BrianDixon

Sample A (Zerorez Blog Post):

Most traditional carpet cleaning companies employ the traditional hot water extraction method that requires soaps, shampoos or harmful chemicals, some of which are left behind in the carpets as a soil-attracting residue. This residue makes carpets actually appear dirtier faster, leading to unsatisfied customers.

Since 2002, Zerorez’s mission has been to revolutionize the carpet cleaning industry which has been cleaning the same old way for 70 years. Unlike traditional carpet cleaning companies that use soaps or detergents or toxic chemicals in their cleaning process, Zerorez has a patent-pending cleaning system that features Powered Water^®, which acts like a detergent at the molecular level, yet does not leave any soil-attracting residue behind. This process leaves carpets looking cleaner for a longer time, and lessens the time it takes for carpets to dry. With this revolutionary cleaning method, we are introducing our customers to The Right Way to Clean®.

What’s the “secret?” It is applying technology to cleaning in a fresh new way. A way that results in a truly green, cleaner clean. This is a clean that is green for the environment and GREAT for the home.

Let’s face it. Residential and Commercial cleaning is a huge industry. There are thousands of undifferentiated operators, many of whom have no support, little consistency and high personnel turnover. Sure, they can do a “basic job,” but what you want is a great clean, a fresh clean, a dependable clean that lasts longer. And, that is just what Zerorez provides!

Zerorez has earned a Platinum rating from the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI)-the highest rating possible—which demonstrates the efficiency of its cleaning process. This rating system was designed with customers in mind to help them find cleaning companies that are efficient and responsible to get the job done right the first time. 

Great cleaning starts with a simple call or on-line connection with one of our independent franchise operations. We take great pride in a positive “golden rule” contact with each customer, and work with that customer all the way through the scheduling to the service to the follow-up after each cleaning job. Our aim is to create “Raving Fans,” and we work hard to achieve that. A key measure is our industry-leading percentage of highly positive reviews, which we cherish.

We don’t aim to be the biggest in our industry, but we do aim to be the best and “most trusted” service provider in the industry. 

Contact Zerorez for service on-line and find your closest location at http://www.zerorez.com, or call 866-937-6739. We look forward to showing you The Right Way To Clean.®

Sample B (Brightwork Living Blog Post):

6 Things to Consider in Your Search For Assisted Living

As people age and need more help with daily activities, such as bathing, safely taking medication or preparing good meals, moving to a facility that provides some assistance, without sacrificing dignity or independence can be a great option!

However, the decision to leave one’s own home, or the desires of family care givers to provide more constant attention and assistance for a loved one is not an easy decision.   So, what factors should you consider when looking for a place to move to?  First, think about what activities you or your loved one may need help with?  People residing in Assisted Living Facilities may need assistance with any number of daily activities such as dressing, bathing, using the bathroom, cooking or eating, taking medications and regular household ‘chores’ such as laundry and housekeeping.   Physical mobility is also a key concern…how well is the person able to move about, and with how much confidence and assistance?

If you are considering an Assisted Living facility for yourself or a loved one, here are 6 considerations to assist you:

Location.  Consider a location that will keep the person connected to family members, friends, church associates and medical teams.  The greater the distance from these parties can make follow-up, support and care much more difficult and less effective.

Think about your current and future needs.  How much care does the individual need now and how much care will they need in the future.  Always ask, what is the “level of care” that you provide?  How much physical accessibility is there in the facility for wheel chairs or walkers?   How easy is it for the person to exit the building in case of fire or other emergency?   How much care is provided, in terms of resident to nursing assistant ratio?

Reflect on the environment of the facility.  Do you or your loved one want a cozy and homelike environment, or a large ‘corporate facility’ with more people, functions, attractions (and more cost.)

Examine the offerings of the facility.  Are there good home-cooked meals provided, is it ample and nourishing?   Does the staff seem attentive and caring?  Do the current residents seem happy, comfortable and positive?   Is there space to walk or exercise, sit outside, garden, enjoy the neighborhood?  Does the facility offer the services that you or a loved one need, including housekeeping, medication administration, bathing or clothing assistance and laundry services?

Take a tour of the facility.  Match your observations with the expectations that you have for services needed.   How would you or a loved one FEEL here?   Does the facility look and smell clean and attractive?  Find out if there are vacancies and what process will be followed for admittance, along with a timeline for service.

Understand the costs.   Are there any extra charges?  What are the payment terms?  Does this feel like a good value to you?   Review the intake documents carefully and ask questions before making a final commitment.

Best wishes in making a confident and comfortable decision about assisted living that will provide the care you want for yourself or a loved one!

Sample C (A personal post on my LinkedIn page): 

In his book titled "The Soft Edge" Rich Karlgaard makes a case for a transformative shift from a purely numbers-driven 'hard edge' management style to a deeper and more effective 'soft edge' management style. Here's a useful excerpt and summary to promote this stronger approach to management.

The goal for every organization is (or should be) lasting success, not just a 'great year.' That lasting success can be described as a triangle, with the bottom dimension being a strategic base. As Fred Smith of FedEx fame stated: "The number one thing that every organization has to get right is strategy. You can have the best operations. You can be the most adept at whatever it is that you are doing. But if you have a bad strategy, it's all for naught." (Of course, no strategy leads more directly to disaster.)

Another dimension on the success triangle is the 'hard edge.' That is managing to the numbers--speed, cost, supply chain, logistics and capital efficiency. Every organization needs people who execute on the hard edge, or they will ultimately fail.

The third dimension is the 'soft edge' and it is the most misunderstood, often neglected and underfunded side of business. Why? It is harder measure and so it is tougher to attach an ROI to any investments made to it. Thus, business leaders may tend to neglect the things that aren't so 'concrete.'

Now, here's why investing and focusing more on the 'soft edge' makes great sense:

• Soft Edge strength leads to greater brand recognition higher profit margins, more loyal customers and more committed employees--a sure path to differentiation.
• Companies strong in the soft edge can often survive a big strategic mistake. Loyalty, passion and commitment are the dividends of a strong soft edge that cushion mistakes and leverage every success.
• The hard edge is easier to clone versus the soft edge. Think again about loyalty, differentiation, culture, personnel quality.

So, what is the soft edge? It is: trust, smarts, teams, taste and story.

• Trust: Does your external market, your customers and shareholders trust you? Within each organization trust begins with culture and values...which lead to more productivity along with better recruiting and retention.
• Smarts: Habits and processes that unlock knowledge and support learning.
• Teams: Unleashing collaboration and innovation in a way that leverages team effort. Essentially, working together makes each other better. It increases accountability, passion and effort....and results!
• Taste: Finding a way to make products or services that trigger emotional touchpoints to make the brand standout.
• Story: Having an organizational purpose and telling it in a way that gives the organization 'steel in its spine' to make the correct choices and builds and enduring customer uniqueness.

I embrace this thoughtful, well-researched and well-written book that can help all organizations! It is at once results-oriented and people oriented. It embraces both hard and soft in a way that generates lasting success.