Schopen’s 2018 year in review
My wife still puts together the daily deposits for our company. Recently, she was filling out the deposit slips for Nov. 5, and it took her four hours. Four hours for one day’s worth of worked clients! I couldn’t believe... Read more»
How to equip employees with tech for success
I get many inquiries from other pest management professionals (PMPs), and one of the most commonly asked questions is about the equipment I furnish for my technicians. Every tech is different. Some are like Inspector Gadget and want every tool... Read more»
Making Winter Downtime Productive
I grew up on a farm in Western Nebraska, way up in the high plains of the Sand Hills, just south of the Badlands. My family didn’t farm our property; we were renters. But we did live the farmers’ life:... Read more»
Public Speaking Can Open Many Doors
In July, I spoke at the Northern Illinois Home Inspectors Association’s annual conference. It was great. About 40 attendees listened to me go on and on about carpenter ants, termites and powderpost beetles. They asked me to talk for about... Read more»
Humor in Uniform: Me and Mrs. Jones
Because we serve the Chicagoland area, my company is fortunate to have many millionaire (and two billionaire) clients. You’d think people who are worth hundreds of millions of dollars wouldn’t care about paying a few thousand dollars to have their... Read more»
This is Yellowjacket Season and I Love It
Indulge my poetic side for a moment, won’t you? Ahem: Ode to the Yellow jacket September, for most, is the best month of the year. Octoberfest looms close. Smiles abound, as does good cheer. The weather is gorgeous and the nights... Read more»
Humor in Uniform: Under Observation
When I pulled up to Mrs. Brown’s home that long-ago summer, I noticed she had two adorable preschool-age kids, one boy and one girl. I stepped out of my vehicle and exchanged the normal pleasantries with her before investigating a... Read more»
Start-Up Diaries: No Free Lunch or Termite Inspections
Many moons ago, when I was a waiter at an exclusive country club in the Chicago suburbs, I worked with Luis, a Cuban chef who loved to swear at the wait staff in Spanish. One time, I gave a guest... Read more»