Construction Project Management Services and Construction Books
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement

Are You Working Yourself Out Of Business?

17/1/2018

0 Comments

 
The other day I was on a cruise ship. I noticed a flock of pigeons flying around the ship. This was strange as we were several miles from the nearest land – after all, pigeons are land birds, they aren’t seagulls! They had probably joined the ship at our last port. The pigeons landed on the ship but were continually disturbed by crew and passengers and forced into the air. This went on for hours during the day. The ship got further away from land, but it remained visible on the horizon. We passed other ships, some close and others further away, some heading in the same direction and others going back the way we had come. Yet the pigeons stuck with us. They became more tired as the day wore on having to continue flying. There was no fresh water for them to drink. Some eventually fell into the sea, left to drown. Those that remained with the ship were going to a land they didn’t know. A land far from their mates.

If only the pigeons had lifted their heads to the horizon they would have seen land. They could easily have flown to safer ground where they had a chance of finding food and fresh water and a safe place to rest their weary wings. Even flying to a passing ship may have given them a quieter place to rest, possibly even a pool of rainwater trapped in a container to drink. If they had cognitive thought they could have picked a ship heading in the direction they had come from so they could have returned home.  Every hour was taking them further from home.

Unfortunately, in construction, the same often happens. Construction company owners are often so focussed on the immediate survival of their company, dealing with the day to day problems on their projects, that they don’t lift their heads to see the opportunities that are passing them by. They are sailing a path without a clue as to where it will take them, or what storms will buffet them along the way. They have no idea where they’ll find finances, resources, or the next project. (Really like the pigeons who didn’t know where they were going, were becoming more exhausted and didn’t have food or water!) Many companies follow the path they are on, often following other contractors – like a flock of pigeons. Eventually, these contractors will drown when they run out of work or finances.

But, smart contractors take the time to look further than their next project. They look for other opportunities on the horizon, other projects. They have a vision for the future and aren’t just blindly following the first ship that they jumped on. This vision is changing depending on circumstances and events around them. They see other opportunities around them, investigate them, and take those that are suitable.

It’s vital for contractors to have good intelligence. To spot the next project, the next potential client, the next developing market. Markets change, clients come and go, so it’s important that contractors are adaptable, otherwise, they’re going to become stuck in a direction which could eventually sink them.

Clients that were once reliable sources of work may eventually run out of work (no longer be expanding, need to cut back on their costs, or even close down), or they may give their work to another contractor. Markets that were niche, with little competition, can quickly become flooded with competitors. Construction methods are evolving and smarter contractors can deliver a better product cheaper and faster.

Contractors need to be aware of what’s happening around them, noticing what their competitors are doing, what their clients are doing, what the new innovations are in construction, even what their employees are doing. The world is changing. The way we have always done business in the past will not be the way to do business in the future. What worked yesterday is probably not the best solution today, and will almost definitely not be the right solution in the future.

....Continue Reading....


​This article was first published on the ClockShark website. To visit this website and continue reading the article click on the link above.
Please share this post
To read more about the author’s books and find out where you can purchase them visit the pages on this website by clicking the links below:
'Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide'
'Building a Successful Construction Company: The Practical Guide'
'Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors'
'Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights'
​
'Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion'

'Construction Book reviews'
To read more about the author visit the page 'Paul Netscher'
Want to contact Paul Netscher please enter your details on 'Contacts'

Find out how Paul Netscher can help you

Order your books from Amazon
Order your books from Amazon UK

© 2017 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
construction management construction project management
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Archives

    January 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Copyright 2016 - The attached articles cannot be reproduced for commercial purposes without the consent of the author.
    The opinions expressed in the attached articles are those of the writer. It should be noted that projects are varied and different laws and restrictions apply which depend on the location of the contractor and the project. It's important that the reader uses the supplied information taking cognisance of their particular circumstances. The writer assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss of any kind arising from the reader using the information or advice contained herein.
    "I have what I consider some of the best books on construction management."


    Books are available from:
    Amazon.com
    Amazon.co.uk
    takealot.com

    kalahari.com
    Amazon.in
    Amazon.de
    Amazon.fr
    Amazon.it
    Amazon.com.au
    Powell's
    Fishpond
    uread
    bokus
    Amazon.ca
    Amazon.es
    Other retail stores


    Available in paperback or on Kindle

    ​"28 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS AND BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES"

Construction Books

Successful Construction Project management
Building a Successful Construction Company
Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors
Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
​
Build and Renovate Your Home With Your Eyes Wide Open
Book Reviews

Construction services

Construction Management Services
Paul Netscher
Construction Management Blog
​Home Improvement Blog

Contact
Developing Successful Construction Project Managers.

Building Successful Construction Companies.
30 years of construction project management experience
  • Construction Home
  • About Paul Netscher
  • +Construction Books
    • Successful Construction Project Management
    • Building a Successful Construction Company
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Project Management: Tips and Insights
    • Construction Management: From Project Concept to Completion
    • An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses
    • The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman
    • Designing your ideal home
  • Construction Management Services
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Blog | Construction Management
  • Site Map
  • Blog | Home Improvement
  • Index of construction articles
  • Useful Links
  • Index Home Improvement