Test 2

This is a test blog

Test

What makes a GREAT employee?

I have great employees.  I find myself talking about them often.  There are many times when I speak to other business owners and listen patiently as they express their concerns/gripes/issues regarding their  employees.  I hear it all:

"They just don't care"
"I can't get them to show up"
"They are always miserable and complaining"
"They refuse to learn new things"
"Flaky"
"No concerns for customers"
"They only care about themselves and not the company"

When I respond and say that we are very lucky and have a great team, I get asked often, "What makes them great?"  I list many attributes of what I think make a great employee, but often times, I can't put my finger on it exactly.

Well, I came across this article yesterday and I think it is about as dead on as any quick read on the topic of great employees.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  Are you a great employee?

10 Things Really Amazing Employees Do

Inc.com By Kevin Daum | Inc – Tue, Mar 5, 2013 9:51 AM EST  - http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/10-things-really-amazing-employees-do-145117594.html

As a longtime employer of dozens, I was always grateful to have good employees. It takes a lot to recruit and maintain top talent. Every once in a while special employees come along that just really seem to get it. They drive the entire company forward in ways that were unimaginable. Advancement and reward is never an issue for these rock stars because they understand the power of cause and effect, and only a worthy company can retain them and afford them.

Here are 10 things amazing employees seem to do effortlessly. Here's how to help your great employees be even more amazing.

1. Enthusiastically Learn All Aspects of Business

They understand they're part of something bigger and more worthwhile than just their job. They look to learn other areas of the business and be fluent in finance and management so they'll positively impact multiple areas of the company.

What you can do: Invest in material and seminars on business basics like accounting, marketing, and management so all employees have easy access to learn and grow.

2. Steward the Company

They treat the company as if it were theirs. They look to make prudent decisions about expenses and opportunities with the long-term future of the company in mind. They easily assess risk vs. reward, selflessly when making decisions.

What you can do: Be transparent in your business. The more you share your financials and philosophy, the easier it is for employees to make the right decisions.

3. Generate Viable Opportunities

You don't have to be in sales or marketing to help a company grow. Strong networkers from all divisions see company growth as a collective effort and constantly keep their eyes open for ways to more than pay for themselves.

What you can do: Make sure all your employees understand your value proposition and can easily identify opportunities. Then reward them openly for their efforts.

4. Resolve Issues Before They Are Issues

My favorite days running companies are when I notice positive change in procedure when I was totally unaware of the need for change. Amazing employees are always looking to improve systems proactively, and they do.

What you can do: Communicate a clear written vision of where the company is going and encourage initiative so people feel safe and empowered to make change.

5. Tell It Like It Is

Amazing employees understand that hiding bad news helps no one. They find kind ways to bring uncomfortable information to the surface, but they DO bring it to the surface. They tell people what's necessary before major damage is done.

What you can do: Foster an open communication environment where people are not only given permission to tell the truth, but also absolutely required.

6. Demonstrate High Standards, With Low Maintenance

I always feel relaxed when I can trust an employee to perform a task to the same high standards I would expect from myself. Not all can do this without constant attention or difficulty. Amazing employees quietly drive their own high standards.

What you can do: Set the example and the tone for high performance with minimal drama. Publicly reward those who can execute in the same manner.

7. Grow Themselves, and Others

They not only drive their own career but they inspire others to do the same. These employees lead by example in how to advance without creating animosity or resentment. They see and create their perfect future, and also bring others along.

What you can do: Encourage personal development and peer growth through dedicated group time and learning for career advancement.

8. Research, Apply, and Refine

No employer expects people to know everything. In this fast changing world, I choose employees who will learnover those who know. The best employee proactively explores options, takes action and then improves without direction from the top.

What you can do: Invest time in exploration and expansive thinking. Encourage people to explore deep visionary projects with time and reward for the findings.

9. Stimulate Happiness

Amazing employees aren't always sunshine and roses. They do know how to keep it real. But they understand the dynamics of people, stress, and the blend of work, life and friendship. They are self-aware and able to direct their own path that brings out their best with family, friends and career. They exude positive energy even in stressful times and share it around, making for a happier office.

What you can do: Create an environment where people can openly express themselves. Encourage them to work hard in fulfilling ways and achieve their dreams.

10. Facilitate Amazing Bosses

Amazing employees make me grow as an employer. They self-confidently get their value and help me get mine. They make me want to be worthy of working with somebody of such high caliber, without ever saying it directly of course.

What you can do: Make effort to genuinely show appreciation for any of the behaviors above so people feel their value and will grow to full potential. Then they will do the same for you.

Have a great week...

Plumley

What, what?? Did I hear new website??

There are many reasons why I get excited about coming to work everyday.  I love our team:  great people, high energy, passionate, hard working and fun to be around.  I love the excitement that each day brings. It is never the same around here.  I love the satisfaction of knowing that we are helping people with plumbing, septic, heating and air emergencies on a daily basis.  I love talking to the customers.  I love to hear them praise our employees for their hard work and their sincerity.  This place really makes me smile…

There is something else going on here at RooterPLUS that has me really excited.  We have a new website in the works.  Now this is what I do.  While I don’t install water heaters or pump septic tanks, I try on a daily basis to figure out what our customers want.  It has been about 4 years since we updated our site (which had been copied by some of our biggest competitors.)  We have decided to team with Dynamix to create a state of the art new site.  There is going to be so many great things on this site, it will amaze you.  I can’t wait to show you.

As soon as it is live, I will let you know.  In the meantime, please tell me if there is anything that you would love to see on the new site.  Just comment below and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks and have a great week.

Plumley

Baby, it's cold outside...

We all like to complain about the cold weather.  We have to alter our plans, dress accordingly, start the car 10 minutes before you leave, make sure that you have extra firewood, etc.  The above-mentioned are all minor inconveniences that we deal with every winter.  If you mention any of these issues to a friend or family member in say, North Dakota or Michigan you might not receive much sympathy.

Regardless of how cold it actually gets, there is one magic number as far as your plumbing is concerned.

32 degrees Fahrenheit

We all know that this is the temperature at which water freezes.  But something else has the ability to freeze when the temps dip below freezing and that is your plumbing.  Frozen pipes, faucets, hose bibs, etc. can all make for more than just a minor inconvenience.  They can cost you money and also create a heck of a mess!!

Even though we are into February, it is never too late to prepare your house for an extended cold spell.

Here are some great tips to lower you chances of frozen then busted pipes:

• Unattach all outside water hoses
• Close shut-off valve on the pipe(s) which lead to your outdoor faucets
• Open the outdoor faucets so that any residual water can drain
•  Insulate water pipes, which may be exposed to freezing temperatures or wind.  Don’t forget to insulate the pipes in your unheated garages and basement as well. 
• Heat tape, faucet protectors and foam insulation are easy to apply and available at home improvement stores.  A little bit of protection goes a long way in preventing frozen/burst pipes and costly repairs.

No matter how much you prepare there is always a chance that you will have an issue when the temps stay below freezing for days at a time.  If, unfortunately, this situation occurs, remember that we open 365 days a year and work 24 hours a day.  Day or night, weekday or weekend, holiday or not, we always provide the same great, professional service at the same great rates.

Thanks and stay warm Atlanta!!

Plumley

Choices, choices... So many choices

“Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it.” – Og Mandino

Some numbers for Metro Atlanta:

Six million residents

Hundreds of thousands “do-it-yourselfers”

Thousands of people charging for “handyman” services

Roughly 7,000 licensed plumbers

Over 700 licensed plumbing companies

So here is the question.  You have a plumbing issue.  It has to be fixed.  A leaky faucet or running toilet can cost you hundreds of dollars each month.  A slow draining sewer has the potential to back up and cause a mess.  Your water heater is 15 years old and barely puts out enough warm water for one shower.  Someone has to fix it.  Now the tricky part…Who?  Many companies can fix things, but who does it all and who does the “little things” right every time?

I am a little biased, but I think our team at RooterPLUS! is as good as they come.  We have spent the past couple of years transforming ourselves into a customer service machine.  When there are so many companies/individuals to choose from when deciding whom to call for plumbing needs, here are some things to consider:

• Are they licensed and insured?
• Are they a drug-free company?
• Have they done a background check on every employee?
• Are their licenses and certifications current and are they versed in the newest codes and regulations?
• Are they in uniform?
• Are their trucks clean and not leaking in your driveway?
• Are they giving you a price BEFORE they start working so there are never any surprises as to how much you owe?
•  Do they give a great warranty?
•  Do they have a company employee answering the phone 24 hours a day?
• Do the techs attend training classes on a regular basis in both technical skills and customer service skills?
• Can they get to your property and solve your problems quickly?
• And at the end of the day, are they a company that you would be proud to tell your friends and family about?

We have worked really hard and know that the answer is YES to all of these questions for us.  There are many choices in Atlanta when it comes to your plumbing, septic, heating and air needs.  But in our humble opinion, there is only one answer and that is RooterPLUS!

Thanks and stay dry!!

Plumley 

I'm Back...

New Year’s resolutions have never been my thing.  Why wait and use the excuse of a new calendar year to make changes?  If you want to change, just change.  No excuses, no more procrastination, to quote Nike, “Just Do It.”

Well, now that I got that out of the way.  My New Year’s resolution is to bring back the blog.  I get hundreds of calls, emails, faxes, etc. daily from my blog fans asking, “Why did you stop writing the blog?” 

My answer is simple.  I am lazy, I hate writing and the word “blogging” sounds gross.  Other than that I love writing this blog.  It is my way of keeping our huge throng of RooterPLUS! fans up to date with the latest happenings of the premier provider of residential and commercial plumbing, septic, heating and air in Metro Atlanta.

 

We ended 2012 as our best year in our 19-year history.  Revenue was fantastic, we were able to donate lots of money and time to the community, we continued to build a great, cohesive team and customers called us at a record rate.

So how do you follow up on a year like that?  What is in store for this, our 20^th year in Atlanta?  You don’t sit back and enjoy it… you keep growing!

We have hired seven new employees in the first three weeks of January

Just took delivery of two new tractors, placed orders on two new septic trucks, and ordered more plumbing and HVAC trucks

We have decided to rename the HVAC division of RooterPLUS! and are in the process of creating a great new website (stay tuned for the unveiling of the new name, logo and website)

We have a complete new VOIP phone system in the office

We have added another top radio station for our commercials to play on (97.1 The River).  Listen for Clapper, the midday on-air personality, and his live endorsements of RooterPLUS!

And most importantly, my blog is back!!

So hold on tight, because it is going to be an incredible ride in 2013.  And don’t forget to check back every week for a new blog.  I will have the usual assortment of tips, laughs, specials and surprises!!

Plumley