Celebrating my 10th anniversary here
This month marks my 10th anniversary as part of the CONTRACTOR family, and I couldn't be prouder, more pleased or even a little bit shocked to be honest...
How to multiply your leads in a weak economy
It's always been the case. Since the dawn of time or around the time my children think I was born businesses have sought lead generation. The first heating...
Virtual construction is inevitable in our future
We are in the age of virtual construction. That is, virtual construction marries one of the oldest businesses with one of the newest business trends....
Certificate program takes aim at ethics
Word of an interesting program just came across my desk, an Excellence in Ethics certificate from the American Subcontractors Association. ASA is promoting...
How Not to Start Up Commercial Estimating
It's often said you eventually set up a commercial estimating department for your company the same way you become a prostitute. First you do it for money to supplement your main source of income since it seems like you're doing the rest of it for free anyway. Then you notice all your friends are also doing it and you're afraid you'll be left behind. And, finally, seeing all those huge checks your pals eventually bring in, you figure, “what the heck?” Why shouldn't that be me? ...
It's About Lead Generation, Pure and Simple
Lead generation seems to rule the day. It's hard to sell without a lead, and that's why direct response copywriters are highly sought-after marketing...
Solar and Hydronic Heating Work Well Together
The prospect of tapping solar energy is exciting — whether to save money or the environment. But there are doubts. Can solar do the job? What if there's not enough heat? What's the payback on the investment? ...
Pen converts handwriting onto flash drive
Technology continues to simplify the exchange of information in general and for on the fly note-taking and sketching in particular. Some 50 years ago,...
Getting Your Walk Away Money, Part 2
We previously discussed air infiltration heat losses with our homeowners and that became a financial concern. We know they burn an average of 1,000-gal....
The Color of Green, Part 3
When opportunity knocks, you should answer. We did. Early this spring, I was approached by a gentleman named Dan Bihn. Dan is into promoting the use of...
Supreme Court Deals Blow to Most 401(k) Plans
Do you own all or part of a business that sponsors a 401(k) plan for your employees? If so, this column is a must read. You won't like the liability position the U.S. Supreme Court has hung over your head. But, as is often the case, adverse circumstances bring opportunity. The end of this column tells you how to take advantage of this opportunity. ...
Managing, Protecting Materials is a Priority
We've all witnessed the severe rise in commodity prices and corresponding price increases for finished goods both within our industry and elsewhere. Things...
Daily Backup Software Provides Peace of Mind
Among office calamities, unexpected loss of data on an office computer from a virus or hardware breakdown ranks right up there on top of the list. Are you prepared? ...
The Tax Game is More Than Just Beating the IRS
I recently read an article titled “What Makes for Success?” by Kemmons Wilson, the founder of Holiday Inn. In it he said, “It is great to attain wealth, but money is really just one way — and hardly the best way — to keep score.” ...
Don't Leave Walk-Away Money Behind
How much walk-away money (WAM) are you leaving on the table every day? Before I learned how to up-sell our sales, I used to leave lots of WAM lying around. The not-so-funny part of it was I couldn't see the WAM. We were busy and the business was making money. ...
Color of Green Found in New Resource, Part 2
A search of the Internet with the key words “gasifying wood boilers” bounces back 19,800 hits. When you Google just “wood boilers,” you get about 289,000 hits, so it is apparent that this new classification of boiler is relatively new to the world market. ...
What Has Happened to Lien Waivers?
In the course of preparing a more “scholarly” article, I recently learned that the earliest version of a mechanic's lien statute in the U.S. was passed by the Pennsylvania legislature in 1784 — not to attach to real property, however. Neil v. Kinney (Ohio 1860) referenced the Act of 1784 created to protect the rights of shipbuilders in Philadelphia. We have come a long, long way since then. ...
What is Green? Criteria Remain Lacking
In May of this year, Mechanical Service Contractors of America introduced its GreenStar program, a certification program that's similar to the association's...
Create Lead-Generating Yellow Page Ads
Yes, I'm aware that the Hollywood writers' strike is long over, but the core issue has gained momentum and is snowballing straight toward your industry — and your bottom line. ...
WaterSense Needs More Backing and Teeth
We're pleased to report on page 1 and page 3 of this issue about the issuance of draft WaterSense specifications for high-efficiency urinals and for whole-house...
Tuning Up an Appliance for Optimum Efficiency, Part II
At the end of last month's column (p. 46), I promised to reveal the facts about my efforts to become healthier. But first, here is a bit of background....
Smart Summer Marketing vs. Overreactions
Okay, let's get the bad stuff out of the way first. The government is out to get you and me, except I'm hiding under my desk while I write this. It is...
Color of Green Found in New Resource, Part 1
As the most recent Earth Day came and went this year, I found myself mesmerized by the number of companies, large and small, that suddenly have turned...
Work Management Software for the Field
The new Trimble MEP layout solution (www.trimble.com) for mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors takes advantage of several technologies to deliver...
Qualifying for Set-Aside Work is No Easy Task
Some time ago I stopped counting the number of telephone calls I had gotten from contractors who wanted to find a way to qualify as a Minority Business...
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