The construction industry is in a state of fight or flight. The news is broadcasting the gloominess of our economy and the lowest of the low consumer confidence. As a family owned business structured as a partnership between husband and wife this news is scary. There is no safety net in the other spouse's 9 to 5 and medical coverage in our household. We are so passionate about our business because we have no other talents that will feed our children. Unless you count my skill of sharp wit and charm.
In this months Tile Magazine Editor Arpi Nalbandian wrote a piece called "Evolve or Dissolve". That is a decision we made early in the recession. We took our slow times and poured our hearts into research and marketing. We looked at our business from the bottom up and from the top down. We wrote our employee handbook, job descriptions and a safety manual. We took pictures of our most impressive projects, edited copy and posted it all on our website. We evolved.
Through the recession we found a new identity in survival mode. We were not coasting on our skill. We were honing our talents in the practice of running a lucrative and legitimate business. We went from a mom and pop shop to a professional flooring installation company. It was a growth that was uncomfortable. Our brains felt like mush and we were often overwhelmed by the tasks we decided to undertake. We continue to see our business as an ever evolving endeavor.
We are moving out of the recession in a better position than when we came into it. We are hungry and it's dinner time.
And the "mom and pop" of the business have even managed to maintain a good marriage and healthy family! No small feat!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! We wish you every success!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! Kudos for taking the initiative and making it work. I look forward to reading more posts from you. Here's to your success!
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