Remodeling Mastery by Mark Richardson

Part 1. World-Class One-on-One Meetings While the COVID-19 situation has made considerable changes in the work environment, there’s one factor that remains important whether or not there’s a pandemic: one-on-one meetings with your key rapports. For Mark Richardson, meetings ARE the job. “It’s not the doing of the work,” he says. “The meetings are a vehicle to get the work done…to grow ideas, grow the business, [and] to grow the people within the business.” Mark puts emphasis on creating world-class one-on-one meetings with your key team members. Here are the essentials: 1. A one-on-one meeting is a two-way street. 2. This type of meeting should always be a top priority--don’t skip them! Schedule at least one with a team member every week. 3. How and where you conduct the one-on-one meeting, plus its pace and context, are also crucial. 4. It’s not “one size fits all”. Personalize your one-on-one meetings in terms of length and structure. 5. One-on-one meetings are not only about the discussion, it’s also about the relationship you have and your ability to work with that team member. 6. You should give as much as you take in a one-on-one meeting. 7. In a one-on-one meeting, it’s your obligation to communicate; not their responsibility to understand. Why are one-on-one meetings important, and who should you do them with? Mark answers these and more in this section of the podcast. Part 2. Interview with Tony Mancini, Group Director of SG Horizon This segment sees Mark interviewing Tony Mancini, Group Director and Principal of SG Horizon, a top media company serving the residential and commercial design and construction markets. According to Tony, new home sales have gone through the roof. He talks about the dynamic of the new home and remodeling communities, and how they sustain one another. “We know that when people buy a new home or move into a new home, remodeling follows.” So what does Tony see on the horizon for the remodeling industry during this last quarter of the year? How should businesses operate in this new reality resulting from COVID-19? Find out more by tuning in to Mark and Tony in this episode of Remodeling Mastery. Looking for a fresh perspective and of-the-moment education that suit both your business vision for 2021 and your wallet? Check out the 31st Annual Remodeling Show, which has been reimagined online! From November 16th-18th, you gain access to over 20 on-demand and live sessions for remodelers, so register now for free.

Part 1. Halftime in the War on COVID-19 Many home remodeling companies have adapted--and even thrived--in this “new normal” brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. But can you believe we’re only halfway through it? Mark Richardson says the more you think of the current situation as the halftime of a game, the better your chances of coming out of this intact. He lists some of the lessons we’ve learned during this crucial halfway point: 1. Think of COVID-19 as a marathon to overcome instead of a sprint. 2. Celebrate short-term victories. 3. Take the current remodeling trend as an opportunity to improve your business marketing and work process. 4. Be more empathetic to your team--each of them processes the pandemic situation differently. 5. Many people are now looking at their home in a different light. You can benefit from this with the right considerations. 6. Practicing a team sport mentality and improving communication is especially crucial right now. 7. Embrace the uncertainties that are out there and be ready to react to them accordingly. 8. Focus on your brand and reputation--many homeowners are now basing their home improvement decisions on these factors instead of price. 9. Look at each calendar year as a 12-week cycle instead of the standard 12 months. 10. Leadership teams are key to continued business success. Given how we’re only at the halftime of the COVID-19 situation, it pays to plan and be more prepared for what’s coming ahead. Part 2. Interview with Michael Anschel, CEO of Otogawa-Anschel Design + Build In this section of the podcast, Mark interviews Michael Anschel about his insight on what’s happening out there and how it relates to his Minneapolis-based design-build firm. Michael expounds on the topic of pricing transparency. Most homeowners usually require exact numbers in their remodeling project--they don’t want to be in the dark when it comes to their project costs--and Michael meets this need by giving them a more detailed look at the cost estimate process. In his experience, this has helped build confidence between him and the homeowner. Listen more as Mark and Michael discuss some of the remodeling challenges posed by the pandemic and how they can be mitigated through innovative safety practices.

Part 1. The Whole Issue of Stress These are stressful times--but the level of stress for some is considerably greater than others. According to Mark, stress management is just as important as developing your team or creating the right culture for your business. By understanding stress, you’ll be able to come up with strategies that allow you to better manage it. Mark shares some variables that can create a high degree of stress in terms of your business and the current environment: -- Sense of being overwhelmed. Remodeling leaders have to juggle several things at once in these difficult times. The trick is to take on jobs that push your business past its comfort zone while allowing you to completely finish them to quality standards. -- Change and uncertainty. Government restrictions, plus other changes that can impact your business, are not exactly uncommon today, so you’ll want to adapt and make adjustments for them. -- Speed at which everything is happening. The pandemic’s spread--and the alterations resulting from it--left both homeowners and businesses reeling. The speed at which all of these changes occurred created a level of intensity and stress that are still affecting all of us today. Mark suggests making stress management a priority as your business enters the fourth quarter of the year. He shares these handy tips to help you better deal with stress in these unprecedented times: 1. Use an effective time management system. 2. Have the right level of stress and use it to be productive and reach goals without being overwhelmed. 3. Redefine the year as a 12-week cycle instead of the standard 12-month one. 4. Don’t go it alone--it’s okay to accept help from others. 5. Keep in touch with industry-related organizations that can help you grow your business. Part 2. Interview with Remodeling Mastery Regular, Kermit Baker This section of the podcast sees Mark and Kermit discussing why remodeling is on the up and up even with the uncertainty induced by the pandemic. One of the primary reasons is that homeowners are seeing and using their home differently, according to Kermit. They also examine the slight rise in people moving to suburban areas and how this movement can affect the remodeling industry. Tune in to Mark and Kermit as they talk more about what’s possibly in store for the home improvement business in the 4th quarter of the year.

Part 1. Taking Your Leadership Team to the Next Level What separates the good companies from the exceptional ones? For Mark Richardson, it’s not so much as the company’s designated leader, but the leadership team itself. No matter the size of the company, it’s often the leadership team that helps it achieve specific goals. As in basketball, that leadership team is what makes the difference between getting to the play-offs and winning the actual championship. But a team is made up of diverse people, which is why it’s important to understand the fundamental competency of each member. Mark shares some essentials that can help you take your leadership team to the next level: 1. Make your leadership team a priority. Devote some time to developing, coaching, and advising your team. Make sure to analyze the effectiveness, culture, and balance between the different leadership team members. 2. Take inventory. Give your team members a closer look and take inventory of them in terms of voice, contribution, and synergy with each other. Most importantly, note which things are missing from your leadership team and think of what you can do to fill these ‘gaps’ for greater improvement. 3. Visualize and communicate. Your business has a better chance of winning the more your leadership team understands where the business is headed, and the more they visualize how important they are as a team. 4. Alignment is crucial. Growing your business is easier when your leadership members are aligned with your vision, pace, and goals. 5. Make sure the members are investing in themselves. Give your leadership team many opportunities to learn more and improve their skill set. 6. Listen to diffident voices in the room. Asking the more reserved members about their input makes them more confident about voicing their opinions, which may ultimately end up helping you make better decisions. 7. Change. The business environment is constantly changing (especially now), and you have to adapt to these alterations, not only in terms of the team members, but in the structure of the leadership team itself. Part 2. Interview with Andy Wells, CEO of Normandy Design Build Remodeling In this section of the podcast, Mark interviews Andy Wells--CEO of Normandy Design Build Remodeling, a company serving the Chicagoland area--about his experiences with his own leadership team. Andy reveals that his business didn’t have a formal leadership structure at first. But as more responsibilities landed on him and the company grew larger and more successful, he realized he can do even more and earn better results with a leadership team. Mark and Andy further discuss how to create a stronger, more effective leadership team that can easily take on challenges and reach business goals.

Thank you for tuning in to Remodeling Mastery! Subscribe today and never miss our latest episode by searching for Remodeling Mastery on your favorite podcast app. Part 1: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint The COVID-19 pandemic remains at large, affecting home remodeling businesses across the country in different ways. It’s not going away anytime soon--every business is in it for the long haul. To make better sense of what’s happening right now, Mark compares the situation to a long-distance race--or marathon. While there will be an end to this situation, home remodelers will need to make the right effort, employ different strategies, and be ready to overcome challenges until they can cross that finish line. In this section of the podcast, Mark talks about the essentials you can glean from thinking of this pandemic as a kind of marathon, and how it relates to your business. Part 2: Thought Interview with Dean Curtis, Ingage CEO Technological advancements have made it possible for businesses to create connections and promote more effective communication. These have become especially useful during this pandemic, when face-to-face conversations in a work setting are greatly discouraged. In this section, our special guest, Dean Curtis offers an in-depth look on what it's like to go virtual and work remotely.

Part 1. Recap of Remodeling Mastery Topics How do you improve your remodeling business in these challenging times? What are the actions you should be taking? Over the past few months, Mark has covered a number of topics that answer these questions. Part 2. Don’t Go It Alone “None of us is as smart as all of us.” Mark believes that remodelers can become more successful if they consider accepting help in their business. He says the first thing they should do is to invest time and energy into the whole notion of ‘not being alone’. Mark expounds on that through these handy tips: 1. ‘We all need a coach.’ Mark emphasizes the importance of having someone you can talk to or ask for advice--professional or otherwise. 2. Change your paradigm in terms of alliances. This means altering your perspective about the people you interact with to form strategic alliances that allow you both to reach a common goal. 3. Spend time and energy in industry-related associations. These include National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Kitchen & Bath Association, and Professional Remodeler. 4. Join different business networking groups. While these groups don’t have to be necessarily related to the remodeling industry, they will offer some good insight about the topic of business. 5. Spend time with friends and family. Focus on them being fully engaged and empathetic about what you’re experiencing with your work, team, and clients. 6. Connect with targeted groups in the industry. These include Remodelers Advantage and other contractor networking groups. 7. Consider Remodeling Mastery Roundtables. This new group focuses on your time and efficiency, and is facilitated by industry leaders that are committed to improvement and growth. When it comes to business, especially in these trying times, it’s best not to go at it alone. Part 3. Interview with Erika Taylor, Director of Content for Professional Remodeler What does our special guest see in the current remodeling space? Erika Taylor, Director of Content for Professional Remodeler, reveals that the design/build side of the business is doing well, but with remodelers taking a ‘wait-and-see approach’ to the whole thing. The home improvement side, meanwhile, is doing even better, with business owners taking full advantage of their new leads to expand and hire more people. Mark and Erika talk further about improving peer-to-peer connection between remodelers (such as joining roundtable groups) and how it can promote growth and success.

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery! Subscribe today and ensure you never miss our latest episode. Just search for Remodeling Mastery using the podcast app of your choice. 12 Week Year: The demand for home remodeling projects is still on the rise, but things remain unpredictable because of the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, and current political and economic climate. The title of author Brian Moran’s book ‘The 12 Week Year’ has resonated with Mark because it hits the chord of a lot of the advice he’s been trying to convey. In this section of the podcast, Mark shares how you can integrate the mindset of a 12 week cycle into your business model, allowing you to adjust the scale of what you’re planning to do. Interview with Thought Leader and Google Expert, Nima Oftadeh: In this section, Mark and Nima discusses the current trends and behaviors in the home remodeling space based on Google and YouTube information, and Google surveys with a panel of homeowners, among others.

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery. Subscribe today to ensure you never miss a new episode by searching for Remodeling Mastery using your favorite podcast app. PART 1: Culture Changes Your business has a certain culture, has certain beliefs, has certain ways of doing things that ultimately define its identity. This culture acts as a magnet that attracts qualified people to work for you. The pandemic is changing the cultures of remodeling companies all across the country. More and more companies have a remote workforce. More and more customers are working from home. More and more people are prioritizing health and safety. In today’s podcast, Mark Richardson will give you strategic and tactical information that will keep you from falling behind the wave of change that’s happening right now. The Client - Customers have hunkered down for quite some time now and this has led to changes in how they think about their home and how they evaluate remodeling companies. Homeowners want to find and develop a relationship with their remodeler. They also highly prioritize health and safety. Marketing - Remodeling companies typically have a high-touch way of generating leads. Moving forward, there’s going to be a lot more focus on digital marketing efforts. Clients now want to find you, more than they want you to find them. You need to put yourself out there now more than ever. Virtual Relationships - The reality is that we have been forced to have more virtual relationships in the past few months. These relationships can be very different from the ones that we’re used to offline. You’ll need to learn the best practices in creating and maintaining virtual relationships with your employees and customers. Work Environment - Many companies are looking to reduce their office footprint by as much as 50-75%. You’ll need to ask yourself what your work environment will look like in the future. Remote working and flexible hours might become a big part of what you do. You - How will you go about making your decisions in the future? Will you be focused on leadership policies or on dialogue and conversation with your team? Now’s the right time to focus on improving your leadership qualities. PART 2: Thought Leader Interview With Brian Gottlieb Brian Gottlieb is the CEO and President of Tundraland, one of the top remodeling companies in the country. Brian and Mark share insights about the changing business dynamics and culture in the remodeling industry. Tune in to learn about the fundamental changes and challenges that his company experienced during this pandemic.

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery! Subscribe now and keep up with our newest episodes by looking for Remodeling Mastery at your favorite podcast app. Mark Richardson opines that 80% of the reason there’s increased interest in home remodeling is because of the current environment and dynamic created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Part 1. Homeowners and Their Current Situation. With homeowners now spending most of their time indoors, they are more likely to notice the things that are wrong inside their home. This is the opposite compared to months ago, when everyone is too busy to make remodeling a priority. Now that they have more time in their hands, this also means they are free to research and pursue their remodeling goals. You’ll notice this by the amount of online search traffic. What’s more, remodeling gives homeowners something to be excited about, something to spend their time and energy on. This active mindset makes them more likely to pick up the phone and call their local remodeler. The pandemic has made travel almost impossible, so they’ll be focusing on projects that improve comfort, enjoyment, and safety, and emphasize the family-gathering element. You may also notice an increase in home office upgrades, given how most of them may be working from home. Basically, homeowners now see their homes as a sanctuary--something of greater value instead of just a roof over their heads. Part 2. Investment of Remodeling Today (Thought Interview with Kermit Baker, Project Director for Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University). According to Kermit Baker, he expected a dramatic slowdown in home remodeling because it’s an industry that’s typically tied to the economy. While there is no hard data on why remodeling is so popular right now, there is considerable anecdotal information from contractors saying their business is going a lot better than expected--although this may depend on the type of work they specialize in and their service area. Part 3. Ideal Project Types in This Situation (Thought Interview with Kermit Baker, Project Director for Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University). Kermit shares that projects focusing on outdoor living and landscaping are doing well--basically upgrades where the contractor doesn’t have to enter the home. The same goes for roofing, siding, and window projects. With most people not being able to go beyond their fence unless necessary, homeowners aim to improve their backyard--a contrast to traditional home improvements like room additions. Mark and Kermit further discuss the economic side of home improvement.

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery. Subscribe today to ensure you never miss a new episode by searching for Remodeling Mastery using your favorite podcast app. In this episode: PART 1: New Habits According to studies, it takes 66 days to form a new habit. We’ve been dealing with our current crisis for about three months now, and this is more than enough time for you and your customers to form new habits regarding this situation. In today’s podcast, Mark Richardson shares insights on some of the things that can become new habits in the coming months. 1) Working Remotely - If your customers and clients are working remotely, then they have the skills to utilize video conferencing and other similar technologies. Your company should know how to leverage that. Customers that work remotely also use the spaces inside their home differently. Accessory dwelling units, for example, are beginning to be used as separate working areas. If your employees are working remotely, then you need to make sure that your company culture can adapt to that. 2) Going Virtual - Consider how online shopping has changed the way people buy products. Most people buy their things from both physical stores and from websites. There’s going to be a hybrid of high-touch and high-tech in the remodeling industry and you will need to be prepared for the change. How much time are you spending learning how to make your business go virtual? 3) Work Life Balance - The notion of work time and play time is currently being disrupted. You have an opportunity to develop good habits that can allow you to prioritize the things that matter the most to you. It is critical that you learn how to control and map out your day in order to maintain a good work life balance. PART 2: Thought Leader Interview With Tony Mancini Tony Mancini is the publisher of Professional Remodeler and many other publications. Together, Tony and Mark share the latest insights about the remodeling and construction industry and how it is changing in response to the current crisis. Tune in to learn about health and safety, how to use virtual technology properly, and more.