Recently, I have seen quite a few articles about Santa. A few things grownups can learn from the man: 1. Focus on giving, not the receiving. Santa puts great effort into getting the right gifts and expects nothing in return, other than maybe some milk and cookies. 2. Always be on time. Santa understands deadlines. …
Tis the season. There is lots going on this time of year. We are all (hopefully) taking time to share remembrances of the year ending, time to build or better relationships and a moment to be appreciative. About relationships: To me, people who build long lasting relationships don’t just think about others around the …
We’ve always thought of our campus as a special place, and this weekend, it has a special mission. Our headquarters will be open on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 11-5 and Sunday, Dec 13 from 1-5 as a part of the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday Home Tour. Funds raised from ticket sales will benefit Children’s Fresh Air …
Sometimes the only place to go is up. Next year, we’re starting a redevelopment for which we and our customer considered several expansion options. One from the early design phase was going vertical above the roof. On the urban stage, we’re seeing more landlords request that their building be designed with potential vertical growth in mind. …
This is a popular week to say “thank you.” To me, we’d do better to let our attitude of Thanksgiving spill over into the remaining 51 weeks.What if the rest of the year (and our lives) we considered saying thank you in different ways? Quietly sharing our gratefulness to friends and others as often …
“Is that up to code?” I hear this often. Construction codes are complex and at times hard to navigate. Regulations can vary by trade and locality. To complicate things, there is no uniform building code in the United States, nor is there a common language for what is written. Industry groups publish standards that are then …
I recently had dinner with a friend, who is a great golfer in his own right, and whose brother is of one of the top PGA tour players. While we did not discuss the dynamics of the game, I thought to myself that, while these guys compete against one another, in a way, they compete against …
Powder activated fasteners are probably not something that is top of mind for many. But to some, depending upon the way one might have been raised in the business, there is a preference. Both get the job done, but differently. I was talking with one of our project superintendents on a job in Blacksburg recently …
I was talking with our CFO this week, discussing tactical and strategic types of thinking. In tactical execution, one does not have to look over the horizon. These are the folks who focus on short-term goals and milestones, planning and organizing for a set timeframe. Problems always seems urgent and concrete, with the immediate goals …
In the final stages of a recent project, we discovered that our concrete slabs had elevated moisture content as compared to the specifications required by the desired floor coverings. This persisted in spite of running the HVAC system for 30 days, our standard operating procedure. Was their storm water matriculating through sub grade? Was there a …
In the construction industry, one usually finds “left-brained” thinkers, people who tend towards the analytic and objective. Bruce Adams, a part of our senior management, is one who also exercises his “right brain,” being a talented artist. Recently, he was telling me a process he uses for still life paintings. When he finishes his sketch, …
A couple of weeks ago, I was in the Twin Cities visiting some customers. While there, my friend Randy Manthey and his wife Christine invited me to their new flat in downtown Minneapolis. Vélo North Loop, in the Warehouse District near the M River, caters to an active lifestyle, particularly those who bike. They have street level …