Be a Visionary Construction Subcontractor
Think like a Visionary Construction Contractor
You might think that because we’re construction accounting specialists that we would want you to frame your vision with numbers. And frankly, we often do. Yet, on this occasion we’re suggesting you take a step back from the numbers and look at what being visionary means in a different light.
Setting goals, planning out the numbers, determining profit or loss are all part of what it takes to run a successful commercial subcontracting business. And we don’t take that lightly. Yet, we’ve noticed that among construction business owners, those who are visionary beyond the numbers are those who tend to end up with the best numbers.
Yep, setting your vision, acting with your vision in mind, and spreading your vision is a potent way to strengthen and grow your business.
Put simply, it is a step you can take to set your construction business up for long-term success.
Envision the contribution your construction company makes
It doesn’t matter if your people are pulling wire, laying in pipe, installing the glass, or participating in any other piece of the commercial construction industry because they’re all contributing to the end product. And yes, construction is one industry which anyone can see is greater than the sum of its parts.
It is so easy to see, it is absurd to think about. Can you imagine a GC saying to the client, “Well you know, plumbers are expensive, what do you think about not including plumbing in the plans? That would save you thousands of dollars we could apply to having better electrical solutions.”
The faucets, the drains, the pipes are all items which provide value to the package well beyond the cost of parts and labor. Health, safety, nourishment, and cleanliness all come to mind.
Yet, it is even more than what happens on the jobsite. Leaving the absurd aside, let’s look at the contribution your contracting business makes.
Down and dirty, deep and basic, it provides for you and your family. Yet there is more.
The well-being of your employees and their families
Provision for your subcontractors
Support of your suppliers
Contribution to the business landlord or mortgage company
Success of your service providers (like us)
Adding backing of personal and business associations you’re a part of
An allowance for charities or organizations where you and/or your employees volunteer or support financially
The cash infused into your community through vehicle purchases, insurance, banking needs, utility providers, and on and on
And! Well, there is always the end of the job. And, there is always the completed project. Plus, there is always the way your construction business contributes to the outcome of the building venture. There is satisfaction in being able to say, “I helped build that.”
Act like a Visionary Construction Subcontractor
Before we go on, take a minute to check out the 8 most iconic Marine Corps recruiting slogans. You can link over to see the story behind each slogan, and it’s worth the look. Yet, I’ll list them here so you can see what their message is to the world and to themselves.
“The Marines are looking for a few good men.”
“The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”
“Teufelhunden.”
“First to fight.”
“Tell that to the Marines!”
“We don’t promise you a rose garden.”
“If everybody could get in the Marines, it wouldn’t be the Marines.”
“The Marine Corps builds men.”
Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter. These are recruiting slogans which are internalized by the men and women who walk through the doors, sign on the dotted line, and put on that amazing uniform.
There is vision in those recruiting slogans that is a part of the cycle that brings about the loyalty instilled in the Marines.
And, that is the kind of vision which will get potential new hires in the door and potential clients on the phone. It is also the type of vision which will help create loyalty from those new hires and new clients.
Internalizing your vision as well as passing on your vision is a powerful tool.
Tell Your Visionary Construction Story
Your vision must align with your core values and company culture. It should describe what your intentions are. Yet, when you first begin to structure your visionary construction story don’t fret about making it perfect. It could change.
Look at the visions these well-known and successful businesses had in their start-up phases.
Airbnb: “Connecting people who have space to share with those who are looking for a place to stay”
Facebook: “Creating an online directory for colleges that is kind of interactive”
Uber: “An app to request premium black cars in a few metropolitan areas”
Ooze Vision
Yes, there is some amount of future-thinking involved in creating the vision for your commercial subcontracting business. Yet, grounding your vision in the present, in the day-to-day operations makes it tangible and useful.
Here’s a personal example. My cousin, who lives in Oklahoma once wrote a visionary statement on the back window of her pickup camper shell. It turned heads. Then made people smile. And caused conversations. You see, she and her family were headed back to New Mexico to spend time with her parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins for the holidays. Her simple, poignant, and to the point vision read, “We’ll be home for Christmas!”
The beauty of this next example can be found in the punctuation. “Working for a safer tomorrow . . . ” Verona, Wisconsin fire department. Think about the options and promise in those three little periods suggesting there is more to the picture.
And, here is an example of Boring! “We are a family owned company, committed to becoming the contractor of choice, pursuing excellence through dedication, experience and disciplined employees with an ongoing passion to deliver quality, timely and profitable projects.”
Not only is it boring, you’d have a hard time getting your employees or your clients to find the heart of what that company does. Remember it? Not a chance!
Check out these visions to get an idea of what works.
“A world where everyone has a decent place to live.” Habitat for Humanity
“That people everywhere will share the power of a wish.” Make-A-Wish
“A world without Alzheimer’s.” Alzheimer’s Association
“To make people happy.” Disney
“To revolutionize the way people do financial work.” Intuit
Visionary ideas for reaching General Contractors
Want to be noticed by the GCs in your area? Here are a few succinct visions I thought of. Feel free to copy, reshape, or adjust any of these for use in your vision building exercises.
“Helping General Contractors look like heroes to their clients.”
“Making our clients plumb happy.”
“Partnering with General Contractors to be sure the lights are bright for their clients.”
“We dig deep to provide solid foundations for our clients.”
“Joining forces with General Contractors to exceed THEIR client’s expectations.”
These are designed with these things in mind:
Likely to get the attention of your target audience
Makes it easy for your employees to see the essence and capture the heart of your vision
Is bold enough to stand out from the crowd
Your vision should be big and bold. It should be engaging yet simple enough for your employees and your clients to remember – and live by. (Remember those Marines?)
If it is honest, turns heads, and gets people asking questions, then you’ve found a winner.
What do fiercely successful businesses have in common? They have a culture built on a succinct and memorable vision.
Visionary Construction service provider
So, what does the vision for an accounting firm whose clients are small to medium commercial construction subcontractors look like?
Helping our clients Run With the Big Dogs. [bold]
Want to know how we do it? Get in touch here or give us a call Toll Free: 866-629-7735.
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