The Real Reason Your Team Hates New Software
In the physical world, the definition of project success is necessary. You don’t break ground (really, you don’t even mobilize) until the scope is clear. Yet in the digital world, we treat transformation like a simple software install instead of what it truly is: a behavior-changing effort that touches every corner of the organization.
Spoiler alert, that doesn’t work.
Digital transformations rarely fall apart because of the software. They fall apart because no one ever aligned on the purpose to begin with. And if the foundation isn’t right, nothing built on it will be either.
Take Back Your Crayons: How Construction Can Unlock Their Creativity
For the first several years of my career, I was that guy that was tucked away in a corner crunching numbers. Design calcs, takeoffs, unit pricing and production rates, you name it. I was an engineer, “perfectly suited” for that role. But inside, I was bored out of my mind.
Somewhere along the way we started being rewarded for precision and punished for risk, so we stopped coloring outside the lines.
It’s a lie that has been spreading for a long time now.
The Data Wars: How We Screwed Up Construction’s Future (and How to Fix It)
I’ll be super honest with you, for a long time I helped build this siloed data monster. While the idea was noble (one platform, one place, one set of data), what I didn’t realize is that we were really just building a single source of control.
And now, almost 15 years later, we’ve institutionalized a massive data imbalance.
It’s become a detriment to every phase of construction, negatively impacting owners and contractors alike. So, how do we fix it?
28 Rules for Building Smarter in Construction
I’ll never forget the day one of the area managers looked me dead in the eye and said, “This software is stupid.”
Because in some ways he was right. We had digitized chaos, which is a no-no.
It was a rule I learned the hard way. And after years in construction tech amassing thousands of similar conversations with people in the field I’ve collected 28 rules for building smarter in construction.
They’re part scars, part lessons learned and part rallying cry for the industry I love. Feel free to copy and paste.
One Skill That Will Save Your Next Digital Transformation: Ask Better Questions
I’ve been on the forefront of a number of transformations. A project kicks off with high hopes, a vendor promises the moon and an executives declare it all “mission critical.”
But then reality sets in.
The tech doesn’t perform as promised, adoption lags and workarounds pile up leaving the field reverting to spreadsheets, sticky notes and side texts. The truth is, most of those failures weren’t caused by bad software.
They were caused by bad questions.
In the Great Tech Debate of Build vs Buy…Is It Too Much to Ask for Both?
In a world that’s ripe with questions surrounding the buzziest of buzzwords, like “Should we use AI?” or “Will robots replace field crews?” there is a totally different topic that still reigns supreme.
Do we build our own construction software OR do we buy something off the shelf?
I have lived both sides and seen the pros and cons from every angle. But in my opinion, it’s the wrong question.
The Difference Between Reactive and Proactive Project Management
Let’s have a brutally honest moment here.
We’ve been talking about big data in construction for the better part of a decade now. Every conference, every panel, every sales pitch is all about dashboards, KPIs, predictive insights and “data-driven decisions.”
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most contractors don’t actually have big data. But it’s not their fault.
When Alignment Fails…and We’re Too Proud to Admit It
A few weeks ago, I made the bold statement that digital transformations fail due to a lack of alignment between those leading the change and those affected by it.
This week, I’ll prove it to you with a story about the time I watched a multi-billion-dollar tech company totally botch their tech.
But more importantly, we’ll talk about the lessons learned and how you can avoid a similar fate.
When Business Change Management Fails… It’s Not the Tech. It’s Us.
When a digital transformation fails (in construction or otherwise), it’s almost never because the technology didn’t work. It’s because we (those tasked with executing) didn’t lead the change well.
Construction doesn’t have a tech adoption problem. It has an alignment problem.
Let’s get specific…
7 Reasons ConTech Implementations Fail (& How to Fix Them)
Let’s be honest: implementing technology in construction feels a lot like trying to run new electrical in a 100-year-old building. You start with high hopes, realize the wiring’s a mess, blow a few fuses and end up questioning all your life choices.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
But here’s the deal, construction needs this. So, here are the top seven reasons why construction tech implementations struggle, in my opinion. And more importantly, how we fix them.
Systems Win. Complexity Kills
Let’s be honest, construction doesn’t fail because people don’t work hard. It fails when the systems in place stink. A project with smart people, big budgets and all the potential in the world still manages to spiral into delay, confusion and major overruns.
Not because no one cared. But because the systems running the job were clunky, overbuilt, or worse—nonexistent.
Don’t believe me? That’s ok, there’s plenty of real-world proof to back it up.
Strong Opinions, Loosely Held: The Secret Weapon for the Future of Construction
After years in the field dealing with outdated tools and tangled spreadsheets, I was sure I knew what needed to change. It was then I had the opportunity to build a one-size-fits-all platform from the ground up. I had strong opinions that this was the answer, and I wasn’t afraid to share them.
But about a year ago, something shifted.
Knowing Your Costs Is a Condition of Employment
In construction, we like to keep things straight. Steel’s either plumb or it’s not. Concrete passed the test or it didn’t. And when it comes to budget? As I was taught long ago, “Knowing your costs is a condition of employment.” That line has stuck with me for decades because it’s not just advice—it’s a mandate. If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know your project.
But there’s always a catch.
The Learning Curve We Accept… Until It’s Tech
In construction, we expect there to be a learning curve. Whether it’s tying rebar, hanging pipe or laying track, we know it takes time for crews to get into their groove.
But, when we implement new construction technology, suddenly that same curve becomes a panic.
Why is it that we give our crews grace to learn how to build — but not our teams time to learn how to build better?
Riding the Wave: Why You Want to Be In Front of the Law of Diffusion
There is a popular law that is often cited in the world of technology: the Law of Diffusion of Innovation. It’s the idea that new technologies spread through society in a predictable wave-like pattern.
Of course, we’ve all heard how, in the world of technology, construction literally defines the laggard section of the curve.
Well, many in the industry, including myself, are tired of hearing that. So, let’s take a look at how the famously “resistant” construction industry can learn from this well-known Law.
It’s Time to Shift: Asset-Centric Construction
For far too long, construction has been confined within the boundaries of individual projects. So much so that “Project Management” is now a discipline all its own. We idolized things like Critical Path Scheduling, juggled the pieces of the Project Management Triangle and applauded the advent of Advanced Work Packaging. Yet, with all this project-centric fanfare, we've overlooked the very reason construction exists. The asset.
The Truth About Work-Life Balance: It’s Personal
Work-life balance is one of the most frequently discussed topics in modern work culture. We see it plastered on walls in offices everywhere as one of the most utilized of company core values.
But, for many it's arguably the most misunderstood value.
You see, balance is personal, ever-evolving and often radically different than the popular misconceptions. And now more than ever it is needed in construction.
Why Your ConTech Should Be Gaining Value—Not Losing It
If you’re thinking of your software the same way you think about a company truck—that is, as something that just loses value over time—you’re missing the entire point. The right ConTech appreciates in value. Not just because it gets newer, better features (which it absolutely should), but because its impact on your organization grows year after year.
That is, if you take care of it.
Why Admitting Your Mistakes Builds Credibility (and How to Do It Right)
Mistakes happen. Period. In construction, in leadership, in life—they’re just inevitable. But what separates great people from mediocre ones isn’t avoiding mistakes; it’s how they handle them.
The willingness to admit mistakes upfront doesn’t make you weak, on the contrary it shows honesty; it builds credibility, fosters trust and strengthens teams. I know, this sort of idea flies in the face of the traditional machismo mindset in construction—the ole’ “just figure it out and don’t let anyone see you sweat” approach—but hear me out.
Why Big Tech Keeps Failing at Construction Tech (and What to Look for Instead)
Let’s say you’re in the market for new technology to support your construction business. It’s easy to be drawn to the big names in Silicon Valley - the global hub of innovation, home to trillion-dollar companies that have transformed entire industries. On the surface, it makes sense. Why wouldn’t the tech giants, with their vast resources and cutting-edge solutions, be the best choice?
Well, if your challenge involves construction or capital project management, you might be looking in the wrong place.
