Are you tired of making less money than your employees? Are you tired of working 60, 70, or more hours a week? Are you tired of saying "next year will be better"?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this letter may change your life.

According to the Small Business Administration, more than 90% of the businesses starting today will not make it to their 5th anniversary. Of those that survive 5 years, another 90% will fail within another 5 years. After 10 years, less than 1 out of 100 small businesses remain open.

Operating a successful paint contracting company does not need to be complicated. It just requires good business practices. Do you need more leads? Implement a marketing plan that includes effective strategies like customer retention and proximity marketing. Do you want motivated and happy employees? Empower them and get out of their way. Do you fret over low priced competition? Learn to sell more effectively by focusing on consumer education.

I'll show you how to do all of this and more.

Why do so many businesses fail?
Among the most common reasons cited are insufficient starting capital and poor planning. Both can certainly contribute to the failure of a business. However, neither is a necessary cause of business failure—a business can survive with insufficient capital and/ or poor planning.

The reason most businesses fail is because the owner does not have the necessary business skills. He gets what Michael Gerber (author of The E-Myth) calls "entrepreneurial seizure". A skilled craftsman decides he is tired of working for someone else and hangs out his shingle--now he'll make the big bucks. The problem is, this seldom works out well. A skilled craftsman does not necessarily make a good business owner. The skill sets are much different.

If you are like most business owners, you are willing to work hard. And if you are like most business owners, you lack good business practices.

You could spend several years reading books and magazines, going to seminars, listening to tapes, and then trying to implement everything you've learned. But why re-invent the wheel? Why spend so much time and effort and money when I've already done that for you?

Then I implemented some very simple ideas. Getting Out of the Bucket shows you how to improve your marketing and increase lead flow. Getting Out of the Bucket  shows you how to identify and communicate your company's goals, and then step aside and let your employees achieve those goals. Getting Out of the Bucket  shows you how to sell more effectively, and win jobs at higher prices than your competitors.

These proven business systems will help your company operate as smoothly as a franchise. Have you ever wondered how McDonald's can operate with a crew of teenagers? The reason is systems-- specific steps to take to achieve the desired results. I share my business systems in Getting Out of the Bucket.

If you are willing to work hard, my e-book will help you:

What's Your Problem?
Getting Out of the Bucket addresses all of the common complaints contractors have, and more.

Do you have trouble finding good employees? Are you tired of baby sitting your crews?

• Set quality standards for your painters and provide them with appropriate training. Then get out of their way and let them do their job.

• Develop a compensation system, such as piece work, that pays on the basis of performance, rather than time worked.

• Develop forms and checklists to help your crew leaders operate more efficiently and with greater customer satisfaction.

Do you have trouble generating enough leads? Are you tired of feast or famine?

Leads are the life blood of a contracting company. Without leads you cannot give estimates. Without leads you will not have work. But the importance of sufficient lead flow goes far beyond the obvious.

Without sufficient leads you may find yourself desperate to land a particular job— you need to keep the crew busy. You may take on a job that is outside of your expertise. You may bid a price that is lower than normal or desired. You may travel much further than you would like.

Successful marketing requires more than simply placing an ad. It requires identifying the particular type of clientele you wish to service, both geographically and demographically. No business can be all things to all people—you must first identify what service you wish to provide and to whom you wish to provide it.

Haphazard, inconsistent marketing will deliver haphazard, inconsistent results. Successful marketing requires a plan, and the consistent implementation of that plan.

Do you worry about estimating jobs accurately and consistently? Are you tired of thinking a job will take 3 days and it winds up taking 5?

An estimate is a projection of the labor and materials required to complete a particular project. The accuracy of that estimate will determine the profitability of the job, and therefore, the success of the company. While an occasional mistake may not ruin your business, consistently under estimating jobs will ultimately put you out of business.

Do you have trouble selling jobs for a profitable price? Are you tired of hearing "your price is too high?"

If two jobs or two companies look the same, the customer will generally select the lower price. Nobody wishes to pay more than necessary. As a salesman you must make your company, and the job you propose, different , i.e., better, than your competitors. Difference for the sake of difference is simply confusing.

Differences that offer real and intangible value are regarded as better, and they are the means by which we distinguish our company and command a higher price. In short, if you wish to get a higher price, you must offer the customer more for his money.

Paint contracting is primarily a service business. Putting paint on the wall is only a small part of that service. Responding promptly to phone calls, arriving on time for appointments, keeping the job site clean, etc. are a part of the entire experience. Providing better service in all of these areas will differentiate your company.

Do you have too much to do each day? Are you tired of working at night and on weekends?

Delegate—Give employees more responsibility to free up your time. Picking up materials or routine paperwork are candidates for delegation. Assign mundane or routine tasks to others.

Outsource—Hire others to perform certain tasks, such as bookkeeping or graphics design. Don’t try to do-it-yourself when it may be more efficient and effective to hire a professional. You are an expert in your field—hire those who are an expert in theirs.

Prioritize—Focus on those tasks that move you closer to your long-term goals. Keep the big picture in mind. Spend your time on those tasks that require your attention and cannot be delegated or outsourced.