Is Construction Broken or Just in Transition?

A brutally honest look at what's not working in the field today and what forward-thinking firms are doing about it

There's a whisper on every job site and a roar in every office meeting that runs ten minutes too long.

Something's not right.

Schedules slips. Budgets bloat. Burnout runs rampant. And seasoned builders—the ones who used to love the work are quietly asking themselves.

"Is this still worth it?"

Some say construction is broken.

We say it's just mid-renovation.

Let's tell the truth. There are real cracks in the foundation:

Communication is chaotic. There are RFI backlogs, vague emails, and subs left guessing. The field and office live in different realities.
Labor is scarce and green. Veterans are aging out. Newcomers are tossed in without mentorship or systems.
Cash flow is an afterthought. Slow payments. Bad billing habits. Panic mode accounting
Tech is being sold like snake oil. Most tools don't talk to each other or the field.
Trust is low. GCs don't trust subs, and subs don't trust GCs. Owners don't trust anyone. It's every crew for itself.

That's the broken part. But that's not the whole story.

While others point fingers or cling to the past, some firms do the hard, quiet work of building what's next.

Here's what they're doing differently:

Operational clarity is a superpower. They know their numbers, their process, their priorities. They run systems not hope
They invest in people. Real training. Field leadership. Culture that retains
They build bridges. Between designer and builder. Between trade and GC. Between chaos and control
They use tech that fits. Not flash. Not buzzwords. Just tools that work
They play the long game. They're not chasing one bid. They're building something that lasts.