A Successful Business Starts with a Decision

The Question Is: Will You Make It?

Last week we discussed my “aha” moment when I was recovering from a concussion. This revelation involved reading The Traveler’s Gift, a book written by Andy Andrews.

In the book, David Ponder felt like a failure at forty-six years old. He had lost his job as an executive at a Fortune 500 company. Then he lost his part-time job working at a hardware store.

He felt like a failure!

Until he had an extraordinary experience that revealed the power of decisions to succeed in business and life.

Before my accident I was at a place in my life that was nothing like what I had expected it to be. I had some big dreams when I was younger. I was going to be farming thousands of acres. Own a successful construction company. Have a nice, big, new home. Be driving new cars and trucks.

Then, thirty-five years later, none of these things had happened. I did own a construction company, but it wasn’t anything more than a minimum wage job. I had conceded that this was the life I had and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

I had accepted the fact that I was a failure.

Then came the accident. I believe it was God’s way of getting my attention and telling me that things could be different. I really connected with David Ponder’s situation in The Traveler’s Gift.

I was where he had been. He took the lessons learned in his journey through time and the people he met and implemented them in his life. He had the power of choice, and he used it.

Here is an overview of the seven things he was shown and implemented that changed his life:

THE SEVEN DECISIONS

1. The Responsible Decision

I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am responsible for my success.

“THE BUCK STOPS HERE.”

“If decisions are choices…and our thinking dictates our decisions – then we are where we are because of our thinking.”

President Harry S. Truman

2. The Guided Decision

I will be a servant to others. I will listen to the council of wise men. I will choose my friends with care.

“I WILL SEEK WISDOM.”

“God moves mountains to create the opportunity of His choosing. It is up to you to be ready to move yourself.”

King Solomon

3. The Active Decision

I am courageous. I am a leader. I seize this moment. I choose now.

“I AM A PERSON OF ACTION.”

“My future is immediate. I will grasp it with both hands and carry it with running feet. When I am faced with the choice of doing nothing or doing something, I will always choose to act!”

Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

4. The Certain Decision

I will not wait. I am passionate about my vision for the future. My course has been charted. My destiny is assured.

“I HAVE A DECIDED HEART.”

“Truth is truth. If a thousand people believe something foolish, it is still foolish! Truth is never dependent upon consensus of opinion. I have found that is better to be alone and acting upon the truth in my heart than to follow a gaggle of silly geese doomed to mediocrity.”

Christopher Columbus

5. The Joyful Decision

I will greet each day with laughter. I will smile at every person I meet. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

“TODAY I WILL CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY.”

“Our very lives are fashioned by our choices. First we make choices. Then our choices make us.”

Anne Frank

6. The Compassionate Decision

I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness. I will forgive those who criticize me unjustly. I will forgive myself.

“I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT.”

“Forgiveness is a secret that is hidden in plain sight. It costs nothing and is worth millions. It is available to everyone and used by few. If you harness the power of forgiveness, you will be sought after and regarded highly. And not coincidentally, you will also be forgiven by others!”

Abraham Lincoln

7. The Persistent Decision

I will continue despite exhaustion. I focus on results. I am a person of great faith.

“I WILL PERSIST WITHOUT EXCEPTION.”

“Great leaders – great achievers – are rarely realistic by other people’s standards. Somehow, these successful people, often considered strange, pick their way through life ignoring or not hearing negative expectations and emotions. Consequently, they accomplish one great thing after another, never having heard that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing!”

Archangel Gabriel


The experience David has on his travels helped him to connect with and understand these decisions. The same thing happened to me as I read the book.

I realized that I had the power of choice. I could make decisions.

Decisions are something that we too often reject or ignore. We let other people or situations make decisions for us. Then we find ourselves stuck in a rut, thinking there’s no way out.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We have the power of choice. We can make the decisions if we choose to make them. But we have to make them. This is where success starts. The question is…are you going to make them?

The Next Step in Building Your Business

Going Forward from Core Values

Building a business is like building a construction project. You need to know what you want the end product to be. You need to know what you have to work with. You need to have a plan for building and then build accordingly.

Who you are is like the ground you build on.

Just like building on sand is different than building on clay. You need to know who you are and then build the business so that you will be able to support it. Your why is the thing that supports everything else. This is who you were made to be.

Previous posts about this –

Next comes the foundation. This is your core values. The things that you choose based on what you believe. These can be different for different people.

Just like foundations can be different depending on what they’re built on, there are some things that are required regardless of what the ground is like. The foundation is more flexible than the ground it’s built on. It can be modified and improved.

It’s important to be clear on your core values.

Previous post about this –

Now that you have a solid foundation built on solid ground you can start framing.

This part is where it’s really important to have a plan. There are a lot of different styles of building, and you need to have clarity.

I know that when I started my construction business, I thought I knew what I was doing. Then after several years of struggling, I decided that what I was doing wasn’t working. I concluded that this mess was just how construction and my life were going to be.

I was aware of the problems but didn’t know what to do.

Then I had an “aha” moment. It involved being smacked upside the head.

In December of 2012, I was literally hit in the head with a board. It was a pretty big one too (a 14’ long 2×12 plank).

We were installing wafer board boxing to the second-floor wall of an addition. I was standing on the plank approximately 8’ above the ground when it broke. Luckily, I don’t remember any of the ordeal from the time I was measuring until I woke up in the hospital three days later. Based on what I was told, I fell, I hit my head on one of the ladders, then on the concrete slab, and then the board hit me in the head.

It sure is good that I have a hard head. Seriously, I was fortunate that I came away from this accident with only a concussion.

The reason I’m telling you this is that while I was recovering I read The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews. I really connected with this story and where I was.

Forty-six-year-old David Ponder feels like a total failure. Once a high-flying executive in a Fortune 500 company, he now works a part-time, minimum wage job and struggles to support his family. Then, an even greater crisis hits: his daughter becomes ill, and he can’t afford to get her the medical help she needs.

 When his car skids on an icy road, he wonders if he even cares to survive the crash.

But an extraordinary experience awaits David Ponder. He finds himself traveling back in time, meeting leaders and heroes at crucial moments in their lives—from Abraham Lincoln to Anne Frank. By the time his journey is over, he has received seven secrets for success—and a second chance. The Traveler’s Gift offers a modern-day parable of one man’s choices—and the attitudes that make the difference between failure and success.

After reading this book I realized that if things were going to change, I would have to do something. I was the one who had control. I had the power of choice.

Next week we’ll look at the Seven Decisions presented to David Ponder and how I incorporated them in my life.

You can incorporate them in your life too.

It’s Not Too Late to Build a Better Construction Business

Learn from the Past, Look to the Future, Live in the Present

As we are rapidly approaching the end of another year, I’m beginning to think about what things I can do to make my business better. There are things that we know we need to do and have been putting off.

Life is busy, especially at this time of year.

Looking back can be disappointing and discouraging if things haven’t gone as you planned.

Going forward we can do better. But this requires being intentional and taking action.

While thinking about areas where I fell short and opportunities I missed or ignored, I was reminded of the Hallmark Christmas movie, A Shoe Addict’s Christmas. Its story is similar to A Christmas Carol.

In this movie a woman, Noelle, accidently gets locked in the department store where she works. While waiting to be rescued, a quirky woman named Charlie appears. Over the next few days, Charlie—a guardian angel—helps Noelle rediscover the life she has been avoiding, by visiting Christmases past, present, and future.

We’ve all had situations that we can look back on and wish we had done things differently.

We can’t change the past, but what we do today will affect the future.

In the movie, Charlie tells Noelle a story about a man caught in a snowstorm.

It goes like this: there was man who was out in the snow, and someone came by in a sleigh and offered him a ride. The man refused. He said, “God will take care of me”. Later, as the snow continued to get deeper, another man in a sleigh came by and offered to help. Once again, the man refused, “God will take care of me.” The next time a sleigh came by, the snow was up to the man’s chin. For a third time the man declined the help and said, “God will take care of me.” Then, when the man goes to Heaven, he asks God why He didn’t save him. God answers, “I sent three sleighs, and you ignored them all.”

Too often we ignore the sleighs that God sends us.

As long as we’re still alive, even if we’ve missed or ignored sleighs in the past, it’s never too late to get on the next one. It is up to us to decide.

“God moves mountains to create the opportunity of His choosing. It is up to you to be ready to move yourself,” The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.

If you don’t want to get buried in the snow, you need to shovel what you can, when you can, and take the sleighs when they come along.

In business, a sleigh could be learning from someone with more experience, or it could be using systems and processes that will provide you with the tools you need to build a better business.

Learn from the past, look to the future, live in the present.

One such sleigh that could help you get out of your snow drift is a construction proposal system designed specifically for your business. We’re currently offering a free, customized construction proposal system to one lucky winner.

Here’s what you’ll win:

  • Custom System: Built to match your unique business needs
  • Digital Tools & Templates: Easy-to-use resources to save you time
  • 1-on-1 Coaching: Weekly sessions to guide you step-by-step
  • Follow-up & Reviews: Stay on track with ongoing support

If you or someone you know would benefit from having a proposal system…

Core Values are Where Success Begins, Part 2

They Will Help You Avoid Wandering

Core values are the foundation your life and business are built on. Last week I gave you a brief definition of what my first six core values mean to me. This week I’ll do the same thing with the final six.

Here are the final six:

Build the wall one brick at a time

A more common saying is to eat the elephant one bite at a time. Building the wall one brick at a time is the same thing. It’s just a more construction-focused message. When there is so much to do, it is easy to be pulled in many directions and to lose focus. It is important to concentrate on one thing at a time. Otherwise, we can become overwhelmed and unable to focus on any one thing well. It takes thousands of bricks to build a building, but we can only lay one brick at a time. Focus on that one next brick.

I have two ears and one mouth

It is important to be quiet and to listen to what others have to say. As I process information, I tend to think out loud, which is me talking. I need to remember to listen better and talk less. We are all in such a hurry and have so much going on in our heads that it can be hard to listen. This core value reminds me of the importance of slowing down and listening.

Avoid drama

Life is too short to get caught up in things that are out of our control and/or have no or little effect on what is truly important. Some people aren’t happy unless they have some drama going on. This means they want to pull everyone around them into the fray. Those of us who want to make things better can be pulled into these situations. Don’t be pulled in.

Be accountable

I am responsible for my actions, whatever they are. I have the power to make decisions and act accordingly. Choice is the one superpower that we all have. Too many times we choose not to use it. It’s easy to point the finger at someone else and not take the blame for things that are our fault. If it’s our fault we need to own it.

Take off the blinders, be more observant

Intentionally slow down and be observant. Look around and really SEE things. It can be hard to do this when there is so much to do. Being focused on work and projects is a good thing unless it becomes the only thing. You can be so focused that you miss out on other important things. I tend to get focused like this. That is why this is one of my core values. It reminds me of the importance of this.

Intentional action

This is the second most important one behind “honoring God in all that I do”. Nothing happens without action, and we need to be intentional about doing something. It can be hard to move forward when attempting to achieve perfection. It is important to stop thinking and talking about it, but rather take action and do it. A lack of action holds more people back than anything else. Action without being intentional can take us in the wrong direction if we aren’t careful. Too many times we get stuck looking for a guarantee that what we’re thinking about doing is right. Take intentional action.

And that is all of my core values.

I read through them at the start and end of each day. This helps me to continually build my business and life on a solid foundation.

If you would like to figure out what your core values are you can use the process for building your business on a solid foundation.

Another way to avoid wandering is having good business tools. We’re currently offering a free, customized construction proposal system to one lucky winner.

Here’s what you’ll win:

  • Tailored System: Built to match your unique business needs
  • Digital Tools & Templates: Easy-to-use resources to save you time
  • 1-on-1 Coaching: Weekly sessions to guide you step-by-step
  • Follow-up & Reviews: Stay on track with ongoing support

If you or someone you know would benefit from having a proposal system.

Core Values are Where Success Begins

Without Them You Just Wander

The past several weeks we’ve been digging down in the dirt and discussing who you are. Who you are is the ground that your business is built on. That ground is what supports the foundation of your business. The foundation is your core values and principles.

Last week I shared the list of my core values with you. They are a collection of things that I’m naturally good at and some things…not as much. I’m constantly working on the things on this list to get better at them.

Here’s a brief definition of what these core values mean to me.

Honor God in all that I do

Because I believe that everything that I have or do, belongs to and comes from God, it is only right that I show my appreciation by giving Him the credit for everything. This is the one core value that all the others are supported by.

Make all I can, Save all I can, Give all I can

Often churches and religions preach that making money is wrong. I have struggled with this for years. Not making a profit is a sure way to lose a business. I think this quote from John Wesley is good advice and fits well with God’s word, “Money is not evil. What we do with it and how we handle it needs to align with God’s purpose.”

Spend time wisely, there is a limited amount

Time is similar to money, if it is viewed from the perspective of a zero-based budget. There is a limited amount of time each day. This means there is a limited number of things that we can spend time on each day. We choose where and how we will spend it. It is up to us to know what the most important things are and focus on them first.

Pay attention to detail

Details matter. Paying attention to details is the best way to circumvent problems. I remember a time early in my construction career when I was working for another contractor. He kept pushing me to go faster, which meant cutting some corners. It ended up that not paying attention to the details cost both of us time and money when we had to go back and redo the work.

Never be satisfied with mediocrity

Mediocrity is the minimum requirement to be average. God has called us to be above average. He has called us to excellence. Going above and beyond is where we set ourselves apart. It is where we accomplish the most. It is where we are working in our sweet spot. This is the place we were meant to be and the thing we were meant to do. Don’t be average.

Find and maintain the balance in everything

Balance is critical to living well. It is a constant lifelong quest. It affects all areas of life and is hard to maintain. I see balance as a large platform sitting centered on top of a small point. Without anything on the platform, it is level. When one thing is placed on top of the platform near the center, things go pretty well, and it stays relatively level. As more things are put on the platform (and things begin to be crowded from the center) it starts to get heavier in different areas. This causes the platform to lean. If one heavy thing or too many things are moved too far from the center, the platform will tip far enough that things fall off. Keeping things from falling off the platform is all about weight and location. Our lives are like this platform. God set our platform balanced perfectly on this point and given us the responsibility of keeping it there. The difficult part of this obligation is the number of things we get to choose from to put on our platform. The choices are endless. There is spiritual, family, work, friends, fun, community, etc. and each of these areas are full of an endless number of smaller things that we can put on our platform. Some things carry more weight than others. As we go through life, the things we have on our platform will and should change. FINDING AND MAINTAINING THE BALANCE of our platform is our responsibility. Will we be perfect at it? No. Can we learn and get better at it? YES!

To keep this post from getting too long, I’m splitting the list in two. Next week we’ll look at the last six of my core values.

Reviewing these core values regularly is a part of my daily routine. This helps keep me aware of them and reminds me to include them in everything I do.

If you don’t know what your core values are yet, go back to last week’s post and use the process for how to identify your business’s core values.

Ready to take the next step in aligning your business with your core values? To help you build a stronger foundation for your construction business, we’re offering a free, customized proposal system giveaway.

Here’s what you’ll win:

  • 4 training sessions to make setup simple
  • 3 follow-ups to perfect your proposals
  • Templates and documents to save you time

If you or someone you know would benefit from having a proposal system…

Build Your Business on a Solid Foundation

Your Core Values are the Building Blocks

Over the past several weeks we’ve discussed the importance of a solid foundation for building a successful business. We talked about the ground the foundation is set on is who you are and how you can know your why.

This week we’re going to go back to the foundation. We’re going to take a more detailed look at core values and how they work as the building blocks of your business’s foundation. 

Core values are your fundamental beliefs. They are your guiding principles.

It’s like your business conscience. It is who you are.

The definition of CORE is – the central or most important part of something. This is the most inner part of who you are. This is like your conscience. The deep down, on the inside, who God made you to be.

VALUES are – the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something; a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life. This is the part that you choose. How you want to be, how you will treat others, etc.

This doesn’t mean they are good. Some people’s values may be selfish or greedy, but regardless, we choose what values we will live by.

These are the non-negotiables. The things that, when faced with decisions, will help your business withstand earthquakes.

How to identify your business’s core values:

  1. Look at a list of values. Find a good, extensive and thorough list of values (like the one below) and start digging through it.
  2. Identify the ones that resonate. From the list, identify the ones that feel most important and mark it with a 1 for most important, 2 for somewhat important, and 3 for least important. Narrow down your number 1’s to six to eight values that feel like an absolute priority. To help you figure it out, ask yourself who a few people are that model what you inspire you, and look at your number 1’s to see what matches. 
  3. Know your heroes. You can also find your core values by thinking about your “heroes,” reflecting on what they embody, what they stand for, and how they embrace it.
  4. Notice your patterns. Being aware of your patterns that are healthy versus unhealthy can guide you in identifying your core values. You can learn about what you want and what doesn’t feel right to you in this process,
  5. Assess whether you’re happy. Ask yourself whether your experiences or choices are making you happy. If not, there are likely core values that aren’t being met in those decisions and situations.

Here is an abbreviated list of personal core values –

  1. Integrity
  2. Freedom
  3. Autonomy
  4. Justice
  5. Faith
  6. Success
  7. Wealth
  8. Grace
  9. Play
  10. Joy
  11. Balance
  12. Peace

Here is an abbreviated list of work core values –

  1. Clear direction
  2. Efficiency
  3. Dedication
  4. Growth
  5. Collaboration
  6. Creativity
  7. Research
  8. Professionalism
  9. Timeliness
  10. Quality
  11. Problem-solving
  12. Discipline

You can see the complete lists here.

My personal and business core values are the same. They are a collection of things that I’m naturally good at and some things…not so much. Things that I’m constantly working to get better at.

My core values are things that are in alignment with what I believe God wants from me and for me.

It’s hard to define your business’s core values if your business is more than just you. We are all individuals and recognizing this will make the process easier.

My Core Values—other than the first one—are in no specific order. Some you may recognize as quotes or common sayings. Others are things that I have modified in some way that are meaningful to me. And some I conceived on my own. All of them are values I hold high and strive to live out daily.

Here they are:

  1. Honor God in all that I do
  2. Make all I can, Save all I can, Give all I can
  3. Spend time wisely, there is a limited amount
  4. Pay attention to detail
  5. Never be satisfied with mediocrity
  6. Find and maintain the balance in everything
  7. Build the wall one brick at a time
  8. Remember that I have two ears and one mouth
  9. Avoid drama
  10. Be accountable
  11. Take off the blinders, be more observant
  12. Intentional action

Over the next couple of weeks, I will break down these core values and give you more insight into what they mean to me and how I try to live them daily.

Knowing Your Why is the Key to Unlocking Your Success

How Do You Know When You’ve Found It?

The past couple of weeks we’ve been discussing the importance of building your business on a solid foundation and what this looks like. Last week, we explored how your why is what the foundation sits on and ways to find your why.

Your “why” is who you were made to be. It is your purpose.

Four questions that can help you find your why are –

  1. What makes you come alive?
  2. What are your innate strengths?
  3. Where do you add the greatest value?
  4. How will you measure your life?

In addition to these questions, I think a good way to determine if you have found your God given purpose is answering this question:

If you could do anything you wanted to…what would it be?

Time and money are not a restriction. You have all you need of both. You have the freedom to do anything you want. What would it be?

Let your mind go. Dream big. The sky is the limit. Don’t hold back. What is the one thing that would make you the happiest? The one thing that you would get the most enjoyment out of doing.

I think finding and living in this sweet spot is when you know you’ve found your why. When your vocation feels more like fun than work…you’ll know you’re where God intends for you to be.

I love helping people find solutions for building their dreams. Helping construction companies build better businesses. This is done with systems and training to achieve the success that they’re searching for. Helping construction customers build their dream project through construction and navigating the overwhelming process.

I love what I do so much that I would rather do this than anything else.

Another way to know you’ve found your “why” is when you’re working all the time. This is something that I used to struggle with. Often a workaholic is just someone who has found their why.

This is taking your why too far.

Earlier I told you to pretend time and money were not a restriction. Well, they are. This is why people who are doing what they love and doing it all the time need to put up some barriers.

I used to work late into the night and get up and do it again the next day. Day after day. The problem was that my family did not get the attention they should have.

That’s when I took some intentional action and scheduled family Sunday as a day of rest. Siblings, nieces, and nephews get together for lunch after church at Mom’s. Sunday evening is scheduled for family movie time. Friday is a scheduled lunch date with my wife.

Not only is time a restriction, but so is money. But, probably not in the way you would first expect. My money struggle is…I would do what I do for free. The problem is this isn’t a very good business plan. I’m continually reminding myself that I need revenue to pay the bills.

When you love what you do this much, you’ll know you’ve found your why. Loving what you do is the ground that your business is built on.

This is where your success will begin. Finding your why is the key to unlocking your success.

Building Your Business on Solid Ground

Finding Your Why

Last week we discussed the importance of building your business on a good foundation. And, how this can help you withstand the trials of business.

We also talked about the importance of knowing what that foundation was built on. Is it dirt, sand, or rock?

This gets down to who you are and why are you in business?

The foundation (core value and mission) can be changed. But the ground you are building that business on can’t. This is who you are. Who God made you to be. When you align this purpose with your business you will be set for success.

Not knowing your “why” is one of the main reasons businesses struggle and fail.

German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche once said, “He who has a why can endure any how.”

Knowing your why is an important first step in figuring out how to achieve the goals that excite you. This allows you to create a business you enjoy (versus merely surviving!).

Indeed, only when you know your ‘why’ will you find the courage to take the risks needed to get ahead, stay motivated when the chips are down, and move your business onto an entirely new and more rewarding trajectory.

So how do you find your “why”?

While there’s no one pathway for discovering your purpose, there are ways you can gain deeper insight. Your purpose is the intersection of your –

  • Talents
  • Skills/expertise
  • Passions
  • Values 

Here are four questions that can help you find your purpose that aligns with what you care about, what you can contribute, and what will be valued most:

  1. What makes you come alive? – The word inspire comes from the Latin, meaning “to breathe life into.” Accordingly, when you are working toward things that inspire you, it literally makes you feel more alive.  What makes you come alive isn’t referring to taking your dream holiday or watching your favorite team play football (unless you’re called to a career as a football coach or commentator!). It’s bigger than that. Something that’s bigger than you. Connecting with what you’re passionate about. Focusing your attention on endeavors that put a fire in your belly.
  2. What are your innate strengths? – A point at which natural talent and skill meets personal passion. When people are in their element they are not only more productive, but they add more value and enjoy more fulfilment. What are the things you’ve always been good at? You can also be passionate about things you have no natural talent for, and talented at things for which you hold little passion. We rarely aspire toward ambitions we have no natural talent to achieve.
  3. Where do you add the greatest value? – Knowing your greatest strengths and where you can add the most value can help you focus on where you are most likely to succeed. Too often we undervalue our strengths, skills and expertise. If you reframe the concept of adding value through the lens of solving problems, you can also ask yourself what problems you enjoy solving. What problems do you feel passionate about trying to solve?  You’ll then be more successful at focusing on your natural strengths and those things you’re innately good at rather than trying fix your weaknesses.
  4. How will you measure your life? – People who don’t stand for something easily fall for anything. Determining how you want to measure your life means taking a stand for something and then aligning your business with it. Living with purpose means focusing on things that matter most. Things that matter most are rarely “things.” Earning money and following your heart don’t have to be contradictory. No matter what your job is, you can draw meaning from it and find greater purpose through how you do what you do. If you don’t think you’re the kind of person you’d want to work with, it may not be the job, but your attitude toward it.

Knowing your “why” can compel you to take on challenges that will stretch and inspire you.

Your “why” is the ground that your business is built on. You need to know what that ground is and build the foundation accordingly.

Excerpts from: Do You Know Your “Why”?

A Successful Business Needs a Good Foundation

What Supports That Foundation is Just as Important

Building something that will stand the test of time and the elements requires a solid foundation.

A building foundation is made up of two parts: the footing and the foundation. The footing creates an attachment point between the foundation and the soil. The role of the foundation is to support the building and help prevent settling.

The foundation is the base and support of any building structure. It transfers the load from the structure to the ground. It also provides resistance from external loads exerted on it.

If the foundation of a building is inadequate or not maintained…the building will collapse.

The foundation of a business is the same. It is who you are. These are the non-negotiables. The things that, when faced with decisions, will help you withstand earthquakes. Your business foundation consists of your core values and mission.

We discussed business core values back in August. Core values are your fundamental beliefs. They are your guiding principles. It’s like your business conscience. It’s the building blocks of your business foundation.

If the foundation of a business is inadequate, it can be changed.

A foundation is built. Depending on what it’s going to support determines how it should be built. The other thing that needs to be determined to build an adequate foundation is…what is the ground like?

Is it dirt, sand, or rock? This is the most important thing to know. It will determine what kind of foundation is needed to support the structure. If the foundation or the structure doesn’t match the ground…maybe you should build somewhere else.

The ground of your business (and life) is your purpose. It goes beyond who you are. It is who you were made to be. It is why you exist. You need to start by asking the questions.

Who am I? What is my purpose? Why am I here?

This takes some work and some digging. It isn’t an answer that’s going to magically appear. It’s like looking at the surface of the ground where you want to build a building. You won’t know what’s underneath without doing some work.

When it comes to knowing what’s below your surface, you need to ask, “why am I here?” Then like a small child curiously ask it again. And then ask it again and again and again.

This is where the foundation of your life and your business will be built. Don’t start building your business without knowing what kind of ground you’re building it on.

Knowing what supports the business (your purpose) is critical if it’s going to withstand the test of time and the storms that will come.

Your Construction Business Isn’t What You Expected

Now What Are You Going to Do About It?

If you had known how hard it was going to be to own and operate your own construction business…you probably wouldn’t have done it.

It’s hard work, time-consuming, and risky.

The problem is that no one told you how hard it was going to be. Or, if they did, you didn’t believe them.

This isn’t to say that it’s not worth it…because it can be.

The problem is being faced with things like –

  • Finding the time to do the physical construction and the paperwork
  • Constantly feeling like your life is out of control
  • Construction projects behind schedule
  • Not having enough money to pay the bills
  • Construction projects going over budget
  • Disappointed and upset customers
  • Misunderstandings with customers and production teams

And not knowing what to do about these problems.

If you work in the construction industry, you’ve probably experienced some or all of these things.

So, what are you going to do?

Are you going to just keep plodding along, hoping that something is going to change? You know the definition of insanity is “Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.”

If you want different results, you’re going to have to do something different.

The question is…what are YOU going to do? Are you going to continue living in the current insanity or are you going to do something different? What you know about the crazy mess that you find yourself going through daily seems less scary than the unknown.

New and different is scary.

Deciding to do something different is the first and hardest step in a series of hard steps.

If you want to stay in business you need to take this hard step. You need to DO SOMETHING. Otherwise, you will eventually go out of business.

You need a change of perspective. Some new and different ways of doing things.

As scary as this is, it can be less scary than going out of business.

What you need is someone to help you with this. You need someone who has been there and done that to guide you through finding the solutions you need.

This doesn’t mean that it’s going to be simple or easy. Building a new building isn’t simple and easy.

When you started working in the construction industry you didn’t know what you know now. Building a business is the same way.

Someone taught, trained, and helped you to learn your construction trade. What you need now is someone to teach, train, and help you to learn how to build a construction company. This teaching, training, and help is available for you at Solution Building. We’ve been where you are and would love to help you with our forty plus years of experience. If you have questions about how we can help, you can set up a free, 30-minute construction company consultation.