From the category archives:

Nothing paticular

Closet pest control-take the poll

Pest control is a complaint business & I remember my first one. It was in my training and I was with the service mgr. on an ant call which was oddly enough not a regular service but a complaint. We couldn’t find ant one in this house even though we scoured every nook and cranny. [...]

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Thumbnail image for Do you dream about pest control?

Do you dream about pest control?

Ever have a dream where you go to school but you forgot to put on pants? I have and what’s weird is that nobody around me even noticed. How bout one where you’re being chased and whatever it is that’s after you is right on your heels and you just can’t shake it no matter [...]

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Thumbnail image for Having your ‘green cake’ and eating it too

Having your ‘green cake’ and eating it too

I’m amazed at the amount of hypocrisy in the green movement, specifically when it comes to pest control and pest control products. It seems that any pest control operator better be using organic, natural or environmentally safe products out there or they are demonized as being evil and irresponsible purveyors of death. Oh it doesn’t [...]

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Thumbnail image for Mom & Pop pest control & Acme Meat Packing

Mom & Pop pest control & Acme Meat Packing

What do “Mom and Pop” pest control companies and the Green Bay Packers have in common? If you said they were both owned by regular folks and not some huge corporate conglomerate, you’d be right. There are other similarities as well and for today’s venture into all things pest control I thought I’d list just [...]

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Thumbnail image for To PMP or not to PMP is it even a question?

To PMP or not to PMP is it even a question?

Ask just about any homeowner, “What is a PMP?” and I’m sure you’ll get some raised eyebrows, stammering guesses and end up with the same final answer almost every time. “I dunno.” If you search “pmp” on the net you get 10 straight pages of Project Management Professional web sites and the occasional Portable Media [...]

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Thumbnail image for A class act for the pest control industry

A class act for the pest control industry

This past weekend was a great example of good people in the pest control world coming together for one another’s aid. Competitors from around the country got together for the common cause of furthering our knowledge and standing in the industry we all love. A.C.E. stands for Associate Certified Entomologists and it is fast becoming [...]

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Thumbnail image for If pest control was a super hero which one would it be?

If pest control was a super hero which one would it be?

Ok, so I’m a little whack but I just spent the weekend testing for the A.C.E. program and I’ve got insect facts like nodes,spiracles, kingdoms, genus and exoskeletons clogging up my brain so allow me a little creative license here. I mean think of it, pest control is actually in the big 3 list for [...]

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Thumbnail image for Government stimulus and pests

Government stimulus and pests

The pest control industry has no worries, we no longer need to spend money on lobbyists attend strategy meetings or ask for P.A.C. (political action committee) money because we have a life long friend in the White House. Yes President Barrack Obama himself has joined the pest control world and billions in stimulus money should [...]

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Thumbnail image for Why hasn’t anyone broken the world record for eating roaches?

Why hasn’t anyone broken the world record for eating roaches?

When the Guinness Book of World Records was first conceived I’ll bet the creator had no idea of what a long and sustaining business he’d have. What started out as a way to settle arguments in ‘pubs’ across Britain and Ireland by recording facts and record feats has exploded into a world wide sensation. The [...]

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Thumbnail image for The poison in pest control

The poison in pest control

No ones ever accused me of being a great cinematographer but in my line of work, I’ve been accused of so much worse by far. There is in some people a Pavlovian response in seeing a technician with a sprayer which brings out their worst fears and it is manifested by their words while their [...]

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Thumbnail image for Is it Ok if I fire a customer?

Is it Ok if I fire a customer?

I’ve read a lot of books on how to build your business and I’ve got a ton of formulas in my head and some I use as I struggle along the mean streets of entrepreneurship. Some are great and so easy to employ but the ones I always throw out are the cut throat schemes [...]

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Thumbnail image for Single operator setbacks and keeping the faith

Single operator setbacks and keeping the faith

It can be lonely out there on your own and you find yourself dreaming of that day when you send your 5th truck out for the days run and you head back inside your cozy office. Diane is on the phone diligently scheduling your routes a week ahead of time and Renee is entering yesterdays [...]

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Thumbnail image for The sticky trap-trap

The sticky trap-trap

I have a saying that I’ve said for years and it’s true for many services but especially pest control because we routinely visit a home many times over the years. “Do a favor for a customer just once and it becomes expected.” It starts with them asking you to treat the shed in the yard [...]

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Thumbnail image for Are you a “bugs half dead or bugs half alive” kind of person?

Are you a “bugs half dead or bugs half alive” kind of person?

There’s an old litmus test that goes around and from it you’re suppose to be able to tell the personality of a person. It’s not a 100% but little in life is. It is however very revealing and usually sparks quite the conversation. Is the glass half full or half empty?” Saying the glass is [...]

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Thumbnail image for Now is the winter of our discontent

Now is the winter of our discontent

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” is a quote that we’re all pretty familiar with but do you know how the rest of it goes? it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; [...]

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