Everyone has had that boss who seems to know exactly what they need and gives it to them. Similarly, practically everyone has had a boss whose management approach cut them off at the knees. Running your own business requires developing a leadership style that allows you to get work done without alienating everyone underneath you. … Read more
Construction has always been a highly regional industry. Even if you work for a national or international company with satellite offices in multiple states, you’re still focused on the building needs of the community close to home. This can really complicate things if you’re working on a certification but you’re not planning to remain in … Read more
California’s AB 5 has only been active for less than two months, and the effects are spreading across multiple industries. Although construction has been relying on independent contractors for decades, the long reach of the law may make things more difficult for professionals working in the industry. A lot of people are also fighting to … Read more
Gas prices in California range from moderate to terrible. What you pay is so dependent on a variety of factors that it may be difficult to set those expenses from one year to the next. Electric or hybrid cars have been an option for years, but many business owners worry that they won’t have the … Read more
You’re calling the team around to talk about a particular concern, and you realize that a couple of people are consistently missing. Device use on the construction site can be a practical and timesaving decision, particularly for all the apps designed to improve safety or efficiency. But it’s easy to forget what a distraction smartphones … Read more
Is it better to be a master of none or a master of one? This is a question that skilled tradespeople have been trying to answer since the Middle Ages. In truth, it’s not possible for most contracting businesses to be so general they literally do any job. Most contractors will specialize to some degree, … Read more
If you’re a member of Generation X, a millennial or Gen Z, you’ve probably had the importance of getting a good college education lectured at you since you were learning to walk. When getting a bachelor’s degree is no longer a guarantee of securing any job, much less a great career, it may be time … Read more
Black Lung Disease feels like a reminder of a completely different time. And yet, lung disease caused by the repeated inhalation of a toxic substance is making a comeback in California and other states. The push for engineered stone countertops in residential and commercial construction is creating a problem that many people thought had largely … Read more
It seems like every time you start a project, something else breaks. Equipment is expensive, and whether you rent or buy, you still need to ensure that everything you have is ready for use. Equipment maintenance takes time and doesn’t bring in the big bucks, but there are plenty of good reasons to make it … Read more
When you put in a bid for a project, you generally expect to prove that you can actually do the work. But since you have so much riding on every project you do, you should probably be doing the same thing for your clients. Every contractor has a horror story about a client that seemed … Read more