| Frequently Asked Questions |
|
|
In case we haven’t answered all your questions yet, we put down a few here that folks have asked us before. If you still haven’t found your answer, just give us a holler, and we’ll try to come up with one!
|
|
|
|
How does the Harvest Group go about “Harvesting the Potential” of my organization?
We start off by getting to know each other personally, either by phone or meeting face to face at one of the events we are attending or at a talk/workshop we are giving. Then we determine if indeed we can help and what some of the key areas are where you feel you need some assistance. Establishing whether it’s a good match or not and if there’s potential for a successful, positive relationship is critical at this stage. |
What’s the Harvest Assessment?
The Harvest Assessment is an on-site review of your company. This is a pretty intensive and comprehensive examination of your company through a series of self-rated answers to over 260 questions. The questions cover key areas of your organization, like Financials, Sales and Marketing, Operations, Culture, People, Clients, and Business Practices.
|
| [ Back to Top of Page ] |
How long does the assessment process take?
This process can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days depending on the size and complexities of your business. The Head Harvester conducts the assessment with you and other identified key employees. The results of the Assessment are examined and transformed into action steps recommended to be taken during a certain time period, such as: Urgent (90 days), Important (1-year) and Long Term (1-3 years.)
We prepare a list of action items and review the items with you in a written report. We also deliver the Harvest GROW Card, which is a tool that tracks our progress with key “milestones” along the journey of “Harvesting Your Potential”. |
Then what? What can I expect after your initial assessment?
The next step is deciding how the Harvest Group can best help you implement the actions identified during the Harvest Assessment. We offer the “Sounding Board” as a means of staying in touch as you work through the implementation phase of the action items identified in the Harvest Assessment. |
| [ Back to Top of Page ] |
How does the “Sounding Board” work?
The “Sounding Board” is conducted by phone and e-mail and is intended to be a resource, available on an as-needed basis. We are here to serve as a personal coach/mentor, confidant to bounce ideas off, share ideas and come up with real world solutions to real world problems. |
 What if I need on-site support?
As an additional option you can arrange on-site visits, where the Head Harvester comes to your site. These visits can be arranged weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on your needs and the projects that develop. These visits provide in-depth, hands-on involvement with you, your organization and usually deal with specific project development and implementation. |
Can you help us hire people?
Absolutely! We have helped find people, interview them, help with salary ranges, write offer letters and get them off to the right start. In the past 6 months we have helped find and fill positions including VP’s, Branch Managers, Supervisors, Sales People, Estimators, Project Managers and even a Fleet Manager. While we do not spend our primary efforts on recruiting we do have many connections and experience with the process and have helped fill some critical needs. |
| [ Back to Top of Page ] |
What types of projects do you work on with folks?
Can you give me an example of one you’re working on now? |
Recruiting:
Setting up recruiting programs for colleges and for field people remains one of top priorities we’re called upon to help out with. Right now, we’re working with two companies to build their college relations programs.
Field recruitment programs are extremely popular and remain one of the leading challenges for virtually all of the organizations we work with. “We can’t find good people we have tried everything” Well… when we really drill down on their program we find a “cornucopia” of opportunities, and once they commit to the process, success is just around the corner. It’s not magic; it’s a focused, disciplined process. With the H2B program in jeopardy, many organizations are finding that they have lost their skills in recruiting people and are scurrying to reengage. |
Turn Around Conditions:
Several clients involve us when financial conditions reach low points. They ask us to review their situation and come up with solutions that will help turn things around and be more profitable. We help with some very specific short-term, mid-term and long-term action steps that have turned around several of our companies, heading them in a profitable direction.
We have over 12 clients in turnaround condition, and they are making some very good moves to position themselves for success. Just last week, Ed found $50,000 in lost revenue with a small company. Talk about impact. Bill’s been working with one company for 3 years now, and they have increased their gross margin by 20%. |
Sales and Marketing Programs:
Putting a plan together and then helping to implement the program. Many companies don’t have sales managers and have asked us to fill this role. We help put the plan together; then we serve as the sales manager by setting up and running sales meetings, tracking results, approving estimates, practicing and rehearsing presentations, assisting with negotiations and helping to get the job started up right.
We are currently acting as “sales manager” for several organizations. |
Building Equity and Preparing for Acquisition or Legacy Transition:
Many leaders of organizations do not have a plan in place for what happens when they want to leave the business or retire. We help with this process by preparing an exit strategy and helping to create the greatest value or equity the company can achieve. We know companies that are actively looking to buy companies that show good, sustainable results. We can help put compatible companies together and help with the transaction at each step of the way.
|
| [ Back to Top of Page ] |
| How much do your services cost? |
The Harvest Assessment
The Harvest Assessment fees depend on how many days are needed to complete the assessment. Assessments usually take one day for each million in annual revenue.
The Harvest Assessment fees include:
Site Visit: The Head Harvester spends any where from one to five days on site conducting the assessment questionnaire, interviews and in some cases, job site inspections.
Written Report: Highlights areas of priority in three categories: Important, Mid Range and Long Range.
Teleconference: A review of all areas covered in the report and develops the action plan, with priorities to be addressed.
Please call your Harvester to get a quote on 1 to 5 days Harvest Assessment.
The Harvest "Sounding Board"
This portion of the Harvest is a monthly fixed fee.
Note: If you become a Harvest "Sounding Board" Member, you¹ll get discounted rates on Harvester Daily Visits, Hourly Rates and on Harvester Products.
The Harvest "Sounding Board" Monthly Fee Includes:
Harvester Access (via phone and e-mail): to review progress made on areas identified during the Harvest Assessment as well as any other areas that need some input.
The Harvest GROW Card: to track progress in the ten key measurable areas.
Nuggets: Tips and advice offered on a monthly basis, related to areas that the Harvester and Harvest Group Member agree will help out the most.
Discounts: Sounding Board Members receive discounts on all Harvester daily, hourly and product fees.
Contact your Harvester to find out about the monthly fee for The Harvest "Sounding Board".
The Harvester Daily Visit:
These are site visits by the Harvester to your place of business and can last from a half-day (depending on location) up to five days.
The Harvester Daily Visit Fee Includes:
The Harvester visits your site location and is at your service to review progress on the assessment, help train people, work on program development and implementation, quality inspections, estimating and pricing projects, review game plans and make adjustments. Whatever it takes.
The Harvester Hourly Fee:
This is for off site work doing research, designing programs, project development, special assignments, etc.
Your Harvester is at the ready; please call and find out the hourly fee structure
Note: All out of town/state visits include travel expenses in addition to the fee structure. |
| [ Back to Top of Page ] |
| |
