Use It To Build Your Business
I was having a conversation with Teresa, my sales rep from B&B Lumber, yesterday about how hard it is to get people in the construction business to work on building the business.
I get it. The cash flow comes from the construction that gets done. Spending time on business things doesn’t … or does it?
After being in construction for over 40 years, I understand how the focus is on the physical construction rather than the office work. Not to mention, those same people usually don’t like paperwork.
But what if this is the difference between being successful or going out of business?
Our conversation yesterday was about how these bullheaded people are unwilling to make a change or learn something new.
When you call someone bullheaded, you’re commenting on their stubborn or obstinate nature and maybe implying that they’re not very smart. Maybe you’ve seen bullheaded people act without thinking.
The word dates back to the early 19th century and comes from the idea that a bull charges forward with strength and determination, but without much thought or contemplation.
It’s a little like a dog with a bone or a tennis ball. I know that when we’re throwing the tennis ball for our dog and she brings it back, she won’t let go, no matter how long or how hard you pull. This isn’t really to her benefit. If she’d just let me have it, I would throw it for her again.
Hopefully, as humans, we’re smarter than dogs and bulls.
I don’t think the issue is that bullheaded people aren’t smart…maybe it’s even the opposite.
We often think of being stubborn as a negative trait, but being a little hard-headed sometimes comes in handy. It helps you stand your ground and not give in to people because of peer pressure or guilt. It does pay to compromise in certain situations, but you also have to know when to stand firm.
Here are seven traits of a bullheaded person:
- They have a strong will – They don’t hesitate to follow through with something they believe in. If they have a vision, they will accomplish their goals, come hell or high water. This mental toughness pays off because you can’t reach your destination if you’re afraid to even leave the driveway.
- They have resilience – They feel that they must do everything on their own. Nothing was handed to them in life, and they know if they want something, they will have to work for it. However, no challenge intimidates or scares away a stubborn person. They will work 16-hour days if they have to in order to accomplish their goals.
- They aren’t swayed by peer pressure – They won’t cave just because no one agrees with them. They’ll make their points, have evidence to back it up, and stand their ground even if no one stands with them. While some people will just go with the herd because it feels comfortable, a person with pride doesn’t let the groupthink mentality affect them.
- They are passionate about life – They don’t like to back down from a challenge. They have a lot of passion and vigor for life. Nothing seems off-limits or impossible because of their willpower and determination to get things done.
- They have a good work ethic – They have high standards for themselves and enjoy getting the job done, no matter what it might entail. They typically do better working alone because of their sometimes combative nature, but if they can tone it down a notch, working in groups doesn’t have to be a problem. Having pride in your work only becomes a problem when you trample on others or don’t consider their opinions.
- They resist change – They often resist change because they like things the way they are. This inflexibility might just be their downfall. Life changes constantly, so having an open mind and a willingness to go with the flow can be difficult for stubborn people.
- They like to argue to prove a point – Not backing down in a discussion is one thing, but taking it too far can mean starting arguments just for the sake of arguing. Stubborn people can have an insatiable need to be right, and they may see arguing as a fun pastime.
After looking over the research about stubborn people, I found that there’s more good than bad to being bullheaded. This research also makes perfect sense when you consider why people in construction tend to be bullheaded. These traits are often what’s needed to fight the daily battles that come with construction.
Maybe being bullheaded about making some changes would be a better plan.
Maybe the same determination that keeps you pushing through a tough construction project can help you build a better business.
If you would like some help using your bullheaded traits to build a successful construction business, you can schedule a free 30-minute consulting meeting.