Having vs. Performing

The Danger of “Having” Over “Performing” in Construction

Lately, I’ve been thinking about a pattern I see far too often in construction and it’s hurting people more than they realize.

It reminds me of a line from the movie Lucy, where Morgan Freeman’s character says, “People have begun to focus on having more than becoming.” That stuck with me, and I’ve noticed the same dynamic in our industry, having versus performing.

When “Having” Takes Over

There was a talented individual I once worked with skilled, experienced, capable of great things. But over time, his focus shifted from doing to owning. He wanted the title, the salary, the perks, and the recognition but without the continued effort to perform and add value.

He began collecting things simply to have them whether it was a position, a resource, or a project without plans to develop or use them. It was about the accomplishment on paper, not the ongoing performance. And here’s the problem, when you hold on to something but stop improving it, it stagnates.

As my colleague Kate once said, everything we do at Elevate should be like water in our hands it should flow outward to benefit others, not be hoarded until it becomes stagnant.

Certifications: Tool or Trophy?

Another example is the obsession some people have with certifications. Don’t get me wrong training is valuable when you apply it. But I’ve seen people collect certifications like trophies, updating LinkedIn and hanging certificates on the wall, while their actual job performance declines.

One former team member spent more time chasing down where his OSHA card had been mailed than actually planning and managing work. In the end, all those credentials didn’t matter he wasn’t performing.

Personally, I’ve let certifications lapse if I wasn’t actively using them. I’ve never believed in keeping a title or credential for appearances’ sake. At Hensel Phelps, I was taught that if you pursue a certification, you must use it, implement it, and teach it otherwise, what’s the point?

The Root Problem

Chasing credentials, positions, or possessions for security is often fear driven. It’s an attempt to create the appearance of value rather than delivering real value.

Here’s a principle I believe in:

If you give more than you take, serve more than you’re served, and add real value to others, good things will come to you.

But when ownership, credentials, or appearances become more important than contribution, you’re heading down a dangerous slope. Things will stagnate, atrophy, and eventually be taken away because the universe rewards those who actively put value into the world.

Key Takeaway:

True growth and success in construction don’t come from titles, possessions, or certificates alone. They come from consistently performing, adding value, and sharing your skills. If “having” becomes more important than “doing,” you risk stagnation and the opportunities you’re holding onto may eventually slip away.