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 …
Over the years, communication means and methods have changed. We are now in a world where most everyone has at least a cell phone close by. While all these advances have made it easier to communicate and catalogue our work, we’ve unintentionally cut out some of the personal interactions that can make a team truly …
For several years, Major League Baseball has been hosting a regular season game at the location of the movie Field of Dreams. Birmingham will be host for the MLB game this year at Rickwood Field, America’s Oldest Baseball Park. The St. Louis Cardinals play the San Francisco Giants on June 20th, to coincide with Juneteenth, …
We are in the unique (and good) position of having an established leadership team in the field and the office. These professionals know the business and they know our approach, and they are joined by a promising group of new talent. The only negative here is that we all can get set in our ways, …