What Are You Missing by Not Networking?

So as you may have noticed, we have been straying slightly from the cleaning topics usually covered in this blog and going in a more business oriented direction. This article as well as some future articles will be part of a series that will focus on: business networking, social media for businesses, and perhaps some marketing as part of the Venango Chamber Newsletter.

Networking is a term you may have heard being tossed around in the business world before, but have never put much thought or effort toward. Whether you realize it or not, many of us network daily in our interactions with others. Merriam-Webster defines networking as, "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business." If you have "rubbed some elbows", as they say, with other business peoples throughout your week, you have networked. You probably didn't even know that when you talked to Joe the plumber on Monday about your business, and exchanged some information, that you were networking. 

Now here's the neat part: Joe the plumber likes you and what your business does. He then tells a buddy of his about your services and your phone starts ringing. That is a referral, and the new lead you have is a result of the power of referrals. So look at that one instance and ask yourself: "What if I do this type of thing all the time?" If you make networking a part of your day to day business operations, you will be blown away with the results. There is one catch: You have to be sold on networking to be an effective networker. This is the same as promoting your business. Very few people, if any, will buy in to a pitch from a business person who is not confident and sold on what they are promoting. 

Going back to our friend Joe the plumber, we can also return the favor of the referral and let Joe experience the power of referrals. Say your neighbor has a leaky sink and you pass on Joe the plumber's info. That, again, is networking! So now you're growing your network, and seeing the power of referrals in action. You are on your way to becoming a master of business networking. 

As you climb your way up the business networking ladder, you can become a very influential individual. When you pass a referral or network with others, people will notice. People’s perception of you will change, and your status will be elevated. This is all made possible through your efforts in networking and passing referrals. Keep your ear to the ground as we will be expanding on the idea of “perception” in the future, and how it can affect you and your business.

Thanks for reading!

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

Is Your Carpet Covered Under Warranty?

Lately I've been fielding questions from customers about maintaing the warranty on their carpet. This is often an overlooked subject and deserves some attention. If you have priced new flooring for your home or have recently had new flooring installed, I'm sure you know that carpet is not cheap. As with any major product purchase, you can expect your carpet to come with a warranty. Just as with any other product, there are certain conditions that must be met to uphold the warranty of your new carpet. Let's take a look at some of the steps you must take to ensure you do not void the warranty on that lovely, new carpet you just had installed.

There is some preventative maintenance that must be done to uphold your carpet's warranty. Just like you have to regularly change the oil in your car, you must have regular maintenance performed to keep up the warranty on your carpet. Most carpet manufacturers require periodic professional hot water extraction or steam cleaning of the carpet to uphold the warranty. For example, Shaw Industries Group specifies that "Professional cleaning of your carpet is required at least once every 24 months if not more frequently depending on conditions and use." Note how the term "professional" is used. Professional carpet cleaning companies will use a process that may sound similar to DIY carpet cleaning machines, but the professional's process often removes much more water than retail carpet cleaning units. If too much moisture is left in the carpet, it could cause premature breakdown of the carpet backing. Also, for DIY jobs,  it can be a common mistake to mix the cleaning solution at a stronger ratio for heavier soiling. While this may seem like sound logic, it can often leave behind a residue that will attract more dirt and cause more soiling of the carpet. For the DIY-er, this can be the root of much frustration.

Some carpet warranties state that to uphold the warranty, spills must be cleaned up immediately. Time is everything when dealing with spills on your carpets. The more time that passes, the more likely a spot is to turn in to a permanent stain. When cleaning up spills, remember to blot the spot. Scrubbing, wiping, or any other technique other than blotting is not recommended as it is not as effective and may even have adverse effects on your carpet.

When spot cleaning, the choice of cleaning agents is also a very important topic. Too often, I see carpets where the customer has used a harsh chemical product in an attempt to remove a spot. The result is a discoloration where the chemical has contacted the carpet fibers. Unfortunately, the discoloration is often permanent. and serves a nice reminder of what harsh chemicals can do to your flooring. The recommended cleaning chemical for spotting carpets on your own is a mild dishwashing detergent. A light amount applied with a clean, damp cloth and worked in to the carpet will often do wonders for stains. To rinse the detergent from the spot, use another clean, wet cloth to blot the spot. Frequently turn the cloth to a clean side and continue blotting until there is no transfer from the spot to the cloth. Once thoroughly rinsed, the carpet should be back to looking fantastic.

Hopefully these tips can help you maintain your carpeted flooring and keep it looking its best for years to come. If you have questions regarding the warranty on your carpet, it would be best to contact your flooring installer, the store you purchased the carpet from, or the manufacturer. As always, if you have any questions regarding this post, please feel free to call or email me.

Here's a quick summary of some key points for you:

• Most carpet warranties require professional cleaning at least every 24 months.
• If cleaning your carpets yourself, be sure to mix chemicals properly and rinse the carpet thoroughly.
• The quicker you can clean a spill on your carpet, the better chance you have of removing the spot. 
• Blot the spot! 
• Only use water or a mild dishwashing detergent to spot clean carpets on your own.
• After cleaning your own carpets be sure to rinse them well to remove the detergent.

Thanks for reading!

Kurtis
ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.
877-214-1664   814-764-3232
kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

New Year, New Happenings, and a Disclaimer

Bloggers, welcome to 2013! We had a great 2012 at ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. and are looking forward to what 2013 holds for us. Just a short recap of our 2012: we survived the end of the world...twice, helped people get back on their feet after a disaster at their home, expanded our disaster restoration services and service area, and have made strides toward a more "green" approach to cleaning.

In 2013 we are excited to announce that we are now members of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce. We are thrilled to be affiliated with such an awesome group and can't wait to see what the Chamber has to offer, as well as informing the members and others in the Oil City are what we can offer to them. 

We hope to push forward with developing our presence online. In 2012 we developed our social media outlets via Facebook and Twitter. With your help, we can continue to push forward on the web. Let us know what you want to see and interact with us online. Believe it or not, we are pretty exciting people!

Going along with our membership to the Venango Chamber, I have been given the opportunity to author a small column in their monthly newsletter. I'm thrilled to be given this chance to put some great information out for local business owners. So move to the edge of your seat, keep your eyes peeled, and burn your mouse out* clicking the refresh button on your browser while you wait patiently for the next edition of the newsletter. You can download it here!

As always, thanks for reading and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

*ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. and the author may not be held responsible for damages caused to your computer mouse, tablet screen, phone screen, or any other device which you may click feverishly. 

Stressed, Overworked, Feeling Down? Try This...

The Christmas season is upon us and you know what that means? Yes, we get a little time off work to celebrate the season with those close to us. This time off work also means that we will be shuffling papers, crunching numbers, and pulling our hair out trying to meet deadlines so we can have a work-free holiday. These last few days before some much needed time off can take a toll on you if you're not prepared to handle the stress that comes with the pressure of meeting deadlines. Here are some great tips from Inc. Magazine on beating stress.

1. Bring a photo of your significant other or close friend.

A minute or two spent looking at the photo before you are "on" can reset your nervous system. You'll then feel more relaxed and confident because you'll feel more grounded and at home, even in an uncomfortable or unusual setting.

2. Play with a squeeze ball.

The process of squeezing and tensing muscles and then letting go--even if just using fine motor movements--drops your heart rate and makes you less nervous. You can also play with beads or roll stones in your hand; that's why playing with a pen helps many people focus.

The effect is based on proprioperception, the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation (and a word really hard to say three times quickly.) "You can eliminate fear by 'knowing where you are,'" Dolan says.

Playing with a squeeze ball is perfect for phone calls or webinars. In person, make sure whatever you use to ground yourself isn't distracting to others.

3. Sit on a very large yoga ball and bounce away.

While any amount of bouncing is good, Dolan recommends 15 minutes. "It's really fun, it makes you laugh, and it causes changes to the chemicals in your brain," she says. "You can't release cortisol and adrenaline when you're having fun. You release endorphins instead. That eliminates the fight or flight response and makes you feel more relaxed and confident. The effect can often last for a couple hours."

Sound crazy? Here's some of the underlying science:

• Bouncing promotes vestibuluar integration. The vestibular system provides the body with information about space, balance, movement, and triggers balance receptors. Vestibular input acts to "prime" your nervous system to function effectively.
• Bouncing stimulates proprioperception, increasing alertness and decreasing anxiety and making you feel more safe and secure.
• Bouncing stimulates the speech and language centers of your brain, making you speak more easily and fluently when you're done.
• Bouncing stimulates the reticular activating system, a neural mechanism that produces alertness and focused attention.

Told you it works.

4. Visualize.

Mental rehearsal is a tool used by successful athletes, performers, astronauts--pretty much everyone.

"Before you walk in the room, visualize a time when you did something and really nailed it, even if what you did doesn't apply to the current situation," Dolan says. "That will cause your brain to secrete serotonin and oxytocin, two chemicals that boost confidence, enthusiasm, and motivation."

You'll be thinking about what you're about to do anyway, so why not visualize exactly how you want it to go and how you'll feel afterward?

Worrying about failure won't help, but visualizing success can.

5. Breathe deep.

Deep abdominal breathing cuts adrenaline and is the scientific basis for the old saw, "Take a deep breath." Adrenaline can trigger fight or flight and also shuts down your frontal cortex, which causes you to be less rational and reasonable.

Two minutes of deep breathing--picture expanding your chest and your stomach, or what Dolan calls belly button deep breathing--will make you a lot less nervous.

Try one. Try two. If what you're about to do is incredibly important--and you're incredibly nervous--try them all.

The impact on your performance will be worth it.

Who would have thought that bouncing on an exercise ball could keep you from pulling your hair out? Now that you've been filled in on the secrets for beating stress, get back to knocking out your work so you can relax this year and enjoy your time off work over Christmas and New Years. You know you deserve it. 

Once again, thanks for reading! I'll be taking the next few weeks off the blog to enjoy my holiday festivities. I apologize in advance to those of you clinging to your seat for the weekly update. Perhaps I can squeak out a small post from my phone if I can figure it out. 

Have a great Christmas and a tremendous New Year!

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

814-764-3232   877-214-1664

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

A Change of Pace

So for my dedicated blog followers, you may have noticed this blog has been primarily focused on cleaning issues. Today, I will take a slight step off the beaten trail.

I was recently asked to join a referral networking group. My first thought was "Wow, I have to be in Oil City at what time every Monday?!" While an 8AM meeting almost an hour away from home may seem a daunting task to begin your week with, it has proven to be a great resource and a vehicle to meet new, exciting people. The group consists of a variety of business owners. There is a photographer, a chef, a chiropractor, and a salon owner just to name a few. You might ask yourself, "What can these various business owners possibly have in common?" The answer is simple. They all want to make their business thrive, not just grow, but shatter expectations.

Each week we cover various topics and learn more and more about each other. Bonds begin forming and growing amongst the members, and it was not long before the referrals began to flow. Aside from referrals we also share business tips. Week after week these tips have provided a vehicle to get new ideas flowing and spark the creative genius in all of us. We have passed on tips and tricks from our own minds as well as the minds over at Forbes and other influential business publications and writers.

While I was skeptical at first, I am very excited about the group and encourage other business people to get out and find a similar group, or even join us if you are in the Oil City area. If you have any questions please feel free to send them my way.

As always, thanks for reading!


Kurtis
ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.
kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

Seasonal Influenza: The Flu

As the cold weather sets in for us in Northwest Pennsylvania, a hot topic year after year is Seasonal Influenza. If you are unfamiliar with the term, chances are you know it as the flu. Every year it seems there is always that one kid, or coworker that returns to school or work early from the flu (or doesn't even take time off). Thanks to this workaholic, we now have an  elevated level of germs in the area that may be carrying the influenza virus. Below, I'll give you some tips and tricks for dodging the flu this winter and staying healthy so you can enjoy the holidays.

1. It is not just a "2 or 3 day bug."

Typically, healthy adults are able to infect others 1 day before symptoms show and up to 5-7 days after they fall ill. So do your friends, coworkers, fellow students, and the general public a service by staying in a few extra days. Just think of all the episodes of your favorite tv show you'll be able to catch up on.

2. Door knobs are dirty, but...

Below are the results of a survey published in a recent CleanLink News article about work place cleanliness.

• 51 percent of employees only clean their desks once a week or less, even though germs can live on surfaces for up to three days, especially on the keyboard – typically one of the dirtiest personal workspace items.
• 25 percent believe that door knobs/handles are the dirtiest places in the office, while only 6 percent recognize that the break room sink is actually the dirtiest, followed by the office microwave, which only 8 percent selected.

3. Wash your hands

Just like Mom used to tell you after coming in from playing outside in the mud. This critical step goes a long way in preventing the spread of the flu to you, as long as you do it regularly and frequently. Be sure to use an antibacterial hand soap and a clean, dry, disposable towel to dry your hands (a damp towel is a wonderful place to harbor germs, so why dry your hands with one?). 

4. Don't touch that!

After coming in to contact with a surface or object that could be a high risk for harboring the influenza virus, do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until you have washed your hands. Touching your face after resting your hand on the desk your coworker (who took yesterday off because he or she had the flu) just sneezed on is a great way to pick up the flu.

Now there was a lot of information there and believe me, I am not trying to turn you in to a germaphobe. I would just suggest you lend a more cautious eye to your everyday interactions this winter to help avoid falling ill to the flu. Once again, thanks for reading and i'll see you all out there with your white gloves, surgical masks, and gallons of hand sanitizer! (I'm kidding...that might make you a germaphobe).

Until next time,

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. 

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

smbybell@gmail.com

Well, today threw a curve ball my way. Due to some issues with the vehicle fleet, i will be unabe to publish the article on flu prevention as i had planned for today. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some peace at the office to allow me to get writing. 

Let's Talk Mold

So once again, I find myself back on a hot topic: Mold. I am often asked to take a look at structures that are thought to have mold issues. Too many times customers ask about the cheapest and easiest way to rid their home or other building of mold, as well as what they can do to take care of the issues on their own. Let me make this very clear: mold in your home or any other structure that is inhabited is an extremely serious issue that should be left to trained and knowledgeable professionals.

Let's cover some reasons why you should not risk your health and your structure's integrity trying to remediate fungal issues on your own.

-Fungal growth such as mold can cause various health issues (skin irritation, eye irritation, and nasal congestion are just some minor affects). CDC: How do molds affect people?

-Attempting to remediate mold on your own can actually do more harm than good. If your cleaning methods involve introducing any more moisture to the environment that is not properly dried, more extensive fungal growth is a possibility. Also, you may inadvertently add another food source for the fungus to feed on and continue growing.

-If one attempts to remediate mold on his or own, he or she may cause the fungus to go airborne. If this happens, it may put you or the other inhabitants of the building at an increased risk for respiratory problems.

-Fungus knows how to do two things: eat, and grow. When a fungus feeds it is actually breaking down the food source (fruit, bread, your home's structure) and aiding as well as accelerating the natural decomposition process.


As you can see, the risks associated with trying to remediate mold without the help of a certified professional far outweigh the money that may be saved up front. Please, if you suspect there may be mold growing in your home, contact a certified professional first.

We at ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. have trained professionals on staff that can help assess any fungal issues you may have, as well as lay out a plan for what needs to be done to correct the issues. We use professional grade products and instruments to remediate mold and other fungal issues, so why not leave the health of you and your family to trained professionals?

Thanks for reading!

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.
877-214-1664
814-764-3232
smbybell@gmail.com

Cleaning Up Spills On Your Carpet

Often I have people ask what they should do to treat small spills on their carpets or furniture. The answer is relatively simple and will save you may headaches down the road. Let's say you're having spaghetti for dinner and your child, who insists on watching his or her favorite cartoon while eating dinner, drops some sauce on your light colored carpet. This glaring red splotch may be the end of the line for your living room carpet, right? Wrong...Don't panic and don't throw every cleaning supply from the cupboard on to the spot. Just wet a clean cloth with warm water and keep another dry, clean cloth handy as well. Start by blotting the spot with the damp cloth. Look for transfer of the spot from the carpet to the cloth. Continue blotting until there is no longer transfer visible. Then blot the spot with the dry cloth, again looking for transfer. Never rub a spot in an attempt to remove it. This will only grind the substance in to the carpet and worsen the situation. 

Thanks again for reading, and as always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Summer Concerns

Ahhhh, Summer is finally upon us. It feels like it took forever to get here. As you may have noticed with the increase of temperature we also often experience an increase in humidity. This can really present a problem for many people. Have you ever noticed that as summer sets in, there is an odd musty odor that creeps in to your home seemingly coming from your basement? If this is the case, there may be some issues to address within your home to protect you and your family from the dangers that indoor fungal growth presents. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in learning more about, send me an email at kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com .

Thanks again for reading,

Kurtis