I am excited to announce that my wife and I recently welcomed our baby. The last several weeks have been a little rough because we had a complicated labor. I am thankful to my OC team for holding down the fort while I handle my personal business. At the end of the day, it is an exciting and exhausting time for my wife and me. I truly give thanks to God for such a blessing.
Read MoreOver the course of growing my business, I’ve continually been looking ahead and planning my exit strategy. The day will come when my drive eventually winds down, or I become outdated by the next generation. I need to have a plan in place for when that time comes.
Read MoreThe heat is finally here y’all! Everything is blossoming and the beaches are getting crammed. Make sure your crews are taking the necessary precautions to prevent heat illness. Remind them to take required breaks and stay hydrated. The last thing you need is OSHA at your doorstep.
Read MoreCLCA offers a lot of benefits. Without a doubt, what you pay into your membership in the form of dues is nothing compared to what you can get out of it. I’ve personally realized a lot of benefits which have enabled me to grow in both my personal and professional life.
Read MoreWe truly live in the land of opportunity! That is something that should not be taken for granted. I say this mostly as a reminder to myself. I am so blessed to be a part of our great nation and society. Moreover, I am glad to be a part of a community such as CLCA. I cannot express enough how much CLCA has helped me grow. The relationships I have developed over the past five years are spectacular.
Read MoreDid you make a resolution this year? Did you set goals? Setting goals is more than a thought. When you have a goal, write it down. When you do, you are more than likely to follow through with an action. This is a strategy I use to constantly stay on task.
Read MoreAloha OC! I had the opportunity to attend CLCA’s convention last month in Hawaii and it was probably one of the most amazing events I have attended while being a member. For starters, the venue was beautiful, and the weather was amazing! When not participating in the various educational and networking activities that CLCA hosted, I spent a good amount of my time enjoying the beaches; riding waves was definitely part of my itinerary.
Read MoreHowdy OC! Forgive the accent as I just came back from Louville KY. Yup its pronounced Lew-ville for some reason! Last month was a busy one for me. I attended two expos: the Landscape Expo in Long Beach and the GIE+EXPO in Louisville.
Read MoreThere are a lot of changes coming our way that will affect our industry. Drastic delays in the supply chain will heavily impact us and our suppliers. Also, many contracts are up for negotiation at the end of the year, which means prices will be going up on nearly everything! We’ve already seen this starting to happen. We need to plan now for these supply delays and rising costs.
Read MoreFor those who don’t know, I love to surf. I typically go out in Bolsa Chica or by Huntington Beach pier. When surfing, I have to watch the tides and the wind closely. A slight change in either can make for a good or bad session. Adapting to the change is critical.
COVID has created A LOT of change for everyone. As business owners, we find ourselves constantly trying to adapt.
Read MoreWork-life balance is a concept that describes the ideal of splitting one’s time and energy between work and other important aspects of life. Delegation is key to preventing burnout and supporting a work-life balance, both for the owner and employees. Burn out oftentimes results in a high turnover rate in companies and sometimes leads the business owner to quit. You don’t want that!
Read MoreI would like to know what benefits you are reaping from your CLCA membership. Truth is, we reap many of the benefits without even realizing it. Having an awareness of the benefits you’re receiving is important for you to see the value of your membership. Need help seeing the benefits? Give me a call! I’m sure that after a short chat, I could help you see what you may not see.
Read MoreMake sure you’re making the most of your CLCA membership. There are so many benefits! One major benefit is the opportunity to build relationships. Make sure to reach out to one another. From what I can see in our industry lately, there are two main types of Contractor Members. The younger, newly licensed and the more experienced, seasoned professionals. Believe it or not, both types can learn a lot from each other.
Read MoreWe’ve seen increasing costs lately. Material costs have gone up drastically and we’re also seeing increases in gas and grocery costs. Make sure you start adjusting your prices so that you do not lose on your profit margins. You should also consider giving raises to your employees to help them with this increased cost of living. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a manpower shortage.
Read MoreThe changing season around us is a great reminder of how important it is for us to adapt with the season too. Usually, spring is the time for our industry to ripen, both literally and figuratively. If you haven’t prepared for the season, I suggest you get on this ASAP. Many people fear change, but as entrepreneurs and leaders of our industry, we should embrace it. It usually brings out the best within us. Back in my military days we had a saying: “Adapt and Overcome.” This quote refers to change itself.
Read MoreHave you heard the expression, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” It’s a loaded question that usually leads nowhere. Eight times out of ten you begin daydreaming of building a spaceship or a time machine. Best-selling author on marketing and leadership, Seth Godin, says a better question to consider is: “What would you do even if you knew you would fail?” In other words, what is something that means so much to you that you would sacrifice part of yourself for it?
Read MoreThis winter we have experienced an increase in COVID cases; some of you may have experienced some troubles at home with this. I hope you are staying safe and healthy. Please look out for your loved ones and your crews. Seems like January was just the 13th month of 2020 and Zoom has become the new norm.
Read More2020 was a challenging year, full of change. Most noticeable was the change to our social dynamic and means of networking. Though challenging, it created many opportunities to adapt and try new things. Personally, I picked up surfing. It is an amazing sport, full of energy and joy. If you were impacted by COVID, do not lose hope. Reach out and stay connected in 2021. We are all here to encourage one another and do our best to stay optimistic during these times.
Read MoreIn track and field events, there is one type of event that relies on the runners on that team to fulfill their job and not let the rest of the team down. That event is relay running. Whether it is the 440-yard, 880-yard, or mile relay, the proper passing on of the runners’ baton to the next runner is the most important task that must be performed well.
Read MoreAs we wander through the results of our recent political elections, I am happy to report that we have a new leadership cabinet in the coming year.
Read More