Meetings! The scourge of engineering and construction tenders and projects! All tenders and projects need some management and coordination to enable a timely and effective result, but why does such a…
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been in a Tender review meeting and heard “it’s all about price”…well you know how the rest of the saying goes. Variations on the theme I’ve heard include “the lowest…
In my experience, many businesses struggle to make referrals, even when they’re aware of the benefits that flow from applying the “givers get” principle. Of course, many would much rather just receive…
How’s your relationship with the business? Is your business serving you or is it constantly demanding more than you can give? Instead of taking the easy road and blaming the business, it might be time…
Business is all about managing risk. Why? Because we invest in business to make a return on investment and with risk comes reward....
You’ve most probably noticed the proliferation of Corporate project-specific Joint Ventures that have appeared over the last few years – a reflection of the size, complexity of scope and sheer number…
Can you recall the last time you bought a new car? I’ll bet that almost as soon as you paid for it an amazing thing began to happen. The exact same model of vehicle started to pass you on the road, a…
In many ways the hardest lesson for a successful business owner to learn is that the very attributes that got you to where your business is today won’t get you through the next phase. In short, your blood,…
Businesses that work with me know that my business and I have the privilege of working with companies both small and large. There is an ocean of difference between the “Start-up” and Corporate ends of…
Mining is one of the toughest businesses to get into and ever tougher to stay in. Occasionally someone manages to ride the commodity price wave (think Fortescue Mining). Most companies though like BHP,…
Right now the engineering and construction market is pretty hot and most firms I’m in contact with report that their in-boxes are full of inquiries and Requests for Tender (and please let me know if this…
Are you - or your people - spending the minimum 30 minutes a day being “active” on social media? I’d ask yourself the better question: should you be investing this amount of precious time in promoting…
You might consider the subject of Succession Planning to be of passing relevance right now. It may appear that there’s no pressing need to consider your End Game whilst we’re in the middle of the biggest…
As owner of your business I’m sure you’re well aware that your people look up to you as a leader. Your employees’ previous experience with leadership – good and bad – has by and large convinced them that…
Over a 30-year career in Engineering and Construction I’ve experienced first-hand the challenges that businesses small and large face in getting things to really hum along. The circumstances may differ…
Most savvy business owners at some stage consider what their “walk-away” number might be, should an opportunity arise to potentially sell the business. At the end of the day though, the bottom line is…
By popular demand (as it’s been the talk of the industry for some time) let’s revisit the “margin squeeze” issue. In the context of engineering and construction, we’re talking here about the increasingly…
Don't confuse thriving with growth. All successful businesses in this sector have one thing in common - they've already grown against the odds despite working on high risk, cashflow demanding projects while balancing the increasing costs of winning highly competitive tender work inherent with infrastructure projects.
Whether you are a sole operator, or a multi-partner firm if you aren't at the tipping point yet, you will be! Initial growth will drive your business to a tipping point that will stagnate your ability to function effectively either choking your operational capacity, or forcing you to find new sources of higher value revenue from what often looks like closed doors.
The good news, is that tipping point is actually a rite of passage in disguise. Plot your course well, learn some new strategies and you'll emerge in a new phase of business called "Sustainable Growth".
We present here practical insights into proven strategies that have helped businesses similar to yours plan for, travel through and then thrive beyond the tipping point.
