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Thursday September 28 2006
Five Ways You Can Leapfrog Ahead of Your Competition!

Now is the best time in your life to jump ahead of your competition and reach your goals. You'll never be at this crossroads again; they'll be others but not this one. The economy is robust so the time is ripe, all you have to do is seize the moment, or as it is said in Latin 'Carpe Diem.'

Why You Must Get Started NOW!

If you take a hard look at your competition, you'll find that the majority of them are working their business day by day, no long-term goals, strategies or ideas in place. You've heard me say many times during the seminar; only about 2% of contractors are truly in control of their business and their future. What does this mean for you? It simply means that you can now firmly entrench the destination of your business on a road that takes into consideration the big picture.

Common dogma dictates that you must run around like a chicken with your head cut off, that you must have enumerable amounts of problems with you employees and customers, that every day must be a grueling test to stretch you beyond your limits, and then some.

The same people who can't get their heads, which are permanently stuck, out of the sand, promote this brain set. They sincerely believe that this is the only way to operate their business. They naturally assume this is the ONLY route to success. It has never been the only route, just the one most frequently traveled by those that not only know no better but also do not even possess the will or capability to learn a better way. This is why it is the most traveled path, because it is the one most traveled by the masses who trod it every day.

With this the case with so many, especially your competition, it makes good sense to separate yourself from the masses and establish your own path to follow. One that will insure you the success you so desire. Your efforts and energy are an investment in your future. You must drill that paradigm into your head and never let anyone or things distract you from its path.

Five Ways to Leapfrog Ahead of Your Competition

If everyone else is following the same time worn path then it is in your best interests to decide which path you want to follow. Will it be the high road or the low road? The following steps will help you determine the right path with laser accuracy.

All you need to do is commit to building it and following it.

1. Analyze everything you've done right and wrong with your business to date. Learn from your mistakes, duplicate your successes.

2. Set in place the systems you need to duplicate and leverage yourself and your employees. Optimize every possible position. Your leverage over your competition will come from your ability to outperform them in every way.

3. Build your strategic business plan as soon as possible. Don't let one minute escape you. The sooner you get started, the sooner you'll reach your goals. Make it your blueprint for your path to your goals and success. Follow it with the deepest passion. Constantly keep utilizing it as a tool and a reference. Make it your destiny.

4. Study your competition. Discover what they do right and wrong. Uncover their weaknesses and utilize their strengths to your benefit.

5. Treat your customers as your most precious asset. Create ways to re-sell, up-sell and service them. Make it a point to keeping touch with them at least two times a year. Let them know when you have something new to offer them, as a matter of fact, present to them as a 'first time offer exclusively for our favorite customers.' make them realize that you value them and their business. Remember, they've done business with you once and they'll be happy to do business again and again.

Do you know anyone who has been successful in his or her own business? If you do, chances are very good that they did by mastering the details. Anyone who has to reach their highest plateau of success possible has accomplished this by mastering the details, techniques and strategies. With this mastery comes proficiency. And proficiency will always be accompanied by speed. That is how you leapfrog over your competition in the marketplace.

Henry Goudreau, C.S.L.
HG & Associates, Inc
www.hgassociates.com
"We turn contractors who dream of a successful business, into business managers who make a business successful!"

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Expert Q & A
Very well put. Thank You
          
Ed M. - 10/11/07 at 00:07:08 MST
My biggest fear is trying to hire good employees who won't run down all my good work and how to find them?  THANKS! CHOICE SERVICES
          
Todd K. - 11/06/07 at 11:44:12 MST
Mr.Ed / Residential Inspectin Services--- Word of mouth..is the best way..843-607-1198
          
Edward A. - 12/16/07 at 02:43:46 MST
In my market it is getting harder and harder to compete wiyh the hispanic contractors --- Scott All American paint & Restoration
          
Scott T. - 01/21/08 at 16:42:01 MST
Very inspirational but when you strip away all the motivational jargon the main "step" is to create a business plan.  Which I agree with 100%.  Creating a business plan (and not buying one) forces you to ask and answer very difficult questions about yourself and your business and also requires the help of other professionals.  It also takes a commitment of time which is also difficult.  If you can go through the process of creating a good business plan you will surely be ahead of your competition.
          
Daniel M. - 02/05/08 at 14:36:31 MST
Well,  I think that every one has something good to say and that can also help you, it dont hurt anyone to do some reading and seaching as long as you oused only what is useful to you, sometimes is harder for some people to take advice cause we think that our ways are the best and they probably are but personally i get so much knoledge from profesional advisors, it could be a good combination when used properly with our experience. 
          
Salvador A. - 02/08/08 at 13:25:33 MST
Unfortunately I have to add that sharpening of your tools and washing your truck wouldn't be a good move to get more customers.
I am not saying that you shouldn't do it. You actually should. Everyday.
 My question is: What can you possible put in your business plan beside than "Get 10 customers! ASAP". Because that is what people do when a moment when you will be have to "let go" your best employees and maybe friends will come. 
 My advice is to concentrate on communication between your business peers and previous customers. Send them something! Surprise them! Go to the Walmart, buy ten hammers, carve your business logo on it, somehow, and send it along with hand-written note saying something like: "It was fun working for you. And now we are looking for more work!", Put it on the photo of your crew and send it to ten of your customers.  They will come to help. Believe me. This is word of mouth advertising! Only an advertising that is working! This is how we would brand construction companies www.vazhenin.com 
          
Leonard B. - 02/08/08 at 21:25:57 MST
I THINK I WILL TRY THAT ILL GET BACK TO YA AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WENT      HAMMERS HUH HMMMMMMMMMM..... OK 



PITNEY BRAMHALL
SUPERIOR GLASS & ALUMINUM
          
Pitney B. - 02/23/08 at 20:05:30 MST
I,VE ALWAYS PREFERRED THE GLASS TO BE HALF FULL IN MY LIFE.
EVERY TIME I GET DOWN OR STUMBLE I COME BACK, HARDER AND BETTER. I LEARN FROM MISTAKES. I RECENNTLY JOINED A REFERREL SERVICE AND THE LEADS AND SALES ARE PILING UP. I CANT EXPRESS IT ENOUGH! FELLOW CONTRACTORS GET OUT OF THE BOX AND GO CYBERSPACE. IVE NEVER SEEN THE ECONOMY, OR FUEL PRICES AS THEY ARE, THINGS ARE TOUGH, BUT GUESS WHAT? THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH MONEY TO SPEND, LOOKING FOR A LITTLE KNOWN EXPERT JUST LIKE YOU AND ME. DONT GIVE UP! SUCCESS HAPPENS TO MODEST PEOPLE AND UNKNOWNS.    WARREN
          
Warren C. - 03/25/08 at 13:54:18 MST
I bought 1000 thank you cards with slots for my cards each and every lead/customer gets one sent out to them with 10% off next order. what a difference i had about 35% come in to buy try it it works
          
Charles B. - 06/13/08 at 11:49:40 MST
We are having a really tough time in this strained economy competing with unlicensed contractors and especially the Hispanic ones who bid very low. We cannot afford to pay our GL and Worker's comp and taxes if we bid as low as they do. We are very frustrated and our business is severely affected by this. I wish the CSLB would do more to stop unlicensed activity. 

          
Robert A. - 06/21/08 at 14:29:21 MST
As of July 15,08 the remodeling industry has mandated that all contractors must have contractors license to pull permits in the state of GA. I know of. Those who don't qualify to be grandfathered in must pass state board test. This will help with the illegals underbidding our work. I would like to see it go farther than just jobs that require permits but I don't know how to narrow down the solution.

 
          
Brent S. - 06/21/08 at 19:02:21 MST
 
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