Really? Another Year Without A Household System?
Let’s look at this.
Providing world-class service is a hands-on job. You’ve scrubbed a toilet, ironed a bedsheet, and polished those crystal collections. You’ve overseen landscaping projects, had hundreds of walk-throughs with electricians, and walked a thousand miles with the beloved family pet. So far, things have worked out. Right?
So why would you need a digital household system to get through the day?
This is a valid question.
We are all creatures of habit and get stuck in our ways, but when we get thrown sideways by daily “emergencies,” important tasks get dropped, and essential duties fall through the cracks. Something’s got to change.
It’s also true that when employees feel successful, they deliver higher-quality work and are more willing to go the extra mile. Knowing this, it seems obvious that homeowners would do anything to get top-notch service from their staff while at the same time reducing costs, preventing systems failures, and retaining their trusted staff. A household management system allows everyone to track progress and get back on track when all else fails.
We work in an industry of endless opportunity and resources where principals spare no expense on items and services they value. And now more than ever, a wealth of resources is available to manage luxury lifestyles and properties more efficiently. Unfortunately, this isn’t always top of mind, which is why it’s so important that you take the lead as the person doing the work.
What would a perfect day look like at work if you could have it your way?
Are you doing the work of more than one person and need help prioritizing your to-do list?
Do you need to feel more control when things don’t go as planned?
Would you like an easier or more effective way to communicate with your staff?
Are you and your team technologically limited and need essential, streamlined communication to track follow-through?
Do you have too much paperwork and need more time at your desk?
These are all very real and very valid struggles.
I constantly speak with estate managers who refer to at least one of these challenges. I had all of these struggles as an estate manager, and at the time, I wished I had had a system in place when I stepped into those roles. But back then, I didn’t feel I had the time or the knowledge for such a monumental task. I felt struggling with my broken ways was easier than trying something new.
That quickly proved false, and I was forced to think about my job (and my sanity) in another way.
Maybe you know you need a system, but you tried it once, and no one used it.
Hundreds of tools, software, and resources are available now to help private service individuals succeed. So where do you start, and how do you make the right choice? The best approach is to dip your toe in the water and see what works for you.
About six years ago, as I boarded a plane from Los Angeles to London – emotionally burned out, about to meltdown, at my absolute breakpoint – a personal assistant told me to create a Trello account so I could organize my to-do list for each property I was managing. I did just that. Within that 10-hour flight, I had copied my entire Moleskin® notebook contents into organized rows and columns – each property having its own tab in my new system. I then started attaching my digital documents to each task card so I could reference the details that pertained to each. When I arrived at the property in London, I voice-dictated my walk-through notes into my new Trello system. I snapped pictures of the wine cellar condenser leak, the refrigerator content inventory (what is Vegemite?), and the exotic fish food I needed to order. DAMN, that felt great!
I didn’t have the luxury of time or the tech skills to get fancier back then. I also didn’t need to. And I accomplished my goal of being more organized from my phone. Very quickly, I invited my staff to create Trello accounts and was able to assign tasks to each.
This was the beginning of EMS’ products. It took the last five years to refine them, with countless suggestions from other estate managers whose needs differed from mine, to develop the system we provide today.
Here are my NO COST suggestions to get started today:
Start a free Trello account.
Copy and paste to-dos from your Notes/Word/Excel.
Voice-dictate new requests and tasks.
Assign deadlines.
Don’t overthink this. You’re just a plane ride away from creating a simple and manageable system for free! It’s not rocket science. You don’t need an owner’s manual. It’s practical and inexpensive. Your invited staff and principals can access and contribute to it from anywhere; all you need is a smartphone and the Trello App.
It’s in your hands.
But the fastest way to complete an entire household management system is to purchase our How To Manage A Mansion™ system.
Within 24 hours, you’ll be:
Easily accessing your new system from your smartphone.
Inviting your team to view their tasks.
Managing your privacy settings.
Assigning tasks & deadlines and creating a maintenance calendar.
Tracking progress on projects and to-do lists.
Communicating remotely with everyone who helps make your life better.
These tasks can relate to the following:
Housekeeping, Landscaping, Mechanical Equipment, and Vehicles
Household inventories
Principal preferences
Guest Preparations
Emergency Plans
Events and Travel Planning
Pet, elder parent, and childcare
Medical records and prescriptions
Grocery and personal products
And absolutely ANYTHING else!
Delivering world-class service doesn’t have to be complicated. You can achieve this today with a free Trello account or a program like our How to Manage a Mansion System. You’ll have a system you own and can share your service requirements and pet peeves with the household staff. What are you waiting for?
It’s within your control – the No Cost Option or Us! Get started today before another month passes and the next unexpected setback throws you off track.
Cheers to the New Year and to thriving in private service!
Be sure to check out all of our products and services specifically for high-net-worth families and their household staff
How To Manage A Mansion™
Private Service Support Team
The Dear Billionaire Podcast
Printable House Manual Templates
Free Resource
e-Learning: EMS YouTube Channel
