search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts TikTok Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts TikTok
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Infographics
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor Newsletters
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Best of Success: Passion in Leadership and Sales

November 9, 2009
Having passion for the roofing business is a Jim Bush trait; closing a deal takes a little more skill. Both were on display as Bush presented his seminar titled “Passion in Leadership and Sales.”

Bush


Having passion for the roofing business is a Jim Bush trait; closing a deal takes a little more skill. Both were on display as Bush presented his seminar titled “Passion in Leadership and Sales.”

Bush, Owner and President of WeatherShield Roofing Systems in Grand Rapids, Mich., founded the company in 1980 and has steadily grown the business ever since.

Bush said his focus is on sales and entrepreneurship. He likes doing training at seminars, and also consulting with other businesspeople on practical ways to make their business more profitable and successful.

“Learn to win more jobs at your price,” he said. “This is the fastest and least expensive way to increase your business. Increase your closing percentage.”

Bush listed seven points to follow for closing a deal:

1. Pre-qualify every lead. “Pre-qualify that call,” he said. “Gather basic information. Negotiate work. You know more about your customers’ needs than they do.”

2. Control the sales process. “Don’t allow yourself to be at their mercy,” he said. “Why not do a Request for Proposal?”

3. Gather better information. “Knowledge is power,” he said. “The client will tell you what they want, when and how much they’ll pay for it - you just have to listen.”

4. Submit killer proposals. “No one-page proposals,” he said. “You need to change that way of thinking.… Never talk price until you first establish value.”

5. Give great presentations. “Some people don’t do that,” he said. “Never fax or mail a bid no matter how busy you are.”

6. Have great installation processes. “Your job is to keep all the promises I make,” he said. “That’s what I tell my operations people. Give them a great experience. It’s the experience that makes them come back.”

7. Deliver great communication. “Make sure you continue to contact the client,” he said.

His last tip resonated with everyone: “Just do it,” said Bush, who then quoted Albert Einstein. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor's Top 100

    Benchmarking the Best in Roofing

    The 2026 Top 100 roofing contractors are revealed,...
    Top 100 Roofing Contractors
    By: Art Aisner and Tanja Kern
  • KEE membrane application on a roof

    A Beginner’s Guide to Single-Ply Roofing Membranes

    While PVC and TPO appear extremely similar, the chemistry...
    Low Slope Roofing
    By: Peter Gross
  • A couple stands facing a very nice home

    The Homeowner's Roofing Journey in 2026

    RC asked homeowners what their roofing journey was like,...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Art Aisner
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the Newsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • A happy couple agreeing to purchase a new roof for their home
    Sponsored byRoofr

    What Homeowners Actually Want From Their Roofer (And It's Probably Not What You Think)

  • 3 roofers unrolling a roofing membrane
    Sponsored byGAF Commercial

    PVC: Protection. Versatility. Convenience.

  • You can't bring a dollar amount to peace of mind.
    Sponsored byDaVinci® Roofscapes

    Why Homeowners Are Investing in Premium Roofing Systems

Popular Stories

Top 10 graphic

RC’s Top 100: The Top 10 Roofing Contractors of 2026

Roofing Contractor magazine's sneak peek of its 2025 Top 100 Contractors in North America.

5 Early Facts About Roofing Contractor's 2026 Top 100 List

interior of warehouse

Video: BJ’s Roof Collapses During New Jersey Flash Flooding

Events

July 28, 2026

How Top Home Services Companies Turn Every Conversation Into Predictable Revenue

On Demand In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

December 7, 2026

Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2026 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Best of Success Seminar: Excel in Sales by Practicing the Fundamentals

    See More
  • Trent Cotney BOS 2019

    Best of Best of Success: Cotney Explores Changes for Subcontractors in Roofing

    See More
  • Best of Success 2014: Celebrating 10 Years of Success in Marco Island

    See More
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing