Masonry Magazine June 2008 Page. 47
COACH GARY SAYS:
"You know, sometimes if you just try really hard to make a play, good things can happen."
lost. Everyone learned a little more about the game, including the parents, the coaches and me!
Lesson learned
Watching that game, I knew there was a lesson we could put to use immediately: Begin with the basics. If a youngster with proper coaching can learn the basics of a ballgame, why couldn't a "rookie" with a good coach learn the basics of a business, or even project management?
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Stop worrying about what that giant of a superintendent might think, and just throw him out." You know that during the construction process, something unexpected can arise on one of your jobs almost every day. Are you going to ignore it, or will you go after it with at least the same enthusiasm as a pack of 6-year-olds chasing a ground ball into the outfield?
You've got a responsibility to your field team and your company. When some jobsite superintendent takes a whack at a problem and sends it your way, laying it at your feet, pick it up and make a throw. Aim at first base.
What is considered first base? When the skipper of the opposing team the superintendent - expects you to do something (for free), let him know "It's not ours." Send him an RFI explaining that the problem isn't yours, but that it's affecting your ability to perform your work, and ask him how he wants you to proceed. You've thrown him out. You've learned he can't always hit the ball all that hard, and he really can't run very fast. He's out at first!
How about I make this easy for you? How about if I give you something valuable that will make you a lot of money for free? Go to my newest Web site, www.FullContactTeam.com, and click on the link near the top of the page that talks about signing up for my five-part mini series on RFIs and change orders. You'll be thanking me for a long time that you learned this stuff. IMAS
Gary Michelonil is a working project manager, speaker, author and consultant who tries to personally respond to everyone.
COACH GARY'S CORNER:
How's 2008 going for you, so far? Ready to learn those RFI basics? Get Coach's free, five part course on RFIs and change orders. Visit www.FullContactTeam.com and get this valuable tool. Check out the free audio updates and other info that will help your projects. You also can get Coach Gary's book "Get Paid for a Change!"
When Things are Good, Make Changes
MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
When things are going the best they can for your company, make changes. If your company is hitting on all cylinders while achieving record sales and profits, why would I tell you to change your operations? You'd think that when the bus is running well, you could just sit there and enjoy the ride, wouldn't you? Let me tell you this: When your company is on top and it feels like the good times will go on forever, you'd better not get comfortable and fall asleep at the wheel. If you do, it won't be long before you're running right off the edge of a cliff.
I'm in my motor home writing this tip while my friends are outside playing horse shoes and drinking beer. Even though it is hard not to go out and join them, I just had to write this tip sparked by the headline on the front page of the local newspaper today that states in huge letters "Fenton closing its doors." As I read the story about the Fenton Art Glass Co., which is shutting down after 102 years of business, I wondered what went so wrong for a company that was popular throughout the world for the handcrafting of art glass.
The paper said it was due to competition, the economic situation and the rising cost of production. I am sure all these factors lead to the demise of this wonderful company. But once a company gets down so far, it is almost impossible to turn it around. That's the point I want to make in this article: Companies prosper due to the changes they make when they are on the top, not after trouble is on the horizon.
After 102 years of being in business, there had to be many times that Fenton Art Glass was on the absolute top of their game. That's the time to predict future markets and make the changes needed to insure lasting success. When a company is doing so well, the managers and owners often get comfortable. In fact, they often get so comfortable that they forget they must constantly be making positive changes to insure their future success. In science class, they often teach the boiled frog syndrome. This study shows that if you put a frog in a pan of hot water it will jump out. However, if you put a frog in a pan of warm water, it will get comfortable and stay in it. Then you can put a fire under the pan and while the water gets warmer and warmer the frog will get more comfortable, clear up to the point that it actually boils itself to death instead of jumping out. This is similar to what happens to business owners who don't make changes because they are comfortable when things are going so well.
So how do you avoid the boiled frog syndrome? Make the changes you know your company needs to make while you are on top of your game and making record profits. Imagine what you'd have to do if your market would shift and work is no longer there. While you are on top, you have the resources to make changes to insure your future success. If you wait until that inevitable time when things get tough, the resources may not be there, and it could be too late. Making these changes during good company times will keep your bus from running off the edge of a cliff farther down the road.
Damian Lang is a mason contractor in southeast Ohio who has four companies that do combined sales of $18 milion. He is also the author of the book "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry" To order a copy of his book or to attend one of his seminars held specifically for mason contractors, call Linda Hart at Lang Masonry 800-417-9272.
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grout Corp.
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June 2008
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