What could possibly go wrong when it comes to EIFS? An economical, beautiful and easily created exterior, it is both practical and easily maintained, weatherproof . . . but it is going to the birds–literally. Birds love to nest in EIFS because it provides them with a warm home. Because EIFS is made of insulation […]
When success is not defined and perfection is the default, anxiety rises and performance falls. Pursuit of perfection rarely feels good. Perfection is very expensive, and most people are unwilling to pay for something to be perfect. Also, it is subjective… By defining success at the onset, with constraints of time/money/etc, we make it objective – […]
Honoring the connection between business breakthroughs and family foundation, Loyola University Family Business Center recently recognized Resicom as a finalist for the 18th annual Illinois Family Business of the Year Award. CEO John Fairclough accepted the award on Resicom’s behalf November 29th ceremony at Chicago Four Seasons. Resicom was founded as a family venture over […]
Do you get the most out of relationships? If not, consider giving people 100% of the credit they deserve in their role. Trust is earned. Having to prove yourself gets frustrating, not exactly the quickest route to a mutually trusting, beneficial relationship. Assume people have already proven themselves in being offered and accepting the position […]
Managers have it tough – they need to create and foster performance without destroying their team’s dedication when discipline is required. Keeping in mind that people behave rationally to their own unique realities can help us understand their behavior better. Consider that people make decisions using their experience, desires, and fears. Since everyone’s are different, […]
Information can cripple productivity. Too much of it can leave you feeling like you do not have enough of it – as clarity usually begs for more questions to be answered. In this way, information is really a tripping hazard. It’s value begins once it is converted into knowledge. How can we convert the information […]
Many managers suffer from proverbial fires being dropped into their laps. I’d like to challenge them to take a moment and resist the temptation to blame a person for the fire. Not everyone who passes a fire is an arsonist, although many companies have sleeper arsonists on their team, that is for another post! Please […]
When I hear people justifying their actions, my body goes into shock – my stomach turns, my eyes twitch, and I start to pace uncontrollably. Not really, but my blood boils and turns my face beat red. I am not sure of the science of it, but I think it is purely mental. For whatever […]
Are your actions justified or are you justifying your actions? – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
UIC announces a special event from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The program will clarify the differences among types of intellectual property and explain how inventors, writers, artists, and businesses can use the resources of the USPTO to protect their ideas. The program is free, however advanced registration is required. Please call (312) 747-4400 to […]
The Resicom sales and solution team arrived in Texas this weekend to prepare for this week’s SPECS show (store planning, equipment, construction and facilities services). The 3 1/2 day event brings together retailers and vendors to share ideas, industry trends, develop business relationships and offer facility challenge solutions. This is the first year that Resicom […]
Work was completed at the end of January on the remodel of the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA. RFMA member companies and individuals donated materials, equipment and services, as well as their own time to help us complete our first project of RFMA Gives. We are so grateful for everyone’s support. Someone […]
Bess Gallanis is a communications specialist and a blogger for Resicom, The Huffington Post and Indezine. In the second installment of The Best Story Wins, “The Social Network” is a reference point for creating a compelling business story. Review these valuable communication tips here. http://bessgallanis.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/the-best-story-wins-part-ii/
John Fairclough, Resicom CEO Resicom Founder and CEO John Fairclough has been inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame! Joining the ranks of entrepreneurs twice his age, Fairclough was honored with the induction on Thursday, February 24th at the Chicago Hilton. The Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies (IES) of the University of Illinois at […]
Value of a Dollar Consider this truth: Not all dollars are created equally. Some revenue gets us closer to our goals than others – it all depends on the desired outcomes. A leader’s goals include (1) protecting the company and (2) nurturing it to grow. In order to protect our company, some of our desired […]
Not all dollars are created equal – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results. -Winston Churchill, British Statesman and wartime leader
Bess Galanis is a public relations specialist and guest blogger for Reiscom. Her latest series is focused on the power of infusing emotion into fact-based rhetoric. She reminds us that while the facts may be lost and forgotten, the emotion of an experience will be much more easily remembered. Read about the impact of emotion-infused […]
“The best story wins.” – Bess Gallanis, Public Relations specialist
I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way. -Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States of America
http://bit.ly/dLHrFs When John Fairclough started his facility maintenance company, The Resicom Group, he had only a few employees and enjoyed interacting with each one of them. As time went on, the company, based in Lemont, Illinois, grew and Faiclough felt more and more disconnected. So he decided to implement a mandatory mentorship program to help fill […]
Checking our homes regularly can help us avoid fixing problems once they get bigger, which could result in large projects later. To avoid paying big bucks later, take a look at these few areas of your home on an annual basis. From the North Carolina Home Finance Agency: http://www.nchfa.com/homebuyers/HOtips.aspx
“Man created language to be understood. It should be normal to understand what people convey to us. Fear, ulterior motives, and closed mindedness are the enemies of understanding.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
Steve Wipfler you are our plow king! Mother nature hasn’t been too kind lately sending over 2 feet of snow. When the rest of us were hunkered down and staying warm, you were out not only plowing our parking lots, but driving around to help neighbors and residents. Thank you for your great community […]
“Communication is the real work of leadership.” -Nintin Nohria, 10th Dean of Harvard
Resicom will again partner with The Entrepreneurial Student Teams Program (ESTP) at University of Illinois- Chicago. The creative and dynamic teams offer fresh perspective and innovative efforts to company initiatives and strategy. Resicom, in turn provides real-world application and business experience share to compliment student instruction. Teams are comprised of two to four graduate or upper-level […]
March 13 -16 has been set for the 2011 SPECS Event, now in its 47th year, in Gaylord, Texas. “SPECS (store planning, equipment, construction and facilities services) is a 3½-day program and intimate gathering of the top retailers and top suppliers for the purpose of learning, sharing ideas, developing partnerships and problem solving.” The Workshop Program […]
The Lemont High School Varsity Cheerleading squad took 1st place in the Illinois High School Association state finals this past week in Bloomington. For the complete story click on the Lemont Patch link. NICE WORK, GIRLS!!
The InterFace Facilities Exchange which coordinates one-on-one dialogues for facility management and service providers, has announced their 2011 schedule. Retailers, restauranteurs and service vendors are able to interact in a relaxed business environment while also enjoying social activities. The idea is that the more informal environment apart from a traditional trade show format provides the […]
How can bathroom partitions deter would-be graffiti artists? Summary Facility maintenance management faces the aggravation of bathroom partitions being an easy target for graffiti. Maintaining presentable, unmarred bathroom partitions was a pain point for a national client. Scope of the Work Research and source options to replace existing material. Install new partitions according to compliance […]
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Networking Event “Mark your calendar for February 16 and head to the stunning Carlsbad coastline for an evening of food, drinks, networking opportunities, prizes and one of the most beautiful views anywhere. Enjoy the convivial company of friends old and new and bask is the glow of a Carlsbad sunset at […]
“Be green with your words… Use less of them to communicate your point.” -John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
“One of the most wonderful things you can do in this world is forgive others. We are designed to have flaws and make mistakes. If we emulate God, we are led to forgive. Giving someone the ability to recapture their dignity can transform lives. Do it often.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
How can an asset capture be provided for almost 200 locations in 2 weeks? Summary With national ADA regulation changes set to become effective in March 2011, a retailer needed a comprehensive asset capture of individual stores. The retailer needed the consulting information delivered for over 170 stores in a 2 weeks time frame. Scope […]
“If your team does not truly believe that you care about them, they will not follow you.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
PRSM (Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association) will host a trade webinar on February 16, 2011 at 2 p.m. CST. Joe Reardon, Concrete Product Specialist from PROSOCO, Inc will lead the discussion. One (1) Continuing Education Unit available towards RFMP Designation Renewal will be earned by attending the webinar. “By attending this webinar you will walk […]
“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” -Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American aviator and author
“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” -Anthony Robbins
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” -Epictetus, Greek philosopher
Lemont Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Dinner Dance on Friday, February 25, 2011 with a Mardi Gras Theme. Ruffled Feathers Golf Club will feature a bit of Bourbon Street as Chamber members, local businesses, residents and neighbors honor this year’s Outstanding Person of the Year and Outstanding Business. Tickets are available online for […]
Every so often, someone comes along that has the ability to push you beyond your perceived limitations. Rania El-Sorrogy is having that impact. Through her mentoring, smarts, and insatiable thirst for learning, she is developing faster than expected. And making a positive impact every where she focuses. Great things are on the horizon for her. […]
How can preventative maintenance structure apply to brand details? Summary A national retailer has synthetic greenery and plants strategically placed throughout each store. The placement and use of plants plays a significant role in their overall branding, and even the way fronds hang must be staged according to specific directions. The cleaning company being used […]
. Today marks the final day of the 2011 RFMA Conference – Building Success RFMA, Restaurant Facility Management Association, is a professional organization that brings together both restaurant facility professional and service providers and vendors to exchange ideas and knowledge, network and learn about industry trends. Educational session tracks feature creative approaches and tools for building […]
Sometimes are dreams get put on hold. The things that give us great joy get put on the side to take care of other things. The problem is, we can lose sight of our dreams and our happiness can become elusive. This exercise helps you examine what you’d do if suddenly you had an opportunity […]
Many leaders struggle with work/life balance. Many times parts of our lives are sacrificed for the betterment of another. The problem is that we often do not return to build up the sacrificed areas. This exercise will help you identify where you are at and help you put in place activities that bring you your […]
“Change needs practice. And practice needs patience.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
We have important (at least we think so) things to say, but sometimes run into a wall for ideas of where to start. I have created a “cheat sheet” that helps me generate ideas. Since each of my posts has a specific purpose, I have organized these categories to help get me unstuck. Quick Note […]
Delegate Desired Outcomes Stifling creativity can be a devastating habit for a company. Avoid this pitfall by abstaining from micromanagement activities. As an example, consider how you can empower your people’s creativity in how you delegate. Example: Our Task Description Connect with Mr. Smith to learn of his interest in becoming a client. He is […]
Assigning Ultimate Responsibilities An employee is easily underutilized when they are assigned tasks rather than responsibilities. Consider how you can gain a more dedicated advocate for the company by charging employees with ultimate responsibilities. Example: Our Offer Letters – New Hires All employees are charged with upholding the core values and executing the strategy of […]
Explain WHY before the WHAT Being defined by what we do limits understanding and communication opportunities. We remove this constraint by focusing on WHY we do things before we explain WHAT we do. Below is an example of how Resicom has adopted this non-limiting behavior in our company. Example: Our Elevator Pitch We believe in […]
“Complacency doesn’t make sense for a guy trying to redefine normal.” -John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #15. Focus Messages that have multiple calls to action can be confusing for our audience. We can eliminate this confusion narrowing our focus on one call to action at a time. Be mindful of those things that can remove focus from the main objective of our communication. Common Distractors: Large, prominent […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #14. Assume makes an… Most customers are turned off when we assume to know their needs and how we can fill them. We can be more effective at building a relationship if we avoid making assumptions and instead encourage a dialogue for deeper understanding. Below is an example of how our […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #13. Be Relevant Sharing irrelevant information can make your audience suspicious and/or lose trust in you. Clearly explaining why you are sharing the information helps remove the potential for confusion or mistrust. The following will help you provide this clarity to your audience. Filters: Why am I sharing this information? […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #12. Behind Door #3 Our audience can lose faith in us if we demonstrate an underdeveloped thought or behavior. One way we can avoid this situation is by eliminating pre-determined solutions from our messages. See below for some options. Best Practices: Removing the “this OR that” wording — it creates two […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #11. Think Twice, Speak Once We can avoid confusing our audience by getting to the point as quickly as possible. This less is more approach to communication is most effectively implemented when we have a clear communication objective. A phrase to keep in mind might be “think twice and speak once.” […]
John Fairclough will be judging the Coleman Center’s annual DePaul University New Venture Challenge held February 4th to the 14th. The judges, selected amongst Chicago entrepreneurs, will determine which DePaul student has best met the challenge of an introducing an innovating new venture interest. The New Venture Challenge is open to all DePaul students, regardless […]
The upgraded MyFacilitiesNet gives facilities professionals the chance to post online thread discussions on a variety of topics, including Fire Safety, Flooring HVAC, Lighting, and Plumbing & Restrooms.
“We are all on a collision course with ourselves. Inevitably, our existing habits will be counter-productive to achieving our bigger picture goals. To avoid the crash, we need to regularly review how we are doing things and make adjustments as needed.” -John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
True value comes in the questions that are asked, not the answers that are given. More insights can be gleaned by asking questions for deeper understanding. Below are examples of how you can use questions to gain deeper insights. In what situations do I leave my team feeling that I don’t understand them? When I’m […]
My outlook on life changed radically by becoming the leader of a company. It took me a while to catch on to what was happening to me. I learned how important the path was to the destination. My answers were being sought out. Critical thinking was a strength of mine. People would ask my thoughts […]
Throughput Success Six Sigma is an approach to improving the quality of products and services that are made using a process. Almost every business can benefit from systematizing their approach (the company’s “way of doing things”) into a process. And, Six Sigma is a way to reveal improvement opportunities within that process. Yield The term […]
Cure-ology In the blog post “Leadership – Process Enhancement Overview” we explore the difference between quick fixes and more sustainable solutions. Below are some questions that can help you identify some of these sustainable solutions. What are we doing that used to work but doesn’t work any more? What are the critical steps to achieving […]
Cure vs Remedy Businesses struggle with balancing risk and reward. Many times, leaders or managers are drawn to installing band-aids over issues. The logic is easy to follow – the company experienced an injury because of an error, and then an additional step is placed on the workflow meant to eliminate the risk of it […]
Tension Tolerance Tension Tolerance refers to a leader’s ability to absorb tension. The source of the tension may be related to conflict amongst team members, project deadlines, or workflow processes. In each of these situations, a leader has the choice to grow stronger from the conflict or grow weaker because of it. A leader must […]
A Rose by Any Other Name… Failure – It’s a commonly accepted truism – We learn more from our failures than from our successes. But how do we benefit from these lessons learned? How can we tell that we learned anything at all? And why are failures viewed as being bad??? We have a way […]
Recovering from a Suspension Following a suspension, it is important to be clear about your desired outcomes. Almost universally, the desired outcome for this suspended employee is that he/she comes back: Confident Committed Ready to work Leaders can direct the tone of this transition period. Below are a few tips on ensuring that you create […]
So you Think you can Lead… The final step in building raving followers is showing that you care about your team. It is extremely difficult for a team member to be motivated to go above and beyond for a leader if that leader shows no care for his/her team members. Without an evidence that a […]
So you Think you can Lead… Teams need to know that they can trust their leader. This is the second test a leader must pass to build raving followers. There are simple signs that provide evidence that a person can be trusted or not trusted. A team must be confident that the person leading them […]
So you Think you can Lead… No, this is not a press release for a new reality TV series. There are, however, three tests to see if your team considers you a leader or just a manager. The first test is if your team believes that you know what you are doing. Your team will […]
How do leaders build raving followers? Regardless of the organization, there are limits to authority yet unlimited potential with influence. It’s easy to see the difference. With authority, a team member may comply with requests made by a superior. With influence, a team member will commit to the leader or his/her requests. It is the […]
High Authority and Low Influence = Mediocrity Gap The difference between high authority and low influence creates what we call the “Mediocrity Gap.” Followers disconnect from their leader when they feel obligated rather than motivated to do something. Duty vs Responsibility The obligation comes from performing out of a sense of duty to an authority. […]
One of the biggest time wasters is to spend time on something without putting in the effort. This approach also tends to lead to not meeting the objectives of the task at hand. Going through the motions can be an extremely frustrating and unproductive occurrence in a company. It often results in: Lower productivity Higher […]
A growing company is like a rubber band. It must be flexible and stretch as it grows from something smaller into something larger – growing from good to great. If the team is not willing or able to grow as quickly as the company is willing or able to grow, then one of two things […]
At the Winter Educational Event at the Museum of Science and Industry, held February 9th, 2011, from 3 to 8:30pm guests will discover a link between science, technology and business brand consultancy. A panel of Chicago business leaders will lead the discussion. Following is an Omnimax movie presentation/ keynote address from The Discovery Channel’s Reed […]
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” -George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright and Co-Founder London School of Economics
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #10. They Know the Answer Asking questions can be an effective way to empower our audience. By giving them an opportunity to answer a question, we not only engage our audience but we also show them that their insights matter. Compare the results of asking questions versus giving answers. Answer: Attend […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #9. Let them Think Providing an abundance of information can prove to be overwhelming to an audience. We can instead empower our audience to ask for any additional information in which they may be interested. Consider how overwhelming your audience can result in lower influence over your audience. Results from Providing […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #8. Break the Rules – Page Layout Maintaining a consistent page layout while sacrificing how effectively the message is communicated can prove to delver a lower Return On Investment. Being flexible with how a document is laid out can help communicate your message more effectively. Consider how your page layout can […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #7. Break the Rules – Document Structure We often miss an opportunity to engage our readers by the way we structure our documents. Freeing ourselves from the traditional document structure rules helps us keep our audience interested in reading more of what we have to say. See the differences below. Traditional […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #6. Break the Rules – Paragraph Structure Abiding by the standard writing format can prove to disengage an audience. We believe that an alternative approach to communication can be more effective. Compare the standard paragraph structure to a typical Resicom communication piece. Traditional Paragraph Structure First Sentence: Declaration of Something Second […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #5. Speak their Dialect Your audience will disengage if you communicate too much or too little to them. Delivering the correct amount and type of information according to their preferences helps them engage more quickly and easily. Consider the following tips when crafting the content of your message. Deductive Reasoning respond […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #4. Speak their Language Communicating in a format that is most comfortable for your audience will help them understand you better. Converting your message into their preferred format helps remove translation error. Consider the following tips when crafting the structure of your message. Visual Learners respond well to: Written information Categorical […]
“The clearer you are about why you want to accomplish a goal, the easier it will be to figure how to accomplish it.” -John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
“Stop me when I’m making too much sense.” -John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
Here is a great link to top ten tips on winterizing your home by Elizabeth Weintraub for About.com Guide. It touches on the major parts of a home and its mechanical components. http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/qt/92607_WinterHom.htm
“The role of a leader is to serve his people. We absolutely must first serve the people who we want to lead. They must be able to rely on the leader as much as we hope to rely on them.” -John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
“When your team questions your motives and methods, you have lost their trust and you will not be able to influence them.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
“Much of the world is focused on answers. This unfortunate. Situations change, the earth turns, and our needs fluctuate. Focusing on static answers puts one at a disadvantage. Empower yourself by searching for the right question as if it were a buried treasure and treasures will find you.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
Some people have are intuitive. There are a precious few that have super-hero levels of it. Rita Guiliano is one of them. She has been with the company since the beginning, and continues to thrive and lead. She sets an example for disposition and solving challenges that others can only dream of. Rita, you are […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #3. Choose your Questions Wisely Asking irrelevant questions can make your audience suspicious and/or lose trust in you. Clearly explaining why you are asking a question helps remove the potential for confusion or mistrust. The following will help you provide this clarity to your audience. Filters: Why am I asking this […]
A business is often thought of only in terms of the product or service offered. But what differentiates a business from success into significance isn’t the product – it’s the plan. The bold pursuit of what normal should be is about businesses relying on structure rather than success. At first that idea may not make sense. […]
A business owner starts with an idea and a destination in mind. Guiding a business toward that goal is a series of steps and sometimes missteps. The bold pursuit of what normal could be is about getting better at those things that matter to the individual business owner. Learning to ask questions to gain understanding and clarify […]
It should be normal that business leaders have education to support their efforts. SMARTplan is a training program to balance and negotiate the opposing forces within a business – finance, operations, sales and human resources. Business management and executives become better leaders with prepared action plans and honest self awareness. Understanding company dynamics help the […]
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine – unknown. Business leaders often know change is needed, but not how to incorporate it. SMARTfit helps business leaders introduce change in a way consistent with the company’s current operations. Rather than a one size fits all mentality, business leaders use SMARTfit to coordinate a customized approach. […]
It’s common practice to seek a second opinion when faced with a medical diagnosis. It could be normal that just like an individual seeks an outside opinion on their health management, business leaders also seek a fresh perspective on the health of their project or company. SMARTvisit is an approach to teaching executives how […]
A business may start with a great idea, but not a great financial plan. The reality and expense of bringing an idea or service to market is a difficult obstacle. Expanding that same business into a repeatable process derails many business leaders. SMARTspend is a resource to help business leaders analyze costs and control spend. […]
Restaurants, retailers, hoteliers and property managers all invest time, talent and of course expense to ensure that their customer experience is just that- an experience. Consumers have a myriad of choices on where to shop, dine, spend and stay. This leads to even higher expectations, especially when customers award their loyalty to a particular brand. […]
