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As business owners and managers, it's a daily challenge to encourage trainees and employees to understand how important small, sustained improvements can contribute to their professional development. As a means of simplifying this perspective, author James Clear shared his approach 1% daily improvement in his book Atomic Habits. A recent guest on The DYOJO Podcast, Zac, who manages a team of water damage technicians in Tumwater, Washington, shared how he uses the 1% improvement concepts to help team members focus on the right things that will help them and the team grow. As Zac puts it, "Team, how can we be 1% better today?" It turns out, the concept of the aggregation of marginal gains may have been introduced by Dave Brailsford in his capacity as director of British Cycling performance. While the 1% focus is helpful to team members and organizations, Brailsford took a holistic approach to improvement. Teams under his direction would look for any incremental advantage they could muster. For example, lighter tires for the cycles, more ergonomic seating, electrically heated over shorts, and down to details including handwashing techniques. Both men explain how small, consistent improvements will lead to positive results that compound over time. The more an individual and a team can structure their mindsets and habits towards sustainable increases in performance the better all entities will be poised for success. As growth-minded professionals, we don't have to make leaps and bounds to create better outcomes; often we just need to dial down to the essentials and improve intentionally. Hear more about this topic of small improvements leading to big impacts, as well as other habits for success in property restoration, construction, and the workplace on Episode 126 of The DYOJO Podcast.
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In Episode 126 of The DYOJO Podcast we disucss
The DYOJO Podcast - Helping Contractors Shorten their DANG Learning Curve (YouTube & Spotify). Get your copies of Jon Isaacson's books So, You Want to be a Project Manager and How to Suck Less at Estimating on Amazon or TheDYOJO.com  Are there superstars?
Is it a worthwhile pursuit to seek superstars for an organization? What if there are no superstars, only those who have superstar habits and their hard work pays off? Michael Jordan talks about all the shots he missed. Kobe Bryant would train before practice and stay after to get more shots in. Tiger Woods would hit hundreds of balls a day. What is the business equivalent? There are plenty of people who try hard but don't succeed. There is a mixture of commitment, coachability, and competence that is required for any level of success. Is there a special ingredient that only superstars have or do they just want and/or work harder to achieve their goals? Do they stay the course longer than their counterparts? Whatever the answer is, the best thing us regular humans can do is focus on mastering the basics. Mastering the basics centers our focus on what we can control. Mastering the basics puts us in position to take advantage of opportunities. Mastering the basics allows us to build a foundation that will support greater challenges. It's not enough for one person to be committed to superstar habits, it takes a team all working hard and willing to play their roles. A team of highly committed, readily coachable, and above average competent players will be in the running. Encourage the right habits. Remove the noise and wasted energies; i.e. strip away the bad habits. For episode 125 of The DYOJO Podcast we review recent video of the senate hearings lead by Josh Hawley (MS) which include sworn testimony from two policyholders with Allstate and State Farm who were affected by improper insurance claims handling for property damages. The extended video includes sworn testimony from two independent adjusters who worked for insurance carrier Allstate and third party adjusting firm Pilot. Senator Hawley has direct interaction with Mike Fiato who is the executive vice president and chief claims officer for Allstate Insurance Company. Video clips from:
Thursdays are for The DYOJO Podcast - helping contractor's shorten their DANG learning curve. Check out thedyojo.com for more information, the DYOJO blog, and sign up for The DYOJO Wire Newsletter.  A few of the questions and topics we will discuss in this episode of The DYOJO Podcast include: * What is the Restoration Industry Association (RIA)? * Should contractors join the RIA? * Is the RIA doing a good job? Episode 124 of The DYOJO Podcast "Construction Ethics, Shared Goals, and a Stronger Future" 0:00 More American 1:40 RIA 2025 Recap 7:35 Contractor Code of Ethics 13:42 Restoration History 18:47 Is RIA Doing a Good Job? 23:33 Weaponizing Consumer Protection 30:22 Success Tips from Taylor Rivas Listen to The DYOJO Podcast on Spotify and watch on YouTube. Read The DYOJO Blog for more information and links to the stories we discuss in this episode. Subcribe to The DYOJO Wire newsletter. NAICS Code for Emergency Restoration Services The Restoration Industry Association (RIA) is proud to announce the formal submission of a request to the federal government for the establishment of a new six-digit NAICS code—624231: Emergency Restoration Services—as part of the 2027 NAICS review. Read more on this exciting announcement. The RIA Scores a Legislative Win for Restorers in Texas! The RIA will be working closely with Representative Campos over the several months to make revisions before the next legislative session and will share updates on our progress. Read more about this effort. In the construction and restoration industry, clear communication is the foundation of getting paid for your work. A recent episode of The DYOJO Podcast, titled "Get Paid, Not Played: Managing Client Expectations as a Contractor," dives into a real-world case study that highlights the dangers of misaligned expectations and unclear agreements. The episode unpacks a troubling scenario where a contractor’s attempt to secure payment went awry, offering valuable lessons for contractors on how to protect their earnings and maintain trust with clients. The case study involves a homeowner who filed a hail damage claim after being alerted to the issue by a contractor. The contractor suggested the damage might be covered by insurance, which proved true when the claim was approved. However, tensions arose when the homeowner requested a straightforward estimate for roof replacement. The contractor refused to provide one unless the homeowner shared their insurance scope of work, insisting they deserved the insurance payout since they had flagged the damage. The homeowner, wary of this approach, stood firm, stating the insurance payout was their business. After pushback, the contractor released the homeowner from an outdated pre-work contract but then submitted a surprise $1,200 invoice for unapproved "temporary repairs" and demanded the insurance payment. The homeowner’s insurance adjuster had to intervene, shutting down the contractor’s demands. The homeowner had only paid $375 via Cash App to a technician for a minor fix, which raised red flags about the contractor’s practices. This scenario underscores a common frustration for contractors: investing time, resources, and expertise into assessments and documentation, only for the client to choose a cheaper competitor. As the podcast host explains, contractors often use tools like DocuSketch, detailed photo labels, and Xactimate estimates to create comprehensive claims that secure insurance payouts. When clients take this work and hire someone else, it feels like a betrayal. To mitigate this, some contractors use pre-work authorizations or letters of intent, outlining that their services—such as travel, documentation, and estimating—come with a cost if the client opts out. However, as this case shows, such agreements must be clear, current, and mutually understood to avoid disputes. The episode emphasizes the importance of a clear contract that defines responsibilities and expectations for both parties. A contract should outline what the contractor will do (e.g., assess damage, provide an estimate), what the client is responsible for (e.g., payment terms), and the agreed-upon scope and cost. Without this clarity, misunderstandings can escalate, as seen when the contractor sent a technician for a small repair, paid directly via Cash App, which the homeowner perceived as disorganized or unprofessional. The podcast suggests that contractors should communicate their process upfront, detailing potential outcomes—approval, denial, or partial coverage—and how each will be handled. This transparency builds trust and reduces the risk of surprise invoices or disputes. Another key takeaway is the need for a code of ethics in the industry. The host references the Restoration Industry Association’s Code of Ethics and advocates for a standard of restoring properties to pre-loss conditions using materials of like kind and quality. This principle, dubbed "letting the structure speak," guides contractors, adjusters, and clients toward a shared goal: repairing damage based on its source and extent. By aligning all parties around this standard, contractors can avoid gray areas—like unapproved repairs or inflated invoices—that erode trust. The episode also highlights the contractor’s perspective: the frustration of feeling taken advantage of by clients who benefit from their expertise but don’t commit to the job. To address this, contractors should screen clients carefully and set expectations early, positioning themselves as trusted partners. The host suggests using scenarios like this as training opportunities to refine communication strategies and ensure alignment with clients who value their expertise. Ultimately, getting paid as a contractor requires proactive communication, clear contracts, and ethical practices. By setting the tone early, documenting agreements, and adhering to industry standards, contractors can avoid the pitfalls of surprise invoices and unpaid work, ensuring they get paid—not played. |
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