Custom Components Company just finished a new project, the University of Florida Stadium Club in Gainesville, FL.  The Stadium Club is a newly

Custom Components Company supplied and installed a custom designed and fabricated aluminum trellis structure that dominates the rooftop of the building.  The beams for the trellis are 3" x 8" x 22', fabricated of stretch formed aluminum from Southern Stretch Forming in Denton, TX, and powder coated in an AAMA 2605 Spraylat Newlar powder coat finish.  The beams were then placed in a specially designed transport and positioning jig that was "flown" up to the rooftop, by crane, for installation.

 

Despite the lingering effects of an over-built housing market, the continued difficulty to obtain financing for real estate projects, budget shortfalls at state and municipal governments and the anxiety surrounding the prolonged European debt crisis, there are signs that the U.S. design and construction industry will be improving. Corporate profits have returned to pre-recession levels and businesses have subsequently been increasing their capital spending, borrowing costs are at record low levels and pent up demand for commercial and retail projects factors into what projects to be a 2.1% rise in spending this year for nonresidential construction projects. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation's leading construction forecasters, also projects a 6.4% increase of spending in 2013.  Read more

Source:  AIA

 

I don't think I have ever heard anyone complain that they don't have enough to do.  Somebody once said that we spend approximately 40,000 hours of our lifetime in the workplace.  How do we make that time productive?

A few years ago, I was introduced to a time management philosophy that made sense, and really seems to work.  It is based on the Pareto principle that basically says "80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts."

Another way to look at this is to divide your work tasks into three groups (A, B and C), based upon the impact those tasks will have on your or your company's success.  The "A" items will have the biggest impact, the "B" items will have a lesser impact, and the "C" items the least impact.  Let me tell you right now however, the irony in this system.  Typically, the "A" items are the most difficult and take the most time to complete, the "B" items, are less difficult, and take less time complete.  The "C" tasks are generally the easiest and take the least amount of time to complete.

An example of an "A" task is a large project or complicated quote that can bring in millions of dollars.  An example of a "C" item is clearing out the spam from your email inbox.  Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, and wanting a sense of accomplishing something (I do it on occasion), people will fall into the habit of focusing on those "C" items, with very little return.

The real focus should be on spending most of your time each day on your "A" tasks,then your "B" tasks, and the least amount of time on your "C" tasks.  A physical aid for this process is to have your "A" tasks in a prominent position on your desk and your "B" tasks nearby.  Take your "C" tasks and put them in a desk drawer, out of sight.  After six months, take a look at those "C" tasks in the drawer.  If no one has asked you about them, throw them out, as chances are no one will ask about them.

Like I said, it's a process that seems to work and improve productivity.  It's not easy, at first, because it involves changing habits.  But give a try.  I think you'll improve your productivity, impact and results.

Dave Janosz

Marketing Manager

Custom Components Company

  

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected the 2012 recipients of the Institute Honor Awards, the profession's highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. Selected from over 700 total submissions, 27 recipients located throughout the world will be honored at the AIA 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition in Washington. 

 

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