Are 34 insider construction tips from 10 years ago still true today?  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Edgevanta Weekly 🚀 🛣️ 3.29.24 - How to build the work 🏗️ and make money 💸

Your essential guide to dominating the construction bidding and building world with the latest tech, market trends, and wisdom.

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How to build work and make money

TL;DR:  

“This how we do it where I’m from” - DJ Mannie Fresh

34 tips I wrote down 10 years ago about profitably building civil construction projects

Photo Credit: Stowers CAT

A project manager’s guide to the galaxy

1. Know the money
2. Know how you are getting paid
3. Memorize the specs, the plans and the money
4. Focus on cost. If money is being spent that’s not in the budget, you need to know about it. Field management must know this communication is expected
5. Safety of your people trumps the money. Not a victory if someone gets hurt. No "just win baby"
6. We have to make budget and outperform budget
7. We have to win every day on the job somehow
8. Do not be a victim
9. Know what you have in the item before you get to it and plan your work accordingly. Do not plan for failure
10. Plan and stay ahead of the work
11. A delayed crew because you and the Superintendent weren't prepared better not happen often if ever at all
12. Luck does not make money
13. When you get a job, look at the money and the specs before the plans. What are my variables to making and losing money? Where is the money – labor, material, subs, which items? What items are we into? What items are we out of? Your job is to know the answers
14. It's not brain surgery, just know your variables before you start the item
15. Translate the game (lump sum, unit price, reimbursable) into the field
16. Pick key field team members and tell them about the money in terms they can understand
17. The crews won't know what you want unless you tell them
18. Get out in the field and talk to the people who are actually doing the work. Ask them what can we do better? They usually know. You are only as good as your people and the standards you hold
19. Help the crews win, tell them they're winning and they'll love to win. You've got to let them know that they are doing a good job when they are performing
20. One extra worker is about $300 per day, $1,500 per week or $6,500 per month. Less labor often means more money. Always watch your labor, this is where money is normally made or lost
21. Check yield, let the employees know you are checking it and why it matters
22. The plans are the plans and the specs are the specs. Get along with the Owner so that you can give them the product they designed at the price that you want to do it for
23. Document changes in writing, be able to explain why and how
24. More money is made on extras with pricing is submitted ahead of time. Submit pricing beforehand using fair, standard rates. Avoid T&M unless it is the only way
25. Stay overbilled
26. Job site safety, housekeeping, equipment condition matter
27. Positive attitude and project team chemistry will improve the job outcome especially on long term jobs
28. When the job team is not aligned, it is ugly and obvious to the outsider
29. Be prepared for and expect obstacles and change
30. Embrace good ideas that aren't your own
31. If an item is losing money, go look at it with your own two eyes and make changes. Don't freeze up or throw the “We are destined to lose” towel
32. A job that was bid at 15% where you made 16% and could have made 20% is not a success
33. A skilled, motivated field workforce that knows what needs to be done to win is your advantage
34. The bosses are looking for leaders who positively affect the job outcome on money and safety

I wrote these 10 years ago and shared them with new hires at our civil and paving construction company.

A lot has changed since then. Much hasn’t.

Would this sign scare you?

This. Is. Awesome.

Shoutout to Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC + Teleo + Dobbs Positioning Solutions. Finding a better way is never easy… Bravo!! 🦾

Stoic Wisdom Quote

“The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.”  

- Anthony Robbins

Reflect on this as we embark on another week of bidding and building!

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