00:00 - IntroductionTyler’s got rib issues. Yes, of course it’s from pickleball. Yes, the injury was earned during a match against an 80-year-old lady. Would we all love to hear her account of the story? Very much.This leads us into a brief sharing session about embarrassing recreational injuries. We also talk about what catches our gaze as we drive through unfamiliar areas.08:50 - Getting to know Chris and TrevorAnyway… Today we welcome Chris Patton and Trevor Owen from Rogers-O'Brien Construction. Chris and Trevor give us a run-down of their construction history (some BIM coordination, some electrical work, and recently some begging and a little attempted beard construction).Trevor talks about his love of innovation and how that has driven his work at Hilty and now at Rogers-O’Brien. 15:50 - Reality capture and the ROCCChris leads us into the topic we were looking forward to discussing today. He shares that several years ago he and others at R-O saw that reality capture would become increasingly important in construction. They assessed the various strategy and personnel adjustments that would need to be made in order to capitalize on this tool. The ROCC is the RO Command Center, a training approach that would ensure that up-and-coming field directors, superintendents, and other senior builders would be better prepared to be better builders across all of their projects. Eddie asks for details, and Chris discusses the idea of bringing platform data and observational data together in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of project execution. Autonomous reality capture provides much of the data that is channeled into the ROCCTrevor shares about the reality-capture logistics as well as some of the benefits that come with this approach. The ability to access data from a comfortable venue–an office, trailer, or truck–means less of the physical strain that often leads people to consider career changes or to retire early. Tyler asks about the role AI may have in this process, and Chris explains that their vision for AI is to expedite data collection and access rather than to replace human supervisors and decision-makers. 27:23 - Loom and AITyler mentions the benefits of thoughtful training. He shares about how Loom and similar tools can exploit AI in a way that makes things smoother and easier for various team members. Trevor ties this training efficiency to the labor shortage issues, discussing how increased efficiency helps maximize productivity. Eddie raises the likelihood that AI will be taking our jobs. He points out that even much of our creative work is going to be done very differently. Chris shares some counterpoints, laying out his speculations about how things will shift, including AI augmentation rather than replacement. Eddie discusses the ongoing rotation of new jobs that enable automated equipment to reliably do the jobs that people were doing yesterday. Tyler connects this to a recent visit to Walmart.Chris discusses the futuristic processes related to drone fleets. Trevor builds on this with some insights about 360 camera walks and other platform-specific data-analysis insights. 48:48 - Megaphone MessagesChris says not be scared of these changes. Don’t be intimidated by them. Embrace them. For people coming out of school, he says this: There are many different routes for getting into the construction industry. It’s a dynamic industry with lots of opportunity. If you like dynamic, collaborative, problem-solving environments, consider education. Trevor has these words: Be curious, be gritty, be patient. Get your boots dirty. Find Trevor on LinkedInFind Chris on LinkedIn Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Would you guess by the title that Tyler picked today’s topic? He’s got a new paddle. We’re all very excited. In his extensive on-court experience, Tyler has learned that he plays better when he just doesn't beat himself up. His takeaway: When you’re excessively hard on yourself, you lose focus. When you just try to appreciate the experience and the opportunity to play, you play better. Eddie refers to Max Homa’s post-Master’s interview. Homa said that he’d played gratefully that day. Tyler breaks down the number of people who let their heads get in the way and fell behind until they shifted their mindsets. Don’t lose games because you’ve gotten in your own way. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

00:00 - IntroductionIt’s been a long day full of recording. Eddie starts out by hashing out an unsettled issue about crabs. He’s not a licensed crabberman. He pulled a Kramer and harvested without a permit. This sets Tyler off on some reflections about The Little Mermaid and lobster zombies. 05:40 - Anyway, about family businesses…Surely you’re still interested in advice from these guys. Eddie asks Tyler if he’d choose to join a family business even knowing what he knows about the challenges. For 20 years, Eddie has been working in the family business where he thought he wouldn’t stay for more than 2 years. We discuss the day-to-day challenges that are unique to a family business. You’re working around people you know really well. That has its good parts and its bad parts. Eddie shares a bit about the dynamics of working under your father. We touch on the hierarchy issues, and Tyler advises that you make a big-time conscious effort toward maintaining a sense of active respect. You’ll likely fail in this effort from time to time. When that does happen, work through it openly. Be family first. Love each other first. Don’t let the business destroy your relationships. 14:40 - Pick some weedsEddie encourages family-business folks to pay attention to the little things that can grow into problems. Invest some effort in seeing where tensions might arise. Make room for your family co-workers to grow. Don’t insist that they work so hard that they’re unable to thrive in other aspects of their lives. Tyler points out that it can be easy to misconstrue growth as greed–especially when some members of the family are progressing at a different pace in earnings or advancement. He also shares about the more natural tag-team dynamic that can become a healthy part of family business. 21:47 - The PodcastEddie and Tyler discuss the natural brotherly energy that fills the podcast but also filled their workspace when Tyler was in the detailing business. They discuss their dad’s role in developing them as not just steel detailers and businessmen but as fathers and husbands. The bros address the topic of boundaries and family time. It’s important to be sure that work doesn’t flood over into birthday parties. Tyler shares about the sense of reward and pride that comes with becoming better because of the work you do with your family. Eddie discusses the sense of comradery that helps everyone make it through the crappy times. He gives an example of how Dad is taking a laptop and heading off this weekend to be with Pop (Grandpa). 37:30: PressureEddie addresses the disparities in expectations that can come with family connections. He also warns against nepotism. Tyler discusses his decision to stay in the building even when he broke off professionally to do his own thing.  Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

The conversation that Tyler and Eddie refer to in this episode is part of Empower 2024, and you can register here: http://www.quickbase.com/empower24/constructionbrosTyler’s concerned about his hair again, but he’s more concerned to let you know about an upcoming opportunity. Tyler and Eddie recently recorded an episode with Rob Coakley of Lithko Contracting on the topic of renting equipment vs. buying. We’ve all experienced the hunger to buy a new toy when a project justifies it, but Rob makes the argument that if you crunch all the numbers, you’ll likely realize that renting is a better way to go. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

00:00 - IntroductionWe start out today with some small talk–or maybe short talk–about online meetings. We share our complicated experiences with meeting people in person after establishing relationships online or over the phone. We also share some speculations about how avatars may affect this in the future. Then, of course, we express our affection for Bluey because… well, because he’s Bluey. Then things briefly take a dark turn as Tyler shares some of his own dog blues.06:22 - Welcome, Ken Ken is Director of AEC Alliances and Solutions at Dell. In this role, he leads strategy related to the construction industry, geospatial industry, and some parts of the manufacturing industry. Ken’s background is more in software than in hardware. He brings the voice of the industry into the engineering groups to help them understand how Dell’s towers, laptops, and rugged hardware are used by people in industry. Ken shares about his work with drafting–from 2D AutoCAD to floor designs. He walks us through the path he followed into Revit design work and training and eventually consultant work. He worked as a BIM solution owner for Kone, a Finnish elevator company.Eddie asks about Kone elevators, and Ken geeks out in a way that reveals his detailer/designer roots.  13:28 - Tyler Goofs Up  Tyler raises the painful story about one of his recent interactions with Ken. It had to do with a rugged laptop that Ken graciously shared for a video shoot. Tyler decided to get kind of Tyler-ish with it and… Let’s just say Tyler pushed it too far. The laptop handled an amazing array of challenges. Then Tyler saw the 40,000-pound boom lift. Tyler talks through the numerous other tests he conducted with the rugged laptop. Ken glosses over his request for a replacement laptop.18:51 - A Broad Update We ask Ken to bring us up-to-date on what’s going on in computer technology within the construction industry. He talks about the numerous demands on computers operating in the current landscape. He touches on the annual updates to internal hardware components. With a growing number of demanding software packages, these updates make noticeable differences. We spend some time talking about AI integration and its effects on computer performance. This leads to a discussion about the NPU (neural processing unit) on Intel’s 14th-gen processors. Ken explains how this low-latency unit can help to conduct behind-the-scenes performance enhancements.Tyler asks about reality capture and the use of AI with registration, stitching, and object classification. We get into some point-cloud talk and photogrammetry. Ken addresses the interplay among ISVs (independent software vendors) and computer companies. He also fesses up to using advanced features to make his house look clean during online meetings.25:50 - Helping the Lost Eddie raises the concern that many people feel overwhelmed or lost when choosing hardware that can meet the demands of their software. He also asks about battery life. Ken shares some scenarios related to battery consumption as well as the heat mitigation that affects computer performance. We discuss the need for computer down-time–proactive or reactive–that was needed while using early versions of Revit and other demanding software. Ken shares some early-career stories about workloads growing because his boss saw the cool things that he could do in design software. 32:42 - Processor Talk: Core vs. XeonTyler asks Ken to explain the difference between Core processors and Xeon processors. Ken explains that a Xeon processor is like a bus or a train that can get you and all of your friends to your destination reliably and quickly. A Core processor is like a Corvette, that can get just you and one friend to your destination, but will get you there really quickly. Ken also explains single-threading and multi-threading and how those things affect daily tasks.Eddie asks for some specific advice on devices. Ken explains the Precision 3680 is the bulldog of the industry as far as tower workstations, and he suggests that you load up on as much RAM as possible. He also discusses the benefits of graphics cards, including some specific NVIDIA GPUs. As far as mobile units–especially for reality-capture specialists–he recommends the 7780 Precision laptop. We discuss additional component specifics 41:58: Where Are We? Eddie asks if the industry is as far along as we think we are in computing. Ken discusses costs and processing power. Ken shares about the challenges of having an entire team that is properly trained and properly equipped to leverage the features that are out there. We also discuss how to cope with lacking IT support.49:14: Megaphone MessageKen wants the industry to know that you can’t just throw more software at new challenges without investing some time in knowing what hardware is required to make that software operate at its full potential. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

This is repost details one of Eddie's best pieces of advice to date.Eddie’s stealing this week’s insight from Micah Piippo (See episode 180). That insight? Think ahead–way ahead. Plan long. Dad said it too. Don’t just think about this week, this month, or this year. Plan out 20 years. Where do you want to be? Tyler mentions how quickly you see time pass when you’re a parent. That’s part of the point, but not all of it. Eddie points out how few people there are who can stick with a plan of action in order to achieve five-year goals. Tyler said he feels like he’s a bit too obsessed with the long term. Stick with it. Think about the long game. Don’t just imagine the future; do what you can to plan for it. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

This episode originally aired in 2023 and contains advice that has become increasingly relevant. 00:56 - IntroductionBrent Wadas is an Army veteran who has also worked in finance and SaaS. In 2020, he and his two co-founders dove into construction automation with BotBuilt. He joins us today to talk about automated framing. 04:38 - BotBuilt OverviewBrent explains why he sometimes feels like a five-year-old. He and his co-founders found that most automated systems required almost complete uniformity. He explains The Panel Book that contains detailed breakdowns of components, designs, and costs. He talks us through how they use industrial robot arms from eBay to building out wall-panel systems. (Watch a video of the process.) The marked, labeled panels then simply need to be properly placed and nailed together. The contractors working with BotBuilt can complete the framing for a single-family residence in 2.5-5 hours using the panels assembled in their facility. Brent compares BotBuilt’s process to that of other automated-construction companies.08:48 - Ikea-style AssemblyEddie asks how BotBuilt lays out instructions for contractors to assemble their plans. Brent explains that the incredibly detailed plans they did for their first run-through ended up in the mud because the builder just wanted the simplest one-page overview plan. Tyler asks for some more details about the computer programming. Brent talks about the math involved and the challenge of regional code variations. Brent emphasizes that they can work up a schedule with just a PDF version of the plans. He talks about high school intern Joseph, whose fast work pace caught Brent off-guard. 18:26 - Growth, the Future, and RecruitingBrent talks about how far things have come in the last couple years and how quickly things are going to change over the next five years. He talks about his company’s work with Y Combinator. Eddie asks about the challenges of funding such an ambitious business. Brent talks through the way he and his co-founders process those decisions. This conversation includes some insights gained from buying and renovating fixer-uppers. We find ourselves talking yet again about the challenges of getting the younger generations interested in pursuing construction jobs. Brent ties in some thoughts from his time in the military. 35:10 - What to Consider Before AutomatingTyler asks Brent to outline the things that owners, contractors–anyone–should consider before automating. Here are Brent’s thoughts: -Reproducibility is the first thing to consider. If you’re looking at a process that repeats the same specs time after time, you might want to consider automation. -Ask yourself, “Is there a problem here?” Don’t automate just because you see other people automating. -Consider the personnel demands. Don’t set yourself up to pay the same people for the same number of hours just to solve a problem in a more complicated, new way.45:00 - Safety and LegacyWe talk about work site safety, and Brent says that you’re 10x more likely to die framing a house than on the battlefield in Afghanistan. He said that 35 service members died every year at the height of the war. 350 people die every year framing houses according to OSHA. He shares how BotBuilt’s consistency, standards, and simplicity can make a dent in these numbers. Tyler and Eddie discuss their experiences with safety practices (or the lack thereof) on their early-career worksites. Rarely if ever was there anyone designated to keep an eye on safety. We discuss how messed up that is. This leads us into a discussion about leadership.1:00:33 - Megaphone MessageBrent has a couple megaphone messages. He wants construction workers to keep hope alive, and he wants people from the tech industry as a whole to please come learn the culture of construction. He wants them to discover the wealth and satisfaction that construction has to offer. Find Brent Online: LinkedIn - BotBuilt Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

This is repost of one of our old favorites.If you want to stand out in business, don’t be a whiner. It’s a natural human tendency, for sure. That’s why avoiding it will help you stand out from the crowd. Whining wastes time and strains relationships. The more you can suck it up and do the work when circumstances are tough, the better things will go for you and those around you. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we're revisiting a conversation we had with Fouad Khalil in October of 2023. Fouad is the founder of and Principal at Modly, a modular construction consultancy that provides the building and real estate sector with market research, feasibility analysis and advisory services. Today he’s here to share some leadership insights.We jump right into the conversation today with some talk about liability. Tyler asks Fouad to repeat what he had explained in an earlier conversation.Fouad says that your insurance carrier will tell you…-Don’t say, “It will be done this way.”-Don’t get on the job site and direct other teams’ workers on how to do their job.When you do these things, you’re taking on liability.Eddie points out that general contractors get trained to shed liability. This leads to gray areas within the hand-off territory where information degradation occurs. Tyler mentions that some schools are unable to implement shop programs because of insurance costs.5:03 - Sweden and Building Robust TeamsFouad shares about his experience working on a project in Sweden. He recounts a conversation about potential leaks on structural wood components on the building. The answer about potential leaks was, “We’ll work on the solution together.”Fouad shares about the critical path and lead times. He talks about schedule compression and how every single step in the process can become critical. A shortage of screws can result in a whole project coming to a standstill. He mentions the insights he gained from the book Managing the Unexpected. This book focuses on high-reliability organizations like air-traffic control, NASA, etc. In manufacturing, you can burn through your cash in no time. Efficiency is everything. Fouad wanted to apply this knowledge in his clients’ projects.Fouad talks about the need for humility and honesty in regard to the planning fallacy. We underestimate. 20:36 - Key Lessons from the book We asked Fouad here today to discuss some of the lessons he learned from a book he mentioned to us recently. The book is Managing the Unexpected by Karl E. Weick and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe.Here are the five traits that the authors saw in high-reliability organizations:Operational sensitivityPreoccupation with failureReluctance to simplifyCommitment to resilienceDeference to expertiseWe expand upon each of these briefly. Fouad quotes Churchill: “Plans are useless, but planning is essential.” Eddie discusses the confusion he felt when his college coach told him to work at 90%. His point was to be deliberate and have a reserve. Maintain a buffer. Fouad explains that these principles apply to managing crews of any size. If you don’t manage thoughtfully in these respects, your best people are going to burn out. He gives examples about how to institute quiet times throughout the day when there will be no meetings. Eddie talks about creative use of red Solo cups in the office. 33:20 - Debriefing to Avoid Repetition of the Same FailuresTyler asks Fouad to explain how effective review of failures can ensure improved performance going forward. He talks about the importance of categorizing and analyzing the failures. He refers to various historical failures that were addressed thoughtfully. Eddie connects this to recognition of safety failures even if those don't lead to serious injuries. We also discuss how the principle plays out in relationships with contractors who try to downplay mess-ups. 43:04 - Recognizing the ExpertsFouad talks about the distribution of responsibility in specific situations to the people most capable of making the best decision. It’s not about staying loyal to a flow chart. If the lower-ranking person is in a better position to make the judgment, let them make the judgment. Then hand that authority back to the conventionally in-charge figure once the situation has been addressed. It’s about dynamic teams.One more time, here’s the book Fouad brought to our attention today: Managing the Unexpected.Find Fouad Online: LinkedIN Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Despite Tyler’s apathy toward football, today Eddie is encouraging us with a football analogy: stay in the pocket. He explains that the quarterback who trusts his offensive line can examine his options while standing confidently within the pocket. When you’re looking to move the ball down the field, you might be tempted to run off to the side or run backward to an area that looks so peacefully empty. This almost always ends badly. Hang in there and keep surveying your options.Tyler translates this analogy to pickleball. When you’re tempted to slam it from the kitchen, it’s usually better to just keep it going. Step into the hardship. Stay in that pocket. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

This is a re-release of an episode that originally aired on September 27 of 2023.00:00 - IntroductionYou listen to us, and we listen to you. Today we welcome a guest who engaged honestly and thoughtfully with one of our LinkedIn posts.A while back, when Eddie posted on LinkedIn to say that he wanted designers to have more money and more time in order to produce a better product, Nick stepped up to say that he didn’t think that was always the answer.  Nick said that collaboration is also key. Nick is an owner’s rep for an automotive group, and every day he observes the complex dynamics of the construction process. 03:20 - When You’ve Tried…Nick shares about times when he’s paid more for the “correct” design professionals. Sometimes it has panned out, and sometimes it hasn’t. We discuss some of the design and structural characteristics that are unique to the construction of automotive dealerships.Eddie asks Nick to describe the schematics that he hands to his architects. The plans are pretty detailed because space-planning and other elements are crucial to functionality of the space.Nick talks through the accumulating delays that occur in the design stage. He explains how essential it is that designers who are given more time produce designs that are really, truly ready to go.12:10 - Repeat Projects with Small AdjustmentsEddie talks about the unique challenges and advantages of working on projects that are essentially repeats of previous projects. Sometimes small differences in these repeat projects open the doors to slight cost savings–maybe using a 6” stud instead of an 8” one. When that happens, it can take an unreasonably long amount of time to get the designers to make that change.Nick explores the reasons that architects or engineers might not be able to jump on that change as quickly as one would like. Those people are usually working on multiple projects. He talks about how the navigation of this process changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He goes on to share about a massive beam that unexpectedly appeared on the worksite of a repeat project. He and the other parties were able to find a more affordable substitution because he was willing to ask everyone involved and push for a creative solution. 22:00 - Lessons Learned, Solutions FoundEddie asks Nick to share about some of the things he’s learned from years of encountering these kinds of challenges. Here are a couple things he mentions:-Get together with equipment vendors. Discuss how to replicate parts of the project even when there are minor variations in projects.-Take a close look at the process, including your role. See how you can tweak that process to minimize changes and increase the efficiency of addressing changes that do arise.-Make sure you’re working with designers who actually know how to build buildings–people who actually know about the physical construction process.-Make sure everyone is starting with the same vocabulary and reference points so that the content within designs can be easily understood by the workers on the jobsite.We go on to discuss the timing of change orders and the complications that arise when they’re not timed thoughtfully. Tyler asks Nick how he weighs the various variables in order to make decisions regarding change orders. Nick shares and Eddie contributes some thoughts from his experience.48:40 - Is There Such a Thing as…?Eddie asks if there is such a thing as a firm that can do top-grade work efficiently for a reasonable price? Nick says that the answer is yes but that it’s complicated. Since teams and partnerships are always changing, you might find your rhythm with one person or firm but then find that the chemistry with the entire team is not the same.Nick mentions that he has upward of 40 projects at a time that are at one stage or in the design or construction process. He talks through the communication principles that make it possible to manage that many projects at one time. 1:05:01 - Nick’s Megaphone Message: Communicate. We’re all trying to do the job. We’re all trying to do more with less resources every day. The more we can be concise and to communicate clearly, the more we’ll make everyone’s job easier. Find Nick on LinkedIn Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Eddie’s been reading The Comfort Crisis, and from that he brings us this insight: “Hunger is the best sauce.”He shares about his recent trip to the NASCC and an “exquisite” meal he had there. They didn’t go high-end, but it still tasted outstanding simply because they were so dang hungry. Hunger sharpens the olfactory senses. Doing without something can make you really appreciate it when it returns. If you’re going through a dry spell, Eddie encourages you to be okay with that. Consider how much you’ll appreciate things when the tide turns. Hunger is the best sauce.Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

We start out today with some swag talk and a chat about some recent opportunities to meet listeners. (Note: Of course historicity is a word. Dictionary.com’s definition is “historical authenticity.”) 03:50 - The Panama Canal There’s so much to discuss on this massive construction project. First, though, we insist on a deep dive on our Keurig machine.Then we get to some specs: Parcel of land: 10 miles wide and 50 miles long85 feet elevation change from sea level to highest pointAvg. ship transit time: 8-10 hrs300,000,000 cubic yards of earth moved in project52 million gallons of water displaced for each transit (That’s about 742,857 bathtubfuls–roughly the amount of water that passes through Hoover Dam every 14 minutes)Cut the ocean-going distance from NY to LA from 13,000 miles to 5,200 milesSome calculations put the total construction fatalities at 500 lives for each mile of canal. (Total of around 25,600).  We discuss the history of Panamanian isthmus exploration by those who were interested in sea navigation. In 1513, Spanish explorer Balboa became the first European to realize that this area was a narrow isthmus b/t Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This eventually led to exploration for a navigable passage. Then in 1534, Charles V, the Holy Roman emperor, ordered a survey to determine if a route could be built. It is considered impossible. By 1881, France decided that indeed it was possible, so they began construction. That attempt led to more than 20,000 deaths–mostly from Caribbean islands such as Antigua, Barbados and Jamaica.13:06 - Lock History and the Labor ForceEddie runs us through the history of locks, which started in China and included some input from Leonardo DaVinci. Approximately 60,000 people were involved in the American construction project. White workers got the best jobs and the best lodging. Workers died at the incomprehensible rate of 500 for every mile of construction. Many of these deaths were due to disease, but many were also due to mudslides and a range of other predictable types of accidents. 19:09 - New Tools and Chief Engineers We discuss a couple of innovations that made this project possible: The track-shifter (Watch a video clip): huge crane-like machine could hoist a whole section of track–rails and ties–and swing it in either direction, to relocate it as much as 3 m at a time. It took less than a dozen men operating one day to move 1.6 km of track, a task requiring not less than 600 men.The dirt-spreader (See a pic): A car operated by compressed air, the dirt-spreader had steel "wings" on each side that could be raised and lowered to level off material left along the track by the unloader. Did the work of approximately 6000 men working by hand.Eddie lists the men who worked in the chief engineer role and the big money that they earned–more than any other public employee other than the president. The one who finally stuck around to finish the project was George Washington Goethals, who had no choice because he was assigned to this role as an Army general.  27:30 - Economic Impact and Other Takeaways We explore the economic impact of the canal. Shipping costs for goods that would have needed to pass south of South America immediately dropped by 31%. This leads to a discussion of the drought that has caused complications in the canal since last year. We touch on the huge impact caused when shipping lanes are shut down, including the recent bridge collapse in Baltimore.Tyler mentions the fact that automation has been in the works since even this era and we discuss the efforts that were made in regard to personnel management–allowing families to stay near the work sites and providing some of the workers with generous vacation time.Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

(This is a re-air of an episode originally released last September.)Tyler’s been doing some training lately. Eddie has been both working out and listening to ultra-runner Nick Bare’s podcast.Nick talks about running a 230-mile ultra-marathon. Tyler and Eddie are not doing that.During COVID, Eddie was set to run a marathon that ended up being canceled. The Campbell family stepped up and set up a one-man race. When he hit 16 miles, he hit a wall. He was determined not to quit in front of his kids, so he focused on just finishing the next mile. Then the next mile. Then the next mile.We all hit those walls. Sometimes you simply can’t take the long view. You just need to focus on the very next step. Slowly you’ll gather momentum. Eventually you’ll realize that you’re just three miles out. Then two. Then one. Then you’re done. Just do the next mile.Check out the partners that make our show possible.  Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! 

00:00 - The Founding of GPRS Today we welcome Matt Aston. Matt is the founder of GPRS. Although that is an acronym for ground-penetrating radar systems, the company does much more than that these days. Matt started his company in 2001, and now they employ almost 800 people in 54 cities. We discuss the ground-penetrating radar equipment. Matt walks us through some basics about how this equipment uses magnetic variations to help users create a map of the underground infrastructure. When he was starting GPRS, most of his work involved taking readings in concrete–sensing rebar, anchors, etc. As time passed, they shifted toward working with utility contractors before excavations. Matt shares about his dad’s drilling and cutting business in Toledo and how a softball injury forced him to restructure his business. This led to substantial growth that led to a business he might have been interested in taking over. 06:08 - Building a Business on Young Technology, Equipment Overview Matt tells us about an early experience with the stress of the ground-penetrating radar business. On his way to the equipment-training session he was a little scared. On the way home, he was really scared. Eddie asks Matt to talk through ground-penetrating radar tools. He talks through the tools and the process that has enabled his team to reach a 99.87% accuracy record. It involves baby-buggy-like carts and converting screen data to the paint on the ground. A few GPR antennas, a couple for underground and one specifically for concrete. Then there are a few specialized tools, including the handheld wands and sewer cameras. The sewer cameras, along with a few other tools, enable the company to now provide leak-detection services. 15:33 - Training ProgramsMatt shares about his company’s training programs. Matt explains that they now have 3 full-time trainers. These veteran project managers conduct their training in a facility with a custom-built floor full of all kinds of wire, pipes, and conduit. They also have a simulated gas station complete with tanks. Tyler asks Matt to share about his company’s Trump Tower project in Chicago. This involved a demo and then some code upgrades. This required extensive time-consuming retrofits. He recounts a couple other incredibly ambitious projects. We discuss the increasing sensitivity and precision of the equipment involved. Matt shares about a time when he had to break some unfortunate news with the owners of a scientific facility where the concrete hadn’t been poured to the proper thickness.  29:50 - Unusual Projects and Big-City ProjectsTyler asks Matt to share about some of the unorthodox jobs they’ve been called to do. Matt shares a story about a mysterious old site where the client was looking for a large metal container. GPRS has even located a few murder victims. He’s not confirming that one of them was Jimmy Hoffa, but he’s not denying it either. Matt tells a few examples of the interesting variety of locations that this work takes his teams. He gives an example of one crew working in DC who was taken by the National Park Service to scan the lawn at the White House. 37:24 - Entrepreneurship Tyler asks Matt to talk about growing his business. Matt shares about early hires and the challenges of ensuring that the income exceeds the outflow. He discusses decisions that were especially influential, and he shares his thoughts about the role of the companies’ CEOs in both successes and failures. As your company grows, Matt says, your potential also grows.   Matt recounts the stages of growth and the points at which you sense shifts in your perception of the business and your role in it. He set some ambitious goals and has found that they’re achievable. He mentions the role that Toledo’s size played in setting his company on a path for growth.Eddie and Matt compare notes on business-growth rewards and challenges. Matt shares about an unsettling conversation he had with a contractor who wanted to avoid knowing in advance about underground elements because he made more money when his equipment damaged them and then he needed to repair them. They agree that it’s all about “meeting the need.” 59:13 - Matt’s Megaphone MessageWe are capable of so, so much more than we realize. The world around us makes it really easy to be average. If you just show up and do what you said you were going to, you’re already above average. But if you push yourself, you can move into that elite category. Find your why. You can be an elite performer. Find Matt on LinkedInCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

It’s not worth it. You want to sleep at night.Manipulation sometimes comes in the form of straight-up lying, but it also sometimes comes in half-truths, intimidation. Sometimes it even comes in the form of donuts (although we won’t complain too hard about that one). Be a straight shooter. Not only will it keep you from being found out; it will also make life more pleasant for you. Word of mouth is big in the construction industry. Your reputation will precede you. Be the person who shows up when you say you’re going to show up. Take care of problems.  Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

We start out today by considering placing bets on the Sawzall next door, which of course leads us to reflect on our experience with high school bookies. 02:25 - A Full House of SpecsTyler mentions that his first exposure to the Golden Gate Bridge was in the opening to Full House. Then we dive into some specs: The bridge’s span between towers is 4200 feet.The towers reach 746’ height above the water.Each tower weighs 22,000 tons.The total length of the bridge is 1.7 miles.80,000 miles of steel wire were used to –enough to wrap around the earth 3 times.  1 million rivetsWe discuss the old-school rivets and a condition that developed among riveters. When the primer paint came into contact with the still-hot rivets, they’d release fumes that led to an odd collection of symptoms. Eddie recalls his first trip over the bridge to Muir Woods, where the Ewok scenes in Star Wars were filmed. Tyler thought about taking a similar trip but lacked confidence in the range of his rented electric vehicle.   09:06 - Joseph StraussEddie leads us into a conversation about Joseph Strauss, who headed up the construction of the bridge. Tyler goes bleepy in his review of Strauss’s character. Strauss tended to be a little praise-hungry, tending to brush aside the contributions of others who made substantial contributions to the bridge’s design and construction. We discuss Strauss’s Renaissance-man range of interests and his death soon after the bridge’s completion. Eddie admires Strauss’s idea of creating a scale model of the bridge during the building process.  13:24 - Historical Comparisons, Objections, Divers, etc. We discuss the history of suspension bridges and the unique challenges of constructing a bridge over this particular waterway. Eddie recounts the history of interest in building a bridge that would save massive travel time. A drive around this bay at today’s travel speeds would take 3 hours. He lists the various parties that objected to the bridge’s construction–everything from environmentalists to citizens worried about the naval fleet being prevented from reaching the ocean. (And, of course, you can imagine how worked up the ferrymen were.)Tyler discusses the crucial contributions of the construction divers in those old-school diving suits. We discuss the tasks they completed and the risks they took. 29:00 - Safety Performance, Cables, and AI We express our amazement at the fact that only 11 people died during this project. Considering the safety standards of the day, that was pretty impressive–especially considering the fact that 10 of those deaths occurred in the same incident. That means that if that incident hadn’t occurred, there would have been only a single death in a project completed when some decision-makers considered it acceptable to have one death per million dollars spent on a project. We wonder if part of the reason for that safety was hard hats, which were required for the first time on this project. We review the specs related to the massive cables–up to 3 feet in diameter–that both support the bridge and allow it to flex. These big projects created necessities that mothered inventions. Eddie returns to the topic of naysayers and how we approach the decisions to tackle large projects. We ponder the cost-benefit analyses done with projects like this as they relate to environmental concerns. Tyler connects the learning that occurred and the travel patterns that shifted as a result of the Golden Gate Bridge. He links these considerations to our current perspective on AI. 32:50 - Destination StructuresWe discuss the cool feelings that come with the construction of projects that have enough of a presence in the national consciousness that people travel just to see them. Tyler says the Great Wall of China is one that he’d like to see. Eddie would like to go up in the St. Louis Arch and to see the Space Needle as well as the Taj Mahal. He’d also love to visit some ancient ones.  This prompts us to reflect a bit–thinking that we need to take the time to appreciate the way that people use the things we build. Appreciate the fact that you’re making a difference in people’s daily lives. If you’re interested in learning more about the Golden Gate Bridge and its construction, check out these sources: The RivetsVideo clips of the riveting process 1960s mini-documentary Pics of underwater workersCable picsPics of south tower “bathtub”History Channel Modern Marvels episodeCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Eddie’s gears have been ground. It bothers him when people act like they’re the only one with problems–especially when this leads to them unloading their workload onto someone else.This kind of offense is especially frustrating to managers, owners, or other types of bosses who can’t pass the buck.(We can’t imagine how worked up Eddie will be when he’s an old man.)Ultimately, it’s a basic “do unto others as you’d like them to do unto you” situation. It makes you a better employee, a better coworker, a better friend, a better contractor. Tyler reflects on the sense of entitlement that he had as a young fella in the industry, and we discuss the long-term benefits of making deposits to the trust account of those you work with day in and day out.   Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Tyler’s struggling with sugar withdrawal. Eddie sometimes doesn’t feel like a real man. Hamzah Shanbari likes his coffee bitter and black.02:55 - Welcoming Hamzah ShanbariWe’re glad to have Hamzah back. It’s been a good, long while–almost three years since he joined us to discuss marketing vs. reality. He’s still achieving more than us. Hamzah now works with Haskell, where he is the Director of Innovation. Haskell has charged Hamzah and his team to invest, invent, and innovate. They do this under an LLC named Dysruptek, that seeks to look with a fresh eye at things that have long been done the same way. Hamzah talks about Haskell’s Big Pitch, the Shark Tank-style event where people within the company present their new ideas. Tyler asks how they vet the ideas. Hamzah talks about Miro digital mapping and a few other steps. He enters these ideas into a database that can be consulted as company needs arise over time. When an opportunity arises, they pull up these ideas and fund pilot programs. 15:12 - Some SpecificsEddie asks for some specific examples of projects Hamzah’s team has guided through this pilot process. He shares an example of a software package. Project managers upload the specifications of their projects and then the software tracks down and compiles all of the documentation required and ensures that all parties have what they need for their respective scope of responsibility. Then reminders can be programmed that will ensure continued documentation is properly collected and organized and distributed.  Tyler asks how commonly AI has arisen within these conversations, and we spend some time discussing Sora generative AI. We discuss the changes we’re likely to see in this area within the coming months and years. Eddie wonders if it will discourage our imagination. Hamzah shares about the book The Coming Wave, which recounts the process of training AI to play the game Go.   25:22 - AI IntegrationHamzah takes us into a conversation about the ways that AI is increasingly integrated into software such as Revit. We ponder the fact that big companies move slowly, meaning the shift towards intuitive operation doesn’t happen quickly. Hamzah shares some examples of contracts being examined and on some level executed by AI. He also mentions Togel AI conducting safety analysis for jobsites. Eddie shares some thoughts about the reasonable reach of automation. Hamzah’s thought: Verify. Eddie agrees: Check the numbers. Hamzah refers to the importance of highly qualified inspectors–for example stainless steel welding inspectors. He shares about a machine-learning experience they had with training AI to flag questionable welds. One of the lessons? AI is not that easy. Using it with high-value work requires a lot of time, money, and effort. Tyler asks Hamzah to share about cool new tools he’s seen. He mentions Skydio drones that are much more extensively automated in its execution of photogrammetry tasks. 40:36 - The BookTyler invites Hamzah to share about a big development in his life: He’s writing a book. Hamzah explains that he approached this project as an effort to share the knowledge he’s gained during his many years engaging with innovative ideas in construction. The book is titled Paperless Builders: The Why, What, and How of Construction Technology, and it’s designed for people working in contexts where they don’t have someone to facilitate innovation. Tyler talks about his interest in this subject matter and the mission of sharing information that will serve as a tide to raise all boats.Hamzah is working on building a community of people who can provide perspectives that will help shape his book. If you’re interested in learning more about the book, check out this page.  47:24 - Megaphone MessageThink outside the box. Do some research. There are tons of solutions that will make you more efficient, safer, more accurate. Find Hamzah on LinkedIn and at Haskell Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Today's leadership lesson was inspired by what we've recently learned about Joseph Strauss, the somewhat-designer of the Golden Gate Bridge. (You’ll hear more about him in an upcoming full CBP episode.)When you’re in charge of a crew, there’s a natural tendency to want to look good. This is natural, but it’s also dangerous. The good team leader knows that he looks good because of the members of the team. If you’re claiming credit for the final project, you’re blowing the opportunity to give credit where credit is due.Your tendency to claim credit for success should be directly related to your tendency to take the blame when things go wrong. As Eddie says, the call is to accurately represent your contributions. There’s no reason for false humility, but there’s always reason for genuine, circumstantially appropriate humility. People work ambitiously for people who lead this way. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

A few weeks ago, Jennifer Wilkerson joined us to discuss training, education, and recruitment. Today we’ve invited her back to talk about women in construction. Jennifer Vice President of Innovation and Advancement at the National Center for Construction Education and Research. 00:00 - All in the FamilyTyler asks Jennifer to give a run-down of the welding business that she and her husband own. Jennifer was the business manager for several years after leaving her job as a high school English teacher. Over the years, their two daughters, aged 21 and 31, have taken different meandering routes into that business or the broader construction industry. This means that Jennifer speaks from a position of rich experience when it comes to women in construction. Eddie asks how the job search went for her younger daughter, who shifted to construction from a forensic-science program. Jennifer said that construction companies were quite eager to welcome a young prospect interested in becoming a superintendent. 06:09 - The ObstaclesEddie asks Jennifer to discuss the obstacles that keep women from entering the construction industry. She recounts a survey of elementary-age girls that revealed the primary concern most of them had: “I’m not strong enough.” They simply don’t realize that the construction industry is not all about lifting stuff. Tyler shares about how much he enjoys taking his daughter to Home Depot or to visit a work site. Eddie follows up with some memories about the bros’ grandma, who had a toolbox of her own. Tyler asks about the pressure to recruit women at this moment in the industry. Jennifer says that it’s a matter of need. The industry needs to tap into all sectors of the workforce if it wants to resolve the labor shortage. 10:42 - Research ResultsJennifer shares about research that NCCER conducted regarding women in construction. They surveyed 176 tradeswomen to see what changes might make the industry more welcoming. They also studied other surveys that have been on this topic.Here are some of the findings:Women do things more thoughtfully and meticulously in situations where men might to revert to brute strength.Women bring a sense of teamwork and emotional cohesion to a team. Men who worked on teams with women rated themselves higher on productivity then men on teams without women. Jennifer attributes this to the fact that many women are encouragers.Women bring a diversity of perspectives to a crew and a worksite.We talk about that many women got into construction for the money and then found themselves taking great pride and satisfaction in seeing completed projects. 18:10 - Concerns of Prospective Workers Eddie asks Jennifer to share about the concerns that women have coming into the industry. She mentions concerns about sexual harassment but expresses that the industry has come a long way in this area. She gives an example of a company that invested genuine resources and thought toward ensuring that concerns were recognized and addressed. Another concern is accommodation for mothers. She says it’s important to consider some creativity in shift work to enable women to address concerns of childcare. She suggests some other creative solutions, such as designated parking for parents. Many of these family-friendly considerations would be beneficial for everyone.We step into the topic of porta-potties and the fact that most of them are designed with no consideration to feminine hygiene products. The companies say they’ve never been asked for these simple features.Eddie asks about the best ways to ensure that women’s perspectives are making it into planning conversations. Jennifer explains how much of a difference that makes. She encourages women to speak up to the leaders of their organizations. They want to hear. 28:34 - Safety and Team ChemistryEddie shares his speculation that women are more risk-averse than most men. Jennifer confirms that this is the case. She shares about a woman who plays “Mama bear” as a safety enforcement specialist. Eddie refers to the cowboy mindset that many men take until there’s an accident. Tyler and Eddie share about an experience with a woman who became an integral member of their detailing team. Eddie refers to the clarity she brought to communication and the attention to detail that she brought to the detailing process. 36:29 - Megaphone MessageHere’s what Jennifer says with her megaphone this time around: Give women a chance. Be a company that women want to join. Think about your project sites. Ask the women on your team what you can do to be more welcoming to women. Think about your daughter, your wife, your sister. Find Jennifer on LinkedInCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

It’s hot when you weld.Today we’re back around to the topic of young people coming into the industry. Today, we’re specifically discussing ways to help young people with an interest in the construction industry. This conversation brings to mind times when we’ve learned from newbies who are approaching industry-standard software for the first time. We encourage educators and people within the industry to encourage young prospects to explore. Help them wade into the waters of Bluebeam and other software that are at the heart of design and construction today. Here are some links to get you started: Bluebeam’s academic program: www.bluebeam.com/academic Bluebeam University: www.bluebeam.com/bluebeam-universityCheck out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

If you're interested in learning more about the construction of Hoover Dam, scroll to the end of the show notes for links.00:00 - A Quick Dam Joke, the Consortium, and Some StatsWe question our ability to keep our puns in check. Sorry, Mom.Then we move on to the contractors. We discuss the consortium called Six Companies Inc. that won the bid at nearly $49 million, approximately $860 million in today’s dollars.Eddie makes a conveniently timed comparison to the Washington Monument. The Hoover Dam is 726 feet tall–almost 200 feet taller than the Washington Monument. Only 6 buildings in the US were taller than the dam when it was built.We discuss some stats:-4.4 million cubic yards of concrete were used in the project. That is enough to pave a two-lane road from Seattle to Miami or a four-foot-wide sidewalk around the Earth at the Equator or enough to pave a two-lane road from Seattle to Miami.-Its base is as thick as the length of 2 football end-to-end-It has 4 intake towers (30’ diameter each) that can carry enough water to fill 900 bathtubs in only one second. That means 1,448,100 “bathtubfuls” of water will have passed through the dam in the time it takes you to listen to this episode. 07:15 - Construction Costs and Power OutputTyler mentions that the cost of the initial construction, which finished in 1936, wasn't paid off until 1987. Eddie discusses the way that we handle financing for capital projects, spending not just tomorrow’s money–but money that won’t come in for decades. We compare these expenses to the absolutely monumental amount of economic impact that the electricity from the dam has had. Here’s where the 4 billion kilowatt-hours each year goes:19% to Arizona23% to Nevada58% percent goes to California (15% to LA, which is 270 miles away)10:46 - Hoovervilles and FatalitiesEddie fills the gaps in Tyler’s history education with an explanation of the Hoovervilles from the Great Depression. Hoover didn’t get much positive PR aside from this dam. We discuss the desperation of the Great Depression is shown by the fact that the ability to line up workers for a job to do this. Tyler shares the troubling coincidence is the fact that the first and last men to die on this project were father and son. Thinking about these human costs leads us into a discussion about the structure of incentives and penalties that drove the owners of Six Companies to push the pace of construction. 19:53 - Takeaways: Big Projects, Green Energy, Old-school DraftingWe discuss the fact that bold projects lead to emboldened people who move on to even bolder projects. Sometimes biting off more than you can chew leads to growth. Tyler makes the point that this dam was a green-energy project long before the term “green energy” was coined. He also expresses awe at the thought that all of the drafting for this massive project would have been done by hand. Eddie stops short of calling himself a history buff, but he expresses a deep respect for the teams of designers and workers who accomplished massive projects like this with so little help from what we consider advanced technologies. Tyler invites you to submit your ideas for future research-based projects. If you’re interested in additional details about the Hoover Dam, explore these sources: EIA.govUSBR.govB1M video: compares the world’s largest dams to other structuresLake Mead historical water-level chartNPS.govBechtel’s page about construction of the damOld publicity/education videoLibrary of Congress Photos Video of the physics and engineering involvedCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Today we bring you the last of our February series on things we love about the construction industry. Today, we're talking about variety.When it’s Friday and you just wanna go home. What keeps you there?Eddie and Tyler point out that you could be in a dull, repetitive cubicle job that is going to be taken over by AI. But instead, you’re in a field where you encounter something new every day. There are tampers to ride, new guys to send out for the beam stretcher, all kinds of fresh and exciting variety. And, yes, there are new regulations, new owners, new contractors to work with. Is all that variety wonderful? Probably not. Still, it’s not dull. So hang in there at least until lunch.Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we’re talking to Jeffrey Michael and Darren Draper, two commissioning agents. If you’re not sure what that means, then you’ve come to the right episode.00:00 - Superbowl reflectionsWe’re not sure what we were thinking to schedule a recording session the day after the Superbowl. Also, we’re sorry that you’re listening yet again to thoughts about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce just so we can get some SEO juice. 03:21 - IntroductionsJeffrey Michael has been in the design and construction world for about 15 years, the last several of those years of that in commissioning. He discusses his earlier experience with manufacturing controls–working with automated guiding vehicles, assembly lines, welding robots, and the like. In the commercial sector, his controls expertise means that he deals with HVAC, lighting, security.Darren Draper is Principal at the Epsten Group. He has been working in commissioning since he left college. Before that, he did summer work with his dad in HVAC work. He shares about how little he expected to end up in the world of controls.06:56 - Commissioning - the what and the howWe ask Jeffrey and Darren to explain commissioning. Darren explains that a commissioner is there to make sure the building operates the way the owner wants it to operate. They make sure the HVAC units and anything else mechanical is operating the way it should.Jeffrey and Darren share a bit about how they do the testing they do. The documentation and protocols involved are numerous. All of this is to ensure that the outputs within an actual building are what the design engineers intended them to be.Darren explains that commissioners want to be hired by the owner so there’s a solid third-party objectivity. We discuss what market/industry forces led to the creation and growth of this position. As building components became increasingly complex, more buildings were reaching the end of the construction process without functioning the way they should. 18:30 - Equipping, informing, and training owners and support crewsDarren and Jeffrey explain that part of a commissioner’s function is training the owner’s repair and maintenance specialists on the nuances of their building’s systems. Many of the elements these crews will need to maintain are concealed once construction is complete. The guys share about a recent poultry building they completed and then discuss mission-critical elements. We discuss the importance of functional redundancies that are central to the safety of those who will be using a building. We discuss the importance of effective communication in this process–the need for people to be able to approach training with a teamwork/partnership dynamic.32:42 - Dealing with conflictTyler asks the guys to share about how they deal with conflict. They share that tact is incredibly important in their work. Jeffrey talks about tactics for diffusing tension and keeping everyone focused on solutions and a building’s long-term functionality. We discuss how the landscape of engineering, design, and construction have shifted over the years. A few decades ago, most engineers and designers contributing to a project would likely have had at least a little more boots-on-the-jobsite familiarity with the actual construction process.Add to this the product manufacturers who sell a product that can do what it is designed to do only if it is installed properly in the proper environment and surrounded by the proper components. We also touch on outsourcing of isolated parts of the design or engineering process. 45:58 - Designing and building with the end in mindDarren and Jeffrey discuss the importance of designing buildings with controls in mind so that the operational intent of the building is the focus. Jeffrey shares some thoughts about why this is not the way things are done. We explore some thoughts about how disconnects in the industry could be reduced. 01:04:09 - Megaphone MessageJeffrey: Know your worth. Also, in order to know what you do want to do, explore things so you can know what you don’t want to do.Darren: Take pride in what you do. If you don’t like what you do, find something you do like to do and take pride in that.Find Jeffrey on LinkedInFind Darren on LinkedInCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

We’re back with some more love. Today is the third episode in our “For the love of…” series.Eddie loves solving problems. He loves seeing all of the pieces laid out in front of him and then figuring out how to put them all together. His favorite is solving problems as part of a team. He loves to spitball ideas and build off of the ideas of his teammates until there’s a solid, impressive, satisfying result.Tyler expresses his appreciation for the fact that construction still involves a hefty amount of face-to-face interaction when a group of people get together in a room and hash it out. With coffee, of course.Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we’re talking to Jennifer Wilkerson of the National Center for Construction Education and Research, where she’s now the Vice President of Innovation and Advancement. Our conversation today focuses on the recruitment and training of tomorrow’s skilled trades workforce. 01:20 - TSwift, JWilk, and the Family Welding BusinessWe recorded this episode pre-Superbowl, so we start out with Tyler’s speculations about a potential earth-shaking breakup that might follow the game. Jennifer shares with us about her path from aspiring financial advisor to high school English teacher to VP of Innovation and Advancement at the NCCER. She’s now been with NCCER for 14 years. Tyler asks Jennifer to share about how hiring has changed since the days when she and her husband started their welding business. She discusses the cultural shifts that have made it necessary to have a greater amount of structured training. 08:15 - Poaching and JumpingEddie refers to the retention challenges that employers face, and we discuss employee etiquette. The job market makes it a serious challenge. Jennifer points out how much of a teacher mindset many tradespeople have. We share about how we’ve seen that within ABSI. 12:53 - NCCERJennifer outlines what the NCCER offers. Much of their work has to do with guiding contractors toward the rich network of organizations that can provide them with support in hiring and training employees as well as other aspects of managing their business. She points out that many community colleges and high schools are experiencing a long-overdue pendulum swing back toward training for the trades. She mentions the spirit of cooperation at a recent American Association of Community Colleges conference. Jennifer mentions that employers need to adjust their expectations as far as how much experience they can expect workers to have when they enter. Many of these incoming workers will have training that is wide but shallow. Employers need to be prepared to fill the gaps. 17:10 - High Schools and Shop ClassTyler asks about the responsiveness of high schools to the return to an emphasis on shop classes. Jennifer shares how the NCCER helps high schools navigate this process. The need is clearly there, but the infrastructure has deteriorated and significant cultural attitudes need to be addressed. Jennifer explains how culture defined success after WWII and how it has developed since then.Eddie asks about the differences in employee demand between different regions and markets. Jennifer shares some insights on this and also touches on the advancement opportunities present within construction–including owning your own business. 25:50 - CollegesTyler discusses the structure of college curricula and how it provides a perceived path toward a career. He sees this as a weak point in the construction industry. Eddie talks about his son’s recent experience with a surveyor.Jennifer shares about the fact that contractors don’t know how to reach out to schools. She discusses the persistence required to make these connections. 31:15 - Urgency and How to Take ActionEddie asks Jennifer for some numbers. She shares these troubling ones:-By 2025, 25% of the current workforce will retire.-By 2028, it will be 30%. That’s almost a third of the workforce.-For every 5 people that retire out of construction, only 1 is entering. She points out that we have to establish a consistent presence in the schools. Eddie points out that Gen Z seems to have a “Show me the money” attitude.Tyler asks Jennifer for action points for contractors seeking young workers, and she encourages them to go to BYF.org, NCCER’s site designed to help people build their future. The site contains packets of activities and materials for career days.Tyler mentions the Heavy Metal Summer Experience that we discussed with Angie Simon. Jennifer also suggests that you ask about helping math teachers with lessons that are connected to workplace application. 39:48 - Megaphone MessageHere’s Jennifer’s message to the construction industry: Carpe diem. Seize the day. Build something that will last longer than you. This is the time. Get off your a**. Get on your feet and go visit your local schools. Do something to address this problem.Find Jennifer on LinkedInCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Sometimes they were forged in the fire, but we have some really good relationships because of our involvement in the construction industry. Tyler shares about his amusement at what people consider difficult in his new field of work. He says it just doesn’t compare to the challenges he encountered in construction. Eddie encourages you to not underestimate the benefits of working really hard alongside others. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we talk to Dr. Noland White, Professor of Psychology at Georgia College & State University. IMPORTANT NOTE: Today’s conversation touches on issues of mental health. Although we hope you find the insights helpful, we want to be clear that this content is for educational purposes only. If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, please talk to a medical professional. 02:06 - Settling InDr. White gives us a run-down of his academic and professional history. We discuss the benefits of ropes courses. It’s all about facing challenges–even if you don’t overcome them. Dr. White lists some of the courses he teaches and shares about his research pursuits. This includes everything from intimate relationships to ADHD. 07:59 - ConfrontationTyler explains that we invited Dr. White today to talk to us about how to handle confrontation. Dr. White explains that, first of all, it’s a lot easier to know what to do than it is to actually do it. That being said, he explains that the first step is to not take the conflict personally. Eddie asks about the physiological responses to conflict. Dr. White talks about how these responses can be the signal that it might be time to step back. Let tempers cool. Do a “physiological sigh” and let the body’s fight or flight reflex recede. We also discuss “box breathing.” Tyler talks about the challenges of focusing on these things in a true, real-world moment of confrontation. Dr. White says it certainly requires practice–and maybe getting feedback from your peers about how you handle situations. 17:40 - It’s Almost the JobEddie mentions that confrontation is a huge portion of the work done by many people in construction. He asks Dr. White to explain how to approach these situations when you know they’re coming. We discuss the importance of framing thoughtful questions that focus on the problem itself rather than the personal tensions.Tyler confesses to blaming and assuming and also being a dumb butt. But he also says that he’s made progress toward coming to people with a more controlled tone. He mentions that self-deprecation can really help. Eddie explains that recognizing the day as a series of confrontations–some large, some small–can lead you to maintain a readiness and keep the skillset ready for use. 25:23 - De-escalationTyler asks for concrete steps toward deescalation. Here’s Dr. White’s advice-Recognize when you need to step away and digest the situation. If it can wait until you’re calmer, then wait.-Realize that a direct confrontation doesn’t need to be bad. Front-loading of your work environment can help with this. -Think about the best physical space and time of the day to have the conversation that needs to be had.31:18 - Email and Tips for the TimidEddie requests advice for those who tend to avoid confrontation. Dr. White shares the importance of setting up strategies that enable you to have a couple productive confrontational conversations. This can break the loop that leads to an increasing fear of confrontation. Think of it as baby steps. We discuss what to do when you’re tempted to write one of those spicy emails. Write the text and then let it sit for a few hours. Revisit it in a calmer state and revise before sending. Doris Kearns Goodwin does indeed claim that Lincoln practiced this simmer-down delayed-send routine. Several of them he never even sent.We discuss the fact that email and text messages are ripe for misunderstanding because of the absence of nonverbal communication. Eddie mentions that he wishes he’d have held onto a few of his from years gone by.Another solution? Pick up the dang phone. Let someone hear your tone of voice. Tyler mentions Cal Newport’s thoughts on email. 42:28 - AnxietyTyler asks Dr. White for an explanation of anxiety. Tyler mentions that he didn’t experience true anxiety until his 20s. Dr. White shares his thoughts: Anxiety has various physiological manifestations. Anxiety comes from various sources or social circumstances. Anxiety is your body reacting to a situation that your mind for some reason perceives as a threat. Part of the solution is to identify the source of the anxiety. We discuss some of the ways to get above the anxiety-inducing situations. Reach out to those who are in positions to give you insights and help. 52:20 - Megaphone MessageDr. White shares this insight: You don’t have to be perfect. You can ask for help. You don’t have to do things the way you’ve always done them. Despite all of your experiences and all you’ve done, can you imagine that someone else’s experience might have been different. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Surely you’ve done this with your family. And surely they’re eyes have rolled every time.For the month of February, we’re talking about love… The love of construction. Today we focus on the pride we all feel when we encounter projects to which we’ve contributed. Tyler talks about his Wawa work, which didn’t exactly overwhelm his wife. Eddie goes all the way back to his time in college in order to compare the tangibility of your work. We discuss the satisfaction of being able to point to a brick-and-mortar outcome of your invested time.Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we trigger our PM friends.00:40 - IntroWe chat about our studio setup and Eddie’s perceived curmudgeonliness. Eddie insists that it’s almost always about expecting people to be a good roommate. 03:57 - Tyler is giddy. Tyler shares about the comment thread on one of his recent LinkedIn posts. The initial post asked people to make a project manager fly off the handle in five words or less. Here are some of our favorites:-“Cleaners erased your whiteboard.” We wonder if cleaners should carry insurance for this offense.-“As per my last email…” We have a hard time seeing this one used in a tone that is not passive aggressive.-“Rev 16 is being issued tomorrow.” We’ve seen the numbers climb even higher than that.-“That is excluded from my proposal.” This one always comes six months down the road.-“Why is the OSHA truck outside?” We throw Dad under the bus with a story from OSHA’s early days. -“You see the new plans?” We can all work together to make sure this one goes extinct. Eddie submits a plea that people don’t nudge elements when you’re tempted to.- “They’ve been scanned in.” …Meaning you can expect some coffee stains.24:15 - Our additions and some honorable mentionsEddie shares a trigger phrase that he didn’t share on LinkedIn: “Yeah, but you lost your slot.” He shares some thoughts about the chain of events that leads to this one. Someone is wanting to put everyone else on pause. We run through a few more responses: -“That’s above my pay grade.”-“I may not have said that, but that’s what the consultant’s intent was.” -“The permits were never obtained.”30:03 - ConfessionsWe also posted an invitation for people to share about bizarre project-manager-related stories you’ve experienced or heard. Here are some highlights from that one.-A traveling employee who angered his girlfriend by visiting a specific sort of club-A worker who went AWOL under suspicious circumstances-The contractor who demonstrated his objections to excessive meetings by painting figurines in the corner of the meeting roomWe invite you to share some more via DMs.36:52 - MeetingsWe discuss the merits and annoyances of meetings. Are they necessary? Well, yeah, for sure they are to a point. Can we all agree to manage them as thoughtfully as possible, though?Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

We’ve reached our fourth and final episode focused on resolutions. This week, after we wade through some brotherly tensions, Eddie encourages you to identify someone who is “below” you in the business and take them out to eat. As he said last week, don’t make it weird! Just be intentional about creating space where trust can be established and advice can be shared. Make it clear that you’re available if they have questions. That’s all. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

How far up do you own? 00:58 - IntroWe chat about the naming of winter storms and make some subtle alternative music allusions. Eddie shares about how to increase your perceived IQ.03:30 - Bold projects Today we’re talking about two really ambitious projects: Big Bend, which is not currently underway, and The Line, which is. First, Big Bend: Eddie describes the shape of this unusual concept. The design was completed in 2017. The design seeks to sidestep the floor-area ratio limits of New York’s building code. Eddie raises the interesting philosophical question of how far into the sky a building’s ownership reaches. If an arched building spans over another building… How does that work? This leads to useful references to both the Bible and The Simpsons. We discuss what could happen if the issues of upward ownership could be resolved and buildings could begin to weave around over one another. We make a shout-out to Business Movers, one of our favorite podcasts.15:50 - The LineWe shift our focus to an even more ambitious project that is underway in Saudi Arabia: The Line.The Line is a mega city that aims to reach 110 miles long (170 km), 660 ft wide, and 1,600 ft tall.The target population for this structure is 450,000 people by 2026, 2 million people by 2030, and 9 million people by 2045.24:28 - Desalination, workforce, administrative issues We discuss the logistical concerns and resource issues related with a project of this scale in a somewhat inhospitable environment.The work crew for this project is currently right around 60,000. NEOM, the coordinating entity, claims that they’re investing heavily in safe, desirable work conditions. We explore the fact that the usual roadblocks disappear when a project is being sponsored by a monarchy and constructed in a remote location. We discuss the possible peripheral benefits that might spring from this project even if it’s not ever completed.We wrap up with a book recommendation: The Martian (the book rather than the movie). Track down the audiobook and listen to it while you work here on Earth.Links related to The Line: -Neom’s official site-A 30-minute Discovery Channel UK documentary -Articles: -DesignBoom The Line project update -Critical Popular Mechanics article -DesignBoom review of all Neom projectsCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

In this, our third week focused on resolutions, Eddie encourages you to seek an opportunity to learn. You probably already have in mind someone whose work or career you admire. Don’t make it weird. Just ask a couple questions about the things you’ve observed in their work lives. Then shut up and listen.If this person becomes a long-term mentor, great. If this just ends up being one session of learning for you, also great. Either way, you’ll come out of the situation with some insights that position you for greater success.Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for li

We've reached our bicent...episodial?!01:58 - ReminiscingToday we’re looking back over more than three years of producing the CBP. Here are some our initial thoughts:-Our intro is still rocking a 2019 vibe. -Mom is usually pretty supportive, but… There’s an episode out there somewhere from those very first episodes, and we would really love for them to stay buried deep in whatever pile of digital debris. Tyler poses a challenge: If we get to 100 ratings on Apple Podcasts within two months of today’s episode, he’ll share this embarrassment. -Tyler flashes back to the studio setup for those earliest episodes: Just a couple dudes and a big-screen TV.-Eddie recalls and early episodes with Pete DuMont, Clifton Harness, and more.09:08 - Whitey Tighties, Pete Rose and Cannibalistic HamstersEddie gives a shout-out to his favorite episode title. Our middle brother, Andy, joined us for this episode, which consisted of brotherly recollections. Poor guy passed out quite often. We cringe as we look back at our early rhythms and quirks. Tough stuff. 11:48 - Favorite episodesHere are a few that we look back on most fondly:-Going Analog in a Digital World - (feat. Eric Reinholdt of the 30x40 Design Workshop on Youtube) -Eric Anderson and his leg lamp-Todd Dawalt (who has his own podcast, Construction Leading Edge) and our discussion about the labor shortage as we headed into the pandemic -David Smigel and an early conversation about Starlink on jobsites-Roy Underhill of The Woodwright’s Shop-Lego episode-The House that Sears Built-The RFI Blockchain-Matt Byrd of the Reality Capture Network-Donnie Williams and our conversation about supply chains19:15 - Surprise lessonsWe spend some time exploring what we’ve learned. Eddie shares that he’d thought he had the solutions that the construction industry needs. He has seen his understanding expand and has gained empathy.Tyler discusses leadership and the constraints that make it hard for higher-ups to do things the way that younger, less-experienced people think things ought to be done. We express our appreciation for the sometimes contentious discussions. We’ve seen growth result from the open exploration of points of disagreement. 28:00 - Echo chambersTyler dumps some thoughts about people pitching themselves as guests in order to discuss the fact that the industry is slow to accept technology. He disagrees. Eddie lists technologies that have been readily adopted because they increase our productivity and make us look more competent. He acknowledges that he’d look like an old man if he’d step back onto a residential-construction jobsite today with tools that didn’t exist when he was working in that world.We discuss the program features and the types of content that we’ve chosen to leave behind.39:43 - Megaphone messageWe share our thoughts for the industry. They’re simple:-Eddie: Treat others the way you’d like them to treat you.-Tyler: Say thanks. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

This week Eddie encourages us to look up and look down. Engage in a conversation to see what is required for the people “above” and “below” you to succeed. Tyler shares an example about his daughter’s perpetual curiosity and encourages us to demonstrate that with those around us. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

00:47 - Introduction - Melanie’s backstoryMelanie Ford is the Senior Director of Construction for the University of Georgia Office of the University Architects. Before her move to the university, she worked for 20 years as a contractor and a Vice President of Whitsel Construction Services. She’s the Georgia Chapter President for the Construction Owners of America and one of the co-founders and current President of Athens Area Women in Construction. Melanie shares about how a stressful project in an architecture class drove her into building science. She shares about how the dean of a professor told her that a woman wouldn’t be able to tell “some 50-year-old, hard-hat-wearing man where the hell he can put his steel.” She shares about the challenges of finding a position in construction when she graduated, but a couple decades later, she is still happy with her choice to go into construction. She then tells us a bit about her family’s move to Athens, Georgia.10:37 - Melanie’s work at UGAMelanie explains what it is that she does at the University of Georgia. She oversees all construction on campus, including major capital projects and major renovations. She and her department are responsible for ensuring architectural and construction continuity across campus. She tells us a bit about the significant increase in sports-related construction, including large softball and tennis stadium projects. In addition to that, there are the ongoing renovations of buildings constructed in the 1950s. Eddie asks about how the challenges differ between different types of projects. Melanie talks about a few of her favorite projects. 19:25 - Project Managers Eddie asks Melanie to provide feedback to project managers from an owner’s perspective. She starts with thoughts about the importance of doing your research ahead of time in order to be aware of current conditions in a building set for renovation. She talks about timelines that were unnecessarily extended due to school-year schedules. She points out that many PMs tend to keep information and problems to themselves. This can be frustrating to people in positions like Melanie’s because they often have resources and connections to solve those problems.Eddie asks about the bidding process in the university domain, which leads to a conversation about task-order contracting. She explains how this approach works with smaller contracts and lists of pre-approved contractors. We explore the ins and outs of the approval process for this group of contractors and how it is used by various governmental entities. Melanie says that owner-contractor relationships result in task-order projects being completed on time more often than hard-bid projects. Melanie discusses the types of feedback she provides to contractors who ask what changes they could make in order to increase their chances of future work with the university.32:54 - Project initiation and design-buildEddie asks about the process a project goes through from the point of conception to completion. Melanie talks us through the process that sometimes involves legislators, wealthy donors. She gives an example of an unexpected connection between botanical gardens and a porcelain collection. She then walks us through the steps of a hypothetical project. Eddie asks Melanie for her opinion on design-build. She explains that she’s not a huge fan of this approach in most cases. She says that she feels like the owner loses a certain amount of control because of the chain of command that results. She prefers for the builder, the designer, and the owner to perceive one another as peers. She also mentions that the historical character of campus architecture can suffer as a result of design-build dynamics. Eddie shares about a complicated, somewhat messy arrangement he experienced in a project a few years ago and asks Melanie for her thoughts. She shares her insights about the vision-setting, information exchange, and communication complications that can arise with unusual arrangements. Melanie shares a humorous story about how she was introduced to Bluebeam. Eddie shares some thoughts about the importance of old-school communication: actual talking. We discuss the different outcomes of different forms of communication–email vs. actual voice conversations. 58:26 - Megaphone messageWe’re all on the same team. It’s all about taking a team approach. If you have your best intentions, we don’t have to have adversarial relationships. Also, support each other. Melanie shares about the importance of mentorship, especially for women in construction.1:02:53 - Bonus contentEddie shares some crazy facts about university protectionism regarding mascots and rivalries. Find Melanie Online: LinkedIn, Construction Owners of AmericaCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Happy New Year! Let’s talk about resolutions.Each week this month we’ll be focusing on one way to improve the way you do your job.This week’s resolution: Communicate. Be clearer and more deliberate in your emails, phone calls, texts, and conversations.Be self-aware. Take an honest look at your communication patterns. If you talk too much, consider trying to be more concise. If you tend to hide behind typed words when phone calls would be better, make more calls. Resolve to be just a little bit better in this respect as we head into this new year.Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Andrew and David brought us gifts! Chocolate and buckets full of Bluebeam tips! 01:00 - Chocolate Letters and Alaskan TroutWe start out today with some float-plane talk. Eddie shares about one of his trips to Alaska. Then we fess up to our lack of gift-giving etiquette and Tyler’s inability to wait when it comes to chocolate.Finally, we get into a few distinct buckets of Bluebeam tips.04:55 - Tips for Take-offs and EstimationDavid discusses the process of taking a Google Maps screenshot and pasting it into a blank Bluebeam PDF. Once it’s in there, you can calibrate and scale the image for use within your designs. He also talks us through photo- and map-overlay options that resemble augmented reality. Andrew shares about the Dynamic Fill feature, which allows users to do a take-off of an irregular shape. This tool allows you to easily apply custom measurement tools for dimensions including volume, which means that you can tag the area with fill materials, such as gravel in the case of a landscaping application. David mentions the Visual Search feature, which can identify every light fixture, doorknob, or anything else that might otherwise need to be counted manually. This can be applied on multiple files.Andrew describes some Excel-integration features that could save tremendous amounts of time.Tyler and Eddie mention a few ways they’ve used the simpler search and count features. 25:19 - 1+1=10 (Features That Combine To Be More Than the Sum of Their Parts)Although Tyler detests the word “synergy,” he was excited to hear the list of value-added combos such as these:Compare Documents + Overlay Pages + Cloud MarkupsCustom Statuses + Studio Sessions + ScriptsCover Pages + Custom Columns + Custom Tool Sets + Custom StatusesSnapshot Tool + Change Colors + Custom Tool Sets + Scaling43:44 - Delightful Little TipsAndrew and David share a few standalone operations that he’s noticed people really appreciate:Add a Leader LineAlign/StraightenCreate a CategoryAuto-mark/Page LabelsMultiplyEddie suggests that users experiment occasionally by just right-clicking on everything you can in order to see what options await you there.56:25 - Megaphone MessageDavid points out the need for everyone within the construction industry to take the initiative to mentor young people entering the industry. Don’t just watch them from a distance and hope they figure out how things work. Andrew builds on this by suggesting that everyone check in periodically with your peers to make sure they’re doing okay. He closes with a specific call for veterans to encourage young women who are entering the industry.Video and Help Links:Compare with Overlay:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aX7NVjI81Y-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RESsnjNmOnECustom Statuses via Scripting:-https://support.bluebeam.com/online-help/revu21/Content/RevuHelp/Menus/Document/Script/Using-Scripts.htmCover Page: https://support.bluebeam.com/online-help/revu21/Content/RevuHelp/Menus/Tools/Attachments/Attachment--MV.htm-Dynamic Tool Set Scaler: https://youtu.be/tM7xksl0Uio?si=ZiOsUMwPTag3r2EpAuto Page Labels: https://youtu.be/uA_SrgH-afE?si=JCbg7-8iG_2VVHogPinned Files/ Documents via Categories: https://support.bluebeam.com/online-help/revu21/Content/RevuHelp/Menus/Window/Panels/File-Access/File-Access-Tab-in-Recent-Files-Mode--TV.htmGet Line – fix skewed drawings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFP7SdJa8C4 (Old interface but the steps are still the same)Import Markups: https://support.bluebeam.com/online-help/revu21/Content/RevuHelp/Menus/Window/Panels/Markups/Markups-List--MTV.htmMultiply: https://youtu.be/vdmB3J-dGj4?si=cdx3LtRpO6-h_PgPFind David Online: LinkedIN, BluebeamFind Andrew Online: LinkedIN, BluebeamCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Today we encourage you to face the tough choices. Every single day, we have numerous opportunities to show integrity or take the easy way out. There are easy ways to back out of commitments. It’s always possible to think about an excuse. When you opt for the excuse, though, you slowly erode your reputation. Trust decays unless you actively maintain it by following through and keeping your word. Take pride in your work. Know why you do what you do. In the long run, you’ll be thankful that you did.Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

What if Santa decided to expand his operation? NOTE: If you’re interested in construction in extreme conditions, explore the links at the end of these show notes. 00:40 - IntroWe are dressed to the 9s and ready to help the Big Guy. Today we’re discussing what Santa would need to do to build a second headquarters at the South Pole in order to cut down on delivery times. As our template, we’re using the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station as our model. Here are some facts about that structure:It sits on a sheet of ice that is 9,000 feet thick.The temperatures range from -117 degrees to +7.52 degrees Fahrenheit.The ice sheet on which it sits shifts roughly 33 feet per year.The project cost $175 million. In our Santa plans, we made some adjustments for inflation and settled on roughly $2,600 per square foot, which would put the total cost at roughly $3.14 billion.The center has 45 10,000-gallon fuel tanks for heating and vehicles.07:36 - Labor Costs and ComplicationsEddie rails against the millennial elves–their lack of motivation, lack of skills. It’s shameful. This is complicated by the fact that construction workers at the South Pole are able to work outdoors for only 15 minutes at a time due to the extreme cold. We discuss what infrastructure employee-relations efforts would be needed for the elves to work through the 110-day outdoor construction season. 14:20 - Materials and TransportationAgain using the Amundsen-Scott Research Center as a guide, we discuss what it would take to ship all of the construction materials needed. 25 million pounds of cargo was hauled to the build site at 26,000 pounds per trip over 12 seasons on an Air Force LC130 plane.20:52 - Other Facts about Antarctica and Amundsen-Scott South Pole StationWe review some political facts about Antarctica as well as the research done there. This research includes glaciology, geophysics and seismology, ocean and climate systems, astrophysics, astronomy, and biology. We discuss the complications of hiring people to work in an extreme environment like this. The structure is mounted on 32 vertical columns that are each six feet into the snow and designed to be able to be added to as the snow pack increases. These columns are mounted on a floating footing made of 2x12 members boxed with ¾” plywood.If you’re interested in learning more about real South Pole structures, explore these links: The B1M video Eddie mentioned about construction in AntarcticaA video of Jerry Marty, NSF project manager, discussing the construction of the Amundsen-Scott Research Center.The official NSF siteA 3-part Tour of the Facility (Link is to part 1)NatGeo video about construction at the South PoleArticle about Antarctic buildings and basesCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Yes, you’ve probably heard this story before. It’s one that’s worth hearing again. Here’s a link to the text in case you’re interested in following along or reading it again later.Merry Christmas, everyone. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we discuss seasonal bloating and iconic Christmas trees.00:00 - Sweater Talk and MoviesTyler’s the bloatiest in the middle. That’s today’s bit of TMI from the CBP. We start out today with a call-back to the episode with Dad. Tyler felt compelled to retroactively vote for Home Alone 2 as one of his favorite Christmas movies. We share a few others too. 04:08 - Rockefeller Center Christmas TreeWe wanted to know if there’s anything interesting that we can learn from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree –maybe even something about construction. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition started in 1931 when a few construction workers pooled their money to get a tree in an attempt to raise the spirits of downtown visitors in the midst of the Great Depression. This year’s tree was in a standard old subdivision side yard in New York. 08:50 - The Tree Guy and the DecorationsTyler explains that each year’s tree is chosen and the delivery/installation process is overseen by Erik Pauze, who worked his way up from the position of summer worker at Rockefeller Center to the role of Head Gardener.Once the tree is in place, workers decorate the tree with 50,000 multi-colored LEDs. These are partially powered by solar panels atop Rockefeller Center. At the top is a 9-foot, 900-pound Swarovski star covered in 3 million crystals.15:50 - What Happens After?For many years, the tree was mulched after the holiday season and the mulch used in New York parks. In recent years, the trees have been milled and dried, with the lumber being donated to Habitat for Humanity.We discuss what this topic has to do with construction, and… Well, to be honest, we’re not sure. But it’s the holidays. We’re trying to do our part in bringing Christmas cheer. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Today Eddie relays 3 costs of leadership that he learned from Kirby Smart from University of Georgia.1) You will have to make hard decisions that negatively impact people you care about.2) You will be disliked despite your best attempts to do the best for the most. 3) You will be misunderstood, and you won’t always have the chance to defend yourself.Eddie’s advice: Write these down as a reminder to yourself. Leadership can be tough. It’s a part of the deal. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

This week we continue the conversation we started last week with Dad.00:00 - Introduction01:38 - Bogus RFIsDad continues his thoughts from last week regarding industry inefficiencies and complications. He explains how many people use the RFI as a delay tactic. He’s seen this on the receiving side as a project manager, but he’s also seen members of his own team do it from the sending side. Eddie talks about how he’s seen people creating an unnecessarily adversarial relationship for their own advantage. We discuss how this is present in at least some pockets of every sector of the industry. We discuss the role of owners in establishing the company culture in these regards.Dad recalls some technology complications when working with Tekla required several extra steps.09:15 - Product ProblemsEddie discusses the economies and efficiencies of steel production and design. Then he shifts to an exploration of the complexities of seeking subcontractors that can produce exactly what you, as a designer or fabricator, need from them. Dad sees it somewhat differently. He sees the problems as arising primarily from lack of specialty knowledge on the part of the designers. When the subs push back, the GCs don’t know enough about the sub’s industry to know that some of that pushback is nonsense. He says no part of this industry is rocket science, and that anyone who is willing to invest the research time can become knowledgeable about their related specialties. Eddie chimes in with some recollections of market shifts and subcontractor complications at various points in the growth of the industry.18:32 - The Sheet Metal Mattered…Dad shares about a project in Tampa where the quality and production method of the sheet metal complicated a project. Eddie discusses how some effectively handled BIM work couldn’t smoothly lead to a satisfactory final product without lots and lots of extra communication with the subs. Dad talks about Tekla added a new kind of fastener as a result of one ABSI project. We explore the reality that boldness is required to stretch the capabilities of software, production, and application. 23:13 - BIM’s Nothing More Than a Tool…Dad talks about how BIM is one of many industry tools that is only really useful if it’s in the hands of an expert. We get into the importance of knowing the industry nuances of a particular region–the little construction dialects and ecosystem issues. Eddie asks Dad to advise up-and-comers general contractors and project managers who want to break out of the fray. He starts with a review of the ways that business comes to different positions at different times. Then he tries to get us to gripe about RTU frames and the disproportionate complications those create. Dad finally gets around to his advice: Learn how to build. Then pay attention to what the subs are telling you but don’t believe everything they say. Eddie translates, clarifying that subs don’t necessarily know more than you do. He compares it to the classic ham-butt problem.34:51 - Software EvangelismWe discuss the claims of supposed savings that subs say they could have provided. Are they just blowing hot air? Often that’s the case. Dad claims some credit for the growth of Tekla. We reminisce about software evangelism experiences. Eddie recalls a presentation to a skeptical group that became deeply invested as soon as they saw a 3D image. Then we veer into our contempt for lying and the bridge-burning that result from it. Tyler shares a story about RTU solution shared with him and about how he learned that the most powerful question in construction: “Why?” Significant inefficiencies can often be avoided by asking that question kindly and selectively. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Tyler’s lit up--not angry, just literally lit up. Check out the Youtube version if you’re interested in seeing an illuminated version of Tyler. (We’ll understand if you’re okay sticking with the audio.)Tyler shares today about coping when things don’t go as planned. His suggestions? Nod. Accept it. Adjust. Focus on a solution. Eddie contributes some thoughts about how personality styles fit into these situations. He also reminds us that the way you handle the unexpected will have a significant effect on the way people see you.Yes, it’s important to be sure that you don’t let people take advantage of your roll-with-the-punches disposition. That being said, people will be much more likely to seek opportunities to work with you show yourself to be flexible. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

01:23 - IntroductionWe start out today with a short round-table chat about Mom dressing Tyler. And cussing. And Gallagher.03:20 - MoviesWe list some of our favorite movies–Christmas ones and Schwarzenegger ones. Dad thinks most Hallmark movies should just move on down the road. But then he goes on to talk about the one he watched with Mom. We learn that Pierce Brosnan has lost all of Dad’s respect.When it comes to Christmas movies, Eddie shares that Christmas Vacation is one of his favorites. Dad hasn’t seen it. He is a fan of Scrooged, though–especially Bobcat. Tyler shares a vote for Daddy’s Home. Dad shares that he doesn’t want to have anything to do with Elf. 10:50 - ABSI and TraumaTyler executes one of the oddest segues we’ve seen, but that does get us around to a conversation we wanted to have the last time Dad joined us. Dad was working on a project in Florida. Dad’s team won the bid, but he believes they got it because the owners knew they could push his team around. Then came the RFIs. Then came the atrium–with fiber optic stars. Dad played multiple roles on this project, and he saw his schedule slipping and slipping because of work not done in the design stage. Long story short, he decided it was time to move on from that company and start ABSI.25:50 - Birth of BIM and our first exposure to TeklaEddie shares about the first times he was exposed to these new terms and software packages. Dad reminisces about the earliest computerized drawings he did. 30:47 - Lessons LearnedEddie airs some grievances about where the industry is compared to where it should be. It’s the whole Jetsons flying-car thing. We speculate about why we haven’t come further. Dad talks about critical paths and faxes and crickets chirping as he sought to drum up business. Eddie thinks it’s largely obstinance and risk-aversion.The rest of this conversation will be in next week’s episode. Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

If you want to stand out in business, don’t be a whiner. It’s a natural human tendency, for sure. That’s why avoiding it will help you stand out from the crowd. Whining wastes time and strains relationships. The more you can suck it up and do the work when circumstances are tough, the better things will go for you and those around you. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!