Leadership

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

June 23, 2022 Business Management, Company Culture 00:26:11

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…..

Click Here to Listen 

Best of PowerTips: Creating your Business Exit Roadmap with Ashley Micciche

June 16, 2022 Business Management, Financial Management 00:28:59

Did you know that 81% of business owners want to stop working in their business in the next 10 years?

Yet, most business owners are paralyzed and doing nothing about their exit, because the process seems overwhelming to the point that they don’t know where to begin.  So, how does one focus on their business while planning an exit?  Guest Ashley Micciche has the answer.

Ashley Micciche is the co-owner and CEO of True North Retirement Advisors in Clackamas, Oregon. She specializes in designing, building, and implementing custom-designed exit plans to help her business owner clients secure their final and most important business decision – the exit from their business.  

Victoria and Ashley talk more about:

  • Understanding how to pick an ideal successor
  • Determining post-exit financial needs
  • Establishing a target departure date
  • And more…
 
 
Finish Big, by Bo Burlingham, is the book Victoria referenced during the show.

Are You Ready for Remodelers Summit '22?

This highly celebrated event is the remodeling industry’s premier educational conference, and it sells out EVERY YEAR!

Join over 700 high performing remodeling professionals and experience the Power of Summit, including:

  • 3 Distinguished Keynotes
  • 40 Visionary Speakers
  • 36 High-octane Workshops
  • 28 Industry Leading Success Partners
  • A Legendary Welcome Party. This Year it Will Have an 80s Theme!
  • And Much, Much More…
Click Here To Register

Ep.185: Getting To An 8-Figure Remodeling Business With Ben Juncker

May 19, 2022 Business Management, Hiring, Human Resources, Marketing 00:24:49

Special guest Ben Juncker discusses the lessons he learned and actions he took to go from a roofing employee to the owner of a multimillion dollar business and a best-selling author.  After being in business for a while and buying out his partner, he realized that profits are more important than revenue and that he needed to start looking at his business at the macro level.  He started focusing proper staffing and creating processes, which led to meaningful growth.

Ben started his company, Craftsman’s Choice, in 1998 and became a James Hardie siding contractor in 2000. Since that time Craftsman’s Choice has grown continuously to become one of the nation’s top James Hardie Remodelers, completing over 175 jobs per year. They have won James Hardie’s prestigious President’s Club award every year since its inception in 2015.

Ben, Victoria, and Mark discuss the importance of:

  • Knowing what is happening on job sites
  • Building accountability into all processes and systems
  • Leveraging technology, specifically Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools
  • And more…

Click here to listen to this episode.

Ep.174: How to Build Authentic Trust with Robin Dreeke

January 27, 2022 Business Management, Company Culture, Personal Development 00:26:27

As an FBI Special Agent and Chief of the FBI Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, guest Robin Dreeke built relationships and confidential human sources across 22 nationalities during his career. These days, he works with companies of all sizes, helping newly promoted leaders, executives, and teams succeed and grow. 

In this episode, he shares expert insight on how to move beyond transactional relationships and build mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships. 

Robin is the founder of  People Formula, a Leadership and Communication Strategy company.  People Formula was formed on the premise that missions, goals and objectives cannot be achieved without relationships and partnerships based upon communication and empathy.

Mark, Victoria and Robin talk more about:

  • Why trust is so critical
  • How to build trust
  • Implementing trust-building skills
  • And more…

Ready to Stand Out, Attract the Best Clients,
and Win Every Sale that Comes Your Way?

Lobster audio Twitter

Ep.170: Helpful Tips on Hiring with Mike DiFabion

December 23, 2021 Business Management, Company Culture, Hiring, Human Resources 00:30:58

Hiring is on everybody’s mind these days.  But, utilizing the proper tools in the hiring process is key to ensuring you’re creating a great team.  Guest Mike DiFabion is here to share over 20 years of experience in the remodeling industry and the tips and tricks to creating a smooth, efficient hiring process.

Mike started DiFabion Remodeling, Inc. in 2000 with the goal of becoming the best local mid-sized remodeling firm in the Charlotte market. By providing superior customer service, combined with controlled growth, the company now boasts a reputation beyond reproach and is enjoying its 16th year in business.

Victoria, Mark and Mike talk more about:

  • Hiring timeframes
  • Character traits to look out for
  • Experience Vs. Ability to learn
  • And more…

Get a FREE Copy of
The Remodeler’s Definitive Guide to Successful Hiring

cover 2021
  • Creating an Accurate Job Description
  • Developing an Employee Handbook
  • Recruiting Consistently and Creatively
  • Qualifying Candidates Carefully
  • Preparing for the Interview
  • Interviewing for Aptitude and Attitude
  • And More!
Click Here to Get Your Hiring Guide

Ep.167: Answers to Questions You Didn’t Know You Had with Michael Anschel

November 18, 2021 Business Management, Company Culture 00:28:57

In a field filled with uncertainty, remodeling teams may find themselves asking an abundance of questions on a regular basis.  And, in many cases, there are questions that haven’t even come to mind yet! So, guest Michael Anschel is here to provide insight into topics that you may not have known you needed.

Michael is the founder, owner, and principal designer for Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build, and has built a company that focuses on using an appropriate amount of space for living, and building sound structures that will last. His goal is to continue to offer unique custom design, build great structures, and promote the use of green building techniques both to the industry and the general public.

Victoria, Mark and Michael talk more about:

  • Some of the biggest challenges that remodelers face
  • Approaching estimations, markups and profits
  • Utilizing the proper mindset
  • And more…

The Easy-to-Execute System for Dominating Your Service Market

Ep.163: [Unscripted Back-Up] Strategy Isn’t Enough with Brian Gottlieb

October 21, 2021 Business Management 00:30:45

As we begin to reflect on 2021, we are taking a look back at some of our more popular episodes.  Check out this episode and listen to the importance of executing a strong business strategy as you begin to make plans for 2022!

A successful remodeling business isn’t only dependent on tactics or the larger strategy behind them. A company’s culture plays a crucial role in executing any business strategy. 

In this episode, Brian Gottlieb discusses the key steps needed for a business to implement their desired strategy with Victoria and Mark.

Brian Gottlieb is the founder and CEO of Tundraland Home Improvements, which serves all of Wisconsin. He started his business on a plastic folding table, with just $3,000 in cash. Today, Tundraland employs more than 220 people, and revenues  are in excess of $42 million. 

He defines strategy as an integrated set of choices an organization makes to position against the competition, add value to their customers, and add value to the company. Brian’s “a-ha” moment came last summer, when he understood that when a community is at its full potential, we’re all in a better place; and when an organization is at its full potential, we’re all in a better place.

He calls Tundraland a training organization — developing an employee to his or her full potential is a key point of the company’s  strategy. Brian describes the four ways to define your culture, and how to make it stronger, including:

  • How building a strong culture is like building a ship
  • How realizing potential depends on others
  • Examples of the wrong strategies
  • And more …

Are You Getting Everything PowerTips Offers?

As a PowerTips Unscripted listener, we hope you are enjoying this podcast, but are you subscribed to our PowerTips Content System? If not, you’re missing out on a TON of great information! That’s like eating just a tortilla chip and skipping the whole enchilada!

Subscribe to PowerTips today and take advantage of 2 weekly podcasts, a library of blog posts, a video “vault” of amazing topics and more!
Click here to subscribe!

Ep.103: Positive Growth in Difficult Situations with Kathy O’Brien

March 11, 2020 Business Management, Financial Management, Human Resources, Production 0:25:42

We talk about the J Curve a lot around here — picture a lower-case J. When you apply change principles to your business — new people, systems, and processes — they can initially send your business on a downward trajectory before soaring with your success. If you want to grow your company, listen carefully!

Our guest today breaks this process down into four stages of development:

  • Forming: The getting to know you stage
  • Storming: When conflicts arise (the bottom of the J)
  • Norming: Common goals are defined, an agreement is reached
  • Performing: Working toward a common goal and looking forward

In this episode, Kathy O’Brien talks to Victoria and Mark about how to manage your growth strategies and the importance of being a strong leader in challenging times.

Kathy was the founding CEO of the St. Louis Alzheimer’s Association for over 25 years and then served as Senior Vice President of the National Office in Chicago. She received numerous awards and recognition for her work. Kathy now volunteers as a mentor/consultant to 5stone Construction in St. Louis, MO, helping with business growth strategies — she first got to know the company as a client. She was so impressed with the quality of the work and the people, she has worked with 5stone for the last several years, developing systems and processes, determining annual goals and individual employee performance indicators, hiring to get “the right people on the bus,” and managing fast growth over the last four years.

Kathy says those four stages of development apply to making positive growth in professional development, organizational development, and personal development. You go through the stages in every business relationship, personal relationship, and client relationship. She breaks down the stages, and how they present themselves in the remodeling business, including:

  • How it plays out with employees
  • Why it’s a continuous process
  • Getting through the storming stage successfully
  • How one person can cause a storm
  • Why leadership and core values are important through all the stages
  • Making it okay to disagree, and fostering honest dialog
  • What to do when you’re still sinking
  • And more …

If you’re finding yourself stuck in the storming stage, Kathy says there’s great value in having support with other leaders, by networking or in peer groups. She also recommends three books to read to boost your leadership skills: 

Ep.102: Developing a Sustainable Niche to Support Your Passion with Wright Marshall

March 4, 2020 Business Management, Human Resources, Marketing, Sales 00:19:50

One of the strongest ways to differentiate your business in your market is to have a niche. 

Wright Marshall’s company, Revival Construction, has always focused on one highly specific niche and is constantly refining its team and systems to be the leader in that segment.

In this episode, Wright will share his approach with Victoria and Mark, and why following his passion for historic architecture helped him create a successful remodeling business.

In May 2000, Wright Marshall formed Revival Construction Inc. in Atlanta, GA, dedicated to renovating and restoring Atlanta’s older homes. The company focuses on classically designed whole-house renovations, and additions to houses built before WWII in the intown areas of Atlanta. Revival’s mission is to build beautiful homes and lasting relationships. Wright’s also a longtime Roundtables member.

Wright minored in architectural history in college, and planned to build for a while before going to architecture school. He didn’t go. Instead he concentrated on remodeling and building additions on older homes, allowing him to follow his passion for classical architecture and run a successful business. While there were other companies doing it in his market, they weren’t doing as well as he thought he could. Wright concentrated on providing a better customer experience in that niche, as well as: 

  • Determining if your passion can be a sustainable business
  • Working with architects
  • Why design-build doesn’t have to be in one company
  • Building your reputation in the niche
  • Defining success in hiring
  • Investing in estimating
  • The importance of discipline
  • Setting smaller, realistic goals
  • The advantages of finding your niche
  • And more …

You can also learn why Wright chose the name Revival for his company, and also get to hear a little bit of an Allman Bros. song. Also, give yourself a little time to look through Revival’s Project Portfolio — there are some beautiful examples of Wright’s work.

Become a Master

Our MasterClass courses are two-day sessions of rich, interactive information with plenty of hands-on instruction. We limit our classes to 12-18 people, giving you ample opportunity to work one-on-one with the instructors. All our instructors are well-known respected industry experts and some of the best in their fields of expertise. Learn more about our MasterClasses in marketing, the design process, bookkeeping, and project management.

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

February 12, 2020 Business Management, Financial Management, Human Resources 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!

MASTER NAVIGATION

This website is part of the Remodelers Advantage Network.

Visit our other properties:

 

MASTER NAVIGATION

This website is part of the Remodelers Advantage Network.

Visit our other properties: