Who needs Job Cost Tracking? You do. That is, you do if you’re a commercial construction subcontractor, and you are determined to manage a profitable, sustainable, and worthwhile enterprise. Successful construction contracting business owners know the part they play. They do the analytical work, and they make the decisions. Consequently,  the financial reports they receive and review regularly enhance their ability to accomplish these tasks.  For example, one of those importa

How neglecting some things in your business pays off Here’s the deal; big picture thinking is a core leadership competency. Yes, as a leader, you must see the forest and let others be concerned about the trees. Savvy construction leaders focus more on steering long-range objectives, providing inspiration, and motivating others. They are likely to: Anticipate opportunities, contingencies, and potential problems See idea, theory, and concept connections Understand people networ

Subcontractors – What’s Your Story? Subcontractors create The culture you create within the confines of your construction subcontracting business radiates. That culture becomes the story your construction company is known for. What story is your subcontracting business telling? Are your crews known for showing up on time prepared to give it their all? Or do they have the reputation for being late and leaving the site frequently to retrieve forgotten tools? Are your people the

Promoting Your Commercial Construction Business Promoting your construction business While promoting your commercial construction business falls under the umbrella of marketing, don’t get it confused with your other marketing strategies and tactics. Briefly, a few things your marketing can include are paid ads, social media, blogging, sponsoring, and promoting. Plus, while we’re removing some confusion, I hasten to add that promoting is NOT the same as having a promotion. Thi

Mistakes are learning tools Learn. Study. Improve. Grasp. Catch On. There are numerous ways for us to learn. Making mistakes is one of them. At the bottom rung of the construction contracting mistake ladder we hope to learn to never again do the thing which turned out to be a mistake. Yet, there are more rungs. Making us think it through. Training us to not do similar things. Teaching others to avoid the action. Enlightening us concerning our skills level. Revealing something

Some bonus programs stink Bonus programs based on the wrong parameters or instituted poorly can be really yucky for everyone. Your team loses, you lose, and you throw your hands up in despair thinking bonus programs are a waste of time and (more importantly) a waste of money. Yet, if you get it right, the win-win effect takes place bringing everyone (including your clients) into a much better place. Instituting bonus incentives in your construction contracting or service busi