Wishing The Best For 2004...
May all - or at least the majority - of the following items become reality for you in 2004. All of your technicians become NATE certified. That you have more leads than you can handle all year long. Your health insurance premiums - health, property, liability, and workers' compensation - are lower. That you have employees who are focused, energetic, have great attitudes, and don't whine. Customers that ask you for accessories. You join an industry group. As part of their normal routine at a home, your techs check for carbon monoxide. A closing ratio of 90 percent on all your sales calls. You give flat-rate pricing a try. (Yes, try it. You may just like it.) Know that your family comes first. Your son or daughter gets into the business. A Yellow Pages rep asks you to reduce your spending in their book. You understand the usage for flexible ducts. May it be a bitter winter and a sizzling summer. (It's good for business, right?) You get involved in the community. (It will pay off.) Teach a class at your local vocational school. Service technicians who fill out paperwork, neatly, timely, and accurately. Do not be afraid to charge what you need to charge. Suppliers that do not run out of equipment when you have already made the sale. A local television station selects your firm to provide HVACR tips for homeowners. "Dateline" does a story on a contractor who quickly and correctly diagnoses the problem and charges the little old lady fairly. All of the positive economic predictions do come true in 2004. A four-letter word (m-o-l-d) goes away. Share the books with employees. All your customers call to thank you for being there when it was their emergency. Enough profits to give every employee double the planned bonuses. You get that desired competitive edge. No natural disasters. Perfect health. Listen to customers. You enter The News' "Best Contractor To Work For" contest in 2004. (You can't win if you do not enter. Look for the entry form next fall.) Hire more women into the field. Be prompt. Be professional.
Here's hoping that 2004 is even better than 2003 for you.
Happy New Year!
Mark Skaer is editor-in-chief. He can be reached at 248-244-6446, 248-362-0317 (fax), or markskaer@achrnews.com.
Publication date: 12/29/2003