Tough Decisions Ahead

In this economy you are going to have to make tough decisions. Now, as we know construction is on a different time table than the rest of everything else. You might be okay for the next 12 months. Just as we saw in the 08-09 recession. Where most firms were actually okay until 2010.

However, even though they saw it coming, they were still ill prepared. They could see the train running off the tracks, but did nothing. Marketing wasn’t improved. Outreach wasn’t happening. Communication was not up. Looking at what happened to most firms it’s like they let the train just hit them. Deer in the headlights.

Now, I do not want that to happen to you. I want you to get out there and market. To get out there and push your message as to why you are great and let everyone know why they should choose to do business with you. To get ahead of this so you are prepared.

“If you stay ready – you ain’t gotta get ready”

There will come a day where you will have to make tough decisions. Where the work load does not match the number of people you have. Today it’s on the side of your people are working themselves to the bone to get projects out the door. In the future it’s going to be they don’t have anything to do.

Automation can help you get more work done today. Help ease the burden of getting projects done. Then when you retain your best people and let those who weren’t holding up the standard go, automation will also help make the top talent you retained – their lives easier.

See, they are top talent for a reason. They aren’t meant to do menial tasks. All the low-level drafting that just sucks their time, talent and energy. They are meant to be meeting with clients. Meant to be making sure that work is secured and everyone is happy. They are there to solve the big problems that no one else is able to solve.

You’re going to have to make decisions on who stays and who goes. Granted, those decisions aren’t today and maybe not for a year, but you better be prepared. Better be ready to make those decisions so you aren’t caught off guard when they do happen.

All this is saying is that you’re going to have to choose between an $80,000 per year employee + benefits and taxes or a $10,000 piece of software that will do 30% of an entire project in minutes and is a tax write off.

Whatever your choices as you move forward, be thoughtful, but be decisive. I don’t want to see firms fail and fall down like they did not that long ago. The choice is yours.