The Tip of the Month: Be fair, be transparent, and never forget the human faces behind your toughest decisions. That’s what makes a leader worth following.

Persistence doesn’t always look like progress. It’s not a trophy or a headline. It’s the decision to keep showing up, especially when the numbers don’t break your way.

This idea of branding reminded me of something else: Kleenex. Think about it. When was the last time someone sneezed and asked for a “facial tissue?” Probably never.

If I can’t trust you, I can’t do business with you. I don’t care how talented you are. I don’t care how long we’ve worked together. I don’t care how many projects you’ve completed. If I can’t trust your word, then we don’t have anything to build on—figuratively or literally.

Great leaders don’t just manage risk, they challenge convention. While many chase margins and efficiencies, the most visionary among them invest in what matters most: their people.

Your responsiveness is a key factor in achieving success in your career. Opportunities don’t wait, and neither do customers, employees, or critical decisions.

Sales is an art as much as it is a science. It is not just about knowing your products inside and out but also understanding the customer’s mindset.

In this month’s Contractor Tip, ask yourself: Are you standing at the bow of your ship, looking ahead to the horizon? Or are you caught up in the engine room, consumed by the details of daily operations?

People often fail to achieve financial goals simply because they never establish them in the first place. Benjamin Franklin once said, “The way to wealth is to either increase your means or reduce your wants. Either will do.” The point is to prioritize growing your money. It is not about where you are now, but where you want to be.