Colorado Real Estate Journal - March 18, 2015
I want to talk to you about an opportunity that you have as a construction a subcontractor because of a basic economic principle; supply and demand. The construction industry is faced with a labor crisis; we have more to do than we have people to do it! Let me take a couple of steps back. We have just come through what was probably the worst economic crisis since the great depression. We now talk about the great recession. There were business casualties and business fatalities during the last few years. Many have retired out of the industry and our youngest and brightest are choosing other career paths. But, for those of you who continue in business today, there is a unique opportunity. We need, the construction industry needs, qualified and competent subcontractors, subcontractors who have sound and ethical business practices and have defined and determined their business model. In other words, subs who know what they are doing and do so in a professional, ethical and efficient manner. You are in demand. You are in demand as never before. There is more to do than there are people to do it! The opportunity that subcontractors have today is to develop relationships with customers they choose to do business with. Find a customer that wants to develop an ethical and efficient relationship that results in a profitable and professional partnership. When we have opportunity or even advantage we must take care in how we develop relationships and form partnerships. What we do is where we are to begin, but how we do it is where we end up. I attended a luncheon earlier this week and was reminded that we all need a compass. A compass that gives us direction when we are lost but more importantly keeps on track so that we do not get lost! A compass worth sharing, the stated Object of Rotary International: 4-WAY TEST of the things we think, say, or do . . . 1) Is it the TRUTH? . . . 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? . . . 3) Will it build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS? . . . and 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? . . . Carpe Diem, seize the day and grab hold of your opportunity. This opportunity is bigger than any one of us. Today, you have an opportunity to reform and change this industry for the better by sitting down, across the table from your customer and develop a relationship that will result in a partnership for the success of all parties involved! We need you, the construction industry needs you to lay claim to what you do and how you do it. Reform the construction industry, improve the economic environment in which you do business. Take charge and make it happen for you and for the rest of us. It is a good day to be a construction subcontractor, the opportunity is yours.