Get Your Game on!

As far back as I can remember, playing games with the family was a highlight of our holidays. We’d stay up until the wee hours of the morning, laughing, teasing and playing until our competitive streaks were either satiated by winning or too exhausted to continue. We made memories that have lasted a lifetime and are now introducing a new generation of grandkids, nieces and nephews to the fun of board and card games.


This holiday season, start your own tradition – turn off the TV, Wiis, iPhones and other techno gadgets and have some old-fashioned family fun. Along with classics such as Monopoly, Phase 10, Uno and Scrabble, pick up some newer games the whole family will enjoy.

A popular favorite, Settlers of Catan is a constantly- changing strategy game where players collect resources and use them to trade and build settlements, cities and roads. It’s an award-winning game that’s been a best seller in the United State and America and is suitable for three to four players, ages 10 and up.

For fast-paced fun reminiscent of hot potato, pick up the electronic version of Catch Phrase. You only have a few seconds to describe the word on the screen, get your teammates to guess correctly and hand it off to the next player. If the buzzer goes off and you’re still holding it, you lose! It’s hilarious fun and perfect for large groups.

Quick! What adjective describes a high school reunion? Is it painful, awkward? Apples to Apples provides hours of fun as a card game with hilarious comparisons. The “judge” picks a card with a noun and players pick their own cards that best describe the noun. If the judge picks your card, you win the round! From just plain funny to outrageous, you never know what may happen!

For more fun games, check out Quiddler, Dutch Blitz, Blockus, Loaded Questions, Cranium and Buzzword.

Keep Your Holidays Merry

Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday, a certain amount of stress always seems to creep into our lives – sometimes even robbing us of the joy the season brings. This year, take time now to ensure your holidays are thankful, merry and as stress free as possible.

Number one on the list – always remember it’s about spending time with family and friends.

Your house may not be spotless, the presents may not be wrapped perfectly but those who love you most don’t care. Ten years down the road, they won’t remember that there was dust on the mantle, but they will remember laughing until their sides hurt, watching the kids’ faces as they opened presents, staying up late chatting and so much more.

Make lists for everything.

Being organized ahead of time is crucial to keeping stress at bay. Plan your menus now and pick up needed items each time you shop. Keep a list of ongoing household chores/cleaning that needs to be done. Give the kids their own lists of things they can help do around the house. Make a list of everyone you need to buy for, what they want and a set dollar amount for each gift.

Spend five minutes a day counting your blessings.

An attitude of thankfulness keeps the holiday spirit going despite long lines, short days and never-ending tasks.

Shop online, whether for groceries or presents.

You’ll escape crowded stores, maximize your precious time and can quickly and easily shop and compare.

Be realistic.

Don’t take on more than you can handle. Learn to say no. Overextending yourself also negatively affects your health, weakening your immune system and exacerbating current health problems. Do what is realistically possible and let the rest go.

If you have small children, keep their schedules consistent.

Children thrive on routine, especially during hectic times. Allow time for rest each day, ensure they have healthy meals and snacks and realize they may have fears (meeting new relatives, sitting on Santa’s lap, etc.) that require your time and attention. Keeping them on track will help ensure you’re able to stay on track as well.

And above all – enjoy the season!

Part 2 of Why You Need Allgood Pest Solutions

Enough said? http://www.allgoodpestsolutions.com/

Why You Should Really Choose Allgood

This was filmed by Fox5 Atlanta and really a great example of why it's important to use a professionally trained and licensed pest solutions provider. If you need a provider that you can trust to be safe around your family and home, trust that they will get the job done right and trust that the company will send someone to your home that's a good person, then you want Allgood Pest Solutions to provide pest and termite solutions for you. www.allgoodpestsolutions.com/

Crown Leadership Award Winner - Chuck Tindol

The following article is found in this month's PCT Magazine.

This third-generation PMP is his own man, but readily admits he owes a debt of gratitude to his father and grandfather.
It may “take a village to raise a child” but for Crown Leadership Award winner Chuck Tindol of Allgood Pest Solutions it took a strong family, including an iconic grandfather who had a great influence on his early years. Both sets of Tindol’s grandparents were there to help raise him when he was young, while his parents, Bubba and Mitzi, attended college at the University of Georgia. And Tindol’s paternal grandfather was the late Rufus “Red” Tindol, a legendary figure in the industry who served as NPMA president in 1976 and worked for Otto Orkin early in his career.
“I can remember back when I was a child, and dad and granddad were working for Orkin and they would bring home Orkin coloring books,” Tindol says. “I would spend hours coloring. Everything was Orkin, Orkin, Orkin.”
When Red and his two sons left Orkin to start Tindol Services in 1967, Tindol was a young boy and would go into work on Saturday to cut the grass or throw out the trash, accompanying his father or grandfather on service jobs from time to time. When he was 16, Tindol started working during the summers when school was out, doing termite work and insulation jobs. Then when he graduated from the University of Georgia, he became a salesperson for the company.
“I can remember going to accounts and it would amaze me the number of people who would ask me about Granddad. I never met anyone who didn’t love him,” he said. “He was a very gentle man.”
Tindol describes himself as a “wild child” in his youth. “School was very easy for me so I misbehaved. I got straight A’s in school but I was always in the principal’s office. I wasn’t a bad kid. I was just always looking to have some fun.”
As he matured, he realized that “it’s not just about me, but everybody reaching the goal. That was what Granddad was all about, empowering people. Rather than simply holding them accountable, he provided the reasons why it’s important that they be held accountable.”
Now that Tindol is one of five managing partners of Allgood Pest Solutions, he is putting that philosophy to good use. He acknowledges the company’s success results from several things, including a strong management team consisting of Tindol, his brother Mike, father Bubba, cousins Perry Tindol and Jimmy Allgood, and uncle Mike Allgood, who also shares a financial interest in the organization. One of the strengths of the organization is having a management team with various skills. “We all have our strengths and weaknesses. We’re able to talk through things.
“I’ve also learned to manage more effectively through various training programs like Dennis Fox’s Integrity Selling. I’ve applied what I learned to both my personal and professional life as it opened the door to better understanding my wife (Ann), Perry, Mike and Dad better.”
Learning his strengths and weaknesses, as well as others’ communication styles changed the organization dramatically. Now the company uses a number of peer-to-peer processes (i.e., service manager to technician, general manager to operations manager) to understand — and appreciate — one another’s communication profiles.

TURNING POINTS.

When asked about the key moments in his career, Tindol points to three: “The first key moment was when Dad sold to Waste Management. Granddad was ready to retire and Waste Management made a great offer. The sale allowed me to play a role in building my own business.” Tindol was 28 years old at the time of the sale.
“I told Jerry Seegers, (an executive) from Waste Management, that I had always been in my dad’s shadow and I wanted that to change. When I did something right, people would say, ‘That’s Bubba’s son.’ And when I did something wrong, they’d say, ‘That’s Bubba’s son.’” So, Tindol asked Seegers to keep him in mind for any out-of-town career opportunities.
That led to the second key moment in his career. Waste Management eventually offered Tindol a management position in St. Louis. “That’s where I developed my own management style and I met some great people at the same time. I met Mike Rottler and the Mannino family who practically took me in as part of their family. They helped me to understand how to be a good competitor.”
“The third key moment was when Waste Management left the industry, and we decided to come back to Atlanta and start Allgood Pest Solutions,” says Tindol. “When you start your own business you realize pretty quickly that unless you provide great service, you’re not going to feed your family. I had a different passion for our customers since we started the business from scratch.”

FONDEST ACHIEVEMENTS.

Professionally, Tindol indicates the thing he’s most proud of is Allgood and the respect they have among their employees and competitors alike. “People like to come to work at our company. They feel respected and they feel like they’re growing both personally and professionally,” explains Tindol.
Partner Jimmy Allgood believes Tindol’s talents are a real asset to the organization. “He’s looked after all our national interests and has taken the lead into looking at the business globally. He and my son (Lanny) have helped change the face of Allgood in Georgia.”
Fellow Georgian Charles Dixon, president of Dixon Exterminating, describes Tindol as a natural born leader. “He has character, motivation and people skills,” he says. “Personally, he was my mentor with NPMA and helped shape the direction of my company. Within our industry, I have never heard anyone speak badly of Chuck.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE.

When not satisfying customers, Allgood Pest Solutions is involved in a variety of community service organizations, as well as in raising funds for leukemia lymphoma research. This issue hits close to home as Tindol’s nephew (Mike’s son) was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008 that is now in remission.
Chuck and Ann’s children play an important role in their lives. Tindol coaches sports teams and attends sporting events. Oldest son Luke, 17, is athletic and plays high school baseball. Maggie, 16, runs cross country and plays soccer. Zach, 13, plays football, basketball and baseball. Tindol’s dad, Bubba, is proud of Chuck’s devotion to his family. “They are active as a family in their religion, the children’s sports and family vacations. Chuck has always participated in his kids’ sports as coach, as league president, as fund raiser and any other way possible.”
Ann is a cross country team coach and has this to say about Tindol: “The one word I would use to describe Chuck is passionate...about life, about family, about work. And when he’s passionate about something, he gives 100 percent.”
That passion has roots in his upbringing and in his parents and grandparents to whom, Tindol says, he owes a debt of gratitude.
*****

Up Close: Chuck Tindol

Title: Vice President Company

Affiliation: Allgood Pest Solutions

Location: Duluth, Ga. Personal: Married to wife Ann; three children, Luke (17), Maggie (16) and Zach (13); sports enthusiast who enjoys baseball, basketball and football, as well as family vacations.

Career Highlights:

Bachelor’s degree, marketing, University of Georgia
Member of NPMA Leadership Development Group
Member of Allgood Pest Solutions management team
Represents Allgood Pest Solutions nationally