Reflections from a focused business development manager...

I recently joined the Pircon Group as a member of the marketing and sales team about 5 months ago

I was hungry and cocky (and still am with a touch of humility)

And I want to share 3 key lessons that I've been learning so far about myself as a project and business development manager.

There are so many things I can reflect on and I want to find a way that I can connect with you while making me look professional and cool.

Here's lesson one.

Read the drawings.

It was my second day on site as a new apprentice carpenter, and I walked into the trailer during a dusty day on site and saw a set of drawings on the work table. I walked over, stared at the pilasters and the footings (parts of concrete foundation) and the elevation (facing view from the side) and I was kind of curious about what I saw.

I was tired at the time and super hot on the September sunny day so I chugged a water bottle and stared at the drawings. With some questions in my head, I walked away after I heard my foreman outside yelling around. Dumbfounded but determined to find the answers

Now as I stare at drawings every day as a junior Project Manager, I get key mentorship from the senior guys on my team. I take time daily to read the drawings and understand each section, reading the legend and important sections of each drawing. Noticing the different sections such as the electrical plans, structural plans, HVAC plans, architectural plans, elevation drawings, and more. Understanding the difference between Building Permits and Development permits and the site plans required for them.. I feel like I'm improving day by day.

I'm blessed to be around such experienced project managers, estimators, and teammates that I can always learn from their decades of experience.

This is something that I think of daily - so the lesson learned. As a project manager, read your drawings every day. No matter if your team won the project or not. Read the drawings.

Humble yourself.

There will always be a hierarchy no matter where you go. Whether you play on a football team, train in Mixed Martial arts, or set up scaffolding with a crew on a site - There is always a hierarchy to follow. A leader at the top and senior guys below him or her, the second coolest or strongest guys below, then it can be you.

I haven't come to this conclusion and awareness until I started working in construction. I used to work for a concrete cutting and demolition company and I used to get picked on and teased. I used to take it personally and get offended. Whenever I would get constructive feedback, I'd get defensive and upset.

One day I got into a fight with a big demolition guy in the parking lot because he was trying to tease me. We both learned really fast.

As I started to get to know the guys - started relaxing my uptight sense of humor and started joking around with the guys I became aware that there is a hierarchy of leadership and seniority in every company. Normally the senior guys on a crew would get the best tools, the best tasks, and the best projects. While a new guy like me would be shoveling chipped concrete rubble into a bin while the senior guys were running the concrete saws and chippers.

I started accepting this fact as I took time to reflect and read books by Jordan Peterson and watched how animals acted around each other. I learned that if I want to become very successful like the person at the top, I had to find ways to be around them and learn from them. I had to remove the chip on my shoulder and my defiance against authority and put on a student hat. I wanted to be the guy with the concrete saw - not the man with the shovel (except shoveling is a pretty solid workout).

So when it was time to receive orders for the next project -- instead of challenging authority. I'm learning that I need to listen more, ask more questions, make suggestions and follow the leader AND also take it easy when it's time to get feedback.

Fast forward to now, as I learn how to manage projects and create estimates. I'm around two great leaders, Adeel and Chris. Being around these guys is tough but I remind myself every day to be a humble student. One day I will be like the guy with the concrete saw, for now.... I'll shovel the dirt.

Be a Professional

It's getting very late over here and I want to get to bed...

So I will quickly type up this last important point.

Become a professional. Whether you're reading this and you're an entrepreneur or salesperson, becoming a professional is more than just having it on your LinkedIn profile.

It means dressing like an Expert, speaking like an Expert, and also... One thing I struggled with

Is making sure I keep my personal and professional boundaries separate.

Without going into detail, there were many times when I got too close with my clients and the people I worked with. I would open up to them and eventually reveal personal things about myself that I probably shouldn't of.

I would say an inappropriate joke that a professional would not have done.

I once told a colleague that I loved them. And she stopped working with me shortly after.

It doesn't mean being a robot but also knowing what is good for me to say...

And knowing when to shut my mouth and BE a professional. People will respect you for that.

There needs to be a fine line between professionals and the people that they work with. There needs to be mutual respect and also discernment on what is to be discussed and what is not to be discussed such as politics and faith. There are more important times to be professional than times when it's meant to be an expert.

I'll share more advice and tips throughout my career and I'll post them here on Linkedin. So stay tuned on this journey of mine.

I hope you find this valuable and took some insights from this, whether you're learning about construction drawings, joining a new team and starting off as the new guy/gal, or looking to improve your professionalism and gain respect in the workplace - this article is for you.

I know there were some grammar and sentence structure errors and that's totally OK. This article came directly from my heart so I hope you enjoy it.

Also, if you're looking for a quote for Commercial Construction. Our team, The Pircon Group is ready to help you!

Visit: PirconGroup.com

Email Me: [email protected]

Call Me: 587-999-1361