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Tag: business advice
Business
Why the numbers are important: Moneyball’s Billy Beane addresses the equipment, construction industries
One definite perk of a free press pass is the exposure I get to high-priced talk. Filling a podium is not cheap; just check out a speaker’s bureau website to get a taste of what even B Level speakers command. I didn’t have real expectations pro or con when I heard that Billy Beane, general […]
February 13, 2014
Success Stories
How a loyalty to your employees can result in big growth for your construction business
“I’ve stayed with Larman Construction so long because of this guy right here,” said Fred Barhydt, pointing a finger at company owner Vernnen Larman. Barhydt, a Larman employee for 30 years, was just one of the employees I met expressing this sentiment during my visit to the Garland, Texas-based Equipment World Contractor of the Year […]
February 12, 2014
Business
Smooth operator: How to seamlessly transition your construction company from one generation to the next
For the December issue of Equipment World, architect and construction attorney James K. Zahn, FAIA, FALA, Esq., of Chicago-based Sabo & Zahn, provided us with advice on steps a contractor must take when planning to sell or gift a construction business to the next generation. Equally important, however, is ensuring the transition goes off without […]
December 17, 2013
Business
6 steps for passing down your construction business to your children
You’ve grown your construction firm into a thriving business, and now you’re ready to retire. Your children are waiting in the wings to take over the company they’ve been groomed to run since they were old enough to climb onto a piece of equipment. However, you know you can’t just hand over the reins and […]
December 11, 2013
Business
The top 4 mistakes contractors make when building a website
When it comes to building, who better to seek advice from than a contractor? That is, unless you’re talking about building a website. Then the answer gets a bit more complicated. We see a lot of contractor websites, and while there are some great ones out there, a number of them fall short on some […]
December 9, 2013
Home
Website Mistake 2: You show an aversion to email contact
We get it; talking with people is important, so you naturally want to emphasize phone contact, especially in an emergency situation. Even Dunn Construction, Birmingham, Alabama, who does a great job in showcasing their people on their site, doesn’t provide individual emails. But in today’s digital world, a number of people like to reach out […]
December 9, 2013
Home
Website Mistake 1: You don’t feature your people
While pictures of completed projects tell one part of your story, you’re missing a critical element if you don’t show who’s on your team. Your people are your company. They’re the ones that make it happen, who interact with your clients on a daily basis, who make you look good. Grab a camera, take some […]
December 9, 2013
Home
Website Mistake 4: You don’t have a website
Yes, the biggest problem we see with contractor websites is their nonexistence. When people are curious about you and your capabilities, the easiest thing to do is a Google search. If all that’s there is a online directory listing, it says everything about your location and nothing about your story. “I fought it for a […]
December 9, 2013
Home
Website Mistake 3: You require people to fill out a form to contact you by email
For those who do allow for email contact on their website, many require customers to fill out a form to do so. There’s no personal touch in this; it’s anyone’s guess who receives the completed form and in what decade can a response can be expected. Get rid of it. The same is true with […]
December 9, 2013
Business
Go With Your Instincts: Why it’s not always a good idea to separate personal and business decisions
Possessing the ability to make good decisions is obviously crucial when running your own business, but good instincts are just as critical. Take Matthew Gilligan of Magnolia Landscape, for example. Gilligan is one of our sister site Total Landscape Care’s 12 finalists for the Landscaper of the Year program, and I visited and interviewed him […]
November 20, 2013
Business
10 things construction leaders can learn from Dwight D. Eisenhower
The trouble with most management and leadership books crowding the shelves today is that many of them were written by people who’ve never managed anything bigger than their own publishing enterprises. I prefer biographies. And one of the best biographies I’ve read in many years is Eisenhower: In War and Peace, by Jean Edward Smith. So […]
September 30, 2013
Business
Don’t get locked in your office: Why staying in front of your team’s challenges is key to being a good leader
There’s a story behind this heading that contains a powerful message about leadership. Although it happened several years ago, the lesson learned from this experience is still relevant for today’s business world. It was the mid-1980’s and I had just accepted a new position as managing director of Dresser Industries, Europe, Africa and Middle East […]
September 17, 2013
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