By: D.J. Harrington
It’s been said that people who have a healthy business life also have a successful career. As recyclers, we all strive for a successful business life. Some make it happen, and some don’t. A healthy business life means taking the time to learn what’s needed and the steps required to build a healthy recycling business. A recycler must commit to cultivating an attitude, fostering a growth mindset, and maintaining unwavering persistence.
Frankly, anyone in the recycling business these days should adopt a positive mindset and attitude to overcome any challenge they face. They should have a reaction plan for anything that might happen, whether simple or intricate. However, just in case you don’t, I would like to cover the traits you will need to accomplish a healthy business life. An attitude of “stay hungry” encourages continuous learning. Here are some traits that you’ll need for a healthy business life.
Customer Focus: Maintain a customer-focused approach with everyone who calls or enters your yard. Creating a unique value proposition that solves problems for any customer who needs a recycled part is vital for building loyalty. You’ll have every customer for life if you show your value. Be the person they can count on when they need something specific. Check to see if you have the part, and if you don’t, know where and when it can be readily available at your business. Then go get it for them.
Problem Solving: Try adding problem-solving, operational strength, to your business. Spending time building a strong team, adding effective marketing, and implementing sound financial management should be a top priority for all recyclers. If any of those traits are missing in your business, make sure that you’re always working toward them. You might not have all of them from the very start, but always be working to solve any business challenge you face. Since you’ve committed to always working on your business, you’ll be surprised how soon it could REAPPEAR if you lose them at some point.
Exhibit Discipline and Adaptability: Successful businesspeople often exhibit discipline, continuous learning, and the ability to adapt to new information or feedback. These traits are also important for business health. Consider adding discipline and adaptability to whatever comes your way.
If you need new software to easily locate a recycled part for a customer, ask someone to help you find the right software if you can’t find it yourself. Wishing you had the right software doesn’t fix anything. So, give yourself a healthy recycling business by taking steps right now, even as you juggle everything.
Maintain Balance: Speaking of juggling…when a juggler works his magic, he takes a consistent amount of energy and balance to make sure he doesn’t let anything fall to the ground. He makes what he does look so easy. But it’s not. It takes a balancing act to keep all those balls in the air so none of them drop to the floor. It’s the same in your recycling business.
Achieving long-term success requires balancing hard work, family, and teamwork. It could be that you need to take a short break from business, and sometimes you must compromise or do whatever needs to be done later. That’s how you avoid burnout and stay healthy.
In all my years on this earth, I’ve heard several people say that they ran out of energy and quit what they supposedly loved to do. Hearing that made me sad. They quit the very thing that brought them joy and success because they “burned out.” Being a recycler takes energy, passion, and hard work, but it’s also okay to take a break from what you love. If taking a break keeps you sane, then take a break.
I want you to join your state association and ARA. If you qualify, look at URG and PRP too. Protecting your mental and physical health is important because you want to be around for those special moments with your family, friends, and team members. Always maintain balance.
If you’ve started your recycling business from scratch without the help of previous generations, then God bless you. You’re truly an entrepreneur and probably want a healthy business life. No matter what’s thrown your way, always keep striving for it. It won’t be long before your recycling business is a healthy one. Your state association and the Automotive Recyclers Association will help you grow. Remember, you might know your business, but your associations will help you GROW it.
See you next time.
D.J. Harrington is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Phone Logic, Inc., an international training company based in Atlanta, GA. He serves as a consultant and trainer to over 1,000 privately-owned businesses throughout the country, training personnel at all levels of the company, from the dispatcher to the customer service and sales staff. Please visit his website for more information at www.djsays.com.
