Service Industry Success

Service industry business expert Brian Harding draws upon his many years of experience to share insights, strategies, tactics, and ideas to help business owners in service industries (like contractors, home and auto repair services, IT providers, CPAs, and B2B businesses) overcome challenges in their businesses. Brian takes on a wide range of topics small business owners face with growth, delegating, customers, employees, and processes, as well as the internal struggles and fears small business owners must overcome to build the business and lifestyle they dream of.

164. What are Effective Methods for Conducting Competitor Analysis?

A listener, named Chris wrote me and asked “What are effective methods for conducting competitor analysis?”Tune in and you’ll hear my answerCheck out Brian's new group - where for less than $100 per month (with no commitment or contracts) you can ask any question you have about how to improve your business, your growth, your team, your processes, or your profitability - at: www.joinbusinesstips.comGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

04-30
24:11

163. A Case Study on How Not to Handle the Frustration of Rising Wages

It’s been hard to stay on top of wage increases and employee expectations the last few years.Knowing when to grant wage increases and when to say no has been challenging.Talented employees are hard to find… And… There is a finite amount we can spend on wages and still be profitable.It can be frustrating. Very frustrating.Here’s a case study on how not to handle it.Check out Brian's new group at: www.joinbusinesstips.comGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

04-23
19:07

162. What are Some Tips When Promoting a New Supervisor or Manager?

Promoting a supervisor is an amazing time. It’s can really be exciting.And, sometimes, there is also a steep learning curve – which is not so awesome for everyone.Luckily many of the problems we are likely to face are predictable and avoidable.Tune in and I’ll share some common problems to get out in front of when promoting a new manager or supervisor.To try Brian's group meetings - where you can ask any question you have about improving your business, your growth, your team, your processes, or your profitability - absolutely free, send a quick introductory email to hello@serviceindustrysuccess.com with the word "group" in the subject.We will send you back the Zoom link so you can join us on our next call.Get more at: www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

04-16
21:08

161. How Can We Develop a Stronger Company Culture?

One of the most common questions I hear when people find out what I do for a living is “How can we develop a stronger company culture?"Tune in and I’ll share how I typically answer.To try Brian's group meetings - where you can ask any question you have about improving your business, your growth, your team, your processes, or your profitability - absolutely free, send a quick introductory email to hello@serviceindustrysuccess.com with the word "free group trial" in the subject. We will send you back the Zoom link so you can join us on our next call.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

04-09
17:57

160. Us Against the Solution Box

How did I make sure I was focused on the parts of my customers’ journey I thought could make the most impact on sales, retention, and word-of-mouth advertising?I competed against the “Solution Box”.What is the solution box?Tune in to find out!To try Brian's group meetings - where you can ask any question you have about improving your business, your growth, your team, your processes, or your profitability - absolutely free, send a quick introductory email to hello@serviceindustrysuccess.com with the word "free group trial" in the subject. We will send you back the Zoom link so you can join us on our next call.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

04-02
19:15

159. How Can I Define My Company's Competitive Advantage?

You know your company is great.And you want potential customers and referral sources to know too.But it’s not easy to put your greatness into words.Why is that?More importantly, how do we overcome it?Tune in and I’ll tell you what worked for me.To try Brian's group meetings - where you can ask any question you have about improving your business, your growth, your team, your processes, or your profitability - absolutely free, send a quick introductory email to hello@serviceindustrysuccess.com with the word "free group trial" in the subject. We will send you back the Zoom link so you can join us on our next call.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

03-26
23:48

158. How Can I Better Understand My Target Market?

It’s almost impossible to articulate how hard our lives are when we don’t understand our clients.And, once we truly understand customers, and potential customers, our lives are profoundly easier in ways that are unimaginable before we have that clarity.Tune in to hear how we can gain the understanding that makes everything fall into place.To try Brian's group meetings - where you can ask any question you have about improving your business, your growth, your team, your processes, or your profitability - absolutely free, send a quick introductory email to hello@serviceindustrysuccess.com with the word "free group trial" in the subject. We will send you back the Zoom link so you can join us on our next call.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com/

03-19
23:46

157. The Gift That Keeps on Giving

This week we are going to talk about quitting – or rather not quitting.I share a couple of statistics about podcasting that will blow your mind, and then of course we’ll talk about how that relates to you and your business.Tune in to see what I mean!Join Brian's lowest cost, lowest time commitment group to get immediate help with the growth challenges you face at: www.joinbusinesstips.comGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

03-12
14:06

156. Perfect Procedures or Imperfect Processes?

Everyone knows we need to get our processes and procedures documented and in place.But there is a lot of confusion around this topic, from general understanding to specific applicationsIn this episode, I hope to clarify a few things that hold us back.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

03-05
25:28

155. What Went Wrong, Not Who Did Wrong

Like you, I’ve seen, worked with – and for – some great bosses. I’ve also seen, worked with, and for, some that taught me about the kind of leader I don’t want to be.Of course, there are several key distinctions between the two.Today we’ll cover one that stands out to me, and which I can cite real-life benefits from paying particular attention to.Join Brian's lowest cost, lowest time commitment group to get immediate help with the growth challenges you face at: www.joinbusinesstips.comGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

02-27
24:44

154. Perhaps the Biggest Mechanical Growth and Scaling Restrictor

No doubt there are several reasons business leaders and owners are held back from growing their teams and companies.Today I’m going to talk about the critical reason that, mechanically, may be the most restrictive.Tune in to hear what I mean.To attend Brian's upcoming training, titled:The Secret to Getting Employees to Care Again A simple, step-by-step solution that will really get your team engaged (without changing their compensation), go to: www.employeesecrettraining.comGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com/

02-20
18:39

153. When You're in Charge, How Will You be Held Accountable?

We spend the vast majority of our lives reporting to someone: parents, teachers, bosses, and even spouses.But, when you grow your company, you no longer have that person to make you do the things that must be done.Our commitment, engagement, and performance levels become self-directed.When that happens… Well… Results may vary.Tune in and I'll share how we can keep ourselves on task and on track when there is nobody else available to do so. To attend Brian's upcoming training, titled:The Secret to Getting Employees to Care AgainA simple, step-by-step solution that will really get your team engaged(without changing their compensation),go to: www.employeesecrettraining.comGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

02-13
20:41

152. The Top Three Reasons Most Training Doesn't Work

Most business leaders and business owners feel like they spend a ridiculous amount of their time repeating the same things over and over.Simultaneously, those same business owners and leaders feel like they are not making progress on the embarrassing and costly problems and mistakes that consistently hamper progress.Today we’ll dive in to the top 3 reasons that happens, and how to fix them.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com If you want to come to the webinar mentioned in this episode, called "The Secret to Getting Employees to Care Again (without changing their compensation)," send Brian an email to hello@serviceindustrysuccess.com for upcoming dates and times.

02-06
21:37

151. Questions to Answer Before Doing More Work on Your Procedures

For many, a major project ahead is getting processes and procedures in place and documented.This can be a daunting task.Today, I hope to make the work of documenting your processes and procedures a whole lot easier.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

01-30
14:33

150. Do This so You Can Better Tell Your Story Later

One day you are going to want to tell your success story.Today, I’m going to share something I did which made remembering, appreciating, and telling my story a lot easier.And if you also do this, I promise your future self will thank you for it.Tune in to see what it is.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

01-23
21:01

149. Is Your Training Creating the Outcomes You Want?

Training is expensive.So for the investment in wages, revenue we give up to hold the meetings, and our own energy and effort put into preparation, we surely want to see a reasonable ROI.But many business owners and leaders feel discouraged by what they perceive to be a lack of performance and behavioral changes after making these investments in training.Tune in and I’ll tell you why I think that happens, and how I overcame this serious problemGet more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

01-16
20:13

148. What is Leadership?

Next to religion (AKA the bible) and sales, there are perhaps more books written about leadership than any other topic.But what is leadership?Tune in and I’ll tell you how I define it.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

01-09
22:40

147. How You Are Crushing it!

You are crushing it. Yes you.Often, we can get overwhelmed and fatigued and forget just exactly how we are crushing it.Tune in and I’ll tell you how I know you are making more progress than your peers.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

01-02
16:42

146. The Impact of Big Companies Buying Your Competitors

There is a trend we can all clearly see of large investment groups buying smaller service companies.What is this going to mean for you?Tune in and I’ll tell you what I think.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

12-26
21:01

145. How to Tell if Hope is Our Strategy

We all know that hope is not an effective strategy.Nonetheless, occasionally, we will find ourselves in a situation where it turns out we’ve been relying on hope more than objective truth.So how can we tell if the outcome we want is likely or just a hope or a wish?Tune in and I’ll share the test I use.Get more at: https://www.serviceindustrysuccess.com

12-19
13:57

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