We believe it is the best glass cleaner on the planet… and so do our customers! We gave away approximately 1,000 cans at the Home & Garden Show last year. We had people come back by our booth this year asking for a can of glass cleaner. We put our own label on the cans and at the very top of the label it says “Compliments of Glass Doctor of Tulsa”. We hope that this helps separate us from the competition, and when it’s too close to call, we get the nod because of a simple gesture such as this. It’s hard to quantify just how much goodwill we get from this, but we are convinced it’s the right thing to do for our business.
the valuation of the existing business. Don’t do this yourself if you don’t have the expertise to do it. Don’t make an emotional decision. It’s business and the numbers must work. Obviously, you want to gather as much information as you can on the business you are looking to buy; however, I would suggest you also gather as much information as you can on the competition. Make sure you understand what you are getting with your investment. Learn as much as you can about the employees. Try to understand the business’ reputation in the market place. A seller will likely want to keep the sale on the down low, however, there are certain questions you must ask, certain people you must talk, to and certain things you must know to be able to make an informed decision. Understand some things will be difficult to unwind and building the type of culture you are going to want to have will take time and likely require some big changes. There will be a fine balance between moving too fast and not moving fast enough. I could probably go on indefinitely here given everything Brenda and I have learned through this process… and we are still learning. You will have good days and bad days. You will likely have days when you ask yourself; What have I done? What was I thinking? At the end of the day, I like being my own boss. The Glass Doctor team is second to none and loaded with very talented people who are knowledgeable and eager to help. You and Mike complement one another very well and are great leaders of this organization. I’m not sure we could ask for much more than that. BRENDA: I think with any business, it’s important to know where you’re gifted. Be aware of your personality and how you communicate with others. It’s worth taking time to dive into a Myers Briggs or Strengths Finder and learn more about your leadership style. Position yourself where you are most effective, and know where you are least effective. If and when you are able to, put others around you that have strengths and gifting that you don’t have. I am personally drawn to servant leaders… leaders that don’t position themselves higher that others, and know how to serve those they lead. Be willing to do whatever it takes to build your teams trust, if you want them to follow you. And then, at the end of the day, be consistent. Sometimes, it’s a simple as showing up, being present, and doing your best. MARK: Thanks, Russell and Brenda! It is obvious to me that you certainly deserved your Rookie of the Year honors! We look forward to watching you grow in the years to come!
MARK: What are you working on for 2017 and 2018?
RUSSELL: From an Auto standpoint, we are going after small fleet accounts. We think this is good business and would like to grow in this area. On the Flat side, we are very focused on showers and store fronts. We have a tremendous opportunity in Tulsa to capitalize on the new construction that is going on as well as the remodeling that is taking place. We joined iSqFt just over a year ago. iSqFt is a Construct Connect company that provides commercial project leads. I receive daily leads in my inbox from iSqFt. I love the profitability opportunity in both areas. MARK: Look back now – anything you wish you could do differently in the business? RUSSELL: For sure! I wish I had started providing my monthly P&L to our Franchise Consultant, Ben, sooner. Ben is there to help, but there is only so much he can do without the visibility to a monthly P&L. It’s like trying to drive a car with a blindfold on. You make decisions without seeing the whole picture and we know where that can lead. MARK: Final thoughts. Any advice you would like to give other franchisees who purchase an operating location? RUSSELL: There are pros and cons to buying an existing shop. Having never opened a new glass shop, I can’t make a direct comparison based on experience; however, I do know there are a lot of things to consider when purchasing an existing business. Many of them we learned because of going through the process. Number one would be to make sure you understand
18 REFLECTIONS® | EDITION 1 2017
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