As I write this article in mid January for today's publication, I can't help being preoccupied with the upcoming International Waste Haulers and Equipment Show in Nashville. In three short weeks I'll be presenting my seminar... more info»

Read a magazine; flip on your TV or listen to the radio and all you hear and read about is Internet, Internet and more Internet. There are over 20,000,000 computers connected right now with thousands jumping on every month. President Clinton has vowed to get the public schools "wired" to the Net by... more info»

Municipalities have used smoke testing since the early sixties to diagnose sewer mains, laterals, pumping plants, public collection systems, and find sources of unwanted rainwater entry such as broken manholes. Today's plumbers can utilize that same methodology in a smaller version and incorporate those techniques in... more info»

I was called out by a contractor, who was having a problem locating a residential sewer line. He had a brand new inspection camera and one of the best locators on the market but he couldn't find the pipe. What he needed to know was where the sewer exited the customer's property.... more info»

When I was a plumbing manager, I needed a very special type of assistant. He needed skills beyond the average service technician. He had to be able to estimate jobs of any size and type. He would be responsible for locating pipes that were beyond the capabilities of the line locating equipment and ... more info»

If we were to study and analyze what makes one company more successful than its counterparts, I think we would find that the winning organizations make better use of available industry information and then implement... more info»

A camera strategy is a method of bringing in more profitable dollars with your new equipment. There aren't too many people out there who can show you the ropes in the camera biz; the technology is too new. I'd like to share with you what I learned by performing a minimum of three camera ... more info»

What are the biggest barriers to our success? Why is it that some companies flourish while others struggle? We, in the industry, have access to similar information. We use similar advertising mediums. We attend the same seminars, belong the same trade groups... more info»

As the year comes to a close, it's time to analyze your company's sales statistics and develop your plan for next year. The rooter business is cyclical and the chart demonstrates the sales trends that I have typically experienced in the past. Service calls tend to lessen during the holiday and tax season, then begin to climb gradually up to the November peak. The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year. December starts the slow-down and the cycle starts all over again.... more info»

The industry is clamoring of the profits being realized with the new equipment on the market today. Walk into any plumbing supply house and someone will have a story to tell related to inspection cameras, line locators or jetters. Contractors are surpassing their prior sales records. Trade show vendors demonstrating video systems, pipe-locating equipment and jetter technologies are... more info»

U.U.L.L., Underground Utility and Leak Locators Association, is a new Atlanta based trade group brought together by Bob Davis (President), John Middleton (V.P.) and other concerned contractors active in the "locating" arena. Mr. Davis contacted me and gave a brief overview of the organization, its objectives and why such an organization of this type is needed. My response was, "Please send me some info."... more info»

A super-tech is a service technician who rarely misses a day's work, continually hungers to learn new skills, is motivated to succeed, expedites jobs efficiently, has higher-thanaverage sales, rarely (if ever) has customer-complaints, helps his co-workers with a smile and is your good will ambassador committed to your organization... more info»

Although, I am not suggesting that the entire expansion of your company should be limited to a five-mile radius. Rather, that's where you start and shoot for maximum market penetration. Eventually, your customer base will spiral outwards... more info»

It's been eight weeks since my first meeting with Al — a long time friend and a twentyfive year veteran of car sales with a six figure annual income. Al had been recently recruited by a failing auto dealership who was building a new management team to turn things around... more info»

Are you in El Niño's path — the huge storm predicted to sweep across the U.S., beginning in January? El Niño is a group of annual storm systems that have been monitored by the scientific community since the mid 1940's and typically occur during the Christmas season. El Niño means "Christ child," hence the name... more info»

How many times have you seen it... a terrific service technician quits his job to go into business for himself. Three months later, he's back at his old job — usually with a different company, because he couldn't make it on his own... more info»