I’m Not Negative. I’m Just Not Lying to You - 10 Questions for Gary

 

People sometimes tell me I sound negative when I write about the modular and offsite industry—like I’m the guy who keeps bringing up the storm clouds during the picnic. But here’s the truth: I’ve seen too many good people and great ideas get buried under the industry’s own silence. I don’t write to tear anyone down; I write to wake the industry up. If that makes me the pessimist in the room, fine—I’d rather be accused of honesty than hide behind polite applause.

Here are 10 questions about why I write what I do:

1. Why do I write so many articles about failure?

Because failure is the most honest teacher this business has. Every “overnight success” factory has a backroom full of mistakes, and ignoring that history just guarantees a sequel. I write about failure so the next person doesn’t have to relive it.

2. Why not just focus on success stories?

Because success without context is a bedtime story. I’ve been inside those factories, met the people who pulled off the miracles, and seen what it cost them. The wins mean more when you understand what almost broke them.

3. Am I trying to stir things up?

If the truth shakes people awake, then yes. I’m not here to make everyone comfortable. I’m here to make the industry think. We’ve got enough cheerleaders; what we need are more people willing to point out the potholes before we drive into them.

4. Do I enjoy criticizing people?

Not even a little. I enjoy helping good ideas survive bad decisions. When I write about weak leadership, toxic managers, or clueless investors, it’s not out of spite—it’s out of experience. I’ve watched too many companies collapse because no one had the guts to say what everyone already knew.

5. Why do I focus more on business than technology?

Because the smartest robot or AI system won’t save a company that can’t manage cash flow or communication. This industry keeps chasing shiny tools when the real innovation we need is better management and accountability.

6. Why don’t I sugarcoat things?

Because sugarcoating is for donuts, not construction. People deserve the truth, even when it stings. If my words make someone uncomfortable, good—that means they hit close enough to fix something.

7. Have I been called a pessimist?

All the time. But I’m not pessimistic—I’m seasoned. I’ve seen factories rise, fall, and rise again. I write with the memory of every missed opportunity and every hard-won victory. That’s not negativity—it’s clarity.

8. What keeps me writing after all these years?

Curiosity and love for the people in this business. Every week, someone does something brilliant or boneheaded—and both are worth writing about. I keep typing because the story keeps unfolding.

9. What do I want readers to take away?

That hope and honesty can live in the same paragraph. You can believe in the future of offsite construction without pretending everything’s fine. My goal isn’t to scold; it’s to push us toward doing better.

10. What’s my writing philosophy in one sentence?

Tell the truth, make it readable, and never sound like a press release.

My Final Thoughts:

I don’t write because it’s easy—I write because somebody has to. The offsite and modular world is full of incredible people trying to change how we build. My job is to remind us not to lose our way while we’re doing it. If that means sounding like the grumpy old realist in the back of the room, so be it. At least I’m still in the room—and still writing.