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In the professional world, we can see an organization doing well and be tempted to think they have an unfair advantage. In the arena of sports, we hear about performance enhancing drugs and teams trying to steal other secret signs. In business, we hear about corporate espionage and insider trading. These all appear to be unfair business advantages. Good news for business owners, managers, and supervisors. There are ethical and legal ways to create "unfair" advantages in the workplace. Where your peers and competitors are struggling and complaining about working with young professionals, there is a NEW BOOK from The DYOJO that will create win wins for employers and employees. Check out P2T: Preparing 2 Thrive in the Modern Workplace by Jonathan L. Isaacson. This is the first book in the Resources For Young Professionals series. Join the early release mailing list to get your "unfair" advantage TODAY. 
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Our deep thoughts for construction estimators are brought to us this week by Norman Foster in his book, first published in 1961, Construction Estimates from Take-off to Bid. In this helpful book, Mr. Foster reminds contractors that, “A good estimate is built around a good set of quantities and a proper feeling for cost, rather than being a by-product of statistics.” This is the nexus between the art and the science of construction estimating. If you want better outcomes from your construction estimates, focus on “a good set of quantities” This aligns with what we have termed “Thorough Data Capture” or TDC and “a proper feeling for cost” which mirrors what we have termed “Accurate Data Input” or ADI. Stick around as we discuss a simple formula for better construction estimates.  Contractor Career Growth TipsBefore we dive into this week’s delicious topic, let’s recap our conversation from the last episode. In addition to sharing the record-breaking results from contractors throughout the United States and Canada for the fourth annual SOCKTember charitable event. We had some excellent input from contractors who are investing in the future of the skilled trades. I want to make sure no one missed the truth bombs Nicole Humber, CEO of Bravo Restoration in Windsor, California shared. Learning from Restoration HistoryThe topic for today's episode is a simple formula for better construction estimates. As I am preparing for a course that I will be teaching at the beginning of 2024, I’ve been researching various authors, approaches, and case studies related to estimating. I’m a sucker for old books. I love to find older books on current topics so that I can compare and contrast the best practices from our history. March 2007 Founding Fathers Article in C&R Magazine from Pete Consigli History often demonstrates that there is nothing new under the sun. The problems are similar and the solutions are often much simpler than we want to believe them to be. Gaining ground is less a battle for new knowledge than it is the discipline to execute on what you know. This should not dismiss the importance of adaptation. Rather, our job is to understand the principles, and break them into processes that our teams can execute, and for most people in a position of leadership this means making the concepts as clear and simple as possible. Our good friend and industry legend, Cliff Zlotnik, quoting Albert Einstein says, “If you can’t explain it to a four-year-old, you don’t understand it.” You may notice that phrase, clarity, consistency, and accountability, or the Three C’s, as we use it often in The DYOJO. Another way of saying this is, what Bebo Crain shared in Episode 108, “The simpler the better,” and then he qualified, “Or, the more understood, the better.” Because, as he shared, “As contractors we are held accountable for what we can document, not just what we did.” There may be technologies that help us to be more efficient and effective, but if we do not have a base knowledge of how to compose an estimate without software, we are going to have issues. This translates to all parts of the business. When we become over reliant on a process or a resource, we lose sight of the foundational elements of the industry and struggle to dissect reasonable fixes for basic issues. Basic issues that continue to plague many organizations. Estimating is just one of these areas that demonstrates this dissonance between what an organization says it wants to accomplish and its day-to-day habits. Estimates are Communication PlatformsA project always consists of at least three elements:
The duration and the cost are directly related to the scope. Most people want to focus on the cost, but scope is the most important to clarify among all parties first. By contrast, what happens in a typical change order transaction between a TV-based remodeling personality and their chosen contractor? POINT #1 - All estimating platforms are communication platforms. In the insurance world, an Xacimate estimate is room-by-room, line-by-line. It’s not a format many contractors or customers are familiar with. But who is familiar with the format? Insurance companies. Who has the money? Insurance companies. So, if they have the money and you want to work with them, perhaps it is helpful to think of Xactimate as a communication platform more than it is an estimating platform. Xactimate estimates are built with a diagram/sketch, there are many helpful means of creating and communicating scope using the sketching tool. Xactimate estimates allow you to forward photos that are labeled in correlation to the rooms and scopes that they refer to. A labeled photo helps to prevent many unnecessary headaches. For example, a photo labeled “Kitchen cabinet base section one face damage, replace box” is much more helpful than “IMG 1008” or “cabinet was broken”. If you are an owner or manager listening to this episode, these are things you have to train. What does it mean to label a photo? It doesn’t happen without intention and training. Before you resort, as many do, to simply blaming the estimating tool. Stop and think about your processes. Does your team regularly create an estimate that the insurance company, the entity with the money, the customer, the entity with the contract signing pen, and the production team, the ones who have to complete the work, all understand? An estimate communicates to the money, the signier, and the worker, what is and what is not part of the project. If one, or all of those parties don’t understand the scope, you need to fix your communication platform. If one, or all of those parties don't understand the scope, you need to fix your estimating process. All Estimates are Data DrivenPOINT # 2 - All estimates are DATA driven If you don’t understand the scope, you won’t be able to price the estimate correctly. Potential solutions for getting better scope details to the estimator:
What is the common thread? DATA. Having the right people capture the data and the right people enter the data for your approach. When we consult with or write remote estimates for a client, we always ask them to complete a minimum level of documentation. This HAS to be a dimensional scope, as accurate as possible, and scope details. For those who are new or have limited knowledge, a video is one of the best ways to ensure the estimator is writing what the person scoping the project wants to achieve. In insurance work, photos are a must. This is Commandment Number 2 from my first book. But if the estimator, the adjuster, or the client has no idea where the photo came from - ie room and what the photo is telling them, it’s useless. Labeled photos are key. IMPROVING ESTIMATING OUTCOMES:
In Episode 111 of The DYOJO Podcast:
Credits The DYOJO Podcast is produced by The DYOJO (D-Y-O-J-O). Host Jon Isaacson, the Intentional Restorer, is an author and contractor based in Puyallup Washington. You can find out more about this podcast, including blog posts with content references, as well as Jon’s books for contractors and other services at thedyojo.com. If you have enjoyed this content, please like, subscribe, and share. What is the importance of telling your story as a construction business owner? Communicating your vision and values to your team and your community is an important component of achieving your goals as a contractor. Mari Borrero, CEO of American Abatement and Demolition, will be sharing the lessons she has learned in building her company. She will inspire participants of the Fall PNW Contractors Symposium and help them to better understand how to tell their stories as construction business owners.  Contractor Story Telling Seattle WorkshopPresentation 4 Mari Borrero - American Abatement and Demolition (Auburn) Telling Your Story, Achieving Your Dreams Mari Borrero is the CEO of American Abatement and Demolition (AAD). Inspired by the dignity of work, the promise of education, and seizing every opportunity. Mari will share her story of building a business within the skilled trades, contributing to the local community, and the lessons learned during the growth process as a leader. She will share unique ways that contractors can tell their story to inspire team members and community partners to help achieve those visionary goals.  Seattle Contractors Story Telling EventTHEME: Creating Value Within Construction Teams Hosted by FoCKED and The DYOJO Podcast DATE: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 TIME: 8am - 130pm (Doors open at 730am) LOCATION: Tukwila, WA 98188 Please RSVP through Eventbrite Meeting sponsors:
730 Doors open and set up 805 Opening Theme - Creating Value Within Your Teams 815 Presentation 1 Ryan Hemmert - Washington Business Brokers (Seattle) Would You Buy Your Business? 900 Presentation 2 Geoff Lawson - Auburn School District Collaborative Productivity Goals 1005 Presentation 3 Peter Holmes - Encircle Communicating the WHY of Documentation 1050 Presentation 4 Mari Borrero - American Abatement (Kent) Telling Your Story, Achieving Your Dreams 1140 Closing Thoughts Panel with all speakers 1205 FREE Lunch, networking, and exhibits Sponsored by Luke Draeger - Aramsco (Tukwila)  What is the worth of a construction company? What is the value of a company that provide water and fire damage restoration services? According to Washington Business Brokers, "Understanding the worth of your business is just as important as knowing your personal credit score or having a will drawn up. It offers numerous benefits, including comparing its current value to the previous year, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, calculating revenue per employee, qualifying for bank loans or financing, planning for the future and retirement, and creating a succession plan." Ryan Hemmert, the founder of Washington Business Brokers, will be speaking at the Fall PNW Contractors Symposium on Tuesday, October 11, 2023 to discus Determining the Worth of a Construction Company.  Seattle Workshop for Construction WorthFall PNW Contractors Symposium Presentation 1 Ryan Hemmert - Washington Business Brokers (Seattle) Would You Buy Your Business? Ryan Hemmert partners with privately-held business owners to think strategically and position for a successful sale of their most valuable asset – their business. His presentation will help contractors create maximize value and build financial freedom. Is your business running the way you would like? If you had to start over, how would you set it up differently? Ryan will help contractors approach their business with a fresh set of eyes and make a plan that buyers will value and pay for.  Seattle Construction Value EventTHEME: Creating Value Within Construction Teams Hosted by FoCKED and The DYOJO Podcast DATE: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 TIME: 8am - 130pm (Doors open at 730am) LOCATION: Tukwila, WA 98188 Please RSVP through Eventbrite Meeting sponsors:
730 Doors open and set up 805 Opening Theme - Creating Value Within Your Teams 815 Presentation 1 Ryan Hemmert - Washington Business Brokers (Seattle) Would You Buy Your Business? 900 Presentation 2 Geoff Lawson - Auburn School District Collaborative Productivity Goals 1005 Presentation 3 Peter Holmes - Encircle Communicating the WHY of Documentation 1050 Presentation 4 Mari Borrero - American Abatement (Kent) Telling Your Story, Achieving Your Dreams 1140 Closing Thoughts Panel with all speakers 1205 FREE Lunch, networking, and exhibits Sponsored by Luke Draeger - Aramsco (Tukwila)  Geoff Lawson, Auburn School District, will be one of four subject matter experts presenting at the 2023 Fall PNW Contractors 1/2 Day Symposium in Tukwila, Washington. Fall PNW Contractors Symposium - SpeakersGeoff will lead attendees through a collaboration process that he created for developing productivity metrics and holding team members accountable for achieving goals. There will be three additional TED Talk-style presentations from local subject matter experts centered around the theme of "Creating Value Within Your Team". Each presentation will be followed by peer-to-peer roundtable discussions and Q&A with each speaker. You can hear more about Geoff's productivity metrics on Episodes 105 and 106 of The DYOJO Podcast Fall PNW Contractors Symposium - AgendaTHEME: Creating Value Within Your Team Hosted by FoCKED and The DYOJO Podcast DATE: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 TIME: 8am - 130pm (Doors open at 730am) LOCATION: Tukwila, WA 98188 Please RSVP through Eventbrite 730 Doors open and set up 805 Opening Theme - Creating Value Within Your Teams 815 Presentation 1 Ryan Hemmert - Washington Business Brokers (Seattle) Quantifying Real Value for Your Team 900 Presentation 2 Geoff Lawson - Auburn School District Collaborative Productivity Goals 1005 Presentation 3 Peter Holmes - Encircle Communicating the WHY of Documentation 1050 Presentation 4 Mari Borrero - American Abatement (Kent) Telling Your Story, Achieving Your Dreams 1140 Closing Thoughts Panel with all speakers 1205 FREE Lunch, networking, and exhibits Sponsored by Luke Draeger and Tim Conley - Aramsco (Tukwila)  Fall PNW Contractors Symposium - Sponsors
 This is an excerpt from Chapter 1.2 of my upcoming book, Challenge Accepted: Mindsets and Habits for Thriving in the Workplace. In this chapter I discuss four elements of career development for those entering the workforce as well as those looking to grow their roles and responsibilities. Chapter 1.2 Four ElementsWe are talking about Getting Ready so that you can Get Started on your professional journey. Whenever you face an opportunity to elevate your role or increase your responsibilities, you will revisit the Three Wheres. These are 1) Where you are, 2) Where you will be, and 3) Where you want to be. Within each of these stages, there are Four Elements that enable you to develop yourself (aka personal development, see more in Chapter 2.4) and your professional skills.
As we work to increase these four elements, something changes within us. The inner change is what prepares us to receive and thrive in new opportunities for external growth. External growth is reflected in achieving our goals. Internal growth is all of the preparation work that we do to get our mindset and habits right to face new challenges in our lives.  Increase knowledge = Increased perspective of what is possible.
Increase experiences = Increase confidence in the ability to learn new things.
Increase abilities = Increase opportunities through stewardship of knowledge and experiences
Increase resources = Increase access to opportunities
Knowledge is the most accessible of the four elements. If you are asking, “Where CAN I acquire new knowledge?” I would ask you to consider the same question with one small twist, “Where CAN’T you acquire new knowledge?” You have unlimited access to information which is an essential building block of knowledge. New knowledge has the power to expand our prior concepts of how things work and what is possible. Knowledge elevates our mindset and perspectives. For example, if you wanted to learn to be an electrician, where could you find information about this trade?
Take anything you want to learn and ask the same question, “Where CAN’T you find information and acquire new knowledge?” We will discuss all four of these elements, but to understand knowledge we have to think about how people deliver and receive new information. For more about this book for yourself or a young professional that you want to encourage, check out the Challenge Accepted landing page and RSVP your copy today.
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