Through hard lessons and experience, I’ve learned that ignoring the business side can cost you everything. Success isn’t easy, but with the right tools and action, it’s absolutely worth it.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure of tax season, tight cash flow, or not knowing where your business really stands, then the Savings Transfer tool was built for you. 

Sound familiar? We’ve all been in situations where we needed money that we didn’t have. Because in construction, it’s never just one expense.

If you’re tired of guessing where your money is going, this is where you start taking control.

That’s exactly why I created the Business Building Toolbox and offer coaching and consulting. If you’d like to learn more about the Savings Transfer Tool, join us for the Savings Transfer Tool Introduction on April 15^th at 10:30 AM (CT).

When you attend, you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of two prizes:

• One for a customized Savings Transfer Tool implementation ($997 value)
• One for a full year subscription to the Business Building Toolbox ($297 value)

And if you want a quick snapshot of where your business stands today, take the 5-Minute Financial Health Review.

Gene’s story shows how quickly one unexpected expense can throw your entire business and home life into chaos when there’s no financial cushion in place.

In this podcast, we follow Gene, a contractor who finishes a project only to run into a payment disagreement with his customer. What should’ve been a straightforward final payment turns into a negotiation that leaves him short on money he was counting on. 

Poor communication and lack of financial systems can cost you. So what can you do to prevent it?

The key difference-maker is organization.

The key to better scheduling isn’t finding more time, but gaining clarity about priorities. When the most important goals and responsibilities are clearly defined, decisions about how to spend time become easier, scheduling becomes more intentional, and reacting to every “fire” becomes less necessary.

Schedules fall behind for many reasons. The difference between a satisfied customer and an angry one often comes down to how expectations were set and how communication is handled when things shift.

Professionalism in construction isn’t just about craftsmanship, but managing expectations, keeping commitments realistic, and staying transparent when plans change.

Some lessons in construction and business are expensive. Learning on the fly isn’t the most reliable way to build anything. Construction skills are often passed down through experience, but business lessons usually aren’t. The result? Expensive mistakes that could have been avoided.

This week, they gather to tackle more issues behind their business struggles: pricing, communication, and lost profit. What begins as a discussion turns into a turns into a challenge. Stay in the rut, or take intentional action to build something better.

"What are the biggest problems you've dealt with in your business?"

"Losing money on jobs, employees not showing up, unhappy customers, equipment breaking down, jobs falling behind schedule, not being able to find good help, not having enough time to do everything…and on and on the list goes."

Running a construction business can feel isolating. Sometimes the best clarity starts with a simple conversation.

There would certainly be fewer headaches if he were working for someone else. Instead, all of it rests squarely on him. Even now, sitting there with a warm cinnamon roll and coffee, the weight of the business pressed down on him and he wonders if the effort is worth it. 

That realization usually shows up right when momentum starts to build. There's more opportunities, more interest, which means more work.

If I’m going to help construction companies build their businesses and continue doing construction… I’m going to need some more help.

Delegating sounds simple, but hiring well is hard. Rushing to fill a role rarely ends well, yet staying stretched too thin isn’t a plan either.

Sometimes the next step forward isn’t doing more, it’s getting the right support in place so the business can grow without burning out the person running it.

Too often, days are spent fighting fires instead of making real progress. Firefighting feels productive, but it’s one of the worst ways to prioritize.

With a limited amount of time, knowing what’s urgent, what’s important, and what truly matters requires clarity, preparation, and intentional decisions.

Hot fires are a good way to get burned. The better prepared you are, the less intense the fire, and the faster it can be put out.

Most people plan by guessing how much time or effort something will take and then wonder why they’re always rushed or behind.

Planning backward flips that on its head by starting with where you want to end up and mapping the steps needed to get there. Whether you’re managing your time or building toward a major business goal, this approach puts you back in control. Start with the outcome, work backward, and take action today.

For me, one of those moments came after my accident in 2012.  

Before then, I had concluded that my bland, ho-hum life was simply what it was. I was just trudging through life with little hope that things would ever be different. Mentally, I felt stuck in a rut with no way out. 

That feeling of being stuck was real, but it wasn’t the end of the story.

Goal setting and planning sound great… until everything feels important and nothing gets done.

Progress comes down to making a choice. You can only do one thing at a time, and prioritizing helps you decide what that next step should be. Learn a simple, realistic framework for deciding what deserves your attention so you can move your business and life forward with confidence.

Most of us have a picture in our heads of what our dream life looks like. It can be frustrating and depressing when things don’t turn out as planned or when our expectations exceed our accomplishments.

Setting goals is easy. Staying the course for the long game is hard. When it gets difficult, it’s tempting to give up. Giving up causes goals to die.

Don’t give up! Focus on the first next thing. 

It’s a reminder that our actions, communication, and attention to detail matter more than we often realize. When we understand how small decisions impact others, we can lead better, plan better, and respond with more intention.

This is about awareness, responsibility, and why the little things deserve more respect than we usually give them.

Planning feels productive… until you realize you’ve spent more time thinking about the work than actually doing it. If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. 

We’ve all had those moments when a simple task suddenly becomes way bigger than expected. Before you know it, you’re in over your head wondering how you got there.

There’s a fine line between preparing wisely and overthinking your way into a standstill. The key is recognizing when preparation turns into procrastination and choosing to act anyway.

Running your business all by yourself feels responsible until it becomes the very thing holding the business back. Sharing the load can change everything, but only if the shovels are placed in the right hands. 

And that’s the part most folks overlook…

Getting subcontractors on the job, coordinating material deliveries, and lining out the order of operations…all while juggling other construction projects in various stages, working on new proposals, and helping customers with project designs. Add to that everything outside of work like family, church, community, you name it.

Sounds like a pretty normal week in construction, doesn’t it?

Like anything else that’s worth doing, starting is the hard part. Saving money is no different. It’s like digging a hole.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have discussed why it’s critical to save money to keep your business afloat and how having a tool for that can help you figure out how much to save and what you’re saving it for. The Savings Transfer Sheet is like any other tool: it doesn’t do you a bit of good if you don’t actually use it.

That's why it is so important to save intentionally, even when income isn’t consistent. That's where the Savings Transfer Sheet helps you plan ahead for big expenses, equipment replacements, and the unexpected costs that come with running a business.

Whether you’re just getting started or have been at it for years, learn how to have a clear plan for setting money aside and keeping your business stable no matter what comes your way.

It’s common for people in business to spend everything they make and not save for future investments or emergencies. For the most part, as a society we have become comfortable. There will be more, right?

We have forgotten how important it is to save money.

42% of Americans in 2022 had less than $1,000 in savings, and 10% didn’t have any. Businesses aren’t doing any better, and saving is every bit as important.

A house is a structure. A home is a feeling— a place of warmth, safety, and belonging.

That same idea carries over into business and life. BUILDing something meaningful starts with clarity, intention, and a willingness to take action. I share what it means to BUILD in seven key areas of life: spiritual, family, vocation, financial, personal well-being, ministry, and community, and how a builder’s mindset can help shape more than just walls and roofs.

Because at the end of the day, BUILDing is about more than construction. It’s about creating the life and business you’re called to build.

If you’re anything like me, your to-do list probably never ends. Between projects, clients, estimates, and everything else that gets piled on your plate, it’s easy to feel like everything’s urgent and nothing can wait.

In this episode, I’m talking about how to figure out what’s actually most important. I’ll walk you through a simple tool that helps me sort through the chaos, focus on what matters, and quit wasting time on things that don’t move the needle.

We’ll talk about why prioritizing isn’t just about getting things done, but knowing your purpose, your “why,” and using that to make better decisions every day.

If you’re tired of feeling pulled in a hundred directions, this one’s for you.

We all have big dreams for our businesses, our lives, and our future. But what happens when the results don’t match our expectations? In this episode, we'll dig into what it really means to stay productive when progress feels slow (or nonexistent).

You’ll learn how to turn big, overwhelming dreams into practical, bite-sized goals, how to keep moving even when you’re discouraged, and why giving yourself grace is just as important as discipline.

Whether you’re building a construction company or rebuilding your confidence, this conversation will help you dust off, refocus, and take your next step forward.

If you’re ready to get clear and consistent in your construction business, I'm offering a free 30-minute consultation to help you set goals you’ll actually achieve.

It takes consistent review, accountability, and a system that actually works. We’ve all set goals and fallen short, and it’s easy to get frustrated or even stop setting them altogether. But progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about building habits and systems that help you move forward, one intentional step at a time.

When you take time to regularly review your goals, prioritize what matters most, and stay accountable, you create the structure needed to actually reach them. It’s about being flexible enough to adjust when life changes, but rigid enough to keep your priorities at the top of the list.

Whether you’re trying to build better habits, take more ownership, or simply get unstuck, consistent reflection and accountability are what turn goals from good intentions into real results.

Unless you’re a millionaire … waiting until the job is complete to get paid is a sure way to go out of business.

But it can be hard to ask a customer for a progress payment. Partially because there are too many stories of contractors asking for money upfront and then don't come back to complete the work for an extended period.

So you can’t blame customers for being hesitant to pay, or for honest contractors being nervous to ask.

This is why it’s important to have business tools and systems that communicate clearly and let all parties know what to expect.

One small shift can make a big difference. It wasn’t complicated. It came down to being aware, understanding the problem, and taking intentional action. 

With the right tools to track progress, it became much easier to stay on budget, stay on schedule, and keep building for the future.

In this episode, I share the behind-the-scenes struggles of building my coaching and consulting business, and the doubts that creep in when the path isn’t clear. From the idea of a “genie in a bottle” to the lessons I learned after my 2012 accident, I’ll walk you through why persistence matters, even when you don’t have all the answers.

If you’ve ever wondered if you’re on the right path or felt like quitting, this conversation will remind you that sometimes the uncertainty is part of the adventure.

We like the warm, safe feeling of our comfort zone.

A comfort zone is a safe space where we don’t take risks, but we also don’t grow. It’s not simply a physical space, but a mental concept. It’s not just a wall we’ve built, but it’s also our daily routines and way of thinking.

The danger is that a comfort zone becomes the perfect excuse not to do something, not to take risks, not to grow, and ultimately…not to really live.

Nothing happens if you don’t show up. I saw it just the other day: rain in the morning, clear skies by afternoon, and still no crew on site. 

It’s a good reminder that the same thing happens in our businesses and lives. We let distractions or excuses keep us from doing the important work. Clarity comes when you decide what your priorities are and commit to them. 

You won’t always get it perfect, but even the wrong step moves you forward. If you want to build the life and business you want, you have to show up.

We all get caught in the whirlwind of busy days, scrambling to fit everything in. But what if the problem isn’t time, but priorities? One of my favorite lessons from Stephen Covey is the “big rocks” analogy.

Imagine a jar filled with rocks, gravel, sand, and water. The order you put them in makes all the difference. If you don’t place the big rocks first—the most important things in your life and business—you’ll never find space for them at all.

This picture really hit me during a packed week, reminding me that without clarity on priorities, we burn hours on the small stuff and lose ground on what matters most.

Productivity isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about doing the first next thing.

This is why it’s important to have a process for breaking big things down into smaller bitesize pieces.

So much of the time being unproductive comes down to doing nothing. We get so overwhelmed by all the things on our to-do lists that our brains start spinning out of control. Should I do this? Should I do that? And then … we get stuck in limbo … and do nothing.

Being productive starts with being aware. A list gives you direction. A calendar gives you a plan. But it’s the clock that helps you take action.

When you start paying attention to how you’re spending your minutes, those minutes start working for you. Little bits of focused time, used consistently, snowball into big results.

You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. Just start by being intentional, and that’s how you get control of your time.

A solid list keeps your priorities clear. A calendar turns those priorities into action. And when you build in urgency, things actually get done.

With the right tools and a little intention, you can get more of the right things done every day.

When we think of tools, we usually picture saws and nail guns… not digital notebooks.
But productivity isn’t just about building stuff, it’s about staying organized.

OneNote has become one of my favorite tools. It’s like a supercharged binder that keeps everything in one spot, syncs across devices, and helps me keep the chaos in check.

Even if you aren’t a recovering perfectionist like I am, OneNote can help you be more productive.

If you treat everything like it’s a top priority, nothing really is.

This week, we'll break down how to shift your focus, set clear priorities, and stop wasting time on the wrong stuff.

Start by asking: what’s the first next thing I need to do?

I see my daily routine of journaling as one of the most productive things I do.

My journal has evolved from simple prompts in 2013 to a tool that helps me look back to see what I did well and where I need to do better.

If you’ve ever thought journaling was just a diary, this might change your mind.

You don’t need to journal like I do. You just need to start.

You ever have one of those days where your calendar might as well have been written in disappearing ink?

The reality of running a construction business is that your schedule will get hijacked, but you've got to keep moving forward anyway.

If you don’t build flexibility into your plans, your plans will break.

Learn how to shift gears without losing direction.

Most people never stick with it and I used to be one of them. But after a life-altering accident in 2012, everything changed.

In this episode, I’m sharing why journaling became a daily habit, how it helped me get clear on my purpose, and why it’s one of the most powerful tools I use to stay focused and build a better life and business.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, scattered, or just worn out by the chaos—this might be exactly what you need.

Journaling. What does it really mean to journal?

It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. I journal three times a day and I’ve been doing this consistently for a little over twelve years.

But why?

Before then, I had made a few weak attempts at journaling. But to no avail. There were always other things that I needed to do, keeping me from making it a habit.

Then something changed.

We tend to be binary thinkers. We assume things have to be one way or the other, ignoring the nuances and complexities of life. But that kind of thinking doesn’t work well in balancing your life.

So how do we find that balance?

Sure, sometimes there are only two choices. When choosing between right and wrong or good and evil, I believe this is the case. But most of life? It’s lived in the middle. And if we only see two options, we’ll stop trying to find balance altogether.

Everything in life comes down to decisions. The decisions we make affect the outcome. 

This past Sunday morning I was running behind schedule due to decisions I made Saturday evening, which were the results of something that happened Friday evening. I can’t go back and change the past, so this gives me a fixed time to get things done.

How do I decide what to do and what not to do?

It is easy to get consumed by all the things that need to be done. But we have more control over this than we think. It’s like BUILDing anything, it comes down to Being aware, Understanding, taking Intentional action and continued Learning.

How are we supposed to get everything done?

It’s amazing how much can be accomplished when there’s a deadline.

Nothing gets done without taking action. But when there are so many big, scary things ahead of us, it can be hard to get started. Overwhelm can slam the brakes on progress. We get stuck in neutral, and nothing moves forward.

Nothing will get done if you don’t do something.

This is where we are going to focus today. And to show you how this works, I’m going to use a real example of a current remodeling project I’m working on.

A friend and I were recently discussing the sense of overwhelm and out-of-control feeling that we were both experiencing. There are so many worthwhile, valuable things pulling at our attention. How will I ever get them all done?

My to-do list is so long there’s not enough time to read it…let alone do it.

A construction project is a big thing made up of a lot of different smaller things. Things need to be done in the right order, or the project will fall apart, or won’t be what it was intended to be.

Building a business is no different. The question is…

How do you manage all the little things?

We’ve been talking a lot about routines over the past several weeks. Like most things, it sounds great, but where to start? There’s already too much to do and not enough time. There’s no room on the list to add anything else.

No one ever said building a successful business would be easy. If they did … they lied.

Operating a business requires a lot. With so much to do, it’s common to get overwhelmed. My intent with today’s post is to help you manage that stress.

We’ve been discussing routines and how they help us get more done. How reading and learning is a big part of developing a good routine. And how I use journaling. Last week it was daily planning.

The first thing on Daily Planning is reviewing my Weekly Life Plan. That’s what we’ll go over this week.

What is a Life Plan?

A life plan is pretty much what it sounds like … it’s a plan for your life. This plan is going to look different for everyone, because we are all different after all.

My life plan is made up of the dreams and goals I want to accomplish in my life. Each year I review them and put together a plan of what needs to be done this year to keep me on track. I then break those annual goals down into quarterly, monthly, and weekly actions to achieve my goals.

Taking control of your life requires intentional action. Having a routine is a big part of that control.

The past several weeks we discussed routines and their importance in being productive. Last week we focused on my morning journaling. My routine includes reminders …. lots and lots of reminders. People that have seen my calendar and lists think I may be going a little overboard, and maybe I am. But it helps me be more productive.

It’s too easy for me to get sidetracked and forget things without reminders.

Being out of control is one of the most helpless feelings we can have. I shared a little bit about my struggle with this last week and how reading and learning changed things for me.

It was the realization that I had control over my decisions and how this control affected my life.

Routines are a big part of that control. 

Too many times, people drift through life without any plan. They neglect to take control of the things they can control.

I know how this is. I used to feel this way.

Early on I had big dreams. Then when they didn’t happen, I felt like my messy life was just what I was stuck with, and I gave up on my dreams.

Then God got my attention with a board upside the head.

Routines are regular procedures, chores, or duties done at specific intervals. We are creatures of habit and routines will happen to some degree (even if they are unplanned). The key is to not let your routines be unproductive or random.

A routine requires intentional action.

Too many people live their lives mired in regret. They leave things up to fate, wondering why their life feels so meaningless. We shouldn’t give fate control over our lives.

Last week we discussed being busy. It’s easy to find ourselves with too much to do. There are just so many important and fun things that need done. This leads to burnout.

It’s all too common for people to get burnt out.

I’ve seen this happen a lot over the years. One place this happens as much as any is in the church. There’s no work any more important than that. When we have a desire to help it can take over our lives … and burnout is the result.

I know this, because I’ve been there.

I have too much to do and not enough time to do it.

We have all heard someone say this (or said it ourselves) and we have all, for sure, felt it. Just over the last few days there have been numerous times, in a variety of situations, that I have heard it.

We all know that there is a fixed amount of time, so why is it that we’re always over-filling it? Even less ambitious and less driven people complain about not having enough time to do everything they want to.

We like being in control of our lives, but most people feel like they aren’t. I contend that we all have more control than we think we do.

Control doesn’t mean you control everything that happens. It means you confidently move forward with your goals and priorities, understanding that there are things that happen that are beyond your control.

This means that you are clear about who you are and what you want. It requires you to take intentional action.

You have the superpower of choice, but you have to use it.

Sometimes the changing seasons can be quick and serious. The weather here has been a bit of a roller coaster ride over the past several weeks. We’ve had temperatures ranging from below zero to seventy. Some of these swings have happened within days.

It’s currently seventeen degrees on midday Friday as I’m writing this. It’s predicted to be in the upper sixties by Monday. On the other side of this extreme, we had a low temperature of five degrees below zero this past Wednesday.

When the temperature gets down into single digits there is the concern of freezing water lines. This can lead to broken pipes and water damage. With proper preparation and planning these problems can be reduced.

This is where a home maintenance plan comes in.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks“. This means that it is very difficult to teach someone new skills or change someone’s habits, especially when they’re older. This phrase is often used to express the challenges of altering deeply rooted behaviors or learning new concepts. It is not typically about actual dogs, rather it reflects human experiences concerning change.

I thought I knew everything I needed to when I started my construction business over forty years ago. Boy was I wrong!

You can have the best laid plans, but life happens.

You can choose to do no planning and just take things as they come. This haphazard process gives control of your life to others. Or you can plan with so much detail that when things do happen that aren’t part of your plans, everything falls apart. Flexible rigidity is where planning and change can work together.

Calendars and lists are two separate things with two separate purposes.

As is normal, early in a new year there is a lot of focus on being better organized. Looking for new ways to get more done. This has been a topic that has come up in several conversations over the past few weeks. At the same time, there can be a sense of despair, knowing that you’ve been trying to be better organized over and over without much success.  

We all have way more on our to do lists than there is time to get them done. The days come to an end and there’s still things that need to be done and we feel like we’ve failed. 

Ultimately, it’s not going to get done if you don’t do something. 

Over the past several months we’ve been talking about building a successful construction business. We’ve compared it to an actual building. You need to know what it is you’re building, what kind of ground you’re going to build on, and why it is you’re building.  

Clarity of what you want to build and having a plan is critical to success. 

Then comes the hard part … if you’re going to get it built, you have to do something. Making a decision and then taking action is hard. Especially when it involves something as big and overwhelming as building a business. 

This is the place where most people fail.

The past couple of weeks we talked about my “aha moment” and how the Seven Decisions in Andy Andrews’ book The Traveler’s Gift were a part of that.

In the book, David Ponder feels like a failure and is ready to give up. That is until his amazing, supernatural journey through time. On this journey, he makes seven stops, each one providing a ‘Decision for Success’.

He is instructed to keep them with him—reading each one every morning and every evening for twenty-one days—committing these seven principles to his heart. Only then will they become a part of who he is, leading to a changed life.

Before my accident I was at a place in my life that was nothing like what I had expected it to be. I had some big dreams when I was younger. I was going to be farming thousands of acres. Own a successful construction company. Have a nice, big, new home. Be driving new cars and trucks.

Then, thirty-five years later, none of these things had happened. I did own a construction company, but it wasn’t anything more than a minimum wage job. I had conceded that this was the life I had and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

I had accepted the fact that I was a failure.

Building a business is like building a construction project. You need to know what you want the end product to be. You need to know what you have to work with. You need to have a plan for building and then build accordingly.

Who you are is like the ground you build on.

Just like building on sand is different than building on clay. You need to know who you are and then build the business so that you will be able to support it. Your why is the thing that supports everything else. This is who you were made to be.

It’s just a few days until the beginning of a new year. This start represents an opportunity for new possibilities. The thought of this can be exciting. The chance to do better…to be better. This is what encourages us to make ‘New Year’s Resolutions’.

The process of making resolutions but failing at them over and over makes us hesitant though. Most of the time people give up on resolutions after a few weeks. Only about 8% of people that make resolutions will stick to them.

Most resolutions are good, and if kept, would make us better.

As we are rapidly approaching the end of another year, I’m beginning to think about what things I can do to make my business better. There are things that we know we need to do and have been putting off.

Life is busy, especially at this time of year.

Looking back can be disappointing and discouraging if things haven’t gone as you planned.

Going forward we can do better. But this requires being intentional and taking action.

Core values are the foundation your life and business are built on. Last week I gave you a brief definition of what my first six core values mean to me. This week I’ll do the same thing with the final six.

Here are the final six...

The past several weeks we’ve been digging down in the dirt and discussing who you are. Who you are is the ground that your business is built on. That ground is what supports the foundation of your business. The foundation is your core values and principles.

Last week I shared the list of my core values with you. They are a collection of things that I’m naturally good at and some things…not as much. I’m constantly working on the things on this list to get better at them.

Here’s a brief definition of what these core values mean to me.

Over the past several weeks we’ve discussed the importance of a solid foundation for building a successful business. We talked about the ground the foundation is set on is who you are and how you can know your why.

This week we’re going to go back to the foundation. We’re going to take a more detailed look at core values and how they work as the building blocks of your business’s foundation.

Core values are your fundamental beliefs. They are your guiding principles.

It’s like your business conscience. It is who you are.

The past couple of weeks we’ve been discussing the importance of building your business on a solid foundation and what this looks like. Last week, we explored how your why is what the foundation sits on and ways to find your why.

Your “why” is who you were made to be. It is your purpose.

If you could do anything you wanted to…what would it be?

Time and money are not a restriction. You have all you need of both. You have the freedom to do anything you want. What would it be?

Last week we discussed the importance of building your business on a good foundation. And, how this can help you withstand the trials of business.

The foundation (core value and mission) can be changed. But the ground you are building that business on can’t. This is who you are. Who God made you to be. When you align this purpose with your business you will be set for success.

Not knowing your “why” is one of the main reasons businesses struggle and fail.

Building something that will stand the test of time and the elements requires a solid foundation.

A building foundation is made up of two parts: the footing and the foundation. The footing creates an attachment point between the foundation and the soil. The role of the foundation is to support the building and help prevent settling.

The foundation is the base and support of any building structure. It transfers the load from the structure to the ground. It also provides resistance from external loads exerted on it.

If the foundation of a building is inadequate or not maintained…the building will collapse.

Construction companies regularly find themselves stuck in the rut of doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results. Most of these businesses get started knowing construction, but not business. They plod along doing construction hoping that something is going to magically happen so they can get control of the business side of things.

Your construction business isn’t what you expected.

What are you going to do about it?

Self-employed people, especially those in construction, struggle trying to keep up with all the things there are to do. I’ve experienced this from both sides.

First, as a general contractor, struggling to get subs to show up when they said they would. Second, as the construction contractor, who didn’t accomplish what I said I would, when I said I would.

This practice of over-promising and under-delivering is all too common.

If you had known how hard it was going to be to own and operate your own construction business…you probably wouldn’t have done it.

It’s hard work, time-consuming, and risky.

The problem is that no one told you how hard it was going to be. Or, if they did, you didn’t believe them.

This isn’t to say that it’s not worth it…because it can be.

Have you ever felt like your business and/or your life were out-of-balance? This is a common situation with self-employed companies. It’s like a three-legged table with one short leg…kind of wobbly.

I know I’ve felt this way and sometimes still do. You’ve probably heard the saying feast or famine. This saying is used quite often in the building industry.

It refers to the common problem of having too much to do. Or worrying about how you are going to pay the bills if you don’t get some work soon.

Sometimes this is caused by situations beyond our control. The economy, the weather, or some other external force. More often than not it is an out-of-balance business. It’s wobbly like a table with one short leg.

For years I’ve used the example of a runaway train as a comparison to my busy, on-the-go, overscheduled, out-of-control life. It’s like I am riding on a speeding train of which I’m supposed to be in control.

The problem is, instead of being seated comfortably in the engine car at the front, I am barely hanging onto the ladder on the back of the caboose, trying to not fall off. The train keeps speeding along, with no way for me to get control from the caboose.

As it seems to happen fairly regularly, the business mastermind that I’m a part of discussed accountability. This topic came up regarding things we need to accomplish in the last quarter of this year to be prepared to reach our 2025 goals.

Accountability is not a new topic for me to discuss. Back in June of 2021, I wrote about how being accountable is up to me. This post was also generated from that same mastermind.

Accountability is a hard thing to do.

It can be a struggle to find good, qualified help in the construction industry.

This is not a new problem but seems to be a growing one.

Is this because of the decreasing population? Or could it be something else?

Over the past several weeks we’ve talked about having too much to do and not enough time to do it. Of how I need to delegate more of my business, but how hard delegating is for me. The only way that I can help more people is by sharing the load.

This issue has been brought to the surface after reading the book The Highest Calling by Lawrence Janesky. This book resonated with me because I see how construction businesses struggle with the business side of things. After reading this book it confirmed what I already knew…

Businesses need help building their business.

Labor Day is one of my three favorite holidays each year. Christmas being my favorite. (This is no big surprise). Labor Day and New Year’s Day are tied for the second spot. These two are not typically ranked in most people’s top three.

As I was looking forward to the upcoming holiday, I began thinking about the reason behind the celebration. Labor Day was started to show appreciation for the hard-working labor force in America in the late 1800’s.

We often forget the reasons behind holidays.

I was having a discussion with a sub-contractor. They were venting their frustrations with a general contractor they had worked for. This GC bid the project low to get it. Then after getting it, continued raising the price through change orders.

The sub-contractor felt this was dishonest and unethical.

Core values are the building blocks that make up the foundation your business is built on.

Even after being in business for more than forty years and all that I’ve learned over that time…there is still more to learn. Delegating is one of those areas where I need to do better.

I’ve just recently finished reading the book The Highest Calling by Lawrence Janesky. This novel is about business struggles and success. It’s a story of helping others and learning how to do the right things in order to succeed. It shares important and powerful business principles.

It reminded me of things that I know but haven’t done well.

The first couple of years as a self-employed construction contractor were a lot different than Gene expected. He’s beginning to wonder if owning his own business is worth it. It certainly isn’t what he expected.

All the headaches and problems that he’s encountered are causing him to have second thoughts about his construction job and going into business.

Working long days doing construction and late nights doing paperwork feels like being stuck in a rut. With help not showing up and Gene having to do more work, the rut just gets deeper.

As someone who has been in construction for more than forty years, I’ve worked for my share of hard customers. This does not mean that they are bad customers. On the contrary, more often than not the opposite is true. They are the best customers because they have a high standard and expect high quality.

There are, however, those customers that are difficult. Ones that perceive the process of a construction project to be more of a battle that they need to win.

These aren’t the kind of customers that I’m referring to when I’m talking about customers being hard work.

Today (7/26/24) was one of those days. You know the ones. You have it all planned and then…everything gets turned upside down.

Here’s how my day was planned:

Recurring 9:00 daily virtual meeting with my assistant, Emily. Writing this week’s solution. Follow up on construction projects. Friday’s week ending deposits. Pay some bills. Weekly review meeting. Shopping before going home. Family coming over for a movie marathon.

This is not how my day actually went.

It means treating others the way you want to be treated.

I had a conversation with a friend once about an experience they had with a plumber. While they were standing in the kitchen talking about the project…

The plumber spit tobacco juice in the kitchen sink.

Not once mind you, but 3-4 times! At least he had the courtesy to turn the water on and rinse out the sink.

I wonder if his wife let’s him spit tobacco juice in the sink at home.

While I was talking with this friend, I thought out loud, ‘What has happened to contractor etiquette?’ The more I’ve thought about it, more examples of this kind of ‘bad contractor behavior’ have come to mind.

It’s been a tough few weeks. With the truck transmission needing to be replaced and the customer shorting Gene $1000 dollars for the garage windows, Gene has felt like he’s stuck in the bottom of a muddy rut.

Even with all the problems, Gene has had a lot of work to do for his first year of self-employment.

Some of the projects have been very profitable.

Having a lot of construction projects is rewarding. It’s also one of the reasons he’s struggling to get proposals done and keep up with the paperwork.

To add to the busy, it’s time to get the tax paperwork gathered up. Gene needs to get it to the accountant so income taxes can be prepared. One more thing on the to do list that needs done.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

This common quote is attributed to a lot of different people. It doesn’t matter who said it. What matters is what it says.

I think this quote is so popular because of the truth that it represents.

I recently shared how change is hard. This seems especially true for people in construction but isn’t limited to them.

Without intentional action, nothing is going to change. Things will just continue as they are.

Having too much to do and not enough time to do it is a common situation. This is especially true for people in construction.

Chasing my tail and trying to keep up is a good description of how this past week was for me. There were four different construction projects being done at the same time. This involved organizing multiple subcontractors and materials.

In addition to this, there are six construction projects that are either waiting to be started, need to be scheduled, or need change orders done.

Oh, and don’t forget the proposals that need to be made, payment applications and invoices for the week, and record keeping.

Sounds like a pretty normal week in construction, doesn’t it?

It’s that time of the year again; temperatures on the thermometer are creeping near the 100-degree mark. This raises the issue of keeping the heat outside and the cool air inside.

This issue is even more relevant if you live in a home that is 40 years old or older.

A home built before the mid-seventies is more likely affected by outside temperatures. Not enough insulation, single-pane windows, and air infiltration are all issues that may need attention.

Understanding how heat moves in and out of your home can help you determine what projects to consider undertaking to minimize the heat. It can also help determine which projects are most important.

There is a difference between heat and hot air.

It’s been a few months since Tony pulled his stunt leaving Gene high and dry without any notice. Gene moved on…what else could he do?

Gene replaced Tony with Darin. Darin is less experienced, but at least he has shown up so far. Of course, this may be because Darin doesn’t have anything to drive, so Gene picks him up and takes him home every day.

Gene has been very busy. He’s had a lot of construction projects to do, not to mention trying to keep up with the paperwork. Things seem to be getting busier and busier. Maybe things are going to turn around for his business.

As Gene was on his way to pick Darin up this morning, the truck began to make a grinding noise and it was hard to shift the truck into second gear. It didn’t get any better after picking Darin up and going to the job site.

Then it happened…the transmission went out.

It’s Sunday afternoon and after getting home from church, Gene is back at his desk (the dining table) working on the third construction bid. He would rather be watching the NASCAR race, but there’s just not enough time for both.

Some people would say that getting three of the four bids done is pretty good. There are a lot of people in construction that wouldn’t sweat this, but it bothers Gene to not follow through on what he said he would do.

It’s getting late and the family has already gone to bed as he starts the next bid.

At 1:15 AM Monday morning, Gene decides to go to bed even though the bid isn’t done yet. He needs to get up in a few hours and do some actual construction work.

STUCK IN A RUT 

It was late on a Saturday night and Gene was sitting at his desk in his home office (otherwise known as a dining table). This was the office of his construction company.  

He was working to get at least one more construction proposal done before going to bed. He had promised four different customers proposals this week. If all goes well, he’ll have this second one finished before midnight. As Gene crunched numbers, he worried that he might have forgotten something. This had happened before.  

He asked himself, “Why am I doing this? I could make more money and work less hours working for someone else. Heck, I’d be better off flipping burgers. This sure isn’t how I pictured my construction business five years ago when I started.” 

This Seems Especially True for Construction

Change is the biggest issue that the construction industry faces. Why are people in construction so bullheaded? They are some of the most stubborn and headstrong people. 

This starts at a young age. As children, we have fewer external experiences to draw from. This restricted resource limits our view. This is why young people think they already know everything. 

This narrow perspective then becomes our standard and we see no reason to change. 

Last week we discussed how 96% of construction companies go out of business within the first 10 years. This is a problem if you’re in construction.

As I was discussing last week’s post with a friend, he asked me why I do construction. Why would anyone want to start a construction company with odds like this? This question started me thinking about it.

Why is anyone doing construction if the chance of staying in business is so stacked against them? This question prompted me to reach out to some people in construction and ask them.

Why am I doing construction and how did I get here?

How Can You Change the Odds in Your Favor?

According to the US Department of Commerce, 96% of construction companies fail within the first 10 years. This is a higher failure rate than any other kind of business.

If you’re in construction…this is a problem.

Having been in construction for more than 40 years, I became aware of the problems and began to understand them. I gathered information and learned how to implement it into my business.

That’s why I beat the odds.

I’ve learned a lot over those forty-plus years and here are 7 reasons that construction companies fail.

The past couple of weeks we’ve discussed how important the Production Tracker tool is and how it can help you see the future of your business.

Building a construction business is no different than building a building. If you don’t have a plan, you won’t know what to do. You will just be guessing.

If you don’t have the right tools and know how to use them, it will be a lot harder to build anything.

The Production Tracker is one of those business building tools.

Last week we talked about what the Production Tracker is and what makes it an important tool to have in your business building toolbox. I also pointed out how most people operating construction companies hate paperwork, but how important paperwork is to build a successful business.

It’s amazing how people in construction will use all sorts of power tools and equipment but not paperwork.

Recently we discussed the importance of keeping your construction business from getting out of balance. Achieving a balanced business requires paperwork and we know how construction contractors feel about paperwork.

I know, I know, paperwork is not a very exciting topic, but neither is concrete. And we all know how important concrete is in supporting a building. The same is true for paperwork and your business.

One of the three foundational piers in business is administration and finance. One of the building blocks in that pier is a Production Tracker. This tool provides valuable information for forecasting the company’s financial needs and production plans.

There’s a saying, “A rut is a grave with both ends kicked out.” Too often we get in a rut and don’t even realize we’re there.

This is how operating a construction company can be.

Plodding back and forth, doing all those things that need to be done, never looking up to see where we are or where we’re going. If we’re not careful the rut will get so deep that we’ll never get out.

This feeling of being stuck can be overwhelming. If we wait too long to do something, that’s when it becomes a grave, and we give up and go out of business. It’s just not worth it.

That was never my plan.

Most people in construction would not consider themselves entrepreneurs. They see themselves as self-employed.

There’s not a huge difference between the two, but it is significant.

It’s the difference between working in your business or working on your business.

Recently I’ve been extremely busy and working hard trying to get things done. I know that the length of my list is my choice. Busy lives are nothing unusual, especially for those of us working in construction.

So, how can we be more productive and decide what things on the list are the most important? The answer to this question will be different for each of us, but it’s something we have within our control if we just do something.

Listen to this week's podcast to learn more about how to prioritize your schedule!

For years people have asked me where I came up with the business system and procedures that I use. As I thought about it, I realized that early on my business and life had developed without much intentionality.

I was a dreamer at an early age. I had big ideas and plans for my life. Then there was a portion of my life where I became disillusioned and accepted that my dreams were just that…dreams.

Listen to this week's podcast to learn how to take action in building your business!

Have you ever felt like your business and/or your life were out of balance? It’s a little like a three-legged table with a short leg…kind of wobbly.

Listen to this week's podcast to hear about how easily your business can get "out of balance" and what you can do to fix it!

Helping people in the construction industry build their businesses has been a real struggle. They say they need a better way of doing things but won’t take the time to do anything about it. They struggle with construction proposals, change orders, payment applications, saving money, communication, etc.

I know because they tell me this all the time. Not to mention, I was there too once so to totally understand!

It’s like quality construction, it sets you apart as a professional.

Gene’s getting excited as he pulls up to the SMR Construction Company office. Today they are going to put all the pieces together, creating a finished proposal!

Listen to this week's podcast to see Gene's proposal go from blueprint to reality!

It all comes down to dollars and cents.

It’s week six of learning the Building a Better Proposal system. As time consuming as learning new things is…Gene is beginning to see the benefits this proposal system will provide.

Just like building a house uses repeated actions to reduce the need to think about how to do things, this proposal system does the same thing when bidding construction projects.

Listen to this week's podcast to hear the final steps of the Building a Better Proposal!

Clear communication is critical to happy customers.

Last week John explained to Gene what project information needed to be gathered… This week they’re going to take the information gathered and turn it into a Scope of Work. This will be the foundational form of communication between everyone involved in the process, i.e., customer, contractor, sub-contractors, employees, etc.

Listen to this week's podcast to learn more!

It starts by asking the right questions!

Another week has gone by and Gene’s looking forward to today’s meeting. As they wrapped up last week’s meeting, John indicated that they would “actually” learn the first step in the proposal system today.

Listen to this week's podcast to walk through the first step of the proposal system with Gene and John!

So wouldn’t you like a plan for doing construction proposals?

It’s Saturday, and today will be Gene’s third meeting with John. Even though there’s been no change in Gene’s overwhelming workload, today is the first time he’s not considered canceling. He knows the value of this information and is looking forward to the opportunity to learn more from his mentor.

Listen to this week's podcast to hear Gene and John explore the steps of the Building A Better Proposal system!

This is the first step in Building a Better Proposal. Even though Gene was still overwhelmed, and his schedule was packed, he knew the only way to ever get control was to keep his upcoming appointment with John. Listen to this week's podcast to hear about Gene's second meeting with John and learn about the top 7 bid mistakes that contractors make!

Sound familiar? Listen to this week's podcast to hear about Gene and John's first meeting and their discussion of the Building A Better Proposal system.

That’s a luxury I just can’t afford! Here we are, already a week into the new year, and I’m not done with my annual planning yet. This is something that every year I intend to do before the end of the year, but it rarely gets done on time. I know I’m not the only one struggling to get everything done, and I get it. The question is, how can we be the most productive with the time we have?

Listen to this week's podcast to hear how John helps Gene prioritize building his construction business; and how you can too!

Once again, Gene was alone at the office late on a Saturday night working to get at least one more proposal done, before going home. He had promised four different customers their proposals this week. If all goes well, he’ll have this second one finished before midnight.

Listen to this week's podcast to hear how Gene finds "the light at the end of the tunnel" in his construction business; and how you can too!

The number of things we’re trying to get done just increases around the Holidays. I know the last couple of weeks I’ve have felt like I had a lot of plates spinning.

Most construction companies operate this way, they’re trying to do too many things at a time. Just like the performer who keeps putting more and more spinning plates up on the end of sticks, we keep trying to do more and more.

I had a wake up call through my accident in 2012. That was when it became clear to me that my business and life had been on autopilot without much intentionality.

There was so much more that I wanted to accomplish. I had been going through the motions of living without acting on the plan.

There is a tool out there for every job, usually more than one. As cool as they all are, they’re worthless if you don’t have them and don’t use them.

The biggest “tool” problem is…the lack of “business BUILDing tools”. 

Don't miss the Holiday Special on our Business BUILDing Toolbox beginning on Black Friday, Nov. 24th, when the toolbox will be half off it's original price. But this sale won't last long!

Make your construction project like opening that gift on Christmas morning that you’ve always wanted. It doesn’t have to be a stocking full of coal.

Finding the right builder is like doing a construction project, in that it’s not as scary as it seems if you know what questions to ask and have someone you trust guiding you.

You would think so, but construction companies do it all the time.

The reason most construction businesses are stuck here is fear. They are afraid that trying something different might not work. They choose the discomfort of the known over the unknown.

It doesn’t have to be this way!

One of the biggest issues in construction is that most people in this industry are willing to do the hard physical work of building a building but will work even harder to avoid the work of building the business.

Building the business of your dreams is a choice.

If you would like some information about tools to help you build the construction business of your dreams, check out the 5-step Business BUILDing Process. Or if you need some tools for building that dream business, check out the Business BUILDing Toolbox. If you have any questions, you can schedule a free 30-minute consultation here!

There are countless reasons that businesses fail, but just because other businesses fail, doesn’t mean yours will too. Being aware of and understanding these statistics increases your chance of survival.

You can’t succeed if you don’t try.

If you would like to learn more about BUILDing a successful construction business, you can schedule a free 30-minute consultation here.

Why is it that people operating construction companies are willing to gamble with their business? This random hit and miss business model is an all-too-common practice in the construction industry.

Somewhere along the way as we grow into the routine of life and business, we stop asking questions.

UNDERSTANDING starts with asking questions.

Schedule your free 30 - minute construction company consultation here!

It would be so much easier if there was only one problem to deal with.

As complicated and overwhelming as the physical on-site construction portion is, the business part is equally daunting. Listen to this week's podcast to learn more about the top problems in the construction industry and some solutions that can help!

A construction company's bid-hit ratio is vital to the health of their business. This statistic provides a clear look at the type/price/size/etc. of projects that are most valuable to the company. 

Whether it’s subcontractors or customers, the communication responsibility lies with the general contractor.

Verbal communication leaves too many things open to interpretation.

Change can be scary; it might not work. We know our routines, and we like them. “We’ve always done it this way”, isn’t a very good plan for building a better business. Too many construction companies find themselves in a rut, and “rut thinking” doesn’t allow for building your dream business.

So how do you get out of that rut and build the business you always dreamed of?

There are so many things trying to get on the “to do” list and each one is competing for the top position. Deciding which one should get that spot is tough.

It’s easy to say that we have limited time but hard to actually spend it that way.

Over the past several weeks we’ve discussed the importance of having a plan when it comes to building anything successfully. Part of that discussion was focused on having a clear and implementable business operating plan.

It became pretty evident that designing, building, and implementing an SOP is a pretty big project. It’s a lot like building a big construction project, if you don’t start, it will never get built.

The same thing is true for your business…if you don’t start, it will never get built.

Why building a successful construction business requires having a plan. Over the past few weeks, we’ve discussed how building your business is critical to the success of your business and the importance of keeping your business in balance. After more than forty years of construction experience, I tend to view most things from a “building perspective". Today we’re going to compare once again building a business and a construction project. One of the most important parts of the plan for building a good building has nothing to do with physical construction. It has to do with processes and systems.

You probably guessed it already; this week’s topic is COMMUNICATION and the all-too-common lack of it. Because poor communication is such a big issue, I’ve written about it a lot.

In a production meeting with a customer yesterday I was once again reminded of the importance of clear communication and…the lack of it.

If you own your own business and aren’t being intentional about the organizational operation of your company, it is likely that you won’t make it past your 5th year. This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Starting a business without a plan is not a very good plan.

Learning about business tools isn’t necessarily fun, but it is necessary for business success. I found that out the hard way! Last week we went through the process of getting started with a blank Payment Application and getting it filled out so that it is ready for the customer’s first payment. Now let’s look at preparing the Payment Application for recurring progress payments so that our customers know exactly what they are paying for with each invoice we hand them.

A Proposed Change Order is another very important tool that should be in the business toolbox of every construction company. However, it’s probably used less than almost any other business tool. Its lack of use causes as many, or even more, problems than any other tool.

If it’s that important, why is it not used?

We’ve discussed multiple times the reasons for doing Proposals for construction projects and the importance of communication with construction customers.

Proposed Change Orders are just as important.

The discussion of “Building a Better Proposal” began with the problems that arise from poor communication. We talked about this being the responsibility of the contractor and some of the reasons this is a problem. Previously we laid out the “Blueprint for Building a Better Proposal” going over the different parts of the system, and putting all of the pieces together into a proposal so that it's ready to be presented to the customer.

Once you have a signed Proposal, you should conclude with a Contract.

The Contract completes the Proposal process and covers things beyond construction. Things like funding, additional documents, property boundaries, time within which the project will be started, and terms and conditions.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have discussed why it’s critical to save money for those big irregular expenses and unexpected emergencies. Next, we began the process needed to start building a “Rainy Day” fund by determining how much and for what. The Savings Transfer Sheet is like any other tool, it doesn’t do you any good if you don’t use it.

As is the case with everything that’s worth doing, starting is the hard part. Saving money is no different. It’s like digging a hole.

A shovel is a simple tool that’s easy to use. It can fix a problem before it gets too big, but only if you use it. If you don’t, the outcome can be devastating.

This is one of the tools you should have in your Business BUILDing Toolbox. Last week I wrote about the importance of having savings, both individually and in business, and the high percentage of people who don’t. The tendency to spend everything you have is a problem when the unexpected happens. I’m not saying that after you pay the bills every dollar should be saved. What I’m talking about is having money ready for big, planned purchases or unexpected emergencies. This way you can use your own money and don’t have to pay someone else to use theirs.

We’ve just passed a painful time of the year…INCOME TAX SEASON. This can be stressful but doesn’t have to be if you’re prepared.

It’s common for people to spend everything they earn and not save anything for future investments or emergencies. For the most part, as a society here in America we have become comfortable.

We have forgotten how important it is to save money.

The question is, how do you know if you have the right one or not?

If you’re not careful, building the home of your dreams can become a nightmare.

The number of times I’ve heard people say that building their new home was the worst experience of their life is too many. This is not how construction projects should be remembered.

So, as a construction customer, how can you avoid this from happening to you?

I recommend using the 5-step BUILD process.

That’s why it’s important to know who your builder is. Building a new home is expensive, but the same is true for remodeling. Let’s face it…construction of any kind costs a lot. The final price comes down to what you want in your home.

The final building blocks in the 5-step foundation of your business.

Learning to build a building isn’t instantaneous. You don’t show up on a job site your first day knowing everything about building. You come back the second day and learn more and the third and the fourth. And years later you have learned how to build.

Building a business is the same. You can’t just wave a magic wand and have your business running like a well-oiled machine. It takes time and effort just like building a building does. This also becomes a part of who you are.

The amount of information it takes to run a successful construction business can be overwhelming. Asking someone for help can be scary, not to mention time-consuming. Ultimately, it comes down to you making a decision. You can decide to keep doing things the way you’ve always done them or…

You can decide to do something different and change things.

It Has More to do With Business and Less to do With Construction. We’ve all seen construction companies get started and then go out of business. The real factors that brought about construction company failures are internal and within the owner’s control. The good news is, that the next generation of construction businesses can learn from their forefathers’ mistakes and avoid failing for the same reasons. Owning or managing a construction business is a hard thing to do. And to do so successfully is especially hard. The solutions to problems that can put construction companies out of business may not be easy. It takes a lot of planning, production management, hard work, and discipline to keep the business running successfully.

This is How the Construction Contractor Evaluation Works in the Real World.

It’s time to bring this process of evaluating construction contractors to a conclusion. Like most things needed to run a successful business, this process of evaluating and holding the construction industry to a level of excellence isn't as simple as we’d like it to be.

This evaluation system will give us some clear and concrete information to help us make better decisions regarding construction projects.

How Do We Get the Bar Raised to the Level of Excellence?

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve talked about the need to raise the bar of what is expected of construction contractors and how at Timber Creek Construction we’re working on a process to accomplish that. I used to believe the ultimate goal was achieving perfection. Then I was informed by my wife that striving for perfection was a bad thing because perfection is impossible. The fact that perfection is unattainable leads to disappointment. I struggled with this for a while before determining that... EXCELLENCE is the goal, not perfection.

I talked last week about how poorly the construction industry is viewed and the contractor’s unawareness of how low construction standards are. It’s pretty sad when the bar is so low that an earth worm can’t get under it.

As a general contractor I’ve allowed myself, sub-contractors and laborers the latitude to leave the bar where it is. When this is permitted as acceptable, it leaves the bar laying in the dirt.

Standard is just average. Average should not be what we’re striving for. Currently the industry average needs to be raised. Let’s work together to get the bar out of the dirt. We need to determine what acceptable standards are and then incorporate a process to evaluate performance as compared to the standard.

We should be working to achieve more than average. We should be striving for excellence.

So, now what do we do?

Now, What’s the Purpose of This Building Block and Why Does it Matter?

Recently we discussed the importance of building your construction business on a solid foundation and how paperwork is outside of most contractor’s comfort zones. I know, I know paperwork is not a very exciting topic, but neither is concrete. And we all know how important concrete is in supporting a building. The same is true for paperwork and your business.

As we discussed previously, one of the three foundational piers is administration and finance. One of the building blocks in that pier is a Job List which offers valuable information for forecasting the company’s financial needs and production plans.

Most trades people like doing physical work, not paperwork. They like building things, not sitting at a desk making proposals or putting numbers in spreadsheets. Avoiding paperwork is one of the biggest reasons construction companies struggle to stay in business.

If you own or operate a business, I’m sure you’ve experienced the feeling of your world crashing down around you. There are a variety of different reasons this happens. A few of them may be due to things out of your control. But, more often than not…it’s because of bad decisions we made.

Most of us that are self-employed started out learning our trade as an apprentice working for someone else. This is how I got started. The problem with this is that while I learned how to build a building, I wasn’t taught how to build a business. This is a critical part of why so many businesses don’t survive.

A few weeks back I told you about my plans to convert my blog posts into podcasts. We started by discussing the why question. We came up with the answer of – being able to help more busy people find solutions for building their dreams.

Next, we talked about how we would ever get blog posts turned into podcasts. It was determined that if I was going to do this…I was going to need some help, i.e., Nic at AdWise Creative. Nic’s help has made a huge difference in what we were able to accomplish.

As busy people we struggle trying to get everything done. The thing we need to remember is…We don’t have to get EVERYTHING done.

Instead, we should prioritize our actions and focus on the first next thing. What is the most important thing currently on the list? At the same time we need to remember there is a limited amount of time available.