Running a trade business (or any business for that matter) can be likened to running a 4 x 100m relay race. When everything runs smoothly and the baton is passed from hand-to-hand seamlessly, it is a pleasure to behold. Drop the baton at some critical stage and all the good work done to date is…
DetailsUnlikely that you spend as much time as me in the office, but if you do and find it hard to stay focused on the task at hand, try this technique. I call it 50:15 and it may help you become way more effective. Rather than trying to sit there for hours until the job…
DetailsI often see small companies approach their marketing on a random, suck-it-and-see approach, therefore waste a lot of money and time going nowhere. They will try one channel, after being approached by a slick salesperson with a “deal”, put a quick campaign in place and more often than not, be disappointed by the results. Thinking…
DetailsThe following is a cut down version of a post I read on a US website from George Hedley. He is a business coach much like myself and focuses on the construction industry. If you want to check him out his website is www.hardhatpresentations.com I like and agree with what he says and thought you…
DetailsLabour is biggest maker or breaker in project profitability in the construction industry. A 5% swing either way can cause a 50% swing in net profit. This is particularly true for renovation projects, where the labour component typically represents a higher proportion of the total cost, compared to new builds. The work is also more…
DetailsWith the construction industry being pretty buoyant at the moment, attention should be turned to improving operational efficiency as the best way to increase profits. Last year I ran a couple of seminars based on the results of an industry survey on the frustrations builders have in project management. It sparked some interest so I thought…
DetailsToday (Saturday) I spend 4 hours with my business coach, Taki Moore, while he was visiting Auckland. Yes, I am a business coach and I have a business coach too. I am always looking to up my game and improve the service that I can offer my clients. Part of that improvement comes from self learning,…
DetailsMade any New Year resolutions this month? By any chance were they the same ones you set last year, because they were the ones you didn’t quite reach the year before? Are you wasting your time with New Year resolutions and are they just pipe dreams that won’t make it past February? If you are…
DetailsThanks to one of my builder clients, Dan for this post. He sent me a link to a very interesting infographic about modern trends in marketing, and I have included that link below. One aspect was not new at all, but maybe is coming back into vogue a bit. Focusing on customer satisfaction. Why? The…
DetailsDespite recent advances in construction, such as pre-nailed frames, nail guns, lasers, etc., the basic method of nailing timber together to build a house hasn’t changed a lot. Prepare for a quantum leap in construction however. It won’t happen next year, but it will happen in the not too distant future and will make the…
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