Masonry Magazine April 2008 Page. 51
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Some parts of the RFI are more important to us than others."
time and money implications. These things are part of the default mode of the winning RFL. If you don't have these things on the form your client wants you to use, use your own form. If you're not sure what one should look like, go to Coach's Web site (www.FullContact-Blog.com), and look for some help there about RFIs.
Proper use of the RFI puts you more in control of changes to your project. You are now the one who can call some of the shots. You've put out a notification and attached conditions to it. And, most
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Make sure you know how to use the tool. That includes knowing how to keep track of it!"
of the time, your client will honor your request.
Your RFI will indicate the speed of an issue: Is it 100+ mph, or is it a slow change-up that you see coming your way? Let your client know. And, let your client know through the log you keep about your RFIs how well he is doing at answering you according to your needs.
RFIs work well for us, so get skilled at using them. As a professional PM and a leader on your projects, you are expected to be a pretty good craftsman when it comes to using some of these tools.
Your goal should be to go beyond being just a craftsman. Become an artist. Know your tools, Become skilled at using them. Predict how your client will react when he sees you using your tools. And, start predicting how the excellent use of these tools will add to the bottom line numbers for your project.
Lots of clients will be getting their turns at bat against you during your
COACH GARY SAYS:
"Is this a great tool, or what?"
career. Learn to chart; learn to predict; learn to get better; practice to become great. Becoming great isn't easy. But you can do this, and you should accept nothing less from yourself. IMAS
Gary Micheloni is a working project manager, speaker, author and consultant. Got a question? Go to the Blog and ask him.
Copyright 2008 Gary Micheloni
COACH GARY'S CORNER:
What about 2008? Ready to at learn a new tool? Determined to get better? Maybe become a better "pitcher" of RFIs? Then get Coach's free report on Winning RFis. Learn how to throw the ball! Go to the Web site, and participate there with Coach, www.FullContact Blog.com. Check out the free audio updates and other info that will help your projects. Also, you can get Coach Gary's book, "Get Paid for a Change!"
Use advice from those who
have been there, done that
MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
As a business owner or manager, how do you assure your success? The best way I have found is to seek advice and/or read and study writings of others who have been successful, especially those who have been successful in your industry. Let's face it: Everything we know, we have learned from someone else somewhere down the line. The question is whether we are learning from the right people.
Who are the right people?
I believe the right people are those who have been there and done that. In order to grow my three main businesses from start-ups to doing around $20 million in sales annually, I have disciplined myself to read everything I could on how to become successful in business. In the process, I had one requirement from the authors of the books I read: They must have been successful at their occupations firsthand, not just writing to speculate on how one could become successful.
On a recent hunting trip to Argentina, I had a conversation that I will never forget with my friend, Henry Moree. Henry has businesses that do over $100 million in sales annually, so it allows us the convenience of taking his private jet when we travel. For some reason, I was disputing advice Henry was giving me to sell my convenience store. My store is the only business of the several I own that seems to constantly lose money. My children don't want me to sell it, because they like to go buy candy at Daddy's store after church on Sundays. (However, when you have lost money for six consecutive years, the excitement you get as an owner fades tremendously.)
Anyway, Henry had owned a convenience store for 18 years. Like me, he lost money every year until he sold it. I told him I appreciated his advice, but I was keeping the store and would tum it around.
"Damian, you are smarter than me in many ways, but you are missing something in this case," he said.
"What?" I asked.
"Wisdom," he replied. "Wisdom comes from being there and doing that. If you want to lose money for 18 years in a row, like I did, to keep your pride, go ahead." This really hit home for me, and I will be most likely sell the Comer Store soon.
By studying what others have learned who have "been there, done that you will gain confidence in your decisions. I often have gone into meetings with 60 or 70 employees to inform them on a change I was planning to make, when it was obvious that almost everyone in the room felt I was on the wrong track. It's hard to follow through on your decision to change when you feel almost no one supports you. However, the courage I had to stay the course was due to what I had learned from reading, or listening, to someone who had been down the same path and given me advice on the action to take.
Looking back, this advice has almost always been correct. So, if you want your business to become successful, read everything you can get your hands on, and seek advice from those who have been there and done that. It will make a world of difference in your own successes.
Damian Lang is a mason contractor in Southeast Ohio who has four companies that do combined sales of $18 miwon. He is also the author of the book, "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry." To order a copy of his book or attend one of his seminars held specifically for mason contractors, call Linda Hart at Lang Masonry, 800-417-9272.