Saunda and Paul Kitchen own the Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchise in Sonoma County, California. The Kitchens are consistently rated among the best franchisees in the Mr. Rooter system, and in 2008 their operation was again recognized as No. 1 in sales for markets of their size. They run a tight ship and a great business.

I recently heard Saunda speak about their accomplishments and how she and Paul have managed to maintain their focus despite the horrible economy. She says, “When times get tough we all tend to start looking for the next big thing, and we forget what got us here. We already have the tools; we just need to remember to use them.”

That philosophy has served the Kitchens well, and their steady and deliberate approach has kept their business healthy and ahead of the competition. When growth stalls, inconsistency is one of four factors that tend to plague struggling companies. But Saunda and Paul understand that to reap the rewards of consistency, they have to do what they do–and do it well–day after day.

Events beyond our control are challenging even the best-run companies. At times like these there’s no silver bullet solution, and chasing one can actually set an organization back. The Kitchens understand that the best thing they can do is continue focusing on the thing they do best, even if they, too, need an occasional reminder.

Paraphrazing Zig Ziglar, Saunda says, “Motivation is temporary, But so is bathing.”