In August of 2000, Kristina Kalapos started a new company—Secure Eco-Shred. This independent company provides the secure destruction of important and private documents, preventing corporate espionage and identity theft. Secure Eco-Shred primarily provides these services to companies and corporations that dispose large amounts of documents. In the start of her business, Kristina believed that trust is critical, and in order to build trust, relationships are the key. That philosophy is exactly what her company stands for—trust and security for all her clients needs.
Before attending a workshop with the Cycle-of-Success Institute, which she had learned about through the Women’s Business Development Center, Kristina had come to a point where she did not know how to handle the turnover that was a constant problem in her workplace. She felt that she was wasting so much time and money, training new employees. People were quitting because there was no adequate training, so both training education and proper hiring techniques were critical. She needed employees that were protective of the clients and customers documents, and that were stable enough to handle what the job descriptions ask them to perform. What she also wanted to learn was how she can have more money to the bottom-line by minimizing problems within the company. Kristina’s main goal was to peel back all the layers, and realize there are other underlying factors that are causing the majority of her problems. Instead of focusing on the surface, she wanted to look within the Company and figure out solutions to the root problems—but she did not know how to methodically approach this daunting task.
Once she heard of the Cycle-of-Success Institute, she stated that this was the best institute that she has ever attended. It truly opened up her eyes to see all the major problems that were occurring within her company, most that she would have never identified herself. After the initial workshop, she worked with a COSi coach the first month, and with a team of her employees, they were able to identify over 75 problems costing her company dearly.
During the next 11 months Kris learned the tools that would set her on a journey of change that would affect the way the company operated. For her company, it included:
- The company needed discipline to give responsibilities to her employees, and it had to be done in a systematic manner
- From an owner’s perspective, she has to listen to her employees. They are the ones that do the jobs specific to them—they know what can be done better, and how to perform more effectively and efficiently
- Not only did the employees feel that they were involved and their opinion counted, but using the brains of other people within her company allows the employees to feel important and it empowers them to do their job better
- How important it is to properly manage the day-to-day costs of running the company. In a radio interview, Kristina stated: “Before COSi it was like the fan blew all my dollars out the door”.
- Elimination of problems is easier than rebuilding the boat, meaning, it is easier to get rid of the problems than to spend more money trying to start a whole new system or sales effort
- What Kristina also learned was that she needed to stop looking at the top line of her company, instead looking at everything underneath. After fixing the problems, you will reach your top line.
After understanding the Cycle-of-Success methodology, she was able to understand how her company worked, and how to take control over it. This is just one example as to how the Cycle-of-Success Institute can help with taking control of your business from the inside out. Kristina Kalapos is yet another great example of how the Cycle-of-Success Institute can help recreate or redirect your company to a bigger, brighter, and wealthier future.
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