Bad News Gets Worse With Age TELL CUSTOMERS ABOUT DELAYS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
The fact is that things come up in business, no matter how hard we try to prevent them.
You might be wondering why we’re making such a big deal out of this, and here’s why:
At this time, there’s a shortage of plant material. In construction in general, there are longer timelines for getting materials, and things are expensive. Even OSB is nearly twice the cost of what it was before COVID-19!
Bad news gets worse with age.
If you have a client who has signed on for a project and is getting excited for their new backyard, and then two months into the project, you tell them about a delay due to material shortages … they will not be happy with you. They might assume that you’ve been keeping this from them, or they might think you’re clueless since you didn’t bring it up earlier! Either way, it’s not a good situation. Instead, prepare your customers! Let them know about these shortages on your contact page and consider even adding an informative message in your voicemail.
This is the fact — and the sooner you let customers know about it in the process, the less likely they are to be upset with you.
In addition to shortages, there’s record demand. In Texas, a gnarly frost in February created Plantmageddon. Not only did the plants in homeowners’ yards die, but many nurseries also suffered losses. This has created demand. I have a couple of clients in Texas who are dealing with the aftermath of the frost and the material shortages. Together, we came up with a plan for how they can keep their customers informed about what’s going on in the area and why they may experience delays.
Keeping your customers in the loop about material shortages and timeline delays will help you continue to build trust with them.
IF YOU WANT A HEALTHY BUSINESS, NURTURE A HEALTHY MIND
Entrepreneurs drive the economy forward with innovative solutions to big problems in business. How different businesses have weathered the pandemic this past year is proof of that. However, while entrepreneurs generate success for their businesses, one aspect of that role isn’t discussed enough: their mental health.
According to Dr. Michael Freeman, a psychiatrist who studies how entrepreneurship affects the brain, entrepreneurs are more susceptible to a number of mental health conditions than non- entrepreneurs. They’re 30% more likely to suffer from depression, 29% more likely to live with a hyperactivity disorder, and 11% more likely to fall on the bipolar spectrum. The confidence of your customers and workforce depends, at least in part, on your mental health, which is why every entrepreneur should consider seeing a mental health professional. However, abiding by a few basic principles can also help you nurture a healthy mental state. Pivot well and stay positive. The unexpected will happen. Ironically, that’s all you can expect as an entrepreneur. So, when you put together plans to grow your business, make contingency plans as well. Just because you have those back-up plans does not mean the worst will happen.
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