From the Desk of Klark Brown (NO AI was used in the creation of this writing)

Everyone starts with all the best intentions and direction to smash goals, get more done, and become a BEAST.

But the world has this odd habit of throwing in the most distractions to keep you from these things.
More times than not, these are social media or people and things that we have not done the best job setting boundaries with.

I coach and mentor dozens of individuals and companies that have ALL the talent and ability they need to get almost anywhere they need to go but are taken off course, never finishing much and then dwelling in a sense of failure or frustration.

Today I want to share a few of the things I learned from the great book THE ONE THING by Gary Keller, that most commonly see as culprits.

Let this list be a beacon to help you build new habits to achieve everything you set your mind to. 

1. Inability to Say “No” 

2. Fear of Chaos 

3. Poor...

The following are a few of the “OG” posts from the Restoration Rebels Group on Facebook. 

NOTE: From the desk of Toby Clem. No AI was used to write this blog. You can reach Toby by filling out the form at the bottom of the page with your comment or question, or by using this link to view his calendar

We recently did an interview series and we titled it "Rebel Sessions". It was a full history on the “Rebels” and what the movement was all about before it was overtaken by memes, complaining, and badgering newcomers. 
The following posts are just a glimpse in time and are still live in the group. 

As many of you know, we started our own community to continue the conversations in productive and focused conversations with those who desired to TAKE ACTION without all the noise. 
There is a growing library of resources, courses, videos, conversation, and community that we invite you to. 

You can watch the unabridged version of...

Let’s be honest….arguing seems to have become a part of today’s typical restoration firm. With adjusters, TPA’s, or some other party that wants to make more profit and slash our invoice. 

This atmosphere can certainly create strong emotions that make us defensive, anxious, and usually bullish and angry. After all, we did the work for a happy and grateful customer

Lower Your Voice

Naturally, we want to be heard and understood and defend our positions. This can easily seem adversarial to whoever we are dealing with, especially if they feel they have something to lose (money, position, ego). It is important to know this.

A true professional knows how to de-escalate the situation and use more calm and professional approaches to still end up with a strong or “winning” position. 

I have a mini-lesson on negotiation skills I teach to leaders and more often junior or emerging leaders. Those with very little management experience....

Brought to you from the desk of Klark Brown (No AI was used in the creation of this blog) 

This is probably more relevant to business but it doesn't take much creativity to relate it to personal growth.

I was in a discussion with a few people. A mixed group of people from employees to a founder of a large company. Really large

And growth was a topic. The competition was also mentioned as if they were connected.

I know some people think that way and competition exists.

This conversation reminds me of the book and lecture by Simon Sineck-The Infinite Game.

Read it. You will understand.

When we think of pressure to GROW, it's often an arbitrary and imaginary pressure from competition and others.

Did anyone challenge you, really? Or did you manifest it yourself?

It really is You Vs You.

Simon talks about finite Vs infinite.

When we talk about being "The Best" that makes me cringe. Because it's ego.

What does it mean to be the BEST?

At everything? Some things?

Of all time or...

From the desk of Toby Clem (No AI was used in the creation of this blog)

Restoration Businesses share similar challenges no matter the size

I just got back from an amazing week with a company that is growing. They are experiencing some growing pains. They are realizing in real time something Klark has said for a long time, “What got you here, won’t get you there.”

Just want to let you in on a little secret.

$15M problems are bigger (higher impact) than $1M problems. But at their core, the problems are very VERY similar.

Leadership and management are two of the most important components of a successful business, especially when it comes to large teams. These terms are thrown around and often used incorrectly. It's important to understand the terms and learn how to implement them accordingly. 

As companies grow, their problems become more complex and require a different approach to solve them. Recruitment and hiring practices, for example, become...

7 Tips to Hire The BEST Talent

I am going to let you in on a little secret. Your “Now Hiring” Ads suck.

From the Desk of Klark Brown (No AI was used in the creation of this article)

In this blog, I hope to share tips to help you not only get MORE responses to your ads but the best talent in your market. 

You must think like a MARKETER when hiring

This is a critical mindset shift that you need to take immediately. The days of people looking for better jobs are sinking away.
Unfortunately, many are looking for something that doesn’t look like a job at all.

You won’t find anyone more confused and frustrated than us with the perceived work ethos today….but to get what we need, we must accept it and adapt in some way. 

Try these tips: 

 Ask yourself if YOU would work for you?

We can all agree that more and more people want freedom and independence. Who can blame them? I know I do.
But if that isn’t a reality for...

By Klark Brown  (no AI used in this writing)

The case where promotions can cause a stall. 

Obvious Growth Potential

There are many ways to grow a disaster restoration company.

Plumbers

Agents

Process Automation

Better Education

All of these are certainly strong components of a plan to scale and grow. I think we can also agree that good, dependable and hard-working people are a requirement!

NOW IF WE COULD ONLY FIND THOSE!!

I received an email from a really good guy from a medium-sized company in Maryland. He told me that he enjoys reading our blog and has even listened to a few podcasts when he has time.

This man is a Reconstruction Manager. He sheepishly asked if he could give me some feedback and suggestions. 

This got my attention. The answer was of course an emphatic YES. 

He told me that while he liked the podcast (and our YouTube Channel), his time is limited and he has to be very intentional with where he puts it.

Can you imagine...

By Klark Brown  (no AI used in this writing)

 Outsourcing your obligations like a BOSS!

This short story can be read here: [Tom Sawyer- Whitewashing the Fence]

Ben Tally: “Say – I’m going in a swimming, I am. Don’t you wish you could? But of course, you’d druther work – wouldn’t you? Course you would!”

Tom contemplated the boy a bit, and said:

Tom: “What do you call work?”

Tom: “Why, ain’t that work?”

It doesn’t take long to see how easy it is to manipulate someone to do your work FOR THEM. To pass along operational responsibility to another and make them feel obligated and almost excited to do it.

THIS MIGHT STING A LITTLE

To get right to the point of this mindset detour…..this is what is happening to the disaster recovery specialists that perform work where insurance carriers and their multiple tentacles of control are involved.
They have slowly (and effectively)...

By Klark Brown  (no AI used in this writing)

We called it Paradise……

We can almost kiss it goodbye. 

“They call it paradise

I don't know why

You call someplace paradise

Kiss it goodbye”

Wrapping up our MUSIC SERIES this week, I wanted to share a musing I had as I traveled up I-85 in North Carolina a few weeks ago.

Don Henley and The Eagles wrote more than a lot of classics. The quality of music that practically any generation at least recognizes the melody.

Their most popular and best-selling album was Hotel California. Among the almost endless number of gems on that album was Last Resort.

The song itself has a very important message about the degradation of our native land. The overconsumption of The United States' beautiful resources for the sake of growth and expansion. 

The Curse of MORE. 

What I got from the message was our industry.
If you look at the quote above, which is near the end of the song, I think...

By Klark Brown  (no AI used in this writing)

I would love to think this blog post will be THE THING that finally helps you become a master at recognizing the things that we try very hard not to face or approach.

The phrase “Bandaid for Bullet Holes” sounds like a great anecdote by Mark Twain.
It’s not.

It sounds like something you would hear from a sarcastic comedy actor on your favorite show.
Again…No.

"Bandaids On A Bullet Hole" is a song by a wildly popular young country singer/ songwriter. Morgan Wallen also has a respectable mullet that proves that the 80s may indeed be making a comeback.

I am riding in my truck one day when this song comes on. I look over at my stereo and notice the title. I felt the proverbial WHACK across my face. The phrase seriously struck me.
In an instant, it reminded me of what I often do. I also can surmise that it happens with many people.

The idea or context that I attach to this is we often look for a...