Business Forum: Estimate Equals Actual

A remodeler I know has a favorite slogan: Estimate equals actual. For him, this phrase captures the idea that the outcome of any activity, whether personal or business, should align with the intent; that is, the result should match the plan. This applies to everything we do, from making and keeping appointments to defining and achieving our personal and business goals. But getting our actions to match our plans is difficult, especially for small construction companies. The owners of small companies tend to be optimistic, can-do types who are willing to put in as many hours as it takes to make their companies successful. The problem, though, is that increased success generates even more work, and unless you can