Masonry Magazine September 2008 Page. 53
Staying at the top in a
Masonry Business
# MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
Some mason contractors make it to the top, but very few ever stay there. In fact, it's much easier to get to the top than it is to stay on top. It's like trying to sit on top of a beach ball in a swimming pool. If you've tried it, you are aware that it isn't easy, and you certainly are not comfortable on top of the big ball once you get there. The masonry business is no different from staying on top of that beach ball: It's a constant struggle. As soon as you relax for a minute, you fall to the bottom, just to find yourself climbing up again.
What's even tougher is that most mason contractors are much more educated than they used to be, calculating every move as they go. The old days when a contractor could just bid and get a project, send a few good craftsmen out to do the job, and be guaranteed a profit are over. Chances are, someone down the street has figured out a way to do things more efficiently by studying and staying on the cutting edge with the best computers, equipment and labor systems available. Don't get me wrong, it still takes the best employees to keep a company successful, but that's only a piece of the puzzle. These employees fall behind without the latest technology, tools, equipment and systems to manage their projects.
In 2003, Lang Masonry Contractors received a Business of the Year award from the local chamber of commerce. The amazing thing was that we received the award on the worst year we ever had regarding profits. Obviously, the board members at the chamber weren't aware how tough the masonry business had become in Ohio between 2002 and 2003. Although it appeared, on the surface, that we were on top of the beach ball, we were struggling with tight margins and just staying afloat during that period.
We were still honored to receive such a prestigious award. However, just because Lang Masonry Contractors has been extremely successful during the last 21 years doesn't guarantee we will remain successful. If we don't stay on the cutting edge and make the required changes to remain the efficient, we will go out of business like many others who had to shut their doors during that time.
The best thing we had going for us when bids got extremely tight was the systems we had already put in place. We are big on setting goals for our people and paying them based on their progress toward reaching these goals. With our field labor management systems, along with an open book management system in place for office personnel, everyone knew we had to operate leaner to compete and simply survive. Our people responded to make quick adjustments and got us back on top of the beach ball. Of course, there's no time to relax now. Someone else will come up with a better way, and we'll be left in the aftermath treading the water and picking up the pieces. It's the simple nature of the business.
Damian Lang is a mason contractor in southeast Ohio who has four companies that do combined sales of $18 million. He is also the author of the book "Rewarding and Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry." To order a copy of his book or to attend one of his seminars held specifically for mason contractors, caff Linda Hart at Lang Masonry, 800-417-9272.
Provided by Damian Lang, President of Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grout Corp.
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