company culture Archives - Page 3 of 5

Ep.172: How Technology is Impacting Your Mental Health, Relationships & Productivity at Work with Rob Krecak

January 13, 2022 00:36:02

As a society, we are now spending close to four hours per day on our smartphones, a 59% increase compared to just two years ago. The total amount of time that each person spends in front of all media per day is 12 hours and 21 minutes, which is up 11% over two years, and the amount of time we spend socializing each day has dropped 18% compared to 2003.

So, if we extrapolate these trends, where will humanity be in just 10 short years?

Guest Rob Krecak is on a mission to positively impact the lives of one billion people with his company Humans First, which aims to show people how technology is impacting their mental health, relationships, and productivity at work.

Victoria, Mark and Rob talk more about:

How technology impacts us in ways we are unaware of
Technology’s role in our relationships
Being more mindful about technology usage
And more…

A Podcast To Help You Improve The Bottom Line Through Production Training

The Tim Faller Show, our “brother podcast” airs every Monday and is a fantastic resource for every remodeling business owner, key manager or production team member in the business.

Co-hosted by Tim Faller and Steve Wheeler, the show has more than 175 episodes and is jam-packed with tips, advice and guidance from some of the best in the industry. Click here to learn more and make sure to tune in every Monday!

Ep.159: One Small Thing That Makes a Big Impact on Others with Chris Stebnitz

August 5, 2021 00:22:34

Sometimes it may feel that kindness is in short supply. That’s why it’s so important to take the initiative to remain vigilant and recognize kindness whenever you can. Guest Chris Stebnitz shares something he does weekly, that results in a huge impact on those around him.

Chris is a third-generation remodeling company owner in Elkhorn, Wisconsin with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Stebnitz Builders’ focus is to be the very best listening company, translating into a wonderful experience for their clients and a project completed to its highest standards with the greatest rewards for their clients and business partners.

Victoria, Mark and Chris talk more about:

Showing support to team members
Creating positive morale within your company
The importance of giving back to your employees
And more…

Learn With Our Experts

Whether held in person at our headquarters in Maryland, or presented virtually, Masterclasses are rich, intense, interactive learning experiences with plenty of hands-on instruction; blended with information, advice and strategies from some of the most experienced instructors in the industry.

Fall Masterclass Schedule:

September 13, 2021: Production Team Training with Tim Faller
September 27, 2021: Increased Profit Through Client Management
September 30, 2021: How To Become A Great Negotiator
October 5, 2021: Mastering the Art of Lead Qualification
November 3, 2021: How to Forecast, Track and Adapt Budgets
November 4-5, 2021: Project Manager Intensive
November 8, 2021: Becoming a Great Salesperson

Ep.119: Creating Rapid Financial Results and Lasting Cultural Change with Steve Baker

August 20, 2020 00:32:30

“The high cost of replacing employees means it’s important to find ways to retain the best performers, and studies show that transparency from the top can be a solution, boosting employee engagement and motivation.

One way to achieve that transparency is to show employees the company’s numbers and teach them the business. Why not get them in the same game as the owner?

The strategy is to create a business of business people. Then and only then will they begin to make a connection to the numbers that measure their performance and talk intelligently about improving the business.”

– Steve Baker

Steve Baker joins Victoria and Mark to talk more about the benefits and advantages of open book management, as well as some of the challenges that business owners face.

Steve is Vice President of The Great Game of Business, Inc. and co-authored Get in the Game as well as the update of the number one bestseller, The Great Game of Business—20th Anniversary Edition.

Known for his engaging and irreverent style, Steve is a top-rated, sought-after speaker and coach on open-book management, strategy and execution, leadership, and employee engagement.

Victoria, Mark and Steve talk more about:

The best reasons that a business owner should teach their people business
Common perceptions that employees have of ownership when there isn’t open-book transparency
How employees can benefit from an open-book policy
How you can get started
And more…

Resources mentioned in this Episode:

The Great Game of Business

Download the Get in the Game Audiobook

R/A Lumber Yard Run Calculator

This Episode Sponsored by: Wellborn Cabinet

Wellborn Cabinet is the featured sponsor for this episode of PowerTips Unscripted. Thank you, Wellborn Cabinet!

Ep.106: Six Words That Will Destroy Your Business (and what to do about it)

May 20, 2020 00:24:54

Are you resistant to change? Do you believe that because something has always worked for you, it’s “obviously” the best way to do it? Have you ever said, “we’ve always done it this way,” as an argument against change?

If so, then you are playing a dangerous game of chicken with your company, because these six words will eventually be the downfall of your business.

In this week’s episode, Victoria and Mark discuss the dangers hidden behind this seemingly innocent string of words, and they share proven methods to not only overcome your fear of change, but also to ensure you’re making the right decisions for change.

Because change for changes sake is just as dangerous as not changing at all.

Are you able to drive change in your business? Are you “stuck” & unsure about what step to take next?

Whether it’s business, finance or production we have the experienced, professional coaches standing by to help you and your team battle through these uncertain times.
Click here to learn more about Remodelers Advantage Business Coaching Services.

Ep.104: [Unscripted Back-Up] How to Hit Healthy Net Profits in any Economic Climate with Mike Medford Sr.

March 25, 2020 0:33:40

Editor’s note: We’re all working from our homes, away from the friendly confines of the office and its podcasting studio. So we dug into the virtual vault to bring you this episode. We’re in an uncertain time for many remodelers, so here’s some advice that will help you weather any business climate.

One of our core principles is that remodeling companies should make a good net profit, after paying the owners an above-average salary. When the economy’s booming, you can get away with a lot and still hit those goals, sometimes by accident. But the goal is to get those healthy net profits consistently, year after year, even in a downturn.

In this episode, Mike Medford Sr. talks to Victoria and Mark about how to do just that. Before seeing the metrics of the Top Ten Roundtables members a few years ago, Mike says his financials were always in flux. But then he took those figures and made them hard targets.

Mike Medford Sr. has been a home remodeling contractor for over 40 years. In 2007, he partnered with his son, Mike Jr. to form what is now Medford Design Build, with offices in Colleyville and Arlington, TX. Mike Sr. is the president of Medford Design Build.

Mike challenged himself and his team to hit the new fixed targets. He refined their processes and challenged his team to hit those targets. By the next quarterly meeting, the company’s profits were rising. He talks about how he and his team made it happen, including:

Creating a profit-centric culture
How net profits will help you beat the labor shortage
Focusing your staff on gross profit
The importance of open books to the process
Setting up a bonus structure
Building time in to plan
And more…

Mike also talks about getting back to the art of contracting and how important that is to your margins.

Time to Give Back…

After more than 30 years of working with some of the finest Remodelers and Renovators in the business, we are facing new challenges in our industry. We want to give back to an industry that has supported us through good times and bad, and so we’ve created Build Aid, a free event to help support our members, associates, and friends in the remodeling community.

Join us on April 1-2 as we explore various ways your business can navigate these tough times, and position yourselves as a leader when the world begins to recover and re-build.
Click Here to Learn More & Register >>

Ep.99: Adapting and Leading Through a Health Crisis with Jef and Monica Forward

February 12, 2020 00:35:48

Being able to adapt and lead through a crisis — personal or business — is a critical skill for any business owner.

After their best year ever in 2018, Jef and Monica Forward were gearing up for an even stronger 2019. Everything was on course until two key players were diagnosed with cancer. One of them was Monica, who was the company’s only estimator at the time. The other was their lead designer.

One year later, everyone is alive, and despite all the difficulties, they also hit all of their business goals.

In this episode, Jef and Monica talk about the challenges with Victoria and Mark, and share insights into how they kept it all going.

Jef and Monica are business partners at Forward Design Build Remodel in Ann Arbor MI. Jef has participated in every level at Remodelers Advantage Roundtables and is a member of our MentorFor group. Over the last four years, Jef has focused on improving his coaching and leadership skills, resulting in improved client satisfaction, planned healthy growth and a positive team culture. Jef was recently a semi-finalist for the Fred Case Entrepreneur Award, and for the Remodelers Advantage Impact Award. Jef credits all of this success to his collaboration with Monica, their team, and Roundtables.

The team culture at their company was a key component of the company coming together and adapting to the emotional and business changes, Monica and Jef say. When her diagnosis came, they were about to implement The Great Game of Business, which empowers every employee to act like an owner and share in the profits. But then everything changed. Jef and Monica talk about how they got through the year, including:

Being prepared for the unexpected
Developing a strategy to get through
How to deal with work absences
The importance of cross-training
Figuring out who takes over the extra work
Tapping into the strength of your team
Being open about your tough times
Leading through vulnerability
Maintaining a positive attitude
Handling the emotional components
And more …

The company continues to perform at peak levels due to the strength of the company culture, and their proven processes and systems.

Cool Gear, Great Cause

If you’re looking for cool gear and apparel to show your Roundtables pride that also supports a great cause, check out our Shop. All of the proceeds go to our partner, The American Cancer Society. It’s a win-win!

Ep.89: Focusing on Clarity in Communication with Jeremy Steinruck

November 20, 2019 00:29:33

We’re under an almost-constant barrage of information from every angle. As leaders in our business, it’s imperative that our messages are clearly understood. But it’s equally important, if not more so, that we get messages clearly.

Looking ahead to 2020, Jeremy Steinruck is focusing on clarity in communication and cutting through the white noise.

In this episode, Jeremy discusses how to make your communication skills better with Victoria and Mark, what it will take, and how it will help your business and your life.

Jeremy is co-owner and vice president of Axis Construction in Wichita Falls, TX, a company he and partner Jeff Miller started 13 years ago. Jeremy holds a master’s degree in human resource management, but he is most thankful for the influence of incredible mentors and friends who have shared their wisdom freely.

Learning to be a better communicator is possible, even if it’s not in your native skillset. Jeremy says the first part, for him, was getting rid of his “head trash.” He had to get rid of limiting beliefs, only hang on to ideas that could be proven true, eliminate his assumptions of what someone else believes, and not let any of those things influence his decisions. He talks about how to get past that, and boost your communication and listening skills, including:

The basic rules of engagement
Facing fears
Placing yourself in someone else’s comfort zone
How to plan your conversations
Understanding you can’t convince someone else
Asking questions to get to others’ needs
Setting goals at the beginning of the conversation
Communicating with intent
The four things to do before having a tough conversation
And more …

Two of the biggest barriers to effective communication are distraction and selfishness, and Jeremy says that recentering and concentrating on your core values will help you get over them.

Ep.87: Partnership — Creating a Unified Vision for your Company’s Future with Matt Carlson

November 6, 2019 00:23:17

Having a business partner can be an enormous advantage if you approach it correctly. Most people underestimate the commitment and work that goes into a partnership. Ensuring that you’re on the same page and share the same vision goes far beyond having a plan on paper.

In this episode, Matt Carlson shares his story with Victoria and Mark, and what he’s learned as the minority partner in his business in making the relationship work.

Matt is the general manager and co-owner of Fox Home Innovations in Manhattan, KS. After 10 years in the business, and nine as an owner he has a unique perspective on the lessons he has learned from growing FHI alongside his business partner Chris Fox.

Matt and Chris met in college, and worked on several projects together there while both where studying entrepreneurship. Matt then joined Chris in his new remodeling company. He started out working in the field, and Chris proposed the partnership idea quickly. It started as a trial run for a year, while he was still considered an employee. They made it official after the trial period. Matt talks about what you need to do to create and maintain a successful partnership, including:

Making the commitment
Being open and honest
Putting egos aside
How to maintain an equal partnership regardless of ownership stake
The importance of having open books
Delegating duties and responsibilities
Keeping egos out of it
Resolving conflicts
Speaking with one voice
Taking a thoughtful approach to long-term company health
And more …

If you’re in a partnership, or are considering one, Matt says the biggest thing to remember is to put the business first — above any personal relationship you share.

Never Stop Learning…

In today’s episode, Mark mentions our Masterclass sessions that are now available. These two-day courses are intimate, interactive sessions with plenty of hands-on instruction. Small class sizes mean you have plenty of time to interact with your trainer and classmates. All of our instructors are industry experts and among the best in their fields of expertise. To see our slate of available courses, go to https://www.remodelersadvantage.com/events-training/masterclass

Ep.81: The Department Your Company Doesn’t Have, but Should with Alex Raisanen

September 18, 2019 00:31:36

All remodelers have a sales department. All remodelers have a production department. But few officially recognize a human resources department.

Alex Raisanan used her experience to build an HR department for TraVek, a remodeling company in Scottsdale, AZ. Through skill and creativity, the department was able to build its team by 123 percent in a tough labor market.

In this episode, Alex shares how she did it with Victoria and Mark, and tells you how an HR department of one can help you grow your team with intention and create a culture worth talking about.

Alex is the human resource director at TraVek. Her dedication to high standards was ingrained at an early age by her luxury resort experience in the HR department of the Four Seasons Scottsdale, and led her to corporate recruiting at one of the largest national companies in the construction sector, and then finally to TraVek.

She learned how to build a culture at the Four Seasons and found her passion for helping people find jobs to support themselves and their families. Alex has officially been at TraVek since February 2017, but had been doing work behind the scenes previously. Alex helped develop some policies and procedures, and an employee handbook. When she began full-time, she dove into recruiting in a tough labor market. She shares her strategies for finding the right people for the right roles, and growing your business, including:

How to network and build relationships
Starting conversations with people who have the skills you need
How she attracts top talent
Taking the long view of recruiting
Using LinkedIn and social media to grow your staff
Why to recruit when you’re not necessarily hiring
What to do when you find a superstar, but no formal job opening
Establishing a templated on-boarding process
The interview process
Involving your team to evaluate a good fit
The questions to ask to determine a cultural fit
And more …

Proactively recruiting can help you increase the chances that the top talent will be interested and available when you do have an opening.

Ep.78: The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson

August 28, 2019 00:38:27

In a low-unemployment economy, recruiting and retaining the best talent is a continuous effort. You need a powerful competitive advantage — one that’s nearly impossible for anyone else to copy.

It’s your company culture.

In this episode, Steve Anderson tells Victoria and Mark why that is, and how you can develop a successful culture — or turn around a faltering one.

Steve’s an author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He’s worked with tens of thousands of professionals to grow and expand their businesses. Steve has spoken at our Remodeler’s Summit and worked with our Roundtables members in the past.

Your company culture is a combination of priorities and processes, and how your team acts on them, that results in how people feel about your company, inside and out. It can happen by default or by definition, but almost all successful cultures happen by design. He tells you how to look at your culture critically, and the steps to take to improve it, including:

Building on natural laws
Defining your priorities
Designing your culture intentionally
The law of emotion
What the 10 Commandments can teach you about changing your culture
Defining your culture in a written document
Setting expectations
Reinforcing acceptable behavior
Why the customer shouldn’t come first
Using your culture in recruiting and hiring
The culture mistakes you may be making
And more …

There’s a copy of Steve’s first written culture guide in his book, The Culture of Success: 10 Natural Laws for Creating a Place Where Everyone Wants to Work. He invites everyone to use that culture guide to create your own — just click the link and make your purchase.

company culture