Operating Power Archives - The 7-Power Contractor

Can I Just Have Ai Create My SOPs? You Can, but Here’s What You Need to Know!

By Al Levi | August 23, 2024September 11, 2024

You’re probably asking, “Can I use Ai to create my SOPs?” In short, yes, you can. But, there’s a catch that you need to be aware of.

Ever since artificial intelligence (Ai) ChatGPT burst onto the scene in November 2022, I’ve been fielding questions about whether it can be used to create SOPs and operating manuals.

“Generative” Ai models (like ChatGPT) base their responses on what its large language model has learned from a huge repository of information. The better questions you ask, the better output you will get—though sometimes it takes a few rounds.

That said, with the right prompts, absolutely Ai can generate a list of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). An SOP is a list of to-dos or a checklist—very useful!

However, if your goal is to establish uniform operating procedures, keep them in the culture, integrate them, etc., achieving this takes more time effort and money than you might think—which is why I created a program with 90% done for you operating manuals you just have to tweak.

Here are just 7 reasons why you should buy proven, integrated operating manual templates and tweak them instead of using an Ai model like ChatGPT.

You Have to See It First

By Al Levi | December 5, 2023November 28, 2023

I was doing an onsite meeting with Mike, the owner of a family run 100-year-old plumbing, heating, and cooling business on the East Coast. Around 3 PM I insisted we stop and take a coffee break.

At the coffee shop, Mike expressed to me how relieved he was that what we were doing was working so well, and that things were finally starting to turn around for the better.

I sipped some coffee and then looked up at him and asked, “So, what do you want this business to look like when you’re done building it?”

Mike replied, “I have to admit, I’m not sure what you mean.”

I said, “What do you want this company to be when you’re all done? What is your vision for what happens next?”

Creating a Business Someone Else Will Want to Buy

By Al Levi | November 7, 2023November 6, 2023

One of my very first 1-to-1 consulting clients was with a contractor in his late 50s, and his business was a small plumbing company in the Midwest.

I sat with him in his office and the very first question I asked him was, “So how well does this business run today on a scale of 1 to 10?”

He growled, “I’d be generous by saying it’s a 1. And I say that because I hate this business and I can’t wait to sell it!” There was a lot of legit reasons he hated it! I could sympathize.

Hey, I too had hated my business once upon a time. That is until I got systems and processes in place. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The Dirty Secrets about Side Work

By Al Levi | September 5, 2023September 5, 2023

The Dirty Secret about Side Work is that it has been around forever in the contracting business. What this means for those who are unfamiliar with the term “Side Work,” it refers to a Tech who also has their own business to bring in extra money and they’re potentially taking your calls for themselves or just not being available to you and your company.

To better understand this dynamic, I wanted to share an exchange I had with a contractor about this all-too-common employee-employer issue. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent and the not so innocent.)

Should You Add Another Trade?

By Al Levi | August 1, 2023August 8, 2023

Should you add another trade?

Well, that’s the second question you should be asking yourself.

The first question you need to ask (and answer) is, “Are we paying attention to changing market conditions and monitoring how well our company is functioning with the trade or trades we already do?”

Before making any decision, I recommended doing the “Daily Business Meditation.”

Operating Manuals: Ai (ChatGPT) or AL (Al Levi)?

By Al Levi | June 6, 2023June 5, 2023

Ever since artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT hit the mainstream in the spring of 2023, I’ve been fielding questions about whether it can be used to create operating manuals (aka Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)).

The short answer is absolutely. It can generate text that tells you how to do a toilet reset or replace an electrical box.

There are, however, some issues you should be aware of. To understand these issues, you need to know a little bit about what is behind ChatGPT and other “generative” Ai models.

If you’re thinking that it can be used to generate all your procedures from scratch with zero human intervention, let me explain why you might want to think that through.

Count Loaves of Bread, NOT the Slices

By Al Levi | May 1, 2023April 25, 2023

Hey, I’m not in the bakery business or a supermarket owner, so what’s with the loaves of bread and slices reference?

Ah… we, as owners, are far and away perfectionists so we like to get it down to every little detail, but after a while we can’t see the forest for the trees… oh sorry… there’s another analogy.

The point is… when it comes to running your contracting business, you need to know the numbers you need to know if you want to be successful. The question is, what numbers do you really need to know?

Tax accounting is designed to help you avoid or at least delay paying taxes (a good thing). The problem is tax accounting is not very helpful when it comes to helping you steer your company where you want it to go. To do that effectively, you need real-world accounting.

Can I Really Expect Techs to Ethically Sell a Lot?

By Al Levi | April 4, 2023March 30, 2023

Are you old enough to remember when the only thing you expected your Techs to do was show up to a customer’s house, do only the work requested, and then let you know what that was so you could send the customer a bill in the mail at the end of the month?

Ah, the bad old days…

Why bad? Because the customer doesn’t know the systems in their home the way your Techs do.

The good news is Tech’s don’t really have to “sell,” at least not in the stereotypical way. All they really need to do is communicate what they know and practice ethical selling principles. If they do that, the sales will follow naturally and will be a win for the customer first, a win for the company second, and thirdly a win for the Tech.

What is your Contracting Business’ “Unfair Advantage”?

By Al Levi | March 7, 2023March 13, 2023

Imagine you get in an elevator on a high floor of a building dressed in khakis and your logo shirt. There’s one other person in the elevator. They then turn to you and ask, “Why should I use your company at my home?”

You’ve got that 90-second elevator ride to give them at least three great reasons they should give you a try. Go!

A good starting place is to look at your positive Google reviews. Those reviews might get people to pick up the phone, but once you are at their house, they still need a reason to feel confident in choosing you to do the work!

The 10 reasons below not only can be used to get people to call… they also can help them feel more confident in buying from you.

Not a Giant Company Yet?… You Can Still Do Smart Acquisition!

By Al Levi | February 7, 2023February 2, 2023

If you’re trying to grow your company primarily through marketing (or, what I call organic marketing), you’ll be pleased to learn there’s another tried and true way to accelerate the growth process, especially if you have the right stuff in place.

That way is to acquire other companies. In other words, you buy your way to growth.

Why acquisition? Acquisition is about instantly acquiring a lot of customers who are already trained to buy from that company where organic marketing is just a wish and hope that they’ll see it and respond to it.

You could also acquire the company’s good will and sometimes their assets like trucks and inventory or even their building and key talented people many times.

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