Feel the Force - Become a Business Jedi

Maybe I am behind the times but I learned this just the other day.... For those that do not like reading this could be a great solution.... A little hack that might just make your life easier and stop you from deleting my lovely wordy emails.

Checkatrade is one of the best forms of marketing across the Group.  On a cost per lead it represents great value compared to many other forms of marketing. One of the most fundamental parts of Checkatrade and how you get more visibility is REVIEWS.   No recent Reviews = less views = less work.   If you want to know how to get more Checkatrade reviews then watch this video.   This has come directly from the network and is a very unknown function within the Checkatrade Account (I don’t think you can do this on the APP – only the main browser account). If you want to learn more advanced stuff about the workings of Checkatrade then talk to the digital team.

 It has been great chatting to people since the conference and it is clear that a good few people are thinking about what TNT's they can put into use in their business. In the video I highlight 2 idea that are being put into action with a few to being different to others, making you stand out and ultimately making the customer feel special. (Tiny Noticeable Things). I know how good our customer care is across the board.... you cannot get 20,000 reviews without being good at what we do!!!  It also helps that we have a system and everyone understands the importance of reviews. TNT - Tiny Noticeable Things - are extra little touches (metaphoric) that makes the customer feel special and have a profound impact on them. The kind of thing they weren't expecting (in a good way) and might even bring a bit of light into their day!! I first heard Adrian speak about 14 years ago and the TNTs resonated with me and we have used them on many occasions.... and when they work it makes everyone...

Just thought I'd share some top tips to try and help you to keep the Ops System completely up to date.  The Ops System should be completed after each Customer Visit. Each visit should be recorded so we all have accurate records for all jobs. Each and every visit.... not only when you complete the job. Here's the exciting news (for some).....Did you know that you can complete Treatment / Service Report by using your VOICE?? Sinply click on the box and hit the microphone button on your keyboard (on your phone) and start talking. It couldn't be easier and could revolutionize your admin.......  I tried it last week and it worked perfectly. Give it a try...... and let me know how you get on.

 If you are looking to develop and grow (as a person in business) then this could be a good read……   Most of you will know that I have a select number of people that provide me with guidance and inspiration. These are people that would easily be in the “Top 20” and some edging towards the “Top 1%”.  They are not my friends or my family… they are specific to helping me manage and grow the business and with life in general.   I don’t listen to a lot of the rubbish that I hear from many people in business or people who sit on side lines (they don’t even run a business) and tell you what you should and shouldn’t do.   I certainly don’t absorb myself in the sh** and negative stuff that gets put on Social media. Who do you take inspiration from and who do you listen to…? Apart from your partner. 😉 Running your own business is tough, and more than anything it can be mentally challenging. And it is made harder as a lot of people dwell on the negative things a...

 I have been asked on many occasions what is the difference between running your business as a Sole Trader versus a Limited Company...? In this article I set out some of the advantages and some disadvantages to give you a good idea, however I must caveat that I am not providing formal advice in this article and I am sure you can appreciate that the law does change over time and therefore you should seek proper legal advice before you decide which route you take. In our network today I would say that 75% are sole traders and 25% are limited company although there are more choosing Limited Company than previously. The Advantages Limited Liability separates your Personal Finances from your Business Finances.  This is one of the biggest reasons that people choose this route. As a sole trader the business is "you" and therefore should a customer have a claim against you (for loss, damages or similar) then a claim is against you personally and you would be required to settle the cl...

Further to my last post on getting your attitude right, here is part 2. So in the last post the suggestion was that negative things (and people) are not going to help you get to a positive Attitude (or a YES Attitude as the author calls it). And it is fair to say that negative thoughts and feelings are caused by real things that happen every day. The author says "shit happens, people happen and shit people happen". "Your reaction to the negative crap, or negative people who enter your life (or in your life), is the FATE of your ATTITUDE." This re-enforces the mantra of who you hang around matters. To break through the negative things the author provides a list of positive things that will help your attitude..... Anything funny - always aim to have fun Personal Meditation - your mind and body are interconnected Taking a walk - a great way to start the day or clear your mind (and get some sunlight) Positive self talk - praise yourself Helping others without expectatio...