LIVE – Business Leadership Cruise

Ahoy! I’m blogging live today from the Business Leadership Cruise in New York, sponsored by Bug Off Pest Control Center and PMP magazine. It’s almost 9:30 a.m. and we’re getting ready to set sail soon (OK, it’s not a sail boat; it’s a paddle boat).

Looking forward to today’s first featured speaker, Norm Cooper. Norm is an industry legend (and, a PMP Hall of Famer), who will give his talk on the lessons he’s learned from a lifetime in pest control. I’ll update this post after Norm gets started, so stay tuned.

Update 1 — 10:19 a.m.

Andy has welcomed everyone and introduced today’s speakers, Norm Cooper and Dean Stanbridge. Unfortunately, marketing guru Harvey Goldglantz was unable to make it today, as his wife took ill. As Andy noted, though, Norm and Dean are ready and willing to pick up the slack to educate attendees on marketing.

The sponsors of today’s program are being introduced right now to a round of applause from attendees. The sponsors include: Atrix International, Brownyard Group, J.T. Eaton & Co., Leaf Defier, Liphatech, Mattress Safe, MGK, Nixalite of America, Second Shift, Summit Chemical, Susan McKnight Inc. and Weisburger Insurance.

Update 2 — 10:42 a.m.

Norm Cooper has been in the industry for a long time. He’s done it all and has been president of the largest pest management company in the New York area for more than 25 years. Currently, he’s the go-to guy for acquisitions.

Norm is speaking on “Lessons from a Lifetime in Pest Control.” His simple, three-step strategic plan asks these three questions: 1) Where are we today? 2) Where will we be in 3-4 years? and 3) How do we get there.

“The route you followed to get where you are may not be the way to get where you want to go,” he says.

Norm’s advice on advertising: Unless you dominate, don’t say “Find us in the Yellow Pages.” Otherwise, you’re simply driving people to your competitors’ ads too. Also, color in your ad does attract more people, but not for more than a 20-percent premium.

Update 3 — 11:17 a.m.

Norm is talking about exit plans right now. What is your exit plan? When do you plan on leaving your business? Is it when you’re 65? 60? 50? Or, is it when your company is worth a certain amount of money? Or when your children are through with school?

These are the types of questions you need to ask yourself now. Maybe you’re not planning on leaving your business in quite some time, but now is the time to start planning for that day. When that day comes, you want to be in the best possible position to realize your plan of retirement.

“Start thinking long term,” Norm says.

Update 4 — 11:43 a.m.

Norm just wrapped up his presentation, and now the attendees are enjoying a quick break amidst the backdrop of New York and New Jersey as we sail along the Hudson.

Update 5 — 11:59 a.m.

Networking, networking, networking. That’s what the breaks are all about. Simply because the featured speakers are finished with a presentation, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to learn. The person sitting next to you may be able to help you grow in a different area.

“Increasing alliances helps you increase revenue,” Andy says.

Update 6 — 12:08 p.m.

Norm continued his presentation after the break, talking about acquisitions. “Lawyers,” he says,” should not be involved in acquisitions. He speaks from experience when he warns that lawyers simply do not know the pest management business. “Attorneys, very often, want to win the battles and lose the wars,” Norm says.

Other deal-breakers in acquisitions include non-compete agreements, illness, personal issues, taxes and account payable.

Update 7 — 12:54

“We are technology-driven,” says Dean Stanbridge, who just began his presentation on computer technology for the PMP.

Dean reminds us that communication just keeps getting faster. The Pony Express traveled at 10 mph, the mail train at 60 mph, the airplane at 150 mph, the jet plane at 680 mph. What’s the speed of e-mail?

For instance, since his presentation was put together, there’s been a switch from a 3G network to a 4G network as the new speed.

My live blogging today is a good example of the speed of communication. My live blogging today — aboard a ship on the Hudson River — is made possible today thanks to the Sprint Wireless 3G/4G Air Card.

This wonderful device was loaned to me by Christine Foege, account manager for Sprint Business Solutions. Who would have thought you could connect to the Internet from the middle of the Hudson River? Thanks Christine and Sprint Business Solutions!

Handheld technology — PDAs — in the service industry is a necessity, Dean says. “Imagine a UPS driver showing up without a handheld today.,” he says. This technology will also give your company the competitive advantage.

PDAs help technicians organize routes and schedules, and permits the office to schedule work efficiently.

Update 8 — 1:23 p.m.

“Wires are a thing of the past,” Dean says. “Everything is wireless now.” But, he reminds, that cradles in trucks are still critical. It gives the technician somewhere safe to keep it while in the truck as well as charges it and syncs it with the office.

Some of the features of handheld devices for PMPs include GPS, phone, bluetooth and bar coding. As far as software goes, most are operating on Microsoft OS Mobile platforms.

Routing software, Dean says, is a choice of the user but is available in multiple sources.

Update 9 — 1:40 p.m.

It’s time for lunch, networking and interaction with exhibitors/sponsors. And, we’re approaching the Statue of Liberty.

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