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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How much time and energy are you spending to help your employees do a better job? How much inconvenience are you willing to tolerate for the sake of employee betterment? The most likely answer is: "Not enough."
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Whenever I meet with remodelers, I like to ask them about the kinds of clients and types of projects they believe are right for their companies and the kinds of business opportunities they see. They describe very broad client characteristics, such as young vs. old, rich vs. middle class, or...
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Meetings serve three main purposes: communication, training, and motivation. As a leader, it's your job to make them great as “events,” not just as a vehicle to convey information. As the leader of your company, you are the master of ceremonies. You must ensure those who attend get their money's...
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I believe there are two business disciplines that will have a big influence on the remodeling industry over the next decade. The first is pretty obvious: technology. Already, technology is affecting how we sell and communicate. Your clients may know more than you do about the products that you...
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Peaks and valleys represent risk. The less extreme the fluctuations are, the less risk your market has. Just as you know that investing in a CD is less risky than most stocks, you should be aware of your risks in the remodeling business and learn to manage them.
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About every two weeks, we host a day-long event called “Discovery Day” at my company. It's designed as a time to share with prospective partners and other companies with whom we have or are contemplating forming an alliance, our insights on the industry and consumer trends, and to explain how our...
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Next time you're at the circus or a county fair, watch the jugglers. The juggling usually starts with just one object rhythmically bobbing up and down. Soon the jugglers add a second, then a third, and sometimes a fourth or more. How do they do it? How can they pay attention to four or five balls...
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These days, it seems everything about running a remodeling business is more difficult than it used to be. There are more regulatory hoops to jump through, more products to learn about, and more office technology to master. Financial risks are higher, personnel issues are trickier — the list goes on.
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What makes for strong leadership? We all know it when we see it; the trick is to articulate what the key ingredients are. Here are 10 key elements that I believe form the common denominator among successful leaders in any industry.
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There are steps you can take to not merely avoid the wrong client but to ensure that you work only with the "right" client.