The 7-Power Contractor® Radio

Delegating vs Dumping – what's the difference, and how do you learn how to properly delegate tasks to your employees? Here's the answer!

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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Look at your business. Would you want to buy it? If you say no, you're not alone. Here's how to create a business someone will want to buy!

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Having a better office design can improve communication and solve problems. A great layout starts with basing it off your Org Chart.

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Do you have a buy-sell agreement to prepare for the 5D's of death, disability, divorce, disaster, and debt? Learn how to prepare here!

https://7powercontractor.com/buy-sell-5ds

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TV stings set up for contractors are not fair. But if you have policies and procedures in place, your techs will be ready for the unfair situations, …

Learn the dirty secrets about side work and how to stop your own techs from stealing your clients by putting your policy in writing.

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There's a whole spectrum of ways to acquire other companies, and those ways vary from mild to wild. Learn what they are!

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Should you add another trade? To answer this question, you first need to analyze how you're doing in your current trades.

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Are there 7 million things you need to know in business? You really only need to know 7. Learn what they are here!

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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When you become a better trainer, you will help young, willing people realize their potential while growing your business at the same time!

https://7powercontractor.com/better-traine

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Want to keep your employees onboard? Here are 3 questions you should be asking them!

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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You might be asking if ChatGPT AI can replace Al Levi's operating manual program. The answer might surprise you. Find the answer here!

https://7powercontractor.com/chatgpt-ai-al-levi-operating-manuals

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There are 3 positions at your company that deserve a bonus. Learn what those positions are in this episode!

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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Don't count the slices (tax accounting). Count the loaves (real-world accounting). This will help you make better financial decisions.

https://7powercontractor.com/count-loaves-not-slices

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There are 2 main things you should be doing as a business owner – make more calls and more techs.

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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Think your techs aren't sales people? Think again! They can sell, and they can do it ethically. Learn how here!

https://7powercontractor.com/ethically-sell/

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​Tommy Mello's book, Elevate, is a must read for anyone wanting to elevate their team and business. In this episode, Tommy shares the 3 key takeaways from his book. Purchase the book here:

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Want a business and not a hobby? Then you need systems in place. Learn why here!

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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Your contracting business' "unfair" advantage is your selling points. Not sure your advantage? Hear some sample selling points here!

https://7powercontractor.com/contracting-business-unfair-advantage

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There's no shortage of great ideas. The challenge is deciding which great idea to act on first. That's why you need a Top 30 and a Top 5 list.

Find more resources at www.7powercontractor.com.

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Looking to grow your business? Even if you're not a giant company yet, acquisition, done in a smart way, might be just what you need!

https://7powercontractor.com/smart-acquisition/

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Great sales come from a great sales system, and a great sales system is backed by a great sales acronym. Hear an example of a sales acronym here!

https://7powercontractor.com/sales-acronym-boost-sales/

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The business you’re running today isn’t necessarily the one you need to achieve your goals. It may be time to hit the reset on your business.

https://7powercontractor.com/reset-your-business/

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What's a commerical sales agent, what are they not, and why do you need them? Find the answer here!

https://7powercontractor.com/whats-commercial-sales-agent/

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What are you doing to build credibility and visibility in your community? Here are four main ways to get started!

https://7powercontractor.com/building-credibility-visibility/

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Power tools... is it better to own or rent them? Find the answer to the dilemma here!

https://7powercontractor.com/power-tools-done-right/

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If you want your techs to have an 80% chance of having what they need to get the job done, then you need to create trucks that work for them.

https://7powercontractor.com/creating-trucks-that-work/

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As the leader of your company, be careful how you treat people. Remember to praise in public and criticize in private.

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If you want to be the contractor of choice, you have to offer 24/7/365 services. Otherwise, your customers will go to your competitors.

https://7powercontractor.com/not-providing-24-7-services

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Should pets be allowed in the office? Everyone has their own opinion. Here are some tips to guide you in your pet policy decision making.

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Creating an effective referral network serves you, your customers, and others well. Learn how to create an effective referral network here!

https://7powercontractor.com/creating-effective-referral-network

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If you aren’t focused on retaining the right staff, staffing a company is like trying to fill a bathtub with the drain wide open. Listen in to learn how to staff your company effectively!

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We've learned a lot after two years of COVID. But there are 7 things contractors still need to consider to function in this new normal. Learn what those things are here!

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You need a good marketing plan. Learn the remaining 3 of the 7 ways to market at low cost or no cost in Part 2 here!

https://7powercontractor.com/7-ways-market-low-cost-cost-part-2/

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In Part 2, Al Levi shares a letter sample and a bunch of great tips for executing a company name change and rebrand successfully!

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You need a good marketing plan. Learn 4 of the 7 ways to market at low cost or no cost in Part 1 here!

https://7powercontractor.com/7-ways-market-low-cost-cost-part-1/

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There are two reasons to change your company name, and there are ways to do it right. Learn those reasons and get some tips here!

https://7powercontractor.com/change-company-name-part-1

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If you want happier clients and bigger profits, you need to know the 7 deadly sins your techs commit and how to help them stop.

https://7powercontractor.com/7-deadly-sins-techs-commit/

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If I gave you $100,000, what would you do with it to make the greatest impact? You need systems to help you know how to spend it.

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Everyone learns differently, but if you want to grow your business, you need to determine to work on the business, not just in it.

https://7powercontractor.com/self-study-personal-coach/

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Is it harder to get great or stay great? You think you can stop and coast, but you can’t. Systems make that climb a whole lot easier.

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Systems in my business freed my up to help my daughter. Systems can free you up in your business too! Learn how here!

https://7powercontractor.com/systems-freed-me-to-help-daughter

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Should you spoke shop, or should you not spoke shop? Al Levi shares his advice to help you make the decision that's best for your company!

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Will all your employees quit if you put Operating Manuals in place? No, quite the opposite! To explain why, Al shares this story...

https://7powercontractor.com/will-they-quit-with-operating-manuals

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We all are kids no matter how old we get. We love to be acknowledged. We crave it. Do yourself and your employees a favor. Find them doing something …

Feel overwhelmed? Things getting out of hand? Al Levi shares 5 reasons your business is growing too fast!

https://7powercontractor.com/5-reasons-business-growing-too-fast

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Can your service area allow you to grow to the company size you want to be or need to be? This is a tough question. Find the answer here.

https://7powercontractor.com/size-can-matter/

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There are two roles you can never leave as an owner if you want your business to succeed: financial manager and marketing manager.

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Lying – owners, managers, team members, and customers do it, but it's destructive to your company. Learn how to get to a point where they'll feel more comfortable telling the truth!

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Want to get your life back and have the business you've always wanted? Start by following these five tips!

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Hear "Got a minute?" multiple times a day from your employees? Here are four ways to help you get back more of your day right now.

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Millennials get a bad rap. The truth is, they can be valuable assets. Learn why you shouldn't just like millennials but love them!

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Your pitch in your marketing and sales should be to reinforce what the customer is not coming right out and telling you. They will pay if you can …

You might have to say "no" to a customer to make room for customers who will behave in the way you want and deserve to be treated.

https://7powercontractor.com/does-everyone-stay-your-customer

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It's good to keep a check on your employees, but it's not good to spy on them. Learn the difference here!

https://7powercontractor.com/checking-in-vs-snooping/

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Wish you could find all the great techs you ever wanted? You’ll need to learn and implement the five main components of Staffing Power.

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Whether you are pricing based on time and material or, better yet, flat rate, budgeting is the only way to arrive at what the right hourly price …

Employee feedback is critical to your company's success. It's equally important that you truly listen to their feedback. Learn why!

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It’s not your customer's job to understand your terminology and technology. It’s your job to help them understand. Learn how to speak to them in …

How can you keep yourself, your staff, and your customers safe during the Covid-19 pandemic? Start by following these guidelines!

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I was working hard every day and night when I was in my family business years ago. Each day was a battle not unlike what you probably face at your …

Great marketing needs great testimonials. How do you get great testimonials and use them in your marketing? Find out here!

https://7powercontractor.com/marketing-needs-great-testimonials

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Stop the Dispatch Scheduling Hijack and see how much less stress, how much more can be done and how you can actually be more productive.

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It's important that you keep your trucks rolling and safe. You can achieve this by assigning those responsibilities to your fleet management.

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Family businesses can be a great thing, but they're not without challenges. An organizational chart, a master project list, and planning for the inevitable “5Ds” are the keys to success.

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Want to achieve your goal? Start by writing it down. It will be the motivation you need to carry you through to completion.

https://7powercontractor.com/goal-writing-wall/

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Contractors often struggle to put marketing together that communicates in an informative way and doesn’t scare people. To be able to hire you, they …

It's important for you, your employees, and your customers to check in on employees, but there's a difference in checking in and snooping.

https://7powercontractor.com/checking-vs-snooping

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Are the holiday bonus blues getting you down? Get started on your Company-Wide Bonus Game now and make next year’s holiday bonus a Ho Ho Ho vs. a No …

Implementing a plan of action helps overcome fear of change, but one of the biggest problems getting in the way of change is procrastination.

https://7powercontractor.com/owner-procrastination-implementing-problem

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Direct mail marketing done right can be very effective for contractors but only if you respect the rules.

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The idea of a 12-hour workday has been around for a while, but is it worth it? Here are 5 reasons why it's not as effective as you think.

https://7powercontractor.com/12-hour-workday

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Selling doesn’t begin when a Tech is at the customer’s doorstep. It starts when your Customer Service Representative answers the phone.

https://7powercontractor.com/sales-coaching-techs/

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Contracting businesses want to drive phenomenal sales. To effectively coach techs in sales you need a repeatable, documented selling-system in place first.

https://7powercontractor.com/drive-phenomenal-sales-coaching/

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During the busy season, it's common to pile our lunch on the dashboard and swallow our food whole without coming up for air. Make time for lunch.

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Business advice from too many different souces is rarely effective, and it's a headache trying to make all the different pieces of advice fit.

https://7powercontractor.com/making-all-pieces-fit/

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Have you ever picked up your company phone just to check if it was working? There’s nothing scarier than a phone that’s gone dead. Learn to market ahead so the phone won't go dead.

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Have you wondered whether or not radio and TV marketing still make the phone ring? Yes, they can, and I've seen my clients' business increase as a …

Riding your white stallion sun-up to sun-down putting out fires in your contracting business? Fire prevention via operating manuals is the key to success.

https://7powercontractor.com/finally-fix-things-company/

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Do you have too many cooks (aka leaders) in your company? Get everyone on the same page and work more efficiently with operating manuals.

https://7powercontractor.com/cooks-spoil-broth

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It's often asked, "What if I train someone and they leave to work for the competition?" But what if you don't train them and they stay? Training is vital.

https://7powercontractor.com/train-them-they-leave/

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The stings on TV give contractors a bad name. Contracting companies have to overcome a bad stereotype. Operating manuals make this easy.

https://7powercontractor.com/stings-fair-contractors/

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Every contracting business owner wants to minimize chaos and boost sales. The question is... How? Operating manuals are the key.

https://7powercontractor.com/secret-bonus-operating-manuals/

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How do you judge your staff's performance? Don't judge them based on your subjective opinion. Judge them based on objective facts found in your operating manuals.

https://7powercontractor.com/judging-staffs-performance/

One of the best ways to grow your business correctly is through buying the growth through acquisition. Not sure where to start? Here's how to do it.

https://7powercontractor.com/buying-growth

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Fighting fires in your business instead of focusing on important-but-not-urgent matters? It doesn't have to be that way. Operating manuals can help.

https://7powercontractor.com/important-not-urgent/

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Finding and retaining good employees is by design, not by accident. Learn to be proactive versus reactive in the hiring process.

https://7powercontractor.com/proactive-job-interview/

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Keep hiring seasoned employees only to discover skill and behavioral issues? Why not hire willing employees and provide them with needed skills instead?

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Letting go of disappointment and anger and instead showing gratitude toward your employees is the best way to bring positive change to your business.

Feel like you're spending more time working as a technician than the successful owner you're supposed to be? Operating manuals help you make the …

Trouble getting your employees to complete a task properly? Delegating tasks instead of dumping tasks on them will make the difference in a …

Stop the headache of hiring experienced, already-trained employees and start hiring willing people who you can train correctly with the right skills.

https://7powercontractor.com/grow-your-employees/

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Wish you could sleep through the night without getting regualr middle-of-the-night emergency calls from your staff? Implementing written policies and …

Jim Criniti shares how operating manuals allowed his business to grow and how all the safety topics that are already baked into the technician manual made it relatively easy to add a layer to it, such as wearing masks.

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Keith Pinkerton shares how chaotic and stressful trying to manage four locations was before operating manuals. Organizational charts have also become …

Your business can't run without you forever, but you don’t have to be heavily involved in the day-to-day operations if you set your team up for …

Tim Flynn shares how pivotal systems have been for his company in good times as well as these tough times. It’s how he was able to add on to his existing procedures in response to what is going on in the world right now.