Remodeling Mastery By Mark Richardson

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery! Make sure to subscribe today so you never miss our latest episode. You only need to search for “Remodeling Mastery” on the podcast app of your choice. Part 1. Going Virtual We’ve always known that it’s going to be an all-virtual world. Not right now, but soon--maybe in another few years. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed this expectation, however. It forced everything into going virtual. According to Mark, many remodelers have been pulled into virtual and Zoom selling, and those who embraced the process have seen many good returns. “There are a lot of benefits,” says Mark. “And one of the benefits is the number of leads that you can do in a particular month. Based on my analysis, you can literally double the number of sales that you’re able to do, if--in fact--you can become really proficient at it.” He shares some handy tips to help you make more effective at going virtual: 1. Having an established sales process is even more crucial when going virtual. 2.

Part 1. What to Focus On What are your top priorities in the next 30, 60, or even 90 days? While most home remodelers will have a quick answer to this simple question, it is still possible the things they’re focusing on are not necessarily the right ones. “I don’t think there is a cookie-cutter answer to that,” says Mark Richardson. “…But what I do know is there are a few questions that you can ask yourself…that you can determine for yourself or your team can determine what they should be focused on.” What do you know? The current situation we’re experiencing right now remains full of uncertainties, from possible government restrictions relating to COVID-19 to doubts whether the continuing interest in home improvement will last. But what you do know is that your clients are probably your biggest assets. You’ll want to focus on projects that will give them greater peace of mind in terms of health and safety, while ensuring you can produce fast but excellent results. What do you have? Leads are an opportuni

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery! Subscribe today so you never miss our latest episode. Just look for “Remodeling Mastery” on your favorite podcast app. Part 1. What Will Stick 2020 is a year unlike any other. As home remodeling businesses try to adapt to the ongoing pandemic and thrive under the uncertainties, it’s important to consider what will stick and what things will go back to normal post-COVID 19. “If you know or you think certain things are going to stick,” Mark Richardson says, “are you preparing yourself or your team to really get more proficient, or even masterful at those particular things?” On the client side of things, Mark says that they will always make their home their top priority. This means they’re still likely to work from home even when things go back to normal, and will focus on remodeling projects that promote better health and safety. They may also invest in upgrades that allow them to adjust accordingly and more comfortably to home-based working and learning. On

Part 1. Fatigue Given enough time, almost anything can lead to fatigue. Mark Richardson says the environment we are in right now has also created this for many remodeling companies. You’re not taking vacations, you’re not taking time outs--this concept of “living at work” resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what a normal work week should be. “Regardless how many hours you’re putting in, there’s a level of fatigue and weight that not only you are experiencing, but also by others,” says Mark. While it seems a little scary, what everyone is experiencing right now is akin to a war. The pandemic has allowed for a lot of uncertainties, prompting the question, “How long will this go on?” As you set about winning your battles during this war, you’ll want to make sure you’re ALSO dealing with the fatigue this creates. This way, you can go through it and come out more successful. Mark shares a few pointers: 1. As a leader, you need to address that fatigue. 2. It’s important to be empathetic. 3. Always c

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 ab

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

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 r

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 syner

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 connectio

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 Remode

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

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

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 y

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: Ten Ways to Invest in Yourself Mark Richardson shares insights into 10 ways on how to best use the extra time during this period. 1) Develop the Right Mindset - You now have the time and opportunity to have access to insights and information that can help you succeed with your business. Think of it like attending a virtual university. Set aside some time every day to improve your knowledge and skills. 2) Take Inventory - Take inventory of yourself and figure out your own personal and professional fitness. Score yourself on different criteria and then focus on improving your weaknesses bit by bit. 3) Improve Your Technology Skills - Technology has already revolutionized our business. Take some time to sharpen your technology skills. We suggest developing your acumen and your speed. 4) Focus on Your Relationship

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: False Positives Mark Richardson shares insights into 5 false positives that he encourages small business owners to have on their radar to help position their businesses for success. 1) Lead Flow: While many businesses are starting to see an uptick in leads, Mark stresses caution on thinking that it also means it's safe to scale back marketing and advertising. The unpredictability of the pandemic could create another period of uncertainty if a second outbreak should occur and those that stop marketing will find themselves in trouble once again. 2) Online Engagement Rates: Just because open rates and engagement on social media are higher, it doesn't necessarily equate to better marketing. Mark stresses the importance of understanding the environment and how it affects your performance when determining which activi

In unprecedented and challenging times, it's important to understand the environment your business operates in and how it's evolving. What is the new normal? How does it impact your ability to grow your business? In this episode, Mark Richardson breaks down the new normal by looking at 5 core aspects: 1. How consumer behaviors are changing 2. What will be the accepted health and safety measures 3. The business models that will help you thrive 4. How going virtual now will give you a competitive edge 5. The mindset you need to grow your business during uncertain times

Thank you for listening to Remodeling Mastery! Become a subscriber today—just search for ‘Remodeling Mastery’ on your podcast app of choice. (1:06) In This Episode: How Are You Feeling? Over the past few weeks, we focused on the fact that now is the time to lead. This topic shifts gears to discuss the actions that you can take to help you navigate the experience that we're having today. In this episode of Remodeling Mastery, Mark will discuss the four things that you can do during this time that will help you improve your business. Focusing on actions that you can take can help you reduce your anxiety and give you a clearer picture of how you can deal with the coming months ahead. (12:27) Thought Leader Interview with David Pickle, CEO of The National Association of the Remodeling Industry David Pickle is the CEO of The National Association of the Remodeling Industry. NARI assists with business development, serves as a platform for advocacy and helps connect homeowners with its professional members. It's

The night is always darkest before the dawn. No matter how dark things may appear, there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. It's just a matter of when, not if. In this special episode of Remodeling Mastery, Mark Richardson shares 10 actionable steps that can help put your behavior and mindset in the right place to reclaim your mojo.

Mark Richardson shares why now is the time to work on improving your business amongst all the uncertainty and chaos. Over the course of 15 minutes, Mark shares 10 areas he believes all business owners and professionals should focus their time and energy on that can have the greatest change and ultimately make their businesses stronger. 1. Be proactive, not reactive with how you spend your time 2. Prepare for a challenging few months 3. Get your priorities in order; what's right and what's most important? 4. Know your numbers Keep listening to learn more! *The interview with Andrew Sherman that Mark Richardson mentions at times during this episode is coming soon.