You Always Need a Backup Plan

Being in the asphalt business in Detroit taught me very early on that things frequently go wrong. In fact, things go wrong so frequently, it is difficult to believe:

• Pumps break.
• Tanks break.
• Trucks break.
• People get injured.
• Employees do not show up to work.
• It rains.
• The police give you a hard time for the condition of your equipment.
• People do not pay you for the work you have done for them.
• Suppliers go out of business.
• Customers get incredibly angry with you.
• Accidents occur, and materials get spilled on roadways.
• People rob you.
• People steal your equipment.
• You need to “pay off” certain people in order to operate in certain geographic areas.

The list of things that go wrong in the asphalt business is virtually endless. I will mention this again: So many things went wrong when I was in the asphalt business, it was difficult to believe. I [Read more]