You may be able to relate to this one.
We have four kids. Three in school (Pre-K, 3rd, 5th grades) and one doing preschool two days a week.
Let me tell you about getting out the door in the morning (and then tie it into your remodeling business.)
Getting out the door (when it works)
- The night before…
- Lunches are packed and in the fridge
- Homework is all done and checked
- School bags organized
- Clothes laid out for the morning
- Water bottles filled and ready
- The morning of…
- Kids wake up on time
- Dad’s already been up for a little bit (has had coffee.) Took care of some studying, a few quick emails, and a little pick-up in the kitchen
- Dad and kids take care of breakfast
- Momma gets her breakfast and coffee in bed and comes down 10 minutes later to do the girl’s hair, etc.
- Dad takes a shower and everyone is pleasant, not rushed, and out the door for school at 7:30.
Getting out the door (when it doesn’t work – AKA: This Morning)
- The night before…
- Lunches were kind-of packed, but not really
- It was a busy night, so we didn’t get homework and school work quite squared away
- Clothes are out – they just happen to be in two baskets of clean laundry piled in the dining room
- Water bottles got washed, but they are empty and in the dishwasher
- The morning of…
- Dad was tired and hit the snooze button for 45 minutes
- Kids didn’t get up and moving very well either
- Breakfast was a rush
- Momma didn’t get her usual coffee/toast in bed
- Everyone was a little cranky (with dad – thetone-setter – leading the way)
- Teeth brushing got rushed
- Belt and glasses couldn’t be found by son #1
- Did I mention dad didn’t get his coffee?
- Voices are raised, things are scattered, everyone is rushed, and we’re late
In your remodeling business – when you prepare the week before a job starts – things run smoother.
When you take the time to bring your lead guy out to the jobsite for a pre-construction handoff – there’s less stress.
When you have checklists and you follow them – people are more relaxed and in-control.
When you order materials in advance (like you know you need to) – it limits surprises and delays.
When you’re proactive vs. reactive – you/your team/your clients are more pleasant.
When you follow the process that you have in place – that you know works vs. being loose with it – you’re more successful.
Being prepared produces a feeling of being relaxed, in control, smooth, easy, fun, and successful.
The other is stressful, lots of (bad) surprises, loud, costly, hectic.
9 times out of 10, just like the Hunt’s getting ready for school, things running smoothly in your remodeling business is about taking a few minutes to prepare, consult the checklist, and a little dose of discipline to make sure what needs to get done in advance – gets done.
Remodelers AutoPilot helps make your sales process, sales pipeline, follow-up, stay-in-touch marketing efforts relaxed, in-control, smooth, easy, fun, and successful.
