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The Green Approach: How Businesses Come Up Short Toward the Finish Line | Part 5

In our last Tee Box Series installment, The Power of Your Short Game – How Small Wins Lead to Big Results, we explored how success in both golf and business comes down to mastering the fundamentals. Just as a golfer’s short game – the putts, chips, and precise approach shots – determines the final score, your daily business habits, attention to detail, and commitment to the little things are what will create lasting success. We learned that small wins build confidence, culture, and momentum. Now as we move from building consistency in the daily

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Rethinking the Workweek: How a 4-Day Schedule Can Work in Restoration

The restoration industry has long been defined as hustle, urgency, and sacrifice. Many of us would describe this industry as a lifestyle, where protecting other’s property often comes at the expense of our employees’ personal well-being. Labor shortages, burnout, and employee turnover have become the defining challenges in the restoration industry today – especially with production technicians. But what if a different model existed? One that preserved emergency response, but elevated retention, morale, and stability?  “The World Health Organization officially recognizes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress. Restoration companies—where long

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Restaurando al Restaurador

Read the article in English Muchos de ustedes no están en un buen lugar. Puede que su negocio esté batallando. Tal vez sea su salud. Tal vez su familia. Su equipo. Sus finanzas. Están dándolo todo cada día, pero lo único en lo que piensan es en los problemas que se acumulan a su alrededor. Y entre más se enfocan en esos problemas, más pesan. Déjenme ayudarles a darle la vuelta.  Sean agradecidos. Hoy despertaron. Pueden respirar. Pueden caminar. Todavía tienen la capacidad de construir un negocio. Todavía tienen el poder de ayudar a

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Restoring the Restorer

Lea el artículo en Español A lot of you aren’t in a good place. Your business might be struggling. Maybe it’s your health. Maybe it’s your family. Your team. Your finances. You’re grinding every day, but all you can think about are the problems piling up around you. And the more you fixate on those problems, the heavier they get. Let me help you flip that.  Be thankful. You woke up today. You can breathe. You can walk. You still have the ability to build a business. You still have the power to help

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No Routine, No Coasting

If you’re expecting a cookie-cutter President’s Corner, you’re in the wrong place. I don’t do “routine.” I’ll change my route to work just because, swap my glasses or hair for the sake of variety, and refuse to accept that anything is ever truly “done.” I was born in Texas, raised in California, and left 20 years ago for Arizona, where I now live with my wife of 20 years and our four kids (12 to 18). I’ve worked in our family business, ATI Restoration, since I was a teenager, alongside my two brothers and

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Troubleshooting Refrigerant Dehumidifiers

If it’s broke… FIX IT! On the latest episode of When it Comes Down to It, Restoration Technical Institute’s Chuck Boutall helps us understand the refrigerant cycle & components, & identify the symptoms to best troubleshoot your refrigerant dehumidifier. Find more When It Comes Down to it here.

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Structural Drying in the Field: Bringing Chapter 12 of the S500 Standard to Life

Lately, I’ve been out in the field on several water loss projects—ranging from small residential jobs to large commercial claims—and I’ve also reviewed more than my fair share of job files and documentation. What’s become clear, and frankly a little troubling, is the widespread misunderstanding—or in some cases, total absence—of adherence to the ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration. Despite being one of the most established and accessible tools in our profession, the S500 seems to be underutilized or misapplied on a regular basis, especially when it comes to the technical processes

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Water Restoration for Restorers in a Hurry: Part 1

Lea el artículo en Español Part 1 of 8 Understanding the importance of following proper procedures is essential to avoid costly mistakes and save both time and money. Imagine disregarding the Standard of Care and proceeding without caution. You rush to place air movers, dehumidifiers, and perhaps even an injector dryer to speed up the drying process for walls and ceilings, as you’ll soon read in the example. Skipping steps not only jeopardizes the well-being of your team or occupants but can also expose you to potential legal repercussions. Remember, as an expert in

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Getting Classifications Right: Avoiding Costly Drying Mistakes

Effective restoration relies not only on the right equipment but also correctly classifying the job. Consider a large-scale water intrusion from a pipe burst. The restoration contractor classifies it as a Class 2 loss and begins work. Days later, progress is slow, and both the client and contractor are frustrated. Upon reassessment, it turns out the project was actually a Class 4 job. The conclusion: Drying progress lagged because it was misclassified, and thus the project was “shorted” 20% of the LGR dehumidification required.  This kind of misclassification happens often, and it can significantly

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Good Work Doesn’t Equal Raving Fans

In your company, what matters most above everything else: customer service or good work? It feels like a trick question, doesn’t it? When my family built our house, we went in excited and optimistic. We found a reputable builder, asked the right questions, and trusted the process. For a while, things went smoothly. Communication wasn’t perfect, but we told ourselves they were busy and we could deal with it. Until we couldn’t. As delays stretched on, communication got worse. Emails went unanswered for weeks. Phone calls weren’t returned. When the model in our neighborhood

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