Imagine you finished a large kitchen addition remodel project last year and the client has a party with several high income friends over, oohing and awing about the project. Several hours into the night, after a few martinis, one couple says to the client, we need to talk to company who did this. The client replies no problem just call Smith Remodeling at 1-617-456-7891. Of course the couple says thank you, write it down on a napkin and lose it the next day. Then they get busy and forget your name and number and never call, or worse call someone else.

Over the past four weeks we attended many trade shows and spoke with over two hundred remodeling contractors. We volunteered to work the JLC trade show in Providence and the Residential Design Conference in Boston for the Eastern Mass NARI chapter as well as attended the NARI national business conference. We acquired over two hundred business cards from contractors at these events and had the good fortune to meet outstanding remodeling contractors who are at the top of their game and a few who are not. 

With the winter upon us, now is the perfect time to work on your business. With a down economy and the normal slowdown of remodeling work during the winter, now is the time to be reviewing and analyzing our entire business. We can be proactive and use this time to make changes to our business to be in a competitive position when the slowdown is over. The economy will turn around and those companies who are prepared for the inevitable increase in leads and business, will be ready to take advantage of a new and ever demanding customer. They will be anxious to catch up on long delayed projects. Many people are holding off on desired projects due to the uncertainty in the economy. This pent up demand will be released and the professional improved companies will be ready to take advantage of the opportunity. If you are not prepared you will miss out.

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we historically reflect on what we a grateful for in our lives. This is a time to express humility, gratitude and thanks for the blessings we enjoy in our lives and business. It seems natural to give thanks in the fall after the crops have been harvested. It is the time when we take stock of of our blessings and store up for the coming winter. Our year of hard work comes to a close and at Thanksgiving we reflect on our results. We are hopefully prepared for the long cold winter having harvested enough from our years efforts. If we planted our seeds and prudently nurtured them, we should have enough stock to make it through the winter until spring. For this bounty we express gratitude and thankfulness. 

The holidays are fast approaching and before you know it we'll be talking about our New Year resolutions and hoping for a better year in 2009. The time to start acting and planning for next year is now. 

Joe Holm from Sandler Sales Training Center and The Contractor Coaching Partnership are offering a free seminar for residential contractors. This program is specifically designed for contractors and the trades who provide contracting services to the home owner market.

The recent commotion in our economy is presenting many of us with challenges we haven't faced.

An article recently published by Eastern Mass NARI in the monthly newletter sent to all members about The Contractor Coaching Partnership. 

Yesterday the the financial world and economy took a big hit. On top of recent oil, gas, electric and cost of living increases it is hard to escape the negativity all around us. On www.ContractorTalk.com I see many comments from contractors regarding the difficulties of securing any business. Many are saying they are just hanging on. Most have never experienced a downturn in residential work like we saw in the early nineties. Work has been so plentiful up until a couple of years ago. Just returning the phone call or showing up on time with a smile and clean truck ,you were hired.