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

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

The 80% Rule

My friends often come to me asking advice on how to start a company. Many of them have great ideas but they are having difficulty pulling the trigger on their venture. There are many details to finally having your business at 100% readiness which is why I invented the 80% rule.

You need to figure out what you absolutely need to start your company. For example, I have an office with a desk, fax machine, a couple of computers, etc. I don't NEED any of that. I have a couch and a laptop. That's all I NEED as far as office needs go.

I routinely tell my friends to learn from my mistakes and once they get 80% there... Hang up the Open sign. Nothing makes you take care of those last few details faster than knowing you are open for business and you better get moving. Also you may find that many of those things you don't even want. I JUST bought a Fax machine, a piece of equipment I was sure I needed. I only bought the machine because it was a dollar at an auction. I've used it a little, but I was just fine sending my one fax every few months from the corner store.

The trick to starting your own venture is to just start it. You'll figure out the details as you go, and sometimes you'll find a niche that isn't being served, that would have been impossible to occupy if you were at 100% from the start.

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

Being the Right Face

So we’ve discussed how I and many companies use facebook to weed out employees from our resume piles (if you missed it, here's the link), but if you were reading carefully, you got some tips on what to do if you are applying for a job. Have a public facebook profile.

I give extra attention to applicants with facebook profiles that make the person look stable, fun and likable. Now that you know my trick, you can use it against me and other employers to make yourself more desirable. Why not have your facebook profile website right on your resume? I want to know as much as I can about you, so give me some place to go after the resume.

If you decide to do this, you have to be careful about what you decide to post to your profile. Stay positive, watch the things you “like” and ask yourself “What impression does this post leave to a prospective employer.”

Social media is an excellent way to advertise your business, so why not advertise yourself? 

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

3 Books You Need To Read (Part 1)

I was about half way through my Dale Carnegie course in 2004 when I really began to see the value in his books. I started to see how the course and the books were helping shape my personality. It was easier to deal with people and a lot of personal conflicts were avoided. My work and personal relationships were easier to handle , people seemed to get along with me. The book I would suggest you read is How To Win Friends and Influence People, and here’s why.

It was about this time that I started to think about my Grandfather. He had passed away a few years before and a lot of what I was learning in the course reminded me of him. In the books and the course you will be told that complaining does not really do anything positive. That really hit home to me because i was always amazed at how, although my Grand Father lay almost completely parallelized , fighting a slow death from ALS, he never complained. 

I remembered waking up at 7:30 am to go to work, at the time I lived in my Grandfathers basement , I would come up the stairs and he would be sitting in his chair by the window. He would tell me what the weather would be like today , he would tell me about a bird he saw for the first time , but he would never complain and he would always be positive. 

An even earlier memory was working for my Grandfathers company when I was a teenager. Before he got sick he ran a large electrical company. During his busiest times he had up to 300 employees. I remember he had a sore wrist from signing so many pay checks. He didn't complain. He told me it was a good problem to have and that it came with success, not failure. He was the first into the office everyday. He took the time to meet with his guys every morning before they went off to see clients. A few years after that, he retired and a few years after that, he was diagnosed with ALS. It was a long and painful ordeal, and he handled it with grace. 

Soon the course I was taking was coming to an end and I was preparing my final speech. I had decided to talk about my Grandfather, what he had taught me, and how it meshed with what I was learning from Dale Carnegie. I had decided to go through my Grandpas office closet and maybe bring a picture of him or maybe a news paper article about him. What I found instead was a Diploma from the 1960's , it was my Grandfathers and it read " Robert Ferns has successfully completed the Dale Carnegie Course."

I hope you get a chance to read any of Dale Carnegie books , they have made a lasting impression in my life.

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

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