For years, I have heard about a decreasing quantity of trades people entering the workforce. When we add in the impact of covid, it seems the challenge is even greater. I recently read a statistic that over the next dozen years or so, the high school graduation rate is expected to drop by about 10%, …
It seems like our executive branch is playing a baseball game with the tariffs. Everyday is like a replay of the old Abbott and Costello, skit “Who’s on First.” The White House promised to restore a true 25% tariff on steel imports and elevate the tariff to 25% on aluminum imports, eliminating the loopholes that …
While technology has changed, and we have a lot more tools in the toolbox, email is still the primary business communication for most of us. It has the advantage of being an easy searchable virtual paper trail. However, it can be nuanced, lack context and personality, and even feel a little cold. Over the years, …
When I first got started in the construction business, I was hesitant to turn down new projects. We might have been overwhelmed and understaffed, but I wanted to say “yes” and expand our customer base and portfolio. In those early years, I learned that hard way that outrunning your infrastructure is bad for multiple reasons. …
In the last couple of weeks, the new administration has announced a slew of changes that will likely impact the construction industry. We are trying to keep a watchful eye while realizing that some of these initiatives might get pulled back before they become reality. Sometimes it’s senseless worry to worry too soon. For several …
This morning, we were on a call with a relationship customer, discussing the cost of a project. Obviously, everyone involved, including us, wants the lowest possible cost. It got me to thinking about risk management in regards subcontract pricing. I have learned am important lesson. Most of the time, one can continue to work numbers …
I recently read an article generalizing the types of leaders you often find in a construction setting. It discusses the importance of creating a mix of people who are great at coaching, pacesetting, being autocratic, and working as servant leaders. These are all vital to a company’s success, but the one that really resonates with …
I have recently seen a few stories about the way depression is on the rise. Maybe it is just the time of year, or maybe other reasons. No matter the root cause, The World Health Organization (WHO) has called depression an epidemic, and in his departing message, the Surgeon General warned against dangers of loneliness …
I’ve been privileged to be surrounded by a lot of high performers. We work in a task-oriented field, and many in project management excel at pushing through a checklist, all with quality control and customer relationships top-of-mind. These folks are the core of our company and are much appreciated. Most days, they make achieving our …
The market took a hit this week, and most of the post-election gains were wiped out. This came after the Fed announced that they plan to cut rates twice in 2025 instead of the forecasted four, and also that they don’t expect inflation to reach its target rate until 2027. To me, it’s all part …
This week, Robbie Cather from our company attended the annual CenterBuild conference in Phoenix, a two-day event sharing ideas and learning. Perhaps the most interesting thing he shared was a stat from Williams Sonoma regarding the relationship between bricks & mortar and e-commerce. When their company closes a physical store, online sales in that market …