Beyond the Build
Balancing Knowledge and Relationships
Warren Buffett claims the secret to his success is that he sits in his office and reads all day. Can it really be that simple? I found an interesting article…
Leadership
Appearances Count
There are many layers to being successful, and some things come easier than others. In the construction business, we may not have daily interaction with our customers, but we do…
Read MoreLeadership
Riptide
Recently, I was visiting with a friend who has a promising business concept in the works but is lacking cash. As many in the business world know, a startup usually…
Leadership
Effort and Attitude Earn a Seat at the Table
This week, I had lunch with a couple of longtime acquaintances. One is a banker with a Fortune 100 company, and the other is a successful multifamily developer. Our conversation…
Customer Relationships
Word Choice Matters
We’ve all been on the receiving end of written communication that can be interpreted as condescending, making us feel disrespected. Often, the communication intensifies the original problem, the opposite of…
Team Building
Garden Growing Up
Our garden is as old as our building, and we’ve learned a few things over the 15 years we’ve been growing. We began with tomatoes, and we seem to expand…
The Weekend
Jamboree
This week, I was a guest of the 2023 National Scout Jamboree, a flagship event that’s held every four years. It spans 10 days, and several thousand Scouts and leaders…
Leadership
Because you asked…
I was recently reacquainted with an old trick for becoming more persuasive. Instead of just making a request, add the word “because” to your sentence. Giving a little context gets a…
Construction Trends
The Next Wave of Opportunities?
A few years ago, I met Joe Zidle, a leader at Blackstone, and have followed his posts since. He wrote an interesting article recently, sharing his take on the trajectory…
Customer Relationships
Ask a Favor
My team often hears me say that everyone is responsible for maintaining customer relationships, and thus sales. We are a mid-sized company, and we take pride in our commitment to…