Ep.88: All Help Is the Same, Isn’t it? with Allison Iantosca
As a seasoned business professional, you’ve probably been on both sides of the equation when it comes to giving and getting help. Get advice, give consultation. Gain a mentor, bestow some wisdom. While in these essential moments, we want to help and be helped, that doesn’t always happen. It helps to know there are differences […]
Ep.87: Partnership — Creating a Unified Vision for your Company’s Future with Matt Carlson
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 […]
Ep.82: What Can Be Learned from Success with Wayne Rivers
We’re just back from the 2019 Remodelers Excellence Week, Remodelers Summit, and Roundtables meetings, and our opening video was about thinking like a child, and allowing yourself to fail so that you can learn from what went wrong. It’s all a part of evolving as a business, as a person, and the art of growth. […]
Ep.80: Bridging the Skills Gap from an Economist’s Perspective with Mischa Fisher
An aging skilled workforce is retiring, and there’s a shortage of younger people taking their place. It’s a hot topic among remodeling companies, who are still searching for the right answers to solving their labor shortage. In this episode, Mischa Fisher, Victoria, and Mark discuss what you can do to bridge the skills gap, and […]
Ep.78: The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson
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 — […]
Ep.77: Recession-Proofing Your Company with Dave Edwards
It’s easy to be successful in a great economy. You can get away with a lot of bad habits, lack of systems, and high overhead when jobs are large and margins high. But when the economy contracts, job sizes shrink, and margins erode, those bad habits can have a huge affect on the health of […]
Ep.73: A Leader’s Inactions Are Just as Important as Actions with Wayne Rivers
Victoria and Mark are just back from their own peer group meeting, and were inspired by what they learned. In particular, they were excited by something they heard from another member, Wayne Rivers. Wayne has a video blog, and we’re picking up one of his episodes about leadership. He says leaders tolerate bad behaviors in […]
Ep.68: Managing Your Sales while Wearing Many Hats with Chip Doyle
Most remodelers wear many hats, and sales management is only one of them. So you have to handle sales functions on a part-time basis. As you grow and add salespeople, overseeing that department becomes yet another job duty. In this episode, Chip Doyle discusses how to successfully manage the sales department on a part-time basis […]
Ep.56: The Secret to Successful Employee Reviews with Allison Iantosca
When it comes to performance reviews, the times, they are a-changin’. Though some managers and employees might still like a good old-fashioned numeric ranking, most prefer to take charge of their destinies — working with together to set goals and spur professional development. Allison Iantosca talks to Victoria and Mark about why we all need […]
Ep.54: Solving the Labor Shortage with Paul Eldrenkamp
Regional remodeling companies are desperate for more good labor. Regional carpentry programs are constantly on the lookout for good jobs for their students. How do you bring these groups together effectively? In this episode, Paul Eldrenkamp talks to Victoria and Mark about the program he and his local NARI chapter have developed to bring students […]