The Power of (Constructive) Criticism

I've done a considerable amount of writing in the past, and one thing I learned early on was the practice of submitting my article to others for critique. Humbling at times and often uncomfortable, my writing skills became better over time as a result. I believe there is a powerful principle here that is applicable to the entrepreneur, and for the following reasons.

But first I should clarify what I mean. The American Heritage Dictionary defines criticism as "the act of making judgments or evaluations," and critique as "a critical review." Thus when I speak of the power of constructive criticism I refer to a process whereby an assessment is made by the entrepreneur - or, by others - of any one segment or the whole of an organization, which, if acted upon, results in its betterment.

I believe this can and should happen on one or more levels.

The first I would identify is self-criticism, and there are at least three venues for this.

The most basic is where the business owner evaluates the enterprise, identifies areas needing attention, and takes corresponding actions to correct or improve them. As most entrepreneurs are naturally inclined to do this anyway, this is an ongoing and continual process, albeit a mostly unplanned one.

Closely associated is the input available from company personnel. A valuable HR tool I've used over time is the Same Page© format of employee evaluations. In this format not only does the company evaluate the employee's performance, the employee evaluates the company's performance. Admittedly, criticism obtained here is not always constructive, but it is valuable from the standpoint of obtaining an employee's perspective of the operation. Plus, what it says to your team is that their input is important and their ideas welcome.

The final venue for self-criticism is a more formal one, that of the SWOT analysis. Here, the management team or select individuals take a close look at the company and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This process can also be discomfiting at times, but the information garnered provides an invaluable tool for goal setting and planning.

The second and most important level of constructive criticism should be sought outside the organization; namely, from the customer or an independent consultant or group. I'll address the latter first.

Perhaps the best counsel I received early in my business career was to form an advisory board for my company - which I did, maintaining it for over 20 years. Meeting quarterly, this group - comprised of successful business people - reviewed my financial statements, pending major decisions, and future plans, all with an impartial perspective and unafraid to point out deficiencies. In recent years it was a CEO group I belonged to that gave me what I needed to move forward in the new economy.

None of the above compares however with the input the customer provides. While I can't say I love complaints, I can say the ones I have received and responded to have served to make T. L. Hart a better company. It isn't all about complaints, though; it is finding out what the customer likes and dislikes about what you do for them. This input must be solicited, whether by way of a personal phone call, an online survey, or a client-satisfaction response card. There are also companies that can provide this kind of service for you.

As far as I know, no individual or company has fully arrived and cannot improve in some way. Inviting and applying constructive criticism goes along way toward achieving this end.

Three Keys to Prospering in Your Work

By Terry Hart • January 13, 2023

“And every work that [Hezekiah] undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:21). There are here in this one verse three keys to prospering in your work. One, whatever you do should be in accordance with the word of God. God’s will is revealed in his word; it is to be found in no other place. I realize the Bible does not tell us whether we should be a carpenter or a financial advisor, a realtor or a nurse, but it does tell us to do what we do as unto the Lord. So if what you are doing can be so done, it is well and good as far as God is concerned. Better yet, find out what God wants you to do, and do that. I teach that a person should get a word from God as to his occupation. It could be that God puts a certain thing on your heart, to be and do such and such a thing. This is also good in God’s sight, as he gives us the desires of our hearts. He is in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. That said, let it be “in accordance with the law and the commandments.” Two, seek God. He is a rewarder of them that seek him. Jesus taught, “seek and you shall find.” Having sought God as to what he wants you to do, keeping seeking him as to how to do it. This is a never ending endeavor. There is a verse in Scripture that goes like this: “As long as he sought the Lord, he prospered” (see 2 Chronicles 26:5). So if you are seeking God and prospering, if you want to continue to do so, keep seeking God. Three, do what you do with all your heart. The Bible says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). What is to be noticed here is who you are working for. You may think you are working for the government, or the auto-maker, or the real-estate broker. Or, if you are self-employed or own your own business, that you work for yourself. The Christian, however, is to work for the Lord. Verse 24 of this same book and chapter says, “You are serving the Lord Christ.” So, if you think a half-hearted approach to your job pleases the Lord, then go for it. Otherwise, you had better up your game. There is another verse in Ecclesiastes that addresses how you work. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (9:10). In other words, in everything you do, whatever it is—your job, your service to your family or church, or even mundane things like mowing the yard or shoveling snow, give it all you have. Do it as for Jesus, as this greatly pleases him. It should be apparent, then, that if you wish to prosper, be applying these principles. And if you want to keep on prospering, don’t let up. I have found that after enjoying a measure of success, it is easy to ease off on the intensity with which you approach your work. Jesus says it best when speaking about prayer: keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. The key words here being “keep on.” The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

What Goes into the Cost of a Paint Job

By T.L. Hart • December 8, 2020

While you can get your property painted for just about any amount, hiring a reputable commercial painting contractor will ensure you get a quality end-product with a firm that stands behind its work. To provide this, there are three cost-factors that go into a good commercial contractor’s price: labor, materials, and profit.

Keep Your Commercial Property Watertight

By T.L. Hart • November 12, 2020

Moisture is among your commercial property’s greatest enemies. Wind-driven rain, leaky gutters and downspouts, old, deteriorated caulk or glazing, plus improperly painted substrates are all factors in moisture penetration. The result of water getting into unwanted places include peeling paint, damaged substrates, and—worse yet, mold and mildew. This is why you want to keep your commercial building waterproofed. While no one can prevent unwanted weather, and leaky gutters and downspouts are outside the scope of this article, proper preparation and a good quality paint job can go a long way in preventing moisture penetration. The following will contribute to a watertight building: Caulking. It is surprising how much damage a little water can do and how small an area allowing access will allow a lot of water in. Gaps in building materials, open joints, holes, plus splits and cracks may seem insignificant, but they’re a major entry point for moisture. This is easily solved by installing a good quality caulk. Since building components vary, caulks vary as well. They can be as simple as latex caulk, acrylic, siliconized acrylic, polyurethane, butyl, and pure silicone. The key is to seal up points of entry. Painting. Your commercial building is properly painted when all the paintable substrates have an adequate and cumulative amount of coating on them. I say adequate and cumulative as typically one coat of paint applied too thin will typically not do the job. Every substrate, that needs to be protected from moisture penetration, must have the right amount of millage installed. The proper mill thickness can be found in the manufacturer’s product data sheet (PDS). Of particular concern are those commercial buildings comprised of concrete masonry units (CMUs), or block. Concrete block is extremely porous, and unless coated properly will allow a huge amount of water into the walls of your building. The most important aspect of waterproofing a masonry building is filling the pores of the CMU. This is done by applying a block-filler as a first coat, with no more than ten pin-holes (the pore) per square foot. Once this is achieved, a good quality topcoat of any sort will provide water tightness. Best for CMUs are elastomeric coatings. These are rubber-based paints that, once dry, form an impenetrable rubber film over the substrate, and are the best for preventing moisture penetration—even wind-driven rain. Another advantage to elastomeric coatings is that they expand and contract, and will actually bridge small cracks in the masonry that may develop over time. There are other options for waterproofing—actual waterproofing sealers, stains, and cementitious coatings, all of which we have applied over our 36 years in business. In summary, to keep your commercial building looking good and free of moisture damage, keep it sealed up and make sure it is properly painted. Here at T. L. Hart, Inc. our goal is to ensure your commercial property is always in excellent condition. Our team of professional painters stands ready to keep moisture out of your property. Contact us today to request a quote.