From the desk of Klark Brown (no AI was used in the creation of this blog)

This should be shared and taught weekly by all management.

Week 1.

Be Proactive.

Start with the right mindset and be mindful of your actions.

Lesson. Explain this concept.

Create 2-3 examples.

Show outcomes and show stakes.

Have the team give you feedback. Everyone answers. No one gets to be a wallflower.

Week 2.

Begin with the end in mind.

This may be my favorite.

Help the team develop habits of thinking about where we end up and not just what we are doing

Loading trucks

Documentation.

Client scope

Customer service

Getting paid.

The end in mind. Not just whatever happens happens.

Week 3

First things first

Prioritize.

Important and urgent are not the same.

I've shared The Eisenhower Matrix many times.

Learn this theory and teach your team. You will see results.

Week 4

Think Win-Win

Help your staff understand the culture of mutual results and reciprocity.

Get them the book How to...

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

Please share with your team and make sure all of you deploy this technique internally and externally.

Many years ago I decided to focus on helping people solve problems rather than helping solve people’s problems.

These suggestions are some approaches you should find effective:

• Never allow others to think you always have the best answers
  • This will only make them dependent on you.
• Ask questions. Help people to think through the entire process of their problem.
• Become a coach, not a king.
  • A king only gives commands.

A coach brings out the best in others, helping them to reach deep down inside and discover their potential.

• List their solutions on paper. Integrate your ideas with theirs until they have ownership of them.
• Ask them to decide on the best solution to their problem.
• Develop a game plan.
  • Ask them to take ownership and responsibility for the game plan.
• ...

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)

WHO KNEW STING DEPLOYS ACCOUNTABILITY

Every move you make and every vow you break

Every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I’ll be watching you

Every move you make, every step you take, I’ll be watching you

“What in the absolute HELL do The Police have to do with anything?”

Give me 6 minutes and I’ll share it with you. I think it will be worth it. 

Every Breath You Take (link to the song on YouTube) is by far the most popular song ever written by the British Trio named The Police. The Lead singer/ songwriter is Sting ( birth name Gordon Sumner).
If you want to know how he got the name Sting, reach out to me and I will share that story as well. My useless music knowledge rivals Wikipedia. 

Released in 1983, it shot to the stratosphere of the music charts thanks to the introduction of MTV (yes, they once played music videos). 

The dark and sinister lyrics...

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...

By Klark Brown  (no AI used in this writing)

A modern nostalgic tale

A quick sideways smile appeared as I read what an actual person in 2023 wrote in a professional (somewhat) forum. 

With a teaspoon of amusement, a dash of dismay, and a gallon of continued frustration, I watched the comment appear, and develop a large audience around the words in true social media fashion.

Before diving into my visions of Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone, and Tony Soprano, allow me to fill you in on the context. 

This is about yet another online post about Asbestos Testing, the laws and the standards surrounding the requirements.  

What many do not know (because I find no reason to announce it) is I made a PROMISE to do my part to help educate an entire industry. 

Being a hard-headed, ADHD, sometimes hectic industry about this important misunderstood law is affecting too many unknowing and helpless workers. 

But enough about that, I have written scores of...

This is part two of our series about what it means to be a professional restorer.
This series is also the last four segments of Season 2 episodes for  the Disaster Podcaster.

Part 2 of the series can be found here

If you prefer to watch the series on video, be sure to check out our YouTube Channel, and Part 2 of the Series here

In Part 1, we talked about being technically qualified. Having the technical know-how to actually do a particular job to be in this industry will call you a professional. You need to know what you're doing. 

In Part 2 we will discuss leadership and culture. 

I've been coaching for quite a few years now and have the distinct privilege to interact with many restoration contractors through conferences, coaching sessions, friends, Facebook groups, and the like. 

I have come across some winning and losing components that I want to talk about in detail a little bit more. Let's see what a professional looks like in this industry; not only a...

Simple.
Black and white.
Binary business.

Seems like it is shaping up to be the theme for Restoration Advisers in 2023.

We fly solo.
We walk alone.
A lot of naysayers.

What they are missing is the simplicity of what we talk about.
We preach doing things RIGHT.
Right for you.
Right for your people.
Right for your business.
We don’t need to follow a script that everyone else says we should follow.
You don’t either.
The challenge is figuring out what the right thing is for you, your people, and your business.

 We use an 8 step process so your business can have an identity.

1
What do you stand for? Meaning. What is at the core of everything you do?
3-5 things.
In the business world people like to use the words “core values”.

2
What is it that you want to be known for when all of this is in the past?
Either when you die. Or when your business shuts down.
What do you want people to know you and your business for?
In the business world… It's known as a mission...