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WHY: DOING IT IS DIFFICULT BUT PROBABLY NECESSARY
Do you frequently find yourself tight on cash-flow? Are you too busy - is your customer service dropping? Are you attracting the wrong customers, ones that are unreasonable? Tired of offering a particular service that you don't enjoy or that offers little profit? Not enough time to pursue the things that are really important to you and your family? The answer to all these problems (and more) might be as simple as raising your prices. It's easy to say, but hard (and scary) to do. On another blog post we will deal with why you should raise your prices. But for now, lets assume you've realized that a price increase is needed. How can you implement your decision? *something to consider before you think about raising prices: Am I as busy as I want to be? If not, raising prices may not be your first priority. Although, low prices may be driving good potential clients away...
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WHY: 'IF YOU HAVE A SKILL, YOU HAVE A JOB'
In a recent interview with MEDIA PLANET (see link below), Mike Holmes shared a few nuggets for young people considering the trades as a career option... "It's a great career. If you love it, you will go far. There's good pay, and when you're really good, there's no telling how far you can go. The demand for tradespeople is huge, and it's growing every year. So chances are, if you have a skill, you'll have a job - and a good one. Being in the trades is an advantage. Having a skill is an advantage. It's an investment you can't lose.' He emphasizes the importance of FOCUS in learning and mastering a skilled trade...
WHY: WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER
WHY: YOUR BEST CLIENTS DESERVE YOUR BEST SERVICE
People generally have an aversion to change. Customers can put up with a lot before they change suppliers. A lot of large companies have become expert at abusing their customers. Think how much pain is involved in switching banks, email accounts or cell phone providers. Sometimes though, they can be fickle and it takes very little to lose an excellent client. The more alternatives that are available to them, the easier it is for them to switch. Customers can be like a stream that follows the path of least resistance. Two examples... WHY: STANDING OUT FROM THE COMPETITION FOR PROFIT
If you have been in business for a while no doubt you have heard the concept of 'unique selling proposition' - the importance of differentiating your brand in the marketplace. If you appear to be the same as every other painter, its hard to get noticed and even harder to justify charging higher rates. You position yourself, intentionally or not, as a commodity. When shopping for commodities people generally choose the best deal. So, what does it take to stand out as a micro painting contractor?... WHY: PROBLEM = OPPORTUNITY
Too often we think of opportunity as 'our ship coming in' (winning the lottery, getting an inheritance) or a door being opened for us (a promotion, an introduction, admittance to an institution, etc) But what does opportunity really look like? In my life opportunity often starts with a problem. The best opportunities are presented as problems because our aversion to pain is greater than our inertia. We often resist change until the pain and fear of change is less than the cost of maintaining the status quo. Looking for opportunity? Look for problems... |
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