How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
Since December of 2008, I have been trying to think of at least one positive thought each day. For quite a long while, I was also able to write this email each day and send it out. These past 12 months has been a battle for my time. In many ways I have enjoyed this battle. Time for my wife, time for my grandchildren, time for my parents, oh, and lest I forget where I have spent most of my time, work. Sadly, I have not been able to spend much time with friends, but I am happy with the choices I have made.
You see, the choice I have made each day is to come to work and give it everything I have. My ideas, my salesmanship, my heart, and my leadership. I have always believed that if I could turn this company back around, in the long run, this business that I have taken care of for many years, will in time be able to take care of me and my family, and the families of those that work here. Looking back now, I believe that we have turned the corner, and have stopped the downward spiral that many of us small businesses were in. It’s going to be a long road to recovery, but I believe that now is the fun part. We have been there before, we know how to do it, we are not afraid of what’s to come, and we will do it again.
The question that I ask myself, and you is “Will you join me in this journey?”.
May 31, 2010
May 05, 2010
We All Have Survived...Now On to the Recovery!
How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
1. My niece was released home today. She is doing great, but still has a long road to recovery, please continue to keep her in your prayers.
2. We are getting quite a few builders calling us with jobs, some are even Spec homes. The recovery has definitely begun!
3. To sum up a common phrase that I am hearing from customers is “I’ve made it through the recession, I have been waiting to improve my home, especially if I am not going to sell it”.
4. We are getting approvals much faster after we provide the designs. The delay is not there as much.
5. We have even gotten approvals from designs we did six to months ago.
All in all, we have survived. We are still standing, and that was the goal. Now, it is time to attack the market and be there for those who want to buy. It is still, up to us to decide each day, what do we want to achieve!
1. My niece was released home today. She is doing great, but still has a long road to recovery, please continue to keep her in your prayers.
2. We are getting quite a few builders calling us with jobs, some are even Spec homes. The recovery has definitely begun!
3. To sum up a common phrase that I am hearing from customers is “I’ve made it through the recession, I have been waiting to improve my home, especially if I am not going to sell it”.
4. We are getting approvals much faster after we provide the designs. The delay is not there as much.
5. We have even gotten approvals from designs we did six to months ago.
All in all, we have survived. We are still standing, and that was the goal. Now, it is time to attack the market and be there for those who want to buy. It is still, up to us to decide each day, what do we want to achieve!
April 30, 2010
Hiring???
How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
I know, I know, it’s been a while since I’ve sent out a message. This in itself actually is positive. We have been very busy, with phone calls looking for appointments, and then with approvals looking for installation dates. So much so, that one of our Installation Technicians asked our Scheduler/Bookkeeper, “Hey, when are we going to hire another installer?”
I know, I know, it’s been a while since I’ve sent out a message. This in itself actually is positive. We have been very busy, with phone calls looking for appointments, and then with approvals looking for installation dates. So much so, that one of our Installation Technicians asked our Scheduler/Bookkeeper, “Hey, when are we going to hire another installer?”
April 14, 2010
Pent Up Demand!
How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
I was talking with my computer IT guy, and he says that business is picking up. I asked him from who, and why did he think it was? He replied that he believes that most small businesses have been holding off on technology and that they feel things are stable now. So, again I see pent up demand, and recovery, albeit a slow one. I must still budget on a much smaller scale.
I was talking with my computer IT guy, and he says that business is picking up. I asked him from who, and why did he think it was? He replied that he believes that most small businesses have been holding off on technology and that they feel things are stable now. So, again I see pent up demand, and recovery, albeit a slow one. I must still budget on a much smaller scale.
April 13, 2010
A Faster Sales Cycle
How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
At our peak in 2007 and part of 2008, our Sales Cycle was 6 weeks. This cycle is from the time we get the lead, until we are paid. Our clients were approving their design in days, sometimes weeks. In late 2008 this started to shift and by mid 2009, our Sales Cycle had become 9 months. This was due to people delaying the decision to buy, builders not putting in closets until the house was sold, or those that did buy took a month or more to finalize the designs. I am happy to see this Sales Cycle dropping to 2 months now. We are finding that when people are calling, they are ready to buy and only take a week or two to finalize the designs. This is a good sign, and I believe it will continue, unless something scares us, like a terrorist attack, a shortage of …
I am looking forward to the rest of 2010, and believe that there is pent up demand. It is now up to us to work hard to tell our story and gain market share.
At our peak in 2007 and part of 2008, our Sales Cycle was 6 weeks. This cycle is from the time we get the lead, until we are paid. Our clients were approving their design in days, sometimes weeks. In late 2008 this started to shift and by mid 2009, our Sales Cycle had become 9 months. This was due to people delaying the decision to buy, builders not putting in closets until the house was sold, or those that did buy took a month or more to finalize the designs. I am happy to see this Sales Cycle dropping to 2 months now. We are finding that when people are calling, they are ready to buy and only take a week or two to finalize the designs. This is a good sign, and I believe it will continue, unless something scares us, like a terrorist attack, a shortage of …
I am looking forward to the rest of 2010, and believe that there is pent up demand. It is now up to us to work hard to tell our story and gain market share.
April 09, 2010
Good Decisions?
How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
Writing these emails with a Positive angle had another positive…One of the product lines we have offered from day one are closet systems. A little over 5 years ago, a trade publication started serving our industry called CLOSETS Magazine. In February of 2008 they did a story on us about How to work with Builders. Yesterday, the Managing Editor came out to our showroom because she read through these emails that we now have a new 8,300 sf showroom. It is an honor to be featured, but it is also confirmation that some of the decisions we have made over the years have been good decisions.
In these tough times, the decisions we make will be felt faster and harder, whether they be good decisions are bad decisions. We all need feedback from those we work with whether we are on the right path, or if we need to change course. The magazine is just one indicator, but we will see if we get any feedback that will help us make good decisions in the future.
Writing these emails with a Positive angle had another positive…One of the product lines we have offered from day one are closet systems. A little over 5 years ago, a trade publication started serving our industry called CLOSETS Magazine. In February of 2008 they did a story on us about How to work with Builders. Yesterday, the Managing Editor came out to our showroom because she read through these emails that we now have a new 8,300 sf showroom. It is an honor to be featured, but it is also confirmation that some of the decisions we have made over the years have been good decisions.
In these tough times, the decisions we make will be felt faster and harder, whether they be good decisions are bad decisions. We all need feedback from those we work with whether we are on the right path, or if we need to change course. The magazine is just one indicator, but we will see if we get any feedback that will help us make good decisions in the future.
April 06, 2010
Family Fun
How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World
My family started a new “tradition” about a year ago, “Challenges”. Well really it is my mother who started these Challenges. We’ve had a Cookie Cook Off, then we had a Pasta Challenge, and this past Easter, while many of you had a fancy Easter meal, with ham and sweet potatoes, the Coleman Family had a Sandwich Challenge.
My goal was to get more votes than my mother, and I am happy to say that I beat her, came in 3rd place with my niece Sadie. The winning sandwich that won was my sister and her kids, an Ice Cream Sandwich. We all ran around the kitchen making our sandwiches, then we all ate the various entries, and then voted. The top three finishers were awarded a bowling trophy that my Mom bought at a garage sale. Fun was had by all.
I guess the positive message here is what can we all do to create an opportunity of sharing fun moments, whether they be at home with family, or at work? I know of another family who once a month they have Backwards Day. They eat a dinner for breakfast and a breakfast for dinner. What can you do?
My family started a new “tradition” about a year ago, “Challenges”. Well really it is my mother who started these Challenges. We’ve had a Cookie Cook Off, then we had a Pasta Challenge, and this past Easter, while many of you had a fancy Easter meal, with ham and sweet potatoes, the Coleman Family had a Sandwich Challenge.
My goal was to get more votes than my mother, and I am happy to say that I beat her, came in 3rd place with my niece Sadie. The winning sandwich that won was my sister and her kids, an Ice Cream Sandwich. We all ran around the kitchen making our sandwiches, then we all ate the various entries, and then voted. The top three finishers were awarded a bowling trophy that my Mom bought at a garage sale. Fun was had by all.
I guess the positive message here is what can we all do to create an opportunity of sharing fun moments, whether they be at home with family, or at work? I know of another family who once a month they have Backwards Day. They eat a dinner for breakfast and a breakfast for dinner. What can you do?
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