Father’s Day

TL;DR: Shouting Out Pops

Sunday is Father’s Day, and I want to take a moment to honor my Dad, George.

Let me take you back to January 3, 2021. It felt like the worst day of my life, and it threatened to damage our relationship. This was the day we announced to our employees that we had sold our family’s 4th generation Louisiana business, Barriere Construction. I felt like a failure and a fraud. I had always envisioned running the company alongside my Dad and carrying on our legacy. Instead, we faced family dysfunction and the painful decision to sell, which neither of us ever wanted.

Growing up, I idolized my father. He was my hero, my mentor, and my guide. From the time I was a child, sitting in the back seat of his car in my school uniform, listening to him mentor me on the company radio from his helm as CEO, I knew my path: to work at Barriere and eventually run it. My entire identity was wrapped up in this dream. When we sold the company, my world came crashing down.

Yet, through the darkest times, my father and I made a pact: we wouldn’t let the sale come between us. We’ve been blessed and I’m grateful we found a great buyer in CRH. Selling was not the desired outcome. Despite the pain and disappointment, we stuck together. He reminded me that, even though our dreams had shifted, our bond remained unbreakable.

My father supported me through every phase of my career. He was there when I struggled, offering advice and encouragement. His words still resonate with me:

“Whatever happens, they can’t eat you.”

“If someone is a jerk, remember how that feels when you’re in charge.”

“If you’re alive, you’ll be fine.”

“Hard work never goes out of style.”

After the sale, I found new purpose. I started exercising and meditating daily. I began prioritizing relationships and meaning outside of work. I moved to Nashville, a city I never thought I’d live in, and discovered that I was meant to found and build a company from scratch. Through it all, my Dad stood by my side, cheering me on.

Now, he and his wife Nell have moved to Nashville, and we see each other regularly. I’m grateful for the silver lining, for the chance to spend more time with him. Everything happened for a reason, and our bond is stronger than ever.

Dad, thank you for being my mentor and my hero. I love you more than words can express. Happy Father’s Day.

Edgevanta Featured in Asphalt Contractor Magazine 😎

TL;DR: Don’t worry, we won’t let it go to our heads 😉

Which camp you are in?

1. “The competition is crazy”
2. “I can’t predict stupid”
3. “We just get our our costs right and don’t worry about bid spreads”

This is what I often hear from contractors who are leaving a lot of money on the table….

Alternatively, here’s the mindset of low bid contractors who are capturing more profit margin in their work:

1. “We are trying to better understand our competition every day”
2. “Sometimes we miss the mark but we try to predict what’s going to happen and improve over time”
3. “Our goal is to maximize profit on bid day”

Choose the latter. Shavings make a pile 👇

2% more margin on $100M revenue is $2,000,000 in profit. It’s worth the time and effort!

Stoic Wisdom Quote:

“I’ll see you tomorrow” - Michael Jordan

Reflect on this as we embark on another week of bidding and building!

We value your feedback. Tell us what you think about this week’s newsletter below!

Warmly,

Tristan

About the Author

Tristan Wilson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Edgevanta. We make software that helps contractors win more work at the right price. He is a 4th Generation Contractor, construction enthusiast, bidding nerd, ultramarathoner, and paving nut. He worked his way up the ladder at Allan Myers in the Mid-Atlantic and his family’s former business Barriere Construction before starting Edgevanta in Nashville, where the company is based. Reach out to him at [email protected]