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Is My Boss Manipulating Me? 12 Signs To Look For

Is My Boss Manipulating Me? Here Are 12 Signs Of A Manipulative Boss

April 3, 2022 No Comments

Working in a toxic environment is what I consider a ‘silent killer’. Maybe you can relate to this. The effect settles in over time, not all at once. You start feeling less enthusiasm for your work. You start questioning you own abilities and skill. You take home a little more baggage with you each day. You’re working more to ‘keep up’. You feel worn out, tired, and Monday mornings are your worst enemy. You feel like you’re being drained of your life force one day at a time. Let’s get into the ways bosses manipulate employees, and what to do about them!

What Do Building Inspectors Do? 4 Construction Inspector Responsibilities

June 11, 2021 No Comments

We all know that buildings and structures are designed to meet certain standards. Whether they’re related to engineering requirements, material placement or building codes, it’s understood that contractors must adhere to strict guidelines when it comes to performing construction duties correctly. While owners and project initiators could simply trust that everything’s being built 100% correctly, the numerous construction disasters that’ve happened over the years prove just how costly – and even deadly – improper construction can be. Sure, there’s pretty much zero risk involved in painting a wall or putting down some new flooring, but projects that involve structural work, utilities, major alterations or public exposure must be monitored closely throughout the process to ensure that all work is being done correctly. That’s where building inspectors come into play. Let’s go through four key construction inspector responsibilities.

Buying Materials For Contractors Directly? The Pros & Cons To Consider

June 4, 2021 No Comments

When hiring a contractor, nearly everyone is looking for the same outcome: a successful completion of the work for the best (lowest) price possible. It’s instinctual for our minds to ponder how we can save money on the total cost of construction through whatever means possible. This commonly manifests itself through choosing the “cheapest” contractor right from the start, but there are many other ways that clients and general contractors alike try to save some cash when it comes to hiring contractors. One of these ways involves purchasing the materials directly, rather than leaving it to the contractor that’s being hired. Why? Markup. When we receive a proposal from a contractor, their price typically includes labor, equipment and material costs – all of which are then marked up higher to include the contractors’ overhead and profit margins. Clients can therefore save money by buying materials for contractors directly; if clients or general contractors buy the materials, the contractor (or subcontractor) won’t be able to charge overhead and profit on top of these material costs. This means the client gets to keep that money in exchange for buying the material themselves. That’s a big win…right? Well, that depends. While there are certainly some benefits to buying materials for contractors ourselves, there are also some potential drawbacks. Let’s go through the pros and cons!

My Boss Doesn’t Have My Back: What Should I Do? My 5 Personal Tips

May 27, 2021 No Comments

Do you ever feel betrayed by your boss? Does it seem like the two of you are always at odds, or that you simply can’t trust them? Unfortunately, this is something many of us can relate to. While we hope to have positive, productive relationships with our bosses, it’s certainly not a guarantee. Many of us feel like our bosses are only out for themselves – or even worse, working against us. In the land of the modern workplace and corporate culture, it can feel like work is just as much about office politics, individual advancement and covering our butts as it is about actually doing our jobs, and our bosses are no more exempt from this than we are. While our relationships with our bosses may feel worse in our minds than they really are, we may also notice certain patterns of behavior in them over time. Whether it be that our boss rarely offers us support, disagrees with us in front of others, throws us ‘under the bus’ or just plain doesn’t like us, we eventually reach the point where we think “My boss doesn’t have my back! What should I do?”. As someone who’s definitely been there, I’m happy to share with you the techniques I’ve used to mitigate this situation with success. Let’s get into them.

Do Construction Managers Have To Travel? Let’s Break It Down

May 21, 2021 No Comments

Let’s kick this one off with a bit of history. It’s the year 1848. Location? North America. What were folks up to? The Revolutionary War was over, but the Civil War had not yet begun. While I can’t speak for everyone since I wasn’t there, about 300,000 people decided to pack up their belongs, leave the family homestead and head to California, often on perilous journeys. The reason? The Gold Rush. Although gold had been discovered in California by local residents earlier, 1848-1849 is when the rush truly began to occur. Often referred to as ’49ers, people from all over the world began arriving in California – not only from the eastern parts of America, but also from Mexico, Peru, China, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and more. The prospects of wealth and prosperity – even through word of mouth and letters – was sufficient reason to give up everything, leave home and spend time digging or ‘panning’ for gold in the desert. In short, people wanted money and California was the best place to find it. While things in America are a bit more stable now, the idea of traveling to find prosperity is far from over – actually, that goes for any country of origin. While working from home is pushing things in a new direction, the prospect of traveling to find better opportunities is still relatable for millions of people. This group certainly includes people working in the construction industry, but there are many nuances to consider. If you came here after wondering “do construction managers have to travel?”, fear not – I aim to answer this with as much detail as I can.

Writing Skills For Project Managers: These 6 Are Essential For Success

May 14, 2021 No Comments

When one imagines a Project Manager, they may picture a person meeting with team mates, reviewing reports or giving presentations. While Project Managers do all of these things, there’s one task that nearly every P.M. spends quite a bit of time on, especially these days: writing. Whether it be writing letters or responding to endless emails, a significant portion of a Project Managers’ performance is underpinned by their ability to write. For many Project Managers (myself included), it takes years of time and experience to finely hone their writing skills. While the best way to get better at writing is to simply spend time doing it, there are many easy ways to improve writing abilities too; many of them are more about what not to do than anything else! Let’s talk about 6 essential writing skills for Project Managers that I’ve picked up over the years. Note that some of these tips aren’t necessarily about writing per se, but rather the intent and strategy behind why you should sometimes write a certain way. Let’s go!

Tracking Construction Productivity: A Few Examples [Free Excel Template]

May 7, 2021 No Comments

Determining the profitability of a construction project is straightforward: it’s simply the difference between what a contractor gets paid to complete a project, less what it costs them to do so. When contractors create budgets for their projects, they have to estimate the cost and profit margin for every item of work they must perform. This includes materials, equipment, supplies, overhead expenses and of course – the cost of labor. Given that the vast majority of projects depend heavily on those who physically perform the work, it only makes sense that labor costs on most projects is substantial. It’s not uncommon for labor costs to make up the majority of a project’s total budget. The more efficient and productive the crews onsite work, the more profitable a project is. But how is this productivity calculated? How can construction managers and supervisors know whether or not the workers are meeting the budget? What if some items are going better than estimated, while others are doing worse? This is why tracking construction productivity on a regular basis is so important. Let’s go through a few examples of how to track construction productivity using an Excel template, which you can download for free below!

6 Project Management Lessons From Enron & Their Historic Collapse

April 22, 2021 No Comments

I just finished watching “The Smartest Guys In The Room”. It’s a documentary about Enron, the once-revolutionary Texas energy trading company that famously collapsed in 2001. From the early 90’s right up to their downfall, Enron was a darling of Wall Street, ranking #7 on the Fortune 500 in the same year that news of its’ massive accounting fraud and unethical business practices swept the world. In the summer of 2000, Enron’s stock hit an all-time high of over $90 per share. In late 2001, Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is still known as one of the largest corporate scandals in American history. Not only was Enron a business titan on Wall Street, but they were also well-known on ‘Main Street’ too. Enron’s collapse led to nearly 30,000 lost jobs, thousands of evaporated retirement accounts and countless investors left with worthless stock. Enron was once a (mostly) legitimate energy company before it essentially became an energy stock market in the 90s. What the heck happened? The Enron story is complex yet simple at the same time, unpinned by human ego, greed, deceit and pride. As for the specifics of what happened, we’ll get into those too. Let’s discuss six project management lessons from Enron and their demise that came to me after watching the film.

6 Things I Learned While Working For A Failing Company

April 16, 2021 No Comments

Not all companies are meant to last unfortunately. Whether it be due to poor management, changing times, a rise in competition or even economic recession, many businesses end up closing their doors as the years go on. While some of these closures are sudden, other companies take several years before they’re completely shut down. As you probably know already, the daily experience employees have at a failing company is not always great – the atmosphere can range from unmotivated to extremely stressful and everything in between. This experience can also apply to your department or specific branch closing too, even if the company as a whole is not going out of business. If this is your experience, I can relate. The last two years at my previous company were spent seeing the ‘tidal wave’ coming in slow motion; most of us knew our division – once one of the largest in the company – would be shut down eventually given our overall performance, but no one knew exactly when. Here are six things I learned while working for a failing company that’ll hopefully be helpful!

Is Project Management Competitive? The Answer Is Complicated

April 9, 2021 No Comments

Many students and young professionals aspire to become a Project Manager at some point in their careers. Some of us desire the title and decision-making authority that being a P.M. provides, while others long to overcome challenges and deliver projects successfully. Of course, many of us want the higher salary and other financial perks that Project Managers often enjoy. Whatever your reason for wanting to become a P.M., it’s likely that other people out there also want to become a Project Manager for similar reasons. How many others are looking to become P.M.s? Is project management competitive? If you’re thinking about becoming a Project Manager and are looking for some stats, then read on!

For Project Managers Becoming Entrepreneurs: 5 Tips From Experience

April 2, 2021 No Comments

As we all know, project management is an exciting and dynamic field. There are plenty of ways we can challenge ourselves and continue to grow year after year. These are the aspects of project management that most of us love. As we gain experience, we learn a wide variety of skills in leadership, budgeting, scheduling, organization and more. If we can manage a decent-sized project, how much harder can it be to work for ourselves? After working as a Project Manager for awhile, you may begin to crave a challenge beyond what your typical position or company may offer. Perhaps you want to create a business from the ground up. Maybe you crave the ability to make your own schedule, or no longer answer to a boss. For many different reasons, there’s a growing percentage of working professionals who decide not to pursue their current career path anymore, and instead pursue the road less traveled…the path of the entrepreneur. Cue the dramatic music. There’s plenty of reasons why being ‘your own boss’ is great, but there are plenty of reasons one shouldn’t just dive in without preparation, either. I know because I’ve done it! At least to a certain extent. While I was prepared in some ways, there are several things I wish I understood much earlier – that’s what this article is about. For the project managers becoming entrepreneurs out there, let’s go over 5 tips based on my own experience, plus a little detail as to why I became an entrepreneur after thirteen years in construction management.

Surviving A Two-Faced Boss: A Few Tips From Experience

March 19, 2021 2 Comments

Most of us have worked for a bad boss at some point. Whether they’re mean, incompetent, selfish or manipulative, bad bosses all have one thing in common – the ability to drive their subordinates nuts. The vast majority of people just want to come to work, have a decent day and head home when it’s over. Unfortunately, the ‘vast majority’ still doesn’t mean everyone. Some people can’t help but to get involved in drama or negativity at work – even if they must start it themselves. Other people don’t crave drama per se, but their personality and mindset effects others anyways. That brings us to our main topic: dealing with a two-faced boss. Let’s talk about how they act and how to ‘survive’ working for one.

5 Things I Wish I Knew As A Young Project Manager

March 12, 2021 No Comments

In the world of project management, some things can only be learned through experience. Despite my best efforts in my early years, I made plenty of mistakes managing projects. There’ve been times when I’ve felt confident in my strategy, only to walk right into an issue thereafter. “What was I thinking?”, I say to myself. “How did I not see that coming?”. I can also think back to times where I didn’t necessarily make a mistake, but would approach certain situations in a completely different way nowadays. It happens to all of us: every project manager makes mistakes, learns through experience and evolves over time. With that in mind, this article is meant to convey a few overarching lessons I’ve learned over time so young project managers out there can learn what I’ve learned the hard way. Here are five things I wish I knew as a young project manager.

Getting OSHA 30 Certified Online - My Experience 360Training Review

Getting OSHA 30 Certified Online: My Experience [OSHACampus Review]

February 3, 2021 2 Comments

The Occupational Health & Safety Administration – otherwise known as OSHA – is a governmental organization in the U.S. that ensures the overall safety and health of men and women in the workforce. OSHA’s stated mission is to support this workforce through “setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” (via OSHA.gov). As one can imagine, the amount of industries and occupations that OSHA covers is vast, and there are too many types of working environments in the U.S. to cover all job-specific hazards with one cover-all training program. Thus, there are a huge variety of OSHA certifications out there! Just in the world of construction, there many common OSHA training programs across all sorts of project types. One of the most common OSHA training programs in the field of construction is the OSHA 30-Hour, aka the ‘OSHA 30’. An OSHA 30 completion certificate is obtained after receiving 30 hours of specific construction safety training from a qualified instructor. While this is traditionally done in the classroom, more and more people are getting OSHA 30 “certified” online – I know, because I’ve done it myself! Let’s discuss getting OSHA 30 training online (pros and cons), along with my own personal 360Training review from when I received my OSHA 30 training online.

Concrete Moisture Monitoring: Why It Matters + The Best Moisture Meters

January 28, 2021 No Comments

In terms of moisture, concrete is counterintuitive. When we think about concrete, many of us picture it as a dry, hard material; something that’s resilient to rain, snow and moisture. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Concrete is wet when it’s mixed, and is a porous material once it’s cured. Unless it’s been coated or protected, concrete will absorb moisture – even humidity from the air – and holds some level moisture in it at all times. That said, only so much moisture is allowed. Many finishes installed on top of concrete, such as flooring and coatings, require that moisture content in the concrete stay below specific moisture levels while work is in progress. The moisture content in concrete can’t be too high either; if concrete is too moist, it can crack, spall and fail in a number of ways. In turn, concrete moisture monitoring is important for a variety of reasons! Let’s get into the details of why concrete moisture monitoring is so critical during construction and building inspections, along with our top picks for the best concrete moisture meters on the market.

Torque Wrench In Construction: Importance, Uses & 3 Top-Rated Models

January 20, 2021 No Comments

All around the world, construction projects rely on one physically small component in order to be completed correctly: fasteners. Whether it be gigantic steel anchor bolts beneath a bridge or screws supporting a piece of plywood, the assembly of construction projects as a whole is mostly done using a variety of fasteners. The type of fasteners used will vary by work type, project type and design parameters, but all fasteners used on a project – both in type and size – are specified by the engineer prior to construction beginning. Given that fasteners play such a huge role in the construction assembly process, it makes sense that fasteners must be installed appropriately in order for them to meet design requirements. How do we know whether a bolt is tight enough, or even too tight? Let’s talk about the importance of the torque wrench in construction, along with some examples of common uses and 3 top-rated models on the market.

Temperature & Humidity In Construction: Impacts + Top 3 Monitoring Tools

January 14, 2021 No Comments

When we think about construction, it’s easy to think that money is the only real variable required to get the job done. After all, if someone’s willing to pay any price in order to complete a project – regardless of all other factors – can’t it somehow be done? While this is true to an extent, access to funding is only one variable that can restrict the construction process. We’ve written about how weather affects construction in the past. In this article, we’ll be diving into a specific variable: temperature and humidity in construction. Let’s go through the effect that temperature and humidity can have in construction and how you can monitor temperature and humidity data on your project.

When Your Boss Criticizes You in Front of Others, Do These 5 Things

July 14, 2020 No Comments

Bad bosses are the bane of many employee’s existences. No matter what industry you work in, how old you are or even what your position is, the vast majority of us have dealt with a bad boss at some point in our careers. There’s plenty of ways a boss can be “bad”: poor understanding of the company’s needs, terrible at planning ahead, being clueless on what’s happening day-to-day, and so on. Situations like those are surely annoying to deal with, but few boss behaviors are more insidious than bullying. One common way bosses bully employees is through humiliating them in front of others. These reasons bosses behave this way are varied and complex, but one thing is for sure – we all want to put an end to it. If you’re wondering what you should do when your boss criticizes you in front of others, don’t miss the five tactics we discuss below.

Working Remotely As A Project Manager: How To Manage A Remote Team

July 8, 2020 No Comments

Working remotely, whether it be from home or a hotel room, has become more common with each passing year. It makes sense. Business owners can save money by having less office space and employees spend less time getting to and from work. Technology makes working remotely easier than ever. When this is combined with the “new normal” we’re experiencing thanks to the Coronavirus (aka COVID-19), working remotely has become mandatory in many cases. What about working remotely as a Project Manager? Is it possible? In this article, we’ll talk about the intricacies of managing a remote team as a Project Manager.

Best Automated Construction Estimating Excel Software [Free Download]

July 1, 2020 11 Comments

We’ve used all sorts of construction estimating softwares and templates over the years. In this process, we’ve realized exactly what a great estimating program should be like – and what it shouldn’t include as well! That’s why we’ve created, in our humble opinion, the best automated construction estimating Excel software on the internet! Does it allow you to customize units of measurement, labor rates and profit margins? YES. Does it provide a clean, easy-to-use interface for estimating individual work items? YES. Does it break each work item into sections like labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors and more? YES. Does it look good doing it? YES! Click here to preview the features of our estimating template and download yours for free.

Underpaid Project Manager - How To Get A Raise Or Promotion

Underpaid Project Manager? Here’s How I Got A 43% Raise In 24 Months

June 25, 2020 No Comments

Let’s be honest. Even if we love project management, we still want to get paid. Not only that, but we want to be paid what we’re worth. While many of us manage projects – even difficult, challenging ones – our salary does not always line up with our skill level. Some of us grind away at our job for years on end while feeling like we should be getting more. Despite growing immensely in skill and experience, we simply don’t ever seem to get that big raise or jump up the ladder like we think we deserve. It can be frustrating to work at an organization for while, having far surpassed the skill-level we had when hired, only to find out a new-hire for a similar position is making a heck of a lot more money right off the bat. What gives? If you’re an underpaid Project Manager looking to get a raise, then stick around. In this article, I’ll be talking about how I got a 43% increase in pay over a 24 month period and what I did to get there!

How Does A Lump Sum Contract Work? 5 Things To Consider

June 17, 2020 No Comments

While you may not realize it, Lump-Sum Contracts are extremely common. Although they’re not always designed as “Lump Sum”, or even a contract at all, Lump Sum Contracts are used in many different industries, including on construction projects, hiring vendors, making purchases and more. So how does a Lump Sum Contract work? In this article, we’ll go through what a Lump Sum Contract is, when they’re used and 5 things to consider before and after signing one! Let’s get started.

Why Do Idiots Get Promoted? 7 Reasons To Consider

May 27, 2020 No Comments

We all know at least one person at work who’s…….not great. They make mistake after mistake, act like jerks, gossip, bring negative energy and seem totally incapable of doing any job well, let alone a job in upper management. “They’re so stupid, a trained monkey could do a better job!”. Dumb managers and coworkers are so common that it’s a storyline repeated all over TV and movies. We can all relate to this regardless of industry and geographic location and in that, we at least have each other. But it does beg the question – how does this keep happening? Why do idiots get promoted? In this article, we’re talking about 7 common reasons why this is the case.

11 Ways Clients Screw Up Construction Projects

May 8, 2020 No Comments

The construction industry is perpetuated by a truly symbiotic process, in that all parties involved – project initiators, architects, engineers, contractors and more – rely on one another in order to achieve the best results possible. This coordinated effort is absolutely essential; the sum of all these parts equals a successful end product. That said, each one of these parties has the capability of completely ruining a construction project! In this 4-part series, we’re talking about how construction projects get screwed up. This article will be focused on 11 ways Clients & Owners screw up construction projects.

11 Ways Engineers Screw Up Construction Projects

May 7, 2020 No Comments

11 Ways Architects Screw Up Construction Projects

May 4, 2020 No Comments

The construction industry is perpetuated by a truly symbiotic process, in that all parties involved – project initiators, architects, engineers, contractors and more – rely on one another in order to achieve the best results possible. This coordinated effort is absolutely essential; the sum of all these parts equals a successful end product. That said, each one of these parties has the capability of completely ruining a construction project! In this 4-part series, we’re talking about how construction projects get screwed up. So what happens when an Architect makes a mistake? This article will be focused on 11 ways Architects screw up construction projects.

11 Ways Contractors Screw Up Construction Projects

May 2, 2020 No Comments

Essential Jobsite Clothing & Gear For Construction Project Managers

December 20, 2019 No Comments

Working on a jobsite is fun and exciting, but not always comfortable. As Construction Project Managers, we get to spend many hours outside in the sun…as well as the bitter cold, rain, snow and all sorts of other ‘wonderful’ conditions. Combining this with the unique hazards and conditions innate to the construction industry, we must do so safely. We also have to perform our jobs while doing so and still dress in a professional manner. All of that said, let’s talk about some essential job site clothing & gear for Construction Project Managers!

How To Deal With A Coworker You Don’t Trust: The Do’s & Don’ts

December 19, 2019 No Comments

Trust is a vital aspect of any relationship. This applies to our family, friends, romantic partners and coworkers alike. Just like our family and romantic partners, we must see our coworkers for an extended amount of time every day. In most instances, we spend more waking hours with our coworkers while working full-time than we spend with our families – that’s a lot of time at work! When we have great coworkers who we can trust, this doesn’t feel nearly as harsh as it sounds. What happens when we just can’t trust coworkers? It could be something they’ve done, rumors we hear or just our gut feeling – regardless, a situation like this puts a tremendous strain on our work life. In this article, we’re talking about how to deal with a coworker you don’t trust!

How Project Managers Waste Their Time: Avoid Doing These 13 Things!

December 19, 2019 No Comments

Time is money, they say, but it’s not entirely true. While I understand the intent behind this expression, there is a gaping hole in the theory. Time is worth MUCH more than money for the majority of us. Time is the only resource we can’t buy any more of. We all get the same amount of hours in each day, but none of us can ever get time back. The positive response to all of this? Make the best use of your time as you possibly can! This goes for work and personal life alike. As far as work is concerned, let’s talk about how Project Managers waste their time. If you’re looking to make the most of your time at work, avoid doing these 13 things!

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Is My Boss Manipulating Me? Here Are 12 Signs Of A Manipulative Boss

What Do Building Inspectors Do? 4 Construction Inspector Responsibilities

Buying Materials For Contractors Directly? The Pros & Cons To Consider

My Boss Doesn’t Have My Back: What Should I Do? My 5 Personal Tips

Do Construction Managers Have To Travel? Let’s Break It Down

Writing Skills For Project Managers: These 6 Are Essential For Success

Tracking Construction Productivity: A Few Examples [Free Excel Template]

6 Project Management Lessons From Enron & Their Historic Collapse

6 Things I Learned While Working For A Failing Company

Is Project Management Competitive? The Answer Is Complicated

For Project Managers Becoming Entrepreneurs: 5 Tips From Experience

Surviving A Two-Faced Boss: A Few Tips From Experience

5 Things I Wish I Knew As A Young Project Manager

Getting OSHA 30 Certified Online: My Experience [OSHACampus Review]

Concrete Moisture Monitoring: Why It Matters + The Best Moisture Meters

Torque Wrench In Construction: Importance, Uses & 3 Top-Rated Models

Temperature & Humidity In Construction: Impacts + Top 3 Monitoring Tools

When Your Boss Criticizes You in Front of Others, Do These 5 Things

Working Remotely As A Project Manager: How To Manage A Remote Team

Best Automated Construction Estimating Excel Software [Free Download]

Underpaid Project Manager? Here’s How I Got A 43% Raise In 24 Months

How Does A Lump Sum Contract Work? 5 Things To Consider

Why Do Idiots Get Promoted? 7 Reasons To Consider

11 Ways Clients Screw Up Construction Projects

11 Ways Engineers Screw Up Construction Projects

11 Ways Architects Screw Up Construction Projects

11 Ways Contractors Screw Up Construction Projects

Essential Jobsite Clothing & Gear For Construction Project Managers

How To Deal With A Coworker You Don’t Trust: The Do’s & Don’ts

How Project Managers Waste Their Time: Avoid Doing These 13 Things!

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