Now that we're part of the Trash & Stash Family
What’s on my mind these days.
Originally posted at here.
We’re really excited to have Carolina Junk Dawgs as part of the Trash and Stash family. It is a brand that carries meaning and a great reputation in the Lancaster community. I live in Lancaster, so CJD presented an opportunity to do more work in these parts. For all intents and purposes, at this time Carolina Junk Dawgs and Trash and Stash are one in the same. Our team, equipment, rates and processes are interchangeable. That may not always be the case, but is for today. Please call if you have any questions or concerns about any of this.
Mission > Goals.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. As a small business owner, I keep my eyes on all sorts of goals. Goals act as guard rails to make sure we stay on the road to profitability. And at the end of the day, we need a profitable business to support our team and serve our community.
The thing is those goals can be hypnotizing. And when the focus gets too narrow, too goal- centric; we lose sight of the mission. And the mission is what inspires us. It’s what makes us different. It’s how we “speak” to and “serve” our customers.
The mission is central to who we are as people and as a business. Our goals support our mission. And so we must constantly remind ourselves to zoom out in the pursuit of ours goals. Forest. Trees.
Process > Results.
I started Trash and Stash in April, 2021. Since then, we’ve been very intentional about how we perform the work of “junk removal.” This includes the technology used to support our operations. Who we hire. How we market our business. The way we communicate with and interact with our customers. And the operational tactics we use on a day in, day out basis.
When we drive too hard on goals, we start pushing for results. This sometimes leads to a breakdown of process. And potentially mission failure. That’s when we need to catch ourselves and course correct.
We know who we are. We know where we’re trying to go. And we’re confident we’re on the right road. So we need to be consistent. A little stubborn. And we need to be observant and adaptable as road conditions change.
And here lately, it feels as though the road conditions are a bit icy. Election year. Economic uncertainty. These macro- factors are out of our control and a little scary. But we’ve done the hard work. So, particularly in times like these we need to trust the process and use our systems.
This is a big reason why B Corp Certification was so important for us. It’s a tool that forces us to remain mission focused. It demands transparency and forces accountability. B Corp Certification is a critical part of our system that keeps us centered. This then shapes our process and drives results. These results feed our goals and ultimately helps us serve our mission.
We’re America’s first and only B Corp certified junk removal service. We talk about it a lot because we’re proud of it. It was a big and difficult goal accomplished by a small group of dedicated and hard working people. The certification is a badge of honor. It shows we meet the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility, transparency and accountability. That we balance purpose with profits. We work in service to our customers. Our teammates. Our community and our planet while also making a fair and honest living.
Thanks for being supportive. Thanks for being interested. Thanks for thinking about responsible alternatives. Thanks.
