If you’re a builder who has been in business a while, then here's a story I think you'll find interesting - and perhaps even relate to.
I started working with a builder recently to help him boost profits in his business. He had been spinning his wheels for years. His main issues were a lack of consistent profit on jobs, inconsistent cash-flow, unpredictable workflow and never enough time in his day. Sound familiar?
Don't get me wrong, it’s not that he hasn't enjoyed a half-decent lifestyle, it’s just that he always felt he could be doing a lot better considering the amount of effort he put in. He saw a few other guys pushing forward in the market but he never seemed to quite get where he wanted to be.
He even knew there were things he could be doing to fix these issues but he just never got around to doing them. So why not? What was holding him back?
Here's where it gets interesting…
I'm not a psychologist, so I've never really looked at the root cause of why people don't do what they know they should to get results. But after an initial round of questioning, we discovered three key factors contributing to his lack of progress. Have a think - are any of these also true for you?
- Procrastination - When I asked why, he said he procrastinated because he always felt there was some business 'secret' he didn't know. A piece of the puzzle that the successful builders had but he was missing. This thought alone kept him waiting for an answer and frozen from doing anything.
- Perfectionism was another action inhibitor - In the areas where he was certain of what he needed to do, like improve his online marketing or social media, he hadn't done anything. He was scared he'd leave something out and it wouldn't be quite right. His perfectionism kept him from moving forward in these key areas.
- Information Overload - In other situations he experienced information overload from too many options and this uncertainty kept him from making a decision. For example, when he was trying to select the right estimating software or scheduling tool for his business, there were too many options to choose from and he wasn't sure he was making the right decision.
Sound familiar? The good news is, if you're affected by one or all three of the above frustrations they can ALL be eliminated.
Some of the best advice I ever got was, if I wanted to do something well, find someone who has already done it, then copy what they've done. Take a look at this interview with Steve and Marcus, owners of Queensland-based construction firm, Heisig Construction to see the steps they’ve taken to boost their business profits - what changes could you implement in your business?
Steve & Marcus - Heisig Constructions Interview from Kurt Hegetschweiler on Vimeo.
Are you ready to break free from the chains of procrastination, perfectionism and information overload and start building a business that works like a well-oiled machine? Click here to learn more about how you can join us on Friday 7th August 2015 with some of Australia and New Zealand’s most successful small and medium sized builders.
What's holding you back?