Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, Outdoor Power Equipment provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/605091
what you could do if you had more time to be an owner and not just a somewhat-well-paid administrator. #2 STOP JUST GETTING BY WITH OLD STUFF You have to upgrade equipment or systems periodically. Are you limping around with old lifts for your service department, or worse yet, with no lifts at all? Has your showroom been updated in the past 10 years? Are you running the same version of soft - ware that you did five years ago? The list can be endless, but pick one or two things that you are going to replace or upgrade before the season starts. When you replace old things with new things, it gives you and your employees a feeling of progress. Every year, you need to do these types of things, so that there is a new sense of optimism in the business. Each year, I recommend doing at least one thing that benefits the employees and one thing that benefits your customers. You want everyone that is involved in your busi - ness to feel that you are moving forward and not just content stay- ing the same way you were last year. Get employee or customer suggestions, so that you know what things they would appreci- ate. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you celebrate the new equipment or changes. #3 MOVE FORWARD, AND LET SOME THINGS GO This can be both personally and professionally. What are some things that you just have to move on from? Could it be a product line that really doesn't produce much and you rarely sell because you think there is a better line? It might be an employee you've been hanging onto that really is not pulling his or her weight, leav - ing you to always pick up that person's pieces. Another example might be something that you have contemplated doing for a long time, but just haven't pulled the trigger on? Perhaps adding an outside salesperson or going to an incentive-based pay structure for sales and service. Whatever you need to move forward on, if you never take the step, you will never know if it could have made you or your business better. Obviously, the changes have to make sense financially, but again, moving forward will do a lot to make you feel better about your business and yourself too. I challenge you to let go of at least one thing personally and one thing pro - fessionally. Once you have implemented the changes, don't look back — just continue on, knowing that you are moving in a new direction by going forward and letting go of the past. #4 SEEK OUT GOOD ADVISORS/INSPIRERS The term "lone wolf " is not a good one, despite what some people think. A wolf is better in a pack because together they can hunt and protect each other. To be really good at what you do, you gen - erally need help, and the more complicated a business becomes with employees, expenses and products, the more help that you need. I like finding business owners who have more experience or have progressed further in their development and ask them for the inside scoop on how they got to where they are. They can inspire you because they may have been exactly where you are now and can tell you the steps that you need to take to get to where you want to go. Many owners would love to mentor others and share their experiences, but it takes one thing…you need to ASK! If you don't ask, then no one knows you would be interested in the help. Once you have asked and secured an advisor, make sure that you schedule a monthly meeting with that advisor — either by phone or in person — and ask that person questions prepared ahead of time. If you're going to ask for help, make sure you respect your advisor's time. #5 INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY Be willing to give back to others in your community, and use your business as a vehicle to do it. That might mean donating equip - ment to not-for-profit organizations that help with storm dam- age or using your business for a food or blood drive. Sometimes giving back feels really good and can motivate you in your busi- ness as much as increased sales and profits. This can be mentoring other small-business owners or helping people understand how to use outdoor power equipment with an editorial column or a radio show. Make it a goal to find at least one way to give back to your community this year. It will benefit everybody and establish a good reputation for your business as more than just a place that sells and services equipment. My hope with this article is that you don't just resolve to do something, but you take action and find solutions in each of these five areas. I'll borrow the following quote from Tony Robbins, motivational speaker and author: "The path to success is to take massive, determined action." Do not just write a list of possible so - lutions and throw it in a drawer. The benefits of following through on these five points can be the difference between having and en- joying a great business and just getting by. Get excited about 2016, and do it! FEATURE STORY www.outdoorpowerequipment.com OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT DECEMBER 2015 29 OPE Jeff Sheets is the founder and owner of OPE Consulting Services. Whether a business is thriving or struggling to survive, Sheets' rich experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors allows him to partner with business owners to customize unique strategies for their needs. For the past nine years, he has worked extensively with hundreds of outdoor power equipment dealers to create best practices in business structure, personnel management and financial profitability. For more information, he may be contacted at opeconsultingservices@ gmail.com or (816) 260-5430. You can also follow him on Twitter @opeconsult, connect with him on LinkedIn, and visit his website at www.opeconsultingservices.com. I challenge you to let go of at least one thing personally and one thing professionally. Once you have implemented the changes, don't look back — just continue on, knowing that you are moving in a new direction by going forward and letting go of the past.