Genesis is offering a comprehensive three-day program covering concrete pool construction in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 20-22, 2023. This course will provide the knowledge and skills to build beautiful and structurally sound concrete pools. Topics covered include plumbing and engineering, layout, forming, excavation, shotcrete and waterproofing, tile and coping, concrete decking, pre-plaster preparation and pool…
If we don’t manage data, everything that happens to us — good or bad — is an accident.
It happened again. A few months ago you had your annual meeting with your CPA and he or she told you the same thing they have told you year after year. “John, you had a great year. Your net profit was $88,000 last year, which you will pay taxes on.” Wow, that made you feel…
Many years ago, a good friend in the industry told me something I will never forget: “Never abandon what got you to where you are.” That statement can mean lots of things, but when it comes to being successful within the trades industry, the meaning is pretty clear. At some point in building your trades…
In some companies, training programs haven’t been revamped in years, or possibly ever. Stephanie Hammerwold, a human resources expert known as The HR Hammer in Irvine, California, works with employers to make workspaces a more enjoyable place to be. Her advice is to start by assessing the current instruction procedure for employees. “Take the time…
Most of us have heard the saying, “Do you have 30 years’ experience, or one year of experience repeated 30 times?” The other one we have all heard is the definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.” The point is the same in either case. Are we…
If you have listened to Dave Ramsey, you know his initial step toward personal financial freedom is the creation of an emergency fund. The long-term objective is to have an emergency fund that will cover three to six months of income. The same principle applies to our businesses. We need an emergency fund as well….
For the past 29-plus years of working within the trades, I have noticed some pretty profound changes within companies in an effort to become more customer friendly. You will notice one item that is glaringly absent from the list. I have not listed the need, or desire, for top-quality work. The reason is simple: Today’s…
Remember Vince Lombardi, former head coach of the Green Bay Packers, for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named? He won many championships over the years, but he started every training camp the same way: teaching foundational principles. It didn’t matter if you were a 10-year All Star or in your rookie season. Everyone went…
Going to trade shows is always so exciting. You get to preview new product lines from suppliers, and discover many new products and services. As you walk the show, it is easy to think this or that product might increase your sales in the coming year. And it might! However, before you start placing orders,…
If you had been married 25 years and were having relationship problems, would you schedule an appointment with a 21-year-old college graduate? I have a hunch the advice provided wouldn’t help a lot. On the other hand, suggestions from an older couple probably would. Last year, I spent three days providing free coaching sessions for…
Your accountant just called. “Bill, you lost $12,000 over the past few months. You better make some changes, or this is going to be a really bad year.” You hang up the phone, feeling low and upset, thinking, “I’m paying this guy $200 an hour to tell me I’m losing money? I can look at…