It sounds awful, doesn’t it? Disaster, that’s something we see on the news, nothing that will ever happen to me or my business, right? Over my 33-year career in the waste and recycling industry, I experienced a multitude of disasters. Our office burned down, 4 trucks had crippling fires onboard, trucks went over on their […]
WasteExpo is happening next week in Las Vegas, NV. This annual gathering of waste professionals from across the world always provides a great time to get away and get a new perspective on our industry. But many will say their biggest purpose in going to Vegas is the partying. After all, “What Happens […]
We have all heard the term, “Insurance Broke.” But have you ever heard of anyone going “broke” due to not having the right insurance? Today, we are going to look at required and recommended insurance coverage. Each state may have particular requirements or regulations, so always speak with an insurance professional well versed in your […]
From the Harvard Business Review: Overcome Your Team’s Resistance to Change Many teams suffer from “active inertia” — the tendency to seek comfort in the old ways of doing things, even when the world around you is changing. To help your employees meet the moment, there are two techniques you might try. • The […]
There are many similarities between business and the military and war. One of the great business and leadership books is “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. Terms like strategic and tactical planning, chain of command and the emphasis on training are interchangeable between business and the military objectives. This article in the link below […]
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance Let me ask you a question. Do you brush your teeth? Most people do on a fairly regular basis, but why? You don’t go to the dentist and find out you have 3 cavities only to go home and brush frantically in hopes of making them go away. By then, […]
Last time, we talked about the importance of pre-trip inspections. I hope you gave some thought to the idea and that in addition to it being required, it’s also just good business. I know it seems like extra time in the morning but it really can save you hours down the road. So, you’ve […]
It’s 5 a.m., it’s 35 degrees and raining pretty hard. Somebody just called in sick and so that’s one extra route to try to cover. You better hit the road quick, right? You looked over the truck as you were walking into the shop last night and everything seemed alright so it’s probably not worth […]
I’m often asked, “who are the ‘Associates’ at Van Tholen & Associates?” Let me introduce you to our leading “Associate”. Ed Dryfhout and I were co-owners in a waste collection company for 17 years. It was a great partnership, where Ed managed our fleet, and I managed sales and administration, and together with a remarkable […]
From the Harvard Business Review: If you’re serious about retaining the people on your team (as you should be), consider conducting “stay” interviews. These are discussions where you ask loyal employees key questions to understand how engaged they are. The information you gather can help you tackle common retention issues. Here are four questions […]