company culture

Growing a High Volume Remodeling Business with Jake Schloegel- [Best of Powertips Unscrpited]

Many remodelers dream of one day building a high-volume remodeling company. Others aren’t sure it’s worth the effort.

In this episode, we talk to Jake Schloegel about what it takes to grow a high-volume remodeling business. Why build it? Who should be involved? What are the expectations?

Jake is the Founder of Schloegel Design Remodel, an award-winning Design/Build firm in Kansas City. He started in 1980 as a one-person company and has grown it, with the help of his team, to an operation exceeding $14 million in revenue annually. The company is now managed by Jake’s son, Charlie Schlegel, and his business partner, Chris Peterson.

Jake has been a facilitator and instructor for Remodelers Advantage for years and is very active in the remodeling community, having served as president of NARI from 1990 through 1992.

Victoria, Mark, and Jake talk more about:

  • Jake’s business and what prepared him for growth.
  • Who helped Jake in building the company?
  • The key components necessary for sustainable growth.
  • Why Jake wanted to achieve high volume.
  • What Jake would do differently if he could have some do-overs.

Personal Wealth Building for Business Owners with George Kall-[Best of Powertips Unscripted]

As a remodeling business owner, building wealth and financial security is something you want to achieve.

Unfortunately, it’s something that many put off because the needs of today are more pressing, especially with the current market.

In this episode, Victoria and Mark talk to George Kall about tips and advice on planning for your future financial security today.

George owns Metro Building and Remodeling Group, a Design-Build firm in Ashburn, VA. George started the company seven years ago and now employs a team of 9 and was recently ranked #107 on this year’s Remodeling Magazines list of largest remodelers.

Victoria, Mark, and George talk more about:

  • Establishing a company 401k and how you implement it.
  • Setting aside money for your family.
  • Planning for uncertain times.
  • Obtaining financing for the business.

Best of Powertips: Ep. 117: The Six Habits That Can Change Your Life with Laura DiBenedetto

 

The Six Habits are behaviors that we act out every day, minute to minute. These are the habits that define our relationship with ourselves, and our relationship with the world around us.”

 
Remodelers Advantage is dedicated to helping remodeling business owners become more successful, while creating an environment that allows them to lead a more balanced and satisfying life.

Victoria and Mark welcome best-selling author, Laura DiBenedetto, to the show to share the truths that reveal the pathway to the truest freedom a person can have.

TEDx Speaker and author of The Six Habits, Laura teaches us how to create the life of our dreams without sacrificing what we love. As Founder and CEO of Vision Advertising, she has helped hundreds of companies build and grow profitable enterprises. Laura lives on Maui with her husband.

Victoria, Mark and Laura talk more about:

  • How entrepreneurs can find the time to nurture, heal and grow themselves
  • The kind of habits that determine our journey through life
  • How we can begin to master those habits
  • What actions you need to take to begin to change your life
  • Building your business around yourself, not the other way around

Mentioned in this episode:
Laura’s Website
The Six Habits

Ep. 189: The 9 Components of Extraordinary Leadership with Wayne Ottum

Wayne Ottum joins us to talk about the 9 components of extraordinary leadership and outlines some basic steps to help businesses owners become more effective leaders. Wayne discusses the importance of creating a company vision, building the right culture, and the difference between leadership and management.

Wayne is a senior consultant at Remodelers Advantage and is the president of his own consulting firm Ottum Enterprises LLC. Wayne has over 30+ years of consulting experience and has over 15 years of experience working with Remodelers Advantage.

Victoria, Mark, and Wayne talk more about:

  • Creating a vision 
  • Leadership in the Remodeling Industry 
  • And more…..

Ep.187: Building Freedom as a Construction Professional with David Gerstel

Guest David Gerstel joins the show to talk about his new book Building Freedom: A Construction Pro’s Path to Financial Independence. David also discusses topics including being lean and frugal, and having an employee centered company.

David Gerstel has over 50 years of experience in the construction industry, and is the author of many books including Nail Your Numbers and his new book Building Freedom: A Construction Pro’s Path to Financial Independence.

Victoria, Mark, and David talk more about:

  • Financial Freedom and Independence
  • Having an employee centered company
  • Thought remodeling
  • And more…….

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

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

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:

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

“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)

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.

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 >>

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