Getting to Know the Technology in Your Power Tool Battery

The advantages of lithium-ion battery technology make compact, heavy-duty tools the standard, not an exception. And the three inherent benefits—more power, increased runtime and no weight penalty—are the basic building blocks behind what makes this battery system attractive. Lithium-ion cells can either hold more power in the same-size package (as tools change) or maintain the same power in a smaller package.

3 Growth Barriers Keeping You From Reaching Your Goals

Construction business owners usually begin their industry venture with a long-term vision of what they want their company to do for them. For example, when you buy stock in a public company, you want the stock to earn dividends and increase in value over time. When I coach contractors, I begin by asking, “What is your long-term vision? Can you define where you want your business to be in 5 years? To help find the answer to this complex question, my clients complete an exercise that explores:

Beyond Gallipoli

I am a member of a group that provides startup capital and mentoring to young entrepreneurs in our city. This week, I attended a presentation on the life of Winston Churchill that was sponsored by our group. As the past can give us some insight to the present, it was nice to see young entrepreneurs in the audience listening.

I have visited Churchill’s childhood home of Blenheim, but like most, I know him from the war years of 1940-45. We learned that he struggled with depression throughout his life, especially after the colossal loss of life and tragedy at the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey, circa 1915. His failure there got him kicked out of the British Army, which led to deep depression. Seems he found solace during this time, and throughout his life, through painting, which he believed made him more creative and a more effective leader.

Winston Churchill’s successes during World War II were somewhat framed by many failures from the previous three decades. In his words, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

It was suggested that we build on Mr. Churchill’s thoughts, creating an environment that encourages intelligent failure, being flexible, but keeping our eyes on the route ahead. After all, failure can be, or is, a most essential step toward success.

{Image Source, a Painting by Churchill as seen in Vanity Fair}

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How Jobsite Technology Can Drive Your Company Forward

In 2018, technology solutions that help jobsites and backoffices run faster, smarter and leaner are the focus for many construction business owners. If you're wondering what tool you should implement next, or what tech trends are on the horizon, we may have the right advice for you. 

3 Essential Elements of a World-Class Safety Program

Are you still using Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) metrics as your safety standard? Do you plan on being in this business 5, 10 or 20 years from now? If you answered yes to both, you have a value conflict. Why accept some random statistical average composed of questionable data as your standard when it is more effective to create personalized best practices and performance metrics?

How Benefits Packages Can Attract & Retain Valuable Employees

Pain points—every industry has them. And, at times, it might feel like contractors have more than their fair share. Contractors who work on prevailing wage jobs undoubtedly see the complex regulations that apply to these projects as a burden they learn to live with in order to benefit from the opportunities presented by government-funded jobs. For example, there’s the sometimes-confusing question of how to handle the fringe cost on government jobs. Today, your employees may want the fringe amount paid in cash.

When Pigs Flew

There was a time when pigs did fly. Each year in December, I would look forward to my mother taking me to ride “The Pink Pig” at the downtown Atlanta department store of Mr. and Mrs. Rich (Rich’s). It’s an iconic holiday memory, and one that always endeared me to the now out-of-business retailer.

As an adult, I was in Minneapolis one late November afternoon and happened upon the downtown Marshall Field’s store. Customers were being treated to champagne and piano music that evening. After enjoying a couple of glasses of champagne, I ran into the paraffin wax lady. Before I knew it, I was walking around the store with wax-dipped hands wrapped in steamy towels. I laughed, thinking I looked more like an ER patient than a shopper.

While these experiences were very different, they share a commonality. Shopping was once a form of entertainment, an experience in itself, beyond the pointing and clicking which is now part of the process. The question becomes: Will the stores adapt? By offering a hands-on experience, can they fill a gap that online stores just cannot?

Online shopping for some products is more efficient, but also at times is lonelier and less fun. Sometimes it may feel more like a chore than a pleasure. It’s less social for sure. I believe we will see the balancing act continue for both.

{Image Source}  

 

 

The post When Pigs Flew appeared first on Stewart Perry.

Using Technology to Connect Workers for Stronger Safety Programs

In today’s world, we are all connected through technology. We interact with it at home, at work, and even in our downtime. Fitbits monitor our steps, heart rates and sleeping patterns. We read books on tablets and hail rides through apps on our smartphones. Our homes are “smart” with devices that automate lighting, air conditioners and give us our messages as we walk in the door.

Analyzing Free & Paid Weather Solutions

Every construction company, especially those operating in the North, has experienced the excruciating pain of having bad weather conditions add costs to a project. As a manager at a construction company, what can you do about it? Some companies rely on weather data they get from local news forecasts, free weather apps and websites to help them determine when the weather will be a factor.

6 Principles of Successful Workplace Negotiation

No matter your job title, chances are you engage in workplace negotiations every day. Whether you are vying for your team to receive more company resources, driving your ideas through to completion on a project or simply managing your day-to-day workload, being able to successfully negotiate with others is essential for success.

When Disaster Strikes

Thomas “Torrey” Hawkins, founder and president of Angler Construction, is no stranger to the severe weather that accompanies life in the Gulf Coast region.

April 2018 Construction Industry Stats

Each month, the Construction Business Owner team compiles statistics from several different sources, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Census Bureau, to give you a better understanding of the current state of affairs for the construction industry. The statistics featured in each month's print issue are for 3 months prior to the publication of the magazine, based on the data available.

Build a More Engaged Workforce

For any business, adaptability is often the key to staying competitive and successful. Due to the nature of construction and the composition of the workforce, adaptability is also a characteristic that sometimes proves elusive. No longer, though. Along with the rest of the economy, the construction industry is experiencing several shifts in thought and process, and your company’s choice to either adapt or ignore could be a predictor of its success.

3 Steps to Take Before Buying Pre-Owned Equipment

Depending on your business needs, pre-owned equipment can be an affordable option, allowing you to keep an eye on the latest equipment trends while being mindful of your budget. Purchasing pre-owned equipment can expand your fleet size at a lower cost than purchasing new, and can create new business opportunities with more work.

4 Ways to Benefit from Using Propane Autogas Fleet Vehicles

As construction professionals continue to look for ways to improve their bottom line, often by looking for inefficiencies in labor and material costs, more companies are turning to a familiar jobsite fuel source to power their vehicle fleets—propane autogas.

An increasing number of light- and medium-duty work truck makes and models can be converted to run on this low-emissions, clean fuel. Take a look at the following four ways you can benefit from operating your vehicle fleet with propane autogas.

10 Attributes to Look for in a Risk Management Outsourcing Partner

As anyone working in the construction industry knows, some risks are worth taking, while others simply aren’t. Your company’s risk control process should be placed within the latter group. This is no place for amateurs.

Why You Should Focus on Connecting with Your Employees

Why a genuine and caring employee focus will go a long way in helping you retain satisfied and productive employees, and how to improve employee engagement on a daily basis.

Reduce Litigation Risk to Major Construction Projects

Finally, your major construction project is complete. Unfortuately, a week after completion, you receive a claim letter from the other side. Annoyed, you draft a denial. They file suit. You now face years of litigation in which you will recount, in painstaking detail, every single contested aspect of the project. Some documents may be downright embarrassing to you or your colleagues. Things are about to get messy and expensive, but it didn’t have to be this way.

March 2018 Construction Industry Stats

Each month, the Construction Business Owner team compiles statistics from several different sources, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Census Bureau, to give you a better understanding of the current state of affairs for the construction industry. The statistics featured in each month's print issue are for 3 months prior to the publication of the magazine, based on the data available.