Things aren’t what they used to be The reaction to the Coronavirus pandemic has caused shifts in buying habits, consumer expectations, and even workplace practices. Therefore, the construction industry has experienced and will continue to experience impacts on operations. These impacts may include: equipment, and supply chain disruptions financing restrictions or cash flow shortages permit delays or restrictions on new permits schedule setbacks workforce interruptions And lik

Organizing technology Tech is a wild and wooly beast that can be tamed. It really must be tamed if you’re to survive in the construction industry. And, taming tech means getting it organized in ways that serve you rather than overwhelm you. When you think about the tools tech has altered, enhanced, or replaced, you’ll get a better idea of how important it is to use the organizing mantra, “A place for everything and everything in its place” even in the tech world. For example,

Solutions can go awry Things that seem like a good idea at the time can turn out to be anything but. For example, you and your gang just want to have fun. So, you go to Amazon dot com and purchase a “Beach Behemoth Giant Inflatable 12-Foot” beach ball. And, off to the beach you go! Then, you post this on Amazon: Review: “We took this ball to the beach and after close to 2 hours to pump it up, we pushed it around for about 10 fun filled minutes. That was when the wind picked i

Building Construction Jobs Building construction trades need workers Over and over, we hear from our clients and other construction contractors one of the biggest problems they face is getting field workers. The reasons for the reduced workforce have been gone over so many times, my guess is I’m not the only one who is sick of hearing them. Yet, if you’re just aching to know, this article lists a few.  I’m sort of over the “why” of the equation and would rather see a “how” co

Loyal to what? In the construction industry, in 2018, the idea of loyal employees has taken a beating. Loyalty has gotten into the workforce ring and taken a severe beating – then been kicked in the ribs just for good measure. Lest you be tempted to lay this no-loyalty scenario at the doorstep of any particular generation — stop. Look back at the late 1950s when the seeds were already being planted. The seeds of distrust which began unraveling the employer and employee social

Instagram? Why? Before we get into the whats, hows, and wherefores of using Instagram to market your construction contracting business, let’s talk about the why. It isn’t likely in today’s economy that you’re too worried about finding new clients. I recently heard it described this way; “The way you get new clients today is to answer the phone.” Yep, the construction industry is swinging along nicely, thank you! Why spend time and energy getting the word out when you’re so do

Employer Breakfast With the Boss — on base There was an invitation to attend a breakfast meeting. There was a response in the affirmative. Then, this happened. One of our clients contacted Tonya and asked if she would like to attend a meeting sponsored by ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) and Arizona@Work. The stated goal of the meeting was to help employers learn how the partnership between the two above mentioned organizations benefits Arizona Businesses. So,

This is the fourth in a 5-part series about specific strategies you can use in order to retain your best construction employees. You can find the first installment here, the second here, and the third here. Have fun! Of all the things that make you a Construction Industry insider, one of the most overlooked is knowing how much fun it can be. Just one of the many reasons to be in the construction trades is the camaraderie which tends to be a part of the scene. The guys and gal

This is part 1 of a 2-part discussion concerning growing your construction contracting or service business through growing your middle managers. In this section the discussion will center on what you as an owner should be doing in your business while allowing your middle managers to manage other aspects. You’re the boss – own it You have better things to do than being on job sites all day long. Put your time and effort towards critical, big-picture decisions concerning your c

When you’re in the construction contracting business a lot rests on your ability to present an accurate bid. Before you bid your next job consider how your financial records and reports can and should strengthen your bidding accuracy. It isn’t about the luck of the draw, nor is it about hoping you get close. It is about knowing and understanding the basic numbers (i.e. how much the materials cost, how many people it will take, how many hours will be involved) as well as a sle

There are deadlines to meet, customers to satisfy, and (let’s face it) the important dollar to chase.  You work hard to build your contracting business. Finding ways to streamline the regular functioning is an ongoing process. Today, we present five “tools” for you to use in making your business run a little more smoothly. Close the door! Even if you decided to start your own construction contracting firm because you didn’t like your former boss’s real or implied closed door