Contractor Tip of the Month: Taking Risks and Investing in People

Words: Damian Lang

Great leaders don’t just manage risk, they challenge convention. While many chase margins and efficiencies, the most visionary among them invest in what matters most: their people. They see talent not as a cost, but as the foundation of innovation, loyalty, and long-term growth.

One such leader threw out the rulebook and rewrote the future, one bold decision at a time. In a world obsessed with cutting costs and maximizing short-term gains, this individual doubled down investing in people. Training, wellness, innovation, and ownership were considered part of the strategy rather than perks.

Each move described here represents a calculated risk and a powerful message: betting on people is the boldest—and smartest—move a business can make. These choices weren’t just about growth; they were about building something lasting. A $200,000 investment in executive wellness. A vision to create 100 millionaires. And at the heart of it all: the belief that when you invest in people, you build more than a business—you build a legacy.

As you read, consider the pattern emerging across these decisions. Who has the vision and conviction to make bold, people-first moves on this scale? Could it be a Fortune 500 executive? A celebrated turnaround artist like Lee Iacocca? A bold business figure with a flair for high-stakes strategy, like Donald Trump?

The Beginnings of a Bold Strategy

In 2014, a new safety company faced fierce competition and limited resources. Instead of cutting budgets, the founder made a different bet: investing for the long term. The company focused on building better products and hiring the right people. Robust training programs empowered the team to keep learning and innovating. These moves led to greater financial pressures that appeared devastating.

After a few years, the strategy paid off. Under new leadership cultivated from within, the company saw rapid improvements. Innovation accelerated, productivity soared, and market share grew—proof that believing in people works.

Health Initiatives: More Than a Perk

With multiple companies under one umbrella, one of the boldest moves was a $200,000 investment in health assessments for top managers. This initiative wasn't merely a wellness check—it marked the beginning of a comprehensive program aimed at fostering healthier teams, reducing absenteeism, and boosting performance.

Managers embraced exercise routines, yoga, and personal wellness tracking. As employee health improved, so did the company culture, teamwork, and engagement. It was a pivotal moment, highlighting the company's belief that well-being is integral to business success.

Valuing Human Capital Through Shared Success

Sharing business profits can fundamentally shift employee mindsets. While many workers focus solely on their paychecks, this company changed the narrative by introducing an incentive plan tied directly to company performance.

The impact was profound. Morale surged. Engagement deepened. Employees began to think like owners, fueling innovation and accountability.

These are the tangible outcomes that stemmed directly from the company’s commitment to aligning employee success with overall business performance:

Enhanced Productivity: Valued and supported employees perform at higher levels.
Reduced Turnover: Investing in development and well-being drives loyalty.
Innovation and Creativity: A commitment to continuous learning encourages fresh thinking and breakthrough ideas, helping drive the company forward.
Improved Morale: A strong, supportive culture powers satisfaction and productivity throughout the organization.

The Perspective Gap: Cost vs. Value

One defining moment revealed the striking difference between two executive mindsets:

"When I look out in the yard in the morning, all I see are flowers. My CFO, on the other hand, sees only snakes."

This simple statement underscores a profound truth: effective leadership requires balancing cost-consciousness with vision. Not every investment shows an immediate ROI on a spreadsheet. But the long-term value often lies beneath the surface.

Startups and Office Space: Learning from Wins and Missteps

At a pivotal moment, the CEO championed investments in a series of startup ventures—bold, risky moves that sparked debate at the highest levels. Some of those startups delivered exceptional returns. Others fell short. But in the end, the wins outweighed the losses. What mattered most was the willingness to act decisively in the face of uncertainty—a leadership trait that set the tone for the company’s culture of calculated risk-taking.

That same spirit drove the expansion into two new office locations. The new spaces were vibrant, beautifully designed, and quickly became hubs of energy and collaboration. Morale rose. Creativity flourished. However, hindsight revealed a misstep: one office would have been enough. The additional location stretched resources and introduced unnecessary expense. A more collaborative planning process—especially with the CFO—might have steered the decision differently.

Both examples reflect the same truth: bold leadership brings wins and valuable lessons.

The Power of Diverse Perspectives

Resilient leaders understand the importance of diverse viewpoints. Balanced decision-making comes from listening to a variety of voices:

Balancing Optimism and Caution: Optimists spot opportunities, while cautious thinkers manage risks. Together, they make stronger decisions.
Encouraging Collaboration: Diverse perspectives foster collaboration, identifying challenges, brainstorming solutions, and making informed decisions.
Driving Growth: Embracing diverse viewpoints makes a company adaptable and resilient, navigating challenges and driving growth.

The Vision Behind the Success

Investing in people isn’t a cost, it’s a catalyst. From bold health initiatives to profit-sharing, office expansions to startup gambles, each decision flowed from one belief: people are a company’s greatest asset.

That belief drove a $200,000 investment in well-being. It inspired the creation of incentive plans designed to make 100 millionaires at the companies over time. It fueled expansion, sparked innovation, and shaped a vision big enough to encompass growth and prosperity.

And the person behind it all? Not a Fortune 500 executive. Not a celebrity CEO. It was me—Damian Lang.

After listening to my coaches and management teams to determine the best way forward, these were my risks, my bets, my belief: that the best way to build a thriving business is to invest deeply in the people who make it possible. Some decisions were home runs. Others, strikeouts that taught hard lessons. But all of them were rooted in a simple, unwavering truth. When you invest in people, you don’t just build a business. You build a legacy.

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About the Author
Damian Lang is CEO at Lang Masonry Contractors, Wolf Creek Construction, Buckeye Construction and Restoration, 3 Promise Labor Services, FlexCrew, Malta Dynamics Fall Protection and Safety Company, and EZG Manufacturing. To view the products and equipment his companies created to make job sites safer and more efficient, visit his websites at ezgmfg.com or maltadynamics.com. To receive his free e-newsletters or to speak with Damian about his management systems or products, email dlang@watertownenterprises.com, or call 740-749-3512.

Contractor Tip of the Month: Taking Risks and Investing in People

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