Tom Jakobek is aware of a factor or two about mission administration.
Jakobek has constructed a profitable profession as a mission supervisor who’s snug managing the finances of the Metropolis of Toronto, overseeing large-scale infrastructure tasks, or taking over personal contracts by way of his development consulting agency, KBNJ Consulting, Inc.
Jakobek’s expertise in each the personal and public sectors has taught him that mission administration requires juggling all points of the mission on the identical time. Success doesn’t all the time occur in a straight line.
Jakobek likes to say that “in politics and in life, generally it is advisable to go from A to M after which J earlier than you get to B.”
Canadian shoppers search him out for assist managing main restorations and renovations, constructing conversions, the retrofitting of public services, in addition to new residential and industrial improvement tasks.
Earlier than launching KBNJ Consulting Inc., Tom Jakobek was normal supervisor and director of Romlek Enterprises, Inc., a property improvement and administration firm that he additionally based. The corporate centered on the redevelopment or restoration of economic and residential properties within the Higher Toronto Space.
We needed to know what recommendation he has for different mission managers and the way he manages a big consulting agency.
Listed here are the highlights from his latest Q&A with us at YoungUpstarts.
You transitioned to the personal sector after a few years working for The Metropolis of Toronto. What did you be taught from that have that helped you handle your personal firm?
Tom Jakobek: Nicely, I discovered to be extraordinarily cautious when coping with governments or authorities officers. Particularly when working with a paperwork, you can not depend on assist from others to get the job completed. An enormous lesson for me was studying that delivering a mission on time and inside finances — you possibly can’t delegate an excessive amount of. The one means to make sure success is to supervise as a lot as you possibly can. It’s vital to work with individuals you possibly can belief, however in case you’re in cost, finally the accountability for what occurs falls on you. Which means checking in as typically as doable on the varied points of the mission.
What’s one factor you want you had identified earlier than you started this profession?
Tom Jakobek: I used to be all the time bold. However I want the youthful model of me had taken extra time to gauge all of the doable choices for work alternatives. It’s really easy to leap on the first alternative once you’re younger and hungry. Time and expertise have taught me that there’s all the time extra alternatives than you understand. It simply takes time and endurance to see them.
Do you’ve got any each day or weekly habits which are vital to your productiveness?
Tom Jakobek: Working. Each different day, I get out and run at 6:30 within the morning. After I don’t, I begin work at 6:30 a.m. I’ve discovered that operating helps preserve my psychological agility. Mornings are persistently the most efficient a part of the day for me. I feel a variety of us busy professionals neglect the significance of train for conserving the thoughts and physique productive and alert.
Are there any traits within the development business or mission administration that you just’re keen on proper now?
Tom Jakobek: If you happen to’re concerned within the development business within the Higher Toronto Space, there’s rather a lot to look ahead to. There are lots of huge tasks deliberate for the subsequent few years. There need to be as a result of town remains to be rising quick. You solely have to take a look at the state of actual property to see that. In Ontario, we’re going to see extra housing, extra transportation tasks, extra infrastructure. It’s an thrilling time and place to be in mission administration.
What recommendation would you give to younger entrepreneurs simply beginning out?
Tom Jakobek: You possibly can’t do a lot better than studying. Books stay top-of-the-line and best methods to always be studying and rising. I’d recommend that younger entrepreneurs learn every little thing. Even books exterior of the enterprise part. Whenever you’re a mission supervisor, you need to know as a lot, and ideally extra, than everybody else within the room. Information is essential.
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