This is a drink with the hurricane, the talk show discussing all things growing your home care business. This video is sponsored by Home Care Evolution where we help home care agencies adapt to changing circumstances, transform their business so that they can thrive for years to come.
We have to mine the people that we spend our time with. Over the years, I have dealt with so many clients of mine, people like you in this room right now, who the biggest obstacle that we have to overcome and helping them coach is a family member or a friend that is always putting them down. You can’t choose your family. I understand that. But you do not have to share any information about your business with anybody that you don’t choose to share it with. If you’ve got somebody in your life putting you down, find people that lift you up.
John Kennedy, one of the greatest presidents that ever lived, said, the rising tide lifts all boats together. We rise. So find people that lift you up, and if you’re working with us, we’re gonna lift you up. Right? That’s what it’s all about. Amen. Right? That’s exactly it. Like you’ve gotta surround yourself with positive people. The next one, the power of active listening is the fourth one. And, and this power active listening was in just about every single presentation that I gave, right? I feel like in today’s society, it’s a dying culture. It’s a dying breed.Everybody’s so quick to speak and talk and talk and, and talk over someone else. I absolutely love that graphic that Dr. Beverly shared with the people are 95% speak, react, and 5% think. Don’t be like that. Listen. Listen with your heart. Listen to what people are saying.
One of my favorite clients that I ever had, right? This lady’s last name was the same, last name is mine, right? So she’s Weiss, Mrs. Weiss, and her daughter Dina was definitely A-P-I-T-A, right? A pain in the, you know what? Right? So this lady would call the office and she would, she would like go to her mother’s home and look for things that she could complain about. And then she’d call and she’d be like, I don’t like the way the bed was made this morning, right? Oh, I don’t like the fabric softener, the caregivers use. And my mother uses Downey. Not bounce, right? And I’m like, dude, like is your mom clean? You know? Is she out of her pajamas and she’s dressed for the day? Did she get fed? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s all fine. So eventually, I’m always like, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m trying to get off the phone with her as quickly as possible. I’m not listening. Just, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. So finally one day she calls and she’s complaining about something, right? And I’m listening to her. And so I said, alright, right? What would you like me to do about it? Would you like me to change the caregiver? And she goes, oh no, she’s part of the family. We love her. Okey dokey. Do you want me to say something? Oh no. She might take it out on my mother. Okay, so then what is it you’d like me to do? And I was just quiet. And about 30 seconds she starts breaking down. And she goes, it wasn’t supposed to be like this, Steve. I was supposed to be the one to wash mom and comb her hair and get her dressed and do her nails. And I was supposed to do that. But I’m so busy. I have my own career still. I have children. My children are starting to have children. I’m a grandma, classic sandwich generation. And, and I just, I can’t handle this. And so after listening to her and she went through all of that, I said, that’s what you have us for, right? Mom is cleaned, mom is taken care of. Mom has her meals. Mom’s getting her therapy. Now when you go to her house, you don’t have to do that stuff. But here’s what you have to do.
You have to spend time with mom because her time is running out. Make those memories. ’cause those memories are what’s gonna last a lifetime. And when she does pass away, she will live on through you and the love that you show everyone else. ’cause clearly, this woman loved her mom, and her mom loved her, right? And from that day forward, the entire relationship changed. No more calling, no more complaining, loved every moment until the day she passed away. And I remember going to that funeral and now we’re talking like 15 years later. I am still friends with that daughter because of one conversation, just listening instead of trying to respond. That’s powerful. That’s active listening.