Straight Talk – an ISSA Podcast

Listen and learn what it takes to succeed in business and as an entrepreneur.

Learn how you can use compensation as a larger business strategy than simply paying your people well.

Listen and learn how you can empower your sales team by avoiding this one big mistake that everyone seems to make.

Listen to this important podcast version of Straight Talk!, focusing on strategies to improve the air we breathe.

The path to purchase can take many different routes. In this podcast episode of Straight Talk!, learn what sales teams can do to make doing business with them easier on the customer.

All you need to know about ants that get into homes and offices and then wreak havoc that can be expensive to repair.

Ben Looper is the president of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). In this episode of Straight Talk!, he describes the state of the industry with the RIA right now and what he sees in the near future and beyond. From an uptick in certification to the IICRC partnership and even bringing in younger professionals to the industry, Looper has a vision that will help the RIA continue to grow and thrive and positively impact all who work in the disaster restoration industry.

Ed Cross is an attorney who works closely with the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) and has been diligent with working as a mediator between restoration contractors and the insurance industry. With a focus on customized pricing and overcoming the challenges of restoration pricing software, Cross has been able to bring to the table the constituents that can make a difference with real change now and in the future. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Cross describes current affairs and what he sees as possibilities with restoration pricing. He also describes what he sees as viable solutions for all parties involved: Both restoration contractors and insurance companies.

In this episode of Straight Talk!, Jerred Attanasio, the director of building service contractors at Spartan Chemical Company, tells us how you can level up your training efforts with CleanCheck in your company.

This special episode is from our guest program, "Unscripted". In this episode of Unscripted, Jeff Cross, media director for ISSA/Cleanfax, interviews The Helios Group's Joseph Hoffman and Leon Walker-Metts to spotlight the benefits of this program and how easy it is for Certified Firms to take advantage of it. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recently partnered with The Helios Group to create a comprehensive global business insurance program for Certified Firms. The program offers needed benefits small business owners are always looking for, including group health insurance, voluntary benefits, property and casualty coverage, and more.

A positive company culture fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among employees, leading to higher levels of engagement and job satisfaction. When employees feel valued and connected to their workplace culture, they are more likely to stay with the company for the long term. Chuck Violand is the founder of Violand Management Associates and has authored a book entitled "Forging Dynasty Businesses: The Competitive Edge of Enduring Teams." In this episode of Straight Talk!, Violand discusses company culture, shares details of two companies that he spotlights in his book, and provides several strategies cleaning and restoration company owners can embrace to create the very best culture in their organizations.

Standard Operating Procedures. SOPs. It's a simple concept, yet many companies are missing out and by not taking care of the basics in business means losing out on success and growth. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Dean Mercado, the CEO of Online Marketing Muscle, digs into his favorite top five SOPs that every cleaning company should embrace. And don't miss his "honorable mentions" as well.

This special episode is from our guest program, "Unscripted". In this inaugural episode of Unscripted, Jeff Cross, media director for Cleanfax, an ISSA publication, welcomes and interviews Mili Washington, the IICRC Standards Director. She shares insights on how the Standards are developed, how the industry uses them, and more.

Innova NanoJet Technologies Limited is a Glasgow UK based fast-growing technology and product company at the forefront of innovations. The company develops and commercializes breakthrough platform technologies in ultrasonic and ultra-fine nano-scale droplet sprays - the NanoJet Technologies. Learn more from CT Wang, president of Innova Nanojet, in this episode of Straight Talk!

Test to see if your team has what it needs to succeed with this online tool. In this episode of Straight Talk!, Ed Marsh, the founder and principal of Consilium Global Business Advisors, digs into the details of sales enablement and how that can take any organization's sales team to the next level. Connect with Ed Marsh on LinkedIn.

Becky Kaufold is the manager of government affairs and sustainability at Spartan Chemical Company, and the chair of the Floor Care Products Division with the Household & Commercial Products Association, or HCPA. In this episode of Straight Talk!, she joins Chris Donohue, senior managing consultant at Ramboll, to share tips on proper floor care practices in healthcare facilities, with a focus on using disinfectants.

There is one issue facing virtually every company in our industry: Finding, onboarding, and keeping good workers. But going beyond that, helping them advance to make a real difference in company culture and growth. Chuck Violand is the founder of Violand Management Associates and has authored a book entitled "Forging Dynasty Businesses: The Competitive Edge of Enduring Teams." In this episode of Straight Talk!, Violand discusses everthing from climbing the corporate ladder to how to maximize the impact of an organization chart and more.

When you have a service to sell, you have a need for someone to buy. In this episode of Straight Talk!, business coach Dean Mercado describes how to revolutionize marketing by diving into the three key stages of the buyer's journey, understanding the mindset of potential clients, and how to use this psychology to grow your company.

Sales professionals are always looking for strategies that will land them valuable clients. One strategy proven to work but, at the same time, one that some may hesitate to use is entertaining. Not simply taking a client out to lunch but something more strategic. Dave Kahle, the owner of Kahle Way Sales Systems, explains it all in this episode of Straight Talk!

The details matter, and what your potential clients do in their quest for products and services can give you the information you need to sell to them. Their online activity, how they search, and much more is all available to you in the form of "intent data" In this episode of Straight Talk!, Ed Marsh, the founder and principal of Consilium Global Business Advisors, describes the types of intent data available to marketing and sales teams and what they can do with it.