Construction Genius

Hiring someone new is challenging. You go through the pain and the agony of sourcing the talent, interviewing the talent, taking them through assessments before making the hiring decision. With all the efforts you've put in, the last thing you want is for your new hires to fail. Ensuring their success in your organization is part of your job; the question is, what are the steps you need to take to ensure it?  I got inspired to do this podcast based on a coaching call that I had with the President of a construction company. And so, in this episode, I cover three things that will ensure that your new hires succeed. I also share a tool that I use with my clients, the 90-day High-Performance Dashboard, and how you can use it in your company.  If you're tired of having new hires slipping through the cracks, this episode is going to be a game-changer for you. Tune in to this today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 4:27 #1 Buddy them up to ensure your new hires succeed5:47 What buddies do that are really import

We hear all the time that the Construction Industry is broken. People then try to innovate to fix it. But what kind of innovations have the most impact? What happens when an organization wants to take on the challenge of shifting the entire construction industry? Is there a chance for it to thrive, or will it collapse?  This is the core of my discussion with Brian Potter in this week's Construction Genius podcast episode. Brian worked for Katerra, a billion-dollar construction startup which recently filed bankruptcy. We explore what Katerra did right and where they've gone wrong, ultimately leading to its fall. Brian also shares why it's challenging to integrate the construction industry from top to bottom and how things could have been done differently.  This is an interesting episode that you can learn from. Tune in to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:21 Brian shares his experience with Katerra  3:02 What Brian thought of the different thoughts towards Katerra  6:04 The car analog

Project changes increase risk, and create conflict. Dealing with change orders is a pain that subcontractors, contractors, and owners all share. The good news is that tools and technology are now in place to help reduce the risk and improve change order communication.  In this week's podcast episode, I interview Cameron Page, the CEO and founder of Extracker. He has construction industry experience, and so he understands the difficulties surrounding change orders. We discuss the underlying causes of the challenges with change orders and the primary people responsible for the change order conversation. We also talk about his journey to founding Extracker and what he envisions his company to be five to ten years from now.  Those looking for solutions to improve change order communication in their construction companies will benefit from listening to this episode. Tune in to this today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction1:45 Cameron shares his construction journey 4:08 Extracker and their focus 5:15 Why are c

Construction is a competitive and crowded industry. Setting yourself apart from the competition in the minds of potential and existing clients is a challenge. What should you focus on to stand out from the crowd and attract your ideal clients?  In this week's podcast episode, my guest Peep Laja shares the best way to market your company and stand out from the competition. He has deep marketing experience, so he understands what it takes to be different and to attract your ideal clients.  If you're a construction company owner that is struggling with differentiating your company from the competition, you'll find this discussion insightful. So tune in to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:22 Biggest mistake companies make when marketing in a crowded field 5:07 Why do companies struggle with setting themselves apart 5:53 Two obvious ways to differentiate your company from the rest 7:07 What does a brand mean? 9:55 How to know if somebody already owns a message in the market's mind 11:24

The Construction Industry is slow at embracing new technologies. This makes sense because of the risk involved in every project, and the high-cost of failure. 3D Printing is one example of technology that has been touted as having the potential to positively impact the industry, but has yet to live up to the hype.  In this week's Construction Genius episode, I talk with Sam Ruben of Mighty Buildings. They are on the cutting edge of the use of 3D printing to build beautiful, affordable, and sustainable homes. Sam addresses why 3D printing hasn't lived up to its hype yet. He also answers some of the frequently asked questions regarding this technology and its biggest roadblock to success. We also talk about the environmental impact of 3D printing and many more.  Tune in to this interview and get a better gauge on the use of technology and how it can impact your company.  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:32 Why 3D printing hasn't lived up to its hype yet 3:37 Changes to 3D printing to make the use of it ea

Have you ever thought of starting your own construction company, or of launching a new division of your current company? Either way, it's a giant leap full of opportunity, and risk.  In this week's podcast episode, I talk with Peter Worhunsky, the President & CEO of Live Oak. We explore the move to start his own company. Peter shares how he maintains healthy relationships with his business partners. How he navigated the decision to start a business with his family. How he made the transition from employee to owner. The importance of a thorough business plan, and how that plan has changed since the launch of the company. How to seize opportunities, balancing ego and humility. We also cover how to manage the physical and emotional stresses of launching a business.  Those who are thinking about starting a business or launching a new division of a company will find this episode insightful. Take the time to listen to this episode!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 3:04 Why Peter started his own company 3:5

How comfortable are you when speaking in public? Whether you love it or hate it, as a leader, you have to do it. Your words have a tremendous impact, and if you can improve your public speaking, it will increase your leadership effectiveness. Helping you improve public speaking skills is the goal of this week's Construction Genius episode. My guest, Robbie Crabtree, is an expert in the field. We discuss why so many people struggle with public speaking and how it's possible to become confident in this area. We also talk about strategies that will help you connect with your audience and the impact that words have on people. Robbie also gives practical advice on how to make sure you're not boring your audience.  Interested in upping your public speaking game? This episode is for you.   Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:11 Why do people struggle with public speaking?4:00 Imposter syndrome5:36 How to move one's self to be someone who wants the ball 6:27 Fear setting 8:12 Strategies to connect with an audience

Transitioning a company you have founded on blood, sweat, tears, and cash to the next generation is not easy. It requires a combination of clear planning, and bloody minded persistence to structure your company correctly, and identify and develop the next group of leadership. Many construction companies start too late, and don't give enough thought to the process. Success depends on crafting a strategy now, and having the right people to guide and help you along the way.  In this week's podcast episode, I talk to exit strategy experts Craig Boyce and Noli Snobar of BFBA. They give us a detailed explanation of proven exit strategies. Craig and Noli also talk about how to improve your company structure and the importance of providing mentorship to the younger generation in your company. You'll go away from the interview with specific action items to jumpstart your succession planning process.  Don't miss out on today's episode!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 4:46 Why construction company owners struggle

It's easy to get caught up in the hype of the latest technology available in the Construction Industry. This can lead to overwhelm, inefficiency, and wasted money if the solutions you choose don't solve project specific issues.  In this week's podcast episode, I speak to Karl Sorensen. We talk about how his experiences have shaped how he looks at the implementation and use of technology in construction companies. We also discuss why most construction companies struggle with identifying the right tech to use. Karl then pinpoints why leaders and those underneath them should come together to talk about what tech works and what doesn't. In the later part of our discussion, he gives action steps to avoid the hype, and integrate technology effectively to solve specific problems.  Take the time to listen to this podcast episode!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 3:05 Karl's history and how it has influenced him 6:42 The disconnect between millennials and the older generation around technology 8:27 Why there is a

A consistent workflow is important in helping you perform at your best, but a lot of construction executives struggle with this. Getting a good rhythm will allow you to become more productive in your company, but how can you achieve that? In this week's podcast episode, I talk about the three things that you can do to get a good workflow rhythm. I will discuss how you can determine the value of your hours and how to create a theme for each day or week. I will also share the importance of meetings and the best way to make use of your work days. Tune in to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction1:42 Value your hours3:42 Have a theme for your week5:11 Importance of succession plans for construction companies6:22 Have one free day in your work week7:41 How to fill your day with meetings10:00 Create space in your day12:25 Summary of what to do to get in rhythm Resources:  If you'd like to talk to Eric about if/how he can help you with executive coaching, click this link: https://10minutes.youcan

Every company wants lower insurance premium costs. But with a hardening insurance market, how can construction companies lower their spending on insurance? What are actionable steps contractors can make to become more attractive to brokers? In this podcast episode, I talk to Mary Grandy, Senior Vice President at Epic Insurance Brokers and Consultants. She gives us a brief look at the insurance market today and how it is affecting construction companies. We ask her for some tips on how contractors can become more appealing to insurance agents. She also shares her expert opinion on what makes good partners and improving trust between agents and contractors. There's a lot to discover and learn from this episode. Check it out today!   Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction2:20 Hardening market in insurance3:20 What is social inflation?4:25 How is the construction industry affected?7:21 Advice on addressing the challenges of insurance premiums8:46 Defining total cost of risk9:25 Contractor programs to address the to

To ensure a better outcome in your projects, building trust between the owner, contractor, and designer is crucial. Aligning your goals and continuous communication are vital. But when problems in the project arise, what can contractors do to resolve them without compromising the trust of their clients? In this week's podcast episode, I talk with Pete Caputo of Truebeck Construction. He gives us the differing points of view of both the owner and contractor. We talk about what trust and transparency looks like and how this plays out in a construction project. Pete also shares some frameworks for contractor-owner meetings that have been successful in the past. We also touch base on encouraging your team to be more involved in problem-solving and the role of young minds in the industry. Tune in to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction3:10 What's most broken about the way construction projects are built4:35 The owner is responsible for the alignment of parties5:33 Focus on the experience of th

Executive leadership roles are challenging but rewarding. It's a shift from being a player to being the coach. It's about providing those who report to you with the help they need to do their jobs better. This responsibility is not for everyone, but if it's your ambition, how can you skillfully navigate into an executive leadership role?  This week's podcast episode with Mike Gifford revolves around this topic. Mike shares his personal career journey. He started out as a project manager at PSF Mechanical, and is now the President. PSF is a family owned business, and Mike is not a family member, and he grew in his skills and responsibilities and is now the President. He shares the career path he took and how he is contributing as President. We also talk about scaling the service division of PSF Mechanical and many other important leadership and business insights.  Tune in to this week's episode!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 3:05 Growing the service aspect of PSF 4:32 The primo client is the end-user 5

The success of a construction project depends on owners, designers, GCs, and trade partners working together as a team. But with the divergence of ideas and information, how can we achieve a win-win environment for each project-delivery process? In this episode, we have Felipe Engineer-Manriquez, Director, Lean of McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., who will walk you through the fundamentals of strategic problem-solving when delivering projects to clients. We will also discuss the different project delivery methods and the mindset people need to adopt to provide desired results.  Tune in now and stay with us until the end to discover the fool-proof way to project delivery! Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:42 "Construction: it sucks, but it's fun," is it true?3:55 Strategic problem-solving in the construction industry6:02 Understanding the client's perspective12:04 The design-bid-build model14:14 Educating clients about different types of project delivery18:47 When do you walk away from a project opportun

Many construction companies fail in their marketing efforts because of a wrong understanding of what marketing is all about. Marketing is not about slick websites, sweet logos, and cool videos. Marketing is about attracting and keeping customers, and it is the job of everyone in your organization.  In this week's podcast episode, I talk with my guest, Wayne Mullins, founder and CEO of Ugly Mug Marketing. Wayne gives a clear and simple definition of what marketing is. We also talk about the right kind of marketing message and how to properly allocate a budget for your organization's marketing efforts. Wayne also emphasizes on who is mainly responsible for marketing in the organization and the difference between good and bad marketing.  Tune in to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 1:56 What is marketing?2:28 Attracting a customer 3:11 Biggest challenges in messaging 5:00 How do you know your target audience?6:13 Marketing advice for clients who are in multiple markets8:07 What to emphasi

Control is one thing that most construction business owners wish for. When you're growing, things can sometimes get out of hand, and running your business becomes more taxing and stressful than ever. To make sure you're on the right path when it comes to scaling your business, it's important to lay the right foundations, doing the work necessary from the ground up.  In this podcast episode, I talk to Al Levi of the 7-Power Contractor. Al provides valuable insight into what it takes to run and scale a construction company successfully. He shares what an org chart should look like, and what key functions should populate the top of that chart. We also discuss financial metrics that owners need to track and why owners should also be spearheading marketing efforts. We touch briefly on succession planning and the power of outsourcing and delegation.  There's a lot to uncover and learn from this episode. Check it out today!   Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 1:57 The condo builder at Montreal 5:43 The org chart8

Leadership is difficult. The work is endless, and you get constantly bombarded with problems left and right. Leadership is a responsibility. You have to carry the burden of making the decisions that impact your company, negatively or positively.  In a recent coaching session with the President of a construction company, we discussed three issues that every executive faces: how to make tough decisions, how to solve challenging problems, and how to prioritize.  After the call, I shot three short videos discussing the perspectives that I shared with my client to help him address his challenges. This podcast episode includes those three videos.  You will like how they give you practical ways to handle some of your toughest issues. One of the segments is particularly personal to me. I share the most difficult decision I ever had to make, two weeks before I was due to get married. It was tough! Listen to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction  1:40 The Franklin Planner  3:40 The principle of prio

Productivity drives profitability. To achieve both, organizations must excel operationally.  Technology and its implementation in company processes are essential for operational excellence. Positive change occurs when leaders are sold out to its importance and value, communicating it to their people both in the field and office. In this week's podcast episode, I have a conversation with Don Kafka, the CEO of ToolWatch, Corp. He shares the challenges he faced in running his electrical contracting business and how it led to the creation of ToolWatch to solve those challenges. We also discuss the role of technology in dialing in operations for construction businesses and how leaders play a huge role in rolling out those initiatives to their people.  Listen to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:06 Biggest challenge Don faced running his business 2:45 Bottlenecks in the construction industry 3:28 Value of strong internal operations 4:19 Where to begin in strengthening internal operations 5

When should you start building and executing a succession plan? A company that values sustaining high-level leadership knows never to put this on the back burner. It will take years, not just months, of choosing who your qualified candidates are to mentoring them until you are confident enough that they are ready to take on those leadership roles with the passion for propelling the business forward.  In this week's Construction Genius podcast episode, I talk with Ryan Aukerman of the Griffith company. Ryan shares his career journey and what the emerging leader's program is all about. He discusses the methods they use to choose qualified candidates for leadership roles and the importance of mentorships internally and externally. Ryan also talks about accepting critical feedback, especially when it is something you are not comfortable with, and a lot more. Tune in to this episode!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:09 How Ryan got into construction 5:00 The advantage of diverse backgrounds 5:53 Why Ryan pi

Methods of project delivery are ever-changing. The need to see different outcomes, especially from an owner's perspective in construction projects, has led to the adoption of approaches like Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). It's not a one-size-fits-all method, but it's definitely worth exploring.  In this week's podcast episode, I welcome my guest, James Pease. James is an Executive Director of Design and Construction at the UCSF Medical Center. He has experience on both sides of a construction project (owner and contractor). We discuss what IPD is and who will benefit from this kind of project delivery approach. We also address skepticism regarding this method, and James gives real-life experiences to prove that it works. We also discuss the role owners play in successful project deliveries and how to address significant roadblocks when using the method.  Tune in to this episode today!  Discussion Points: 0:00 Introduction 2:26 Biggest opportunities for improvement from the owner's perspective4:31 Areas of