As 2011 comes to a close do you think now is the time to develop and complete your business plan for 2012. Is it time to focus working on the business rather than in it?
Which applies to you; wearing all the hats, no one can do it as well as I can, I can't (won't) trust anybody but me, I don't have the time to learn business, marketing, sales, safety or develop systems.....
The economy has taken its toll on many contractors and we have discovered that running a contracting business is vastly different today than a few years ago. No longer can a great technician or craftsman run a business without acquiring good business, marketing and sales, production and safety skills. Contractors "only I can do it mentality" that leads to one person wearing all the hats often leads to failure in today's construction field. Additionally, the residential construction sector is under intense pressure from local and federal government to do business like the commercial construction sector.
"Are you a technician suffering from an entrepreneurial seizure?" quote by Michael Gerber
In Michael Gerber's book The E Myth Contractor he talks about why most contractors' businesses fail and what you can do about it. As we begin to think about planning for next year this book is a great starting point. The book was specifically written for you the contractor and can be read in less than two hours. It does a great job at explaining that it is imperative to work on your business. He talks about developing and implementing simple, effective duplicatable systems to grow your business and take your life back. The book is available on line at www.Amazon.com
Note; the book is a tool that if used and implemented will help you improve your business. The key is it is up to you to learn how to use it and then do it! The question is will you?
So many contractor business owners become the slaves of their own success and business. They reach a point where they believe that they are the only ones who can do it well enough for the customer. The man who wears all the hats rarely has time to do anything other than working in the business. Always to busy to work on the business. Always finding some reason to put off learning the needed skills to run the business like a business. No time for family or hobbies and if with family or doing hobbies consumed with anxieties from the business.
Your New Year Resolution; work on your business and learn how to set up your construction business to succeed in the evolving residential construction industry. Vow to learn and implement the methods that today's successful contractors use to win.
If you are stuck, need a kick in the rear, not sure where to start or just want to explore how to make the step from technician to businessman I am here for you.
Here is a great video from Michael Gerber
mark the coach
Business Coaching for Residential Contractors and Trades
