Have you ever found yourself trying to do too much because you want to help everybody? I know I have!

I don't like letting people down, but saying yes to too many things can leave us stretched too thin. Before long, we're losing focus on the things we really need to get done. Sometimes, we need to step back, take a look at our priorities, and make some tough decisions about where our time goes. Trying to help everyone can make it hard to help anyone.

Routines are an important part of being productive, but they can also become roadblocks. It’s easy to get comfortable doing things the same way we always have, even when there might be a better way. From getting a new smartphone to learning to use a pneumatic nail gun, sometimes change takes time, money, and effort. Finding the balance between sticking with what works and being willing to learn something new can help us build a better business.

Running a construction business can leave little time for learning, connecting, and looking for better ways to do things. But some of the most valuable business advice comes from simply talking with other builders who have been there.

Figuring things out on your own can keep you stuck in the same rut for years. Sometimes slowing down, sharing ideas, and having a cup of coffee with another builder is exactly what you need to move forward. You don't have to figure it all out on your own.

Unexpected things have a way of changing our plans and taking up time we had set aside for something else. Knowing what to do first means understanding what matters most and deciding what deserves our attention. Being flexibly rigid helps us adjust when plans change without losing sight of our priorities.

The key is learning to focus on what matters most instead of always fighting the hottest fire.

Most of us don’t like change. We get comfortable doing things the way we’ve always done them, even when we know there is a better way. I recently realized I was doing this with my smartphone, and it got me thinking about how easy it is to do the same thing in our businesses. Sometimes making a change takes some time, effort, and money, but hanging on to the old way can cost us even more in the long run.

Knowing what to do first can be one of the hardest parts of running a construction business. Priorities change, unexpected problems pop up, and the biggest fire isn’t always the most important thing that needs your attention.

Learning to be flexibly rigid means knowing what can move and what can’t. Sometimes putting out a small ember today keeps it from becoming tomorrow’s biggest fire.

Every minute of every day, we are making choices. Some are simple and seemingly insignificant, while others can change the direction of our lives and businesses.

Learning to prioritize those decisions, recognize what really matters, and act when the time comes can make all the difference. “Would You Rather?” isn’t just a game, but something we’re playing every single day.

Large construction projects can make billing complicated, especially when you want payments to be fair to both you and your customer. A payment application gives you a clear way to show what work and materials are being billed, what has already been paid, and what remains.

Follow along as John walks Gene through preparing the first payment prior to starting a project, including how to separate material and labor and calculate the appropriate payment amount.