March 1, 2020
How do you define business success? While there is no single definition, most people consider business success to be a combination of factors, some more obvious than others. Financial rewards are typically part of the mix; a profitable business is an important motivator for hard work, risk taking and persevering through failure. For many, the …
February 6, 2020
Track time for better bidding By Sigrid Tornquist Just as the first step in money management is to understand your spending habits, the first step in shop efficiency is to know how your workers are spending their time. The formula to figure out how much chargeable time versus non-chargeable time your shop spends is simple: …
January 1, 2020
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is thousands of years old—possibly stretching back to the ancient Babylonians. The word resolution means being purposeful; intentionally deciding to do or not do something and then following through. Resolving to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t may sound obvious, but it requires an …
September 1, 2019
We all know that change is inevitable. This knowledge is a relief when things are going poorly and worrisome when things are going well. The transition to Fall brings changes to the weather and perhaps a gradual slowing to the frenetic pace of marine work. It’s a good time to take stock and commit to …
July 1, 2019
by Elisa Bernick Perspective is defined as “a way of looking at or thinking about something.” It’s not an accident that we talk about “losing” and “gaining” perspective. It’s a valuable currency that we sometimes have more of and sometimes less. At this time of year, it’s not unusual to feel like you’re losing perspective. …
May 1, 2019
2019 looks like another year of growth for the marine industry, according to IFAI’s market research. The U.S. economy is above full employment and consumer confidence is at a 17-year high. Entering 2019, consumers see a stronger economy than do businesses; however, both believe the economy has room to grow. Although marine fabricators welcome an …
March 1, 2019
I ran into the term “generativity” recently. It was coined by psychoanalyst Erik Erikson in 1950 to denote a concern for establishing and guiding the next generation through caring, teaching and engaging in creative work that contributes to society. I saw numerous examples of generativity at the MFA conference in Long Beach in January, and …
January 1, 2019
Do you wake up raring to go, or are you a reluctant riser? For most of us, the answer is “it depends on the day.” Keeping yourself energized takes more than another cup of coffee; it requires staying challenged and curious. A good way of accomplishing this is to continually think of yourself as both …
September 1, 2018
If you think this issue looks different, you’re not imagining things. We’re kicking off a fresh design to give you even more of what you love about the magazine: more how-to information, more photos, more products and more actionable ideas for success. With streamlined fonts and page designs, and more emphasis on visual storytelling, our …
July 1, 2018
Welcome to midsummer! Tis the season of abundant sunshine, early and late days and lots of hard work. The busy season can make or break a business. The requests come in fast and furious, and the tricky bit is making sure the finished projects meet your standards and your clients’ expectations. The fast pace makes …