Spring Motivation for Painting Pros

Spring Motivation for Painting Pros

Boost energy and motivation during the busy season

Spring is here and the sun is shining more this month. That means the busiest season for paint is upon us. Are you ready? Here are some essential tips to help you and your team stay organized and motivated.

Stock up and organize

The last thing you need in the middle of a job is to run out of supplies. Stock up now and create a storage system so you and your team can find everything at a moment's notice. Check out our latest catalog or visit your nearest Dunn-Edwards store to make sure you have these essentials:

• Sanding Sponges: almost every prep job involves sanding. Take some of the pain out of the process with sanding sponges—these flexible pads work on both flat and contoured surfaces, and you can use them for wet-sanding or dry-sanding. They last longer than regular sandpaper and they're reusable. To keep them tidy, layer them sideways in a box and use office file dividers with tabs to organize them by grit.
• Tape: Painter's tape, drywall tape, masking tape, duct tape: make sure you have it all before the season kicks into high gear. To store it neatly, you can hang it on paper towel rods and organize by type. Keep drywall tape in good shape by securing the loose end with a little painter's tape to keep it from unraveling. If you don't have painter's tape handy, use a dab of joint compound to "glue" the loose end to the rest of the roll.
• Rollers: You can never have too many roller covers and frames. For storing a wet roller cover in the middle of a job, wrap it tightly in plastic or try this eco-friendly hack: clean and reuse old plastic potato chip containers (the kind where chips come stacked in a vertical column). Some brands just happen to be the perfect size to store and seal a standard sized roller cover.

Get energized

If you're feeling low on energy, you might be tempted to reach for sugary snacks and caffeine. While it works in the short term, it isn't a healthy or sustainable long term solution (we've all experienced an afternoon sugar "crash"). Instead, opt for best practices such as getting adequate sleep, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and saving heavier meals for the end of the day.

You can also hack your environment for optimal productivity: play upbeat music, go outside and take a brisk walk in the sun every few hours (if working indoors or in the shade), and regulate the temperature so that it's not too warm (when possible). Did you know that the essential oils in citrus fruit can improve mood and alertness? Consider bringing an orange or lemon to your next job and peel and sniff (or eat) a little the next time you need a quick energy boost.

Make it fun

To keep your team's energy and motivation up as the busy season drags on, try gamifying your routine. Offering small prizes like free lunch or gadgets for meeting specific performance objectives can get your team engaged in a little healthy competition that breaks through the monotony of everyday work life. If you have multiple teams at different properties, consider making the competition team-based instead of individual-based to really maximize teamwork and efficiency.

Ready or not, the busy season is coming! We hope these tips will help you have the most successful and productive busy season yet.