Diamonds in the Rough
The current discussions on here regarding the challenge of finding good or even just competent labor prompted me to post this.
First, the challenge of finding the right people for your team is not a new one. Agreed? Since the dawn of time businesses have struggled to fill the seats on their bus with the right, competent and motivated individuals. The challenge of finding good people is certainly nothing new, but it’s just as certainly a growing one too.
It’s harder today, especially in the trades, than ever to fill the seats on your bus with the right people for the job. Agreed?!
But here’s where I’d like to stop venting and start challenging all of the loyal, smart, hardworking and passionate entrepreneurs on this page.
You don’t need to find a 100 people to succeed, most of you would be happy with just one or two!
Folks, diamonds in the rough are out there if you look hard enough!
Last week about 40 of us on this page had the pleasure of listening to one Westin Zimmerman, at Tusseymonium. A young (24 year-old) passionate, dedicated, hardworking and extremely talented foremen for Steve Martin, Aquascapes Top Frog installer. If everyone who had the pleasure to attend didn’t have the utmost respect for Steve, Westin would have had 40 job offers before he walked out of that pull barn!
Here’s the kicker though. Westin wasn’t always the performer he is today for Tussey Landscapes. Steve, hired good stock, groomed him, and got out of Westin’s way!
I’d say it’s safe to say on here that Ed Beaulieu came from good stock. As did Brian. But they were both groomed in the beginning. And then I most definitely proceeded to get out of their way!
I’d also say that today, they have blossomed into the best duo in this industry but that wouldn’t be entirely true. But they most definitely are part of the best trio this industry has ever seen if you add “the new guy” Chris Hanson into the bunch!
All three of them were diamonds in the rough, each with good stock that got groomed and then we got out of their way. We offered Chris more money than any foremen we had ever hired three years ago after we diagnosed, then extensively sought out and interviewed for the skill sets he possessed.
So far he’s turning out to be one of the best investments this company has ever made!
I could have guessed I’d get the excellent return on our investment from the day he started though. You see, I never interviewed Chris before he was hired. Evaluating talent is not my strong suit. I think everyone who comes to the table is hard working, industrious, and passionate! But Chris, the diamond in the rough that he was, sent me, the owner, and a very personable letter introducing himself. Reading it gave me the chills!
He thanked me for giving him this opportunity.
He complimented the professionalism of the people and the process he had just gone through to get the job.
And he closed letting me know he planned on giving me his 110% commitment every day of his employment in return for my leap of faith in giving him this opportunity.
WOW!
Wouldn’t getting a letter like that from a new teammate give you the chills too?!
The right people or person is out there just waiting for you to uncover them and give them a little water and sunshine. Diamonds in the rough aren’t easy to find but neither is running a successful business.
As small business owners, we don’t run away from adversity we run toward it every day and with open arms! It’s why we are in business for ourselves and not simply working in a tollbooth.
Carpe Diem and Happy Hunting!
FIND YOUR WESTIN!
Diamonds in the Rough
The current discussions on here regarding the challenge of finding good or even just competent labor prompted me to post this.
First, the challenge of finding the right people for your team is not a new one. Agreed? Since the dawn of time businesses have struggled to fill the seats on their bus with the right, competent and motivated individuals. The challenge of finding good people is certainly nothing new, but it’s just as certainly a growing one too.
It’s harder today, especially in the trades, than ever to fill the seats on your bus with the right people for the job. Agreed?!
But here’s where I’d like to stop venting and start challenging all of the loyal, smart, hardworking and passionate entrepreneurs on this page.
You don’t need to find a 100 people to succeed, most of you would be happy with just one or two!
Folks, diamonds in the rough are out there if you look hard enough!
Last week about 40 of us on this page had the pleasure of listening to one Westin Zimmerman, at Tusseymonium. A young (24 year-old) passionate, dedicated, hardworking and extremely talented foremen for Steve Martin, Aquascapes Top Frog installer. If everyone who had the pleasure to attend didn’t have the utmost respect for Steve, Westin would have had 40 job offers before he walked out of that pull barn!
Here’s the kicker though. Westin wasn’t always the performer he is today for Tussey Landscapes. Steve, hired good stock, groomed him, and got out of Westin’s way!
I’d say it’s safe to say on here that Ed Beaulieu came from good stock. As did Brian. But they were both groomed in the beginning. And then I most definitely proceeded to get out of their way!
I’d also say that today, they have blossomed into the best duo in this industry but that wouldn’t be entirely true. But they most definitely are part of the best trio this industry has ever seen if you add “the new guy” Chris Hanson into the bunch!
All three of them were diamonds in the rough, each with good stock that got groomed and then we got out of their way. We offered Chris more money than any foremen we had ever hired three years ago after we diagnosed, then extensively sought out and interviewed for the skill sets he possessed.
So far he’s turning out to be one of the best investments this company has ever made!
I could have guessed I’d get the excellent return on our investment from the day he started though. You see, I never interviewed Chris before he was hired. Evaluating talent is not my strong suit. I think everyone who comes to the table is hard working, industrious, and passionate! But Chris, the diamond in the rough that he was, sent me, the owner, and a very personable letter introducing himself. Reading it gave me the chills!
He thanked me for giving him this opportunity.
He complimented the professionalism of the people and the process he had just gone through to get the job.
And he closed letting me know he planned on giving me his 110% commitment every day of his employment in return for my leap of faith in giving him this opportunity.
WOW!
Wouldn’t getting a letter like that from a new teammate give you the chills too?!
The right people or person is out there just waiting for you to uncover them and give them a little water and sunshine. Diamonds in the rough aren’t easy to find but neither is running a successful business.
As small business owners, we don’t run away from adversity we run toward it every day and with open arms! It’s why we are in business for ourselves and not simply working in a tollbooth.
Carpe Diem and Happy Hunting!
Greg Wittstock
CEO, Aquascape, Inc.
901 Aqualand Way
St. Charles, IL 60174
www.aquascapeinc.com
Aquascape Lifestyles Flipboard Magazine
www.facebook.com/AquascapeInc
www.twitter.com/AquascapeInc
www.youtube.com/aquascape4
www.pinterest.com/AquascapeInc
www.facebook.com/ThePondStars
