IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OR OF SOMETHING NEW?

For the last year I have seen the news and heard the reports of the economy and how it is effecting many industries.  As the stock market is improving it is becoming obvious that companies are working more efficiently with fewer workers.  I know this is true with my own firm.  The pace is slower and the bodies are less and it is comfortable if we can still keep the firm in tact and successful.  Thus is where the doubts begin.

Last week I had a talk with a veteran contractor who confessed his concern about where all of this is going.  On one side of the market place, word is out that engineers are being contacted for new high end residential projects as well as soils engineers; both the first to be involved with the architects.  But the concern is the timing that is required after such consultants do their due dilligence and the architects get started with their plans and proposals to the agencies and review boards that get involved.  It is estimate that a minimum of 15 months is required before a contractor has an opportunity to bid on the project.  And it could be 12 months before an interior design firm is hired to work on the same project.  From experience these are conservative time frames as some projects are in the planning stage for more than 2 years and then in the construction phase fo at least 18 months before completion. 

All that being said, if we are starting to see an economic up turn in the custom home market, which I truly doubt, it could be 1 year before our firm will have new work on the boards.  In the meantime, I guess one has to begin to end the outlay of capital to stay afloat and re-invent themselves as new businesses.  You can cost cut only to a point and then you start to change the visual, functional and practical form of your firm. Thus a new idea must be born to carry you into the future.  Has this happened in the past; of course. 1970, 1982, 1991, 2000 and now 2009.  Oddly it seems more scary now as our ages are now in the higher numbers and the effort of reconstructing our firms and staff is more exhausting.  I thought we had paid the price of success from our hard work of the past!

So what is the future!  Stay tuned as it will be a positive blog as we have to leave our fears and belly aching behind us.  Life is good and knowledge is grand.  When one has both, success is eminent. Read on and enjoy the ride.