My business has, like most high performing organizations, figured out how to accomplish things through other people. As the Benevolent Proprietor of this operation, I am always figuring out ways to improve systems and get the right people in the right seats as described by Jim Collins in Good to Great. There is no amount...
I am regularly saying, “like pizzas, all remodeling companies are not alike.” As we enter the new decade, I have been thinking about this more seriously. What makes Levco special? I am confident that remodeling is not a commodity, but how do you put a finger on it? I was challenged by a mentor to...
I believe strongly that we are always just an idea away form an improvement. This played out recently when a client asked for something that we had never done. What happened was less important than the outcome. The bar has been raised, and we are proud to show off our new “How we do it...
A friend and potential client used another contractor because we were more expensive than she could afford at the time. We designed her project, and then parted as friends. Now that the project is nearing the finish, here is what her experience was. The regrets keep piling up, but hey, he was cheaper. What she...
Made famous in the movie “A League of Their Own,” Tom Hanks’ character says, “There is no crying in baseball.” It made me think about how we behave as a team. I recently got to spend some quality time working in the field with my production crew. The sheer joy of having my tool bags...
Remodeling for others is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. It is an amazingly complicated vocation that has come with a tremendous amount of responsibility. It requires great communication skills and a sharp mind to turn client’s dreams into reality, while making a living and a profit for the company. What...
When you boil it all down, what we are selling is service. Yup – we are in the service industry, no more, no less. I used to naively believe that we were selling remodeling projects. I am clear now on the distinction. Having spent several decades in the emergency medical services realm, it feels natural...
Do you feel like this about anyone or any business? It is a powerful endorsement for sure. Just knowing that I have some “go to guys” fills me with joy. It dawned on me that there are some raving fans of mine out there too and I wanted to give them a shout out. I...
I consider myself a fairly social guy and I enjoy hanging out with friends in my spare time. For some reason I was rarely invited over to my married couple’s homes, I didn’t think much of it and went on about my busy life. I finally figured out why men in particular haven’t been inviting...
On a recent revisit of a potential project my client laid out a plan for a large remodeling project. Brutally honest sometimes hurts After careful consideration, I told the clients exactly what I they didn’t really want to hear. That I felt that the project was not viable then went on to offer several alternative...
