Run your Business: The power of a shout-out

Every runner fears injury. I’ve been lucky for years — but on a recent trip to Miami, Fla., my streak ended.

The first morning, I laced up early, ready to explore the city on foot. But just as I was heading toward South Beach, I misjudged a curb, twisted my ankle, and hit the pavement. It hurt — but thankfully, it wasn’t a disaster. I could still hobble around and enjoy the trip, just not the way I planned.

I did the smart thing: No running. Instead, I iced, rested, stayed off my feet and let it heal.

Weeks later, I finally laced up again for a short run. The ankle felt solid. I was tentative at first,
but soon I forgot the injury and hit my stride.

That’s when the real problem started.

A sharp pain struck my opposite knee — likely from overcompensating. I went from one injury to two. This wasn’t something I could push through on my own anymore.

Fortunately, my wife had found a great physical therapist. She encouraged me to book a session, and from the moment I met David, I knew I was in the right hands.

Yes, the exercises worked. But it wasn’t just what he gave me — it was how he gave it. David made me feel like I was training for the Olympics. His energy, encouragement and belief in me became the real therapy. Even when I was alone at home, I could still hear his voice cheering me on.

That’s the power of words. Not just in the moment — but days, weeks, even years later. That kind of motivation doesn’t fade.

And that’s exactly how we try to lead at BHB Pest Elimination.

Leadership through praise, not pressure

Sure, some people lead by shouting and criticizing. But that’s never been my style. I’ve always believed praise is more powerful than pressure. That belief goes all the way back to how my dad trained me.

His first rule? “If you can’t find the problem, you can’t fix the problem.”

From day one, I was taught that inspection is everything. I became a detective first and a technician second.

When I began training our team, I followed that same rule. Teach them to inspect the right way, and everything else follows. And when they get it right, cheer them on. Praise is contagious. But one-on-one encouragement wasn’t enough. We wanted a way to recognize everyone publicly.

Introducing The MOTH board

Years ago at PestWorld, my wife came up with a great idea: a company-wide shout-out board.

We loved it, but we didn’t have the space at the time. When we moved into our new NYC office, she found the old notes and we finally brought it to life.

We call it The MOTH board.

Why MOTH? It’s rooted in our company’s values, especially our belief that quality inspections
are our superpower.

• M is for Move and Disturb – Don’t be afraid to shift things around to find the real issues.
• O is for Observe – What’s happening inside and outside? What’s active? What’s at risk?
• T is for Treat – Develop a plan based on what you saw — not guesswork.
• H is for Help – Go above and beyond for the client. And if you need help, ask for it.

The MOTH board is now the first stop when anyone walks into the office. I’ve seen team members take pictures of their shout-outs to send to family. Even better? They’re just as excited to see their coworkers being recognized.

It’s proof of what I’ve always believed: positive words stick. They build trust. They build culture. And they help people grow.

Not long ago, I ran into an old employee who told me, “I still hear your voice in my head, cheering me on.”

I can’t tell you what that meant to me. So shout it out, loud and proud. You never know how long those words will echo.

Have a great run.