After four decades in the field, I’ve learned the toughest part of construction isn’t the work—it’s who you are while doing it.
These five traits won’t just help you build great projects—they’ll help you build a legacy worth remembering.

Top talent doesn’t just do the job—they transform it.
The secret to keeping your highest performers? Don’t wait until they’re halfway out the door. Recognize their value, invest in their growth, and build a future they can see themselves in.

Just as no building can stand without a solid foundation, nothing you do as a construction company matters as much as your ability to produce a project…

You don’t have to choose between micromanaging and checked-out teams—real accountability starts with crystal-clear expectations, regular checkpoints, and coaching-style conversations that build ownership, not fear. Model the behavior yourself, celebrate wins loudly, and you’ll transform hovering into trust and neglect into excellence.

You can sit around and be sad all you want, but if you take action instead, you will see that it was just one mistake

Being tapped for an Executive role is exhilarating—and terrifying. You’ll work harder than you ever have, face self-doubt at every turn, and learn that true leadership means staying flexible in the face of change and speaking up when it matters. Nail those two habits—grace under pressure and a willingness to voice your ideas—and you’ll not only survive your promotion, you’ll thrive in it. Go get it!

Succession planning isn’t some distant, back-burner project—it’s the engine that keeps your business running long after you’ve moved on. In this imaginary Q&A, I tackle the questions I hear most: How do you find time to think about tomorrow when today’s emergencies never end? What really matters when plotting an exit strategy? And how do you get out of your own way so your successors can take the reins? Read on to build a company that thrives with—or without—you.

Just as the first brave dancers ignite a party, inspiring buy-in from your top leaders can create a culture that fuels success for your entire organization.

Stabilize your contracting business with recurring revenue: learn how service contracts, MSAs, and proactive account strategies can smooth out revenue cycles, boost confidence, and drive lasting growth.

Forget barking orders—today’s toughest leaders stay calm under pressure, genuinely listen, own their mistakes, and coach their teams to build both people and projects with lasting strength.

Contractors: build a simple 1-year strategic plan in under 4 hours—craft your Vision, set realistic financial targets, sketch your org chart, plan hires, and define quarterly priorities for immediate impact.

Boost your productivity with Outlook’s 3 R rule, flags & categories, calendar/task conversions, Microsoft To Do workflows, focus time strategies, and agenda-driven meetings to conquer your inbox and get more done.

f you’re a GC/CM, navigating the owner’s decision-making team can range in complexity. Question and discern the data you gather to identify all of the players and their various roles

The answer to every strategic question is simple: it depends on what you want. When you know your true goal—whether it’s staying small and profitable or growing into an industry giant—your path becomes clear.

My experience tells me a company can thrive regardless of the skills that the Chief Executive brings to the table

Figure out how you win. It’s not enough to start a business. It’s not enough to say you’re different and better than your competition. You have to actually be different…

Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor who oversaw vast Roman building projects, reminds us: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” In other words, failure isn’t an endpoint—it’s a detour pointing us toward improvement. 

To me, the foundational element is care. Care is your ability to put the interests of others at the front of your mind. You are not focused solely on what is best for you.

In construction, relationships are everything. Long-term connections with clients, subcontractors, and industry peers often outweigh transactional sales…

"What if I told you that safety can make your company 5x more profitable than it already is? Every executive in the business would stop and listen then…"