Sometimes Too Self Reliant - Because we tend to become set in our ways and almost every thought, belief and action is based upon past habits and paradigms.
We Discover Solutions - To problems and hang on to those solutions long after they have become out dated.
Three Woodsmen - Go into the forest every morning at 06:00AM and work until 06:00PM cutting firewood and stacking into "cords" to sell in the city for $100 each. One "cord of wood" measures 8' x 8' x 4' as shown below:
The First Woodsman Produced - One cord every day and he earned $100 a day
The Second Woodsman Produced - Five cords of wood every day and he earned $500 a day
The Third Woodsman Produced - Ten cords of wood every day and he earned $1,000 a day
After A Few Years - The first woodsman asked the second how he produced $500 a day which allowed him and his family to enjoy a much better lifestyle. The second woodsman said "I don't know why...let's work side by side tomorrow and I will mentor you and share some of my strategy." When they arrived at the work site the second woodsman started up his chainsaw and the first woodsman was startled and yelled out in fear "What is that noise?" The first woodsman had a handsaw because that is how he learned to cut wood.
After A Few More Years - The first and second woodsman asked the third how he produced $1,000 a day which allowed him and his family to enjoy a much grander lifestyle than either of them. The third woodsman said "I don't know why...let's all work side by side tomorrow and I will mentor you both and share some of my strategy." When they arrived at the work site the first and second woodsman started up their chainsaws and the third woodsman sat on a stump and began sharpening his saw. He stopped every hour and sharpened his saw.
Our First Construction Business - In the 1970's we were using the equivalent of a handsaw and it did not take long to figure out what was wrong with that picture. We needed a mentor and we found several in the years leading up to 2000 when we sold our last construction business. Our most expensive and painful lessons came from cheap mentors. Our most profitable years can be traced back to good solid mentors who understood construction and later construction accounting and bookkeeping.
Cheap Porridge (Mentors) Are Too Hot - They are the ones who were laid off or fired from their last job and decided to open a consulting business. They are desperate to test their ideas using O.P.M. (Other Peoples Money) time and business resources.
When things go horribly wrong, and they will, they simply say: "Oh well at least it did not cost me anything! And by the way where do I send my final bill?"
Most construction company owners answer with very coarse language which I will paraphrase to mean: "Go to Helen Waite!" Perhaps that is the person who pays the bills, hmmmmm?
Expensive Porridge (Mentors) Are Too Cold - And distant in their relationships because they have advanced skills and are the construction equivalent of an Architect or Engineer. They add value to enterprise level construction business with annual sales volumes over $10 million and they bring enterprise level Business Process Management (BPM).
Their mentoring is like drinking from a fire hydrant, lots of good information; however, impossible to use more than a fraction of it unless your company has the time, money and resources to assign a team of people to implement the action plan.
Construction Accountants Porridge (Mentors) Are Just Right - Because they have worked in construction for at least ten years having swung a hammer, walked the joists, sweated pipe, framed walls, pulled wire, hung drywall, installed carpet, linoleum, fixtures, faucets, rolled out sod, built rockeries, poured and finished concrete.
They Have Been Where You Are Now - And because they have an equally extensive background in accounting with special emphasis in contractors bookkeeping and accounting they are qualified to guide you and your business to achieve your definition of success.
We Are Construction Accountants - With a system to get you on the right track and help keep you there. We know your construction company will do just fine without our help; however, we believe in you and we want to help you build and develop your construction business into something even better than it is now. Check out some of Construction Resources
We Believe You Deserve To Be Wealthy - Because you add value to other people's lives and you are part of the engine that drives the economy.
Please Do Not Wait More Years - Like the first two woodsmen before you discover there is a better way to operate and grow your construction business
About The Author: