556: Rest And Reset For Construction Contractors And Business Owners

This Podcast Is Episode 556, And It's About Rest And Reset For Construction Contractors And Business Owners

To be in business and to remain in business, become a business person! To run a business, you must be business-like. It's not sufficient just to be very good at what you do. Many people who are 'very good at what they do' have failed. The familiar cry: "I'm far too busy for that" is no excuse. Are you 'too busy' to be a competent businessperson? If so, your construction business won't last long. You must continue to develop your business skills.

 

To be a businessperson, you have to make an effort to become something of an 'all-rounder,' not just a specialist player. You can offer outstanding goods or services, but if you don't develop sound business systems, you are not a fully rounded businessperson, and your business will be in danger of failing.

 

Having a system in place is your key to enjoying a stress-free holiday.

There's no need to be overly anxious about your construction business during this period (this week, between Christmas and New Year, for instance) as long as you have a few basic precautions. It's never too late to start building a system; you never know when you might need a break for a momentous occasion or your health and well-being.

Back up all your important documents and information and store the backups in a secure place off-site. It also makes sense to take this one step further and check that you can restore your systems from your backup.

Arrange for a responsible staff member or someone independent of your business to monitor your premises (if you have one).

Alternatively, install security systems if you haven't already: fire alarms/sprinkler systems and break-in monitoring by a security firm. This is something to consider if you haven't done this yet.

It's also good to ensure you have appropriate insurance coverage and that your insurance policies haven't lapsed.

Practice the Art of Delegating - yes, this is possible even if you're a one-person company. You can outsource small tasks and hire a specialist for a more specialized job in many ways. A virtual assistant can communicate and respond to inquiries, emails, and social media. A construction bookkeeper can take care of your last bits of receipts and payroll.

You can also:

• Plan for contingencies. What would you do if staff fell ill? Who should be contacted if there are any unexpected calamities?
• Discuss your team's concerns and your own.
• Pick the right people for the right jobs. This is critical if you want your construction business to continue to operate well in your absence; you'll be relying on your staff while you are away. It is essential that you prepare them.
• Ensure everyone is familiar with the contingency plans – discuss, revise, and practice them before departure.

As a construction business owner, taking time away from work is essential. But worrying about whether staff are meeting deadlines and suppliers are happy translates to more stress and less time enjoying your holiday.

With some staff communication and planning beforehand, you needn't worry that your business won't be able to cope in your absence.

If you can't switch off from work mode or something urgent pops up, technology can be a great way to check in and ensure things are ticking along.

Is it time to start over?

For those of you who are using this week to rethink your administration and paperwork processes, I might be able to help you clear some bookkeeping blunders. Sometimes, a contractor's QuickBooks (or bookkeeping) file is a hopeless mess, and fixing it would cost more than simply starting over would cost. Here is a list of warning signs that can help you decide:

1. Nothing inside QuickBooks makes any sense to you.
2. None of the Financial or Job Costing Reports make sense to you.