Columns

Matt Michel: 10 soft skills to boost customer satisfaction and sales

A straightforward soft skills checklist that simply works.

April 12, 2019

Plumbers, like most technical people, value their technical skills above all else. Consumers, who have little ability to discern good plumbing from poor or average work, tend to judge plumbers based on their soft skills. Ignoring the soft skills is like ignoring half of a repair. Here is a 10-point soft skills checklist for your team.

Rodney Koop: Changing lives

The benefits of contractor services.

Rodney Koop

April 11, 2019

Last fall, a generous plumbing contractor in Las Vegas allowed me to park a trailer-load of four-wheelers in his backyard. It was an incredible backyard. I’ll be happy to tell you his name, but I’m about to tell you about his son.

Julius Ballanco: Modern bathrooms

Codes and standards have changed to keep up with the demands of the public.

Julius Ballanco P.E., CPD

April 11, 2019

Elegance is the name of the game with modern bathrooms. To keep up with the demands of the public, the plumbing codes and standards have changed regarding modern bathrooms. Some changes are for the good; others, well, we will have to see.

Kenny Chapman: Lack of training and systems can be disastrous

Structure your business to serve you, your team and your clients.

Kenny Chapman

April 10, 2019

When I say “the lack of training and systems can be disastrous,” it might sound a bit dramatic to you. I can assure you, however, that the quality of your training and systems can truly make or break your business, your reputation, the level of service you offer, safety on the job and your overall profitability.

Dan Holohan: Crank it down?

A quick guide to the three most profitable words in my vocabulary.

Dan Holohan

April 10, 2019

In 1989 when we started our business, The Lovely Marianne asked me what I was going to do to make money for her and our four daughters. I told her I was going to write books, but it would take some time to do that.

John Siegenthaler: A synergistic system

True professionals look for synergistic opportunities when designing hydronic systems.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

April 8, 2019

One of the “delights” of designing hydronic systems is looking for synergistic opportunities, where one device provides multiple functions or benefits that would otherwise require two or more separate devices.

Al Levi: Practice what I preach

Tips to effectively lead and manage your business and life.

Al Levi

April 4, 2019

For more than 17 years, I’ve been helping contractors learn and practice good habits. It has improved their lives, their employees’ lives and even the lives of the customers they serve.

Nicole Krawcke: Never stop learning

Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks?

Nicole Krawcke

March 15, 2019

Four years ago, I attended my first AHR Expo in Chicago. And no matter how many times my colleagues warned me to bring my walking shoes, I was blown away by the sheer size of the event. I put in my daily 10,000 steps — and then some — walking back and forth between the halls learning about ductless mini-splits, cooling towers, boilers, water heaters and more.

Kenny Chapman: When price doesn't matter

Don’t let fear rule.

Kenny Chapman

March 12, 2019

Price is a topic everyone wants to discuss and everyone has an opinion about, and you are probably wondering why I am even implying there is a circumstance when price doesn’t matter. Before you start thinking I’m crazy, let me explain.

Dan Holohan: Why my hair is brown

It pays to trust the professionals.

Dan Holohan

March 12, 2019

I’m 69 years old and my hair is as brown as it was when I was a teenager. A bit of it, mostly around my ears and the back of my neck, sneaks in as gray, but some Russian barber just buzzes those stray hairs away and I’m back to being a young fella again. I like the Russian barbers.