There are different times of the year that are natural to step back and take stock of how things are going and where you’re at.

New Year’s is a big one and so is Labor Day.

At Labor Day, you’re through a good portion of the year.

The summer is mostly in the rearview mirror and we get back into a more regular and consistent schedule.

Here are some questions to think about over this long Labor Day weekend:

1. You started the year with some clarity and big plans. When you think of your business – What’s working? What’s not working? Pull out a sheet of paper, slow down for a minute, and write some things out.

2. Your work/life balance – what is your plan for the next 30 days to improve it?

3. How’s the financial side of the business? Are there any expenses to cut? What are you going to invest in this fall?

4. Should you go into your estimating spreadsheet/system and increase things across the board 3%? 3% increase on $500,000 in revenue is $15,000. Small change, big result. It would change a $50,000 project to a $51,500 project. Your prospect won’t blink at that and the extra revenue will help you hit your financial goals.

5. What are you doing to become a better salesperson?

6. Encouragement and Accountability – are you lacking in either of these areas? Should you consider joining a mastermind group of your peers or hiring a business coach to help you?

7. Is there a hard decision you’ve been putting off? Maybe it’s an employee or trade partner you need to have a heart to heart with or let go of. Set a ‘next step’ and a deadline for when you will have the conversation or part ways with them.

8. What’s something you can do in September to feel more organized and in control of your business?

9. Look at your bookshelf – grab a book that you’ve been ‘meaning to read’ or that impacted you in the past – can you read 30 pages of it this weekend?

10. Should you talk to Kyle about your business and how he can help? If you’ve found my content helpful for a while, post Labor Day is a great time to talk. Reply back and just say ‘Let’s Talk’ and we’ll schedule a time to discuss you and your business and how I might be able to help.

Lastly – enjoy a 3-day weekend! You deserve it – you’ve been working hard.

But… When you get back to things on Tuesday – summer is behind us, kids are back in school, it’s time to recommit and kick some butt for the remainder of the year. Let’s go!

“I’ve been eating like crap for a month”

“I keep neglecting the estimating work on my desk”

“I’m out of shape”

“I need to sit down with Joe for his review, but I don’t want to deal with the confrontation”

“I haven’t set aside any time for myself to study/read”

“I need to take my wife on a date”

“Where has the revenue gone? My books are not organized”

“I need to get some new project leads into the business”

“I should follow-up with that prospect”

REMEMBER:

If you don’t do anything about it, nothing changes.

Maybe this means you need to drop and knock out 20 pushups

Maybe you need to go for a walk and clear your head

Maybe you need to immediately text your spouse and set up a date

Maybe you need to call your employee and set-up a time to meet

Maybe you need to talk to me about getting involved in Remodelers Circle so that you have a business group to belong to

Maybe you need to order a salad for lunch today

If you don’t do anything about it, nothing changes.

Remember that and do something about it.

I saw this post on Remodeling Magazine’s Facebook post recently

It made me think of a way to turn this bad news about our industry into GOOD news about your remodeling business. Along with educating homeowners on what to look out for when hiring a remodeler.

See my thoughts in the 1 minute video and feel free to swipe the content I wrote below and post it on your business page:

Sadly – we work in an industry that is #2 in Consumer Complaints.

While we work extremely hard to deliver our projects on time, on budget, with exceptional communication, wonderful workmanship – and stand behind our work for years after we’re done…

The fact is that there are a lot of remodeling companies that give our industry a bad name.

Please, please, please – do your due diligence before hiring any remodeler or home improvement company. Be sure to go through a checklist  like this – do they:

Have a written process outline the steps from initial contact to completion, so your project doesn’t get lost in the shuffle?
– Carry worker’s comp insurance on every employee who enter your home?
– Provide a guaranteed project cost, using a fixed-price contract, rather than an open-ended estimate?
– Acquire permits and use licensed trade and mechanical contractors (e.g. Plumber, electrician)?
– Have a clean reputation on the internet? (i.e. Google their company name)
– Have a list of references that you may contact on your own?
– What type of warranty do they offer?
– Have a plan for how he or she will respect your home and your family?
– Know how long the design, planning, and construction phases will take?
– Practice clear communication in a timely manner consistent with today’s technology?

Please do your homework and make sure you select a professional who will do a great job for you and your home!

A couple thoughts for you this Friday morning:

Take care of what you control – don’t worry about things you can’t control. As you go through the day – focus on thinking of the ‘Next Right Thing’ Yes, there are 20 things to do – figure out what the ‘Next Right Thing’ is and get it done!

“None of us is as smart as all of us.” Be sure to keep asking your crew and trade partners questions – ask if they have any ideas on how to improve things. Don’t be a leader who tries to figure it out all by themselves, but rather seek out ideas and wisdom from others.

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I sent these out as text messages this week – a little word of encouragement.

I have several dozen people who get a Text Message from me from time to time. Usually, it’s a quick idea for your remodeling business or word of encouragement.

If you’d like to receive them just fill out this quick form – no cost.

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And two things along the vein of “None of us is as smart as all of us.” – 350 remodelers are part of Remodelers Community – a free private Facebook Group. The conversations are strong and very helpful – request to join here.

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And, in an even more intimate and powerful and focused example of “None of us is as smart as all of us.” –  Remodelers Circle Mastermind groups are all about using our collective wisdom and experience to help everyone get better.

I’m filling a few new groups that will be starting up this fall – if you’d like to talk to see if Remodelers Circle might be a good fit for your remodeling business, just email me or shoot me a quick text 517-902-8450.

-Kyle