is spent productively, it is an investment that returns to you ten fold. The locksmith industry contains some of the hardest-working and most pas- sionate folks I have ever encountered. It’s home to craftsmen who dedicate themselves to values of honesty, secu- rity and safety. They are no strangers to early mornings, late nights and whatever it takes to get the job done. Locksmiths who provide mobile service oſten sacrifice time with friends and family to ensure their customers’ urgent needs are met. It’s simply par for the course in our world. Many business owners in this industry began their path to ownership working as key cutters or field technicians at their respective companies, or as a security technician at another established compa- ny, working their way up to their current role. It’s not uncommon for locksmith business owners to continue working as techs, full-time even, once they’ve taken on ownership responsibilities. This is, by no means, a thing, but it can create challenges for a growing business or a business that is adapting to any changes. Make Your Presence Known and Your Efforts Count If you continue to work in a position of di- rect contact with your customers, it’s valu- able to introduce yourself as the business owner when assisting customers, when ap- propriate. It’s important to also note this in your company’s branding by placing your title in your email signature, on your busi- ness card and on your website. Custom- ers generally enjoy knowing whom they’re dealing with, and when you’re delivering quality, it’s important to gain that recog- nition for your business. If you are already pretty visible within your organization in these ways, consider making some short videos for social media where you introduce yourself and share a promotion or boost a certain service your company offers. WWW.ALOA.ORG Set Clear Expectations A business is not unlike a child in that it requires your attention and nurtur- ing. It’s very easy to be disappointed when your goals are unclear or un- known. If a child isn’t given very clear rules and expectations, chances are, the child will find themselves breaking rules they weren’t even aware existed. Beyond rule setting, time and energy must be invested in the child for them to understand what you mean. This can be applied to your business when you replace “rules” with “goals.” Your goals must be shared with your team, and you must commit to actions on a regular basis that are in alignment with those goals. This helps maintain progress, motivation and momentum. Goals can be achieving specific sales targets, a specific number of new cli- ents or estimates each week or month or perfect staff attendance for a certain amount of time. Sometimes your goals may be personal or private, and that’s understandable. Keep a List of Your Goals It is best to write down your goals and break them into smaller accomplish- ments. There’s no such thing as a ter- rible goal! If you have certain projects or areas within your business where you’d like to have a greater impact, it can be really helpful to write down your goals. This can help set a great foun- dation for achievement. Be sure that you’re dedicating time to reaching your goals, but also ensure the actions you’re taking are having the desired impact. If you’re not making the progress you’d like, it’s always okay to reroute your efforts and try a new approach. Cen- tering your daily efforts around your goals and coming up with incentives can be the difference between success and disappointment. Work Where You Are Best and Hire the Rest This philosophy applies differently to each business. The bottom line is that your business has needs that must be met, and so do you! If you’re being pulled into the truck to meet custom- er demand, you must be sure that the fundamental needs of your business are not being neglected. These needs might include: payroll, bill paying, em- ployee management, maintenance of vehicles/workplace and more. While it may not be feasible to outsource every need, you may be able to restructure your time and your business to make your life easier and to maximize your profits. Work/Life Balance At any time, the balance of working both in your business and on your busi- ness may change. It’s important to reas- sess your habits and routines and make any necessary adjustments as needed. When your business is built around you, it’s extra important to take good care of yourself. They call it “Key Man Insurance” for a reason. Make sure due diligence is paid to your own health, stress maintenance and life enjoyment. As time passes, you may want to set up a plan to help your business become in- dependent and successful beyond your own daily or regular efforts. Katelyn Lucas Radtke is a fourth-generation secu- rity professional based in the San Francisco Bay area. She is an exper t contributor to Blackhawk Living Magazine and lead contributor to Give-A-Hoot.com, a website, blog and You- Tube channel empowering communities by providing safety and security information, tips and education. JANUARY 2017 KEYNOTES 15
