Our business is a tool—a tool to help us experience the kind of life we wish to have. Our business can provide us wealth, or leisure time, or many other things. Our business is an unlimited opportunity.

But before we can use that tool to accomplish our desires, we must first identify those desires. Every tool has a specific purpose, and when used improperly, can result in serious damage and destruction. One of the great things about a business is: we get to choose what kind of tool it is. We can use our business for our purpose. That purpose is our Definite Chief Aim*.

Unfortunately, many of us start our business without ever clearly identifying what we want from the business. “Far too many business owners spend their entire careers not understanding the power of developing a Definite Chief Aim to guide and measure their personal and business goals,” says Mark Havens, President of the National Alliance of Professional Painters.

We might have some vague thoughts about more money, or independence, or something similar. But few of us identify and document where we want our business to take us. “Until a business owner has a crystal clear idea of what his or her business can provide them personally, they are merely working a job,” says Havens.

The key is to identify where you want your business to take you. Only then can you begin creating a plan to make that dream a reality.

*From the In-Gear Business Management Seriesä, Ó 2005-2007

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2007

A system could be defined as an integrated whole, in which each part is interdependent with other parts. Together, the individual parts contribute to the overall function of the item in question. For example, an automobile consists of many individual parts. If a particular part fails, the entire automobile may not function. In a business, if a particular function or task is not performed properly, the business may not meet its goals. In other words, a bottleneck will result.

Business owners often expect their employees to know the proper way to perform their job. We often expect them to have the same motivation, concern, expertise, and passion that we do. But we must understand that this expectation is not realistic. The fact is, most employees do not share these qualities with the business owner. That is why they are employees. This is not a slam on employees—it is simply a fact that owners must recognize and accept.

As owners we know the results that we want and expect. We would like to consistently achieve these results. Doing so would allow us to achieve our goals, reduce stress, and build our business. Consistently achieving these results means consistently taking the actions that lead to those results. More importantly, we cannot assume that our employees will do this. Indeed, we cannot even assume that they know what actions to take. Therefore, it is crucial that we identify the proper steps, document those steps, and then train those steps.

These steps become the procedure for the specific task. So long as the steps are followed, the desired results will be the consequence. In other words, by developing and implementing procedures, we can eliminate the problems in our business and consistently achieve the results we desire.

© BEP Enterprises Incorporated 2007

Held in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 27 through March 1, 2007, the event is geared to encompass all areas of decking and the dock and railing industry.

Exhibitors scheduled to attend are: Trex Company, Dow Symmatrix, Dekstone, DECKorators, Creative Railing Systems, Correct Building Products, and CableRail by Feeney Wire & Rope and more.

The event will host Specialized Learning Sessions such as Town Hall and RoundTable Wrap where industry leaders come together to discuss hot industry topics, share issues faced by Deck Builders, and debate questions in this fast-paced and energetic environment.

The best option is to write a formal plan before business begins and update it whenever there are changes. It will help the business stay on course during those times when you are busy dealing with all the common stresses of the construction or remodeling industry such as material schedules, labor issues, and time constraints.
There are outlines of a formal business plan available online that will guide you step by step through turning your ideas into a well written formal plan. A good plan takes time to complete. Don’t feel pressured to sit down and write one start to finish. It isn’t uncommon for a highly defined plan to take weeks even months to complete.

Existing businesses can also benefit from a written plan when seeking financing, expanding, for auditing and quality control. The real value of doing a business plan is not having the finished product in hand; rather, the value lies in the process of research and thinking about your business in a systematic way. The act of planning helps you to think things through thoroughly, to study and research when you are not sure of the facts, and to look at your ideas critically. It takes time, but avoids costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later.

Your business plan is the blueprint based on the goals you want to see achieved and how you plan to make them happen. Plan, Implement, Review, and Revise, four simple steps to building and maintaining a solid business. By taking a few moments each day to work on your business, you can control the course the business will follow.

So there I sat all broken hearted and some interesting approaches came to me. Knowing the general costs involved in phase by phase for the actual task preformed, maybe I should start at the top down. Off I go on my high horse here to save the day.

I began researching several counties around to determine the fastest growing urban sprawl from it’s metro area. I then calculated, per area, the amount of homes selling, there square footage and listing prices. This gave me a square foot listing rate, kind of like, what are they willing to pay to get here.

My next step was to dig up every piece of property per area. It’s availability, amenities, taxes, condition and anything that might jump out like a tiger, while I concentrate so heavily on my coconut. By then adding lot size and utility availability I could determine a per acre cost on land for each area.

Buy overlaying these two demographics I can easily reach the “what and where” to build factors. The average size home per area gives me the “how big” and the average square foot list price gives me an idea what to expect.

Knowing the ins and outs of my construction costs only enable me to determine a possible profit margin early. It’s just a matter of what I live on while awaiting the sale, popcorn or steak, but it’s good old coconut in the end.

This whole package makes a very interesting portfolio for a possible investor presentation. Most I’ve spoken with have’nt seen it done quite in this manner. To me, it only seemed to make common ….cents.

The only way to get the homes built in the sort amount of time they have is to use modular homes and bring them in piece by piece on flat bed trucks. This is where Nationwide Custom Homes comes in. They are experts at modular home construction and they have been posting pictures of their work at IBS online.

When you get a chance take a look at the show homes as they go up here

I am talking about The International Home Builders Show in Orlando, FL.

It will all start February 7 and run through the 10. There will be 1,900 leading suppliers representing 300 industry categories, covering over a million net square feet of exhibit space, it is the largest Show in NAHB history!

For more infomation please click here

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality

For more information on LEED or green building practices please visit:
United States Green Building Council