Business Boost Hour

Eric Beels: 00:08

Let me ask you a question. Do you tend to avoid being accountable? We all know it's important to be accountable, but just how important is accountability really? In this episode, we speak with Regina, who provides amazing insight into being accountable. Stay tuned.

Eric Beels: 00:29

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the business boost our podcast. My name is Eric Beals, and I am the vice president of b and I Escondido.

Crystal Privett: 00:40

This is the single CEU podcast. My name is Crystal Privett, president of BNI Escondido. And today, we have Regina Fernando from Gold Standard Electric.

Eric Beels: 00:53

Woo hoo.

Crystal Privett: 00:53

Thank you for joining us, Regina.

Regina Fernando: 00:55

It's an honor to be here. Thank you.

Eric Beels: 00:57

Glad to have you on, Regina. So on this podcast so our focus today is, accountability in in BNI. So we actually I let you pick, this this topic. What what what made you pick this topic, Regina?

Regina Fernando: 01:14

I'm I picked this topic because it's very important to be accountable to your actions. So if you promise something, you better deliver. Just like with our work, when we promise that we're gonna be there that day, we're gonna be there that day. I we should make make sure that whatever we promise, we deliver. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 01:38

That's accountability.

Eric Beels: 01:40

Yeah. So, one, you know, one thing I have noticed in, just b and I as a whole that we are really like, b and I is really centered around accountability, like, like, in every all the stuff that it does, like, with with the way we kind of track stuff, like the like the traffic lights, for example.

Crystal Privett: 02:00

Kind of sets us apart from other networking groups, the accountability aspect of it.

Eric Beels: 02:05

Right. Because I've I've been in others. And what really what drew me to, b and I is a multilayers of a bunch of bunch of different things. But but what drew me to BNI is, like, the organization aspects of it. And, I think the the the strong accountability focus on BNI is one of the what is kind of You

Crystal Privett: 02:27

love processes. So I'm a processes guy.

Eric Beels: 02:30

I'm a process is guy. I I like systems. I like processes. This is, like, what I really like putting together. And if if I don't have that, I'm not an improv person.

Eric Beels: 02:39

I don't really although we're doing a podcast, it's kind of improv. I like having these conversations, though. But when it comes to, like, work related things, I I don't I'm not really I don't really like improv. I like going and knowing know knowing stuff. And so that's what what really drew me to, b and I.

Eric Beels: 02:57

And, so, Regine, before we kinda get too into that, do you wanna kind of I I wanna kinda know a little bit more just about you, who you are, what got you into BNI, and and and what you do? Just a

Crystal Privett: 03:10

little I wanna hear about that.

Regina Fernando: 03:13

You know what happened? Actually, somebody introduced me to BNI, and that's Crystal Pravette. We were in a networking group, and she said, we need an electrician in our in our networking group. And I said, let me think about it. And I did go in, and I loved it.

Regina Fernando: 03:32

And I said, you know what? It this is a great group. There is so much camaraderie, and people are just so nice. But, of course, I realized I need to get referrals. I need to be there.

Regina Fernando: 03:47

You know? Because if you're not there, out of sight, out of mind.

Eric Beels: 03:50

Yeah. I didn't know that. I didn't know you I didn't know you you had brought brought her to our shop.

Crystal Privett: 03:54

You're not Yeah. Like, winner winner chicken dinner.

Eric Beels: 03:58

Yeah. Totally. One thing so, Regina, one so there's a few things that I've kind of noticed, about you and I and you you put in so much effort, and I love seeing that into, like, all it like, you take it to another you take everything you do in our chapter to another another level.

Regina Fernando: 04:17

Yeah.

Eric Beels: 04:17

Like the presentations, for example. When we have presentations, you make those those really cool, slides and everything too. And so what, so what what about got you into kind of, like, doing that? And I think you've mentioned you've been in BNI before at

Regina Fernando: 04:35

the beginning of the month. To BNI before, but I was not accepted. But I realized the reason why I'm not accepted is because I need to make sure I am in a good business, which is, you know, being an electrician, I am, you know, the spokesperson of that, that group, and I am pretty much doing the the the appointments and everything like that. Mhmm. You know?

Regina Fernando: 05:07

So yeah.

Crystal Privett: 05:08

You're the face

Regina Fernando: 05:09

of the business. Yeah. I'm the face of the business. So, BNI right now, I I love it because, you know, I wanna be there 100% on the slides. I wanna make sure that everybody gets to be comfortable with each other.

Regina Fernando: 05:26

So slides, with that picture just basically connects each other to what you are, on whoever is presenting at that time.

Crystal Privett: 05:39

So you basically have personal accountability.

Regina Fernando: 05:42

Yes. Yes. Personal accountability on on, you know, everybody knowing everybody's character, what's what stands out in them and everything like that. So

Crystal Privett: 05:54

And a lot of times people think of accountability as, like, like, kinda like you said, Eric, all these processes and things you have to do. But what I love about the way Regina approached it was she added some structure, but she also allowed room for creativity. Mhmm. Because what she added was visual, and people love the visual aspect. People learn differently.

Crystal Privett: 06:14

So sometimes if you're in a BNI meeting and you're hearing a lot, it's nice to break it up with looking at something. So I thought that was really neat that accountability can also be creative.

Eric Beels: 06:24

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 06:25

Yep. Yes. Definitely. Visual visual pictures really do mean a lot, especially when you're on online. You know?

Regina Fernando: 06:35

It's not only audio that you're listening to, but visual. Mhmm. That way, you know, people can enjoy it and be in it on the meeting itself.

Eric Beels: 06:45

Yep. So for so how do you tell

Regina Fernando: 06:53

us

Eric Beels: 06:53

a bit little tell us a little bit about, like, what you do kind of for Gold Standard Electric. And then and then and I'll and then I'll kinda tie that into to BNI. But tell tell me a little bit about what you do exactly from

Regina Fernando: 07:06

So Gold Standard Electric, once somebody, calls in, a lead to to me, I make sure I make that appointment for the electrician. I make sure that the electrician is available and that we know what the spoke scope of project there is. And, if it's not available, then I try to compromise what kind of schedule there is. That's basically what I do. I also try to give the, you know, the paperwork, the w nine to the liability, the workers' comp, just so, you know, it will free off the electrician of the needed, things that need to be done.

Regina Fernando: 07:48

And that's just about it that I do.

Eric Beels: 07:51

So so a lot of what you're doing is kind of it sounds like that kind of you're you're, you're that, like, face

Regina Fernando: 08:00

of the face of

Eric Beels: 08:01

the company. So so you're also the people the the the person that people contact.

Regina Fernando: 08:06

Exactly.

Eric Beels: 08:06

And I imagine that there's a lot of you're having to follow-up with people too.

Regina Fernando: 08:10

Yeah. Paperwork and sometimes even doing permits. You know, doing permits with SDG and E or with the city. That's what I that's what I do also for for the electrician because, you know, any office work I try to do for him to eliminate any office work for him.

Eric Beels: 08:29

So the nature of your work in at Gold Standard is essentially it sounds like accountability.

Regina Fernando: 08:34

Yes. It

Eric Beels: 08:34

sounds like the, like, the nature of we that makes sense. So so then, you know, accountability that it's something that I for me myself, I've had to kind of, get get better at. I know a lot of people I tell people, like, what when do you text Amber or whatever? Because she's a little bit better at responding, to text messages and and and whatnot.

Crystal Privett: 08:56

We all do our best.

Eric Beels: 08:57

I have I I've worked really hard in recent months on changing that, though. For me, a part a big part of that was actually getting through my emails and actually, like, getting, like, strong control over my email, which which has helped me a lot. Just the fact the fact just doing that alone helped me in other aspects, like, the more doing better on, like, follow-up and such too. So the question I have for you is, what what do you do to kind of help be a more a better accountability partner in BNI?

Regina Fernando: 09:33

I'm always connected to my phone because my phone connects me to text. My phone connects me to email, and my phone connects me to Zoom. So, I check it out almost at least an hour, every hour, and they appreciate when I contact them right away. Like, within minutes, I contact them. When I get a lead from VNI, I contact them right away.

Regina Fernando: 10:06

Like, when is your availability? What is it all about? You know? Because that's what customers like. They want the response right away.

Regina Fernando: 10:17

If it's not in minute, at least within the hour that you will contact them. And that's how you can get the sale also. It's right away.

Crystal Privett: 10:27

Sometimes people might have something electrical that they're like, okay. I need something someone right now with If we wait an hour, it might not, you know, be as pertinent.

Eric Beels: 10:36

Yeah. Well, you know, I've read some studies that and and, you know, I don't remember what the what it what it, the, the the closing percentage was, but it was something like it drops off significantly like after that first hour

Crystal Privett: 10:51

or something. It's like that makes sense.

Eric Beels: 10:53

Like, if you follow-up within if you're follow-up within 24 hours, like, there's a certain certain amount but, like, that that first hour you said is, like, super important because, like, the the the closing sale rates, is significantly higher. I wish I had that percentage off off top of my head, but I I don't know know what know what it is.

Crystal Privett: 11:12

I hear a lot more people actually doing things right when it's top of mind too. It's actually, like, kind of better for your mindset as well because if you do it right away, you sometimes we can forget things. Oh, I'll do it in an hour. By the time the hour comes, we have forgotten about it or something else popped up in front of it in the queue and things we had to take care of. So I've I've noticed even people now when I meet them, they're taking photos and putting me in their phone so that not only

Eric Beels: 11:39

I've done that.

Crystal Privett: 11:40

Not only are they doing it right then, but also there's accountability where, like, now if this person's, picture pops up, I know who it is because I can look at their photo instead of just putting it in. That extra step of accountability now helped you out in the future because you didn't just put their name, you put their name in a photo. Now that one step that you took in the past is actually gonna help you now because now you can see their face and you can put 22 together.

Regina Fernando: 12:09

Exactly. I actually lost a sale because I did not respond right away. Like, I responded after 15 minutes. Mhmm. They said, oh, I already got somebody.

Eric Beels: 12:20

Wow.

Regina Fernando: 12:20

Really? That fast? Okay. Thank you so much. You know?

Regina Fernando: 12:24

So, yeah, accountability, once you receive the lead right away, take on it.

Eric Beels: 12:30

Yeah. You know, and I I can actually follow, like, consumer side of things. I can kinda relate to that because I know there are times where I I I kinda have ADD a little bit in this regard where I'm just like, I kinda wanna just A lot

Crystal Privett: 12:44

of guys do.

Eric Beels: 12:44

I just wanna get this resolved and done or at least going if and so there's there's times where it's like, if I could kinda just get it done, then I can at least put it off my play. I hate having, like, something where it's constantly just, like, poking me on the side. I'm just like, oh, I need to get that done, and it and it's not getting done. So sometimes I'm just like, I just wanna get it done quickly. And

Crystal Privett: 13:05

A lot of men, it's helpful that for them to compartmentalize their thinking. It's not a bad thing. It's they basically segment things in their mind. So the reason that's kind of poking at you is because you wanna close a box so you can move on to the next one. And and that means you kind of want in order to kind of, keep everything separate and compartmentalize, it's like a way for you to process a little bit differently.

Eric Beels: 13:30

Yeah. I I think for me, it's like, I I I I feel like there's so many things happening, like, all the time.

Crystal Privett: 13:37

You wanna check it off. Well. Yeah.

Eric Beels: 13:39

And I just wanna check something off. I mean and that's why I mentioned, like, the the email is so important for me because I'm just like because if I can check that, okay, that's at least something. Tangible. Yeah. Something tangible I can check off and, like so that that makes sense in a way that I haven't, like, thought about before and and, like, that that response.

Eric Beels: 13:56

I need to I know I know I need to respond quicker to a lot of people. Sometimes for me, I don't quite know how to respond. I'm not quite ready, and then I kinda keep pushing it off longer and longer and longer and which I shouldn't do that sometimes. And

Crystal Privett: 14:11

Or the fear that it'll just keep going on and on. It's like, where do you stop? Because you can just talk forever to everyone.

Eric Beels: 14:18

So, Regina, I I imagine sometimes that you feel you need to respond quick, like, you you you respond quickly. So sometimes maybe you don't quite have an, like, the right answer or or something. So how do you do respond? Like, when you know you wanna respond in some form because they just wanna see like, you just mentioned, and I love that. They just wanna see people just wanna see that acknowledgment that, like, that they've been recognized.

Eric Beels: 14:44

What what when you how do you respond in a way that when you don't quite have the right answer for the person? Mhmm. So maybe this isn't like an initial lead, but maybe it's a follow-up question that, a customer might might have. How do you respond quickly? But but

Regina Fernando: 15:00

Usually, my answer to that is I don't wanna need the answer to that. That's the honest way. I'll check it out. I'll get back with you within give me an hour. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 15:10

And I'll I'll see what I can what answer I can give you. So if it's an electrician that I need to talk to, I talk to him first and then get back to the person. So that way, the you know, their question is answered, and they're waiting for an hour. And then if I don't have the answer within the hour, I I still get back to them. I'm sorry.

Eric Beels: 15:31

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Regina Fernando: 15:32

I'm sorry. I haven't talked to the electrician yet. I will get back with you as soon as I get him.

Eric Beels: 15:37

So even if you don't talk to the so so even if you don't talk to the electrician to to get the right answer for the person, you still follow-up and be like, hey. They're on a longer job. You're just still giving them feedback.

Regina Fernando: 15:48

Exactly. Exactly. You just don't leave them hanging.

Crystal Privett: 15:51

Communicate. Don't give

Regina Fernando: 15:52

yeah. You it's very important. Communication is very important to knowing that you haven't for you haven't forgotten about them. That's that's very important. Because the client wants to feel they're important, that you haven't forgotten about them, that you make them feel important no matter how big or how small the job is.

Crystal Privett: 16:13

How do you feel accountability and communication work together?

Regina Fernando: 16:18

Accountability? I don't care if you're a big job. I don't care if you're a small job. I care you are a person, and you need something from us, and I will take care of you. That's my that's my motto.

Regina Fernando: 16:30

I will take care of you no matter what. That's accountability.

Eric Beels: 16:35

Yeah. No. I like you know, I sometimes I again, I'm like an overthinker sometimes. And, again, it's like the the and I think that's why sometimes I'm slow to respond on on some of this stuff. So it's definitely something I need to work on more, but you're, and and my approach has typically been like, okay.

Eric Beels: 16:54

Let me figure out the right response for this and, like, figuring out before I respond to them. But really, what I should do is just be like, let me get back to you on that one. And and then if I don't and then if I don't have it the answer within a, you know, couple hours or whatever, like, hey. I'm still working on that. And just to kinda give them that that feedback, that constant feedback.

Regina Fernando: 17:12

Exactly. Or sometimes I just research in Google. Yeah. If it's an electrical question, I research in Google, and I try my very best to answer according to Google. You know?

Regina Fernando: 17:23

But, of course, the best answer would always be the electrician who'll give me the answer if it's an electrical question.

Crystal Privett: 17:29

Right. And knowing yourself. So for you, keeping your phone nearby, always having it, like, front of mind so that you can be that face for the business Exactly. That helps you make sure that you're getting back and make sure you're taking care of your customers.

Regina Fernando: 17:44

Exactly. Actually, research has really made me grow and educated on electrical. When I was in the big in the beginning, I had no knowledge about electrical. And then after that, I I put one thing after another. Knowing your trade really makes you accountable, and also people respect you when you know your trade.

Eric Beels: 18:06

Mhmm. So your knowledge isn't just in in even though you're not an electrician yourself, your knowledge about it has

Regina Fernando: 18:14

increased a lot. Yes. Yes. You not only know about circuits, the panels, or outlets, you know, or what does a Jacuzzi need? Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 18:24

You know? What does a disconnect need? Yeah. The voltage and everything like that. You you know, I I get it from the electrician.

Regina Fernando: 18:33

I get where I learn it from Google. I learn it from experience. You know? So, you know, it comes with experience. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 18:41

And, Regina's

Eric Beels: 18:42

had a couple different roles in BNI.

Crystal Privett: 18:43

She's been, education coordinator and vice president. How do you think accountability played into both of those roles?

Regina Fernando: 18:55

Being secretary treasurer. Yes. You are accountable to the money, of course. Especially if you need to hound some people of, you know, of, getting

Crystal Privett: 19:08

the truth. Accountable. Right. Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 19:10

Make them accountable to their dues.

Crystal Privett: 19:12

Part of it. Right.

Regina Fernando: 19:13

Right. That's that's part of it. And just, you know, making sure you're you're being nice, being accountable to, you know, on 1 on ones, talking nicely to them, and then them getting to know how you are, how your character is, and people liking you. And that's basically it on BNI.

Eric Beels: 19:33

Yeah. So in what are some so how can people apply this? And because I you know, we have, like, the apps and such too to, like, you know, when we send referrals and such and and whatnot too. What what are some things, that that people can kinda, do to be more accountable amongst our members, just amongst members in our in our chapters?

Regina Fernando: 19:57

I highly recommend doing that 1 on 1. Not everybody believes in it, but I highly recommend it. Because once you do a 1 on 1, you you actually know something about them that you didn't even know if you didn't want know 1 on 1. So I know of somebody who said, oh, I do this. Oh, really?

Regina Fernando: 20:15

I didn't know that. If I did not do a 1 on 1, I wouldn't know what he would do what he did. You know? I would also know, like, on referrals. You know?

Regina Fernando: 20:29

What kind of what kind of business do you do? Like, an HVAC company. I didn't know that the this HVAC company also did industrial duct cleaning. Mhmm. Nice to know.

Regina Fernando: 20:40

Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. So it's very important you get that 1 on 1 done so that you know how to refer that person.

Crystal Privett: 20:52

And now it's time for a Meisner moment. The power of time and relationships. Ivan Meissner said, I've always said that networking is more about farming than it is about hunting. It should be about cultivating relationships, not just collecting business cards. Welcome to today's Meisner Moment, where we dive into the importance of time and relationship building in BNI.

Crystal Privett: 21:17

Let's start with an interesting fact. It takes between 90 and 200 hours of focused interaction to begin receiving meaningful referrals from your network. That might sound like a lot, but here's the great news. That time frame aligns almost perfectly with what we see in b and I.

Eric Beels: 21:38

Yeah. And why so why does it take time? Think of your networking sorta like planting a seed. You wouldn't plant a seed today and expect a tree tomorrow. The time invested in nurturing relationships is crucial to building trust, which is the foundation of the referrals you will receive.

Eric Beels: 22:00

B and i's core value of building relationships isn't just a nice idea. It's a proven strategy. According to the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, those who invest time in their professional connections see lasting returns.

Crystal Privett: 22:16

So we have an engaging activity. Let's play referral countdown. Here's where it gets fun. You're at the 90 hour mark. You've attended the meetings.

Crystal Privett: 22:26

You've shared your story and you've even listened to your fellow members. This is when you'll start to see a trickle of referrals. Small, but significant. But what happens when you hit that 200 hours? Well, 200 hours equals 5 x referrals.

Crystal Privett: 22:45

When you cross that threshold, your referral pipeline multiplies. According to BNI statistics, members who invest 200 hours in their network generate 5 times the referrals compared to their 1st year. Why? Because they've taken the time to truly connect. Trust has grown, and your business relationships are now thriving.

Crystal Privett: 23:10

This is what b and I is all about.

Eric Beels: 23:11

Mhmm. I like to actually expand on this a little bit too. So 90 to 90 to 200 hours of focused interaction, to begin receiving meaningful referrals from your network. So what and, Crystal, maybe you know this. Maybe we can kinda figure this out here as well.

Eric Beels: 23:29

What how much time is it does that so it's 90 to 200 hours, so I know that. But what is that in real world time? Because we're not, you know, we're not doing 90 to 200 hours nonstop. Right? Yeah.

Eric Beels: 23:40

Working 40 hours a week or so. Right? What is how long does that normally take from a real standpoint, do you think then?

Crystal Privett: 23:47

Well, I guess it would depend on how invested. I mean, we've NVNI, we've seen members who have gone right in and finished their member success pro passport programs and gone straight into, giving their commercials in just a few weeks, and then there's others who it takes a little bit more. Maybe they have more on their plate, more maybe they have a little bit more responsibilities. I think it's less important of how long it takes and more interesting about the statistic of the 200 hours really being that threshold.

Eric Beels: 24:16

Mhmm.

Crystal Privett: 24:17

So, I mean, we have what's called the 90 ninety rule in BNI where it's obviously, we should be spending our 90 minutes in, BNI meetings Mhmm. And also 90 minutes without BNI. But we know we can quickly fill that when with, CEUs and 1 to ones. So, really, that 200 hours could be very quickly

Eric Beels: 24:37

I see. Simulated. So it's, you know, it can kind of combine it with, like, CEUs, with 1 to ones, and all that too. So, yeah, because it it like, the 90 minute out, 90 minute in, and such, really, I guess, is a little maybe even a little bit more. Right?

Eric Beels: 24:50

Because we do an hour of CU, plus an hour of 1 to 1. That's 2 hours outside of the group. Yep. You know, plus whatever you know, a lot of people oftentimes do more than 1 just 1 one to 1 Mhmm. Do.

Eric Beels: 25:03

But, like, so in a month in in a 1 month, that's you know, you have well, the your meetings are an hour and a half. Mhmm. So 1 month is, like, what is that? Like, 7 hours or so of just meet of the meetings. Yep.

Eric Beels: 25:16

So I mean, this is where because I've heard this too where it kinda takes like about it can take like a year before you start getting referrals.

Regina Fernando: 25:23

Yeah. And I

Crystal Privett: 25:24

think that's a pretty build the relationships so someone can trust you. Like, you're not gonna be able to give a financial adviser all of your money if you've met them one time. It wouldn't make sense. You wanna know, is he gonna take my money and give me a return? Is this someone that if I send them $10,000 that Yeah.

Crystal Privett: 25:41

It's gonna be safe? Yep. So there is that little bit of the I can see where that threshold would make a difference.

Eric Beels: 25:48

And it is a pretty eye opener number too with that because I think a lot of people will join a BNI chapter and then, you know, be confused whether or not getting referrals after 2 months, you know, or whatever. And and and Setting expectations is really important. I know when I

Crystal Privett: 26:05

first joined, we have a member in our chapter named Dave Lindsey, and he told me BNI is a perfect get rich slow scheme. Totally. And I was like, wait, what do you mean get rich slow? And he's like, it might take a while. Yep.

Crystal Privett: 26:18

You gotta have to get to know everyone and and earn their trust. And I think that's where this little bit of a challenge comes in today because we get to ask ourselves, where are you in that 90 to 200 hour journey? Have you crossed that threshold yet? Are you planting the seeds? Are you cultivating the relationships?

Crystal Privett: 26:37

Or are you reaping the rewards? Have you already done the cultivating and are now you are getting to see the the byproduct of it?

Eric Beels: 26:44

Right. Right. And a lot of that, I guess, too, is is how much are you investing into the chapter as well? Right? Remember, it's givers gain.

Eric Beels: 26:46

That's our that's our investing into the chapter as well. Right? Yeah. Remember, it's givers gain. That's our that's our slogan.

Eric Beels: 26:51

And plus, networking is really about building the relationships. I mean, that's that's really what's standing the test of time is these relationships.

Crystal Privett: 27:03

And we need to embrace the process, but still be patient and remember that these referrals are the fruits of our trust.

Eric Beels: 27:10

Mhmm. Yeah. So, yeah, building that spending the time to to build those those relationships, and I think really embracing the givers gain mindset that BNI has. It's one of the reasons we we have that slogan. Right?

Eric Beels: 27:27

Because if you are joining a chapter, but then you're not investing the time into it, it's gonna take a lot longer if if you're missing lots of meetings or whatever it might be. You're not doing the one ones or you're not doing the CU's.

Crystal Privett: 27:38

Close to that threshold and give up, but you may not realize that you were really, really close.

Eric Beels: 27:43

Right. And so that that's true too. Right? Maybe you you're in it for a year, but maybe you only reach 80 hours or something like that of of invested time into it. And So check-in with this one.

Eric Beels: 27:54

Is 90. Yeah. So according to what Ivan was

Crystal Privett: 27:56

saying. 90 to 200, but where are we in that journey? I mean, have we crossed the threshold? Are we close to the threshold? Like, sometimes we need just a little bit of encouragement saying keep going.

Eric Beels: 28:08

Yeah. So that that that's a good refresher, I think, for a lot of people who who've maybe been through this and made it past it and and kind of are, like, kind of coaching new members too as well, where they're kind of like, yeah. I'm not really getting referrals or and it's like, well, let's see where you're at time wise. How much have you invested into BNI? And maybe, you know, it sounds like you could kind of just you know, I don't know how many mathematicians we have out there, but, you could do a little bit of bit of math to kinda see if you're even in the in that range or not.

Regina Fernando: 28:40

I

Eric Beels: 28:40

would imagine if you've been in a chapter for at least, at least a year that you're pretty close to that.

Crystal Privett: 28:48

Yeah. If you've been engaged.

Eric Beels: 28:49

If you've been yeah. And then 2 years, you should absolutely be in that range

Crystal Privett: 28:53

now. Absolutely.

Eric Beels: 28:55

But I think I depending on how engaged you are in that year, you could probably hit the 200 or you could be close to the 90. You know?

Crystal Privett: 29:01

Maybe the size of the chapter could be a variable too. I mean, if you have a bigger chapter, it might be easier to connect if you have a smaller chapter.

Eric Beels: 29:07

More people to connect with. Sure.

Crystal Privett: 29:08

Even the smaller chapters, I've seen some very powerful small chapters that are really become each other's champions. So we're fortunate to have a chapters that are really become each other's champions. So we're fortunate to have a really big chapter, but it it really I think that 2 hour mark is a really great indicator of where you are in the journey. And, obviously, there were some statistics done around that mark.

Eric Beels: 29:28

2 hour mark?

Crystal Privett: 29:28

200 hours.

Eric Beels: 29:29

Oh, 2 100.

Crystal Privett: 29:30

Yeah. Yep. 200 hours.

Eric Beels: 29:31

Mhmm.

Crystal Privett: 29:32

So that, we can really build those relationships because relationship building does take time. It's not going to like you like the tree being planted, the relationship's not gonna be formed in one day.

Eric Beels: 29:44

Right. Right. Yeah. It's kind of like you know, I guess in a in a sense, it's it's kind of like going on a on a on a romantic date a little bit. You know, we kinda kinda kinda cultivate it a little bit.

Eric Beels: 29:57

You know, it takes a little bit.

Crystal Privett: 29:58

The wooing process.

Eric Beels: 29:59

Right. A little bit. Yeah. Yeah. Kinda for for people to trust you.

Eric Beels: 30:03

Right? And so the member other members to to trust you when you're a new member.

Crystal Privett: 30:06

Yeah. Well, thank you for your time today, And remember doctor Meisner's words, networking is about farming, not hunting. So go out, build those relationships, and watch your referrals grow.

Eric Beels: 30:18

Alright. I hope you enjoyed this Meisner moment. And now back to the episode. Okay. So, Regina, on when you have one to ones, what are some ways that kind of people can feel, like, from an accountability aspect in those one to ones?

Eric Beels: 30:35

What are some things that you kind of suggest? Maybe the certain questions that are good in one to ones or being accountable in them.

Regina Fernando: 30:41

First of all, I try to do an icebreaker.

Eric Beels: 30:44

Mhmm. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 30:44

Icebreaker is very important. Mhmm. You know, you talk about, you know, how how is your family, how is your business, you know, something to tie you together, an icebreaker because that's important. That way you know how to connect to them. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 31:00

And then and then it will just flow after that once you they talk about your family, they talk about business, and then I relate to them, like, if they are, you know, a landscaper. So I tell them, oh, you do landscaping. So what kind of landscaping do you do? Do you do just, gardening, or do you do masonry, concrete? You know?

Regina Fernando: 31:25

I it just follows through on on that. Or if you're a general contractor. So what kind of jobs have you done? Have you done bigger jobs? What kind of big jobs do you do?

Regina Fernando: 31:36

You know? That's that's what I follow-up with on on the one on ones. And then later on, I talk about myself. Like, I, you know, I was before account executive with the penny saver, and then I went due to to be an electrician, and I learned about the trade. You know?

Regina Fernando: 31:55

So it connects. So they they finally you know? And then I tell stories. Mhmm. Stories about, you know, about what I, you know, what I talk, what I encountered on basically, in a sales call or getting permits.

Regina Fernando: 32:14

You know? Anything to make them realize, oh, you're doing such a good job. You know? That's what I wanna do.

Eric Beels: 32:22

Mhmm. Yeah. I think, stories are so are so important. Like, pretty much everything, you know, because they they're really what makes

Crystal Privett: 32:31

People remember stories.

Eric Beels: 32:32

People remember stories. Yeah. And, they they you know, I think if you're if you're a really good storyteller, I think people also remember you more too.

Crystal Privett: 32:45

Mhmm.

Eric Beels: 32:46

And so what you know, you mentioned stories. So I what, like, what what, what aspects of of, you know, kind of, like, how do you do that? How do you tell how do you tell good stories, I guess? Like, may I I think we're in in in our head surface level, we're kind of thinking like, okay, you know, once upon a time, you know, but it's like, obviously, we're not doing

Crystal Privett: 33:08

that. It's gotta be relatable.

Eric Beels: 33:10

It's gotta be relatable and so Conversational. Yeah. Conversational and relatable. So, like, do you have how do you do that?

Regina Fernando: 33:18

Well, sometimes I try to make it as a joke. So I I mainly do mostly on the phone. So I I joke around to the client. So what do you think of a proposal? Oh, it's not a marriage proposal.

Regina Fernando: 33:33

Okay? It's it's your estimate proposal. What do you think? You know? So, that's when they'll laugh Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 33:40

Sometimes because they think I'm a young girl, which I'm not, on the phone.

Crystal Privett: 33:47

But account I hear you saying accountability can be fun. Yeah. Yeah. Have a little fun with it. I mean, things can get a little heavy if you throw in a joke here or there.

Crystal Privett: 33:56

It's not gonna hurt anyone.

Regina Fernando: 33:57

Yeah. Yeah. Like Keep it appropriate, obviously. Seen the proposal? Have you seen the, you know, what do you think about it?

Regina Fernando: 34:04

Yeah.

Eric Beels: 34:05

I do. Be a great response when somebody, like, is asking, like, hey. Do you have a proposal for me for me yet? You know, clients may be getting a little edgy. They wanna or, they they they want something, like, now maybe quicker than you quick could get back could get back to them, you know, you could respond.

Eric Beels: 34:21

That's a kind of a pretty funny funny response, like, you know, to kind of say, like, oh, no. I'm already married.

Crystal Privett: 34:27

Yeah. Or or that's a little forward. I usually date a little longer than that.

Eric Beels: 34:30

Yeah. Exactly. And then you could follow-up after them. Like, hey. We're the like, all all jokes aside, we're still working on

Regina Fernando: 34:37

it and

Eric Beels: 34:38

such too. And then they get a good laugh out of it too. You know? Yeah. That's a I like that's a great response.

Regina Fernando: 34:43

And yeah. Yeah. You you try to make them feel comfortable with you. Try to make them laugh. That's the main thing.

Regina Fernando: 34:50

Because when you make them laugh, you get them to trust you more. But if you get them the serious side, that's the hard part. Yeah. Because that way that means you might not get the proposal.

Crystal Privett: 35:03

But you gotta know the time and place. You can't open up with a joke. You gotta get to know them like you said. Like, open up, learn a little more about them, learn how you can serve your community, and and how they can maybe potentially help you.

Regina Fernando: 35:17

Yes.

Eric Beels: 35:17

Yeah. One thing I'm kinda hearing from this too is that if you, whatever you can do, if you can, like, help the customer like you more or the person you're following up like you more, whatever that is, if it's comedy or if it's story, whatever whatever it is that there that the accountability aspect that goes along with that either becomes easier or maybe they become more forgiving or whatever it might be, because they because that person likes you more now. So it makes the accountability easier now.

Crystal Privett: 35:53

Well, we know that the visibility, VCP, the visibility plus credibility equals profitability, but you can't be credible without the accountability.

Eric Beels: 36:01

Right.

Crystal Privett: 36:02

So it's really built into the equation.

Eric Beels: 36:04

Mhmm. That makes sense. Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 36:07

Yeah. Fast response is basically a a lead for them to trust you right away. If you respond, like, within after 3 days, it's harder for them to trust you because they need you at that moment. Mhmm. So, yes, accountability is very important because that's when you they can trust you if you are accountable, if you feel accountable.

Crystal Privett: 36:33

Yeah. And you you don't just walk the walk. You talk the talk and you live the life, because you're a single mom and you have children that need a little extra accountability. Right?

Regina Fernando: 36:45

Yes. Yes. Yes. Being a single mom is not easy, but, I'm able to juggle it up, and they follow my footsteps, which is awesome. Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 36:59

Whatever you promise, you deliver.

Crystal Privett: 37:02

And you have to deliver. Mhmm. They're counting on you.

Regina Fernando: 37:05

Yes.

Eric Beels: 37:05

And delivering timely. Mhmm. You know? It's like delivering, you know, in in, several weeks on something is too it could be could be too long unless the nature of it is 2 weeks of whatever the thing that you're delivering in. But then, again, it's a matter of, like, staying in in, like, in touch with the person because I would you agree that some, you know, some people, like, you might be able to tell them, like, hey.

Eric Beels: 37:31

Yeah. This will take 2 weeks to kinda get this. Or it's like maybe it's like a proposal, but the proposal is like a big like, you have maybe some huge electrical job that's like, okay. This is gonna take a while to do this. And you know it's gonna take a week or 2 weeks, but they they want it now.

Eric Beels: 37:44

What do you do in that situation?

Regina Fernando: 37:46

Yeah. A perfect example is SDG and E.

Eric Beels: 37:50

Okay.

Regina Fernando: 37:51

SDG and E takes a long time

Eric Beels: 37:53

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 37:54

For them to schedule to even look at the panel. So we say it could be 3 months for them to to get to get to your property or even shorter. So sometimes the client gets, you know, like, uptight and say, when is it gonna happen? I'm gonna go back to you. I'm gonna talk to the SDG and E and see if if they're gonna if they already have a date to go to.

Regina Fernando: 38:24

That's all I can do.

Crystal Privett: 38:25

Communicate and then reset the expectations.

Regina Fernando: 38:29

Yes. And, yeah, set your expectations and say, hey. We can't do this until 3 months because of SDG and E or because of the licensing, whatever. But communicate with them, and then that's when they'll trust you more.

Eric Beels: 38:45

So, like, because yeah. So yeah. SDG, you're way you're kind of it's out of your hands kind of at that point. You really can't do a whole lot for them too. I'm guessing, like, inspect the job or something like that.

Eric Beels: 38:54

Right? To and so, so in that, what you're doing is you're setting, like, you know, they can take maybe up to 3 months to kind of inspect it.

Regina Fernando: 39:05

Yes. So I set that expectation. On the proposal, I already say it's gonna take 2 to 3 months for the inspector to go to your place. So expect that. So that way, they know, oh, then they'll say, oh, that's a long time.

Regina Fernando: 39:20

There's nothing I can do. Because it's not

Crystal Privett: 39:22

my highest. Accountability if you have 2 different expectations. That's not gonna work out. Someone will be, not happy if at the end. But if you are have the same expectations, then both people could be, happy, and it could work out a lot better.

Eric Beels: 39:38

Right. So part so a big part of it then is also setting the right expectations for poor people even if, like, they're not the ideal set expectation. You don't want to tell them as you want to tell them, oh, it'll be done in here.

Crystal Privett: 39:50

Or or resetting it if they have to take 4 months. And it's like, oh, look. We said 3 months, but something happened and they pushed you back.

Eric Beels: 39:57

Well, that's the challenge. Right? It's like so sometimes, you know, you you wanna set these expectations and then you're you know, it's like, you know, maybe SDG need get often gets things done in 2 weeks, but then there's that one time there that they take 3 months and people then you tell them 2 weeks because that's maybe their average. I don't know. I'm just making that up.

Regina Fernando: 40:15

I don't

Eric Beels: 40:15

know if it is the average or not. But and, like, maybe it's a month or something, but then they take 3 months. People are like, what's going on? You said a month, then it's up to. And the hard part about that is now you're the one to be blamed because you told them 1 month now.

Eric Beels: 40:28

Even though it's not your fault now. But the customer doesn't care. They're just, like, saying they're like, well, you told me this, so I'm blaming you.

Crystal Privett: 40:35

Which is why she probably always sets her expectations, extra room because they just don't know. Especially in construction and dealing with certain vendors, there's

Regina Fernando: 40:46

And if you follow-up, you know, sometimes you do follow-up, then whether I can say I apologize, it's my fault, we'll give you at least a 10% off or something like that just to try to put the the client at at ease and say, okay. Thank you so much for admitting to that, whatever. But which doesn't happen often. But, you know, of course, we're human. You know?

Regina Fernando: 41:12

Again, accountability. You wanna make sure you're accountable to what you do right, and you wanna be make sure you what do you do wrong, but make the make it work. Fix it.

Crystal Privett: 41:24

So where do you draw the line? You have your phone on you all the time when people could be calling, But for your own mental health, we know that you should have some boundaries. Do you keep your phone all the time on, and what do you do? So that's your professional, success is keeping your phone near you. What helps you with accountability as a mom?

Crystal Privett: 41:45

Because that's a different aspect of it.

Regina Fernando: 41:47

Well, I try to be there until 6 o'clock.

Crystal Privett: 41:51

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 41:52

And then people won't understand that they you you know, you might not get an answer till the next day because of that. But sometimes I do respond even if it's 5 to 6 o'clock. That's just me.

Crystal Privett: 42:07

That's because you care.

Regina Fernando: 42:08

Yeah. I do care.

Crystal Privett: 42:09

But but for the person listening, what would you recommend for accountability? Should they have a a 6 o'clock cutoff point? And if they choose

Regina Fernando: 42:18

to person listening, 6 o'clock would be a cutoff. And then but do respond to them the next day. Mhmm. The next day would be what they would expect.

Crystal Privett: 42:27

Or if you feel like your heart's telling you, oh, I think I'm gonna answer this one. Maybe There's

Eric Beels: 42:32

an emergency.

Crystal Privett: 42:32

Yeah. Maybe pick it up. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 42:34

Yeah. If they say, oh, I, you know, I have no power, that's when I'll pick it up.

Crystal Privett: 42:39

Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 42:39

You know? Yeah. Yeah. I have no power. It needs to be get done.

Regina Fernando: 42:44

That's when I'll pick it up, especially, yeah, for electrical.

Eric Beels: 42:48

Yeah. Because that that's been a fine line for me too as as, like, when because, I know I I kind of, have have pulled reeled back on that on that line on Entrepreneurs tend

Crystal Privett: 42:59

to yeah.

Eric Beels: 43:00

Yeah. I know. Right? And and and, on on, you know, not responding, like, super late, which I'm inclined to do. I'm a I'm more of a night owl, so it's like it's not an, you know, I I'm I'm up later in such too, but that might not also be it might even be appropriate at times too as well.

Eric Beels: 43:19

Right? Like like, might be inclined to respond, but they have that's a great question, though, because, like, you know, we talked about responding quickly, but then if it's if it's too late, then it's like so that I guess that's a part of, like, getting back to it quicker too because sometimes it's like, okay. I'll get back to them at the end of the day or something like that. But then you maybe you get busy. You you kinda forget a little bit.

Crystal Privett: 43:43

Mhmm.

Eric Beels: 43:44

And then, oh, wait. I gotta respond to them. Oh, shoot. It's 7 o'clock already. Yeah.

Eric Beels: 43:48

Now you still can't respond to them.

Crystal Privett: 43:50

Because it's not necessarily appropriate.

Eric Beels: 43:52

Right. And so

Crystal Privett: 43:53

We had this meeting with Julie when we had that communication podcast, and she said that her phone, she's allowed to set a reminder for that to go off.

Eric Beels: 44:01

Right. Yeah.

Crystal Privett: 44:02

Yeah. But but I we don't have that ability with our phones. But that would be nice. That would be helpful.

Eric Beels: 44:07

Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 44:08

Sometimes it depends also on the client. If you're that close and they allow you to talk to them, like, after 7, go for it, you know, because they would appreciate an answer. Mhmm. But if you just know them, knew them, like, that day, it can wait the next day.

Crystal Privett: 44:27

Yeah. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 44:28

Because that's business.

Crystal Privett: 44:29

Or maybe texting, that's a good middle ground.

Regina Fernando: 44:32

Yeah. Mhmm. Texting.

Eric Beels: 44:34

Yeah. I I'm I'm more on the texting side for myself usually. That you kinda I mean, it it it depends. But usually, I like I like that for I mean, for 1, you have you you get a record of things as well

Crystal Privett: 44:48

too, which

Eric Beels: 44:48

I like having a record of stuff as well. Like, especially when we're setting, like, expectations on these things, I'll be like, no. I I told you it was, you know, I'm gonna get to you this day or whatever. And now I see this. I can see this message.

Crystal Privett: 44:58

I'm I'm the more I'm learning about you, Eric, you really are a process, this guy.

Eric Beels: 45:06

Yeah. It's just, you know, help with, help reduce any miscommunication, I guess, too. Right? Yeah. It's all about it's all about that that communication.

Eric Beels: 45:15

Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 45:16

Documentation is really very important. Mhmm. Whatever you said in your contract is very important. If you don't have that part on the contract and says, you know, I give you free this and and you didn't put it on your contract, it's it's best you put it on your contract to say you're both in the same page.

Crystal Privett: 45:39

So accountability can protect you.

Regina Fernando: 45:41

Yes. And then yeah. Especially when when the car client said, I thought you told me, oh, you'll give me this free installation of outlet. We never said that. You know?

Eric Beels: 45:52

Right.

Regina Fernando: 45:52

On the on the contract, you will see if we said that or not.

Crystal Privett: 45:57

You were accountable in the contracts, and that helped protect you in the back end so that when there was a miscommunication, you were able to clearly be like, here, we've outlined this.

Regina Fernando: 46:09

Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. It's important what you put in a contract. That's that's the bottom line also.

Regina Fernando: 46:16

That's where it that's where everything draws the line that you said this, you said this. No. Everything is on paper. Everything is documented, and if you document it, then there's nothing your client can say.

Eric Beels: 46:31

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 46:32

Unless you wanna make them happy and say, hey, You know, I know we have another misunderstanding. Let's let's compromise to this. Mhmm. That's how, you know, accountability is for me.

Eric Beels: 46:44

What would you say is, like, a reasonable, like, compromising level? Because sometimes it's it's, you know, if you're if you're like a yes person or you just kind of want to make people happy. Yeah. Those people are can be, are usually the ones that are most often taken advantage of.

Crystal Privett: 46:57

Yeah. The people, the losers get burnt out because people right.

Eric Beels: 47:01

Exactly. And then so they're they're they either put in extra effort, extra effort. And so what would you say is, like, a kind of like, what's what's drawing the line on the on on that? Maybe it's a difficult answer a different, difficult question to answer.

Crystal Privett: 47:17

So where do boundaries and accountability kind of intersect? Is that

Eric Beels: 47:21

what you're saying? Yeah. Yeah.

Regina Fernando: 47:23

So like troubleshooting

Crystal Privett: 47:24

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 47:26

For electrical. Troubleshooting but sometimes troubleshooting can take 20 minutes. Mhmm. That's it. But sometimes it can take more than 2 hours, 3 hours to figure out what the problem is.

Regina Fernando: 47:40

So on that time, when Carl, the electrician, will say, I'm having a hard time fixing this or trying to figure out what the problem is, it'll take you this much again. You know, we get back to the contract and say, it will take you this much because we're having a problem. If the client says, okay. Go figure it out. I'm okay with the with the, with the amount you're setting up, then we go ahead and do that.

Regina Fernando: 48:08

But he's not okay. That's when we stop.

Crystal Privett: 48:11

Yeah. Right.

Regina Fernando: 48:12

Accordingly.

Crystal Privett: 48:13

So you clarify. Okay. Here's where we're at. We either need to reset our expectations, or you might need to find someone else. And at that point, you give them the power of whether they want to go on.

Crystal Privett: 48:25

I'm assuming that probably doesn't happen as much with you because

Regina Fernando: 48:28

Yes.

Crystal Privett: 48:28

You guys are pretty good at finding issues pretty quickly.

Regina Fernando: 48:32

Or, like, for example, the wiring is, you know, we only we only estimated it, like, 6 feet, but the wiring was 20 feet.

Crystal Privett: 48:44

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 48:45

Then we go back to the client. Hey. We we looked at the measurement. On the phone, you said it was 6 feet, but the measurement says 20 feet. So we have to we redo our proposal here.

Regina Fernando: 48:59

Let me know if you want it or you wanna go somewhere else.

Crystal Privett: 49:04

And so because of your accountability, your accountability to make sure that all of your technicians are licensed and actually know what they're doing Oh, yes.

Regina Fernando: 49:12

Oh,

Crystal Privett: 49:12

yes. Sometimes people can try and cut corners and save money and hire friends. You've spoke about this in your commercials about not hiring your friends. What was that little quote you have?

Regina Fernando: 49:24

A handy friend can be a dangerous blend.

Eric Beels: 49:27

No. A handy friend can be a dangerous friend.

Regina Fernando: 49:30

But Yes.

Eric Beels: 49:31

A, handy Friend. Friend can be a dangerous blend. I love that.

Regina Fernando: 49:35

Right. Right. Because they might try to be a mister know it all, but they don't know any electrical code. So it could be

Eric Beels: 49:45

a

Regina Fernando: 49:45

a fire hazard if they don't know things.

Eric Beels: 49:47

Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 49:47

So it's really best that, an electrician comes in, especially when it comes to wiring 20 feet or whatever like that. A handyman can only do so much feet.

Crystal Privett: 49:58

Plumbing and electrical. That's where I draw the line. I I I you definitely want certain professionals that are accountable in their field and that do know what they're taking, measures to do because it could cost you your house if electrical thing isn't done accurately.

Regina Fernando: 50:14

Exactly.

Crystal Privett: 50:15

You you don't definitely don't wanna have to call our insurance agent. I mean

Eric Beels: 50:19

Yeah. Well, you know, another thing on, like, the accountability aspect too is is, like, when like, you said that the so the customer maybe said it was 6 feet.

Regina Fernando: 50:31

The phone, he said it's 6 feet, but it became 20 feet.

Eric Beels: 50:34

And and, you know, being if you're if you're really strongly accountable, then you're gonna have that that courage, I guess, to tell them, like, hey. With the risk of losing the job potentially, like, hey. It's actually 20 feet. It's gonna cost twice as much than they initially thought, whatever it is. And so you kinda and so there there's a certain temptation to, like, not tell them.

Crystal Privett: 50:56

Mhmm. Well, there's the fight, there's the flight, and then there's freeze. So some people fight naturally in these situations. Some people want to run away, and some people kind of are like a deer in the headlights. They just don't know what to do.

Crystal Privett: 51:09

Right. So people respond differently.

Regina Fernando: 51:12

The best thing is to be honest. Yeah. You know, no matter how you know? The best thing is to be honest, really. If if the job is 20 feet, we how we get away with it, not not get away, but we all say it's this much dollars per foot.

Regina Fernando: 51:30

If you tell me it's 6 feet, then this is how much it would be. But because it's 20 feet, it's this much dollars times 20 feet.

Eric Beels: 51:38

Oh, I see. So so in your in your case, you're kinda framing it so it's slow scalable. And so I think other people could do something similar in in their business to kind of framing instead of, like, doing stuff, you know, estimate by by the job having kind of, like a formula, I guess, of what that what that looks like. So that way you can you so that can apply towards your accountability. So it's like, no, look, this is how much it is per

Crystal Privett: 52:07

per per in

Eric Beels: 52:07

your case, it's it's per per per foot. Yeah. Other people, you know, it's gonna depend on your business that that you have. So do you have any suggestions on how someone somebody could, like, maybe form like, come up with something like that? So or, like, any any

Regina Fernando: 52:26

They you know, every company needs to come up with a rate card. So that way, every technician knows how much it is per foot. And, you know, a a per tech this technician will have the same answer with another technician. So, you know, so that the customer cannot fool you. Oh, this technician said this.

Regina Fernando: 52:49

This technician said that. No. You have to have a rate card. And when you with your rate card, you have to have a certain, you know, agreed upon discount if if you need to give a discount.

Crystal Privett: 53:02

That's Consistency within the accountability.

Eric Beels: 53:04

That makes sense. A consistency, like, within the organization. So that way, if these questions, there's no he said, she's he he said, she said coming up and such because then it avoids those those those those

Crystal Privett: 53:21

Misapp. Misunderstandings. Mhmm.

Regina Fernando: 53:23

Yeah. Yeah. Because everything else should be communicated correctly within internal so that the outside can have the same thing of what you have.

Crystal Privett: 53:35

And in your case, your your electric your technicians can't be like, well, let me look at my website really quick. Let me pull that up.

Eric Beels: 53:42

So Or or

Regina Fernando: 53:42

we can give you a 20% discount.

Crystal Privett: 53:44

Card with that. It would it does make sense certain trades to have, like, your, what you're gonna be charging on on a card.

Regina Fernando: 53:52

So you

Crystal Privett: 53:53

guys have those, I'm assuming.

Regina Fernando: 53:54

Yeah. And you're allowed, you know, discount. You can't give oh, I can give you a 25% discount when you're not allowed to. Mhmm. You know?

Eric Beels: 54:04

What about, like, you know, maybe in some cases, that might not be be be, plausible for some organ some people's organizations. Would you would you suggest like, let's say the the technician in some organization, it's all their organization is too complicated to kinda do stuff on on the spot. What would you suggest that those sec that company has their technicians do to kinda help maintain this accountability and consistency?

Regina Fernando: 54:34

Usually, again, when the technician looks at the job and then he makes an estimate, he doesn't give the estimate right away. He comes back to the office, shows the estimate to us, and then and then say, is this estimate good? Once it's approved, that's when he sends it out. If when, the client says, when do we get the estimate? We'll say, you get it by the next day or 2 days.

Regina Fernando: 55:02

We should be able to send you the estimate for you. But if you're not sure of your estimate, don't bring it out because, you know, you wanna make sure you are clear with with what you're proposing. Mhmm.

Eric Beels: 55:16

Once you show it what yeah. So what once you show it to them, that's

Regina Fernando: 55:19

That's it.

Eric Beels: 55:20

That's it. Yeah. Right?

Regina Fernando: 55:21

Yeah. Yeah. You have to go with what you put out there.

Crystal Privett: 55:24

And accountability can be positive, like a positive review after a

Regina Fernando: 55:28

great Exactly.

Crystal Privett: 55:30

After someone comes out and you have a great experience with the technician, that person, they spoke to you. They had a great experience. The technician came out. They had a great experience. Because of your accountability, you're more likely to get positive accountability back, positive feedback.

Regina Fernando: 55:46

Yes. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. Once we say, okay.

Regina Fernando: 55:51

We're gonna be there at this certain time. We are there, and we fix the problem, and and the client just gave a review because they were happy. That's delivering what you promised and doing it above their expectations.

Eric Beels: 56:08

So part of that is kind of following up with that client to to get those, though, though, the those reviews. So that's, I guess, a way to kind of you're gonna apply these fast responses because if if if something's fresh in somebody's mind where it's like, oh, this was done really well. Like, I'm really happy with it. That's the time when you wanna get that review. Right?

Eric Beels: 56:27

Because they're exciting.

Crystal Privett: 56:28

24 to 48 hours afterwards, I'm assuming.

Eric Beels: 56:31

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, what what what is the right time? Was it right away? Is it after what do you think?

Eric Beels: 56:36

Or

Regina Fernando: 56:37

right time of what?

Eric Beels: 56:38

For for it's, like, to gain being accountable for the client to get to get a review from them.

Regina Fernando: 56:45

Sometimes, when the client is really happy, they'll give you a review right there and there the next day or the next hour. But sometimes, some clients take some time to do a review. It could be 5 days, 6 days. You know, it's not up to us to give to tell her, hey. You know, give us a review review.

Regina Fernando: 57:05

Although, you know, some people do that. But, when they're really happy, they're they're gonna give you a review no matter what. They will remember you because of you your outstanding service.

Eric Beels: 57:20

No. That's this that's that's I think this is, like, in a pretty fantastic episode. I like how we can kind of really tie all this stuff into accountability that I haven't really thought of before. So, Regina, like so if someone wanted to get in contact, with you either for electrical services or to kind of maybe ask you for for potential advice or something like that for, to have a one to one with with another BNI member that's that's interested in hearing more from you. How would they best contact you?

Regina Fernando: 57:52

Of course, they can contact through BNI, but they can also contact through email, regina@gselectricsd.com. And, my phone number, it can be seen on BNI.

Crystal Privett: 58:06

Perfect.

Eric Beels: 58:07

Great. Alright. Well, thanks so much day so much, Regina. This has been a fantastic episode.

Regina Fernando: 58:11

Thank you so much

Crystal Privett: 58:12

for having me.

Eric Beels: 58:13

If, you got value out of this, this episode, you know somebody who is not very accountable, share this episode with them. I think I think this would be a great episode for them to learn from. And, you know, I think accountability can be a difficult thing. I think everyone could kind of work on that to some to some level. But, yeah, share it with them.

Eric Beels: 58:36

This is how the show grows. This is how, we get the the word about this podcast out there. So share it with another fellow BNI member that that you, maybe you had a one to one with somebody with recently and and accountability maybe came up. Share this episode with them, and that would really help the show. Thanks so much for listening.

Crystal Privett: 58:55

Don't forget to log your CEU.

Eric Beels: 58:57

Yes. Don't forget to log that.

Crystal Privett: 58:59

Thank you so much. Bye. Thank you for joining us for the Business Boost Hour. My name is Crystal Pravette, and this is Eric Buells. Thank you for joining us, and don't forget to document your single CEU.

Crystal Privett: 59:14

See you next time.

Eric Beels: 59:15

See you in the next episode.