What Should YOU Be Doing to Build a Better BIZ?
by Marcy Marro | 1 July 2022 12:00 am
Guess what happened at 7:30 a.m.? I started to get calls and emails putting demands on my time. People were requesting I attend meetings, customers had problems needing immediate attention, project supervisors were having subcontractor problems, one of our field crews was waiting for concrete to be delivered, and one of our trucks had broken down. So, I did what I always did: I went out and tried to fix everyone else’s problems for them. When I finally got back to the office at 4 p.m., I realized I had missed lunch and my desk was piled with at least 25 new requests, notes, invoices and files requiring my immediate attention. So much for getting to my priorities!
What’s Your Top Priority and No. 1 Focus?
If you’re like most business owners, this has happened to you. You have good intentions and want to change the way you operate but can’t make it happen. What’s on your must do, should do, nice to do, and don’t have to do lists? The real question is “What will make your company successful?” A best-in-class business is never built on good intentions. It happens when the business owner stays focused on what really matters.
Check Your Priority Scale!
When you put immediate business pressures first, you don’t have time for the important things that make you the most money and give you the greatest returns. Continually ask yourself:
- Is this a good use of my money, time or energy?
- Is this activity moving me towards achieving my targets and goals?
- Am I doing what I should or want to be doing?
- Am I living my priorities or someone elses?
It is meaningless to waste energy on doing things right, while doing the wrong things. The more problems you fix for others, the less they do for you. Employees work for their boss. As soon as you realize the reason for having employees is to get them to do what you want them to do, allow you do grow your business, allow you to make more money, and allow you to work on your top priorities, the sooner you’ll start getting your business to work for you. Only accomplishing YOUR priorities will make your business successful. But, if you never get to them, your business will continue to struggle and you’ll have to keep doing all the important work yourself. The more you do, the less they’ll do! What are your priorities this week? What will make you the most money and give you the greatest return over the long haul?
Why Is It So Difficult To Get To Your Priorities?
Make a decision to start putting your priorities first. Set a date, and then do it—and stick to it. If you aren’t moving toward achieving YOUR business goals, how can you do the best for others? If you aren’t getting a great return on your time, how can you make a profit, build your business and reach your financial goals? If you let other people control your calendar, how will you decide what you want to or should do every day? Successful business owners and managers do what they do best and hire great people to handle the rest.
Make Tough Decisions!
What business activities and roles are you good at and which ones should you NOT be doing? Start doing what you should be doing to build a better business! Spend your time on what you do best and what gives your company the biggest return: leadership, sales, customer relationships, motivating employees, leading your management team, or monitoring operational systems. As your business grows, decide what position you need to fill next. In anticipation of growth, don’t hire cheap! Surround yourself with the best managers you can find and pay top dollar.
George Hedley, CSP, CPBC, helps contractors grow and profit as a professional business coach, popular speaker and peer group leader. He is the author of “Get Your Construction Business to Always Make a Profit!” and “Hardhat BIZSCHOOL Online University,” available on his website. Visit www.hardhatbizschool.com[1] for more information.
- www.hardhatbizschool.com: http://www.hardhatbizschool.com
Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/what-should-you-be-doing-to-build-a-better-biz/