Take a look at our October newsletter!
THE 3 LINKS OF LEADERSHIP
Between my work and talking with people on the podcast I just launched, I’ve been thinking about one question a lot lately: What separates the average business owner from the kind of leader capable of growing a successful company? I’m not just talking about profits or big sales numbers. That’s part of it, sure. But when you meet someone who’s built a strong culture and runs a business that doesn’t fall apart without them, there’s something else going on. In my experience, it comes down to three things: grit, focus on efficiency, and self-reflection. You can think of them like chain links. They don’t work in isolation. They’re bound together. And if you want to become a great leader, you need to practice all three. Let’s start with grit. That one’s easy to spot, and most business owners have it in spades. It’s the part where you’re loading the trucks, calling customers back, and dealing with problems as they pop up. Put simply, it’s getting work done. It might not be glamorous, but without it, nothing moves. Later, as the business matures, the role changes, but the grit still has to be there. You might not be the one in the field anymore, but whatever it is, you still have to show up and put the work in. Grit alone doesn’t get you where you want to go, though. At some point, you’ve got to step back and look at the business from the outside. That’s where efficiency starts. You walk the floor, trace the paper trail, and start asking questions. Are calls getting answered? Are sales slipping through the cracks? What happens between the sale and the delivery? Is it clean? These questions help you get better at what you do and make you more profitable. But focusing on efficiency isn’t all about getting more work done. By seeking improvements in processes, sales, marketing, finances, people, and work
culture, you can create a well-run machine that supports your employees and provides a positive experience for your customers. When you as the leader can focus on efficiencies, your customers are happier, your employees are more content, and you make more money. And that brings us to something even the most experienced business leaders struggle with: self-reflection. That’s the third link, and it really shapes the others. This is where you turn the focus on yourself and ask who you’re becoming as a leader. For years, I managed my time. I carried a calendar everywhere and tried to wring the most out of every hour. Then I heard another business owner say he managed his energy instead. That idea changed the way I worked. Some days, I can get more done in two focused hours than I could in the whole day before. Other times, my energy is low, and I know I won’t run at full speed. Learning to notice that and give myself permission to slow down when needed has made me more effective. I’ve also learned that emotions are signposts. They’re all trying to tell you something, but you’ve got to be willing to look. That takes vulnerability. Sometimes, you need to admit you don’t have all the answers and reach out to someone who can help you sort them out. The more you do it, the better you get. Grit, efficiency, and self-reflection work best when they’re all in play. Strong leaders don’t just focus on one or two. They keep all three links connected and in use every day. It’s not
OCTOBER 2025 Teeco Times
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something you master once and forget about. There’s no finish line. You keep showing up, finding ways to improve, and being honest about what is and isn’t working. Over time, that habit makes you stronger, and it pulls your business forward.
–Steve Arendt
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ONE MACHINE, M Washer Configurations
If your idea of fun seasonal travel is touring a spooky castle in October rather than hitting a sandy beach in July, here are three vacation ideas that will take your Halloween fun to spine-tingling new heights this year! Where Witches Wander When it comes to Halloween-themed adventures, no other place on the East Coast offers more macabre merriment than Salem, Massachusetts. Known for its infamous witch trials of the late 1690s, the city transforms its dark past into a destination that balances historical facts with tongue-in-cheek kitsch. The weeks leading up to Oct. 31 are filled with more magic shows, tours, special events, and Halloween-themed shopping opportunities than you can shake a broom at. If you decide to partake in the area’s devilish fun this year, visit the Salem Witch Board Museum — which boasts the world’s most extensive Ouija board collection — and the Salem Witch Museum. Bourbon Bone-Chillers If you want to add Southern charm to your Halloween chills, a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, is in order. From above-ground cemeteries and ghost tours to ghoulishly adorned shops in the French Quarter (including the must-visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street) and an annual Halloween parade, The Big Easy will surely put you in touch with your spooky side. Detour to Dracula’s Den From the classic 1922 film “Nosferatu” to the Francis Ford Coppola- directed cinematic masterpiece “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” that premiered 70 years later, our cultural interest in vampires has spanned decades — and, in the case of Transylvania, Romania, centuries. Anyone with a passport and a desire to catch a glimpse at the real-world aesthetic that helped define the image of Dracula and other distinctive undead characters should visit Bran Castle, an amazing monument of Gothic architecture and the long-rumored residence of infamous 15th century-era prince and mass murderer Vlad the Impaler — widely believed to be the real-life inspiration behind the Dracula character. While many of the legends associated with Transylvania may be more fiction than fact, the locale remains the go-to spot for anyone with an affinity for apparitions. A Halloween Travel Trio Haunted Horizons
Over the past year, we’ve put serious effort into building washers that meet various business needs. That’s not just about price points. It’s about how people actually use the machines we build. Some teams want speed. They need to move as many tents as possible through the wash cycle in a single day. Others prioritize ease of use. They want a machine the operator can start and walk away from, knowing the job will get done with minimal oversight. Either way, the core drum is the same. We just outfit it to work how you need it to. Think of it like buying a Ford F-150. You can get the same truck in a basic work package with vinyl seats and crank windows, or you can buy the King Ranch edition with all the bells and whistles. The engine and frame might be identical, but each version is built for different priorities. That’s the idea behind Teeco’s expanded
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washer lineup. We now have about 15 different configurations for businesses with various needs. MANY OPTIONS s Designed Around You The water reclaim system is one of the most important differences in our lineup. For some companies, water conservation is a business decision. If you’re in places like New York, Massachusetts, or California, the cost of sourcing and draining water adds up fast. For others, it’s a values-based call. Either way, a well-designed reclaim system helps. However, all are not created equal. We’ve seen setups that just cycle rinse water back and forth between two tanks. That’s a problem waiting to happen. If you’re reusing rinse water without monitoring chemical buildup, that chemical residue can break down the stitching and cause real damage to your tents over time. We built our system to avoid that. It uses stainless steel tanks
Looking Beyond the Tax Documents
BUSINESS NUMBERS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE
and runs on a fully programmable cycle, so only the cleanest water is reused. The operator doesn’t have to make decisions or manually switch anything. It’s consistent, reliable, and built to protect your materials in the long run. It all comes back to giving people what they need. Whatever your business values most — speed, simplicity, or sustainability — it helps to
Let me say something that might surprise you: Most business owners I talk to don’t understand their financials. And it’s not because they’re not smart or hardworking. It’s because they’ve been given the wrong tools for the job. If you’re like many small-business owners, you probably rely on your accountant or bookkeeper for financial advice. But the problem is that most of them are giving you reports designed for tax compliance, not business operations. There’s a difference. The GAAP standards they use follow rules meant for the IRS and the CPA. That’s fine, but it doesn’t necessarily help you make day-to-day decisions about how to run and grow your company. That realization was big for me. I had good people around me but didn’t always have the right information. What I’ve learned is that the same data can tell a completely different story if it’s organized the right way. You just need someone who understands your business. Better yet, you need to learn enough to ask better questions. The most helpful metric I’ve found is something called the labor efficiency ratio (LER). It looks at how much gross profit your company generates for every dollar you spend on labor. In the tent rental industry, that’s an important number. Once I started watching our LER every pay cycle, everything changed. Suddenly, I could see which areas were draining resources and which were performing. It helped me make better hiring decisions, rethink workflows, and even decide when it made sense to invest in automation. I break this down more in episode two of my podcast, “Better Lives, Better Business,” but there’s also a great book I recommend reading. It’s “Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits” by Greg Crabtree. It’s written for business owners like us and cuts through the clutter in a way that makes sense. It’s a great place to start if you want to learn more. In the end, you don’t need to become a financial expert, but you do need to understand your numbers to lead with confidence. The moment you stop relying on generic advice and start seeing what’s really happening in your business, you gain control. 3
have equipment that reflects those goals. One size doesn’t fit all, and we don’t think it should.
A total tent transformation!
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Inside This Issue 1 Building Habits That Strengthen Leadership 2 Wicked Wanderlust Custom Washers That Fit Your Business 3 What Your Numbers Aren’t Telling You 4 Reel in More Fish This Autumn
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AUTUMN ANGLING: Where, When, and How to Hook Fish This Fall
Experiment With Depths Fall turnover can scatter fish throughout various depths. Don’t hesitate to try different depths until you locate active fish. Using a fish finder can help you identify these productive zones. Fish Throughout the Day Unlike summer, when fish are most active during dawn and dusk, fall fish feed more consistently throughout the day. This allows for flexible fishing schedules without the need for early starts. Focus on Structure Fish gravitate toward structures like submerged wood and rocky banks during fall. These areas provide shelter and warmth, and targeting them can lead to successful catches.
Match the Catch In fall, baitfish grow larger.
As cooler temperatures, golden leaves, and holidays roll in, fall is one of the best-kept secrets in fishing. While many pack up their rods after summer, savvy anglers know autumn is when the real magic happens. Fish feed aggressively as they prepare for winter, and the crowds of people enjoying the water have thinned out. A few tweaks can level up your fishing game this season, whether you’re chasing bass, crappie, or trout. Target Shallow Waters As temperatures drop, baitfish like shad move into the backs of creeks and embayments. Predatory fish such as bass and crappie follow, making these areas hotspots. Focus your efforts on these shallow zones to increase your catch rate.
Adjust your lure size and color to mimic the prevalent forage in your fishing area. This increases the likelihood of enticing bites. Explore Stocked Waters Many lakes and streams are stocked with trout and catfish in the fall. These fish are often eager to bite, providing excellent opportunities for anglers. Utilize Live Bait Live bait can be particularly effective in cooler temperatures. Minnows, nightcrawlers, and shad can more effectively entice sluggish fish than artificial lures. Monitor Water Conditions Fall often brings changes in water levels due to drawdowns. Stay informed about these conditions, as they influence fish locations and behavior.
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Published by Newsletter Pro • NewsletterPro.com
Twelve different configurations to fit your needs at a budget you can afford
NOW! Fully automatic operation
NEW! Programmable stainless steel water reclaim tanks
FIVE YEAR Warranty
For even greater value, call us at 314-968-3555 and ask about our refurbished tent washing machines. We look forward to hearing from you!
TeecoSolutions.com info@teecosolutions.com
800 Biltmore Dr. Fenton, MO 63026
314-968-3555
New Custom Washers Available Now — More Options, Greater Value NOW, there’s something for everyone — big or small. Say goodbye to the hassle of dirty tents! Partner with Teeco to customize the perfect tent washing machine tailored to your needs and budget. Teeco now offers unprecedented value in the rental industry, reducing the upfront cost of purchasing a tent washer. New tent washers start at $44,900 and include a five-year warranty! They can clean between 2,000 and 3,500 square feet of vinyl per load. Explore 12 exciting configurations, each designed to suit your needs, with options available for up to $99,000. Need something bigger? No worries! Wash 6,000 to 8,000 square feet per load with our Premier Series washers! Find the perfect fit today! We are confident you will find the right model to match your budget.
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TeecoSolutions.com info@teecosolutions.com
800 Biltmore Dr. Fenton, MO 63026
314-968-3555
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