Ask Not What the Stimulus Can Do for You...

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Ask not what the economic stimulus plan can do for you….

...ask what you can do to stimulate.

I actually read through a good chunk of the ARRA looking for some inspiration for my monthly obligatory "stimulus blog"....

And I feel that whatever I might pull out of my ass about ARRA would be pure garbage and a waste of my readers' time. REMODELING magazine has already covered it from just about every angle relative to remodelers.

I could advise remodelers that moving their businesses to Taipei will not allow them to skirt the COBRA continuation provision...in case they were thinking it would.  (See ARRA Title III - Premium Assistance for Cobra Benefits Sec.3001.HR1-345) (Or, see this article from the May issue of REMODELING.)

Or, I could say what’s really on my mind.

GET OFF YOUR ASS AND BE A WALKING STIMULUS!

Chin up! Chest out! Shoulders back! 

When someone asks you, “How are you?” answer in the superlative! My standard answer these days is, “Perfect!” (For those grammar Nazis out there, you might say, “Perfectly well, thank you.”)

You know what? People are stimulated by my response! People want to know that something is right in our world. Do them that favor.

Wouldn’t it be cool for our industry to lead the recovery?

I don’t want to fall into a cheesy pep talk, but if I see one more long-faced remodeler…


I’m happy as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore!!!!!

Greg Antonioli is the president of Out of the Woods Construction & Cabinetry, a Massachusetts design/build firm that is committed to open-book management, a team-driven approach to decision-making, and a great relationship with homeowner clients. He blogs for REMODELING every Monday and occasionally on Thursdays as well. 

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Comments (3 Total)

  • Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 7:29 AM Wednesday, June 24, 2009

    We are also busy as all get out. We find a confident attitute DOES make a difference in closing a sale. Ditto, when marketing. We are reaching out via all means of marketing. The most effective is telling our story to everyone, and letting them tell it for us again! We do the same for our friends by telling their story. Our network is building and so are we! DianeMenke Myers Constructs Inc myersconstructs.com

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  • Posted by: Law Office of Andrea Goldman | Time: 11:35 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

    I am coming across contractors who are still busy. Providing excellent customer service and maintaining good communication prevents problems and will bring in more business!

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  • Posted by: Michael Anschel | Time: 6:50 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

    Now that is inspirational! I second and third the sentiment!

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About the Blogger

Greg Antonioli

thumbnail image Greg Antonioli founded Out of the Woods Construction and Cabinetry Inc. in 1992. With more than $3 million in revenues in 2009, Out of the Woods is a design/build firm that does strictly residential remodeling, historically in the Boston suburbs and increasingly in the city. The company has 13 employees (eight in the field, five in the office), practices open-book management, and enjoys a company-wide bonus program. Greg is a long-time member of Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, president of the Eastern Massachusetts NARI chapter, and a Sandler Sales trainee. He is also an avid reader of business books and periodicals, a regular magazine contributor, and (some have said) a twisted thinker. Greg believes that his company’s #1 obligation is to its construction clients. He believes that company time and resources spent on sales is time that should be spent serving construction clients, therefore sales and design efforts must be very efficient. One of every three of the prospects with whom Greg meets becomes a design client, and 100% of those design clients convert to construction clients. Greg is a native of California’s Silicon Valley area and a graduate of Santa Clara University. He and his wife have three daughters and live in Acton, Mass.