The value of a proven team

I’m in the middle of a home-rehab project, and I had prepared myself for the worst. Everyone I talked with told me horror stories about how their project took twice as long, cost twice as much, and was a battle the whole way.

When a project is as complex as a home rehab, there’s no shortage of things that can go wrong. So much is beyond your control and you have limited knowledge of how long it takes to do things and in what order.

Although I’m only halfway through the project, getting the right contractor was the best decision we’ve made so far. He’s responsive, honest, and organized—all traits that most people don’t associate with contractors. He had the subcontractors lined up like a flight pattern, and everyone has been floored by how fast things have come together.

But as important, his subcontractors are people he’s worked with on jobs for the past two decades. They’ve developed a shorthand for how to get things done, and they have a common base of knowledge when it comes to trouble-shooting and making decisions.

This ability to deliver applies to anything of value in life. A good, honest mechanic? Worth his weight in gold. I used to have a guitar tech that did amazing work and never let me down. I trusted him so much that I would have let this guy deliver my kids (sidenote: my wife opted for an actual doctor, and I had no trouble with it).

When people talk about networks, a lot of times they’re taking the word of someone they trust when looking for a specialty. And once someone has gained your trust, their recommendation is all you need. If our contractor tells us the HVAC guy is the man, it’s case closed.

I’ve been lucky during my time at McKinsey, Chicago 2016, and with this company to come into contact with some amazingly talented people: designers, editors, strategists, Web programmers, marketers. I’ve worked with many of these people over the past couple of years, and it’s always a relief when you’re able to have your A team on the project.

There’s simply no substitute for people who have a basic knowledge of the end product as well as the skill to deliver something distinctive. I’m proud to work with this established network of outstanding specialists—and just as proud to offer my clients access to them.

As to the home rehab, we’re supposed to be back in by end of November. If that happens, I’ll be more than happy to share our contractor’s information with anyone who’s looking.

Scott Leff

Scott is the founder of LEFF. He’s spent his career helping executives and subject matter experts tell their story in a compelling way. In the process, he’s had the opportunity to work with C-suite executives, politicians, academics, and Olympians, not to mention dozens of talented writers, editors, and designers in the business world. Scott developed the concept of “lean content creation” as a cost-effective way to support comprehensive, integrated communication strategies.

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