7 habits of a HIGHLY EFFECTIVE Vacuum/Sewing Shop

by Leslie Reichert, The Vacuum Lady

Usually when we hear the word habit, we think of something bad or something we need to stop. But successful people are successful because of their habits. They just have good ones.

To become a successful store you need to acknowledge that you may have some habits that need to change from bad to good. Take a look at these seven habits that have taken successful retailers to the next level.

There is a saying “The meek will inherit the earth,” but what I found out is that the definition of meek is teachable. So the teachable will inherit the earth! To get what you want you have to be teachable and coachable. Remember, good coaches are not looking for great talent they can’t harness -- they are looking for potential talent they can coach to greatness.

1. Get up early — One thing we don’t do a lot of is think. Start your day even 30 minutes earlier and give yourself some freedom to think and dream. Use part of the time to just let your mind go and write it all down. Then you can use the extra time to plan out the priorities of your day.

2. Be on time — This needs to become a priority. You set the standard in your store and you have to make it non-negotiable. If you want to be trusted with the big things you have to be able to handle the small. By being late you are sending the message that others are not important -- at least to you. And you are taking small withdrawals out of their “trust” account. Two tips you can use for being on time are to a) always leave some wiggle room and to b) enjoy the fact that if you get somewhere early you are ON TIME.

3. Follow through on the details — Small things are important and if you don’t find them important the people you work with won’t either. Your people look to you to know how you want things done. You have to pay attention to the details.

4. Have written goals — Write down your goals and interact with them daily. You can create a goal board that has a collection of pictures and words of the things you want to achieve. Write your top three goals on your screen saver!

5. Track your process — Things look much different if you track your goals. You can only control your activities, not the outcome. Make sure you know where you’ve been and how far you have come so you keep your perspective. Also, track the numbers and know what you are making for a profit on the items in your store. Make sure you convert it to dollars. Percentages don’t sound like a lot, but when you look at it in dollars it will make a bigger impact.

6. Work with the best — Find yourself a mentor. You can look within your industry or go outside to an entirely different business. Use the mentor to help you get to your goals faster. Don’t recreate the wheel when someone else has already figured out the formula. Schedule time with them as often as you both can manage it and make them hold you accountable to your goals.

7. Get plenty of help and hang with the best — You have to keep your affiliations positive. Evaluate the people you are spending time with and see if they are helping you get where you want to go. Make sure they are supportive and upbeat. You need to be with like-minded people. Form a mastermind group of business owners in your area that are looking to learn more from each other.

Leslie Reichert is known as the Vacuum Lady and the Homekeeping Coach. She is the successful owner of the Back Door in Uxbridge, MA, and is also a published author and TV personality. You can visit her Web site at www.vacuumlady.com or e-mail her at info@vacuumlady.com .

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, August 2007