|
E very now and then, we all
should stop. stand back, and take a moment to reflect on how we
are doing. In the everyday rush to get things done and make a living,
it's easy to lose valuable perspective.
Having been in the business since the Beach Boys
were actually boys, I've picked up a few things along the way that
you might find helpful advice. Grab a cup of coffee, sit down, relax
and consider the following:
1. Reflect on your knowledge, your skills, and
most of all. your desire. Too many of us don't know what we want
to achieve, and consequently have no plan. If you don't know where
you want to go, any road will take you there. And the time & fuel
is expensive. Make your personal map.
2. Recognize the sobering fact that, bottom line,
you're in this all alone. and it's up to you to make things work.
3. It is imperative to distinguish your work from
all others. Its not only "what you do", but also "the way that you
do it".
4. You never get a second chance. to make a first
impression. YOU are the business, and everything you do becomes
your "style" and the automatic signature of your business.
5. Pay conspicuous attention to the little things.because
they really do set you apart and make a BIG difference.
6. Do the math yourself, and price your work accordingly.
Everyone is out for the very best deal, so make sure it's not at
your expense. Some people are great at convincing many to accept
ridiculous prices, while assuring you'll make it up in volume. Get
real.
7. Teams work better than single efforts on most
detailing jobs. It takes roughly 1/3 the time for two to wash &
wax a vehicle when compared with an individual effort.
8. Cheap vacuums are too expensive because they
are less efficient and noisy. and using one generally takes more
task time. You usually get what you pay for, so buy quality tools
and get better performance. Do your homework and compare. Time saved
is big money.
9. Be nice. and smile a lot. Verbal and visual
messages have tremendous impact. Customers buy more from people
they perceive as being nice. Satisfaction is much greater, too.
10. Everyone likes to be genuinely appreciated.
and respected. Be conspicuously courteous and you will stand out.
Reiterate your appreciation by saying "THANK YOU" often.
11. Positive people energize us. Negative people
drain us. Choose and guide your co-workers wisely.
12. Hard as it is to accept, there are just some
people you can not please ... no matter what you do. Know this,
do your best. and move on.
13. Under-Promise. and Over-Deliver! Give more
than your customer expects. Maybe it's a small extra service or
an inexpensive product. People remember kindness and pleasant surprises.
14. Keep ergonomics in mind, when choosing tools
and work space. Pneumatic tools are lighter and more ergonomically-correct,
when compressed air is available. In a labor-intensive business,
the human engine runs smoother when stress is reduced and fatigue
is considered.
15. Stinky interiors offend everyone, but they
can mean money to you. Odor removal is a set-it and forget-it extra
service, requiring minimal labor when an ozone machine is utilized.
16. Detailers should be blending retail activity
in with their commercial work. Done properly, you can double your
profits and avoid costly dead-time. Never put all your eggs in one
basket. and especially not in someone else's basket.
17. Regardless of your line of appearance-care
work, you should have an attractively prepared business card, a
comprehensive menu of services printed on card stock, and effective
telecommunications contact availability. Your vehicle is obviously
your billboard, and its appearance speaks volumes. Become your business
ideal.
18. Stay current with technology by constantly
seeking educational information about new products and processes
from multiple source networks. If you only depend upon a single
source, you may be limiting yourself to one opinion that may not
be in your best interest. Read the trade publications and attend
the shows and demonstrations. Invest in your knowledge.
We all realize that our industry is changing faster
than ever before, and along with those changes are fresh opportunities.
Change is inevitable. and healthy. Get used to it. Adapt.
Look. we've heard about the three types of business
people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen,
and those who wonder what's happening. At times, change is confusing
and sometimes scary.
Ever since we were kids in school, many found it
hard to ask for help. thinking it a sign of weakness. All through
life, we felt compelled to work things out ourselves. even if we
couldn't.
Well, another thing I've learned over the years
was that most successful business people recognized their own personal
limitations, and were smart enough to find help, and apply what
they learned.
Nobody knows everything. And those who seem to
know the most. have usually learned by watching, by asking others,
by gathering information, and by seeking assistance.
Our industry has a wealth of information available
via the manufacturers, suppliers, trade publications, conventions,
shows, independent advisors, and even the Internet.
How will you continue to operate your business?
By wondering, watching, or making it happen?
|
