Chuck Violand
Chuck Violand is the founder of Violand Management Associates (VMA), a highly respected consulting company in the restoration and cleaning industries. Through VMA, he works with business owners and companies to develop their people and profits. For more information, visit www.violand.com.
Centerboards
For years, nautical vessels have been used as metaphors for business, as the parallels between ships and businesses are unmistakable. I’ve even used them in...
The Mercedes-Benz Syndrome
In 2003, a client faxed (yes, faxed) me an article from a newsletter called Contractor Cents, which targeted the builder-remodeler trade. The article, written by...
Holding on Too Tight
In the classic 1986 movie Top Gun, Navy fighter pilot Cougar (played by John Stockwell) finds himself and his plane locked in the gun sights...
Falling in Love
What is it about small business owners that causes so many of us to fall in love with the people we hire? I don’t mean...
Throwing The Heat
“Every weed has to be removed, every burnt spot has to be repaired, and every divot has to be replaced every day. You never know...
Ask Different Questions
We can learn much about ourselves and business from people we’ve hardly met. In this instance, I’m referring to applicants interviewing for a job with...
Island Vacations
After being invited to attend a business conference in Australia a while back, my wife and I took the opportunity to extend our stay and...
Move the Needle
One of the positive attributes of most entrepreneurs is that we dream big. We have little patience for small dreams or even thinking incrementally about...
The Impact of Gratitude in Business
Most of us learn at an early age that it’s polite to thank others for the kindnesses they extend to us. Saying “please” and “thank...
In Praise of Janitors
When I was in my mid-thirties, I was working with Butch Balaun, a customer who owned several successful restaurants in our area. On one occasion,...
