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 …
Effective community service is an essential part of every company’s resume, and it has been an active portion of our extra-curricular efforts over the last 25 years. Community service does several different things simultaneously: Foremost, it helps whichever organization or charity we are supporting It helps bond my team in a setting outside of the …
Every once in a while someone comes along in my life so inspiring and benevolent that it makes me ask the great introspective questions about who I am and what the real purposes of life are. The person motivates me to be a better individual, and when faced with a dilemma, I ask myself, “what …
Being prepared is something that I can never get too much of. In business this means always looking around the corner to find the next job or being careful not to spend foolishly, and at home it means having that rainy day fund for when the unexpected happens. I’ve been involved with the Boy Scouts …
When I think of my contacts, I tend to think of people within my industry or those having something to do with construction. However, I’ve met some of my best connections through work. These are often the most enriching encounters and lead to the most one-of-a-kind experiences for my clients and me. When you meet …
In the construction industry, project managers and superintendents sometimes do not get to spend much casual time together, but we all know that jobs run more efficiently if each understands the importance of the other’s role and both strive to work as a team. When I started brainstorming ways to bring Stewart Perry together, my …
Experience has taught me that it’s important to view your business on a broader scale. Your company is not only influenced by the people who work with you, but by a circle of families that shape every employee’s life. When you know who’s waiting for your team members to get home every evening you understand …
I’ve always encouraged our team members to be active participants in their communities. Well-rounded folks are happier when they come in our doors and that positive attitude spills over into everything they do, including work. I have volunteered with The Boy Scouts of America for years, and I’ve found that my experiences with the organization …