First, are you Ready to grow? If growing your business means just hiring more workers and buying more equipment then I would say that you are not Ready. To be "Ready" consider the following items:

* Do you have an updated marketing plan for your growth?

* Do you have a clear idea as to the needs for services in your area?

* Have you gathered your company and crew leaders together to discuss what preparations need to be made for equipment, processes, and people?

Certainly, the previous questions are important and they are not the only questions that should be raised but they do get you started.

The second point is to Aim. To Aim I mean, do you have a clear direction as to where you will be attacking? How will you support your efforts? Do you have the capital to update your company's image, equipment, professionalism, etc.? To Aim is also to have your market plan prepared and also your business plan. Your business plan keeps a balanced look at your overall efforts moving forward.

For many contractors, there has been a lot of scratching out a living over the past few years. However, a surprising number of contractors whom I've worked with over the same years have been quite effective at taking advantage of other contractors who have made poor decisions or have simply gone out of business. True, most of us have never bid work for as low a profit margin as we've experienced over the past 3-5 years but even this has forced many of us to greatly improve our quality both in work processes and preparation.

Is it possible to grow? YES! Don't accept a defeatist attitude; be firm and confident as you move forward. Develop your plan; stick to your plan; and move forward in growing your business with some of the new techniques, approaches, and allowances that we've acquired over the previous few years.

Barring any new catastrophic decisions by our friends in Washington, look seriously at Readying your Aim and push the throttle forward. It's time to break out of this construction funk and once again get this country moving forward.

Give it your best!

The Gangbox Boys