Masonry Magazine October 2009 Page. 30
FULL CONTACT PROJECT MANAGEMENT
By "Coach" Gary Micheloni
Turnin' 50
Coach Gary celebrates his 50th "Full Contact Project Management" column in Masonry Magazine. It's been quite a ride, and I hope that we can do another 50. The best thing about the column for me has been talking to contractors and suppliers about concerns, frustrations, hopes and dreams. Almost everyone I speak with agrees that business is tough right now, but nobody seems to be giving up. But many are thinking about changing their game plans a bit.
Here's the thing: there are really only three ways to increase your business volume:
* Get more customers
* Get your customers to buy more frequently from you
* Get your customers to increase the size of each order or contract.
Most contractors are not very aggressive in terms of marketing for more business. Ask any contractor how he could get more business, and the dominant answer is to "bid more work."
A favorite topic for me to speak about these days is my two-pronged approach to surviving and thriving as a contractor. Masonry readers can get a free bronze membership at www.FullContact Team.com, and can then check out my five-part course on RFls and change orders. That's the first prong.
The second prong relates to the three ways you can grow your business. I'm going to suggest that just throwing out more bids might not be the answer for most of you. It's all about updating your game plan.
COACH GARY SAYS:
"If you're in a room filled with other competitors looking for the same work, find another room!"
These days, I'm a big proponent of using online video to promote contracting businesses. You can inexpensively put videos on your own Web site and on the Internet. I am routinely getting first-page Google rankings for a garage door contractor by using this technique.
Understand that the world is searching online for information, and they are not looking in the phone directories to find you. More than 60 percent of all searches are happening online.
There is good news here for you: Most of your competitors won't care about what is written here, and they would be unwilling to make any of these suggested changes. That is a huge advantage for you, the Masonry Magazine reader.
You have only two tasks before you:
1. Realize that a revised game plan might be in order for your business
2. Find someone to help you get there.
To improve your net project profits, read magazines like Masonry and learn all you can about project management and leadership. Personally, I use coaches to get me where I need to go. To get really good at project management, or with improving your business development and marketing by using video online, I can help. So can the www.FullContactTeam.com Web site. There are a couple of free reports there that will help you.
Remember, we're a team in this. Stick together. Get a coach. Get some help. Get going! It's time to turn 50! IMAS
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Sure, construction is all about the fundamentals and doing the basics. That preserves the business. Even your competitors realize that. What will you do that they won't-in order to grow yours?"
Gary Micheloni is a working project manager, speaker, author, consultant and coach. Write him at FullContact Team@gmail.com. Copyright 2009 Gary Micheloni
COACH GARY'S CORNER:
Preserve your projects and your job! Get free reports you need for your own business. Go to www.FullContactTeam.com, and click on the link near the top of the Web page. The reports are free, not knowing the info is expensive! Want to learn a bit faster: Join the Team. The best athletes and their teams use coaches-and continue to use them even after they become great. How about you? Got a coach to take you to the next level? You need a process. How about one that's pretty darned simple, but extremely effective? Masonry readers get this report for free.
Check out the other updates and info that will help your projects. Also, you can get Coach Gary's book "Get Paid for a Change," and his new CD, "How to Become the Leader Your Team Needs!" Go there now.