Are you stuck on the ground floor . . . or building your view from above?

Many years ago, I came across this poem from Oliver Wendall Holmes . . .

“There are one-story intellects, two-story intellects, and three-story intellects. All fact collectors, who have no aim beyond their facts, are one-story men. Two-story men compare, reason, generalize, using the labors of fact collectors as well as their own. Three-story men idealize, imagine, predict; their best illumination comes from above, through the skylight.”

Holmes wasn’t talking about entrepreneurs directly—but he might as well have been. Every business owner I’ve ever met in the last 30 years lives on one of these three floors.

The difference between them?

Vision, mindset, and how they engage with the problems in front of them.

Let's break it down:

🏗 First Floor: The One-Story Intellect

“All fact collectors, who have no aim beyond their facts...”

This is where most small business owners start—and where many stay. They’re immersed in the thick of thin things. Estimates. Payroll. Emails. Permits. They're inundated with facts and tasks, but disconnected from larger meaning or direction.

What this looks like:

• You’re always in motion but rarely making progress

• Your day is driven by what’s urgent, not what’s important

• You don’t have time to think, only to react

Being in the weeds is sometimes necessary—but living here long-term limits your company and your own leadership.

🧠 Second Floor: The Two-Story Intellect

“...compare, reason, generalize, using the labors of fact collectors as well as their own.”

This is where strategy begins. Owners at this level aren’t just working in the business—they’re starting to work on it. They review the data, run job costing, analyze margins, and start systematizing.

They’re moving from being the technician to becoming the builder of the machine.

You’ll recognize this floor if:

• You review your WIP regularly

• You’re beginning to delegate and trust a team

• You use reports to drive improvement, not just reporting

But even this level has a ceiling—until you start imagining what your business could become.

🌤 Third Floor: The Three-Story Intellect

“...idealize, imagine, predict; their best illumination comes from above, through the skylight.”

This is rare air. Owners here have created space to think, not just work. They cast vision, define legacy, build culture. They invest time in imagining what doesn’t yet exist—and then mobilize others to help them build it.

They don’t just manage jobs. They lead futures.

Signs you’re on the third floor:

• You’ve moved from doing to directing

• Your time is spent on vision, leadership, and long-range strategy

• You measure success not just by profit, but by purpose and impact

Many of us get stuck on the first floor—buried in tasks, drowning in data. The most successful, however, find their way to the skylight—where clarity, creativity, and direction light the path forward.

🧭 So… Which Floor Are You On?

At Shapcott & Lauber, we work with construction leaders who want to climb higher. Not just for the sake of growth—but to reclaim their time, sharpen their business model, and lead with clarity.

Most owners are capable of more—but they’re stuck on the ground floor, buried in work that keeps them busy but not better.

We offer a free 5-hour Insight Review to help owners see clearly. There’s no pitch—just a roadmap to get you out of the weeds and into the driver’s seat.

It’s time to stop collecting facts and start creating your future. The skylight is waiting.

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ABOUT US:

Shapcott & Lauber, LLC (S&L) is a boutique management consulting firm that specializes in helping construction contractors regain financial stability, improve job performance, and install the operational systems needed to protect profitability.