Are you SAD?

Winter’s on its way.  Business is not quite as booming as in those strong summer months when the construction industry enjoys more of the fruits of its labor, so to speak.  Combine the winter blahs with the building blues, and what might you get?   S.A.D.

It has actually been documented that especially during this time of year; many people are prone to a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D.   Below is an explanation of this disorder and its symptoms:

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

According to Wikipedia, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is believed that affected people react adversely to the decreasing amounts of sunlight and the colder temperatures as the fall and winter progress. It is important to note that although SAD usually presents in the fall and winter there are those who suffer from this condition during the summer instead of, or in addition to, during the fall or winter.

SAD has not been long recognized as an official diagnosis. The term first appeared in print in 1985. Seasonal Affective Disorder is also referred to as winter depression, winter blues, or the hibernation reaction.

The incidence of SAD increases in people who are living farther away from the equator. Statistics on SAD in the United States show the disorder occurs in about 5% of adults, with up to 20% of people having some symptoms of the condition but not sufficient enough to meet diagnostic criteria for this disorder.  SAD is less common where there is snow on the ground. The average age of people first developing this illness is age 23. People of all ages can develop seasonal affective disorder.

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Although there is no specific diagnostic test for the illness, it is understood that symptoms of SAD include tiredness, fatigue, depression, crying spells, irritability, trouble concentrating, body aches, poor sleep, decreased activity level, and overeating, especially of carbohydrates, with associated weight gain. 

The symptoms of SAD typically tend to begin in the fall each year, lasting until spring. The symptoms are more intense during the darkest months. Therefore, the more common months of symptoms will vary depending on how far from the equator one lives.

So what do we do if we find ourselves far from the equator and feeling blue?   Here are just a few suggestions for combating this seasonal issue:

Regular exposure to light that is bright, particularly fluorescent lights, significantly improves depression in people with this disorder when it presents during the fall and winter.  Individuals who suffer from SAD will also likely benefit from increased social support during vulnerable times of the year.

Phototherapy (regular exposure to light) is commercially available in the form of light boxes, which are used for approximately 30 minutes daily. The light required must be of sufficient brightness, approximately 25 times as bright as a normal living room light. Contrary to prior theories, the light does not need to be actual daylight from the sun. It seems that it is quantity, not necessarily quality of light that matters in the light therapy of seasonal affective disorder. The most common possible side effects associated with phototherapy include irritability, insomnia, headaches, and eyestrain.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be encouraged that it lasts only for a season and should improve by spring.   Until then, follow the tips mentioned here and see if your mood doesn’t improve.   If not, may I suggest a few weeks in Quito, Ecuador?

Linda Cauger, Administrative Assistant

Giving Thanks

Although the economy has dampened the mood of our industry for the past three years; there are many things for which we can be thankful.

Safety:  Construction owners are demanding stricter safety standards for their projects.  This pushes contractors to improve their safety programs and make sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

Sustainability:    The world is becoming more environmentally conscious and the construction industry is looking for ways to protect our resources. 

Education:           During this down turn, many contractors, designers and engineers are investing in training for their employees.  The Hagerman Group created the Hagerman Institute to provide continuing education to our employees.  We are fortunate to be in an industry that values education and training.

Technology:       There are days that I want to throw my iphone away but I’m not sure I could live without it now.  Improved technology has aided our industry in building better buildings. 

People:  I’ve never met a better group of people than those in the construction industry.  They work hard, constantly look for ways to improve and strive to build a quality building that will exceed the owner’s needs. 

For me, Thanksgiving is a peaceful holiday.  My youngest sister is kind enough to host Thanksgiving dinner and only asks that I bring sweet potato casserole and help with the dishes.  It’s a holiday that I am able to enjoy with my family and reflect on the many blessings in my life. I am thankful many things this holiday season; my family, my career, my health and my friends.  Happy Thanksgiving from The Hagerman Group!

Molly Burns
Vice President of Business Development

Preparing for Winter

With the onset of fall weather upon us, the window for winter preparations is closing.  At my home, I have been cutting and splitting the firewood I will need, while on the job we have been making strides for temporary enclosures and prepping for paving.

Fortunately at home, I am a season ahead on the firewood.  Everything I cut and split this year won’t be needed until the following winter.  On our projects, we can also get ahead of the climate by making early adjustments to our schedule and planning.  Maybe not a full year, but every week counts in the world of asphalt and enclosures.

Asphalt plants will normally shut operations down for the year after Thanksgiving depending on the temperatures.  Every effort to get the base down before closure needs to be made so the site has paved roads and work surfaces.  This allows equipment and personnel to move and operate more efficiently during the winter months.

The same is also true for interior work.  Having temporary enclosures up and heat ready to burn will allow finishes to continue through the coldest months without sacrificing time to the project schedule.  Coordinating permanent permanent utilities to the building as early as possible will ensure a productive winter. 

Fighting through winter conditions safely is must.  Cold and wet weather can create tricky footing.  Taking a few minutes each morning to discuss a safe work plan then executing the plan is the best way to be sure work is completed on time and safely.

Remember to plan for winter in the spring, and execute your plan as early as possible to beat the cold wet months of winter.  Working through rain, snow, and driving winds while trying to prepare for finishes cuts production and creates the potential for injuries.  Making sure workers have a comfortable work environment will help them stay sharp, positive, and safe.

Tom Whitaker
Project Superintendent

Finding value in professional organizations

 Often I am asked about the value of my membership in professional organizations.  Does involvement in a professional organization provide value to you and to your firm?  In these economic times we all want to be assured that each dollar we invest creates a return on that investment.  Throughout my career I’ve been a member of several professional organizations.   The lesson that I have learned from my participation in these organizations is that the more I participate in an organization the more value I receive from my membership.

One of the professional organizations that I have received great value from is the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).  I joined SMPS Indiana in the fall of 1999 when I began my career in the A/E/C industry.  On my first day at The Hagerman Group, my supervisor sent me solo to a SMPS meeting.    I was nervous attending as I was new to the industry and knew no one at the meeting.  Also, it was a tour of the NCAA Headquarters and I wore the wrong shoes and did not bring a hard hat. Fortunately, SMPS members are a friendly group.  I was welcomed and introduced to several members.  And someone brought extra hard hats.

As I look back my membership in SMPS, I realize that joining SMPS was one of the smartest decisions of my career. Through my participation in SMPS  Indiana, I’ve built a large network of Marketing and Business Development professionals, attended excellent educational seminars, meet some great friends and have had a great deal of fun.  I have learned a great deal about Business Development and Marketing from some nationally recognized leaders in our industry and in our community.  I have used many of the lessons learned in SMPS meetings in my professional life as well as shared those lessons with my co-workers.

 How was I able to extract so much value from SMPS?  It’s simple; I participated in the organization.  I began attending meetings regularly, served on a committee, and then I joined the board.  After 4 years on the board I became president of the organization.  As a Past President of SMPS Indiana I am extremely proud of the growth our chapter has experienced while continuing to improve the quality of the organization.

If you want to find value in a professional organization, you need to become involved.  Have I received value from my membership in SMPS?  Absolutely!

Molly Burns

Vice President of Business Development

What does an Estimator do?

Often when I tell people that I am an Estimator for The Hagerman Group they look very confused.   The term “Estimator” is a broad and vague term that I hope doesn’t lead people to believe we sit in our offices all day and guess how much things cost.

Although the needs and requirements for every job are different, there is a process that we repeat for every job in order to put a bid together.  Hopefully the explanation that follows will clarify to the “non-construction” folks the basics of what I do as a project estimator.

1.       Obtain/post bid documents – The first step after we decide to bid a project is to obtain the documents.  In an effort to streamline document distribution Hagerman has invested in an FTP site to help us distribute documents to our subcontractors.  The address of the website is www.isharedocs.com and a link can be found on our home page: www.thehagermangroup.com.

2.       Perform Takeoff – Hagerman has the ability to self-perform a variety of different types of work.  Examples of some items that we typically self-perform on past projects are concrete, masonry, and carpentry. 

3.       Solicit Subcontractor Quotes – Obtain pricing on all items that Hagerman does not self perform such as Mechanical, Electrical, and Earthwork.

4.       BID DAY MANIA! – Bid days are almost always hectic and extremely busy.  We collect all the subcontractor quotes and finalize our pricing just in time to submit a bid.  This is my favorite part of the process.

Hopefully, now the difference is clear and nobody will confuse “estimator” with “guesser”.

John Kilbury, Project Estimator

Constructive Discontent

One of my favorite topics that was discussed in the The Hagerman Group’s EQ (emotional intelligence) training was the concept of constructive discontent.  A majority of what I learned on the topic was from a chapter of Robert K. Cooper’s book Executive EQ.   Cooper interjects case studies throughout the chapter to explain how successful a company can be if it encourages its employees to practice constructive discontent.  The quote I like to reference to explain this concept comes from Aristotle:                  
        

“Anyone can become angry – that is easy.  But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – this is not easy.”

The case study from Cooper’s book that best describes constructive discontent is from the Honda Motor Company.  Honda has a slogan “Listen, Ask, and Speak Up” which spawns from its management style encouraging discordance amongst employees.  Honda staffs its development teams with engineers from other disciplines to encourage an outside critical eye.  Honda believes that discontent leads to a better end product for the consumer.

The culture arose from the experience of a young engineer who challenged co-founder Soichuro Honda over the comparative qualities of the water – and air – cooled engines.  He felt so strong in his position of switching to water-cooled engines, that when Honda did not agree to his point, he went on strike for a month and entered a Zen monastery.  Honda was so impressed with the passion of this young man that he changed his mind and reconsidered the engineer’s proposal.  Luckily, that innovation led Honda to develop the first engine to pass the US’s emissions standards and that same engineer went on to eventually become CEO of the Honda Motor Company, Tadashi Kume.

                “When two people in business always agree, one of them is unnecessary.”                -William Wrigley, Jr.

Karen Schutte, Estimator/Sustainability Coordinator

The Hagerman Group

It's a girl!

Congratulations to Hagerman employee, Laura Bailey, on the birth of her daughter.  Sydney Ann Bailey was born on October 19th and weighed in at 6lbs 1 oz.  Mother and daughter are doing well.

Laura is our Director of Sustainability and is  passionate about maintaining a sustainable lifestyle.  We look forward to hearing her sustainability tips as it relates to baby products.

Best wishes to Laura and Shannon on the birth of their first child!