It seems like funeral service has been talking about change for my entire career of almost 40 years. Sometimes it gets a little...well you know...boring. It seems like everything changes: Families Employees Laws While we all feel stuck and even depressed as we try to accommodate (rather assimilate and [...]
What is an Intentional Funeral Director? Some years ago I attended a Men's Retreat at my church. The plan was that we would all ride to the camp on the church bus. What the pastor told us before we climbed on board set the whole tone. He said: [...]
Big Question!! How much should the value of a funeral home be discounted if the facility is being sold for other use? A funeral home in your area has accepted an offer for their real estate that is much greater than the business is worth. How much would you discount the value of the business if you [...]
Funeral directors are notorious for being conflict avoidant. Yet they have a job where they must engage in difficult conversations with staff, vendors and their customers. I used to attend a church with a pastor who would go to bizarre lengths to avoid conflict. He was beloved by the congregation and staff alike. But the [...]
I think I saw my first Urn Ark around 20 years ago. I was immediately taken and still consider it to be the best way to dignify the ceremony in a cremation. Most funeral homes that use them... and, sadly, too many do not...don't charge for them. That practice doesn't bother me but I do [...]
It has now become routine for me to analyze what they are paying in "True" wholesale prices for caskets. In the process I typically save tens of thousands of dollars for them over the course of a year. But what I do isn't rocket science. Nor does it always require they change vendors...although it often [...]
After the Newton Massacre I brought up the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a blog entitled: PTSD: The Slow Leak in Funeral Service’ Tire I got so many responses I republished it as: The Unspoken Affliction:PTSD and the Funeral Director Since then I have received a number of comments and participated in several discussions [...]
The conventional incentive rewards the individual...usually with something monetary. Like so many things, incentives have evolved and become more complicated than a simple financial incentive. Not everyone is money motivated. A personal example: As long as I am earning what I need, money is not a motivator for me. I am, instead, motivated by discovery and [...]
In light of our recent presidential election this is especially fitting. The invective, threats and vitriol directed at our President - Elect pale in comparison to what President - Elect Lincoln experienced. Let's remember that he had to sneak into Washington because of the very real threat of assassination. People didn't protest they rioted. His [...]
I love the story of two little boys fighting over the last piece of cake. Mom comes into the kitchen as they are pushing and shoving and with "Solomon - like" wisdom says, "Johnny, Billy, there is enough for both of you. Johnny I want you to cut the cake into two pieces and Billy [...]
