Residential - Commercial - Industrial: How Focus Benefits Everyone

One of the things I can no longer unsee since starting my electrical company are the words “Residential – Commercial – Industrial” plastered on the side of a service van.  Such a statement is disingenuous at best.  To think that an electrical company can occupy such a large swath and provide each sector with the attention it demands is hubris run amok.  A statement so broad conceals the fact that there are limitations to which jobs any electrical company would and would not be willing to take on.  I highly doubt a top 50 company is wanting to do an afterhours call because a GFCI tripped in someone’s house, and a 3-electrician operation is unlikely to build the next datacenter, at least this week.  In a feast or famine world we all too often try to cast a net as large as possible.  However, I would argue that careful examination and learning the power of saying “no" helps reduce chaos within a company, grows proficiency within the area of focus, and builds a lasting competitive advantage that wards off others.

Specialization does not need to be complex.

In the early part of my career, I saw a tale of two companies.  One company had carved out two specific niches for itself in the telecommunication and industrial fields.  The other company bounced along taking whatever jobs came its way, swinging widely in size and scope.  The first company had built a select network of businesses and contractors it worked with.  It took advantage of state grants to improve training and heavily invested in specific tools to make specific tasks easier.  The second company, however, moved between multiple business lines dealing with contractors on a very transactional basis.  We were not able to build up expertise in any one field, and project management, estimating, and field work suffered accordingly.  To really highlight the difference between the two companies, the first company was able to build 5G small cells sites at a cost that made others wonder how it could be profitable.  The second company had to spend 2 weeks reworking sites done the year prior for issues related to job specifications.

Like in dating, the siren call of casting the widest net possible draws us all in to some degree, even I am no exception.  However, knowing the type of electrical work you want to do, and more importantly, the type you do not want to do helps you focus on work that is rewarding, enjoyable, and most importantly profitable.  Construction is an inherently human endeavor. Being so reliant on humans is a complication for sure, but an awesome advantage as well.  Each electrical contractor has the opportunity to assemble a team that is unique to all others.  In that uniqueness certain advantages and disadvantages inevitably become apparent.  Focusing on what you do well results in a better outcome for both the client and the company.    Focus helps ward of competition and can create advantages when times are lean.  However, focus is not a one time activity.  Personnel, the market, and experience change and alter our view of the future.  It is to your own peril not to revisit priorities on an occasion.  Ultimately, you do not want to be standing in the middle of a project wondering what decisions lead you to this point in your life, or in the company’s life.