Everything

The Real Tablet-Phone

December 20, 2010
By

In early 2001, it struck me that the best mobile device would be a tablet-phone-headset combo.  And these days, it would have two cameras, a music player with all formats, anti-glare screen, kickstand, lots of USB ports, HDMI, Bluetooth and IP printing etc.  But my main idea was about usability and form factor.  At the time (and now, in most offices), the two most familiar form factors are 8 1/2″ by 11″ and 3″ by 5″.  It seems to me that a tablet which measure just under 8 1/2 by 11 and a phone which measures just under 3 by 5 would be intuitive to grab, even when you’re barely looking at it.  If the phone docked in the tablet, and the headset docked in either one, that would be even cooler.

Imagine if this tablet was 8 1/2 by 11.  You might have room for a real keyboard at one end, and even a 10 key.

If the phone was 3 by 5, it would be intuitive to grab, and harder to drop.

They should sync automatically, with each other, and with your desktop or any Internet connection to your contacts and calendar databases.  Apps should sync automatically between them. Read more »

How to Make Money in Construction

December 7, 2010
By

It’s no secret that you have to know your trade (or if you’re a general contractor, all of the trades) to be successful.  No need to state the obvious or dwell on it.
But these days, there are essential ingredients for success in construction:

Communication

You have to communicate with:
-    Your customers
-    Your vendors
-    Your employees
-    Other contractors

If you’re not constantly communicating the right information to all of the above, your business will slow down when it needs to keep growing.  It sounds like a lot, and it is, but if you choose the right time of day to call, e-mail, IM, etc., to the right person, the chances you will be successful at asking the right question or getting the right answer increase.
Obviously, other contractors and most of your vendors (including subcontractors) are available earlier in the day.  Your employees are available at known times.  And the customers can be called a little later unless you know otherwise.
It’s easy to overlook the necessary communication with your employees.  But you can learn a lot about your customers and vendors from them if you ask.

Organization

Maybe the hardest thing for contractors to learn is good organization.  It’s not necessary when you’re coming up as someone else’s employee.  Make the time to get organized and stay organized.  It will improve all parts of your business if you know where everything is and how to reach it.  Appointments and finances are key to this area.

Consistency

One of the things you value most in an employee is consistency.  And it works in every direction.  Between you and your customers, between you and your vendors and between you and your employees.  It may seem like a burden or a chore to “be predictable”, but the hidden rewards are there.  When people know they can reasonably count on you to pick up the phone, answer an e-mail, show up on time to an appointment, be in the office for a period of time every weekday, they are more tuned in to your needs. Read more »

Master Builder Featured Reports

November 14, 2010
By

List of Custom Reports featured on this site:

Estimating/Bidding

These 5 Proposals print directly from the Takeoff in screen 9-5:

Proposal by Phase with Notes

Proposal by Phase and Cost Code with Notes

Proposal by Cost Code with Notes

Proposal by Bid Item with Notes

Proposal by Bid Item and Cost Code with Notes

Job Reports

Gross Profit Long Form

There are dozens more reports available, please see Contact page.

If a report cannot be written in Master Builder’s Report Writer, it definitely can be written using Crystal Reports. For any reports you would like written using Crystal Reports, please contact Dolente Consulting, and mention that you were referred from this site.