Yellow Highlighters

I'm halfway thru my trenta black iced, nothing added, coffee...so my brain is halfway thru waking up. My only hope is, it will wake up completely by the time I finish this blog because Lord knows I have way to much to get done today...I need her at 100%:) She (my brain) appears to be as stubborn as me, go figure! If I tell her to wake up and get going...she's simply refuses to even attempt that task. However, if I let her think it's her idea to get going (giving her trenta black iced coffee seems to do the trick) she is much more motivated to get the job done! Which is why, I try very hard to surround myself with friends who let me "think" it's my idea but they really "know" they are the motivation behind my success:)

I've spent my whole adult life refusing to hold myself to a list! I pride myself on my steal trap memory and having to write things down might mean I can't remember everything. I prefer to believe I'm perfect (keep your opinions to yourself here, loved ones). So writing down things to "remember" to do them later seemed dumb, crazy and honestly "old". However, at lunch with my powerhouse of a motivator, I was told I really needed to, just for a few days, make a list and start working on it. I felt overwhelmed and couldn't find a starting point. Things that should be getting done weren't, things I wanted to do but kept forgetting, things that I thought were complete weren't and it was just adding up and up and up. Knowing I had used up all my excuses, I decided to "FINE, MAKE A STUPID LIST! JUST SO I COULD SAY I DID!" Low and behold...I've had my most productive two weeks yet! What a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I no longer had to use my memory with useless "stuff". Write it down and be done with it! So $25.00 later ($21.00 for a cute book--Big Bob Herself had to make it better than a boring "calendar" book and two highlighters) we are rocking the "to-do" list. Highlighted in yellow means completed...what a great feeling! and green means moved to a later date...I really like seeing yellow but green at least means it's not taking up space in my brain! Ashley, of course, being the "perfect is as perfect does" gal here loved the idea and LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to use GREEN! I think it's her sick way of motivating me! I originally thought of giving us each a different color highlighter so what each of us finished we could take pride in ourselves...but then I realized she does way more than me...and I prefer to pretend I do more! So if it's all in yellow, I can lie to myself and take credit for it all! Go Tara, Go Tara!

The nice thing...I wrote "blog" down five days ago and for five days Ashley has moved it daily in GREEN. Today, I can use yellow and mark it done! My brain has graciously decided to wake up and it's time to grab that yellow highlighter and get moving! Enjoy the beautiful day we've been blessed with and wish me luck on my to-do list!

PS. Ashley is gone until Monday so I can put the dreaded GREEN away!

Overwhelmed...but moving on...

It's amazing how life can be...sometimes you think you are on top of the world and life is good, good, good...and then the next you can be wondering how you got into such a mess.

I have a standard rule..talk to me, complain at me, tell me your problems...I will not judge, argue or even act like I know what you are going thru. I'm here for each and every one of my "friends" or even "foes" if they need me. However, I will only listen to you complain twice before I tell you to do something about it or stop complaining.

So here I sit...complaining about the same thing I've probably complained about for months...time, time, time! I need more time in my day and I need to take time for myself. I very likely doubt anyone who knows me can fix this problem. I can complain and many of you will listen with open hearts and suggest several ways to make it better...but ultimately it's up to me to create the time. A day only has 24 hours a day...so what to do??

I've decided to blog, LOL...yes this takes more time but in the long run it will save me time. Everyone is always asking what I've been up to, how are those brats I'm raising, how's business, what am I up to...some follow my tweets, others my facebook...and both avenues leave many guessing what I'm up to. I've been told...my story would make a good book...I'd like to read the final chapter and skip all the juicy stuff. So, I figure, if I'm ever going to write a book...a blog will refresh me on all my funny stories.

I've also decided to go home on Wednesday nights and kayak with my two little girls. Again, this will take time...but I just learned on Easter Sunday what a great little kayaker (is that a word??) Anastasia is. Kayaking is my passion (besides selling) and to see Anastasia trying to take it on...I know it was so we could have time together. So, Wednesday nights for the next four months will be spent on the water, in a kayak with Anastasia and Ryanne. This will allow me to rest my brain, spend time with my most favorite two little girls and put the stress of Big Bob's away for a few hours. (watch for these stories...I can only imagine)

I've decided my business couch is the best thing that has ever happen to me. She is the only person I know who has been able to tell me what to do without me getting my little girl feelings hurt. I'm not afraid to learn new things, I'm afraid of failure. I know...failure leads to success...I say, wear my shoes when you say that! Failure scares the daylights out of me and I've recently learned that instead of using that fear to drive me, I've been using it to hold me back. So, I've committed myself to learning from Shelley Smith how to harness that fear and get back to doing what I love...selling! And not actually collecting money for a product I can provide...but the whole process....meeting new people, making friends out of those new people and providing them with a beautiful home or providing them with someone who can help their friends/family achieve a beautiful home.

I've committed to trusting the people I've hired to do what they are asked and stop micro-managing everything. Many have heard me brag about my Grasshopper...but what many don't know is she is just an amazing women. Five years and running and I've finally found a young person who not only understands "working" she appears to enjoy it. I say once I'd "like" to do something and the next thing I know..it's done. Therefore, I need to stop wasting my time and start growing my business.

I've, also, been lucky enough to land one of the best mechanics (installers) who also understand work and enjoys it. He makes our company look good and doesn't mind going the extra mile to see us succeed. He's been laying floors for over 28 years, he's seen it all, done it all and loves it all. Therefore, I no longer have an excuse why we can't take Big Bob's to the next level. I'm excited to see things come together...and me getting my "stuff" together will only help all us get our "act" together!

So, that's it...simple and sweet! Kayaking on Wednesdays, Blogging once a week, trusting my Grasshopper and installer, moving forward with courage and faith! Hope you enjoy the next part of my journey!

Company of Giants

The one thing I’ve learned over the past few months…don’t make quick rash decisions on an empty stomach, after drinking too much, after an argument w/ the spouse or after weeks of little to no business. In order to survive you have to have faith that things can change in a minute...sales is a very emotional business to be in and I understand why few go into it. You have to love stress, thrieve on danger and have a love for challenges and adventures. You have to have an "it" factor to survive in this crazy world.

Ashley has the "it" factor in life..she just gets it. She doesn't stress out, she doesn't freak out...she balances me so very nicely and I'm so fortunate to have her in my life both personally and professionally. Today, I presented her with a very big challenge. To me, it was overwhelming and impossible...but she took it, broke it down and made magic happen. I haven't slept in days trying to come to solution and within a matter of hours...she brought harmony to my life.

Warren, has always said...if you hire above yourself you will be a company of giants; hire below yourself and you will be a company of midgets. I can honestly say, I hired way above myself when I hired this gem and I can hardly wait to see what else we can accomplish with such a wonderful young lady at the helm.

Today's lesson-dumps are free, garbage pick-up cost

Alright, you say…duh…I say I’ve been a busy women and never paid attention to details. This is why I’m super grateful for my installer who works hard to make my business better. He could have just dumped everything in my dumpster…but he had me go to the dump all the while listening to me complained about having to spend 5 extra minutes going ACROSS the street. To which he politely explained DUMPS are FREE, garbage pick-up COST!! So there you have it…I’m a better business women already! Thanks Red!

Measuring and Managing 2011

Every year, Big Bob, host the best convention for his Big Bobbers. It’s full of education and evaluation. For years I’ve gone and listened, thought I was learning, thought I was coming home and putting into practice what I had learned. Over and over again I was hearing if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it. I thought I was measuring and managing…I was staying above water, I was selling, I could see my inventory go up and down…I had this measure and manage thing under control..right??
2010 brought me from the co-captain “yes sir” to the captain of this ship, I was either going to sink or swim. Things I thought I had under control because I was paying people to keep them under control…were not in control at all, nor had they ever been in control. They were just presented real pretty to someone who didn’t have a clue what she was doing. So I’ve been learning and in that process of learning I’ve hired way, way above me. I’ve hired someone who is smarter, more organized and has a great view of the big picture. The first thing she started on was the dreaded inventory issue. I hate inventory and to be honest as the only one in the ship…I could see what we had, what we need and had little use for the computers long winded way of controlling inventory. However, to keep her happy I promised to get this inventory in shape before the end of 2010. I didn’t quite make it…I finished at 2am January 2nd, but it’s done.
Wow! That’s all I have to say…I’ve learned so much over the past few days of going thru four years of invoices and inventory. I now see all the shoulda, woulda, coulda mistakes I made that could have saved me a lot of green, if I had just controlled this better. I can’t go back and change the past, what’s done is done..but I can learn from it and boy have I!
2011 is going to be Big Bob Herself’s best year yet! I can feel it deep in my soul! I have the best partner, Ashley! They best installers, Red and Roy! They best mentors, Big Bob Himself and Warren! There are no New Year Resolutions with me…just a commitment to do what I’ve always said and believed in others…mistakes happen, so what…you were wrong, move past it…live and learn but don’t make the same mistake twice. 2011 will be measured and managed tightlyJ

New Year, New You?? Yeah, Right!

The beginning of the year you always hear people saying they are going to stop smoking, lose weight, play with their kids more, finally go back to school, save more money...oh, the list goes on and on. Most likely, those things just don't happen. It's sounds great to have these ideas but really, why would the new year bring on a new you? Shouldn't the new year start with less stress? Shouldn't the new year be fun and easy going? Doesn't new mean...fun and exciting?? What's fun and exciting about dieting? Saving money? Playing with your kids more? (ok, my kids are fun...but not when you have to spend MORE time with them) These things don't sound fun or exciting...so I did something different this year....

I close 2010 on a really bad note...so when 2011 started...it could only be new, fun and exciting! I inventoried, organized and invented. I didn't make a single new year resolution, I hate them. What I did do though, is looked at 2010 right before it came to an end and said....alrighty, this has been a really crappy year, let's wrap all this junk up before a new year starts and have a clean slate. My clean slate happens to include more organization, which might look like a "new year resolution" but it's not...it's an old year conclusion:)

Customers Complaints

The hardest part of my job...having customers who aren't happy. Try as I might, I've accepted that no matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, no matter what I say...I will have unhappy customers. Customers that are just unhappy people to begin with and even if the job is nearly perfect...they will find a reason to be unhappy. So what can I do?

First, I accept responsibility for what went wrong...right or wrong...it's my fault and it has to be fixed. Somewhere between step 1 (introducing myself) and step 10 (install finished) I missed something. It really doesn't matter what went wrong or even why it went wrong..what matters is how do I fix it? Sometimes it's as easy as saying "I'm sorry and it won't happen again" Sometimes it's as elaborate as "I'll replace the whole floor on my dime". Somewhere between those two solutions lies 100 other solutions that will create a happy customer.

However, what can I do about the customers who either lie about their situation because they only care about getting more money back or just don't bother to give you an opportunity to fix the problem? Years ago..the only ones who heard a complaint were most likely the store and anyone who would listen to the unhappy customer (friends and family). While this negative situation can hurt business a bit, they only have access to but so many people. However, today we have the world wide web and a single complaint can be broadcasted to many..MANY! And a single complaint posted online can really hurt business. So where years ago, one unhappy customer, who was impossible to make happy you could maybe brush off and let it go. Today...what do you do? a brush off could be the kiss of death....

suggestions....?????