This Podcast Is Episode Number 0334, And It Will Be About How To Make More Money In Construction With SWOT Analysis   Developing a comprehensive strategy for your construction business can be about as much fun as wrestling a pig in the mud because: It is slippery and hard to get control over it. It will wear you out and frustrate you to no end. You will swear it is a complete waste of time. Your contractor buddies who are barely making a living will think you're crazy. In the end, you will be thoroughly worn out, exhausted and mentally drained. What separates wealthy contractors from poor contractors? It's not a lack of opportunities to bid jobs or get leads because getting leads is easy. It's not lack of ambition because every contractor I know is active and ready to get busy. It's not a lack of intelligence or the ability to develop a production method and follow it to the end. It's not lack of money because if you follow my process, you know how to overcome that using O.P.M. (Other People's Money) The answer is simple, but not easy: 1. Wealthy contractors begin with the end in mind and knowing what to do ("The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"). Everything is created twice. First, in our minds, and when we do the work to bring them into physical existence. Take your power and take control of your ability to Be-Do-Have. You can re-write your scripts and take control and responsibility for the outcome of your Construction Company by using your imagination and conscience. The three major aspects of personal and business management of your contracting company: Leadership - What do you want to accomplish? Management - How can you accomplish it? Productivity - Decide to do it. Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. - Peter Drucker and Warren Bennis Have a vision of what your Construction Company Money Machine will be when you are finished building it. It will be like a deep, wide river running smooth and calm moving millions of gallons of water through lush green valleys where farmers and ranchers pump the freshwater into their crops and fields to feed their families for a lifetime and beyond. Your Construction Company Money Machine will be moving millions of dollars from customers and clients through lush green valleys where you will pump cash flow into your bank and investment accounts to feed your family for a lifetime and beyond. 2. Wealthy contractors understand who they are and what they believe to be true. Your perception is your reality, and the truth is four levels deep. To get to the truth about your construction company, you must go on a journey. It is four levels deep, and like most successes in life, it is simple but not easy.  Level One - What contractors want to hear Level Two - What contractors want to believe Level Three - Everything else Level Four - Truth A Story To Illustrate The Four Levels What contractors want to hear - One evening after work, a group of contractors met at the Contractor Business Round Table, which is the neighborhood tavern with a round table, pitcher of beer and four contractors. They talked about how tough it is to get profitable jobs, no matter what the economy is like. When times are good, it is hard to find employees, when times are tough, the phone doesn't ring. Everyone agreed there was nothing anyone could do about it. What contractors want to believe - A short while later they talked about making money, and agreed that big-time contractors make most of the money and little contractors were doomed to struggle. Everything else - One of the contractors suggested maybe they could ask one of the larger, more profitable contractors and find out what they did that made the difference. This made the other contractors a bit uncomfortable. Then it happened, and they all heard and felt the dreaded Snap-Crackle-Pop! The contractor who suggested asking for help experienced a paradigm shift and broke...