A rumor exists that the Golden Gate Bridge has a full-time paint crew that works year round. Urban legend has it that as soon as the painters are finished with the length of the bridge, they return once again to the beginning and repeat. They never cease in the application of the orange vermillion color […]
No one looks forward to confrontation. But holding employees accountable is what holds a business to its goals and purpose. In a small business environment, have a systematic process for disciplining and even releasing employees is critical. Our strategy actually includes steps before the discipline/termination process begins. I believe it should be normal for people […]
“Catastrophe” is defined as an event causing unexpected and sudden damage. Torrential rain and flash flooding destroyed hundreds of homes in a suburb of Chicago after a summer storm. For Resicom, the destruction was personal. Employees had family members living and affected in the area. Resicom took it upon itself to react quickly to the situation, […]
How do you respond with quick thinking solutions and resources when a car crashes through a storefront. Summary A client who schedules preventative maintenance and national rollouts had a critical facility emergency. A car had driven right into one of their locations, causing tremendous damage to the front of the building and structure. The facility […]
The leader needs to create clarity in why the organization exists, what its goals are, and the plan it is using to get there. This clarity needs to live in all aspects of the company. The company’s processes must be built using this clarity. I believe another key CEO responsibility is to build/recruit a […]
What is the key trait a CEO should have? Outside of the ethical/moral ones, many desired traits oppose one another. One person says passionate, the other says logical. Another says “Driven” and yet another says “Patient”. Who is right? It cannot be answered with certainty, as it is a subjective question. There are a […]
September 13, 2010 In bold pursuit of providing normalcy to the facility management industry, Resicom will continue its European expansion this week when it begins new project rollout Italy. This comes in the wake of Resicom’s expansion into the United Kingdom. International expansion remains a priority for the company, having also completed a multi-province retail refresh […]
Shouldn’t it be normal for a vendor-partner to complete projects consistently, regardless of where the projects are located? We believe it should be normal for a company to gain experience, deposit it into a central hub, then use it the next time a similar project arises. We call it the Knowledge Bank. Building and maintaining […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. How do you provide full, nationwide service within a growing company located in a few select cities? Resicom hires experts in their specific field and […]
It should be normal for a company to provide a sense of security of employment for its employees. Ask a group of people to define- “What does job security mean?”. In today’s volatile economic climate, people might respond that security simply means knowing your job will be there tomorrow and the day after that. […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. Thanks, in part to Resicom, my brother and I have been able to buy a beautiful home. The company is about consistency. Consistency with what […]
It should be normal for companies to help its employees fulfill their need to give back to the community. Let’s face it. We call it work because it’s time spent away from family, friends and personal interests. But what if you can find a job for which you have passion, interest and inspiration? Suddenly, […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. Resicom has had countless family-oriented gatherings outside work with some of the best food you have ever eaten. I think the people of Resicom […]
Certain roles carry levels of authority – like a parent, manager, or president. This authority is one dimensional, and can be easily disregarded. Unlike power, authority is typically “given” and carries rules in a way that does not ensure buy-in. Power or influence is earned. It is three dimensional, connecting the mind, body, and soul. […]
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies (IES) Advisory Council at the University of Illinois Chicago is committed to sharing wisdom, credibility, networks, and resources to the members of their network. Resicom CEO, John Fairclough, was recently asked to join the IES Advisory Council. Fairclough’s three-year term includes attending formal meetings of the council, serving as an […]
For many children, one of the most exciting parts of back to school is shopping for brand new school supplies. But for families in financial crisis, the idea of the additional expense of new supplies, clothes and shoes for back to school is anything but exciting. Little Beans, an organization dedicated to providing children with […]
DePaul University’s Colemam Entrepeneur Center hosted a business symposium entitled “Breakthroughs”. Held at the Metropolitan Club in Chicago, October 28, invited speakers presented a 20-minute experience share. Resicom CEO, John Fairclough joined a group of 18 accomplished business owners and industry leaders. All speakers shared personal stories of a time when they had their back […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. We asked our employees to share in their own words what makes Resicom unique. “Resicom harnesses cutting edge technology to its fullest potential. Resicom doesn’t […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. We asked our employees to share in their own words what makes Resicom unique. “Resicom is a pretty big operation but at its heart, it […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. We asked our employees to share in their own words what makes Resicom unique. “It is refreshing to work for a company dedicated to bringing […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. We asked our employees to share in their own words what makes Resicom unique. “The Director of Operations and I had a rather heated discussion […]
What makes Resicom different? Every company has a distinct culture- the history, the creativity, the ingenuity behind what keeps the company growing and moving forward. We call these legendary stories. We asked our employees to share in their own words what makes Resicom unique. “Resicom is a environment where a group of type A personalities […]
Resicom is committed to getting better at the things that matter to us. We call it the bold pursuit of what normal should be. It should be normal that a company can create opportunities for the employees that help build our business. Open Position :: Dispatcher The Dispatcher role in Operations is responsible for logistics coordination of […]
How does changing a 9-volt battery save a facility hundreds of dollars later? A national retailer needed a systematic inspection of their facilities. During these visits, it was determined including a procedure to check the battery in the exit door alarm system could prevent a more costly on-demand work ticket when the battery failed. Scope […]
It should be normal for people to communicate clearly and courageously, and save some of their finite resources. If you ask anyone in the facility management “What is the most important key to success?” – The resounding answer will be Communication. This one word is the key ingredient in all successful partnerships. It is an […]
“Sometimes You Have to Look Over the Edge and Not Blink” Resicom CEO, John Fairclough’s featured article on About.com recalls the moment he thought the company might not survive. Many businesses, with Resicom being no exception, felt the strain of the economic downturn. In May of 2009, two critical clients for the national facility maintenance […]
It should be normal for people to know where they stand in the company and know how they are performing. At employee reviews, one of the biggest sources of tension is when an employee feels misunderstood and that efforts and results have not been acknowledged. When someone is blindsided in terms of performance, it is […]
Resicom CEO, John Fairclough, has been nominated for The 2010 Business Ledger Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. A strategically innovative entrepreneur and business owner, Fairclough enjoys a level of success that transcends monetary reward and instead empowers both communities and individuals. Fairclough is motivated to experience share with other first-level entrepreneurs in assist catapulting their business to the […]
It should be normal for a vendor to help a facility maintenance professionals spend their money better. They face the uphill battle of protecting their brand while balancing the needs of operations and finance. This program provides the accountability, communication, and structure needed to protect your brand cost effectively. There are three basic tenets of […]
It should be normal that a company can offer its employees unique, life-changing experiences. Aruba, Jamaica- Ooh, I wanna take ya. Key Largo, Montego, Baby why don’t we go? Congratulations to Resicom Employee Contest winner Paul Romanowski. Paul and his fiancé won their choice of a domestic Starwood vacation destination with airfare. The winning entry was randomly chosen […]
It should be normal for the experience of any project to become knowledge the entire company can share. Imagine the efficiencies gained when a national company is able to learn from a project it completes in Los Angeles, and share that experience with a technician that will complete the same project in New York. Building […]
It should be normal for the experience of any project to become knowledge the entire company can share. Imagine the efficiencies gained when a national company is able to learn from a project it completes in Los Angeles, and share that experience with a technician that will complete the same project in New York. Building […]
Entrepreneur Café-the blog of Resicom CEO John Fairclough received the 2010 Top Blog Award. Sponsored by OnlineMBA.com and AwardingTheWeb.com, a panel of judges reviews nominees that have been submitted or sourced by the panel’s research team. In the case of Entrepreneur Café, the award comes as a pleasant surprise as the nominating team found Entrepreneur Cafe […]
The Finesse Cuisine Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio will feature business consultant and CEO Resicom John Fairclough this Thursday morning at 11 a.m. Weekly guests discuss entrepreneurship, arts, entertainment, food and wine with host and Finesse Catering Company founder Jon Wool. Other guest include Deborah Hall, founder and president of hospitality executive search firm, Hall & Associates. […]
CNN Money.com recently mentioned Resicom CEO John Fairclough. Local entrepreneur Andrea Herrera, founder of Amazing Edibles Catering, credited John Fairclough as the mentor that assisted in propelling her business over the $1 million in sales mark. In 2006, Herrera joined the Accelerator program of the Entrepreneur’s Organization, a group that offers networking and mentoring for […]
TVs aren’t just for sports bars anymore. Televisions at retailers and restaurants have become more prevalent for marketing display purposes. A client wanted to change their current menu board visuals with 52”inch LCD televisions connected to the company intranet. updated daily from a remote location. The menu selection could then be updated daily from a […]
A facility required the aluminum window mullions on the building exterior painted. What made the project scope unique is that execution needed to be completed during normal business hours. Traditional spray equipment would be too disruptive during regular hours of operations, as the overspray could not be contained. A durable product to prevent pealing and […]
It’s normal that when someone plans a visit, we tidy up to make a favorable impression. When the person visiting is a CEO, additional effort to make everything sparkle happens PDQ! A retail client requested an emergency job to refresh the high gloss bamboo finish on all display fixtures and wall bays for a last […]
Society teaches us to be leery of questions. Detectives ask questions, offering little in way of information, looking for ways to use the answers against you. Lawyers do the same. There is a sense of when you are questioned, the end result is you will be wrong or bad. I believe it could be normal […]
Resicom believes in the bold pursuit of what normal should be. It should be normal that learning drives growth, and a growing business prospers. Our core value is to be an organization of individuals committed to development. This mind set will drive us toward to our corporate and personal goals. To achieve this objective, Resicom is committed […]
Resicom believes in the bold pursuit of what normal should be. It should be normal that the companies you hire make you better. It should be normal that the people you bring into your organization strengthen your company. This purpose breathes throughout the company and directs how we approach both client relationships and recruiting talented […]
Resicom believes in the bold pursuit of what normal should be. It should be normal that the companies you hire make you better. It should be normal that the people you bring into your organization strengthen your company. This purpose breathes throughout the company and directs how we approach both client relationships and recruiting talented […]
Opportunities need the right people with the right resources to be realized. This cannot be understated. Too many companies do not properly prepare their people for success. They typically under-train and under-support the very people they expect to deliver results. The logic does not add up. The end result includes disengaged people doing things well […]
So many people are in a rush – to get somewhere, to get something done, to clear their list of things to do. We live in an efficiency driven world. This is understandable, as it gives us the satisfaction of accomplishing something. My struggles with this are when people are so focused on getting the […]
Does anyone like being asked a question where their answer really does not influence anything? If someone does not have the option of not doing something, why ask them if they can? Why not just tell them they need to do it. Manipulating them does not demonstrate appreciation nor respect. Why would anyone want to […]
Interdependence. Now there is a word not used nearly enough. People talk about independence quite often. Interdependence is almost never discussed. Gandhi put it this way “Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being. Without interrelation with society he cannot realize his oneness with […]
In the pursuit of understanding what the people you lead go through, it could be normal for a leader to live in the shoes of his direct reports periodically. This insight can help lead to innovate solutions and process improvements. It also can raise the opinion your direct reports have of you. There is a […]
Boredom at work is just as bad as being overworked. Productivity, quality of work, and mindset all suffer when challenges are too minuscule or are unattainable. It could be normal for work to be challenging with goals that can be accomplished. How can you help others stay engaged by giving them challenging goals that are […]
All human beings want to achieve things. They want and need to feel like they have accomplished something. It could be normal to define what success looks like, then set out to accomplish it. This brings self worth and dignity. How can we help others clarify and achieve their goals?
It could be normal to strengthen the relationships that are most important in your life. Living every minute as if it counted can change perspectives and priorities. Who do you want to spend more time with? Get that time by lessening the time on things that do not matter. There is an abundance of time […]
Guard your time like it is a valuable asset. People know when you quit listening. You cannot fake it. Good listening takes commitment. Be careful of how many people you commit to listen to. Otherwise your time will disappear and you will become ineffective. It could be normal for you to decide who you are […]
Good entrepreneurs tend to be a misunderstood group. They push when others pull. They take chances when others are cautious. They expand while others contract. All the while, their group of friends and family are left scratching their heads trying to figure out if the entrepreneur is crazy or a genius. This current downturn in […]
During difficult economic times, it is important to drive down costs. Although there are many ways to accomplish this, some cost cutting can cause permanent damage to your business. My approach to cost cutting is to turn it into a contest, which I have named “Blood From a Turnip”. Here is an overview. Objective Find […]
Gathering pertinent information to make informed decisions leads to greater likelihood of success. I call this task “Workplace Reconnaissance”. Lets look a common scenario. The leader of a business is in the middle of working on something important for the future of their company. They are interrupted by a team member who throws a fire […]
As business owners and managers, we are often put to the test. We face all sorts of situations with which there is handbook on how to deal with the situation. We need to be able to count on ourselves. Here is the test I give myself before taking action. I imagine my child is watching […]
All businesses are indirectly in the insurance business. I am not referring to the traditional types of insurance, rather I am referring to the management of risk. The people we hire, the technology we put in place, the operational procedures we produce are all a form of insurance we invest in to protect and strengthen […]
All too often people share their two cents when not asked. People tend not to follow advice they receive without solicitation. A more effective method of helping one another is through experience sharing. It is arrogant to assume that you have the answer to someone’s complex problems after briefly hearing about the story. There are […]
Finding a mentor is one of the best things entrepreneurs can do for their business. Too often small businesses do not have a board of directors to keep them accountable. Therefore they do not perform to their potential. Its like the old adage, what gets managed gets done. A mentor relationship can add accountability to […]
There is a certain level of anxiety, nervousness, or uneasiness I feel when someone gives me information. I question the information in my mind. I run it through all kinds of internal tests to see if it makes sense. The first thing I try to do is verify the information. Too often the information is […]
My approach to the financial aspect of business is best summed up by the oxymoron “Aggressive Conservatism”. I aggressively approach the financial well being of the company in a conservative manner. Let me better explain: I pay bills faster than terms. This is not what most people would teach because it has the potential to […]
It starts with you. When you aim to lead your organization and people to greatness, you need to be accountable to the company. There are things that people in leadership roles do that they believe are of little or no consequence that other people on the team see differently. Throughout the years, I have had […]
I have been getting requests to write a post about hiring. Why do we hire? Is it to support our desired lifestyle of more time off or is it to make more money? At the core, it is usually to support one or both of these objectives. Hiring is one of the riskiest things we […]
Company meetings are a great way to get information regarding strategy and goals. Many times they do not happen enough. I like quarterly meetings that are a little bit more formal coupled with regular feedback. In this environment, there are a lot of questions floating around, job losses are sweeping through the country, and most […]
I have run a company for years without a mentor, Advisory Board or Board of Directors, and we plugged along just fine. I had been completely comfortable in my role. The company was growing, I was making the company better and challenged myself to continuously improve what we did. I felt great about this. Then […]
Companies often debate the value in whether to conduct a comprehensive onboarding (orientation) program or initiating new hires as quickly as possible to jump start productivity. Apart from filling out paperwork, handing over a company handbook/benefits sheet, and perhaps issuing a company I.D., many companies do not invest the resources to properly onboard their greatest […]
The benefits of a full-scale onboarding program are immeasurable, but perhaps the most valid argument for comprehensive onboarding is that it communicates to the new hire that the company is genuinely attuned to promoting the individual’s success and career development within the organization. An effective onboarding sets the tone to introduce the company’s purpose […]
If employees from several different departments are being onboarded simultaneously, break out sessions provide more in-depth introduction of specific roles and responsibilities. These break out sessions or Training Modules require structure with set objectives, course materials, and some form of testing and feedback to determine that the objectives have been met. These Training Modules […]
On-boarding programs assist new hires with acclimating to the organization’s culture and position employees on the right path for personal and career success. Once a company has opted for a formal on-boarding program, a detailed plan must be drafted to ensure the program’s seamless execution and overall effectiveness. After essential components have been decided upon […]
How do you re-energize strategic meetings that seems to fall flat, or worse- are too complacent with everyone simply nodding their heads in agreement? Companies that have been successful in building a dynamic team of members in alignment with the organization’s core values and purpose, could eventually run the risk of lack of perspective. When […]
Why should a significant block of time be scheduled for quarterly strategic meetings when busy executives have so many other pressing responsibilities? Few phrases elicit as many groans in a company as the dreaded “Let’s schedule our quarterly meeting”. The most effective quarterly strategics should take place over the course of 1 to 2 days. […]
Business leaders, especially CEO’s, are often reluctant to relinquish having a a direct involvement in all tasks for their business. Rather than fall back on micromanagement, the most successful and productive companies are ones where business leaders can allocate the right work to the right people. In order to find the right task for the […]
A business needs to know its purpose, vision, goals, and core values. The purpose helps define the reason for being. The vision is what we aspire to be. The goals are intermediate points that are met during the life of the business. The core values are the boundaries that underline the behavior of people within […]
Here are the first steps to building and clarifying a strategy for your business: Examine the purpose of the business. Why does the company exist? Ask “Why?” multiple times and when you cannot ask it anymore, you are close to your purpose. This is typically the purpose of the founder of the company. This is […]
Internal communications keep the company’s team current on the happenings within the organization. Typical forms of this communication are newsletters, company updates, and memos from upper management. These play the role of delivering a message. The other, informal forms of communication are the ones that reinforce this message. These are the ones that are powerful. […]
Here are the first steps to bringing this type of internal communication into your company: Review your discipline and reward processes to see if they are consistent with what the company goals and values. Mention the components of the strategic plan when rewarding or disciplining an action. This reinforces how important they are and work […]
Creating the Leadership Team on the organizational chart is important in building organizational clarity. Here are specific basic disciplines of business: Sales/Marketing HR Operations Technology Finance/Admin Businesses may have some of these broken out separately, or combine others as their business size and needs dictate. These roles are typically filled by people with strong organizational […]
Here are the first steps to bringing this structure into your company: Identify the traits and skill set needed for this role Create the initial project list for this role by identifying opportunities and dangers the company would like to research. Review your current personnel to see if anyone can fill the role. If nobody […]
I believe organizational clarity is necessary for a company to enjoy long term success. Early on, I handled many of the responsibilities of my company, so clarity was not an issue. As my company grew, I found myself frustrated with decisions that were being made, because they did not align with our goals, and this […]
There were a couple of steps we established to hire the right people, once we knew what we wanted. We use this process to help prepare our team for success. Recruitment Establish a scorecard to rate each resume, with the intention of removing 70% of applicants, giving us the ability to spend more time with […]
The path to success includes many pivotal decisions. These decisions shape our future. I want to share my experience and the price I paid with my relationships as I pursued my dreams. In the beginning, I had my friends and family, and they were people I could count on. Life was easy and predictable. My […]
It should be normal that innovative solutions get developed and implemented into a company. We reached a size where this was no longer happening. These solutions were important, but not important enough for the executives of the company to focus on them. We were suffering because of this. It was not acceptable. Because of this, […]
Emerging Business Leaders is a program that we built that brings together young, insightful, talented members of a team to develop their leadership skills. This program serves as a platform for educating members on each discipline of business structure, innovation, improvement initiative development, while developing and acting upon Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis. The […]
It should be normal for people to end their workday knowing how they performed. It gives them the consistent feedback that reinforces the right activity, while giving the supervisor the ability to have objective performance discussions. I am in pursuit of having every position in our company be able to have this daily feedback. We […]
It should be normal for people to end their workday knowing how they performed. It gives them the consistent feedback that reinforces the right activity, while giving the supervisor the ability to have objective performance discussions. I am in pursuit of having every position in our company be able to have this daily feedback. We […]
It should be normal to practice thinking correctly under pressure so that we can be best prepared in pressured situations. I learned this exercise in London. It was quite revealing to me. Its about preparing your team for situations that may come up where they will feel under extreme pressure. By practicing it, they will […]
Verify information before vocalizing an opinion. It saves you from having to defend yourself when the facts defeat your argument. How many times have you given your opinion based on very little information, exposing your biases, only to find out it was not based on factual information? It should be normal to be open minded […]
It should be normal to accomplish your goals. The more clearly one can define what success looks like, the easier it is to build a plan to accomplish the goal. We ask the question “What does a Home Run look like?” and “How do we know if we accomplished our goal?” These questions help us […]
Humans have always pursued improved solutions to their problems. Think of the transformations we have experienced in transportation between 1900 and 1970. We witnessed the transformation from horse and rail transport, to automobile, then flight, and eventually rocket propelled space exploration. It could be normal to… take everyday challenges and opportunities, and create extraordinary solutions.
It could be normal for someone to understand how performance is measured. School and sports are great examples of this. The opportunity to review the results and ponder adjustments help us align our efforts with our desired outcomes. Be bold in the pursuit of what normal could be.
It should be normal to give someone your full attention when they are talking to you. Listening with the intention of understanding the other person’s intended message is fundamental in leadership and relationship development. One cannot listen well while working on something else or thinking about a response or other things. There is no such […]
Guard your time like it is a valuable asset. People know when you quit listening. You cannot fake it. Good listening takes commitment. Be careful of how many people you commit to listen to. Otherwise your time will disappear and you will become ineffective. It could be normal to filter out the white noise and […]
Lemont, IL Resicom Project Coordinator Brian Perla and Technician Arnulfo Cantu headed north to Edmonton Canda to attend comprehensive training on electrostatic painting techniques. The training was conducted by a leading expert in the field and hosted by a prominent manufacturer of the electrostatic painting equipment. As modern science as electrostatic painting may seem, this […]
Lemont, IL Resicom has been invited by Benedictine University and Professor Jerry Pasierb to present an interactive dialogue with undergraduate students regarding strategic planning and aligning marketing initiatives with core values. Next Thursday, Benedictine students will meet with Resicom’s marketing team at the Lemont corporate headquarters for a facility tour and presentation. Students will be encouraged […]
Lemont, IL Resicom and its employees are once again proud to support Little Beans Foundation at the 3rd annual fundraiser, Bowling for Beans on July 10. Join us for a fun-filled evening of unlimited regular and “wacky-game” bowling, pizza, soda, drink coupons, and raffles to raise money for the foundation’s annual Back to School Picnic held […]
How can an auto dealership showroom replace the entire tile floor without closing its doors? In the competitive auto dealership environment, it makes sense to maintain optimal conditions and inviting appearances. A client decided to overhaul their showroom with new floor tiles to maintain appearance standards. What made the situation unique is that the client […]
How do you improve car dealership service areas that are traditionally dingy, dark and dull? A dealership decided that their service area misrepresented the overall brand image. Car fumes, dirt and open bay doors exposing the area to the elements left the service area looking dull and dingy. The area was a stark contradiction to the […]
Last October Resicom CEO John Fairclough traveled abroad to the United Kingdom and Western Europe gathering information to determine whether international expansion was a sound business initiative. Having been approached by one of its largest retail clients in regards to possible interest in partnering with overseas facilities, Resicom recently completely our first European rollout. This project comes […]
All storage space had to be fully functional within a tight deadline. Therefore, project management created a detailed project scope with daily deadlines to keep technicians on track with the ability to adjust due to unforeseen obstacles. Construction had to be completed without disruption to the client’s flow of operations. As a result, the majority […]
