Co-Founder’s Corner: Do You Need a Shutdown?

In U.S. politics, a government “shutdown” is the name for the process the Executive Branch must enter into when Congress creates a “funding gap” by failing to choose or pass legislation which funds government operations and agencies. In construction, sometimes the executive team is at such odds with one another in regards to process, projects, price and profits that they would love the option of a shutdown to be able to send the staff home and put the executive team at work mapping a solution. There is no printing money in construction and even credit lines are fairly extinct all together; yet, many operate as if there are money trees and business is about completing a job, not making money. I always love when a company exec says to me, “We’ll make it up on the next job,” or “We had to take this job for cost to show the owner what we can do so he’ll give us his next job.” At what ultimate cost does that end up being?

Unfortunately, this type of attitude, lack of planning, denial of reality and lack of communications led to, and continues to lead to, thousands of shutdowns in our industry each year. The sad part is that they are not temporary. They are permanent. Oh, yes, and, in addition, many–especially sub-contractors–will just close down one company and make the same mistakes again in their next company which they will form under a different name, hurting people (including themselves) along the way, not to mention the reputation of our industry.

Do you need someone to help you shore your business foundation and give you and the leaders within your company a roadmap to follow? Do you need someone to listen to your challenges and to help you get the answers you need? Let’s see. Start by asking yourself if you have the answers to the ten questions below?

Why do you exist?
What are your target markets?
Why would someone do business with you?
How large are your target markets?
Who are your competitors?
Do you have the right leadership in place?
Do you have the right employees in the right positions?
How do you generate revenue?
How do you control costs?
Do you have the right values in place?

Oscar Wilde once said, “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes”. I find in construction that many keep repeating the same mistakes as they just don’t know how to break the cycle and are afraid to ask for help. Unfortunately, with this kind of experience, many get bitter instead of better, leading to further mistakes.

One of my favorite authors and leaders, John Maxwell, said, “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”

Construction Connection’s Consulting Simplified program is backed by a live team, led by my partner Kent Leighton and me. We will come, no matter where you are in the country, to help you with your roadmap to success. This is not one of our free services but an investment that will pay for itself many times over and be your roadmap to success.

We hope you will enjoy the other articles from our partners this month and also check out our blog, along with commenting back to show support. Our partners help us keep the job match free! You help us build a voice and community in the industry.

This month, we should all give thanks to God above for the businesses and jobs we are so blessed to have. As you mediate with thanksgiving and for direction and feel prompted to get help, make a call to 877-545-4473 and ask for Kent or Suzanne. We are here to listen and direct you to a custom solution.

Thank you for sharing the love of the construction industry with us and serving those you come in contact with every day.