advice for what introverts should do differently.
  • The number one networking mistake Matthew sees introverts make.
  • And more…

Matthew’s Website with links to his books, media, speaking dates, etc.

What are the Ways You Will Improve Your Business in Order to Hit Your Long-Term Objectives?

In our first FREE Webinar of the year, Doug Howard and Wayne Ottum will take a closer look at how you will use your 5-year Strategic Plan to lay the foundation for successful results between now and 2025.
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 @1:00pm – 2:00pm ET
[Click Here to Reserve Your Seat]

Ep.134: Preparing a Successful Exit Strategy with Dave Leff

January 7, 2021 Business Management, Financial Management, Legal 00:35:49

Have you given any thought to your exit strategy? How are you going to leave your business when you’re ready to retire and enjoy your remaining years?

It is never too early to start, and you should really be planning for that day, no matter how many years you have left.

There are many options when it comes to planning a successful exit and our guest, Dave Leff, joins us to talk more about his process, one that he is closing on within the next few weeks.

Dave, President/CEO of Leff Construction – Design/Build, explored a number of different options over the past five years and ultimately determined that an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was the direction that provided the best outcome.

Victoria, Mark and Dave talk more about:

  • When Dave first started thinking about exiting his company.
  • The main things Dave did to prepare his exit strategy.
  • The main options Dave considered for your exiting and the pros and cons of each option.
  • The decision to go with the ESOP option.
  • How an ESOP works and the benefits and challenges.
  • And more…

Do You Need Help With Your Exit Strategy?

Our business coaches and consultants at Remodelers Advantage are standing by to help you formulate your strategy. It’s never too early to start and you will find that there are many steps you should be taking now to insure a more successful exit later. [Click Here to Learn More]

Ep.133: Harnessing the Power of 3D Visualization with Dave Pollard

December 17, 2020 Business Management, Marketing, Production, Sales 00:30:25

Dave Pollard, Co-Founder & Design Director of Liv Companies outside of Chicago, joins the show to talk more about how his firm utilizes 3D renderings in almost every aspect of their business.

Leading LivCo’s design team, Dave’s process quickly takes hand sketches to full-blown renderings and walk-throughs, and they are even leveraging the power of quick video editing to help clients and prospects truly feel what their home can be, and leave every meeting feeling inspired.

LivCo has been leveraging the power of 3D design since they began design/build back in 2012.  Initially used simply as a creative tool for developing ideas, they quickly learned that the 3D output could take them to a higher level in sales, efficiency of communication, and marketing.

Victoria, Mark and Dave talk more about:

  • The software LivCo uses and why they use it.
  • An overview of LivCo’s general design workflow.
  • Using 3D visualization for more than just client presentations.
  • The time it takes to make deliverables to the client.
  • The fees to the client for 3D renderings.
  • And more…

LivCo’s Drawing Board Playlist on YouTube

VR Codes mentioned in this episode:

VR codes

Jobs are Won or Lost During the Design Process - MasterClass coming up in January!

BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE DESIGN PROCESS

Created exclusively for design managers and senior-level designers in remodeling and custom building companies, this MasterClass brings together presentations from award-winning industry experts, best practice sharing, and more.  [ More Information + Registration ]

Ep.132: How to Shatterproof Your Business with America’s Legal Coach

December 10, 2020 Business Management, Financial Management, Human Resources, Legal 00:29:55

There are many legal challenges that can appear suddenly for remodelers, builders and business owners.

Frivolous lawsuits, “Jekyll & Hyde” clients, predatory creditors, employment claims… you name it, it’s out there.

It is imperative to build your business on a foundation that can weather the storm so that, as our guest today puts it, it doesn’t matter.

In this episode, we talk more about the process of “shatterproofing” your business with America’s Legal Coach, Scott Reib.

Scott is the owner of ReibLaw, a full-service law firm with over 20 years of Business Law and Estate Planning experience. For the last two decades, Scott has been helping business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, and service providers to “shatterproof” their businesses and succeed in the professional world.

Victoria, Mark and Scott cover:

  • How Scott became known as America’s Legal Coach.
  • The difference between a legal coach and a lawyer.
  • What is meant by a “shatterproof” business.
  • Why a business would need to be shatterproof.
  • The biggest legal mistakes Scott sees businesses making.
  • And more…

Share the Love and Spread the Word!

After almost 3 years and 130+ episodes, we’ve come a long way… and we thank you so much for listening. But, we’re never too proud or complacent to not ask for “the love” and to help spread the word about our podcast.

If you’re enjoying our PowerTips Unscripted podcast, please spread the word, share our episodes on social media and post reviews on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify. We would love to hear your thoughts on our program. 

Ep.131: All About LEAN and Value Stream Mapping with Dean Tompkins

December 3, 2020 Business Management, Production 00:28:15

Increasing efficiency is one of the easiest ways to increase your company’s profitability, and LEAN process improvement is an extremely popular direction to take for successful remodelers and builders out there.

We have discussed LEAN concepts in past episodes, including Episode 10 when we had Doug Howard on to talk about the LEAN consulting work he is doing with remodelers and builders around the country.

In this episode, Victoria and Mark look more closely at some of the aspects within the LEAN system and welcome Dean Tompkins to the show to discuss how using Value Stream Mapping can rapidly improve your business.

Dean is the Owner and Integrator for Payne & Payne Renovations and Design in Cleveland, Ohio and he, and his business partner David Payne, recently embarked on a LEAN process improvement journey.

Victoria, Mark and Dean talk more about:

  • How Payne & Payne got started with LEAN Manufacturing concepts.
  • How LEAN applies to remodeling and the custom building process.
  • Aspects of the LEAN toolbox and which ones they used.
  • How the Value Stream Mapping process went and what surprises they found.
  • What the results of the process were and whether or not they would do it again.
  • And more…

Imagine being more profitable than your competition, without having to be more expensive.

LEAN is a method of process improvement designed to simultaneously improve customer service, enhance employee morale and increase profitability — all with little or no capital investment.

Here at Remodelers Advantage we’ve taken the core principles of LEAN and developed the LEAN Remodeling System (LRS), which addresses the specific challenges facing remodeling businesses today.
[Click Here to Learn More]

Ep.129: Are Your Employees Stealing From You? With Vicki Suiter

November 12, 2020 Business Management, Financial Management, Human Resources 00:26:28

The latest statistics on fraud should be a wake-up call for every small business owner. According to a survey by HISCOX, a specialty insurance company, 80 percent of embezzlements occurred at small businesses and 30 percent involved a loss of more than $500,000.

With more work is being done remotely, including paying vendors and processing payroll, you must have controls and processes in place to avoid this happening to you.

In this episode, we welcome Vicki Suiter, who shares simple practices and processes to help you avoid accounting fraud and stealing in your business.

Since starting Suiter Business Builders in 1990, Vicki has helped hundreds of contractors and designers build solid foundations for their businesses, run operations more efficiently, and achieve the kind of success they never dreamed possible.

Vicki’s articles and opinions have been widely shared in print and across the web. She is also the author of book “The Profit Bleed” – How managing margin can save your contracting business.

Victoria, Mark and Vicki talk more about:

  • Why small businesses are targets in 80% of all embezzlement cases.
  • The most common place where people “steal” money.
  • Other ways employees and contacts embezzle funds from a company that are less obvious.
  • Recommended controls and practices a contractor should have in place to avoid this happening to them.
  • “10 Ways to Spot Accounting Fraud”

Here is the link to the resource mentioned, “How to Spot Accounting Fraud”
https://suiterbusinessbuilders.com/how-to-spot-accounting-fraud/

Check out Vicki's Book; The Profit Bleed

This book is a doable, step-by-step guide that will put money in your pocket, and more time and fun in your day. Learn how to keep your finger on the critical pulse points that drive success, depend on your employees to take ownership, close more deals while charging more money, and more! [Click Here to check out Vicki’s book on Amazon]

profit-bleed

Ep.128: Demography is Destiny with Kenneth Gronbach

October 29, 2020 Business Management, Marketing 00:26:51

As a remodeling business owner, you have likely heard of demographics and you have probably looked at it solely in the context of marketing and lead generation.

But, the power of demographics lies much deeper than that, and in this episode, Ken Gronbach will share the subtle yet profound effect of shifting demography in the United States, the Americas and the world, and we will hear what that means to your business now and in the future.

Ken is President/CEO of KGC Direct and is an internationally respected demographer who has been able to forecast societal, commercial, economic, cultural and political phenomena with uncanny accuracy.

Victoria, Mark and Ken talk more about:

  • Ken’s transition from Marketing into Demography
  • The relationship between markets and demographic data
  • The effect Covid-19 will have on the demographic landscape in the United States
  • The generations in the US that will be the most influential in the next 20 years
  • The categories/sectors of commerce that will suffer and which will flourish demographically going forward

Here's Mark's New Book that was Mentioned!

Lobster on a Cheese Plate marketing book

LOBSTER ON A CHEESE PLATE: Learn How to Stand Out, Attract the Best Clients, and Win Every Sale that Comes Your Way.

Learn more and watch the trailer here!

Check Out Our Speakers for the 2020 Remodelers Summit

These industry veterans, authors and business owners will give you the information, advice and tools you need to prepare for the largest economic recovery in the history of North America, heading into 2021.

Visit our website and learn more about our speakers and the sessions that they will be presenting on November 11th and 12th

speakers-2020

Check Out Our Speakers for the 2020 Remodelers Summit

Ep.127: Engaging Employees in the New Normal with Rick Bowers

October 22, 2020 Business Management, Company Culture, Human Resources 00:24:01

Working remotely, working on-site with clients and adhering to CDC restrictions, an upcoming election, social unrest and an economy that is slowly starting to recover.

Everyone is adjusting to the new world of work, and it sounds as though making those adjustments will continue into 2021.

How can you help your team connect and engage with their work?

Our guest today, Rick Bowers, President of TTI Success Insights, shares tips and tools to help business owners and leaders make the changes they need to master the ‘re-boarding’ process.

Rick is the President of TTI Success Insights and keynote speaker at TTI Success Insights International Conference. Rick has over 30 years of experience with talent management tools and has trained people on effective talent management techniques in over 30 countries on six continents.

Victoria, Mark and Rick talk more about:

  • Background and overview of TTI Success Insights
  • The concept of “re-boarding”
  • What the new normal looks like for businesses and organizations
  • How business owners and leaders can use the tools available through TTI Success Insights

Don't Miss the 2020 Annual Remodelers Summit

Join Us for Two Days of Successful Remodelers, Bestselling Authors and Industry Leaders Sharing Ideas, Inspiration and Business Solutions as We Look Forward to Better Days Ahead.
[More Information + Registration]

Summit FB (1)

Ep.126: Off-site Planning for the Coming Year with Robert & Evelyn Lenton

October 15, 2020 Business Management, Company Culture, Personal Development 00:26:02

As remodeling business owners, many of us do long-term planning, but is there a detailed strategic plan for the coming year?

In this episode, we talk about the benefits of an off-site planning retreat to chart your course for the coming year with Robert & Evelyn Lenton, co-owners of Lenton Company, Inc. in Palmdale, CA.

Robert has built Lenton Company into the premier Design/Build firm in his market over the past 35 years. Evelyn joined the business in 2018 after retiring from a career in education.

Victoria, Mark and the Lentons talk more about:

  • The initial inspiration for the long-term planning retreat
  • What the primary goals of the weekend were
  • Who participated in the retreat and what the outcome was
  • Lessons learned; what will you do differently next year?

Ep.125: Building Meaningful Customer Personas with Aimee Pagano

October 8, 2020 Business Management, Marketing, Sales 00:26:28

The concept behind developing a customer persona is pretty simple – get to know your audience better so that you can build a more meaningful relationship with them, both as a client and a prospect.

The output of that analysis is inevitable company growth and client retention. So how do firms, of all sizes, build meaningful personas to shape the way they go to market?

In this episode, Aimee Pagano talks with Victoria and Mark about the process of building these vital tools and what a remodeling firm can do with them.

Aimee is the Senior Digital Advisor at HighRoad Solutions, a smartech data integration company for associations. She has 20 years of marketing and communications experience and her specialties include persona development, content strategy and generation, lead gen, and website development / optimization.

Victoria, Mark and Aimee talk more about:

  • What a customer persona is and how remodeling firms would use it.
  • What the building blocks are for customer persona development.
  • Working without data.
  • What you do with the customer personas once you’ve developed them.
  • Who should be involved when going through a customer persona exercise.
  • And more…
MASTER NAVIGATION

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MASTER NAVIGATION

This website is part of the Remodelers Advantage Network.

Visit our other properties: