Also, what did you implement too late that you wish you’d done sooner?
I’m already feeling the tension between being the face of the company and being able to scale. I’m hoping to learn more about leadership teams, middle management, reporting structures, and delegation
For us, one of the biggest systems that reduced owner dependency was getting serious about document control and SharePoint organization.
It sounds basic, but it has been a major unlock. As the company grows, the owner becomes the default memory bank for everything: where the file is, which version is current, who owns the process, what the standard is, what was decided, and how things are supposed to be done.
Organizing SharePoint properly, standardizing file names, assigning document ownership, and creating clear SOPs has helped move knowledge out of my head and into the business. The biggest shift was treating documents as operating tools, not storage. Every important process needs a clear home, a current version, an owner, and a review rhythm.
I wish AI was this good at writing code 10 years ago. I have been developing my own tools to help manage the flow of projects and to use all of the data I had collected the past ten years to gain insights. I build a window estimating tool that searches a database of over 16000 real products in order to find the perfect fit. Pella, Anderson, Marvin. Makes quoting entire home window replacements take less than 20 minutes. Even incorporates transoms, and manufacturer specific mull requirements for building large units. WindowMD
then I made one for our skylight business. Find the perfect skylight
i also have a program for roof replacements but it is pretty similar to a popular Roof(e)r software. Uses the free satellite images to draw facets on the roof and topographical data to determine roof pitch. Gets pretty accurate cost estimate reports. I have been giving the reports to my neighbors to test it. One of them used it to get a great deal on a new metal roof.
