Her Only Focus is Food in 2025

She's not my cat.

But her owner, my neighbor, said I could feed her and, well, now she's basically mine, too.

Lily is consistent. She stops by my front door every day. And (or) night. She meows, purrs. You can hear her from my office down the hall. From the living room.

She's been visiting me for almost 2 years.

Here she is New Years Day. She knows exactly why she stopped by and what she wants. Food. (And maybe a little affection).

I know this because I tried just being nice and petting her without feeding her. She liked it. She liked me. But that lasted a few days and then she disappeared. Vanished for a week. Why?

Because I wasn't giving her what she wanted. Food.

("I'll teach you, Neil! I'm going to where they feed me.")

As soon as I started opening the door again to greet her with a fresh can of Whole Paws, our relationship was restored. Day after day, night after night. I've never seen a feline more excited!

She jumped up on me, onto the bench, then down, then up again, then down again.....

Lily reminds me all the time about business. She's got an eye for what she wants. True, it's a transaction. But it's really much more!

Much more. But the concept is super simple. So simple that it's surprising how many misunderstand it. They outright screw it up!

If you're in business, you have customers.

They are always signaling what they want. We think we hear them. But do we?

Here's my two cents:

Whether you’re a General Contractor, Developer, or any business leader, the secret isn’t just in hearing your customers, your clients; it’s in truly understanding their signals and delivering what they need to thrive. This is what they want from you.

At AmeriConstuct, we took heed more than ever in 2024 and made a firm commitment - Give the people what they want. Surveys told us (among other things) clients wanted a say in our recruitment fees. More flexibility on the number and the terms.

We listened. Then came our end of the year offer as I described it in What is a Good Offer?

We were successful. In 2025, we think the formula for continued success is clear:

Give the people what they want! We now have a whole new more customer-focused fee structure beginning right now January, 2025.

When it comes to the construction industry, where I have had a professional affiliation since 2008, customers aren’t shy about expressing their desires. Their meows might be complaints about project delays, demands for better pricing or a more inclusive bid process, a diverse work force, or sustainable building practices...

If you're a decision-maker in the industry:

Give the people what they want.

A recent survey by Construction Dive found that 73% of project owners prioritize what they want versus what they are being sold. Herein lies an important lesson:

It's not about you. It's about them. The customer. You've heard that before.

But consider one of my favorite business quotes from the architect Frank Gehry:

“Your best work is only as good as the response of the person for whom you’re designing.”

In 2008, during the economic downturn, many contractors doubled down on cost-cutting, ignoring client demands for innovation and adaptability.

The result? Lost clients and stalled growth. Fast forward to right now, successful firms are thriving by focusing on what clients explicitly ask for such as collaborative, high-tech project delivery systems, for example.

So, this year, beginning right now, if you're in a position to effect change, I challenge you to ask yourself: "am I delivering the right kind of value? Is it what the people want?" The right response may mean investing in talent that reflects the skills clients prioritize or adopting cutting-edge tools that enhance communication and transparency.

I liken it to adapting to the customer's ever-evolving diet, just like tailoring your cat’s meals to keep her healthy and happy. Sometimes Lily gets a salmon can, sometimes she gets chicken - but she always gets something to satisfy her.

Just remember, not all demands are equal. Just as you (hopefully) wouldn’t feed a cat chocolate because she paws at it, you shouldn’t over-promise or compromise your principles to secure business. There must always be common sense limits and the "want" must be reasonable.

So, a quick 1-2-3 check list for you on the Give the people what they want journey:

1. Conduct Client Audits: Regularly check in with clients to ask what they need to succeed, not just what they want. Needs build loyalty; wants shift with trends. You want the right balance.
2. Invest in Technology: Whether it’s virtual collaboration tools or AI-driven project management systems, being tech focused this year will greatly improve your client relationships.
3. Recruitment Focus: Hire team members who embody adaptability and empathy, so they can anticipate client needs before they’re verbalized.

The path to thriving in business in 2025 is about listening closely, responding wisely, and remembering: when customers circle your business, they’re looking for something specific.

If you feed them well, they’ll keep coming back for more.

Happy New Year!