It's been 10 months  since I started my contractor coaching business for residential contractors. I am grateful for all the support from business associates, supporters and most of all the many contractor clients who hired me to help them with their businesses. I consider coaching you an honor.

Recently members of my Linkedin network formed new business networking groups. The quality of the individuals and companies represented are stellar. Members of the groups include architechs, designers, kitchen and bath contractors, general contractors, remodelers, manufacturers', and other professionals with ties to the residential construction industry.

Recently a Contractor Talk.Com member referenced a new EPA fine assessed against a Massachusetts contractor. This new rule is another regulation to contend with. If you are residential remodeling contractor working on homes built before 1978 they are subject to the lead paint notification rule.

When confronted with challenges sometimes it is easier to give up than to stay focused on what we want. Some say this year has been the Perfect Storm for the American people. Yesterday's post talked about keeping and maintaining a great attitude by working on yourself and minimizing exposure to things like negative news and the media. Now let's talk about staying the course in spite of challenges facing the residential construction industry.

Over the past week many in the northeast have been walloped by the Ice Storm of 2008 leaving many without power and the basic necessities. On top of the recent economic downturn, foreclosures, declining real estate construction activity and financial troubles it is not suprising that people's attitudes are affected. We are easily reminded of all the recent and current challenges on the news, in the paper, the radio, the internet, work and the coffee shop. It is very easy to get caught up in the misery and before you know it you are not feeling very positive and your attitude towards things turns negative.

Last Thursday evening I went out for dinner with my wife and came home around 10:00PM with a lite rain falling. Just after 12:00 midnight we lost power. Little did we know that a few hours later our yard would look like a tornado had ripped the trees in the yard to shreds. For three hours we heard huge thuds from snapped branches and tree tops that battered our property and the side of the house.

Today's residential homeowner construction market has tightened and leads for contracting services are scarce. Leads are more precious than ever. Many remodeling companies were founded by carpenters and tradesman with little or no formal training in sales. You are very good at building things, you are an expert at crafting and your miter joints are perfect. You started out working for someone else only to find you were treated poorly, paid less than what you are worth with no benefits and blamed for the mistakes of the owner. You said the heck with this crap and you started your own remodeling business. After all you can do better and you won't treat your people that way.

I am fortunate and blessed to have the support of many contractor clients in my first year as a contractor coach. I recently received a letter from a client describing his satisfaction with our coaching services and relationship. It describes what The Contractor Coaching Partnership means to him. 

The economy has presented many financial challenges for both the residential contractor and the homeowner. The economic crisis has deepened and it is increasingly more difficult for homeowners to afford to improve their homes like years past. Many homeowners who can afford to remodel are standing on the sidelines waiting for the market to stabilize. Those who are remodeling and investing in their homes are moving forward very cautiously. Todays consumer is interested in sensible remodeling that has a strong ROI and a contractor that they can trust with their most valuable investment.

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.