OFTEN IN ANY INDUSTRY THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH A DESIRED OUTCOME. NO INDUSTRY IS FACED WITH MORE DIVERSITY THAN CONSTRUCTION. EVERY TRADESMAN KNOWS THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO COMPLETE ANY TASK, AND THAT IS THEIR WAY. TRY TO STAND UP AGAINST ANY TRADESPERSON ON THEIR METHOD OF PRODUCTION AND BE PREPARED TO MEET NOTHING BUT OPPOSITION TO ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES. 

THIS BRINGS UP THE SUBJECT OF OUR POST, WHICH IS “DOING IT ‘RIGHT'” WITH EMPHASIS ON RIGHT  AND JUST HOW THAT CAN VARY. 

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION I HAVE RAN INTO MANY DIFFERENT TRADES AND MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN A CAT SO TO SPEAK. SOME TRADES PREFER A CERTAIN TOOL BRAND WHILE OTHERS CLAIM THE PRODUCT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A BRAND NAME BUT DEPENDS ONLY ON THE USER. MAYBE ONE CONTRACTOR USES ADVANCED FRAMING METHODS AND ANOTHER WILL NOT FALTER FROM TRADITIONAL LIGHT-WOOD FRAMING. PLUMBERS WHO USE PEX OR STAND BY COPPER. ELECTRICIANS WHO CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES, AND WELL, ALL THE OTHERS. 

SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE “RIGHT” WAY? HOW DOES ONE WALK THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH OF DOING THINGS “RIGHT”? 

IT CAN BEGIN IN THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND BE MUDDLED BY SHORTCUTS, LEARNED BEHAVIORS, REGIONAL PRACTICES, OUTDATED CODE REQUIREMENTS, AND JUST PLAIN INEXPERIENCE AMONG MANY OTHER VARIABLES. 

SO WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF YOUR WORK TO STAND BEHIND? FINAL QUALITY? SPEEDY COMPLETION? MATERIALS COST SAVINGS? 

IN A PERFECT WORLD ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS WOULD COMBINE COHESIVELY IN A RHYTHMIC DANCE OF EXCELLENCE IN PROJECT COMPLETION AND PERMANENCE, AS THE PRAISES ARE SANG AND LIGHT SHINES DOWN TO REIGN BEAUTIFUL GRACE UPON ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT…YEAH RIGHT. THAT’S ALMOST AS LIKELY AS THE APPRENTICE ACTUALLY COMING BACK WITH A CABINET STRETCHER, OR A 3/8″ QUARTER SNAPPER WITH RETURN STOP. YEAH THINK ABOUT THAT ONE. 

SO WHAT CAN YOU FOCUS ON TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE COVERING THE BASES AND DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET IT DONE “RIGHT” AND STILL TURN A PROFIT? I THINK THAT IS AS SIMPLE AS CARING ABOUT YOUR PRODUCT. WHEN SOMEONE CARES ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE CREATING AND INSTALLING IT SHINES IN THE QUALITY AND PERMANENCE OF THE  WORK COMPLETED. A PERSON WHO TRULY CARES ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT WILL MAKE ONE LAST TRIP FOR FREE TO CLOSE OUT THE COUPLE OF ITEMS REMAINING ON A PUNCH LIST EVEN IF IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THAT BIG OF A PROBLEM. THEY WILL MAKE ONE MORE TRIP TO THE SAW TO GET THAT TIGHT FIT JUST PERFECT. THEY PICK UP THE LEVEL AND SQUARE, STAY ON TOP OF INNOVATION IN THE INDUSTRY, ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT INNOVATION ON NEW PROJECTS, THEY PUT THE CLIENT IN THEIR SHOES AND ASK WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN. 

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS AS EASY AS CARING ABOUT THE JOB YOU DO AND NEVER BACKING DOWN FROM THAT STANDARD. WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT THAT MINDSET IN ALL YOU DO, THERE IS LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR FAILURE WHEN FAILURE IS NEVER AN OPTION TO BEGIN WITH. WHEN DOING YOUR JOB “RIGHT” IS WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT MOST, DOING THE JOB WRONG IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.