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 …
We spend a lot of time piecing together the right teams for each project. It’s more of an art than a science, but factors considered include background, relevant experience, management style, personality and so much more. There are many paths to arrive at the same result, but we want to pair our folks in a …
We work in an industry where conflict is common. Our project team regularly works with owners, developers, architects, engineers, subcontractors and more. These contributors are all advocating for different phases of the project and goals. The good news is, we have a common vision. We might just have different thoughts on how to get there. …
Back in 2000, I read a book called “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. You can get an overview here, but the basic concept is that, “ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses do.” He goes on to describe the agents of change that drive these shifts. Like many, the book resonated …
It seems like Gen Z has been one of the most talked about generations. They are the first “digital natives” and probably felt the biggest social effects of the pandemic because it fell right in the middle of their formative years. In the construction industry, Gen Z has the ability to make a huge difference …
Steve Jobs may not have been the most beloved manager, but there is no doubt he found a way to encourage the best out of the people who worked with him. I think the philosophy is summed up with this 2008 quote from him: “My job is to not be easy on people. My job …
We work in a field where information is key. If a mistake is made on a job site, we often find ourselves trying to uncover the process, so we can correct our action and then create a path forward so we never repeat it. This involves asking a lot of questions. I recently read an …
A friend recently sent me an article about Warren Buffett and his belief that “about a dozen truly good decisions” led him to be so wildly successful. While many of these resonated with me, one stood out: Making a decision to do nothing. To use Buffett’s own words, “The trick is, when there is nothing to …
The funny thing about time is that the older you get, the faster it seems to pass one by. I read a post the other day that really stuck with me. The gist is that we are always talking about the “afters” in life. I’ll pick up this hobby after things slow down a little at …
Yesterday, I met with an architect and a subcontractor, both of whom have been successful partners for us over the years. As our meeting came to an end, conversation shifted to culture, and its importance to any organization. The subcontractor firmly believes that culture starts at the top and works its way down. He’s asked his project …
Since we moved into our place on Overton Road in 2008, our garden has evolved and grown. It moved to a new location when we added our West Wing. What started as a few tomato plants is now many varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers. We employ a gardener, who helps us choose what to …
In the business world, “success” can be a tricky thing. I’ve discovered that success can be hard to quantify and easy to lose. At best, it’s a sliding scale or a point in time. Still, many of us are striving for our own version success. This could mean goals and timelines met. Money made. An image …