Master of Your Domain

 I don't know if you are like this, but I find my productivity goes in spurts. I am an insane workaholic for a bit, then it slows down and I get lazy. This ebb and flow usually comes when I start and complete a project. When I am working on a  project I feel like I am overwhelmed but that the world is within my grasp, but then when the project is complete I slack off.

I recently read about a system that Jerry Seinfeld used called "Don't Break The Chain" and I think it may be just the thing my compulsive mind needs to get things in order. I am going to experiment with it, and it starts with me explaining it to you.

Basically, you need to target the every day things you need to work on. For me that includes Writing my book, reading business articles, writing my blog, growing my company and getting some exercise. Now you print off a calender for each task and set out a minimum requirement. Using writing for example, I am forcing myself to write for 30 minutes a day. Most times I will write for much more, but this is the minimum time needed for me to feel satisfied with my progress.

Once I have completed the task, I can go to my calender for that task and put a big X on it. Then, I will try not to break the chain of X's that are on the calender.
I think setting low minimums for the day and also allowing yourself vacation time is a must. The calenders need to be in a place you see every day as well, so that if there is a day without that coveted X, you feel shame, I mean... you couldn't find 20 minutes to run on your treadmill?!?!

In theory it sounds great. I bought a bulletin board for my bedroom and printed off some calender from HERE so that every day when I wake up and when I go to sleep I see the calenders, and those Xs can cheer me on!



Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

Dream World

One of the truly wonderful things about my job is all the great people I meet. I have made some good friends and, when our business days overlap, we tend to talk a little shop.


Yesterday I was chatting with someone about a client I had recently acquired because the previous service provider was not doing a satisfactory job. When the client asked about the service, the provider got upset and was rather inappropriate in his responses.


This business owner has been wandering around, lying to people about what went wrong with the client, washing his hands of the situation which doesn't just hurt the people around him, it also robs him of an opportunity to improve his business.


When we have problems with employees or customers and things come to an end, it's an opportunity to look back at the entire situation and try to learn from it. Where did the problem start? Could I have handled it better? What could I have done to solve the problem earlier? These are questions that are vital to your growth as a person and a business.


This guy has chosen to favour a fantasy over reality, so he will continue to make the same mistakes and live n the same dream that lead to similar outcomes. Things go wrong, but rather than worrying about perception, try to turn it into a learning experience to help you down the road. Remember, when you're running a business, you're not just learning lessons for yourself, but all the people that rely on you.



Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

The 3 Books You Need To Read (Part 2)

Here we are in the middle. I hope everyone gets a chance to look at my first book suggestion, even if you have to go to the library take a quick look through one of Dale C's books. 

So on to book number two, “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. This book is a must for anyone who is trying to get organized, or anyone who has to use there brain for there job. Unless you’re bagging fries, this book will be a great asset to you at work and at home. 

The key to understanding this book and it’s method of organizing is realizing that you;

A/ Can’t remember anything without writing it down in its proper place

B/ The worst thing you can do for your stress level is try and keep a mental list of anything

C/ You shouldn't agree to anything you probably don't have time to complete

The book also gets a little deeper into what things you should be doing in the different roles out of your life. It doesn't just tell you how to organize things but it gives you ideas regarding which areas of your life you should be looking for "Action Items.” An action item is anything that you need to do. Email your boss , cut the grass, call your mother are ell examples of “Action Items.” If an action item has more than one step than it needs to be a project , for instance "call you boss" could be a single on action item about calling your boss to tell him you want vacation time in July. If you don't know exactly when you need time off , you may need to turn it into a project with multiple action items (see below).

Mini Project - Book vacation time with boss 

1. email wife to see what time she has off work 

2. email other coworkers to see if your vacation has any conflicts

3. email HR to see how many vacation days we have left 

4. call friend Bob to get the name of that resort that he stayed in last year 

5. login to air miles site and check balance 

6 email gramma about watching kids for a week in July 

As you can see a one step action item can turn into a multi action project with 5 different people involved. 

This book will really help you GET THINGS DONE. Its available in audio book and paper back.  It is a must read for any one who needs to sort through the piles of information and to-dos and emails that are all wanting there attention. 

I personally have been using this method since 2008 and have found it irreplaceable. 

Aaron Weir
Leadwave Technologies Inc.
www.leadwave.ca
(519)704-1463

Know Thyself

I recently did a personality test. No, not to find out which Harry Potter character I am or what song best describes me, but to find out which personality type I am. The test can be found HERE if you want to take it and I have to say, I really learned a lot about myself.

I took the personality type that I am and did some research and learned that the problems I encounter in my day to day life are quite common among my personality type, which them let me discover how similar people have dealt with them. If nothing else, it's nice to know that things I consider "uniquely challenging" to myself are not unique at all.


I gave the test to some other people i know and they were also amazed at how accurate the test seemed to be. They have also researched their personality types and it has helped them understand their own decisions and how to make better ones in the future.


We've all heard the saying "Know Thyself" but here's a chance to really put it to the test. If you understand WHY you do what you do, you can be in the drivers seat of your life instead of just a passenger.

Who Are You?

One of the projects I am trying to work on is a booklet that teaches my existing and new employees about our company and what makes it stand out. I think it's important that I am not the only one who knows this, because if the people who work for me understand it, they can be more productive and have better ideas that reflect what it is we are trying to do.

I started my company with a very unique look at how this business worked. High end customer service, with high quality people working for me. It has positioned us as "The Premium Service" in our field but when I ask my employees how we are different, they can't really tell me... and that's a problem.

Brand Identity is important no matter what your industry is. It is important that managers AND employees know so that thy can act accordingly which in turn is communicated to your clients. 

Here is a perfect example.

A theme park that has rides, popular characters, shows and live shows. Which one is it?

Exactly, that's any park anywhere. Canada's Wonderland features all of these things. It has no specific identity and, while it manages to stay open, it's parent company (Cedar Fair Parks) has spent more than a few years, trying to break even. It's currently posting some modest profits but let's look at another park that has it's Brand Identity down to a science.

Walt Disney World is the number one tourist destination in the world. It's rides often are not as thrilling, but it's identity is spot on. Disney knows exactly who it is and how to communicate that to it's clients. Each new employee, from churro sales person to CEO attends a class on the history of the company and it's brand identity. Because of this, Disney is one of the biggest media juggernauts in the industry.

When you look at that comparison, it isn't hard to see why being in touch with your brand puts you in touch with clients.

Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

A Tale Of Two Employees

Today we present a tale of two employees. Both are fictional but loosely based on employees I have encountered and both were terminated from their places of business.

The first employee, let’s call him Alphred, was always fearful of his job. He always worried about his job security and whenever someone was hired, he talked about how he was sure that he was about to be replaced. This naturally started his thinking in a downward spiral, where he constantly compared himself and his work to the others around him. Alphred always seemed to be the best in his mind, so how could they be replacing him? He routinely mentioned this fact to coworkers and clients.

What Alphred didn’t know was that there had been no plan to replace him. The company liked it when people felt secure in their jobs so they would work hard to grow in a company where they felt their future was. However, after several months, Alphred’s worry and paranoia created an acidic environment and his worst worry was fulfilled.

Our second employee we shall call Betrice. Betrice worked hard and was always trying to be the best at whatever task she was assigned. She had a thirst for knowledge that made her functional in many roles. She was confident in herself and did what she could to teach those around her. The company leaned heavily on Betrice until she uttered the words most hated by the boss “I think I am pretty safe in my job” then she was dismissed within a week. The boss hated people feeling safe and liked everyone to be fearful so they would work hard to keep their positions.

These are two actual people I know. Those are the two actual outcomes. When you motivate your employees, how do you do it? Through comfort or through fear? Which company do you feel had the better outcome, and which employee do you feel was more of a loss?

Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

Hiring The Right Face

        Hiring people is really difficult. I’ve been sifting through resumes for a couple of weeks now trying to find that perfect applicant. Someone with skill, know-how and ambition. Unfortunately, all that resumes can tell me is weather or not somebody knows how to use a word processor. I can make assumptions about their work history and education but what I really need to do is meet them.

Queue the interview, except you don’t get to meet the person. You get to meet the person when they want to get hired. Fresh haircut, big smile, lots of “Yes sir, No sir” language. Sometimes you get someone who can really talk… then you have to wonder how many times they have done this, and how many times they can sweet talk their way out of work.

When I get resumes, the first thing I do is head over to Facebook to see who they REALLY are. Some people have blocked profiles and some people don’t have profiles at all, but for those that do, you either make or break the job by what you’ve chosen to post.

I’ll be honest, I’m looking for family pictures, friends and just evidence that people like this person. I am also trying to make sure there are not too many pictures that would make Cheech and Chong blush, or evidence that they are going to be a handful.

Many of the BIG companies use this tactic as well, and while it’s not always perfect, it does give you an edge when you are looking to hire a person who can work harmoniously in your environment.

Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

Never Dismiss The Dismissed

Sarnia is an amazing community. We all know many people who have left the city, only to return with a new found love of the area. It’s an interesting place, full of great people, cool businesses and unique dynamics. It’s a town just big enough to have great opportunities, but small enough so that everyone knows everyone. This can make dealing with former employees a little tricky.

Because former employees don’t leave the area, that means you are turning people out that you are bound to run into again. It also means that they may quickly become competition, or even potential customers. This is clearly a problem and dealing with it can be tricky.

One way of course is to look inward, and see if this person needs to go. If they are going to be out there achieving, how can they achieve for your company? Maybe you aren’t motivating them or supporting them. Get to know what the problem is before dismissing it completely.

Sometimes people just aren’t good fits and they have to go. The best way is, in my opinion, is to be as supportive and apologetic as possible. If you have a good reputation of being honest with your staff, there is no reason they shouldn’t take this at face value.

Maintain contact. Ducking people in grocery stores and “forgetting” to respond to correspondence is the cowards way out. Part of being a success is owning your decisions and responsibilities. We are all just people, and we all deserve validation.

Shake their hand. Give them a hug if it’s necessary. You have made a decision that has the potential to radically alter their life and family. You should empathize with them, but still hold your ground. Let them deal with their emotions but do everything you can to part ways on good terms. There are enough forces in the world working against us. There is no need to add another.

Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

Pay Your Bills, Increase Your Profits

I often get leads from different people inside companies or from suppliers and the first thing they tend to lead with is “They Pay Their Bills” which always struck me as odd. Maybe it’s because it would never dawn on me to do otherwise. You pay the bills for the good and services you receive. That’s the agreement. I have always been blessed with fantastic clients, but several months ago we took on a new client who had some definite issues.

I will say the place was in DESPERATE need of our service. I sent a double sized team at no extra charge to make sure we had a good foundation to start from. This is a common practise of mine. I usually assume a loss in the first month of service to get things up to our standards. The contract had called for a weekly visit but when we showed up next week the doors were locked. I made contact the next day and they said they only wanted us every other week. I was sure this was just a small mistake. I paid my staff (assuming another loss) and said no more of it.

As time went on, I sent my team in on the days they requested, and they only allowed us in 50% of the time. Each time my team was turned away, I assumed losses that I did not pass on to the client as a sign of good faith. Finally, after leaving several invoices that went unpaid, we terminated services and sent a final invoice that has so far gone unpaid.

I have taken special care not to mention the client in question, because they are a fairly well known member of the Sarnia-Lambton community. Even after being so thoroughly wronged, I have continued to protect the name of the client, because it’s simply good business, but during the problem, I reached out to friends as to how to handle the issue. Unfortunately, they know exactly who I am talking about and that person is unlikely to receive any consideration from my associates, assuring that they will get a lower quality of service at a higher cost in the future.

On the other hand, the bulk of my clients pay their bills regularly and promptly. I can’t say enough nice things about them, and as such, each and every person I meet that enquires about them gets a glowing review about their services and their character. This “Word of Mouth” advertising is free and is invaluable.

The great thing about the Sarnia-Lambton business community is that the better one does, the better we all do. We really are all in this together. If you decide to not pay a bill to a local company, yes you may wiggle out of a small amount of money, but the cost to your reputation and future business dealings will far exceed the price tag of the invoice you are choosing to ignore.

Paying your bills is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.

Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners/ Sharp Cleaning Services
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

Sick of Sick

Happy Monday, everyone!

It's bee a crazy week and weekend of playing catch up from the holidays. Running errands, meetings, sifting through resumes, etc. Since I have been so busy I have been in and out of dozens of businesses here in Sarnia, and NONE of them got me out the door fast enough than the one I am about to tell you about.

I don't want to name names in this blog, rather I want to share experiences. All you need to know is I was in a business last week that makes a portion of it's profit while you wait to pay the main bill. Sort of like "Impulse Buying" but a little more sedate.

As I sat waiting for my opportunity with the associate, I couldn't help but listen to the employees as they restocked the shelves. "Oh I just can't get over this cold!" one of the ladies said. "I know," said the other "everyone here is sick today." It was at that exact moment that I became very aware of a minty smell. The smell of chewing gum on someones breath as they speak, and I never wanted to leave a place so badly. I was sure that after I was done with my transaction, I would hit the door so fast, I would leave behind a chubby cartoon outline as I smashed through the wall.

I understand that sometimes, you can't get your staff to stay home when they are ill. I am ashamed to say that sometimes I also work while I am sick. You can't always avoid it, especially when you own the business. What you CAN avoid is drawing attention to the fact that you are under the weather. You can encourage your staff to save these conversations for the lunch room, or at least out of customer earshot.

It's cold and flu season, but maybe it should be memo season as well. Tell your employees what is expected of them if they are under the weather. Make it clear that when people are sick, they are to stay home. It is considerate to both themselves, other staff members and customers. If working while ill can't be avoided, make it clear that the topic should only be discussed out of range of customers and clients.

If you need a tissue, we have an issue.

Be well.

Shane Goodfellow
Squeak E Cleaners/ Sharp Cleaning Services
www.SqueakECleaners.com
(519) 402-3401

Are You Ready For The Cloud?

One of the major buzz words of 2011 has been "The Cloud". The trend is sure to grow even more in 2012. People talk about having there documents on the cloud or there backup on the cloud or there email on the cloud. Well what are they really talking about?

You prolly guess the cloud refers to something internet based, to put it simply cloud services is any service that you access over the Internet where your data is stored on a server somewhere connected to the Internet. If you use Hotmail or Gmail you are basically using a cloud service for your email. If your home computer crashes you wont loose any of your emails because they are on the cloud not on your local PC.

Lets look at some of the other benefits to using Cloud or Internet based applications or services with this example. Quickbooks is a popular accounting program and they released a cloud version many years ago , you upload your data to there servers and then you use your accounting application from a web browser instead of a program window on your computer. Since your using a simple web browser to access your accounting service you can log on at your office and then work from home and log on using your home PC. The software does not need to be loaded on every PC you want to use. Your data would also be backed up by the company offering you the service. Another benefit is that you wouldn't have to download any updates or tax tables , companies that offer cloud based accounting applications are constantly upgrading and tweeking things in the back ground. The need for yearly software upgrades or quarterly tax updates are gone. Scalability is also much easier with cloud based apps , you need one user setup , they can do that in a day , you need twenty more users, ready tomorrow.The beauty of the cloud is you pay for what you need , it could be one user or one hundred users.

So what are the drawbacks of using cloud services? There are not a lot of drawbacks to using the cloud. Cloud services are designed to make things better not worse. One drawback to using the cloud to store large amounts of data (like for your companies backup) is that it can take a long time to download all the data. That is why I would suggest having a local and also cloud backup.  One other drawback of the cloud is that you or your company is really at the mercy of the company providing the cloud service. If there servers go down you have to wait for them to make the necessary repairs or changes to get backup and running. Researching cloud services thoroughly before switching a business critical service to is a must!

The cloud is here to stay , so you might as well get your feet wet. I would suggest using some free cloud services to get started , Google docs is a great place to start (www.google.com\docs). I also personally use Evernote (www.evernote.com) everyday, it is a free service to store notes , pictures , documents , web pages and sound clips. I even used it to write this article !


Aaron Weir
Leadwave Technologies Inc.
www.leadwave.ca 
(519)704-1463

Happy New Year!!!

Hey everyone

I am starting this blog  as part of a New Years Resolution to learn more about the Sarnia Lambton Business scene, and also to share the knowledge I have gained running a small business here in town. I have many business friends who will be contributing with a wide range of knowledge, so I hope you will find their articles interesting as well.

We are still setting everything up, so I hope you will bare with us as we stretch our new bloggy legs and get a look and feel that everyone will enjoy.

As a side note, if you wish to be a contributor to the blog, or you wish to support our efforts, please feel free to contact me Shane@SarniaLambton.biz and we will see what we can do for you.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope your resolution is to find success in 2012... and the first step, is figuring out what success means to YOU!

Be well,

Shane