Welcome to BLHill.net. My name is Brian L. Hill and this is my blog about getting more from less. Thanks for visiting and please feel free to contact me any time.
More From Less
This concept is the driving force behind human development. We can see examples of this everywhere in our daily lives. Take food production, for example. I can acquire a range of food products that would boggle the mind of my ancestors, just by visiting my local supermarket. The amount of effort required to prepare a simple meal is significantly less than our ancestors expended. Technology and economies of scale are among the factors that make this feat possible. We can travel to the other side of the planet in less than a single day. Just a few generations ago, a day’s travel might be less than 100 miles, and considerably more uncomfortable.
But this blog isn’t about food, so much, nor is it about travel. This is about business. Business, or commerce, is about exchanging goods and services. Business success is based on profitability, the amount leftover after expenses are deducted from income. Business development, ideally, is the process of achieving greater revenue while simultaneously reducing operating costs. In other words, More From Less.
Who Is This For?
This blog is primarily for small businesses. Specifically, I’m referring to businesses comprised of one to one hundred employees. I have worked with businesses of all sizes, but I have found that the larger the company, the more wasted resources.
In the context of a small or solo business, the More is focused on true wealth. Money and material possessions are not the definition of wealth, as they are infinite resources (money continues to be printed, and goods continue to be produced). True wealth applies to that most precious of all limited resources: time. No matter how much money one has, there are still only 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week and 365 days in a year. Having more time to spend as one chooses, is the true measure of quality of life, in my opinion.
Too often, I see small business owners that pride themselves on how much time they spend in managing their company. What they fail to realize is the true cost. Time taken away from family, friends and pursuing life goals. This may be offensive to some, but if you pride yourself on spending 60, 70, 80 hours each week running your business, you’re doing something wrong. Sure, start-ups require extra effort at the beginning. But if you are still working six to seven days a week, several years after starting your venture, it is time for a wake-up call. Work smarter, not harder.
This site is for those that want more out of life than to be a slave to earning a living. This site is for businesses that are looking to grow. This is about more output from less input. It is up to you, how you define that. More may mean more revenue, more market share, more geographical influence, improved relationships, or more time to pursue other things. Less may mean less hours on your part, less hours on the part of your employees, less direct costs, less indirect costs, less frustration, less complaints from your customers.
If you, like me, are looking for more out of life with less hassle, this site is for you.
Consulting – Consultants
A lot of the content I write about is addressed towards consultants. To me, the term consultant applies to a wide range of professionals including, for example, architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, and web designers, in addition to those more commonly identified as consultants. The point of what I’m publishing here is to share my perspectives on building business in a sustainable manner. I’ll be looking at the opinions and findings of others with much more experience, emphasizing evidence-based or results-based theories. Beyond theories, strategies, and best practices, I’ll also be writing about actual tools and technology that add value and fuel growth.
About Me
My name is Brian L. Hill. I have worked in a wide variety of industries. I’ve done everything from cleaning the toilets in a mortuary to managing costs on a half-billion dollar construction project for a Fortune 100 company. I started my first business (as a professional jazz musician) at the age of twelve. I have handled every aspect of business including marketing, operations, human resources, information technology, accounting, legal compliance and management. Currently I am an employee and shareholder at an architectural firm specializing in expert witness testimony for construction defect litigation.
More than anything, I am interested in the human side of business. A corporation may be recognized by various government bodies as a separate and distinct entity, but behind every business are living and breathing humans. While business success is determined by profit, in reality, business is just another way that humans relate to one another.
You can read more about me here. Also please read the disclaimer to minimize any misunderstandings.
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I am active on Twitter (@BLHill), as well as a number of other social networks. I also publish AECforensics.com, a resource for news and insight into construction risk management, building science and construction defect issues.
I am currently employed at KPA Associates, Inc. – check out my profile on LinkedIn. The opinions expressed on this site are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of others that I work with.
