Pest Management Professional, November 2015

Start Up DiarieS I n July I spoke at the Northern Illinois Home Inspectors Associations 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 an hour But in true Pete Schopen fashion I blew past 60 minutes and 90 minutes finishing up in just under two hours I love to talk Get a couple of Long Island Iced Teas in me and I really love to talk Talking is why I went into sports broadcasting right out of college Now that Im a pest management professional PMP I can use my gift for gab to grow my business and my brand As background my parents divorced when I was 7 years old and during the next decade I attended nine different schools bouncing from house to house and state to state Thrown into that situation Id force my way into a conversation Picture me as the love child of Denis Leary and Robin Williams always yapping I didnt want to end up on the outside looking in I wanted to be a part of whatever was happening My first public speaking event was my eighth grade commencement speech The powers that be asked me to write a speech about my years in junior high It was a disaster I talked too fast and mumbled my jokes The parents applauded when I finished but it was either pity claps or they were just glad I was done Either way though I was infected with the speaking bug In high school I got involved in anything that would allow me to speak scholastic competitions speech club Spanish club drama club etc I became so accomplished at public speaking that the 1986 prom sponsor who also happened to be my speech coach convinced the senior class to let me be the dinner entertainment for prom night I performed my shtick and I didnt get beat up so it must have been OK On the other hand I also didnt get any dates so it couldnt have been too great Soon enrolling at Elmhurst College I made my way to its campus radio station WRSE I found my calling I spent every spare moment talking on the radio Once I graduated to real radio and I was getting paid to talk I looked for any angle to be talking sports play by play newscasts auctions beauty pageants radio remotes band competitions etc A decade later after nearly 20 years of public speaking I left radio to start my own pest management company There are many areas where my public speaking background helps me in the pest management arena For those of you who arent as comfortable speaking to small groups or large crowds consider these tips Phone sales Customers like talking on the phone with someone whos nice and personable It might sound crazy but I make sure that Im smiling while Im on the phone I firmly believe smiling changes the sound of your voice and makes you sound happier on the phone More people want to do business with a happy perky Pete vs a grumpy Pete Face to Face This is where I excel I love person to person meetings with my clients I genuinely like people If Im in someones living room Im going to tell funny stories but Im also going to listen People love talking about themselves Whether its their job kids grandkids or neighbors most individuals will open up if youre honest and sincere Dont fake being nice just be nice as a general way of living Also dont look away while theyre talking If you feel uneasy staring into somebodys face then By Pete schoPen Contributor SchopenS open Book Start up Schopen Pest Solutions Inc HeadquarterS McHenry Ill Founder Peter F Schopen Jr Start up date April 11 2006 number oF employeeS seven fulltime two part time 2006 revenue 97235 one employee 2007 revenue 172495 one employee 2008 revenue 203732 one employee 2009 revenue 243427 two employees 2010 revenue 325960 three employees 2011 revenue 425847 four employees 2012 revenue 489887 five employees 2013 revenue 572772 six employees 2014 revenue 71000000 six full time and one part time employees September 2015 7982600 22 increase over 2014 2015 year to date September 58194445 29 increase over 2014 2015 Goal 88700000 Photo istock com RaPidEyE Continued on paGe 76 Public speaking can open many doors 74 november 2015 pest management professional mypmp net