Kenny Rogers Roasters
So here I am writing about a chicken place? What does chicken have to do with business? I started this blog to offer valuable information and insight to anyone who would like to hear it. Today is different though. This blog poses a question to you. I have been wondering what makes good companies go out of business. Over the years I have known of many companies that had a good business model, a solid product or service and couldn’t seem to make it. While I understand that there are many things that play into a company’s success outside of actual product and service, sometimes you just have to sit back and say, “ hmm….”
I can’t think of a better example than Kenny Rogers Roasters. For the younger folks I am not talking about the hybrid “Roaster” you can still find in gas stations and malls that serve a dried out old nasty piece of chicken, I am talking about the actual brick and mortar restaurants, that used to exist before Kenny Rogers Roasters went under.
Many of you can remember the slogan “It’s the wood that makes it good”. Kenny Rogers had one of the first and best rotisserie restaurant chains. I can remember walking in to the restaurant and hearing my stomach growl as soon as I would smell the burning hickory. To date, I don’t think I have had better rotisserie chicken and ribs, not to mention, the amazing corn muffins and chocolate cake.
If that wasn’t enough, the wait staff was always dressed well and very pleasant. The restaurants were extremely clean, and you never had to wait for your food. Most of the locations would be in high traffic areas, and seemed to always be packed full of satisfied customers. There was even a Seinfeld episode about how addictively good Kenny’s chicken was, if you make it onto Seinfeld, you have to be good!
So this brings me back to my question. How can a business that does everything right, go out of business? You have to assume that someone like Kenny Rogers would have had substantial resources for the business management side. That should have kept the business model and financials sound. Everybody knows that it wasn’t the cheapest place to eat, so I know they could have made profits when compared to the competition. When you take that into account along with great locations, great customer service, superior product, and a huge following, how do you fail? Seriously, how does Pollo Tropical and Boston Market take your market share?
I know that by this point everybody is expecting some insightful explanation from me, but the truth is I don’t have one. This scenario has always intrigued me, and I am hoping one of my many followers could help shed some light on this topic. I really want to know how companies that seem to do everything right fail. Let’s discuss, and thank you in advance for any comments.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
The Cost Of Safety
The Cost of Safety
With our ever shrinking economy, everyone is trying to find places to cut costs. Consumers are looking to find cheaper service providers, and many companies have determined that their safety department is the first place to start making cuts. This is a scary trend. While I understand why companies would think that safety is a good place to start, I couldn’t disagree more with the concept. It takes years to see the benefits of a safety program. It also takes a pretty large financial commitment as well. However, when done right, the long term savings more than outweigh the costs.
A solid safety program is essential to both the company and the consumer. For the company:
1. You have happier and healthier employees
2. As your EMR goes down you see substantial savings on your insurance
3. Less injuries mean more productive time
4. Increased morale, lower labor costs, etc…
While all this looks great on a balance sheet and business model, in my field of business, it is even more essential. Electricians are subjected to highly dangerous conditions every day. And for me, it is all about making sure our team is safe, and gets to go home at the end of the day- unharmed. This requires a serious commitment to safety from the top down, and I am proud to be part of a company that truly sets the standard in the industry for safety. While this does add costs to my bottom line, in the long run the safety program saves lives and customer’s assets. Take a moment to think about it. If a plumber makes a mistake, things get wet, if an A/C company makes a mistake things get hot, but when an electrician makes a mistake, people die and property gets damaged. In my opinion it isn’t worth the risk.
The benefits of a solid Safety Program for the consumers:
1. Less risk of an accident on their property.
2. Less risk of loss to their assets.
3. Less risk of down time due to an accident.
4. Less risk of injury to personnel, customers, etc…
When a consumer makes sure that a service provider not only has a safety plan, but enforces, documents, and tracks the success of that plan, they are ensuring the safety and well being of their customer’s and their assets.
As service provider prices continue to drop, and service rates continue to fall, be sure to ask yourself; why is a specific provider so much cheaper? Consumers are looking for the best deal and not taking into account why the costs of one provider may be lower than another. Many times it is due to the qualifications of that provider and their team. Think of it like this, what are the chances that you can walk into a BMW dealership and purchase a 700 series for the price of a Chevy Aveo? Zero! The reason is that there are many more costs involved in building that 700 series BMW, than the Chevy Aveo. It isn’t anything against the Aveo, they are just simply not in the same class, one is a high performance luxury machine, and the other is an economy model. Where the difference applies here, is that when dealing with cars they both can get the job done, getting you from point “A” to point “B”. This is not true in the service provider industry.
As a consumer you need to make the determination of what risk is involved in using a lesser qualified service provider. The simple fact is that, if you need a professional service performed, then you should only consider using professional service providers. A professional will have a solid safety program, and only use licensed technicians.
The state has a process for determining who is and who is not a professional. It is called a “certificate of competency”, aka; a licensed technician or journeyman. There are reasons why the state mandates licensing for electricians, plumbers, and A/C technicians. Mainly this reason: these trades are not hobbies. It takes years of training and schooling to become a licensed technician in these fields, and you should only consider licensed technicians for your needs in these fields. While handymen and multiple trade service providers have their place, it is not in these specialized fields, and they should never work on electrical systems. NFPA 70E (National Fire Protection Agency: the authority on fire, electrical, and building safety) sets the guidelines for a “qualified person” in the electrical industry, and if you are not verifying the credentials of whom you employ to do your electrical work, then you could be liable, and in violation of this code.
Finally, even if after reading this, you still feel that you want to use unqualified people to work on your electrical systems, consider the following:
1. What would it cost me if my entire electrical system went down?
2. If parts were damaged, how available would the replacement parts be?
3. What would OSHA say if someone was injured? Am I at Fault?
4. Am I putting my customers or the general public at risk when this work is being performed?
Times are changing in the service provider industries and safety is a major part of these changes. Most companies are beginning to understand the huge liabilities that exist when hiring a service provider, and are starting to migrate towards the providers with proven safety programs, licensed professionals, and a focus on providing the customer with a quality solution from beginning to end. I am proud to say that M.C. Dean is one of these service providers, and I thank the thousands of customers we have, that truly understand the value of the service we provide.
Friday, June 17, 2011
First Impressions
First Impressions
Everybody knows that you only get one chance to make a first impression, or do they? Yesterday I was driving to meet a client, and had to stop in for gas at the local station. After taking out a second mortgage so I could afford to get gas, I stood there filling my tank, as a van pulled up on the other side of the pump. Due to the nature of this story, I will not mention the name on the side of the van, but let’s just say it was a company most everyone has heard of over the years.
So as this van pulls up, I start noticing a few things. The beaten up, faded, and non OSHA compliant, ladders were stacked up on top of an old rusted ladder rack, with little care to safety. In fact, I am shocked that they didn’t fall off as the driver sped to the pump and jammed on the brakes with no care to pedestrian traffic in the area. Hanging off the rusted ladder racks were bundles of coiled wire with individual frayed wires sticking out, unprotected, and just aching to stab a passerby.
The van was in disrepair as well, with dents and scratches all over it and the name of the company seriously faded to the point that the red was a soft pink, cracked and flaking off the body of the truck. One look into the back window and you could see how all the materials where just thrown in the back without care, and piled up, blocking the view out the back window.
I sat there pondering how a company of this size could allow their image to be tarnished this way. What are you saying to your customers by putting this kind of face on your company name? I couldn’t help but think, how safe can this company be if they are not worried about ladders flying off their vehicles and damaging others, potential customers, property? Furthermore, how much pride can this company have in their work if their mobile billboard and brand looks like this? As I sat there in shear disgust, the door opened and the driver and passenger began to get out.
Before I could even see the driver’s foot hit the floor, I heard several expletives flying. He and the passenger we apparently arguing over their version of what traits make a woman the most appealing. As they stepped out of the vehicle I noticed the torn jeans, the stained shirts, and the driver was wearing a hat that was extremely distasteful, not to mention the year’s worth of fast food bags piled high in the driver’s cabin!
I have over 27years in the construction industry, so I am not a prude, nor am I offended personally by these things. But the majority of the public would rather not be subjected to this kind of language and behavior. Either way, it is not professional, and I am sure that most companies would rather not have their brand portrayed that way.
As the men walked into the store, they stepped in front of an older lady, went through the door and allowed the door to slam shut in the older woman’s face. To which she commented, “I guess chivalry really is dead!”
The ironic part of this story is that this company spends a ton of money on advertising every year to gain the patronage of their customers and portray a successful and professional company. Then, in a matter of seconds, these employees shattered that image.
I cannot express enough to my team the moral of this story. It doesn’t matter if they are on the job or not. As long as they are in a company uniform, a company vehicle, or representing the company in any way, they are the face of M.C. Dean and will conduct themselves accordingly. In life, you only get one chance for a first impression-- so you better make it count. Ask yourself, “what does my company stand for, what brand message do I want to communicate?”, and then make sure that it is followed by your team, every second of every day. Eventually you will build a culture of behavior that will transcend the workplace and truly reflect the company’s, and the teams’, passion.
Everybody knows that you only get one chance to make a first impression, or do they? Yesterday I was driving to meet a client, and had to stop in for gas at the local station. After taking out a second mortgage so I could afford to get gas, I stood there filling my tank, as a van pulled up on the other side of the pump. Due to the nature of this story, I will not mention the name on the side of the van, but let’s just say it was a company most everyone has heard of over the years.
So as this van pulls up, I start noticing a few things. The beaten up, faded, and non OSHA compliant, ladders were stacked up on top of an old rusted ladder rack, with little care to safety. In fact, I am shocked that they didn’t fall off as the driver sped to the pump and jammed on the brakes with no care to pedestrian traffic in the area. Hanging off the rusted ladder racks were bundles of coiled wire with individual frayed wires sticking out, unprotected, and just aching to stab a passerby.
The van was in disrepair as well, with dents and scratches all over it and the name of the company seriously faded to the point that the red was a soft pink, cracked and flaking off the body of the truck. One look into the back window and you could see how all the materials where just thrown in the back without care, and piled up, blocking the view out the back window.
I sat there pondering how a company of this size could allow their image to be tarnished this way. What are you saying to your customers by putting this kind of face on your company name? I couldn’t help but think, how safe can this company be if they are not worried about ladders flying off their vehicles and damaging others, potential customers, property? Furthermore, how much pride can this company have in their work if their mobile billboard and brand looks like this? As I sat there in shear disgust, the door opened and the driver and passenger began to get out.
Before I could even see the driver’s foot hit the floor, I heard several expletives flying. He and the passenger we apparently arguing over their version of what traits make a woman the most appealing. As they stepped out of the vehicle I noticed the torn jeans, the stained shirts, and the driver was wearing a hat that was extremely distasteful, not to mention the year’s worth of fast food bags piled high in the driver’s cabin!
I have over 27years in the construction industry, so I am not a prude, nor am I offended personally by these things. But the majority of the public would rather not be subjected to this kind of language and behavior. Either way, it is not professional, and I am sure that most companies would rather not have their brand portrayed that way.
As the men walked into the store, they stepped in front of an older lady, went through the door and allowed the door to slam shut in the older woman’s face. To which she commented, “I guess chivalry really is dead!”
The ironic part of this story is that this company spends a ton of money on advertising every year to gain the patronage of their customers and portray a successful and professional company. Then, in a matter of seconds, these employees shattered that image.
I cannot express enough to my team the moral of this story. It doesn’t matter if they are on the job or not. As long as they are in a company uniform, a company vehicle, or representing the company in any way, they are the face of M.C. Dean and will conduct themselves accordingly. In life, you only get one chance for a first impression-- so you better make it count. Ask yourself, “what does my company stand for, what brand message do I want to communicate?”, and then make sure that it is followed by your team, every second of every day. Eventually you will build a culture of behavior that will transcend the workplace and truly reflect the company’s, and the teams’, passion.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Buy American
Diane Sawyer has a special report coming up this week. They removed ALL items from a typical, middleclass family's home that were not made in the USA . There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink, Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc. It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs! So I have been looking at labels, particularly on produce items when I go to the store, and purchasing the “Made/Grown in USA” or local items, even if they are a few cents more, trying to support our country. Maybe if everybody tried it, it would help our economy head back in the right direction. Try it:
BUY AMERICAN !!!!!
BUY AMERICAN !!!!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Giving Back to the Community
Just some pics from this month's Philanthropic efforts. Feeding America is the Charity and they do a great job.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Seed
I received this in an email. I would give credit to whomever wrote this but it was anonymous. I like the moral behind the story so this is why i am sharing it on my blog. kudos to the author!
The Seed
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to
choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do
something different. He called all the young executives in his company
together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I
have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She
helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a
plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had
killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had
nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept
watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she
asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his
empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.
Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his
seed - Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and
then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his
seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap
later.
Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes?
They blink together, they move together, they cry together, they see things together, and they sleep together, but they never see each other; ....that's what trust is..
The Seed
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to
choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do
something different. He called all the young executives in his company
together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I
have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She
helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a
plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had
killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had
nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept
watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she
asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his
empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front.
Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his
seed - Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and
then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his
seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap
later.
Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes?
They blink together, they move together, they cry together, they see things together, and they sleep together, but they never see each other; ....that's what trust is..
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