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Hiring is a BITCH. Just ask President Trump.

By Matt Manero

You are not alone in your difficulty hiring and keeping good people. President Trump has gone through 15 people since taking office just 192 days ago.

People are the backbone of your organization, and how you find them, hire them and keep them is a crap shoot. Or is it? Is there really a method to the madness of finding great people to grow your company?

Not really, it’s really hard. But here are my 5 tips on how to hire better, retain more and have more success in growing your staff.

#1.     Know your limits. How low will you go? Does an applicant have to have perfect credit? Must they have a book of business? Do they have the aptitude to learn your business? You must know the minimum levels of skills that you are willing to accept when you hire someone. Many business owners are just so happy to have a resume that they drop their standards and hire anyone to just fill the seat. Bad idea. No matter how desperate you are to find people, keep your standards high.

#2.     Do personality testing. Once you know you limits, you can conduct a personality test to see if the applicant meets your criteria. If you are hiring for someone who will be asked to do daily repetition like data entry, don’t hire someone who’s personality test shows that they want and need new experiences often. The results of the test don’t match the requirements of the job. At my company, we use the PREDICTIVE INDEX TEST, and we believe it is spot on.

#3.     Train and then train some more. The biggest obstacle you will face with your inexperienced staff is overcoming their lack of confidence. Confidence is built through skill mastery. The most effect way I have found to help employee’s build their confidence and skill up is to train them often. You need to train your staff MUCH more than you think. Training is not an occasionally thing. Training is an everyday thing.

#4.     Role play. Create real life scenarios for your team before they are real life scenarios. I remember listening to Navy Seal Jocko Willink tell how he trained his Seal teams. In one example, during a training exercise, he had people hide in a room dressed in clown costumes. When his team breached the door, they found a group wild and crazy clowns eating and throwing pies at his team. He created unique, and dangerous situations during training so that when his team went on their “mish” to Ramadi, they had seen almost anything. Game time is not practice time. Role play often so that you team don’t waste real opportunities.

#5.     When it ends, don’t be a jerk. When it’s over it’s over, but you don’t have to be a jerk. Part on good terms. Have an adult conversation that provides the opportunity for everyone to leave on good terms. Firing is not fun for anyone, do it with dignity.

As the leader of your company, you should understand that staffing your organization is a full-time job. Always have resumes on your desk, always have ads placed, always be hiring. Because it is hard and nobody as the perfect recipe.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt and his world class team has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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WHAT I LEARNED FROM A GROUP OF BAD ASS NAVY SEALS. #MUSTER003 #AUSTIN

By Matt Manero

I attended Muster 003 in Austin, TX last month. The event is put on by the team at Echelon Front lead by Jocko Willink and Leaf Babin. Both are retired Navy Seals, and along with the rest of their staff…they are downright bad asses.

The attendees of the event were looking for something. Maybe to test their fitness by doing the 4:30 am workouts, or to honor veterans who fought for our freedom or maybe to just feel more like a bass ass themselves. I wanted these things, but most of all I wanted to find ONE primary takeaway from the event that I could bring back and install into my company and my life. I got lucky…I found three and here they are.

#1.      There are no bad teams, only bad leaders. Great leaders don’t blame their team, they blame them themselves first. Great leaders are not afraid to fall on the sword and accept blame. The ability to look inside yourself and really take responsibility for the problems within your team was a point that Jocko and Leif drilled home over and over during the 3-day event. Stop blaming others for the problems in your life or company. You are the leader, and great leaders build great teams. Bad leaders are the reason for bad teams, not the other way around.

#2. Role play “real life” before “real life”. The Seal Teams are placed in hundreds of training missions that simulate “real world” situations long before they get to the “real world” situation. The ability to train your team through role playing “real” situation before they happen is vital. Without question, prior to Muster003, our company did not train our team members on actual situations before they happened. For us, every day we used real life situation as training sessions and it cost us business.  Now, we train our staff in a “real life” setting long before the “real life” setting of talking with clients occurs.

#3. My favorite: Effective or Ineffective. There is no middle ground. The activity within your team is either effective or ineffective. Don’t get caught in the grey area the so many of us do. It’s not about the conversation or the memo or the group email you have sent to address an issue. It is about the result. The result is either effective or ineffective. This clarity has been a gamechanger for me. Everything in my company and my life is now viewed as either effective or ineffective.

Muster 004 is happening in San Diego in September. Get signed up. Get training too, the 4:30 workouts are tough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt and his world class team has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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The 2 Lessons We Can All Learn from Jerry Lewis.

By Matt Manero

If you were born in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and maybe even the 80’s, you watched the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon during Labor Day weekend. In most of our homes, we simply called it “The Jerry Lewis Telethon.” Jerry Lewis and MDA were one in the same in America. It was an annual tradition. It often raised tens of millions per year and during its 50-year history, the telethon raised over $2.3 billion for MDA.

It is one of the greatest examples of two things.

  1. The importance of finding purpose for in your life
  2. The power of personal branding.

The power of purpose: MDA became his purpose.  All  you had to do was watch it once to see how committed he was to it.  His goal each year was simple: ”TO RAISE ONE DOLLAR MORE THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.” When Jerry asked, the biggest of the big names, put their tux or formal dress on and came on the show to lend their support. For that 24-hour period, his purpose became their purpose and the MDA benefited. Of course, there was controversy, and Jerry fought it against it every chance he could. It has been reported that Jerry gave over $7 million of his own money to support MDA. The power of one person, on purpose, is incredible.

The power of personal branding. Jerry Lewis was known around the world. His personal brand was tops in the industry, and without it, there is no doubt that the MDA would not have benefited to the tune of billions. Having a personal brand, that connects with a purpose, it unstoppable.

Build both in your life. Pick either one first, it doesn’t matter. Start with purpose and then build or brand or vice versa. But if you really want to make a difference in your life or the lives of millions…you need both.

RIP Jerry.

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I GOT F’d BY HURRICANE HARVEY!

What can we learn from Hurricane Harvey? A LOT!

By Matt Manero

“Harvey” has already made his mark. Houston schools have closed for Monday already. Countless businesses are planning on closing for the next 3-5 days. Some areas are already on mandatory evacuation. It jacked with me too. I had a TEDX talk scheduled for Saturday and that was just cancelled and rescheduled for September.  Let’s hope it is another overblown storm story, and that everyone in the Gulf Coast area of Texas are safe.

But what can we learn from this? A BUNCH! You can’t control everything in your business. You have no idea when regulation, competitors, economic downturns or Hurricane Harvey can rock your world.

Think of all the restaurants that were “hoping” for one more banner sales week from tourists this weekend. Not going to happen. How about Uber drivers who are short on their upcoming rent payment and were “hoping” to earn it this weekend from tourists? Not going to happen. How about the small grocery store owner who can’t get shelves restocked because trucks can’t get into the area? Bummer for them.

NEVER RUN YOUR BUSINESS ON “HOPE” THAT NOTHING WILL GO WRONG. SOMETHING WILL GO WRONG, AND IT CAN ROCK YOUR WORLD.

Here are 4 important tips that will keep you ahead of uncontrollable events.

  1. Hoard cash: You need reserves set aside to protect you against the unknown.
  2. Plan for problems: Role play, have a “What if” plan.
  3. Stop working in the present: Think more about the future.
  4. Think outside the box. How can you capitalize on the unknown when it happens?

I wish everyone in South Texas good luck.

#goeasyonHoustonHavey.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt and his world class team has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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WE DON’T DO ANYTHING FOR FREE

Don’t be fooled by the word FREE. Nothing in life is FREE. Until the end of this month, I’m giving away FREE copies of my ebook and audio book version of THE GRIT. But don’t think FREE means FREE…it never does.

Nothing was done for FREE regarding my book. The book took me time, effort, energy not just to write it, but to also offer to you for FREE. And it really isn’t FREE for you either. You have to take action to download it, and then read it. Your time and energy are not FREE, but if you put them to work in the right places, the rewards can be incredible.

YOUTUBE is FREE. But you have to load the website, take time to search for you want and then take your time to watch it. The videos are FREE, but the effort to get to then isn’t.  But think of the return. The dollar cost to watch videos on youtube is zero, but the return can be incredible. You can literally learn anything you want without spending a dollar out of your pocket. Every subject you could ever want to learn about lives on the platform. You can learn to play piano, hit a baseball better, skill up to be a master salesperson…all for FREE. But your effort will cost you.

Effort is never FREE. The effort it takes to make cold calls is never FREE. To jump in your car to see a potential client isn’t FREE. It costs you time, and time is the most precious thing we have.

Now is the greatest time in the history of America to take advantage of FREE stuff, but don’t think for a second that any of it is FREE. You can now skill up to become great at anything your heart desires and your out of pocket cost is zero. But your time, effort and energy is never FREE so choose wisely my friends. Be careful who you read, what you watch and who you listen too. In a world of FREE, search out the best. The proven one’s. The people who have done something at a level you want to do it at.

It is my hope that my book proves to you that getting it for FREE is just the start. Taking the time to download it, read or listen to it and then put the simple but powerful steps inside it are worth it. My effort to write it, promote it and now give it to you for FREE as been worth every cent of my time.

Jump on this offer. Available to you FREE OF CHARGE til the end of the month only at www.mattmanero.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt and his world class team has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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WHAT IS YOUR THUMBPRINT?

Let’s face it, average sucks. Average anything sucks. Having an average company, average marriage or average life just downright sucks. In my opinion, it is not worth doing at all. If you are going to do it average, don’t do it at all. Make the choice to be leave a meaningful thumbprint or just simply quit.

Ask yourself…what will my thumbprint be? Go a step further…what will my legacy be?

It’s the most important question you should be asking yourself each day. What thumbprint/impact/contribution will I make on my life and my career?

Everyone has the power to place their thumbprint on everything they touch. I don’t care if you are picking up the trash, pulling weeds, leading a company, raising kids, or creating a happy marriage, NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT YOUR THUMBPRINT ON IT ALL.

Why? Because so few people are doing it. In this economy, people are comfortable, satisfied, even downright lazy. It is a gift for all of us. When others are complacent…it is our time to pounce.

Here are 4 tips to help you create your own thumbprint…NOW.

  1.  Have a plan. Stop wandering around within your life. Dream more, visualize your future more, build what I call a “lifestyle by design”. You get one shot at this thing called your life, so max it out. Take the time to see your future, and build a plan to make it a reality.
  2. Go big or go small…either is OKAY. I don’t think you must change the world…but you do have to be in control of your world. Start with a big idea like climate change, or a small idea like dressing better. I really don’t care if you want to change the world, or just change your wardrobe…I just want you to get on a path to make an impact of some kind.
  3. Commit to greatness. Average anything doesn’t matter anymore. If you want to put your thumbprint on your career, your life or your business, greatness is the foundation. Sure, you can make videos in front of your rented mansion or lambo, but unless you have a real expertise behind it, it will fade. As my friend Grant Cardone says, “BE GREAT. NOTHING ELSE PAYS.”
  4. Be consistent. Doing something once doesn’t count. Putting your thumbprint on something means you will consistently perform. You will show up, even when you don’t want to. You will have the tough conversations with yourself or others, and you will do it all often. Doing something every once and a while kills momentum and confidence. Putting your thumbprint on anything requires consistency.

The challenge has been made to you by me. Plan your thumbprint, make it big or small, get great and do it often. Let me know how you are doing. Email me your progress at mmanero@cffnationwide.com

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt and his world class team has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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LEARN FROM SHARK TANK…PLEASE!

I love the show Shark Tank and odds are you do too. When people get a deal, I’m happy for them. But my favorite part is when the sharks get pitched an idea, that according to the entrepreneur has “global demand with RAVING customers” and when they tell the sharks their sales, everyone laughs. It is laughable. The fact that so many people think they have a unique, must have, powerful business, yet when it comes down to the nut cuttin’ they have no meaningful sales. If you and your product is SOOOOOO GREAT…why don’t you have any sales? And even though over 5 million people watch Shark Tank each week (not including reruns on CNBC), millions of people still repeat the same mistake everyday on social media.

Every day, all day long, I see people on social media pushing their “GURU” style videos and courses. “Let me show you the roadmap” they say. “Just buy my $499 course and the secrets of my success will be yours.” With the exception of a handful, if you asked them their annual sales, most would be laughed out of the tank. The real revenue of the business that makes them an expert would be so low it would be laughable.

Yet day after day, week after week, there they are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, telling us all why they are the greatest and why we should follow their lead.

Here is an idea. How about you stop posting, promising and promoting yourself and your courses, and you build a bona fide business. A business that generates millions in sales. A business that employs people. A business that has scaled and has stood the test of time.

Make today the day that you decide to get real about your business and your credibility.  The climb is part of it and most people would be interested in watching you go through it. If you must hit record daily, be transparent about your journey. Show us the pain, the struggles, and the challenges. Keep it real, don’t hide or mask it, show it to us. Remember, just because you are in business does not mean you are an expert. Just because, in a great economy, you have been able to squeak by and not go broke does not mean you can teach anyone anything. What matters is the truth AND real revenue, sales and cash flow. If you don’t have tons of it, I suggest you put the camera down and pick up the phone and start cold calling.

Learn from the examples on Shark Tank. First comes the idea, then massive action, then real REVENUE, then expertise, then credibility. After all of this… maybe, just maybe, then comes a deal. Otherwise, I’m OUT!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt and his world class team has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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YOUR MIND IS JACKIN’ WITH YOU. DON’T BELIEVE IT.

Some crazy dude in my office (his name is Tim Bazor) decided it would be a good idea for us to sign up for the SAVAGE RACE in DALLAS. I thought he would just drop the idea and that would be that. But Tim is our #1 salesman, and he earns the title for a reason. He is relentless. Day after day, he would walk the office, poking and prodding reasons why we should do the race and day after day one of us would sign up. Finally, it was shit or get off the pot time for me. I said “NO”. He said, “To bad, I already paid the $100 for registration under your name.” His relentlessness paid off again, and in October, about 10 of us will be doing the Dallas Savage Race.

Most mornings I don’t want to train for it. But I have developed a few hacks that help me put my running shoes on by 6 am and head out the door. These hacks work for anything you don’t want to do. Here they are.

  1. Your Mind is Jackin’ with You. Don’t Believe it. Our mind wants us to be warm, fat and happy. It wants you to stay under the covers, to eat cake and sleep. Don’t believe it. Know that our brain is wired for safety and comfort and also know that it is all BS. We can all do so much more than we have or think we can. Never let the first “NO” dictate anything in your life….ALWAYS PUSH THROUGH THE FIRST NO.
  2. If you can’t, then you must. Just tell yourself this when you don’t want to do something. “If you can’t…then you must” is a great motto and in short order, you will find yourself doing things you didn’t think were possible. Don’t want to make the next cold call…say it out loud…”If I can’t then I must.” Then pick up the phone and smile and dial.
  3. Commit the night before. Each night, before I crawl into my warm bed, I put my running gear at the foot of my bed. My shoes, socks, shorts, and shirt are waiting for me. I can’t get to the bathroom without walking over my stuff. This process forces me to make a decision first thing in the morning. Am I going to run or make an excuse? I hate lying to myself by making excuses, so I run. By prepping the night before, I add just that little extra reason to force my mind to say yes vs. no.
  4. Hit Play. I love my playlist of music, and I make it a habit to start each day with the same song; GLORIA by U2. When Bono fades in with “GLORIA”, and the Edge hits the riff, it’s game on for me. Find tunes that fire you up and start the day with them. Wake up and instead of opening FACEBOOK, hit play, put the shoes on and head out the door.

The power of mind control opens up the door to freedom. When you master this skill, the pleasures of adventure, fitness, money, happiness, friendship and love pour in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22st year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS. My Experience with Grant Cardone and Cardone Capital.

When I started my business, Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. 22 years ago, I had no money, no clients and no contacts. I’m sure it was or maybe is the same for you and we can both agree it can be a lonely road. For me, it was the only road I knew. I couldn’t trust anyone and I had to control everything. The road to success had to be hard and never easy, and those thoughts have cost me millions of dollars. As the most successful money makers know, none of that is true. What you need to do, as early in your career or business as you can, is to partner with people more successful than you.

That brings me to my experience with Grant Cardone and Cardone Capital. In 2013, after busting my butt for years, I had money, thousands of clients, but unfortunately, limited contacts. My network was too small, and I set out to change that. When I met Grant in Mexico, his message hit me like a brick. His book The 10X Rule gave me the fuel to go for even more success. To expand my business, expand my relationships, my contacts and my net worth. Within 12 months, Grant was educating me on the benefits of owning real estate – specifically apartment complexes.

I liked the idea of owning real estate, and owned my office building and had flipped houses in the past, but the returns on those deals never impressed me. In fact, they all took a tremendous amount of time and energy away from my core money making machine, CFF. When Grant and I talked about the opportunity for me to invest in Cardone Capital my ears perked up. I wanted to put money to work outside of CFF, but I didn’t want to take the time and energy to find deals, find financing, find tenants, etc. I wanted to be part of that process, but I didn’t want to lead it. Partnering with Cardone Capital, provided me that perfect opportunity and I jumped at the chance.

You decide for yourself if partnering vs. leading your real estate portfolio fits your investment desires and style. For me, Cardone Capital was ideal, and has proven to be a great investment. I like getting my cash flow check each month, not to mention the long-term equity build up. But what I really like is what the power of partnering has taught me. I don’t have to control everything. I can trust others, to let them do what they do best, (in this case investing in apartment complexes) so that I can do what I do best, the financing of thousands more big rigs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22st year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “YOU NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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What Your Employee’s HATE About You Most.

Being the boss takes qualities and skills that many people don’t have. That is why you are the boss and they are not. But you have a quality that your employee’s hate. Want to know what it is? Drum roll please…You accept their excuses.

Employee’s know that they often lack skills and confidence. Most want to do better and to achieve more. But you, as their boss, get in the way of their progress. How? Because you allow them to make excuses. You listen to their excuses, you believe their excuses, and every time you do that, deep down, they hate you for it. They don’t know how to push through excuses, and you don’t force them to do so. Subconsciously they want to push through their excuses, to do better and be more valuable to the organization and they need you to help them.

If they had all the answers, you would be working for them, not the other way around. You, as the boss, have a responsibility to make your employee’s better. By not allowing excuses, you will push them to increase their commitment, solve problems, and develop a CAN-DO attitude. These attributes increase their value to the organization. Build a company culture in which excuses are simply not tolerated. Here are 5 tips to help you remove excuses in your organization.

1. GIVE EXAMPLES OF EXCUSES: Make this fun so your team can see how silly excuses sound. Call a team meeting and go through a list of the worst excuses they have ever given or heard. Here is my favorite. My office is in Dallas. We don’t get much frigid weather. But during a rare freezing morning, one of my employees called in and said the door locks on his car were frozen. He poured warm water on them to melt the ice and the entire lock had now frozen solid. He couldn’t get into his car to drive to work. Funny thing was that it was the same excuse he used on the one freezing day we had the year before. Either he didn’t learn from one year to the next, or he was feeding me a line of bull sh.t. But both times I excepted it, and he got the day off. I should have said, “Get an extension cord, plug your hair drying into it, turn it on and point it at the lock on your car door. When the ice melts…get your ass to work.”

2. PUT SOME LOGIC TO THE EXCUSE: I love this excuse. “I know I need to lose weight, so I will start my diet on Monday.” But today is Wednesday! How does waiting until Monday help the situation? It doesn’t, because there is no logic in this excuse. Start the diet today…Wednesday…and think how far ahead you will be by the time Monday rolls around!

3. EXPLAIN THE CUSTOMER IMPACT: When our employees make excuses, not only does their confidence and production suffer, but it does the same to your customer. If your employee makes an excuse like, “We ran out of tape in the shipping department. I couldn’t close the package. That’s why the shipment didn’t go out last night.” Your customer suffers. Perhaps your customer had to have YOUR shipment to finish THEIR job! The excuse offered by your shipping department (because they didn’t do whatever they had to do to get more tape) caused a problem in your customers business. It’s a domino effect.

4. HAVE A COMPANY CULTURE THAT OFFERS PERSONAL DAYS: Give your employee’s some paid personal days. At CFF, after your first year, we offer 5 paid personal days each year. Our employees don’t have to make an excuse. They can just simply say they are going to take a personal day, and it’s done. They get the day off and we don’t have to listen to an excuse.

5. LISTEN UP: The excuses your employee’s offer may be an opportunity for you to improve. In the shipping example above. You messed up and didn’t order enough tape. That doesn’t mean the employee shouldn’t have done whatever they could to get more, but the screw up was on you. Be open to the cause of the excuse and do everything in your power to prevent it from h appening again.

Excuses are everywhere and used by everyone. Excuses get in the way of action. Action creates success. The single greatest impact you can make on the development of your staff is to help them by NOT ACCEPTING EXCUSES. They might not like it at first, but trust me, over time, they will thank yo u for the push.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Matt Manero is the Founder and President of Commercial Fleet Financing, Inc. (CFF) located in Dallas, TX. CFF is celebrating its 22nd year in business and provides financing for commercial fleet vehicles such as box trucks, cargo vans, big rigs, tow trucks, dump trucks and construction equipment. CFF is a 4-time winner of the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Inc. Magazine Top 500/5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Matt has helped thousands of small business owners move closer to the money they deserve. He is the author of, “The Grit”, and his forthcoming book, “You NEED MORE MONEY” will be out in March 2018. Learn more at www.cffnationwide.com or call 972.247.8447 phone or on all social media platforms via @Matt Manero.

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