Looking Back to Look Forward.

I believe in looking toward the future and what better time to do that than the end of the year. We can not forget where we’ve been and more importantly the mistakes we’ve made. One of the best lessons I learned growing up was to learn from my mistakes. Even better, learning from others mistakes.

Maybe you didn’t make a mistake this year. Ask yourself, was 2013 as good as it could have been? If the answer is no; what are you going to do differently in 2014? Remember, Einstein’s definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results. This is something I see across the board in the construction industry in regards to marketing. Executives complain profits are down, they’re getting beat on bids, and the company is struggling. My first question is, “What are you doing about it?” I usually follow up with, “How long have you been doing that?”

Now this does upset some construction executives and some will stand their ground and say I don’t know their industry. Well, I don’t have to know the industry (which I do by the way) to know that repeating the same actions and expecting different results is silly.

As you plan for 2014, don’t just set grand goals and elaborate plans. Take a serious look at what you are going to do differently in 2014. We’re keeping what works, ditching what didn’t and adapting. We live in an ever changing world, just ask the phone book company.

What are you changing in the new year?