PowerTips Unscripted

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 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 … The post Positive Growth in Difficult Situations with Kathy O’Brien – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Join Paul Kowalski of PK Builders as he discusses implementing LEAN principles in his business with Victoria and Mark. They cover overcoming growing pains, streamlining design processes, collaboration benefits, and more. Discover the journey to improved efficiency and profitability!

If everyone in your remodeling business feels like they’re invested in your company — so invested that they think and act like owners — they’ll make better decisions, solve more problems, and make it more profitable. But how do you get there? In this episode, our own Steve Wheeler talks to Victoria and Mark about how to get your employees to think and act like owners. It’s a process he started when he had his own remodeling business for 12 years, and then he dove deeper into the subject through his work with R/A. As Executive Director of Roundtables for Remodelers Advantage, Steve is responsible for helping business owners find the program or product that will help them reach their financial and personal goals.  Getting employees to think and act like owners is one of the biggest challenges for our Roundtables members, and for every remodeler we talk to. Steve developed his approach by trying to get his team to care about his company as much as he did, based on the cycle of accountability and the TOADS steps developed by Linda Galindo in The Accountability Experience. There are actions that can cause real change. He talks about the keys to the process, how to get there, and the benefits, including: The power of delegation Reducing owner stress Transforming through transparency Getting beyond the to-do list to higher thinking Talking about the big picture Enabling decision-making power Thinking of employees as renters or owners Allowing employees to fail And more … The post How to Get Employees to Think and Act Like Owners with Steve Wheeler – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Joe Smith discusses the benefits of having a showroom, including better margins, client retention, and time management. He highlights the importance of showroom events and how they can shape the business's processes. Joe's experience in the industry adds depth to the conversation, showcasing the strategic advantages of incorporating a showroom in a contracting business.

The labor shortage has been a frequent topic on this show, and this episode is going to join the ranks.  Guest Andrew Schmidt is here to talk about AMEK’s apprentice and internship program, and the importance of investing in future generations. Andrew and his twin brother started their business as roofing installers in 1996, and have grown into a leading design-build firm in Minneapolis and St Paul. They have vacillated over the years, from employing and training carpenters to using all subcontractors. Currently, AMEK operates a hybrid model of carpenters and subcontractors when the job dictates it. Victoria, Mark and Andrew talk more about: Hiring the right people The training and development process Creating an engaged culture And more… The post Why It’s Critical to Invest in The Next Generation with Andrew Schmidt – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted features Peg Buehrle as a guest. During the show, she discusses the significance of team development for business growth. The growth of a business depends on the growth of its key leaders and their respective teams. Therefore, it is crucial to have a development plan for each team member. Peg will shed light on how to ensure that this remains a top priority. Peg is a co-managing partner of ActionCOACH Columbus, the co-author of The Honest Truth about Leadership, and an internationally recognized speaker. She has 17 years of coaching experience and has helped hundreds of businesses grow. Peg is also a Remodelers Advantage consultant and specializes in team development. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, click here: https://remodelersadvantage.com/coaching/ Peg, Victoria, and Mark talk more about: Common omissions that business owners have about their teams What gets in the way of business owners of actually doing a development plan How do you create the discipline to make sure you execute your people plan? And more… The post Cultivating Growth: Integrating Employee Development into Your Business Strategy with Peg Buehrle – [PowerTips Unscripted] S5 E8 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Do you know you can increase the effectiveness of your digital marketing with handwritten notes?  Jesse Stein joins the show to take us on a deep dive into the world of digital marketing. He discusses how using handwritten notes can help remodelers grow their business, and provides us help with improving our digital marketing. Jesse has an impressive background as a serial entrepreneur. He’s founded, grown, and sold multiple ventures throughout his career, including SportsMemorabilia.com, a skincare brand, and DietSpotlight.com. Jesse also holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA from UC Santa Barbra. He is currently the CEO and Founder of Audience.co. Victoria, Mark, and Jesse talk more about: Robotic handwritten notes Digital marketing strategies for remodelers And more…  The post Digital Marketing Hacks to Grow Your Business with Jesse Stein – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

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 how to change deep-seated perceptions around joining the home-services industry.  Mischa Fisher is the chief economist at ANGI Homeservices, representing the HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List brands. Prior to this role, Mischa was chief economist for Illinois, where he served as the economic policy advisor to the governor; he is also a former legislative director for the United States Congress in Washington, DC, and is currently an instructor in applied quantitative analysis at Northwestern University.  Mischa says the labor shortage starts with s a simple fact of demographics, where an aging workforce is getting ready to retire, and the Millennials and younger Generation Z aren’t in the pipeline to replace them. Compounding that, there’s already a shortage of skilled labor. An internal HomeAdvisor poll showed 65 percent of their members could not fill a position, says Mischa, and it’s getting worse. Mischa shares his insights into what’s causing the labor shortage, and how we can all go about fixing it, plus bonus advice from his dad, including: Why talking about it is a great start Raising awareness inside and outside the industry Best practices to fill your open positions How to appeal to Millennials and Gen Z with a rewarding workplace The importance of building a real team Recognizing generational differences and how to work with them How to create a clear pathway to learning Recruiting older, experienced people Using the student loan crisis to your advantage in recruiting Appealing to the entrepreneurial spirit Working with industry, government, and educational leaders Educating parents about the advantages of learning a skilled trade And more … The post Bridging the Skills Gap from an Economist’s Perspective with Mischa Fisher – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Virtual reality creates immersive environments in real time. For remodelers, that means your clients could preview and even “walk-through” their projects to see if they like what they’re seeing.  Guest Chris Katkish says VR can help remodelers streamline their sales and design process, trim the length of the sales cycle, and boost production efficiency by reducing change orders. All of which leads to more sales and more profit. In this episode, Chris talks to Victoria and Mark about using VR technology to help clients confidently make decisions more quickly in the sales and design process. Chris is the general manager of InSite Builders and Remodeling in Bethesda, MD. The three owners of InSite have partnered in a company called Limitless Virtual Reality, which enables CAD designs to be viewed in VR. InSite uses VR as a visualization tool to get concepts across to homeowners. Even if you’re using 3D modeling, they’re still viewed in 2D, and seeing it on screen isn’t the same. VR immersion allows clients to experience the space and see what they’re buying before its built. Chris talks about the ways remodelers can use VR in their businesses, including: When to bring VR into the sales process Building in the charge for the VR design How your 3D model becomes a VR environment The equipment you’d need — and how much it may cost Real-world examples of how VR speeds up client decisions How to use it with Project Managers and Trade Partners And more… Victoria and Mark also spitball ways to use VR in your marketing. The pace of technology is fast — and VR is the newest tool on the scene. If you’ve got ideas or opinions on how VR may affect the remodeling business or your business, let us know in the comments below. The post Using Virtual Reality to Grow Sales and Profits with Chris Katkish – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

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. The post Partnership — Creating a Unified Vision for Your Company’s Future with Matt Carlson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.