If I had it my way, most of our business cards would not list a job title. Mine never has. Over the years, I have seen folks get caught up in their name, rank, and serial number for a company, maybe neglecting some important nuances in the process. With all respect to my banking friends, I have never met anyone with a lower rank than vice president listed …
With each passing year, I think it is easier at times for us to get caught up in the “comparison trap.” I know I have been guilty of this very thing. A few months ago, I had lunch with an acquaintance, a wealthy individual who had accumulated a substantial amount of wealth during her life. …
This week, I attended the annual year-end dinner and board meeting of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank. The Surgeon General of the U.S., along with the president of the sixth district, spoke about a range of common threads affecting both. Poor health leads to poor economics and good health can lead to good economics. I …
In a business organization, it’s easy to be drawn to charismatic or strong personality types for the obvious reasons. But what about humility? I’m talking about people who do their job day in and day out, hoping for respect, but not expecting the spotlight. Those who are eager to appreciate others’ strengths, focusing on bettering the …
There are a few phrases that folks in our office are probably tired of hearing me say. One is,“Success is about finding good customers and keeping them.” If you can keep good customers, you don’t have to be out looking for new ones all the time. It sure saves time and resources, allowing for better …
During a breakfast with a customer this week, we got on the topic of expectations, business and beyond. We both had experiences where we did not expect a return, or anything for that matter, and we were just offering to assist someone else. It’s funny the way things works. Often, those were the times when …
From time to time, I am asked how we manage to build projects in multiple states, often a long way from here, and how we have been consistent for 35 years. The answer is pretty simple: We have developed a group of traveling subcontractors and vendors who we trust. In return, they trust us. The key …
For nearly 30 years, I have spent the third weekend of October in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. It’s an upland bird hunting trip, which is really more about so many other things, with the hunting license being the passport. I returned Tuesday evening from my annual trip. I’ve had a chance to view hundreds of sunsets …
Several months ago, we set fuel tanks on one of our projects. While words can describe the process, this time lapse does it best: Like most building contractors, we’ve found that starting things right with an eye on quality always ends up with the best results. In this case, constant monitoring was also key in …
When you walk into a conference room, the normal thought is that the authority figure is seated at the head of the table. At your next meeting, I’ll challenge you to look to his or her right, and take note of who’s sitting there. That person often has the leader’s ear. I was talking to …
Some time ago, I figured out the value of being a connector, working to connect the right people who may not know each other, but would benefit from being acquainted. I’ve been doing this for several years now, and typically with no strings attached. The realty is that if you expect nothing in return, then …
Over the years, I have learned the hard way that saying “no” can sometimes lead to just as much success as saying “yes.” It’s human nature to want to say “yes.” We all wish to be positive and help, but sometimes knowing our own limitations or those of our company means certain business situations or …