Articles
Women in Construction: Purple Construction Series
Women in the construction industry face unique challenges on top of the ones that the industry as whole faces. I am looking to interview women who are willing to share their story. They will be featured in a series of articles that will be posted initially at www.ContractorsDoingItRight.com
Can I participate?
- YES! If you have worked in the construction industry for a minimum of 8 years.
- YES! If you hold a mid-to-upper level management position.
- YES! If your company has a minimum of $1 millio…
Politics & Business: The Best of Friends, the Worst of Foes
At first glance, it would seem logical for business to be involved in politics. After all, laws and regulations can adversely affect operations and profits. It would be foolish not to at least try and be heard. However, there is a difference between being involved in politics and mixing politics and work.For the longest time it was simply understood-work was work-you should leave your political beliefs at home. The first Obama presidential election changed that drastically. It may have been in t…
Getting Employees Engaged: When They Really Don’t Care
Dustin Walling is a very good friend of mine who works with the construction and technology industries on the gap between management and experts within a company, or "performance management" as he calls it. Anyway, he wrote a great post about team building at a Caterpillar dealership that I want to share with you. Enjoy!
When Doug Fabick became the 4th generation owner of Fenton, MO-based Fabick CAT, a Caterpillar Tractor dealership, his father left him with one key piece of advice, “Build your …
The American Dream No More?
Some interesting trends are developing in the housing market. One particularly interesting and perhaps disturbing trend is the age of homebuyers. Currently, young adults are more hesitant to buy a home today than at any time in the past quarter century.
Moving forward, let’s say the next 2-20 years, instead of seeing the home buying market level out; I suspect drastic changes never before seen in the housing market will continue. Many kids and teens are seeing their parents with upside-down mortg…
Moving forward, let’s say the next 2-20 years, instead of seeing the home buying market level out; I suspect drastic changes never before seen in the housing market will continue. Many kids and teens are seeing their parents with upside-down mortg…
Do New Customers Get a Better Deal?
"Why do companies give a better deal to new customers than to their old customers? Isn't this odd?"
I saw this question on LinkedIn and I just had to laugh. Not at the question, because it is a great one, but because it is SO True! When you look at the data that companies track there are always items around marketing, acquiring a new client, expanding to new areas, referral incentives—but where is the emphasis on reselling or upselling to current customers? Another element that this brings up is…Do You Want to Know How Your Competition Gets Work?
Here are some interesting stats from a survey done in late 2010 of commercial construction and design companies:
- 83% said their primary source of business is repeat clients, referral and networking
- 17% would be receptive to starting a relationship with someone from a cold call, 20% would review printed material, and 87% would if introduced by a trusted colleague
- 93% of the industry belongs to at least one business or trade organization, 80% attend at least monthly events, and 20% do not a…
How Often Should Goals Be Reset?
Q. I would love any thoughts on how often management should reset the goals for a sales team? I have seen everything from annually to quarterly and would love to hear how other sales organizations parse out budgets.
A. The challenge I see with your question is that it is one-sided. When its only management deciding the goals, then its management talking AT the sales team. It should be a joint decision when they are decided upon. Yes the company needs a certain amount for growth, but the team may…News Release: 48-Hr Intensive Donation at #SeaGiveCamp
Redmond, WA.—Mel DePaoli, president of Omicle LLC, participated in Seattle’s first GiveCamp. Similar to a Startup Weekend, but GiveCamp is for non-profits focusing on solving one specific challenge they were facing regarding technology in one weekend, 48 hours straight.DePaoli worked with three teams on three completely different challenges:Hearing Speech and Deafness Center (HSDC) on understanding social media and the use of contact forms, Alliance of Nonprofits on a phone app, and the Washing…
My #SeaGiveCamp Experience 2010
Last weekend I participated in Seattle’s first GiveCamp. The general premise is similar to a Startup Weekend, but GiveCamp is for non-profits. We focused on solving one specific challenge they were facing regarding technology.I had the opportunity to work with three teams on three completely different challenges: Hearing Speech and Deafness Center (HSDC), Alliance of Nonprofits, and the Washington Poison Control Center.
HSDC
They came into the weekend with two pressing challenges: understanding…Re-thinking New Year's Resolutions
So here it is, the middle of February, and you have probably given up on any New Year’s resolutions you valiantly made at the start of the year. Or perhaps you haven’t given up on all of them, but you have decided to postpone working on them until you are “not as busy” or “later in the year.”I won’t get started on a rant about New Year’s resolutions, but I do want to connect the concept with changes we consciously make.
A business’s stability and success is dependent upon their ability to adapt a…