by Simplar | Jul 23, 2026 | Business, Strategic & Project Planning, Financial Management and Risk, Financial Management and Risk, Growth, Leadership, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
“If you don’t know where you’re going – you’re probably not going to get there.” I quote this ancient Chinese proverb every time I talk about strategic planning. The contracting business does not lend itself to long-term planning....
by Simplar | Jul 16, 2026 | Business of Construction, Business, Strategic and Project Planning, Leadership, Leadership, Organizational Change Management, Succession Planning, Succession Planning, Weekly Construction Message
In my long career as a contractor to a consultant, I have had the good fortune to work with young people who had recently inherited a construction business. Most of these young men and women were already working in the family firm in a middle management or executive...
by Simplar | Jul 10, 2026 | Business Development, Business, Strategic and Project Planning, Financial Management and Risk, Financial Management and Risk, Leadership, Leadership, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
Warren Buffet was a businessman. He never drove a train, wrote an insurance policy, built an office tower, or miniaturized a computer. He strictly analyzed an existing business’s ability to make a profit over an extended period and invested an appropriate...
by Simplar | Jun 4, 2026 | Built Environment, Business of Construction, Financial Management and Risk, Financial Management and Risk, Leadership, Weekly Construction Message
Piloting a plane by instruments is the practice of navigating and controlling an aircraft using only the cockpit displays, entirely independent of outside visual references like the horizon or landmarks. It requires precise cross-checking, interpretation, and control....
by Simplar | May 21, 2026 | Built Environment, Financial Management and Risk, Leadership, Leadership, Risk Management, Risk Management, Weekly Construction Message
Magicians only perform a trick once for the same audience. A second time and the trick loses its luster. The third time around the audience figures it out. The trick no longer fools the audience and the magic is gone. Legacy Tricks of the Trade We contractors start...
by Simplar | Apr 30, 2026 | Built Environment, Business of Construction, Leadership, Leadership, Organization Transformation, Weekly Construction Message
My career as an educator and consultant to the construction industry has followed an unusual path through every aspect of this amazing industry. It is from a unique background that I evaluate our industry and am inspired to share some lessons learned. I quit high...
