Talking Business with Dr. Sandra

07/07/2025

Information is free.
Transformation isn’t.

We’re surrounded by free content.
Courses, downloads, masterclasses, podcasts… it’s all just a click away.

So why are so many business owners still stuck?

Because access to information isn’t the problem anymore.
Change is.

Real learning doesn’t just give you new ideas.
It challenges you to break habits, rethink decisions, and become a different kind of leader.

That takes effort.
And that’s where most people get stuck.

I see it every day with the businesses I support.
Growth doesn't happen when you hear something new
It happens when you do something different.

🧠 What’s one thing you’ve had to change to grow?
I’d love to hear it.

06/24/2025

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟳 𝘁𝗼 𝟵 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀

Most contractors dream of scaling—but few actually make the leap.

What separates a $10M contractor from a $100M industry leader?

It’s not luck. It’s strategy.

Here are 3 key moves industry giants make that small contractors overlook:

1️⃣ They stop chasing every job
👉 High-growth firms get laser-focused on profitable, repeatable project types.

2️⃣ They build a leadership bench
👉 The CEO doesn’t run operations—strong teams do. Leaders build leaders, not bottlenecks.

3️⃣ They operate from data, not gut
👉 Project margins, labor efficiency, cost-to-complete—all tracked, analyzed, and optimized.

The shift isn’t just operational—it’s mental.

Small contractors think “how do I stay busy?”
Industry giants think “how do I scale sustainably and exit profitably?”

Want to scale smarter? Get your FREE preview of 📖 20 Growth Mistakes Stalling Your Construction Company—And How to Fix Them!

🔗 Download now: https://lnkd.in/gmN4HPnN

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06/23/2025

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬% 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

When I first spoke to a residential contractor doing $3.2M in revenue, he was exhausted.

“I feel like I’m running jobs just to survive,” he said.

The real issue?
👉 He was working hard—but not making enough profit.

We took a close look at his numbers.

❌ He was underbidding to stay competitive
❌ His change orders were sloppy and unpaid
❌ He wasn’t tracking real job costs—just estimates

Want to scale smarter? Get your FREE preview of 📖 20 Growth Mistakes Stalling Your Construction Company—And How to Fix Them!

🔗 Download now:

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06/13/2025

The Shard – A Modern Icon in the Heart of London

Also known as The Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, this architectural marvel stands 95 storeys tall—making it the tallest building in the UK.

Designed by Renzo Piano, The Shard is more than a skyscraper. It’s a vertical city with offices, restaurants, residences, and a panoramic viewing gallery.

Its sharp, glass façade reflects the ambition of modern London: bold, elegant, and always reaching higher.

🔹 A landmark of design.
🔹 A statement of progress.
🔹 A symbol of a city always in motion.

Have you ever been to The Shard? What was your experience like?

06/10/2025

The construction industry is changing fast.

✔️ Younger buyers expect tech
✔️ Financing is more complex
✔️ Margins are tighter than ever
✔️ AI is starting to reshape how we build

Old-school hustle alone won’t cut it anymore.

But when you mix timeless leadership with modern systems? That’s where real growth happens.

We bring this blend to every 90-day transformation we lead.

Want to know how your business stacks up? DM me for a quick diagnostic.

06/09/2025

Not another course.
Not a coach who’s never run a construction business.

When we work with contractors, we roll up our sleeves:

👉 Diagnose your current business
👉 Design a custom growth strategy
👉 Deliver side-by-side support until results show up

No fluff. Just expert implementation.

That’s what our 90-day high-touch business transformation is all about.

DM me if you’re ready to break past that $5M ceiling.

06/06/2025

🏙️ Burj Khalifa: A Symbol of Vision and Possibility

Standing at 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa isn’t just the tallest building in the world, it’s a reminder that limits are often self-imposed.

What began as a bold vision in the middle of the desert became a global icon of innovation, resilience, and collaboration. Over 12,000 workers from around the world helped build this architectural marvel, brick by brick, floor by floor.

What if we approached our goals the same way?
With clear vision, skilled teamwork, and the courage to reach higher than ever before.

Whether you're building a business, a career, or a personal dream, the Burj Khalifa stands as proof: if it can be imagined, it can be done.

06/05/2025

🔔 Attention, Construction Community! Tariff Alert! 💥

President Trump has just doubled steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50% (with the U.K. exempt until July 9), and that spike is already squeezing our project budgets. 😬 At a recent Skanska webinar, experts warned that a $375 million healthcare development could end up paying an extra $22 million, nearly 6% more, because of these new duties. Some materials have jumped as much as 8% in price, and Midwest aluminum premiums are up 54% since January. 📈

What This Means for Your Projects:
• Escalating Material Costs: Structural steel is up 5–8%, coil-based products have surged 50%, and aluminum is more expensive than ever.
• Supply Chain Shake-Up: Suppliers like Kawneer are rerouting contracts and tweaking production to dodge tariffs. Fabricators recommend bundling orders now to lock in better pricing.
• Hidden Price Hikes: Even if the tariff isn’t on your invoice, you could see a 20–25% cost bump from sourcing swaps.
• Longer Lead Times: U.S. steel mills are running at about 75% capacity, and aluminum smelters aren’t at full tilt—expect delays.

Tips to Keep Margins Intact:

1. Rework Contracts: Consider unit-based or index-based pricing clauses so you and your clients share the tariff risk.

2. Bundle Jobs: Combine your orders across multiple projects to negotiate bulk discounts and secure scheduling.

3. Find Tariff-Friendly Suppliers: Look for vendors absorbing some of the costs or using domestic alloys, and explore alternative materials where it makes sense.

4. Build in Contingencies: Factor a 5–8% material escalation into your bids, cash flow projections, and timelines now, before it’s too late.

Stay proactive to protect your bottom line and keep projects rolling. Have you felt the impact of these tariffs yet? How are you adapting? Let’s share ideas—drop your thoughts or questions below! 👇

06/04/2025

🚨 What happens to your construction project when ICE shows up unannounced? Over 100 workers detained last week. Here’s why you need to read on. 🚨

Late last Friday, May 30, ICE agents descended on job sites in Tallahassee, San Antonio, and New Orleans, detaining more than 100 undocumented construction workers in a single operation. Some were sent to Florida detention centers; others were flown to El Paso to await removal proceedings. Families are scrambling to locate loved ones, and general contractors insist they had no warning.

Why This Matters
• Labor Gaps Widen: Nearly 20% of our workforce may be undocumented. Sudden sweeps pull critical staff off the job, sometimes overnight, derailing timelines and inflating costs.
• Project Disruptions: Arrests halt work immediately. Subcontractors scramble to fill roles, supply chains falter, and deadlines slip.
• Human Toll: Beyond budgets and schedules, families and communities face trauma and uncertainty when breadwinners vanish without notice.

What Can General Contractors and Subcontractors Do?

Audit Compliance: Double-check I-9 forms and documentation so you’re not vulnerable to fines or shutdowns.

Develop a Rapid-Response Plan: Define who verifies warrants, who contacts legal counsel, and how you’ll communicate with crews if agents arrive.

Support Affected Workers: Keep a roster of immigration attorneys and local nonprofits ready, so families aren’t left figuring it out alone.

💬 How is your company preparing for potential enforcement actions? Have you updated your compliance protocols or seen warning signs on your sites? Share your experiences and best practices below. Our industry’s resilience depends on collaboration.

05/30/2025

Shanghai World Financial Centre 🇨🇳

Standing at 492 meters, the Shanghai World Financial Centre is renowned for its distinctive, bottle-opener design and its sky-high observation deck.

Completed in 2008, it reflects Shanghai’s emergence as a global financial hub, blending architecture, ambition, and innovation in one unforgettable skyline statement.

05/29/2025

Let’s be real:

📌 Hard work isn’t the issue.
📌 The business model is.

You don’t need more hustle.
You need a foundation that scales.

Because framing a house with a crooked level means one thing:
Go as fast as you want, but you’re still going sideways.

If you’re tired of grinding and getting nowhere, let’s talk.

👉 Book a 15-minute call. Let’s fix what’s broken, so your business works without breaking you. https://bit.ly/43ByOgK

05/27/2025

RUNNING A BUSINESS IS TOUGH. RUNNING A CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS? THAT’S TWICE AS HARD

But it doesn't have to be that way.

If you're tired of firefighting, taking from Peter to pay Paul, and feeling overwhelmed, we can help you take control, get rid of the chaos, and finally build a construction business that runs smoothly and pays you well.
You don't need to figure it all out alone.

Imagine a business that runs like clockwork and actually pays you well.
No more chaos. No more guesswork.

✅ Proven frameworks
✅ Tailored strategies
✅ Real, measurable results

Let’s make that your reality.
📞 Just 15 minutes can change everything.

Book your free call now https://calendly.com/drsandra/15min