Einstein – Definition of Insanity

Madness in the signage and graphics industry

Definition of Einstein

Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way you run your business?

Have you been doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results? If so, you may want to read on. In a world where technology is becoming a key productivity tool for the success of any business, it simply comes down to whether you accept and take advantage of technology or reject it. Are you willing to change or will you do the same over and over again? T

Here are two main reasons why I ask this question. First, many store owners have trouble understanding how new technology, specifically software, can become a major benefit to their business, and second, owners have trouble measuring the profits they are losing by rejecting this technological change. Have you ever rejected technology?

“If it is not broke, do not fix it!” Mentality

Do you expect to increase profits by continuing the same business strategy year after year? If so, how long do you think the method will work?

Many store owners just don’t see the need to update or change their current method. They believe there is no need to invest in a new method when the old one still seems to work well. This is the common one: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” mentality. Well, I hate being the one to say it, but just because something isn’t “broken” doesn’t mean you can’t make it work better. When new technology, such as software, could save you a great deal of time and money, how can you not accept it?

In an industry where there is an ever-increasing level of competitiveness, store owners must take advantage of all available methods to help them reduce costs. Would a commercial printer looking to grow his business limit his shop to a single one-color press? Sure they can continue to operate with a one color press, but a two or four color press would not help to expand their business to other areas more effectively. In this example, the current method works, but a technological change would help increase the growth capacity of the company.

Exploring these other areas helps companies maintain and increase their profits. By not embracing new technology, store owners greatly limit their earning potential. By using the power of technology to make their business practices more efficient, owners can continue to achieve their goals.

Are you sacrificing yourself?

Many store owners we spoke to have a hard time visualizing how much money they are losing, or actually, how much money they are giving to their competition, due to inconsistencies in the workflow process. These workshops feel that they are doing well with the system they currently have and do not see the need to switch to a new method. This lack of vision can cause homeowners to limit their future earnings.

On the opposite side, homeowners who see the need for a change begin to pay more attention to how much money it will cost to make the change rather than how much they are losing. These homeowners are feeling insecure and wondering if today’s investment will pay off tomorrow. For those homeowners, how much will it cost them not to change? Do you even know? Is it one, three, possibly five jobs a day? Do the math. How much money / time is wasted due to inefficiencies such as wrong estimates, overpriced or underpriced jobs, or lost invoices.

Ask yourself, how long can a company continue to compete if it is not as efficient as its competition? If companies choose to stay with the same system they have been using for years and reject change, are they, in essence, choosing to sacrifice future earnings?

$ 100,000 a year

One particular company we spoke to was losing 4 orders per week to its competition. Since only one person in the store could estimate, it took days to get quotes for customers, forcing their customers to seek out and ultimately accept offers from competing companies. When this company finally analyzed their method and applied a dollar amount to the loss, they estimated that they were losing about $ 100,000 in revenue a year. Incredible true? How much would 4 orders a week cost you? Or if you could accept 4 more orders a week, what would you do with the extra profits? How can a company like this miss a $ 100,000 opportunity? Simply put, insanity, Einstein’s definition.

It is not just an estimate

Companies are not only losing profits due to erroneous estimates; they are also losing profits due to lack of customer follow-up or management. When sending estimates to potential customers, how often do companies remember to follow up with them? With the constant chaos that store owners experience on a daily basis, this tracking process can become quickly forgotten, especially if the current estimating system does not include this integration.

How much can a company increase its “win” rate for estimates by making follow-up calls to all customers with pending estimates? Using powerful integrated business management and estimating software, such as Cyrious, the company can automatically create reminders that will tell employees who to call, when to call, and why. Keeping all customer, contact, and order information together in one place, increases the ability to save time and build customer relationships essential for business growth and expansion.

Adapt to change

By adapting to change and embracing and leveraging technology, store owners using Cyrious Software have become more efficient and profitable.

Cyrious helps homeowners resolve a variety of different frustrations. Whether you’re an owner who is frustrated with estimating because it takes too long or one who is upset that orders get lost and misplaced, Cyrious has a solution. Cyrious helps end the lack of integration by providing the power of multiple software systems in one (estimating, accounting, job tracking, client management, etc.). No company is content with losing customers due to late quotes or losing money because parts are omitted from quotes and orders.

When owners understand the amount of time and money that a different method can save them, the switch to powerful software like Cyrious is simple. Is it time for you to explore different methods to increase sales and profits and make your business more manageable?

For more information on Cyrious software, visit http://www.cyrious.net, call 1-800-552-1418 or email [email protected]

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