Just when we finally see signs of relief after the longest and deepest recession of our careers, just when we should be breathing a little easier because of the positive indicators, what do we do? We start on a whole new worry path!

An improving market has people speculating that..Read More

We’ve outdone ourselves in 2012 conjuring up dire threats that have created a climate of fear. In some perverse way, we must enjoy this, because we continue sounding alarms with increased panic.

Fortunately, you just survived the end of the world!  The Mayan Calendar scare was supposed to happen on..Read More

What produces electrical power without making a sound, with no moving parts, and with no impact on our environment except positive benefit? Solar panels!

With all the hot air being blown around about the pros and cons of wind turbines, photo voltaic solar arrays are quietly generating power. Solar panels..Read More

Heroes’

Boy, did I unleash a firestorm of response to the article I recently wrote about customers wanting “More, more, more”. People have gone out of their way to tell me stories of how customers have put them through the wringer to quote a job six ways to Sunday, only..Read More

When Is A Shortcut The Long Way Around?

I recently listened to a talk on diversity which offered insight on how stereotypes, pre-conceived beliefs and our impressions drive our behavior. It got me thinking about how we react to the world around us.

A lot of our behavior is likely based..Read More

MORE, MORE, MORE…

I listened to someone recently complaining about his customers. He told me that everyone is hard to satisfy and that all his customers seem to constantly want more. More attention, more response, more discounts, more hand holding and more innovation.

I found this interesting. I told him I..Read More

IMAGINE IF AIRLINES SOLD LUMBER

I recently received an e-mail from a cousin of mine. He asked me to imagine what it would be like to buy lumber the way we buy airline tickets. He said the typical transaction might sound like this:

Customer: How much for a 2×10-14’ KD SPF?

Clerk:      ..Read More

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

If you ask a table full of businesspeople “How’s business been so far this year?” chances are 9 out of 10 will tell you that business is better this year than last.  We are emerging from the deepest recession of our lifetime, and it has..Read More

CONTRACTS – DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!

Money will never make you happy, but no money is guaranteed to make you unhappy. The quickest way to lose money in business is to leave business details open ended and not pin them down in a legal document. Spelling out expectations clearly..Read More

DO UNTO OTHERS

I’ve always tried to follow a five word business philosophy, “Use common sense, no surprises”. Sounds simple doesn’t it? You know from running your own business that things look more complicated the deeper you get. The most important thing we must all remember is that it’s up..Read More

CHANGE

It certainly seems like we can’t resist a diet of stress, intrigue and suspense. Much like that Bavarian Crème donut just won’t stop beckoning when the only thing you came in for was a cup of coffee; we somehow get attracted to a lot of things that really aren’t..Read More

TURN DOOM AND GLOOM IN TO BOOM!

I realized, while sitting down to write this, that at least phonetically there isn’t a lot of difference between doom, gloom and boom. I think a lot of the difference is state of mind.

We have been wringing the last drop out of terrorism,..Read More

It certainly seems like we can’t resist a diet of stress, intrigue and suspense. Much like that Bavarian Crème donut just won’t stop beckoning when the only thing you came in for was a cup of coffee; we somehow get attracted to a lot of things that really aren’t..Read More

I’ve always tried to follow a five word business philosophy, “Use common sense, no surprises”. Sounds simple doesn’t it? You know from running your own business that things look more complicated the deeper you get. The most important thing we must all remember is that it’s up to us..Read More

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PROFITS BY CONTROLLING THE PROCESS

A builder’s job is not an easy one, with so many variables to control and decisions to be made.  Any job with this many component parts requires a good critical path plan to ensure successful results.  A..Read More

THE MAYONAISE JAR AND THE BEER

The piece below is a classic for our times. Never do we question the meaning of everything more than in times of challenge and these are certainly times that challenge everyone. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves of the very basic elements that are..Read More