It’s Not Just a Game!

Do you ever get this one? “Relax man, it’s just a game”. I beg to differ:

It’s the most patient, loyal and hopeful fans in North America.

It’s skateboarders, CEO’s and ESL students sporting their Canucks Blue in downtown Van.

It’s endless uniform changes, none of which were great, but we wear them all proudly.

It’s lacing up your sons skates, beside a Sedin twin and thinking, “Holy Crap, it Daniel! Wait, its Henrik! err . . . what do I say?” It was Henrik, my son asked.

It’s games being broadcast in Punjabi, a community joining in on the celebration at 72^nd and Scott Road after every win and in doing so, exemplifying everything that is great about Canada.

It’s Bure and Mogilny, brilliant but flaky.

It’s Smyl and Linden, rock-solid but wanting.

It’s Naslund, a little tragic.

It’s Messier, the best leader in sports until he came Vancouver. What the hell?

It’s reading a box score and instantly memorizing the stats.

It’s accepting that Luongo will let in a bad goal and put “foot in mouth” every second game. Who cares, he wins games.

It’s sending and receiving every email over the last month with the signature, Go Canucks Go!

It’s huge goals: Burrows, D. Sedin, Kesler, Bieksa and Burrows.

It’s Finish, Swedish, Canadian, American, German and Danish players admitting in a heartbeat that the Cup is bigger than the Olympics or any World Championship

It’s huge hits, killer power plays, biting and loving Bieksa’s pummeling of Marleau - you play with the bull, you get the horn –

It’s forty years of ups and downs, mostly downs. Questionable draft picks, some inspired (Burrows). A parade of owners, gm’s and coaches. Two cup runs, many early exits and now  . . .

Two wins away.

Go Canucks Go!

Recession Hits Lower Mainland Paint Industry Two Years Later

When the recession hit in 2008 and construction ground to halt, the architects, engineers and “first in” trades felt the hit. Many firms downsized and some closed up shop entirely. The city resembled a ground hog infested field with giant dormant holes scattered throughout.

The finishing trades were lucky. Construction projects nearing completion continued and that meant that the dry-wallers, painters and flooring trades had a couple more years of work.

Well, its 2011 and past projects are now complete. While the engineers, excavators and steel firms are getting busy; the finishing guys are twiddling their thumbs waiting for the buildings to go up.

What does they mean for a company like Wolfgang whom focuses on re-painting buildings? The new construction paint firms have flooded the re-paint market. There is excess capacity in the market and no increased need for paint jobs. Classic supply and demand: supply goes up, demand stays flat or drops and prices follow suit. In other words, the bottom has fallen out of the market.

So we are going to have a couple of lean years until some new buildings go up and the new construction guys re-enter the market that they know best. Lean years are in business ok. A tight market forces better systems, tighter overhead, fine tuned strategy and outside the box thinking. Not to mention, some weaker players leave the market all together.

Of course all this is good news for the consumer. Excess supply is always good for the end user. If you are looking to have your building painted at a deep discount, now is the time. You are going to pay at least twenty percent below market price. 2011 is probably the best time in the past ten years to have your building re-painted. 

Hey you, get off of my cloud!

You know the feeling: you share your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) with a friend and they chime in with “Whatever man, get real. Good luck with that one?” and like a pinprick to a balloon you are instantly deflated.

Sharing your dream takes courage. When you lay your cards on the table you want the passion to be reciprocated. Unfortunately, more often than not, you get the devils advocate. Why do some people feel the need to drag others down? Perhaps insecurity, past let downs or envy? Who knows . . .

I used to get very upset when my dreams were “poo-pooed” Lots of huffing and puffing, lots of  “they don’t get me”. Then, my wife hit me with the trout-slap, “ if your conviction is so strong, why do you care what others think?” Yes, good point, insert moment of clarity.

Thanks to Jen, I realized that my own insecurities, not others, were the issue.  Jen’s question was tough, she prompted some serious reflection and personal change. The answers were not easy but very empowering, a journey worth taking.  The answers are still a work in progress.

I am learning not to “pitch” my goals so much, just to go out and achieve them.  Focusing on the internal motivation for my goals is much more lasting than any external recognition.

If someone asks, I’ll speak to my dreams. If they punch holes, I bite my lip, thank them for the feedback and move on.

If they think my heads in the sky, that’s fine.  I take Jagger’s approach and say to myself, “Hey you, get off of my cloud!”

Mission Accomplished

Forty-six. That’s the number of kilometers my Daughter, Rosalie, ran at Kilometer Club this spring. Her goal was “to reach the second page of the kilometre chart” which meant running at least thirty-six kilometers. Rosalie hit her goal!

I am proud of Rosalie’s performance but more impressed with how much she enjoyed herself along the way. She looked forward to every day at Kilometer Club. Rain or shine, she ran. Rosalie was never late for the runs and ran until the teachers said stop.

At dinnertime she would share the days results, “well, I ran two kilometers in the morning, Ben and I talked a little while we ran, sometimes I walked. Then after lunch my teacher and some of my friends ran another kilometer, I have five more kilometres to get to the second page . . . “ or  “it was really wet today, I was freezing! I think I’ll were a tuque next time”

Rosalie savored every milestone along the way and proudly displays her ribbons on our family message board.

Goals are wonderful. I truly believe that through vision, conviction and tenacity, one can accomplish anything. But more important than the goal is the journey. Growth and positive change come from a journey well embraced. Enjoying the ups, learning from the downs and truly celebrating the achievement that’s what Rosalie did.

The Kilometre Club

Inspiration comes in many sizes, small and large. Team Canada’s performance at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was inspiring on large scale. Obama’s inauguration speech was inspiring on the grandest scale. But, it isn’t always epic events that motivate.

Rosalie, my six-year-old daughter, attends a great school. Her Principal has implemented some solid programs; music appreciation over the PA system, “All School” conga lines, Popsicle Fridays with proceeds to a good cause, Gala events for the parents, Adirondack Chair Charity Auctions (chairs decorated by the students) and many more. 

My favorite event is the “The Kilometre Club”. The students, kindergarten through grade seven, run laps around the field before school. Parents and Teachers volunteer to monitor. Four laps around is the equivalent of a kilometer. Individual classrooms track the student’s progress. Over time as the kids hit milestones (fifteen kilometers, twenty-five kilometers . . .) they receive ribbons.

Rosalie loves “The Kilometre Club”. Rain or shine, she runs, with or without her friends. My wife watches and sometimes, with our two other kids in tow, runs along. Jen and I encourage Rosalie; but we have never “pushed” her to run. On her own, Rosalie sets a goal, “Dad, tomorrow, I am going to run two kilometers” and then she goes out and hits the goal.

The fact that Rosalie is leading her class means nothing to her. I say, “Wow, Rosalie you are the top runner in your classroom . . .” she shrugs it off “ You are beating the boys!” is met with a roll of her eyes. Rosalie runs on her own accord, pursuing her own goals. Pure internal motivation coming from a six year-old, how wonderful!

My young daughter has reminded me of an important life lesson: external motivation is fleeting; lasting and powerful motivation comes from within.  Live you own life, you own dreams and pursue your own goals.

Go Rosalie go!

Beyond Price and Quality Part Five: The Tough Questions

So, you have successfully tendered your project, it’s time to award the job.  Your two lowest prices are within two percent of each other. How do you decide? Conduct an interview with both contractors and ask some questions:

1. When will you start and finish the project? Red Flag: if the start and finish dates seem unrealistic, they probably are. You are dealing with a contractor that tends to overpromise and miss on service commitments.
2. Who from your firm will oversee the project?
3. How will you communicate updates, changes and any issues as the project unfolds?

Most importantly:

     4.  Why should I choose you over the next contractor?

     5.  What is your competitive advantage?

Those last two questions are the deal breakers. If you don’t receive a succinct answer you are most likely dealing with an average firm. A contracting firm that is going to provide average service and a frustrating experience.

If you were to asked a Wolfgang representative those tough questions, here is what you would here:

Why should I choose Wolfgang Commercial Painters over the next contractor?

• Accountability: We keep our commitments. When we say we are going to start at 8AM, we do.
• Teamwork: We work together towards shared goals. Our office, sales, and operations staff works together to deliver a great experience for you, the customer.
• Open: We are open to new ideas, learning and feedback. If you are unhappy, let us know and we will respond quickly.
• Win/Win: We operate so that all stakeholders win. The customer, suppliers and Wolfgang must win in order to achieve a truly successful project.

What is Wolfgang Commercial Painter’s competitive advantage?

• We offer Professional Color Consultations to help settle on a color scheme.
• We offer a “Start and Finish” guarantee.
• We offer online Job Blogs to ease communication while the project is ongoing

Before you award your next project ask some tough questions. It will help you choose the right firm for the job.

Beyond Price and Quality Part Four: The Job Walk

One of the keys to a successful construction tender (request for bids) is an effective job walk. More often than not contractors are asked to view a potential site on their own without a project manager to explain the details of the job.  Asking contractors to view the site independently may seem the like easiest route to receiving proposal? But, without a proper job walk you will get large spreads in pricing because contractors will inevitably bid on different scopes of work.  Scope confusion and varying pricing, doesn’t sound effective? Avoid the headache, invest a little time and conduct a proper walk with your potential contractors.

Here are some tips:

1. Schedule a specific time for the job walk. You will not need more than one hour. Invite all four contractors to attend at the same time.
2. Use email to invite, it is easier than phoning. Request confirmation of attendance from the contractors via email.
3. Invite four contractors, so if one doesn’t show, you are covered.
4. Hand out your tender package to each contractor based on your budget quote. Review the basic specification and scope, your areas of includes and excludes and the submittal deadlines.
5. Set the key expectations: Submittal dates (two weeks), time frame (deadline for start and finish) and any unique requirements.
6. Walk the entire site with the group. Encourage clarifying questions. Now is the time to answer questions and get the entire group on the same page.
7. Red Flag: If a contractor calls with multiple questions after the job walk, it is a red flag that they do not communicate well and they will have a hard time meeting your specific needs throughout the job.
8. If an important change in scope occurs at the job walk send out an addendum to all bidders via email to keep everyone on the same page.

There you go, a few simple steps to achieving an effective job walk. More to come . . .