As 2009 comes to a close, I have thought about what I could have done better, the mistakes I made, and the wins we achieved. To me, we always learn more from our failures than from our wins. Winning makes us think we are smarter than we might really be. Never confuse success with a …
Every December our team and their families come together for a long weekend. Last weekend was our 25th year to celebrate this tradition. We started on Friday afternoon with a presentation on quality EIFS details, followed by the chairman of the USGBC visiting with us about their standards. Saturday morning our branding consultant, Holland & …
As a construction company navigating our way through these hard economic times, we are devoting much time to seeking out the right opportunities. Many of us are in the same boat, looking for work that has reasonable profits. On the cost side of our operations—overhead—we’re fortunate to have a forward thinking CFO who keeps me …
One of my most important jobs is to instill confidence in our company, especially now—to help team members feel at ease about the work portion of their lives. I recently ran across this iconic poster, “Keep calm and carry on,” and it struck a chord with me. While the original words came from the British …
I’ve always been a believer in reading history, as it often repeats itself, or at least offers a case study for how to do (or not do) things. A recent trip to London seemed like a good time to pay tribute to a wise Brit, so I dropped into a local shop and purchased a …
When work and family time intersect and you have to be away from home for a couple of days because of a business obligation, there are ways to minimize the impact your absence has on those around you. • Minimize the overnight stays – In today’s high-speed world, there is often a way to …
Recently, one of our long-term client relationships sponsored a forum in New York City on innovation of company culture through design. While I wasn’t able to attend, I did get my hands on some great notes from a friend. Design of function has evolved to be much more in the center of technology, business and …
When business is good, it’s far too easy for leaders to get busy, ignore their company’s weaknesses and forget to brainstorm ways to improve. It’s an easier focus now since business is down and we all have a little more time. As a company, we are using the lull to evaluate and reevaluate every aspect …
In previous posts, I’ve shared with you how important it is to me take time away from the office to clear your mind, opening it up to see new possibilities. You’ll be amazed at the clarity you find when you take a step back and focus on the bigger picture. My annual visit to the …
To me, two simple words can be the foundation of long-term business relationships: character and culture. When these values are the same between a buyer and a seller, opportunity for long-term growth exists. We have always looked to build customer relationships with companies and individuals who have a similar character and culture as ours. Roughly …
While most of us are suffering from the Recession’s effects in one way or another, there is a silver lining inside our current cloud. Recessions let us step back and observe the way we do business, often providing takeaways for our businesses as we move forward. From the reading I have done, innovation and great …
After talking with someone about the movie Taking Woodstock, I got to thinking that this monumental event took place prior to the advent of the Internet, cell phones, social media sites and even before the invention of the fax machine and overnight mail, which surfaced in the early 1980s. Even without these tools we now …