When you launched your remodeling business 15 years ago it was so exciting. You were fired up with enthusiasm. After all, you knew how to do the work. You figured you might as well work hard and keep more money for yourself.<\/p>
Your neighbors and friends said they would have you do their upcoming bathroom or kitchen remodel in a \u2018hot second.\u2019 After all, they know you. They know your prices would be fair. They promised they would tell their friends and relatives.<\/p>
Even though you\u2019ve had your ups and downs, you always came out the other side. You even survived the Great Building Recession of 2008. Today, doubt seem to be your \u2018never-ending\u2019 companion. Today, your business struggles and stress feel different. As Larry the Cable Guy might say, \u201cYou might be a stressed-out remodeler if you find yourself:<\/p> <\/p> In many ways you feel stuck. A fast-changing marketplace, new technologies, new installation methods and employees who \u2018just don\u2019t work like they used to\u2019 has you scratching your head. In your mind you\u2019re asking\u2026.<\/p> \u201cCan\u2019t things go back to the way they used to be?\u201d <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> The short answer is, no. They can\u2019t go back to the way they used to be unless you can reincarnate Doc Brown from Back to the Future<\/em> and invent a new-fangled construction industry time machine. This probably ain\u2019t happenin\u2019 (to use some \u2018right-good\u2019 English).<\/p> You\u2019ve got to get \u2018unstuck.\u2019 Here\u2019s 5 reasons why you can\u2019t live in the \u2018good \u2018ol days\u2019\u2026<\/p> <\/p> It\u2019s easy to identify the problems. It\u2019s also simple to list the reasons things aren\u2019t going back to the \u2018good ol\u2019 days\u2019 (even if you might be delusional about how really good the \u2018ol days were!).<\/p> The big challenge is \u2026<\/p> How can you get \u2018unstuck,\u2019 start re-growing your business and have some \u2018fun\u2019 (and more free time) in the process? <\/em><\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/em><\/strong>This is exactly what this article is about. I\u2019ll provide 5 steps to get your remodeling business unstuck, improve the return on your time and money, and bring \u2018fun\u2019 back into your business.<\/p> Will it be easy. \u2018Er \u2013 NO. However, when has easy ever been associated with a remodeling business? Is it critical to do and \u2018do-able?\u201d Absolutely. Let\u2019s check out the tips.<\/p> You started this business because you know how to install cabinets or how to sweat in a valve or tape and mud walls. In short, you are a competent contractor.<\/p> However, today what you really need to know is how to lead (and manage) a (hopefully) growing, profitable remodeling business.<\/p> Doing the work of contracting and leading a successful remodeling business are two separate skill sets. How can you \u2018evolve\u2019 (and I do mean evolve) from doing the work of construction to leading and running a successful business? First, you need to step back and develop a plan (or get help developing a strategy) for your business. You\u2019ll need to think through the following:<\/p> If you\u2019re not familiar with business planning, find a sharp business mentor who will take time to help you. Or find a business coach. If you haven\u2019t done this before, you\u2019ll likely not be successful going it alone. \u00a0 In a construction labor market like today\u2019s, if your people see no future (or are uncertain where you\u2019re headed with the biz), it\u2019s not tough for them to find another job. Almost every construction company needs more people. As you know skilled field labor is a needle in a haystack to find.<\/p> The best people (the ones you really want on your payroll) are looking for a future. They want a reason to show up in the morning (other than simply getting a paycheck). They want interesting work. They want to know they\u2019re important and are contributing to a company which is \u2018going somewhere.\u2019<\/p> If they don\u2019t know the plan, they\u2019ll (correctly) conclude there is no plan. Your business is a ship without a rudder or captain.<\/p> It\u2019s your job to explain the direction, the plan for your business.<\/p> Let your people know the following:<\/p> We all want to feel important, to feel needed, to have a purpose. How many people in your company today don\u2019t feel important, needed or understand there is an exciting career path beyond their normal \u2018day job.\u2019 You may wish the world (and the people who work in your business) thought and worked like you did (and do). However, things aren\u2019t the same. Just because your Mom and Dad worked 60 to 70 hours (and you do also) doesn\u2019t mean this mirrors the aspirations of people in your business today.<\/p> You can\u2019t make people be you\u2026and maybe this isn\u2019t the best thing anyway.<\/p> Society, and people\u2019s relationships with work has changed. Younger people want work-life balance. They want to be inspired by their work.<\/p> Times have changed. Your \u2018tude (attitude) has to change with them. Otherwise you may become \u2018road-kill\u2019 in your desire to grow this business once again.<\/p> The challenge becomes how to make things better (and different) than they are today. How do you change things up to have a \u2018team of people,\u2019 not just a \u2018bunch of workers de \u2018jour who are on your payroll until they find something better? Here\u2019s three ideas to get moving in the right direction:<\/p> Realize, you\u2019re not just hiring a \u2018worker,\u2019 you\u2019re hiring a real living-live-human being. Let them know (right from the beginning) you want to get to know them, you care about them and will do your best to help them grow.<\/p> You keep adding on. Projects, longer to-do lists and follow ups you\u2019ve got to get done. Meanwhile others who work in your business are bored. Unbeknownst to you, they\u2019ve got the \u2018word out\u2019 they want to get out.<\/p> They feel like they\u2019re in a dead-end job.\u00a0 They\u2019re bored. What\u2019s dangerous to you is in today\u2019s market it will be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy for them to find the door and move on (and that door won\u2019t kick them in the backend either \u2013 it will be YOU who will be suffering). How can you get your team (notice I didn\u2019t say workers) motivated and stop burning the \u2018midnight oil\u2019 yourself (even if there\u2019s no actual oil you\u2019re burning)? It starts by asking 3 questions:<\/p> As you know growing a remodeling business is anything, but simple. However, you\u2019ve made it this far. That says a lot about you and your determination. How many people can say they launched a business and it\u2019s been around more than a year or two? The answer is \u2013 not many.<\/p> However, with this being said you\u2019re still frustrated and need to get on a better path than where you are today. Here\u2019s 2 tips to give you the adrenaline rush to make your today\u2019s betters and your tomorrows more profitable.<\/p> \u00a0<\/strong>If being a construction entrepreneur was easy, everyone would be doing it. Even though you\u2019ve been on this journey for several years, you know something has gotta give to turn things around. Change is hard, but you\u2019ve done it before \u2013 when you decided to launch this business in the first place.<\/p> The first key in making this change is to step away from your day to day struggles and figure out where you\u2019re headed. Develop a game-plan you can (and will) communicate with your team. You\u2019ll likely have to change your \u2018tude about people \u2013 and how you\u2019ll motivate them. You\u2019ll need to re-think where you\u2019re spending your time.<\/p> While it\u2019s simple to write these thoughts, I understand its soooooo much harder to do them.<\/p> In short, I\u2019ll leave you with this one simple thought.<\/p> Recognize you\u2019re not alone in this journey. Ask for help. Remember, nothing (and I mean nothing) great is done alone.<\/p> The best of success to you,<\/p> Mike<\/p> ###<\/p> If you\u2019re struggling to get your kitchen or bathroom remodeling business moving, feel free to reach out to me. While I\u2019m not a business consultant (and I don\u2019t play one on TV), I do work with bathroom remodeling contractors (of all sizes and shapes) to help grow their businesses (either with a cool line of grout free laminate wall panels<\/a>) or just being a \u2018business buddy\u2019 whose lived the ups and down of running one of these crazy entrepreneurial business. \u00a0<\/p> Call 877-668-5888 and ask for that wacky dude who writes those articles (AKA Mike). I\u2019m looking forward to getting to know you and helping your business grow. \u00a0<\/p> If you\u2019d like to connect on LinkedIn, you\u2019ll find me https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mikefoti\/<\/a><\/p> <\/p> If you\u2019re into Twitter follow me @Mike_Foti<\/a> or my companies\u2019 @InnovateBuild<\/a> and @InnovateHomeOrg<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sitting alone with your cup of coffee at 5:30 in the morning the question hit you like a ton of bricks. You asked yourself\u2026\u201cWhy does it have to be so hard today running and making money in my remodeling business? What am I doing wrong? Others are growing. I feel stuck in the mud, behind […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":504,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,159],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entrepreneurship","category-wall-panels-for-showers-and-kitchen-backsplashes"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/digital-marketing-ebook.png\")
<\/a><\/p>![\"Digital](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Feeling-further-behind-with-technology-digital-marketing-terms-are-hard-for-remodelers-900x600.jpg\")
<\/p>![\"Worrying](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Worrying-about-overhead-high-truck-payments-900x620.png\")
![\"Vocational](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Vocational-school-students-are-hot-hires-for-contractors-900x600.jpg\")
<\/p>![\"google](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/google-being-used-to-find-remodeling-contractors-900x643.jpg\")
<\/p>![\"one](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/one-level-shower-and-laminate-wall-panel-system-in-a-hotel-727x900.png\")
<\/a><\/p>![\"higher](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/higher-construction-material-prices-are-squeezing-margins-900x888.jpg\")
Step #1 \u2013 Recognize knowing how to \u2018do the work\u2019 isn\u2019t enough. Develop a plan (and get help if you\u2019ve never been down the road before) \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Focus](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Focus-on-your-target-market-900x332.jpg\")
<\/p>![\"Business](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Business-planning-for-a-construction-business-900x615.jpg\")
<\/p>Step #2 \u2013 Tell your team the plan \u2013 no matter how many, or few, people you have<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Communicate](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Communicate-the-plan-600x900.jpg\")
<\/p>Step #3 \u2013 Change your \u2018tude about people \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Interview](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Interview-the-person-first-600x900.jpg\")
![\"Delegate](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Delegate-the-work-900x749.jpg\")
Step #4 \u2013 Ask, \u2018what can I stop doing?\u2019 What\u2019s my highest and best use? <\/strong><\/h2>
<\/a><\/p>![\"priorities](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/priorities-as-a-remodeling-contractor-900x598.jpg\")
<\/p>Step #5 \u2013 Understand today\u2019s the next day on your journey, yesterday (no matter how bad it was) is DONE. Seek out help, inspiration and growth along this journey. <\/strong><\/h2>
![\"feed](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Step-5-Tip-1-feed-your-mind-learn-as-a-remodeler-to-grow-900x593.jpg\")
<\/p>![\"Ask](\"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Ask-for-help-as-a-remodeler-900x620.png\")
\u00a0<\/strong>Conclusion <\/strong><\/h2>