It’s a horrid world we are living in at the moment.
Trust, right now, is at an all time low.
Mother’s Day in the UK, was spent waving from the doorstep.
We treat every cough as potentially fatal, even worse when it’s from the old geezer at the green grocers.
And each of us, every single one, will be worried about our jobs.
It doesn’t matter if you’re Sydney’s biggest property tycoon or a down & out pimp of the street, work for everyone right now is tough to find.
However, I did see Stacey on Instagram write a post last night suggesting that “this too shall pass” so I’m going to go off the basis that Stacey is a Chief Economist for some pig rich bank and that she has formally met with the head of the WHO and has heard some pretty concrete oil that, this in fact, shall pass.
Heck knows when, just that it will, eventually.
Thanks Stace.
So, we go from here.
If you’re a quantity surveyor right now, up until 2 weeks ago life was pretty rosy. Plenty of cost planning to do, a lot of negotiation work going on. It was all gravy.
And because of the demand, salaries were increasing, Quantity Surveyors were taking extended holidays and life, behind the desk was GRAND as we would say in Ireland.
That was until, Covid19 gave us all a good kick in the b**ls.
Right now across the majority of states, Construction is deemed as an essential service, so you know, as my mate Charlie once said at a house party in 2008; “The show must go on”.
And it has.
Well, sort of.
Quantity Surveyors are working mostly from home. Contract administrators are on site.
Feel free to use this scenario, the next time you’re having an argument with a CA about getting paid less. “well at least I’m less likely to get Coronavirus ya…”
Fair enough, that’s worth what…$40 grand?
So, we find ourselves in the weird world of Australian construction purgatory.
Sco-mo is singing his famous smash hit “Andrew, Andrew” but yet there aren’t any fans.
So what to do when literally, nobody else knows what to do?
Well… you’d listen to Mick Donaghy. Why? Because 1, I know things, and 2 because 1.
I’ve compiled a list of tongue & cheek industries where the money is going to rain, when you know, Covid19 has decided to eventually f**k away off.
Retail – “Well Jaysus mick, sure tell me something I didn’t know”. Fair enough, nothing more of that one then.
Dispute Resolution – If you’re a quantity surveyor and you love a good argument, Abba “money, money, money” might fast become your song of the year. That’s if, you are any good because if not, there’s always that rogue “better call Saul” of the construction industry who will take your seat. In the world of mattresses, he’s called Mick and he knows how to cut a deal. #TheMattressPriceFighter
Data centres – Everyone’s blazing up their internet usage no end at home, all work related I’m sure. It feels like Netflix haven’t released something different in about 2 years and the Telstra board are drinking short & strongs, datacentres could be a decent shout but it’s just a nudge.
Health – Surely the lord himself is going to come down and elbow pump Prime Minister Morisson and tell him to invest in healthcare, you know, because it’s a human right and all. I’m not a betting man, but if there is a dog in the race that you’d fancy a punt on it would be healthcare.
FMCG – At the rate we are sh***ing right now, the world has never needed bog roll like we do today. Not even when Ze Germans where shooting at our forefathers, for some reason, they were able to hold it in that little bit longer. But, demand is completely outweighing supply and if a I had a few shillings knocking around the house (not in this market) I would say, you could probably do alright in fast moving consumer goods.
Resources – Well, if there is one good thing about Australian leadership it is, they love a bit of hard rock and we aren’t talking metallica, although I can definitely see Premier Palaszczuk in a parent punk rock band called “The Charlottes” or “System of the Frown.
Anyway, that’s enough for me – until next time.
Keep calm & keep counting.
Mick Donaghy