The other day we had a typical day scheduled. We had a basement wall that had to be set up (formed) and poured. It was very important to our client that it was done that day to maintain a very tight building schedule.
Under normal circumstances, it would be easy to make that happen for them. However, our “typical” day quickly turned challenging.
| “Our client never knew about the delays and setbacks – or what we had to do to overcome them. And, that’s the way it should be. We made it happen…” |
Three men from our usual seven man wall crew didn’t show up in the morning for various reasons. We were now working with almost half the crew we typically have to set up and pour a wall.
One of the four men that were present was a new guy, so he wasn’t as helpful as one of our regular men. We were at a big disadvantage before we even left the shop that morning.
On the way to the jobsite, we had not one but two flat tires on the crew truck. There was apparently debris in the road and it got the best of two of our tires.
In order to get the men to the jobsite as quickly 
as possible – and still make the wall pour that day – our man at our shop drove another crew truck to meet the truck with the flat tires.
The men transferred all of the materials and equipment onto that new truck. They were then able to drive the replacement truck to the jobsite and get started. Our shop man stayed with the truck, replaced the flat tires, and drove it back to the shop.
In spite of the severely reduced crew and the two hour truck delay, we still were able to pour the wall that day. Our client never knew about the delays and setbacks – or what we had to do to overcome them. And, that’s the way it should be. We made it happen and our client was able to maintain their tight building schedule.
What started out to be a “typical” day turned out to be a challenging day, but we still got the wall poured – and kept a client happy.
On a different subject, it’s the Halloween season. While the average person may be spooked by ghosts and goblins, we in the construction industry have seen many more frightening things over the past five years.
This Great Recession has sucked our cash reserves dry, made us talk with spooky bankers, put the ax to valuable employees, and at times had us walking in a confused, angry daze like Frankenstein’s monster.
However, we’re still here. Still fighting. Each of us still looking for opportunities in the new economy. Because that’s what entrepreneurs do. Even if we do find ourselves sometimes saying: Enough already of the “Tricks.” Where are the “Treats”?
Happy Halloween,
