If You Want the Job, Ask For It!

Words: Damian LangDo you close the deal and get that contract? Or, do you just send out the bid in hopes that the owner or general contractor received it and will give you the job? If you aren’t asking for the job, and the customer doesn’t know how bad you want it, your odds of getting it are greatly reduced.

My masonry contracting firm was recently awarded a large project that we thought we had no chance of getting. How’d we do it? Simply by following up on the status of the project. In fact, when our estimator called, the GC said the mason contractor who previously had the job had gone out of business. Also, he said he never had our proposal from the bid a year earlier. So we sent him a copy of the proposal and were awarded the job. (Learned a lesson here: If you want something, ask for it!)

Last month, my daughter, Amy, wrote a letter to the Easter Bunny. Little did I know what Amy really wanted for Easter until I found this:

“Dear, Easter Bunny, thank you for all the things you gave me last year. Easter is my favorite holiday. Thanks for the ducks you gave me last year. But they aren’t at my Dad’s house, they are at the pond. I kinda want a bunny for Easter, but I better forget it because I don’t think my Dad likes animals. But a bunny would be nice, because I get lonely around the house because my Dad won’t let me have animals, just ducks for the pond. But I do have Spunky (her dog) but that’s all. I wish my bunny was still living. If it was I would be playing with him now. I didn’t tell my Dad I wanted a bunny, because he would yell at me and say he doesn’t like inside pets. I had a dream that my Dad got me a bunny. I wasn’t happy when I woke up because I figured out it was just a dream. I used to get bunnies every single Easter but now I’m getting ducks. I mean I love my ducks but I never get to see them anymore. Every time I go to the pet store I never can get one. So I’m just asking you please can I have a bunny that’s all I want for Easter. But If I don’t get one it’s okay because your probally busy. and have other things to do. Thank you!! Love, Amy.”

Amy didn’t get her bunny for Easter for this letter never got to the Easter Bunny (me). In fact, on the night before Easter, knowing she had written a letter to the Easter Bunny that wasn’t on the fireplace hearth; I checked the trash and found it there. It was crinkled up and scribbled out but still legible enough for me to read. She never gave the letter out for fear of the unknown. Some day I plan to show her this un-sent letter and explain to her that if you want something, you must ask for it. By the time I (the Easter Bunny) got the note, it was too late to get her a bunny, or you can bet she would have woken up to one.

It’s amazing how our kids can remind us of the simple lessons in life. When you write up a proposal or submit an estimate, make sure the customer gets it and understands why you are the best fit for the job. Ask for it! Pick up the phone, and start calling customers to see what they have in the pipelines. You may find some new work by just staying in touch with them. If they know what you want, they may just give it to you!
About: Featured
Who Knows Most About Keeping Masonry Workers Safe?

As a safety professional who has specialized largely in masonry safety since the late 1980s, I’ve grown to think that I know a great deal about keeping masonry workers safe. That being said, I must admit that my colleagues and I know more about complianc

Read More
Recognizing Women in the Industry

Masonry was introduced to the world through the imagination, determination, and pure strength of mankind. The first masons’ unique abilities harnessed the earth around them to create the structures that provided the security that allowed us to advance. Th

By: Cassie Mejia
Read More
Understanding Different Types of Trowels Originating Through Government Specifications

Trowels are essential tools in masonry, each one designed with specific functions and specifications to aid in various tasks. Knowing the right type of trowel to use can greatly impact the quality and efficiency of your work. This article dives into the f

By: Paul Bender
About: MAP Partner
Read More
Natural Stone Institute Holds Utah Study Tour

Oberlin, OH, September 17, 2024—157 attendees from 48 member companies and 5 architectural firms attended the annual NSI Study Tour, which took place in Salt Lake City August 25-28, with an optional extension to Idaho on August 29. Highlights included an

By: Amy Oakley
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →