 Success
is a concept that has many different definitions. Some view it
financially, others in terms of personal growth and
satisfaction. I think however, that most people would agree that
it does not come without planning. The foundation for your
success in the contracting business, is to establish standards.
In order for your goals and dreams to become a reality, a set of
measurable elevated standards must be designed. Standards, in
this instance are more accurately known as ideals, ethics and
principals that will govern your business. These are more than
just the values of integrity and honesty, as those should be a
given in order to stay alive in business for the long term.
Create
a Vision: A vision for your business is the long term “look”
of your business. Where are you positioned in the economy and
marketplace? What does your enterprise do for others? What
solutions do you offer to attract clients? What will your
office, staff, home and fleet look like, literally? What sort of
projects will your company perform in this vision of the future?
This exercise requires concentrated visualization of what could
happen in all of the best scenarios. Will this vision come true?
Perhaps not, it may be better.
Know
Your Purpose: This relates to WHY you do business? What is
the reason for your business existence? Is your purpose solely
to pay the bills and make a living? Are you driven to contribute
to society in some meaningful way? You, the entrepreneur, only
make the right answers to these questions. Once you are clear on
the reasons WHY you are in business, the methods for
accomplishing your purpose becomes an enjoyable process.
Tale of
the Tape: Progress needs to be measured regularly. Set
achievable goals that stretch you each year. Establish a system
of measurement. Progress can be gauged in terms of revenue,
profit margins, customer loyalty, employee retention, quantity
or quality of projects, etc. The progress made should reinforce
your vision and purpose. While measuring your progress is an
individual activity, the tale of the tape may be made in
comparison to industry standards and fellow competitors.
Refine
the Standard: A constant examination of your standards needs
to take place. As you progress and meet your goals you will see
a need to refine your standards. Raising the level of your
performance is a never-ending process. The good news is that
small incremental improvements add up to major long term
accomplishments and fulfillment. A simple exercise is to ask
yourself where are you today in comparison to five years or even
one year ago. Your skills and strategies for conducting business
have improved and will continue to improve by holding higher
standards for yourself.
The bottom
line is that every successful contractor must operate with a set
of high standards. In my view, having elevated standards is the
very first step in operating a successfully profitable business.
When standards are set and kept, all other aspects of your
business tend to fall in to place.
About the
Author: Paul Montelongo is a nationally recognized speaker,
author and business strategist for the construction industry.
Paul has built two multi-million dollar companies in South Texas
over the last 26 years. For more information about Paul and his
work with organizations in the construction industry, visit
http://www.paulmontelongo.com/ |
