Mark Richardson is co-chairman of Case Design/Remodel and Case Handyman Services. His new book, “How Fit Is Your Business?” will be published in October, 2008. mrichardson@casedesign.com; www.casedesign.com.
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Sometimes members of the press get their facts wrong. And I think much of the current pessimism about the housing industry is driven by the need to sell newspapers.
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Rather than argue with the data, I think it's helpful to think about what consolidation would mean to the industry and why it might be beneficial.
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These strategies for addressing stress proactively will benefit you, your employees, and your company.
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Making or losing money doesn't happen by accident. Results depend on how well you plan.
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Make better business decisions by balancing emotions with facts.
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I recently spoke with a fellow remodeler who told me that his No. 1 challenge was retaining his people. Everybody who has experienced employee turnover — and we all have membership in that club — knows the effect it can have on productivity and morale, to say nothing of the time and effort required...
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As we grow, both as individuals and with respect to our organizations, we move through stages. Early on we pursue what interests us — without much analysis.
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When it comes to communication, becoming more efficient may mean becoming less effective. This is more than a clever play on words; it's an important issue that every business owner must address.
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Many years ago, I was having lunch with a very successful businessman. He had been successful at several different levels in his career, and I asked him what he thought the next stage might be. His answer really struck a chord: “I am looking for a replacement — someone I hope will eventually fire...
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Learning takes place in many ways. Most often, we introduce something new or we learn by imitating a best practice, step-by-step. Sometimes, however, we can make the most progress just by learning to avoid mistakes. That's especially true when it comes to sales performance.