Why Making Business Decisions Alone is Dangerous

Imagine yourself stranded in a jungle. Without the help of an experienced survival expert, it would be difficult to determine your next steps for surviving and finding your way back to safety. Business planning is no different.

What value does your company provide that has influenced you to continue working there?

Construction industry employees weigh in on the incentives behind their long-term stays with their respective companies.

Authenticity in Historic Restoration

For those of us interested in historic preservation/restoration, this week was tragic. Notre Dame is an integral part of the Parisian backdrop and a picture of craftsmanship that withstood hundreds of years, not to mention its significance to the Catholic church. On Monday, I watched with my jaw dropped as the flames rose.

Now, as things have settled a bit and the damage has been assessed, we are faced with an interesting dilemma: Can you ever truly rebuild and restore the cathedral?

We have been involved in several historic restorations, including a century-old theater, vintage hotels and a handful of adaptive reuse projects. While these are certainly not Notre Dame, each structure held great significance to the city where we worked, and a handful were partially funded with historic tax credits. We got a primer on what can be replaced and the original parts of the building that needed to remain intact.

We also learned the value people attach to “authenticity,” meaning that the original building materials be preserved. I think the general consensus is that it’s not a possibility in this situation. The cathedral can be rebuilt, but we’ll have to let go of some of our notions of what’s “authentic.”

In this context, I read about the Venice Charter to guide restoration, which says that new materials would be kept distinguishable from the original construction. I’ll be interested to see how things progress.

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Determining a Crane Rental Strategy

How to determine a crane rental strategy that lands your company the right equipment, at the right time, under the right contract.

HR Distress? There's A PEO for That

Having a PEO as an HR partner makes it easier to navigate the complexities of multistate compliance issues and minimizes the risk of costly penalties or lawsuits—no matter how many worksites you have or where they’re located. 

Bucket List Events

For me, April means two things: The Masters and Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, both extraordinary events started by men with a passion for doing something worthwhile and best in class. (Bobby Jones/Clifford Roberts for the Masters and George Barber for the Indy car event.) My spring is off to a good start because both are on my calendar.

Everyone knows about The Augusta National and The Masters, but Barber Motorsports Park is more of a hidden gem. You’ll find the largest private collection of motorcycles in the world and open wheel racing and motorcycle racing.

As I watched this year’s events, with guys doing more than 200 miles an hour, it made me glad to have a day job that is not racing. Takuma Sato, a car owned by David Letterman, won the race, and several of our folks were on hand to enjoy all the festivities, along with visitors from 38 states and 8 countries. The cars are fast, the company is hard to beat and the weather was just right.

As I watched, I couldn’t help but think about what the land was just a few short years ago–an empty field–and how George Barber’s dream played out with the museum and this race. The same goes for Augusta National, which was was not much more than pine trees and pasture right after the Depression. What a win for all who get to visit.

{Image Source: APM Kamal Ahmed}

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How to Increase Profitability With Equipment Performance Benchmarking

How do you stack up to your competition? Every minute a piece of equipment sits idle on your jobsite, it’s robbing you of time and money. That’s why it is essential to optimize the use of your equipment if you want to maximize profits. 

The Keys to a Succesful Construction Planning Process

If you’ve ever said that having construction projects run into roadblocks, blow past deadlines, squander resources and come in over budget is just “the cost of doing business,” consider a new way to address these age-old problems.

5 Tips for Eliminating Rework

You can actually avoid rework by tracking rework—this could be as simple as attaching notes to the schedule wherever rework crops up.

Why the Construction Industry Doesn't Have to Be Disrupted by Technology

The construction industry’s problem resides in systems still separated into silos, where there is no central source of information and no data sharing across all parties working on any given job. But it doesn't need a total disruption to flourish.

5 Tax Articles You Need to Read

Well, it's almost here—the United States is one week out from Tax Day 2019. Whether you have already filed your company's taxes, you're in the process of completing them, or you'll be requesting an extension until October, it's important to stay up to date on all tax changes—especially as they relate to construction businesses.

To help you out, we rounded up a few articles you need to read to keep your company's taxes in check. Find a few helpful articles below.

Millennials: How to Understand, Attract & Harness Their Unique Abilities

Growth & Development Expert Blake Cavignac on how to understand, attract and harness the power of millennials.

We All Work In Sales

No matter what business, it’s the small things that differentiate.

I think this concept can be hard for some to understand. Doing a good job with the technical side or the deliverables is a prerequisite for sales, and if one does not have these, it’s a nonstarter. But when it comes to customers forming an opinion of any organization, it’s not the flash or the gloss, but the boots on the ground. Every interaction between someone in a company and the customer matters. No matter where you are on the ladder, it matters.

I was reminded of this earlier today. I had ordered a pair of golf shoes for my visit to Augusta next week. I had no record of my order and when I called the company all I had was my email address. After locating the order the customer rep said they had not shipped. I explained I need them early next week. He upgraded my shipping to overnight, and when I offered to pay, he said it was his courtesy. He said he would be watching for me on tv as we signed off. When I need another pair of golf shoes I know who I will buy them from.

We are not all closers, and that’s okay. We can all do things with a smile and work to make a solid first impression, putting our best foot forward. This is what sets us apart.

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9 Tips for Safer Excavator Slope Work

5 Tips for Better Lifting With Your Compact Excavator

Avoid project delays and machine instability with these five best practices for lifting with a compact excavator lifting.

3 Lessons from Nick Saban to Improve Your Business Strategy

How to improve your business strategy and processes by taking a few moves from University of Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban's playbook 

How One Documentary Is Advocating for Women in Construction

A star of Hard Hatted Woman tells what it's like for a women in the trades and how you can promote inclusivity and diversity in your own construction business

Why Construction Insolvencies Are Globally on the Rise

Construction business owners don’t have it easy. Even in markets where there is strong growth, firms must grapple with high competition, slim profit margins, chronic late payments and a high proportion of business failures.

Balance?

We are finally entering spring, and the weather seems to be a bit better. The market is in good shape and has been for a while. Perhaps your basketball team is still in the hunt.

Sometimes it’s easy to think we are in balance and all is good with the world. But “balance” is by nature easy to disrupt and never a constant. It’s so easy to teeter off center and lose your balance. We’ve all be on a roll when things unexpectedly take a turn in the opposite direction.

Nothing worth accomplishing is ever easy, and ensuring we stay in balance ranks right up there the best of them. When we are younger, it’s easier to think we think we know all the answers and everything will be just fine. When I hear this type of answer, I remind the person that being cocky is a sure way to fall hard. Never take yourself too seriously or fall into the trap of thinking you are more important than you really are.

The reality is that all of us will be totally out of balance at one time or another in our lives. It could be compared to small wind or a large gust coming out of nowhere, but eventually the wind ceases and we get back up to hopefully try again.

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No Secrets.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a dinner where Alessandro Acquisti of Carnegie Mellon spoke on privacy issues related to the web and how “big data” is changing things for the better…and worse.

Since the Internet and social media came along, it seems we share more personal information than ever before. There are plenty of upsides to this, but it also can open the door to violations. Alessandro gave the example of using facial recognition software to identify a person, find publicly available information, and then infer private information like a social security number. A maze for sure.

He also shared that privacy is not necessarily about having something negative to hide, and even well-meaning transparency policies can be misdirected. I would imagine people had the same kind of fears when the combustion engine was invented for the auto, replacing the horse. To me, it is hard to wrap ones head around, but exciting, and the unknown can be a little scary. I try to approach with the knowledge that nothing is ever really private, and once on the Internet, it seems to live forever. 

If you have 15 minutes to spare, this TED Talk by Alessandro is worthy of your time. And while we’re on the subject of TED, if you do not already support the organization in your city, I would recommend it. We’ve been involved for a number of years, and continue to be impressed with the impact.

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3 Questions to Determine If You Can Transfer Cyberrisk Contractually

As breaches and other cyber attacks grow in number and magnitude, construction businesses are trying to push risk to others contractually. To understand this strategy, start by answering the following questions:

Maintaining Project Cost Data

InEight's David Swider on project cost data and why what you think you know isn’t always accurate.

Bona Fide & Certified

In construction, do certifications matter? Read what it can and cannot do for you and your business here. 

The Era of the Smart City

A recent infographic, “Generation Z Characteristics: 5 infographics on the Gen Z lifestyle,” groups those born from 1995 to 2012 into Generation Z and summarizes the findings of Vision Critical’s study on the media habits of consumers. The study states, “As Gen Zs enter the workforce…companies can’t afford to act within conventional assumptions or generational frameworks.” This fact becomes even more apparent when you consider that Generation Z has never lived in a world without internet, without technology as the main driver of economic growth.

The Tech Your Drivers Need

Western Star truck expert Tim Norton on technologies that increase operator safety & owner ROI.

March 2019 Construction Industry Stats

American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Census Bureau construction stats.

Walking the Tightrope of Tough Decisions

Tips on how to handle the hard conversations & move projects forward on the jobsite by expert Mark Anderson. 

The Tool You Need in Your Tech Ecosystem

Learn about the crucial tool you need in your construction tech ecosystem. Managing a fleet of heavy equipment in the construction industry brings the challenges of scheduling the equipment, monitoring usage and managing traffic at the jobsite, to name a few. And all fleet managers know that timing is everything on the jobsite.

3 Crucial Components of a Top-Notch Fleet

West Valley Construction Company’s Jimm Vosburgh on the most crucial components of fleet management - sustainability, assets & maintenance.

Preparing to Bid in a New State

How to properly license your construction business for bidding a new state. 

How do you see automation affecting construction fleets in the near future?

Construction industry experts weigh in on how automation will affect construction fleets.

Driving Collaboration

Chris Ransom with Verizon Connect on 4 ways fleet data can counter management challenges & speed up project completion.

6 Articles You Need to Read on Women in Construction

This week (and every week, for that matter), raise your hard hats to the women who go to work on jobsites or in the back offices of construction companies each day.

Why Your Company Needs a Lean Building Program

As many companies look for ways to improve internal and external operations for the current surge in building, expansions and improvements, numerous programs like lean construction come to the forefront with its proven effectiveness. The Lean Construction Institute (LCI) was founded in 1997, with a mission to improve the construction and design industries through Lean approaches to project design and delivery.

3 Questions to Determine If You Can Transfer Cyberrisk Contractually

As breaches and other cyber attacks grow in number and magnitude, construction businesses are trying to push risk to others contractually. To understand this strategy, start by answering the following questions:

Maintaining Project Cost Data

InEight's David Swider on project cost data and why what you think you know isn’t always accurate.

Bona Fide & Certified

In construction, do certifications matter? Read what it can and cannot do for you and your business here. 

The Era of the Smart City

A recent infographic, “Generation Z Characteristics: 5 infographics on the Gen Z lifestyle,” groups those born from 1995 to 2012 into Generation Z and summarizes the findings of Vision Critical’s study on the media habits of consumers. The study states, “As Gen Zs enter the workforce…companies can’t afford to act within conventional assumptions or generational frameworks.” This fact becomes even more apparent when you consider that Generation Z has never lived in a world with internet, without technology as the main driver of economic growth.

The Tech Your Drivers Need

Western Star truck expert Tim Norton on technologies that increase operator safety & owner ROI.

March 2019 Construction Industry Stats

American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Census Bureau construction stats.

Walking the Tightrope of Tough Decisions

Tips on how to handle the hard conversations & move projects forward on the jobsite by expert Mark Anderson. 

From the Horse’s Mouth (or Head)

Several years ago, I spent 10 days on Ireland’s famed Connemara Trail, traveling from Galway to Cliftonover on horseback. We crossed pastures, road beds and a few swamps and galloped on abandoned railroad beds. Along the trail, I learned a valuable lesson which I thought I knew, but it was evident I did not: “Give the horse its head.” 

In other words, do not hold so tightly on the reins that the horse cannot use its head to help the rider safely reach the destination. After all, between the two of you, the horse is the one with its feet on the ground, feeling the terrain as you go.

I think sometimes in contracts and in other ways we may conduct our businesses it can be easy to hold the reins too tight. We try to anticipate every single “what if” that might occur and try to put a solution into words. I told someone this week that we always try to hire the very best managers, whether in the office or in the field, and once they’ve earned our trust, then we should give them free reins as long as they continue on the right path. When this works, it’s beautiful.

There may be some lessons for all of us here. Surround yourself with quality people let them do what they do best, and you will be infinitely more successful.

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The Tool You Need in Your Tech Ecosystem

Learn about the crucial tool you need in your construction tech ecosystem. Managing a fleet of heavy equipment in the construction industry brings the challenges of scheduling the equipment, monitoring usage and managing traffic at the jobsite, to name a few. And all fleet managers know that timing is everything on the jobsite.

3 Crucial Components of a Top-Notch Fleet

West Valley Construction Company’s Jimm Vosburgh on the most crucial components of fleet management - sustainability, assets & maintenance.

Preparing to Bid in a New State

How to properly license your construction business for bidding a new state. 

6 Articles You Need to Read on Women in Construction

This week (and every week, for that matter), raise your hard hats to the women who go to work on jobsites or in the back offices of construction companies each day.

How do you see automation affecting construction fleets in the near future?

Construction industry experts weigh in on how automation will affect construction fleets.

Driving Collaboration

Chris Ransom with Verizon Connect on 4 ways fleet data can counter management challenges & speed up project completion.

Why Your Company Needs a Lean Building Program

As many companies look for ways to improve internal and external operations for the current surge in building, expansions and improvements, numerous programs like lean construction come to the forefront with its proven effectiveness. The Lean Construction Institute (LCI) was founded in 1997, with a mission to improve the construction and design industries through Lean approaches to project design and delivery.

Top 5 Tools from World of Concrete 2019

The 5 hottest World of Concrete 2019 construction trends and the tools to go along with them, as told by tool guru Michael Springer and the editors of Construction Business Owner magazine, here. 

How to Beat Your Bid-Hit Ratio

3 areas to filter for better bidding and estimating from construction business consultant George Hedley.

The Best Reason to Invest in a Drone

Today’s jobsites are complex environments requiring multiple trade suppliers to coordinate across all project stages. Additional complexity comes in the form of labor challenges, regulatory changes and, for some contractors, outdated work systems. Fortunately, in a historically low-tech industry, advanced technologies are starting to mature and add real value to construction site management.

World of Concrete 2019 Sees Best Attendance in 10 Years

What you need to know from the 2019 World of Concrete show as told my the editors of Construction Business Owner magazine.

Mastering Media Relations

3 steps to building a stronger PR strategy and making your marketing message count from the CEO of The Bradford Group.

The Next Size Up

6 questions to consider before upgrading to larger earthmoving equipment from the experts at Doosan.

Who Are the High-Performing Contractors of Tomorrow?

A dissection of the major trends affecting the construction industry in 2019 & beyond. Are you one of the high-performing contractors of tomorrow? Find out here.

Preserving Our History With Story Corps

You can hold onto family heirlooms and look through old photo albums, but there might be something about hearing a family voice that really makes memories come alive.

Last weekend, my daughter Chappell and I participated in a 40-minute recorded interview hosted by our public radio station. If you’re not familiar with NPR’s Story Corps, the idea is that two people enter a recording booth and have a conversation, asking a few questions prepared in advance, with the intent of preserving family history and stories.

You receive a copy at the end, and it’s also cataloged at the Library of Congress for future generations of your family to listen and learn.

I was a little unsure of how things would go, but it ended up being a casual conversation between the two of us with Chappell asking questions about our family, grandparents and great-grandparents along with other things we’ve experienced in life. We covered everything from the tough times our family experienced during the Depression and WWII, to my father and me building a cabin on Lake Burton, my thoughts for our city and some advice for each of my three children. Our allotted time went by very fast, but I know the experience was worthwhile.

The facilitator told me they are continuing around the country, and if you get the opportunity, you might consider participating.

 

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Work Boot Trends to Watch in 2019

Wolverine's Work Boot Trends to Watch in 2019.

What industry issues will have the most effect on your 2019 planning?

Construction industry experts weigh in on industry issues that will have the most effect on their 2019 planning.

Workforce Development

It seems that every board meeting I attend these days has “workforce development” as a topic on the agenda. In most areas, the economy is humming in high gear, and record low unemployment is a driver for sure. Beyond this, to “lift all boats” is just the right thing to do. Training usually includes learning the basics of an industry or craft, and I would also add personal finance be taught at the high school level. Many coming out of high school do not understand the relationship between “save first, spend later” and living within your means.

In the past, we have tried teaching young people the industry, and I’ll be the first to admit that for several reason, we have not always had success. Next week, we try again with a new intern, but this time with The Birmingham Education Foundation as our coach. “Ed,” as it’s called for short, has matched us with a city high school student, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for success. Our intern will be with us through June, and our intent will be to start another one in the fall. Hopefully our experience will be mutually beneficial. There is potential for lots of wins.

As a side note, “Ed” is led by my friend JW Carpenter, and if you do not have an “Ed” equivalent in your city or town, you might reach out to him for advice, as he is a seasoned pro in this arena. Who knows–You may find yourself with an outstanding long-term employee.

 

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5 Ways to Eliminate Waste with a Constructible Process

Waste is all too common on construction projects today. That waste is not only bad for the environment, it also cuts into budgets and diminishes a project’s overall return.

5 Business Books You Need to Read

You may have a handle on how to run the jobsite, but advice and resources to handling all the other aspects of running a construction business can often be difficult to find. The CBO team is always on the hunt for business articles and books that provide answers to the questions that plague business owners like you every day. We asked our editorial advisory board to tell us their go-to books for business knowledge. See their answers below.  

The Drivers Behind Adaptive Reuse

Our hometown is one of those cities that came of age during an industrial boom. Because of this, there is plenty of historical space in the CBD that is full of architectural details and prime for adaptive reuse. We’ve been a part of several of these projects. So the question I asked myself is, “Why has this initiative become a driver in the redevelopment of our core cities?”  A few thoughts:

Obviously, federal, state and local tax incentives have helped tremendously.

Another thought might be that these places remind occupants of the origins of their cities, a connect with the past?

Every existing building is unique and the design has to adapt to this existing shape, so maybe it’s the uniqueness appealing to our individuality that also might be a draw.

Or maybe people are drawn to the raw and exposed elements of the interiors in many of these buildings.

The answer is probably a mix of these elements. At any rate, it’s becoming clear that exposed brick, tall ceilings, polished concrete floors and large windows aren’t just for adaptive reuse anymore. The new multifamily units we are involved with incorporate many of these features. And while ground up construction may lack the tax incentives, it does bypass existing conditions, giving designers complete control over the finished product.

Designers are saying “Industrial Chic” style has the staying power of many of the classic building styles we see re-imagined time and time again. Via traditional adaptive reuse or new design, it seems that the trend of uniting industrial components with warmer design elements will stand the test of time.

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Improve Projects & Productivity with Collaborative, Customizable Technologies

How to create beter communicatinon, efficiency and productivity with construction softwares by expert Jason Barner from Assignar. 

Improve Equipment Maintenance & Life Span With Telematics

3 Ways to Improve Equipment Maintenance & Life Span With Telematics.

How to Win Construction Bid Proposals

3 simple steps to winning construction bid proposals from expert Dan Taylor.

Why Continuing Education is the Lifeblood of Electrical Contractors

More than ever, continuous education is the lifeblood of electrical contractors—it is necessary not only for doing business but also for staying on top of industry trends. Technologies—such as LED lighting, lighting controls and whole home automation, as well as advances in generators and transformers—increasingly require ongoing education from electricians to win bids, meet demand and stay competitive. As such, filling any gaps in knowledge is essential to successfully take on jobs, meet code and get referrals.

What Have You Agreed To?

Use these tips to help you understand the details of the contracts you're signing. The responsibility and liability is yours.

The 20% Deduction Your Company Could Use in 2019

Details of the 20% tax deduction your company could use in 2019, as set forth by the TCJA, here. 

A Little Bit Ikea, A Little Bit Apple

The leadership sweet spot sits between giving too much instruction and not enough. Read what business management expert Gregg Schoppman has to say about it here. 

The First Impression

Never underestimate the value of a solid first impression, as there is never a second chance. While perception may change over time, to me, that first impression seems to be what we all remember the most.

Thursday evening, I was out of town, checking into the hotel rather late, and used valet parking. While the valet unloaded my car, he asked my name for the retrieval ticket. As I was walking toward the lobby he said, “I hope you have good stay, Mr. Stewart. We will take care of your car.”

In that moment, I was once again reminded how much a good first impression can mean. That valet was my first contact with the hotel, and set the tone for my time there.

The little things matter. The first impression, the second, and so forth. All other things being equal, our experiences in “purchase” often boil down to one or two elements–a greeting, a word, a sentence or something that creates a memory.

I saw this fellow again as I was checking in and he spoke to me, remembering my name and creating a lasting positive memory for this hotel. I know where I will be staying next time I’m in this city.

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Why You Should Consider Redefining Your Involvement in the BIM Process

How to and why you should harness BIM’s ability to offer a full understanding of the construction project

How to Choose the Ideal Track & Tread for Your Compact Track Loader

The growing demand for compact tracks loaders can primarily be attributed to the increased maneuverability and productivity that tracks can now provide. Compact track loaders are ideal for operating on soft soils, such as clay, mud or sand, and outfitting a compact track loader with the proper tracks for your worksite can improve machine performance, minimize ground disturbance and extend your working season in wet months.

Determining Your Must-Do Role

What is the No. 1 function that could help you generate the highest revenue, increase equity and/or produce the best project results? As a business owner, you must identify your companywide must-do roles (MDRs) and delegate them to the right employees. Most importantly, you must determine your own MDR, and it’s probably not the role you think it is.

February 2019 Construction Industry Stats

American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the United States Census Bureau construction stats.

App Spotlight: SimplySend

With mobile technology becoming an ever-present and necessary addition to the construction industry, there is a seemingly endless array of app and software choices. CBO is here to help with a regular information download on different apps to help you run your business.

Self-Employment, Scale & Success

Founder Michael Kaufman on Kaufman Lynn Construction's Path to Becoming One of South Florida's Largest Contractors.

Green & For All

An in-depth Q&A with the Ramboland project team, winners of the USGBC Malcom Lewis IMPACT! Award.

The Ask: Timing. Communication.

Each year, I send notes to a fair amount of folks I have never met but have read about, and many times I am asked, “Why would you send a letter to someone you do not even know?” The simple reason is because I care. I care about meeting new people who have been successful, or have accomplished something positive for their communities or those around them.

You would be surprised at the number of responses I get and friendships I’ve made this way. While I do not necessarily do this to gain opportunities for the company, as I believe one should not expect something in return from a simple note, the reality is we’ve earned some business this way.

Should an opportunity arise, then one of the more difficult hurdles is “the ask.” Always try to be clear and transparent. Try to figure out the best medium, and email is the answer probably less than 50% of the time. If it is email, think about the day and the time.

As someone said, one misses 100% of the pitches when you don’t take a swing. It’s about timing, communications, and of course, having confidence to just do it.

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Engineering the Digitalized Jobsite

Last week, Autodesk announced the official closing of its acquisition of BuildingConnected, an online bid management solution designed to serve general contractors and subcontractors. The tech solution facilitates a more streamlined bidding process and gives users access to a network of industry contacts. The closing follows two other Autodesk acquisitions in 2018: PlanGrid and Assemble Systems.

According to a press release issued last week, Autodesk plans to intregrate workflows between BuildingConnected, Autodesk BIM 360, Revit and AutoCAD, and PlanGrid and Assemble Systems, to provide customers with one comprehensive solution for improving workflows throughout the construction process. CBO caught up with Jim Lynch, vice president and general manager, Autodesk Construction Solutions, to talk about the strategy behind the company’s recent acquisitions and why the industry may or may not be ready for a fully connected, digitalized jobsite. See what he had to say below.

The Return on Investment in People

How mentorship increases your ROI and makes for a successful company and culture. 

4 Safety Best Practices for the Modern Jobsite

4 safety best practices for the modern jobsite from Dodge Data & Analytics' Safety Best Practices SmartMarket Brief.

 

For Inspiration, Walk Away

It seems like we all spend a lot of hours with our noses to the grindstone. That sometimes means we get more done, and at others, at least to me, sometimes I cannot see the forest through the trees.

When I’m wrestling with a complex problem, or anything similar for that matter, the solution almost never comes to me in a meeting, or when I’m sitting at work in front of a pile of papers. Light bulb moments are far more likely to happen at unexpected times, when I can step away.

For me, it’s often when I am at my desk at home early in the morning, watching a sunrise or clear sky, with a fresh cup of coffee in hand. A time when the phone is not ringing and there aren’t urgent things to do, counting my blessings with no pressure to do this or that. It’s my time to just sit and wonder “what if” or what could be done in a different way.

You might try this sometime, and as I have, find yourself amazed what happens when the mind is clear. The best ideas may come in solitude.

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Tech Ecosystem: What It Is & Why You Need One

What a tech ecosystem is and why you need one - an in-depth Q&A with the experts from Autodesk & Rhumbix.

Keep Things Simple

Over the years, I have found that there are lots of ways to motivate, but the simplest one is probably the best and the most pleasant for everyone involved. Simply say, “Thank you,” whether verbally or in writing.

Particularly in the construction and real estate industries, there has always seemed to be a lack of people offering a simple “thank you” for a job well done. It is probably something I do too much, but to me, there is never a down side to showing a genuine appreciation.

It really is that simple. If you see someone going above and beyond, mention your gratitude, either in person or through a note. You’ll set that person on a trajectory to try even harder. The best part? They are more likely to pass that grateful behavior to their peers, creating a domino effect of increased performance and appreciation. Leverage at its best.

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10 Hydraulic Attachments to Elevate Your Projects to the Next Level

How to perfectly pick from 10 Hydraulic Attachments to Elevate Your Projects to the Next Level.

The Organic Life of Digitized Data

Too many of today’s project management workflows, while automated, do not facilitate the use of all the data that is created on a project. Few owners are able to query all the information generated on a project—from emails, documents, spreadsheets, CAD files and other apps—to find an answer to a question. To make data work for us, to find answers to as yet unknown questions, we must separate the data creators and data users.

State of the Industry: The Year of Great Transition

Dodge Data & Analytics on How Washington, Project Costs, The Labor Shortage & New Tech Will Define the Construction Industry in 2019.

7 Tips for Prepping Your Fleet for the Busy Season

Prep Your Fleet for the Busy Season With These 7 Tips. 

Before hauling crawler excavators or wheel loaders to your jobsite, ensure the transport and towing vehicles are in good working condition this winter. 

Inspect the tires, brakes, lights, coupling system and tie-down points used to secure your machine. All pins and
connection points should be secure, and the hooks should be functional.  If you see any cracks, stretches or fatigued links in your tie-down equipment, remove them from service.

If you are located in the Northern
United States or in Canada, there may be springtime load restrictions. Load ratings vary from state to state, so check federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding weight, width, length and height of a load before preparing to transport your machine on public roads, bridges, highways or interstates.

What You Can Learn About Simulation from the Process Control Industry

Simulation technology has the potential to completely redesign the training and safety processes of those in not just the construction industry, but many others, too. At Werner Electric Supply, the implementation of a multifunction instrument asset (MIA) is doing just that.

Pour Me One, Will You?

The role of volumetric concrete in the future of U.S. infrastructure.

You Don’t Have Time for This

ExakTime's 4 tips for avoiding common time-management traps.

3 Ways to Step Up Your Strategy

Step up your business strategy with C.A. Murren & Sons’ mottos for continuous growth & profit.

Creating Space Below a Former CBD Department Store

We are about 35% complete building The Sidewalk Film Center and Cinemas, which will be the year round home for the organization as well as their nationally acclaimed film festival.

The confined space of the project, coupled with the extensive rock excavation, requires both gas and electric powered equipment. This can create a potential hazard from fumes and emissions. This was solved by the construction of a containment area that is 100 percent sealed.

After intake of the air in the containment area, the project uses Hepa-Aire Portable Air Scrubbers, which clean the air before it is discharged to the atmosphere. Various monitors inside the work area and at the air’s exit point ensure C02 levels stay healthy both on the job site and for those breathing the scrubbed air outside the building at discharge points.

When completed, the project will maximize the remaining space within the foundation area and below a department store frame first constructed in 1923. The renovated building now also includes a first floor food hall, above and 6 stories of apartment living.

The post Creating Space Below a Former CBD Department Store appeared first on Stewart Perry.

6 Obstacles of Onboarding Remote Employees

Onboarding remote employees has particular challenges that do not exist for those in the office. The following are a few of the obstacles your company may experience and how to overcome them so that your field employees feel equally as valuable as those in the main office.

You Don’t Have Time for This

ExakTime's 4 tips for avoiding common time-management traps.

3 Technologies that Turn Business Challenges Into Advantages

Through digital transformation with these 3 technologies, construct a successful 2019 at your company.

How Your Firm Can Iterate for Optimal Communication & Responsive Decision-Making

4 tips to help you better manage your construction jobsite teams & the collaboration happening among them

The Skilled Workforce Delusion

3 underlying root problems that are sabotaging your efforts to grow your business and retain good employees

What Industry Issues Will Most Affect Your 2019 Planning?

Construction industry experts weigh in on what issues will most affect their 2019 planning strategy.

Play Your Own Course, Revisited

What follows is something I wrote a few years ago, and as we go into a new year, I thought it might be nice to revisit. I know in my business career, there might have been fewer scars if I had played my own golf course, so to speak.

I recently had dinner with a friend, who is a great golfer in his own right, and whose brother is one of the top PGA tour players. While we did not discuss the dynamics of the game, I thought to myself that, while these guys compete against one another, in a way, they compete against the course.

Good players learn how to put bad shots behind them, along with bad holes. The most successful concentrate on what they do best. They play their own game on the course.

Most have developed the just right rhythm to their own game. They size up the shots they can make and don’t worry about the shots of others. They know their strengths and weakness, and they play to their own strengths.

How many times have I gotten in a slump thinking about our competition–what they have and what they have accomplished? There are no winners in the comparison game. It’s more productive to focus internally. Our team ranks pretty well most of the time, and concentrating on others can and will be an impediment to success.

The post Play Your Own Course, Revisited appeared first on Stewart Perry.

The TCJA Legislation Driving IRS Code Reform in 2019

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and how it will cause tax reform in 2019.

You’ve Got (Too Much) Mail

What you really need to know about email backups & archiving

Economic Trends to Consider Heading into 2019

This time last year, approaching 2018, the factors posing the greatest barriers to optimism for contractors were political and economic uncertainties, followed by rising material costs and interest rates. Ending 2018, political and economic uncertainty still is and always will be present, but more recently, tariffs and interest rates have become frequent water-cooler talk.

The Intersection of Leadership Style & Business Vision

What type of leader are you? Stratospheric or granular? Here are the downsides and upsides to both and what to do about them.

5 Top Tech Needs in 2019

Adopt these 5 technologies and secure a leadership position in the construction industry in 2019.