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

What We Can Learn From Storage Wars

Well as the week draws to a close, I will now admit to you that I have spent a lot of time obsessing over the A&E “Storage Wars” marathon. I love the show. Watching people notice opportunities that others miss. It is the essence of business with a hint of gambling and a dash of nostalgia and intrigue.

A friend of mine was teasing me for watching “Trash TV” but as I defended myself, I realized that the real interest in this show comes from the characters who all are involved with the same business, but employ different tactics to achieve their goals.

Dave Hester owns a large auction house and the Rags to Riches second hand store. He is famous for his bidding style which is intended to intimidate but often annoys. Yuuuuuuuuup. You can probably understand why he is considered the villain when you see his that his twitter handle is @DaveTheMogul. Dave treats everyone like they are below him. They are like every boss you ever had that you hated. He is stern, angry, competitive and effective. His lack of personality is made up for by his hard work and experience.

What Can He Teach You? You don’t have to be liked to be successful. There is something to be said for being focused and not intimidated to those around you. If you don’t have people willing to root for you though, you’ll have to work a lot of extra hours to make ends meet.

Jarrod Schulz & Brandi Passante are the relationship team that are new to the game. They also own a thrift store. Despite their bickering, they work very well together toward their common goal. Jarrod overcompensates constantly, being concerned with how he is perceived by his peers. Brandi offsets that by holding the cash and keeping Jarrod in line when he gets too far out of line.

What Can They Teach You? It is important to have good team work skills. Knowing your weaknesses allows you to surround yourself with people who can help support those weaknesses. It’s also important to not be intimidated when you are new into a venture. Experience is great, but it comes with baggage. Sometimes a fresh perspective can be just as big an asset.

Darrel Sheets is the tank top wearing redneck. He seems more far more concerned with beating everyone else at the perceived “game” than anything else. This makes him dangerous to go up against because he is more interested in ruining you, than getting ahead. He is experienced in the game, so he knows when to drop a locker on you, just to make you haul away some overpriced trash.

What Can He Teach You? Some people are just as  happy making you lose, as making themselves win. You need to have a strategy for these people, and more importantly, you need to not be one of these people. Focus on YOUR successes, and don’t begrudge others the same satisfaction. There is a time to fight, but it’s not every time.

Barry Weiss is clearly my favourite. The 60 year old retiree uses his likability and sense of humour to charm those around him. He is different than the others because he is only concerned with rare antiques and in the process of his treasure hunt,  tends to destroy a lot of the contents of the storage unit to this dismay of the other bidders. I spend the entire show rooting for Barry, and getting angry when the other bidders pick on him.

What Can He Teach You? Barry hits and misses, but when he makes a score, it’s usually pretty sizable. In the grand scheme he comes out ahead. He has lots of friends and has lots of fun with what he does. He is the richest of all the characters and a lot of it has to do with his charm. Be nice to those around you, and good things happen.

So that’s what Storage Wars can teach you. There is opportunity everywhere and many different paths to get there. The most successful people in the world have drawbacks and failures on their resumes. The important thing is being a person you can be proud of, and not to let setbacks stop you cold. There is always another project, another opportunity and another day.

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