Collecting a paycheck. 

If you've had a few jobs in your life, this phrase has likely crossed your mind.

Or fell off your tongue.

Going through the motions at work is frustrating and a waste of talent.

Leaders: Do you have employees who show up disengaged, collecting a paycheck rather than being eager to learn and contribute?

This disconnect isn't about people being lazy.

🚩They may feel like their voice doesn't matter. 

🚩They may not believe their work is having an impact.

A/E/C leaders must know that lighting a spark to re-engage people is rooted in curiosity.

Ask team members what's getting in the way. 

Ask them if they are clear on expectations. 

More than 90% of the emerging leaders in my online training classes say they're unsure how their daily work fits into the bigger picture of the firm. 

It's the 30,000-foot view and the 3,000-foot view. 

Without clarity, people show up to collect paychecks.

Clarity brings a sense of purpose. 

🎯And it's an opportunity for manag...

Business development professionals and marketers aren't the only rainmakers in A/E/C firms.

Today, everyone is in marketing.

Most project managers and technical leads didn't sign up for this BD role.⬅️

Still, when your teams have time with clients, they must be skillful communicators.

Precious time spent with stakeholders is a significant opportunity to build credibility, trust, and connections that will help land your next big project.

Pitches at the end of a project often fall flat.

📈A better strategy in business development is to create value gradually over the course of work.

Taking this approach rather than waiting until the end means you're not pitching anything.

Repeat clients and referrals will easily fall into your lap without you awkwardly asking for a sale.

You'll earn trust and work by:

🎯Communicating daily and being proactive

🎯Asking strategic questions and sharing insights from project managers

🎯Framing conversations around client results

When your PMs and te...

If you're like me, there's not enough time in the day to get things done.

Busy, busy, busy.

Life is a fleeting moment.

The 4 words I just heard from Abraham Hicks have completely transformed how I spend every day.

One phrase can do the same for you. 

Quit rushing and start living.

I share the 4 words in the video above. Take a look. 

Drones and AI are reshaping the A/E/C industry.

But they don’t win pursuits—people do.

What consistently sets your firm apart from others?

Curiosity and storytelling.

These skills build trust, spark connection, and make clients want to work with you.

Technical expertise matters—but only after you’ve won the bid. 🎯

To capture more pursuits, you need to connect first, then talk tech.

I’ve been teaching this at SMPS conferences, industry events, and in private trainings. 

It's a topic that can not be overlooked any longer. 

Skilled business development leaders and marketers use curiosity and storytelling to strengthen proposals, interviews, and client relationships.

Yes, physical safety and mental health must always be top priorities in our industry.

There's a different kind of safety that firms often overlook: Psychological safety.

It's an essential form of communication.

Psychological safety means that staff feel comfortable and safe in expressing their emotions, using their voices, and sharing concerns — without judgment or repercussions.

➡️It directly impacts emotional well-being, talent retention, performance, and job dissatisfaction.

When leaders in my training programs are unsure of this practice, I worry.

Are your emerging leaders and executives using psychological safety practices to support staff?

When even one team member dreads speaking at meetings, presentations, or networking events, your firm is losing money.

Why?

Hidden feelings of inadequacy:

👉Chip away at confidence

👉Drain energy

👉Create a weak link

These things show up in client conversations, project interviews, and daily collaboration.

Most staff won’t openly admit to these fears.

I get it. It's uncomfortable.

Still, the cost of angst is real: lost productivity, stalled growth, and bids that slip away.

Leaders must start the conversation, turning quiet fears into confident voices.
The ROI is measurable.

Reach out if you want help.

If your firm is losing bids in short-listed interviews and you don't know why, this is for you.

Business development and marketing professionals often use cookie-cutter templates or copy-and-paste sections of proposals.

Then, you wonder why you lost the project.

Many of you tell me you don't know what happened.

Yes, you do.😕

🔷You didn't take time to differentiate your expertise and work.

🔷You didn't take time to make prospects feel special.

🔷To help them sleep easier at night.

That's the REAL reason your competitor beat you.

Burnout doesn't give you permission to use boilerplate content.
Burnout is a sign that priorities and mindsets need fine-tuning.

Refine your communication skills and see how quickly things turn around. ⬅️

A/E/C projects don’t typically lose money because of technical mistakes.

Projects lose money because of miscommunication.

You see it every day:

👉A missed client cue.

👉A poorly led meeting.

👉An unclear email that delays project handovers and brings cost overruns.

Leaders often underestimate the cost of these misunderstandings.

The frustrating part is that most miscommunication in our industry is avoidable. 🎯

The blunders above chip away at trust, delay schedules, and shrink profit margins.

📈In today’s competitive market, communication isn’t a “soft skill.”

It’s a revenue skill.

Is your team helping to protect profits?

Years ago, when I was in high school, I lost my voice for a few days.

I suddenly had laryngitis. 

Couldn't make a sound. 

It was beyond frustrating.

After college, I became a radio news reporter and anchor. 

My voice was my job. I had a degree in communication. 

But even then, I didn't fully believe my opinion or voice mattered. 😮

I second-guessed my worth. 

I stayed quiet when I had something to say. Sound familiar? 

I see the same pattern in 95% of the A/E/C professionals in my coaching and training programs. 

People who are technically capable but hesitate to speak up in client-facing meetings or networking events.

Many in our industry shy away from making small talk and interacting with others.

It's about having more confidence.

Keeping your "nose in your phone" keeps you silent in real life. 

💰The reluctance to use your voice costs your firm millions in lost bids, referrals, and opportunities.💰

A/E/C professionals don't lack ideas; they doubt their value. 

They second-guess themselves.