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SMB lesson:
Day after acq. announcement, heard rumblings that our senior plumber felt job-insecure and betrayed by the transaction.
Big problem when my largest vulnerability is the skilled trade talent.
Day after acq. announcement, heard rumblings that our senior plumber felt job-insecure and betrayed by the transaction.
Big problem when my largest vulnerability is the skilled trade talent.
I looked at the schedule and saw he was beginning to install a water heater close by.
This was Friday around 12:30. I knew he'd been planning to leave work around 2pm to take his family on a trip.
Not gonna happen if he's working alone.
This was Friday around 12:30. I knew he'd been planning to leave work around 2pm to take his family on a trip.
Not gonna happen if he's working alone.
I saw 2 scenarios.
He blows his timeline. Still anxious going into long weekend. Wife's worried. Maybe looks for another job.
Or I drive out to him, help him get it done in time & out the door. All while getting to know him and hopefully putting him at ease.
Easy decision.
He blows his timeline. Still anxious going into long weekend. Wife's worried. Maybe looks for another job.
Or I drive out to him, help him get it done in time & out the door. All while getting to know him and hopefully putting him at ease.
Easy decision.
So I spend the next ~hour with him. We get to talking about all manner of things.
Turns out he's got great ideas for how the business could run more efficiently and professionally.
Ideas I had already hoped to implement, but was concerned about rocking the boat too soon.
Turns out he's got great ideas for how the business could run more efficiently and professionally.
Ideas I had already hoped to implement, but was concerned about rocking the boat too soon.
He voiced his long-held frustration that his ideas had never been taken seriously.
I showed my genuine support.
We covered CRM, scheduling, marketing, performance-based compensation, and more.
I showed my genuine support.
We covered CRM, scheduling, marketing, performance-based compensation, and more.
We got him home to his family in time, had a very happy customer, and I felt on top of the world.
Now this week, he'll see immediate implementation of a couple of those ideas.
You want employee buy-in?
You get buy-in talking shop while carrying a 40gal water heater through hoarder's basement.
You get buy-in by immediately implementing good ideas from below.
You want employee buy-in?
You get buy-in talking shop while carrying a 40gal water heater through hoarder's basement.
You get buy-in by immediately implementing good ideas from below.
As a new SMB owner, you've got to put yourself out there.
They won't care that you're not an expert in their trade. They want to feel that they have a say in the company's direction.
Are you listening?
They won't care that you're not an expert in their trade. They want to feel that they have a say in the company's direction.
Are you listening?
Saturday I rode shotgun for a 12hr shift with the plumber on-call. Similar story.
Busted our asses, talked shop and life, broke bread, jammed to some Wu Tang Clan.
Good day of work.
Busted our asses, talked shop and life, broke bread, jammed to some Wu Tang Clan.
Good day of work.
It's admittedly gray, but this is the leadership I know.
Get in front of your people.
Be genuine.
Help shoulder the load.
Pull out their unique insights.
Action those insights asap.
Let them know they're appreciated.
Get in front of your people.
Be genuine.
Help shoulder the load.
Pull out their unique insights.
Action those insights asap.
Let them know they're appreciated.
Thanks for reading, y'all. Stoked to jump into the week again.
