On Christmas morning, my 21-year-old daughter, who is home from college, asked me and her sister if we had seen this video: She said she had watched it several times, and I can see why. It’s a simple story of a family on Christmas day. There’s no dialogue, just music and “Happy Holidays” text at the …
Most years, things slow down around Christmas. Many people take time off to be with family, and the last two weeks of December are usually touch and go. Except this year. Five days before Christmas, we still have phones ringing, email notifications chiming and bids churning. From our boots on the ground perspective, it seems …
Organizational structure. It’s something I have struggled with over the last few years, seeking just the right approach. I’ve observed that some in the industry have thick playbooks, and some have no playbooks at all. Others claim they are team players within their companies, but reality is, the “boss” never holds a rifle. A recent visit …
We’ve been involved in various types of permeable pavement over the years and recently learned of a new “tool” from the toolbox. Pervious Interlocking Concrete Paver Systems (PICP) can be a great asset for use in sidewalks and lower impact traffic areas. According to this trade organization, a PICP system is comprised of a layer of concrete …
I must admit that I had never heard the term “pay it forward” until earlier this week. To those not familiar, the idea is that when someone does a good deed, you repay it by helping someone else. With Thanksgiving at hand, it seemed a most appropriate thing to hear. At the conclusion of a …
I’m on the Auburn University Research Advisory Board, which meets twice a year. About three weeks ago, we had a chance to visit the athletic facilities, and among several there, I had a conversation with head football coach Gus Malzahn. Beyond the academics, Auburn is similar to other great schools in their athletic programs and the …
Each quarter, I meet with a handful of real estate and construction executives to discuss what we’re seeing and the broader implications for the region. Our gathering this week included a visit with a DOT Director, John Cooper. A state’s DOT decisions are often the lynchpins in a development, so the trends are definitely worth …
We built our first segmental wall in Charlottesville, Virginia about 20 years ago. I was recently passing through there and saw that the wall is still standing, just as we built it in the early 90s. At the time, the locals called it “the Great Wall of Charlottesville.” It was pretty tall for that time–32 …
We all have things we view as assets, with wealth and other tangible possessions often being the primary focus. To me, personal reputation is sometimes the most important asset we possess. Being preceded by a positive reputation is a faster path to creating a relationship, delivering better product and attaining more success. If yours isn’t …
I’d like to share a story I read from Vice-Chancellor John McCardell‘s address to the students and faculty of Sewanee: The University of the South, given at the beginning of this school year. I think the legend of Willie Six has a lot of application for us, as we will shortly begin a new year. Willie Six is a …
The other day, I was thinking about how the web and technology have created new words in our everyday vocabulary. For instance how many times do you say “I’ll Google it?” Ten years ago, no one would have known what you where talking about. In the same vein, “just PDF it to me,” “tweet it,” …
Time. It seems that these days, none of us have enough. When I was a child, my father worked with Southern Bell. I clearly remember the slogan, “Let your fingers do the walking,” and the accompanying “two fingers” mark. [Interestingly, neither the text or the symbol was ever copyrighted, and AT&T allowed any company — even …