Re: Some installers should not be working on advanced panels

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Mar 21, 3:36=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Mar 20, 6:25=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > On Mar 20, 4:44=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > > On Mar 20, 9:41=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > > > RHC: There seem to be two widely varying philosophies towards earni=
ng
> > > > a living at play here..
>
> > > > Many if not most people work to earn money sufficient to allow them=
 to
> > > > live properly. This can even evolve such that the quest for money a=
nd
> > > > wealth becomes an overriding factor in their lives, dominating all
> > > > else. This class of people "work to live".( on one extreme). As suc=
h,
> > > > it is often easiest to to take shortcuts in the work they do, partl=
y
> > > > through laziness and partly because it is too easy to work without =
the
> > > > need to develop and follow internal standards of competency, qualit=
y
> > > > and honesty. Especially when working for someone else, they see no
> > > > personal attachment to whatever they do. Many trudge through life n=
ot
> > > > even enjoying what they do for a living.
>
> > > > Then there are the lucky minority who are self motivated in their
> > > > work, and have found something they truly love to do, or who work f=
or
> > > > themselves. Many of these people "live to work" (on the other
> > > > extreme). They enjoy what they do and see the results of their work
> > > > both in customer satisfaction and financial results. They have a
> > > > personal stake in the quality of their work and the customer
> > > > satisfaction that comes from this attitude towards their endeavours=
.
> > > > The business is theirs, and in the case of small business, they are
> > > > the business !
>
> > > > When one "side" looks at the other, the disparities become quickly
> > > > evident. Thank your lucky stars you are one of the lucky ones who w=
ork
> > > > for themselves.....-
>
> > > I've been a gadget guy and a Mr fixit from the time I was a kid.
> > > At this stage of my life, many people ask me "when are you going to
> > > retire?" or "when are you going to stop working?"
>
> > > I've come up with a few reasons:
>
> > > Since I love what I do, even if I retired, I'd still be doing it.
>
> > > Since I love what I do, I never have to worry about dividing my time
> > > between work and play.
> > > I do what I do, even in my (so called) =A0spare time.
>
> > > And that old saying ...... find what you love to do and you'll never
> > > work a day in your life.
>
> > > One of the (so called) secrets I will occasionally mention to people
> > > who are searching for their path in a profession, is to have (or at
> > > least show) enthusiasm about what ever it is that you are doing. Even
> > > to the point of forcing yourself to have it. It doesn't always work,
> > > but as I see it, if people see that you are enthused about what you
> > > are doing, it's sort of catching. Customers see it and interpret it a=
s
> > > someone anxious and likely to do a good job. And, if you are working
> > > for someone else, it is usually singled out and noticed by employers,
> > > possibly leading to advancement. I find that you can even catch it
> > > from yourself as it becomes a part of your personality. That is ....
> > > once you see the results of what enthusiasm does ..... you actually d=
o
> > > become excited about your profession and doing a good job.
>
> > > That coupled with my other sage advice about the big secret to runnin=
g
> > > a sucessful business has worked for me:
> > > Tell the customer what you are going to do .... and do it.
>
> > RHC: Well put Jim. Years ago when I worked in middle management of a
> > large corporation, I interviewed and hired many people for many
> > different kinds of jobs within the organization. The final part of the
> > interview process was the personal interview after all the first steps
> > were met by the interviewee... previous work experience, education
> > levels, special past experience which related to the particular job in
> > question. One of the things that I looked for was an eager, bright,
> > inquiring person, with drive above all, who was anxious to make a
> > difference, and one who had done some investigation of the company,
> > and had an idea of where they thought they could fit in. Regardless of
> > their place in the formal ranking for the job, I always looked much
> > more closely at these people, because they had the right attitude for
> > success. I dismissed many times people who came to me with endless
> > degrees, and who thought that we owed them a job simply because of
> > their education, and who showed no internalized ambition or drive to
> > excel (and you'd be surprised how many people fit this description)
>
> > I don't want =A0to oversimplify the process, but most of the time it
> > came down to gut feel about the person based on how they came across
> > during the job interview. People with the right "genes for success"
> > know how to make the right moves for success. Only once did I hire
> > someone who was totally out of her league and nervous, but I suspected
> > she had what it took. So we went down to the cafeteria where she felt
> > more comfortable, and I got her to come out of her shell over a long
> > cup of coffee to the point where I could make the decision to hire
> > her. Well some 15 years later, when I retired from the company, she
> > was vice president of the company, and came to my retirement for a big
> > hug.....
>
> > Success is a matter of attitude, hard work, trust, honesty and drive
> > as much as it is about anything else. Those who have it will succeed,
> > all else being equal. Those who drift aimlessly through life will
> > always be mediocre in what they achieve, luck notwithstanding......-
>
> In some sales training course I took a 100 years ago, the trainer was
> trying to bring home the point about trying just that little bit more,
> to put yourself ahead. He said something to the effect that ..... most
> people who sell are included in the up to 80 percent successful range.
> if you try to succeed only 5 percent more than the next guy, it puts
> you in a category of much fewer people that consists of people in the
> 80 to 95 percent successful range.
>
> In other words, you don't have to try that much harder then the next
> guy to put yourself in a much smaller category of people that are
> going to be more successful. I liked that idea and it still gives me
> incentive today. Just putting in that little bit extra makes you
> outstanding in what ever you do ..... especially in view of what the
> competition has to offer today.
>
> However, the hard thing to do, is convince someone who doesn't know
> you that you will actually give the customer what you say you will,
> considering all of the rip-offs that consumers experience today.

RHC: Yes, it can be difficult to gain the customers confidence
initially -customers are rightly skeptical in our industry, with good
reason !! However, I find just being upfront and straightforward with
clients, and answering all their questions without trying to put a
sales spin on things quickly gains their confidence. The rest comes
with how meaningfully you answer their questions; how knowledgeable
you seem to them versus the competition they just spoke to (usually
pretty easy in this business given the poor quality of sales people in
our industry); and your overall demeanor and appearance. They are
asking you to be their "security man" for their home and safety, and
if you come across high pressure, or you are evasive in your answers,
people aren't stupid - they can see through that shit right up
front !!

Like most things in life, it's all about trust !! People sense when
you are genuinely trying to help them versus just selling
something...If you have a good product offering; if your prices are at
least competitive, and you are even half way professional in your
approach, the sale evolves almost automatically....