Take me out to the ballgame! Today we’re re-airing a really fun conversation we had last year with Angie Simon.   Angie can hit a nasty curveball, but when she’s not standing at the plate, she’s working in one of these roles: Advisor to the Board at Western Allied Mechanical. (She was CEO when we recorded this interview last year.)Immediate Past President Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA)When we conducted this interview, she was WAM’s CEO. President and co-founder of the Heavy Metal Summer Experience (HMSE), a great program that introduces high school students to opportunities in trades.   Our conversation today starts out with Angie and Eddie geeking out about the similarities between baseball and construction.  A team with mediocre talent but exceptional cohesiveness can outperform a team with superstars but no trust. When you’re on the field, you should be talking–not just to communicate with your teammates, but to cement in your own mind what you need to do.Practical IQ–an understanding of how to approach a complex situation–is more important than some sort of technical giftedness or talent.Leaders who genuinely respect the workers in the field will have stronger teams.    Angie talks about the repeat business that her company gets simply because they do really, really good work. This is the case because of the culture of trust within their team. She explains the importance of getting a sense of buy-in from your team when you’re facing decisions. Communicate. Explain the whys and hows. Answer their questions.    We go on to talk about the ever-present issue of workforce development. Angie explains that 40% of the sheet metal workers in the country will be retiring in the next five years. Incoming apprentices are averaging 27 years of age. This means we need to get more focused with our recruitment. So, Angie’s doing something about it.   Angie spearheaded the Heavy Metal Summer Experience. When we recorded this episode in 2021, they were just about to run the first 12-session camp experience. If you want to see Angie share more about how this program has gone, check out this video. Angie also tells us about a number of other programs that she is working with to increase workforce diversity within the construction industry.    Angie’s Megaphone Message: The construction industry is a great industry. To participate in the process of building something is exciting, and there are so many opportunities. Construction workers make a difference in the world.    Learn more about Angie: Angie on LinkedIN - Angie’s SMACNA page - Angie talking about the HMSE program Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you love the undo button as much as us? This week we are talking about mistakes that happen and what we can do to make the situations better.    Topics that we cover: Mistakes happen! How to compare mistakes to baseball Slow down, think- then act!   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!      Like us on LinkedIn!      Like us on Facebook!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some people call it by name, and some people refer to it less directly, but anxiety is a real thing. And it can keep you from doing your best work and living a full life.   The experiences we describe in this episode might seem totally unfamiliar to some of you. But we’d bet that some of you are going to find yourself saying, “Hmm. Yup. I’ve experienced that…”   The anxiety we’re talking about in this episode isn’t just the general, mild sense of anxiousness and unease that arises in specific, somewhat stressful situations. We’re talking about clinically diagnosable anxiety, which often involves a racing heart rate, shortness of breath, shaky hands, nervous sweats, and inability to concentrate. It’s a physical and mental state that may keep you from functioning normally on some level.    We discuss the fact that admitting to anxiety can make you feel weak, out of control, and vulnerable. You might be hesitant to acknowledge the reality of the condition because part of the solution may be a visit to the doctor or a counselor.    Both Eddie and Tyler have experienced this sort of anxiety.    Eddie shares the fact that for several years he would feel anxious any time that he was not actively working. He wasn’t able to sleep well, and he’d find himself excessively analyzing things that didn’t need to be analyzed.    Tyler’s experiences started with music performances many years ago. It reached the point where the shaky hands and racing heart led to him avoiding performance opportunities. Then he’d find himself experiencing anger with some of the daily frustrations.    Both of us eventually spoke up about our symptoms and discovered that there are medications and other measures that can dramatically reduce the symptoms and effects of anxiety. Getting help gave us a tremendous sense of freedom.     Our advice: Be willing to admit it. Don’t assume you can wish away these symptoms. Mention it to someone you trust. Then set an appointment to discuss it with your doctor. It doesn’t mean you’re “crazy.” We go to coaches, trainers, and mentors for help in sports, construction–all kinds of areas. Why would the area of mental health be any different?   Even if you haven’t experienced anxiety of the sort that we discussed today, there’s a good chance that someone on your team or in your family has. We discuss some ideas for how you can help someone you’ve seen experiencing these symptoms. Open the door for the discussion.   Megaphone moment: There are tools that can help with anxiety. Reach out and grab them.     Resources: Find a Counselor: https://www.betterhelp.com/How Do You Know If You Have Anxiety: Signs, Symptoms, And When To Get Help: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/anxiety/how-do-you-know-if-you-have-anxiety-signs-symptoms-and-when-to-get-help/What are Anxiety Disorders?: https://www.verywellmind.com/anxiety-disorder-2510539#toc-treatments   Anxiety vs. Depression Symptoms and Treatment:https://www.verywellmind.com/am-i-anxious-4045683   Is Anxiety a Mental Illness?:https://www.verywellmind.com/is-anxiety-a-mental-illness-5271630   How to Help Someone With Anxiety:https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-help-someone-with-anxiety-5089005   Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Work, family, finances–all of these things are wonderful, but they also cause stress. Sometimes, that stress can accumulate to the point where it becomes something more substantial and name-able: anxiety. It can be easy to downplay symptoms and brush aside concerns, but you’re not doing yourself any favors when you do that.    Today we discuss some signs that might indicate a level of anxiety worth discussing with a health care provider:  Nervousness and irritabilityDifficulty sleeping Avoidance of places that cause stressWorry about things that happened in the pastStress surrounding social interactions   We’ll be circling back around to this topic later, but if you’re feeling some combination of these things with some consistency, it might be wise to share that with someone who can help. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve talked about some complicated things over our 138 episodes. Everything from laser mapping equipment to $15 billion petroleum-processing factories. The complexity of today’s topic exceeds all of those. Today we talk about parenthood. Since we’re the Construction Brothers, our focus is primarily on fatherhood.     Between the two of us, we have eight kids. That’s a bunch of years to travel that long learning curve. We start by touching on some of our parenting highlights: A gross-out story involving massive regurgitationThe year of flu, black mold, and a pandemic A gifted Sharpie artist  A very non-Easter-y egg story (This one’s not for the squeamish.)   Then we proceed to reflect on the challenges, which are numerous. It’s normal to feel like you’re doing it wrong most of the time. Remember that every single kid is going to be unique. They’ll all present you with special challenges and special joys. Some will sleep like… well, like a baby, and some will resist sleep with all of their power.   Here are some more fatherhood nuggets we examine:  How to avoid giving your kids nothing more than your leftoversThe importance of emphasizing relationship over household tasksThe difference between 11:00 Daddy Eddie and 3:00 Daddy EddieThe importance of setting aside time for your wife or partnerThe challenge of mustering energy for late-night time with thirsty philosophers who need a hug The fact that dogs are not the same as kids   Fatherhood is intense. Give yourself some grace.    We hesitate to repeat the cliché, but… It goes so fast. Treasure this opportunity while you have it.   This week’s megaphone message: Be Dad on purpose as much as you can. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we build on last week’s FMF episode, when we discussed the importance of approaching your work like you’d approach a game of chess rather than Fortnite.    It’s about being deliberate–thinking several steps ahead. As a manager, it’s easy to get caught up in the expectation that all progress is visible to an outside observer. The problem is that different human workers function differently. Those who appear to be working the hardest may not be working most intelligently.    Let people take the time to come up with jigs. Provide space for them to roll ideas around in their heads in order to come up with creative approaches to problems. Celebrate the different working styles that various team members bring to the table. These differences will likely increase your company’s productivity in ways that you wouldn’t expect. Focus your managerial monitoring on output rather than what you see during work time.    Don’t kill thinking time. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you hear a podcast that’s so good you want to produce your own version of it. This episode finds us reflecting on an Entreleadership podcast with Dr. Henry Cloud. Cloud is a bestselling author, psychologist, and leadership expert. He is best known for his popular book Boundaries. (You can see the video version of this podcast here.)  Before we get into all of that useful stuff, though, we watch a dude get reckless and almost blow himself up. It’s another of Ed Davidson’s videos. We then acknowledge that our own backyards are sometimes pretty dang close to that with our crazy s’more-crazy kids. It makes us worry that we might experience something like this KISS cover band lead singer.   The meat of today’s episode is our reflections on Dr. Cloud’s podcast. We run a bit long on this one, but it’s good stuff.  It’s hard to cultivate trust in a business or organization that deals with complex processes and systems. It can seem like someone has a grasp on a process and is ready to meet expectations… Then things can go frustratingly awry.  Five characteristics make up the anatomy of trust (adapted from episode): #1: Understanding - It’s much easier to give someone trust when we feel understood. Most leaders simply want to persuade the people around them. Persuasion isn’t trust though.  #2: Knowing Intent - It’s important to make your intentions for your teammates genuine.  Protect them when they aren’t in the room.Want them to win. #3: Ability - Part of trust is knowing that someone merits it. The right person for the wrong job is the wrong person. Competency matters.  #4: Character - True character is more about the fabric of our being than it is about the outward actions that people see. We’ve said it before: integrity is shown by what you do when nobody is in the room.  #5: Track Record - Humans create mental maps to help us deal with life. Those mental maps are experiences that lead us to expect behavior. If you’re looking for the power of track record, check out the contrasts in loyalty shown to leaders in Band of Brothers.  Our mental mapping leads us to create labels:  The company that misses deadlinesThe project manager that sandbags everyone to get his wayThe hot headThe detailer that never gets it right Today’s Megaphone message: Trust is not owed; it’s built.   Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re just sitting here talking… but it’s different. For those of you who are listening to the podcast rather than watching the Youtube video: We’ve redesigned our recording space to allow for more movement and some occasional video integration. We’re experimenting with a slightly different format that will hopefully involve some in-person interviews among other things.    Watch the video: https://youtu.be/7yKIf6FrwhU   Also, there might be nachos.   Today, we use our new space to test the new style of safety helmet.   We proceed to discuss that LinkedIn often seems to be for little other than humble brags–except for people like Ed Davidson. Even Dad follows Ed. Here are links to the videos we mention on this tangent: Toronto crane guyEd Davidson’s post about sign installationCar falls into sinkhole   After the hardhat test aggravates Eddie’s back injury, we proceed to the therapy portion of the show, with a focus on Tyler’s first year running his marketing business (Storybuilder Creative).    Because entrepreneurship is tough, Tyler compares himself to Rapunzel.    All of this leads us to the meat of today’s discussion, an exploration of mentorships:  When you’re starting something, give yourself room to bounce around a bit. You can’t learn what works unless you engage in some experimentation.Sometimes that first year of a new venture succeeds only due to grit and willpower.Seeing every obstacle as an opportunity to grow and learn (like Jocko Willink says). Symbiotic mentorship is a wonderful thing–the pairing of two different strengths in a relationship where coaching can happen in both directions. Having to answer questions can force you to learn new things and to rethink things that have become automatic.   We’re better together–like a pair of draft horses whose pulling capacity together is three times the capacity of a single horse.   Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com -Youtube - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler shares about a recent experience with creative shutdown. His new role required a different form of insight than his previous role, and he needed to figure out how to shift gears.   What he learned is that it’s okay to step away from the situation. Get outside. Get away from the pressure and create space for the ideas to grow.   It takes both discipline and openness. And a playful attitude. And also time.   Give yourself the time and space to innovate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Sample is known to many as The Ironman of IT. That title is not metaphorical. He’s an actual “Ironman” athlete and he works in construction-related IT. Jeff has worn many hats within the construction world, but he’s currently the primary host of the ContechCrew podcast and the “Industry Evangelist” for Join, which specializes in helping owners, designers, and contractors improve workflow through increased collaboration. Information Jeff is all about data. Well, to be more precise, Jeff is all about information. He wants to see everyone in the construction industry use data to make better decisions. Jeff helps others use building information modeling (BIM) data to work more smoothly and efficiently. As we discussed what he does, these insights were shared: Contractual obligations can cause digital waste. Our goal should be to encourage collaboration.It’s not data-driven; it’s data-informed. The data is there only to support the human decision-makers. Data leaves room for each party to have their own focus and creative freedom (within reason).The design-bid-build structure creates an adversarial relationship between contractors, which unnecessarily complicates the building process for everyone.Communication is part of our job. We need to help other people make sense of data that means something to us when viewed through the lens of our unique experience.We need to create a climate of collaboration rather than fear of litigation.“Communication is contractual. Collaboration is cultural.”  The Shift Toward Manufacturing We spent a good deal of time discussing the shift toward a manufacturing mindset within construction. We agreed that this will bring as many opportunities as it will bring challenges, and we explored these thoughts:  Wise contractors will niche down because increased specialization is on the way.Robotics will assist to an increasing degree, but they will not replace humans for a very long while.Nuance is not going away. Builders and their “amazing minds” will continue to be essential to the construction process.  Other tidbits and shout-outs in this episode:  Eddie and Jeff are both Adam Grant fans, but Eddie’s fandom has gone further with the hairstyle imitation.Shout-out to Kelly Doyle for his insight that “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast”Props to Pete Dumont for his work toward setting up an OS2.0 for construction so we’re living in a “neighborhood” together  When handed the megaphone, Jeff explains that we need all parties within the construction industry to work thoughtfully and conscientiously toward making a profit. He explains that our ways of thinking have the ability to drive us into a recession, but he reminds us that construction is critical to the success of our economy and our country. We can employ people. We build the environment. We create the infrastructures. We build the supply chains. If you can look at what the country needs and fulfill that need profitably, you can help this recession be a speed bump. You can be a key component of a vibrant economy. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re going all-out with the construction analogies. Yes, it’s poetic. But it’s also pretty darn insightful and valuable.    When you’re a part of an organization, you pass information up and down the line all the time. If you fail to be a reliable link in that information chain, things fail to function smoothly. In electrical terms, if you fail to ensure that the current of information moves efficiently up and down the wire, you’re causing impedance.   When you notice this, seek to resolve the issue by connecting the parties who need to pass information back and forth. Put them in touch with one another in order to increase the quality and efficiency of your organization.    Don’t inhibit. Don’t impede.    Insulate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you need to learn a construction skill or train an employee on a specific skill, Jordan Smith has you covered. Jordan is the Head of Education of MT Copeland (in addition to owning and operating his own design/build firm). MT Copeland provides affordable, professional-grade video courses for specific construction skills. Jordan does several of the videos, but a whole array of specialized instructors also share what they’ve learned in their many years on the job.  Jordan shares how the craziness of COVID led him to head to the shed. He proceeded to turn that shed into a small custom video studio and record construction tutorials. Eventually, Jordan was hired to structure the curriculum of MT Copeland’s construction videos. Now MT Copeland has over 70 hours of video instruction on their website. The content ranges from more big-picture  commercial principles to the mechanics of doing a good paint job. Jordan has come to see that the process of training has two parts: head-knowledge insights and hands-on training. The video content that he and MT Copeland offer is designed to help with the head knowledge. Most trainees then work with practicing local contractors to get the necessary hands-on experience.   Here are some other things you’ll hear in our conversation with Jordan: A discussion about one remodeler who has his crew earn “digital passports” for training on specific tasks such as properly hanging a door. A story about a cynical Irish guy at a trade showA surprise connection between the novel Cheaper by the Dozen (the novel, not the movie) and efficiency in masonry. Connections between proper training and employee retention–as well as some thoughts about how to deal with employees to take off after you’ve invested in training them.  Jordan’s Megaphone moment: If you’re having a hard time finding good people, it’s time to be the person who produces good people. (He actually said “the onus is on you.” Yes, that is a real word, and yes, he used it properly. Check it out here if you’re interested in working it into your next chat with your employees.)  Learn more about Jordan and MT Copeland: MTCopeland.com - Jordan’s design-build company, Smith House, - Jordan’s LinkedIn - MTCopelandmarketing: teams@mtcopeland  Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biff is back. This time he’s creating chaos in the water fountain line.    Since Tyler was homeschooled, he never had to deal with the complex social dynamic of “Give me fronts!” The thing is… None of us should have to deal with that in the world of construction.   So Eddie has a message to the general contractors out there: When you tell me that you’ll be done with something on a certain date and then you shift that schedule around–don’t gripe about the fact that my resources are now directed somewhere else. You’ve lost your place in line. I’m not going to penalize the rest of the people in line because you now want “fronts.”     (Sorry we didn’t produce regional dialect versions of this episode for you Midwest “drinking fountain” people and you Wisconsin and Massachusetts “bubbler” weirdos.)     Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a gap in the industry. Few people are doing more to fill that gap than Lydia Burns.  Lydia is known as a senior manager with Allied Construction Industries, a trade group that works on advocacy, networking, and solutions for a variety of parties within the construction industry. Last time we met with Lydia, we discussed her work with K-12 programs that familiarize students with various aspects of construction. Today, we talk about her ambitious work with She Builds a division of ACI that focuses on increasing the number of women in the construction industry. Only 9% of the skilled trade workers within the construction industry are female. This under-representation is the result of everything from corporate hiring practices to parents’ messages to their children. Lydia and the She Builds team work strategically to increase construction interest among women. Here are a few things they do: Address specific reasons that high school girls give for not pursuing a career in construction,Address academic concerns (particularly math),Recruit and train adult women who are shifting careers,Work with everyone from students to executives in an effort to break down stereotypes.   We ask Lydia how guys in construction make the field more appealing to women. Here are some of her thoughts: Avoid offering them help unless they clearly need it.Shut down your inner diner waitress. In other words, don’t call them “honey” or “sweetie.”Talk to women in the industry and ask them for ideas.   Papa Eddie (father of three girls) raises a few concerns. Lydia (second of three daughters) addresses them: Empower your daughter. If you see that she has STEM skills and interest, foster that interest.Remind yourself that there is a diverse range of jobs within the construction industry–and not all of them involve carrying bundles of shingles up a ladder.Seek to increase the possibilities rather than reduce them.Involve them in your construction projects–both around the house and at work.    Lydia’s megaphone (her second time): Start having the conversation in your company and your area. Women can do this work. We’re out there.  Learn more about Lydia and her company: Lydia’s LinkedIn -  ACI - She Builds Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody’s going to make sure that you do it. It’s the advance preparation required for a project.    And it’s your responsibility.   You’ll see that Eddie feels pretty strongly about this–understandably so. It’s simply not fair to show up unprepared and then expect someone else to step up and fill the gaping chasm you’ve created.    Take responsibility for your own failures. Admit it. Then you may politely ask for help.   Don’t be a Biff.   Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all see communication disconnects between designers and builders every single day, so today we talk to one of our Dad’s old work buddies, Chuck Colwill. Why Chuck? Because Chuck is an expert in the design-build approach that produces a much more nimble and efficient building team.    Chuck’s work with his firm, Colwill Engineering, is a great example of how to gracefully, creatively navigate the complications that come with supply-chain problems, bureaucracies, labor shortages, and other challenges. The firm’s use of design-build helps them execute projects with impressive efficiency. They’re prepared to handle all MEP work in a way that streamlines problem-solving.     Here are some of the insights Chuck shares: -Everything goes more smoothly when there is early and active communication between designers of a project and those whose hands will be moving the physical pieces.  -Early communication helps everyone. (You’ll hear echoes of our discussion with Ernie Maschner.) -Whether it’s generators or flex duct, unexpected supply-chain complications create problems that can be easily solved by a team who is equipped to formulate quick work-arounds.  -Client expectations haven’t changed much since Chuck and Dad Campbell were running together, so changing industry dynamics are forcing contractors to tighten up the process wherever we can.  -Siloed organizations simply can’t compete with the agility of a well-managed design-build company.   -Design-build firms do have some unique challenges. For example, it’s essential for their leadership teams to thoughtfully align the supply chains and manpower needs on multiple overlapping projects.   In the megaphone moment, Chuck coins the term “three-bid-itis” to describe the mess that leads to the cheapest guy building the most expensive design. Chuck says the solution to this problem is to go open-book with subcontractors so that a general contractor can go with the person he or she trusts and then move forward with confidence that things will be done well.  Learn more about Chuck and his company: Chuck’s LinkedIn -  Colwill Engineering Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yup. Just two brothers talking about fartlek.    Life is busy. It’s easy to let physical fitness fall by the wayside. Today we step aside from professional concerns and into this area of personal improvement. We share a bit about our own experiences with physical training–specifically running.    Fartlek is a Swedish term. It refers to a kind of training that involves varying the pacing, intensity, and length of workouts. We’ve both experienced the benefits of this and other deliberate approaches to our fitness regimen.    Listen in as we geek out about VO2, glycogen stores, and mud runs. Then get out there and hit the road!   Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie wore khakis and a button-down shirt to the office every single day for his first couple years in the office. He felt like this was a necessary part of showing that he took his role seriously. Tyler followed Eddie’s fashion leadership… for about a month.  Now, both of us wear jeans and a t-shirt to the office every day. And there is purpose behind this choice. This isn’t an episode about fashion, but more an episode about questioning your motivations for doing things.  Here are some touchpoints from our chat: We are surprised but deeply honored that there are actually people out there who have watched 100 episodes! It’s beneficial to ask, “Why do we do things the way we do?” The willingness to confront this question sends a message of respect to everyone in the organization. When there’s room for freedom and comfort in the process of delivering quality work, then it’s probably wise to embrace that freedom and comfort.Having a personal uniform–even if it’s a somewhat casual one–can help enhance a sense of consistency.If you need to monitor the mouse movement of your remote workers, it’s probably time for you to examine your hiring practices and your company’s culture.Team dynamics suffere when the supervisor is a clock-Nazi. The key? Focus on the outcomes.  Also, Tyler quit drinking coffee so prayers are appreciated. 🤣 Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we focus exclusively on the price of the bid, we risk finding ourselves working with people we can’t depend on. At the same time, we all know that our industry is built around profit.    Teams work best when there is balance between profit and relationship. This requires trust. When trust is present within and between crews, a project runs more efficiently and results in a better end product. On top of that, the process is more enjoyable for everyone.      Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you work in construction, you know that we have a problem. We need more young people! Someone needs to connect the countless dots of classroom learning, workplace skills, career awareness, and student interests. Lydia Burns is that connector of dots.  More formally, Lydia is known as a senior manager with Allied Construction Industries, a trade group that works on advocacy, networking, and solutions for anyone within the construction industry. Lydia’s specific focus is on the Construction Career Center, and even more specifically their K-12 programs, which work to familiarize students with various aspects of construction. The goal of these programs is to increase the number of young people heading into construction.  Here is what the ACI program does: Takes a systemic, big-picture approach to increasing student awareness and working them toward actual jobs,Fosters relationships between companies and groups of students as early as 5th grade,Seeks to reduce the anxiety many students feel regarding the math skills that are foundational to jobs in engineering and construction,Helps schools develop and implement project-based learning curriculum focusing on connecting math lessons to the real-world applications,Engages students in an actual small-scale construction project within the school building,Coordinates sequential training: 7th-grade framing, 8th-grade pipefitting, 9th-grade electrical, and so on. As you can imagine, there are challenges to this kind of work. Changing public school curriculum takes time. Putting a bunch of inexperienced high school kids in the middle of a mock construction project has risks. It’s difficult to coordinate the schedules and align the instruction of various educators and contractors.     Here are some of the things ACI does to meet these challenges:  Becomes familiar with the entire public school administrative structure within a state and district;Facilitate communication and policy alignment among OSHA, insurance companies, attorneys, and schools regarding the presence of minors on work sites; Establishes and enforces GPA requirements and other eligibility requirements for participants;Equips classroom teachers with lesson plans that focus on hands-on-learning .  As a result of their work, ACI in the Cincinnati Public Schools has seen students receive industry-recognized credentials before they leave high school.  Here are some other bits and pieces from this episode: Tyler and Lydia share their own frustrations with math back in the day.We explore how working in residential construction can lead to work in industrial construction. Lydia explains the message she communicates to school districts: “Hope is not a strategy.”We celebrate that most state departments of education have finally acknowledged that not everyone should be heading to college.  Learn more about Lydia, ACI, and their programs: Lydia’s LinkedIn -  ACI’s web page - Info about ACI’s k-12 Program Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unclear expectations, scope creep, “Dude, that’s not my job!” Regardless of the phrasing, you’ve experienced it if you’re a contractor or a sub. Today we discuss how to avoid it.   What’s the answer?    Refine.  Be clear.  Empathize.    Find individuals who are masters of their specialties. Define the job you need each person to do and then hold yourself to those boundaries.    That’s the message of today’s Five-Minute Friday.    Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wally’s range of experience is more diverse than most. Who would have guessed that the Notre Dame leprechaun (yes, he was the official leprechaun for a year) would work his way to the rank of commander in the marines and pilot AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters? Eventually, Wally worked his way into construction leadership with FMI Consulting. Now Wally works as a public speaker and consultant, inspiring people in various fields to become better leaders. In our chat with Wally, we discuss the leadership principles that build strong, productive businesses where employees want to contribute and stick around. Wally says that it’s about a range of things that boil down to a culture built on what he calls “micro trust.” Here are some bits and pieces   Advice Wally gives leaders: The daily huddle is one of the best tools you have every day.Credibility is essential.“Your behavior as a leader drives the behavior of other people.”If you put barriers in front of new people because you experienced barriers, you’re shooting yourself in the foot (and harming your business).Beware of short-term thinking that can compromise long-term results. Innovate.“You can’t create greatness in a company if you don’t share information.”Begin with the end in mind. Show respect for the individual. Give them tools that work.   Advice Wally gives today’s followers (tomorrow’s leaders): Show up, shut up, and perform.Have an open mind. Give your leaders some leeway to make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.Pay your dues. If you’re good, you play.Don’t withdraw to your own echo chamber.   We discuss the fact that the construction industry is a crazy world. There’s a huge range of complications and every single day. Yes, it’s important to get the job done, but the job doesn’t get done if you don’t take human dynamics into consideration. Leadership development is personal development.    Wally’s Megaphone Message:  Jerks don’t win. “We” is better than “me.” Seek to make the pie bigger for everybody. Seek to get new people into the building.  Find Wally Online: His FireStarter Speaking page - His LinkedIn page  Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie on LinkedIn - Tyler on LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we don’t have a guest, it’s a bit like Dwight and Jim when Michael’s out of town. Today we confront the reality that we’ve talked out of both sides of our mouths. As we reflect on that, we touch on blood, politics, and mouse-movers. Do we un-contradict ourselves? You make the call. Be warned: our dander gets up a couple times.  Wait. Before we go any further… In case you came to the show notes for the Mike Rowe sheep-castration link (which is likely), here it is. Here are some of the contradictions, insights, and questions we unpack today: Contradiction #1: Getting ahead of things vs. realizing not everyone can be at the front of the line Acknowledge that some people have bigger fish to fry than the one that you’re holding up so proudly.Some principles are relevant to both $50 billion giga-projects and a modest remodel.Is it possible to build a bigger contractor table so everyone who wants a seat can have one (without a food fight breaking out)?Surprise, surprise! It all comes back to trust. And sometimes that’s tough. Contradiction #2: Progressives vs. Conservatives (in relation to organization and technology) It’s tough to judge what’s good about new things coming down the pike but also balance that with an appreciation of traditional practices.We need someone out there on the bleeding edge.Can we use some old-timey practices to reduce RFIs? Contradiction #3: Old School vs. New School (in relation to workplace dynamics) Ties vs. t-shirtsTaskmasters vs. TwitterCompetent management vs. mouse-movers (Here’s what they look like.)Man, has Dennis seen a lot of change in his 50-year career. Today’s Megaphone message comes from Eddie: “Have a healthy respect for tradition while maintaining a passion for the truth.” Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few months ago, after a decade of the two of us working closely together, Tyler left ABSI to start his own company. What has Eddie learned from losing his right-hand man?   Help them leave well. Celebrate their wins with them. Be genuinely happy for them. Do your best to put yourself in their shoes.   Recognize and acknowledge that this separation is a form of loss, and with loss comes emotions you may not have accounted for:   Shock, disbelief, or denialAnxietyDistressAngerPeriods of sadnessLoss of sleep and loss of appetite Don’t make big decisions or be hasty. Think. Be deliberate. Figure out what has to happen right now and what doesn’t.  Refocus your goals with the team you have around you, and keep plugging.  That’s the message of today’s Five-Minute Friday.    Find Us Online: LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supply-chain challenges are certainly nothing new, but they’ve grown increasingly complicated over the last few years. Today we discuss how you as a contractor can approach these challenges whether you’re working on a local and global scale.   We get several helpful supply-chain insights from our guest Ernie Maschner. Ernie has been an influential presence in the construction industry for more than 30 years. He now works as a VP with Victaulic, a manufacturer of engineered couplings and valves. Ernie is also involved with a few industry organizations that seek to address global supply chain issues.    Here are a few of the things we touch on in our conversation: The importance of communicating with all supply-chain parties as early as possibleIndustry organizations that seek to help contractors navigate today’s supply chain challenges - Ernie refers to these three: The Construction Industry Institute, The Design Build Institute of America, The Water Collaborative Delivery Association How human, political, and social dynamics affect the supply chain - For example: Why does the availability of asphalt in Brazil follow a two-year cycle? Ernie learned the answer while working on projects related to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.How some progressive contractors write up contracts that allow for the increasing unpredictability of markets A $50 billion (yes, billion) modular construction project in Kazakhstan that involved modules the size of small hotelsThe cultural factors that affect people’s attitudes toward prefabrication and modular construction Ernie’s megaphone message: We need to work together in a fair way. Collaborative project delivery produces better results in the end. Find Ernie Online: Website - LinkedIn Find Us Online: LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Whether you’re in sales or not, knowing how to sell can be an invaluable skill to understand and master. Jack Daly is a sales expert and coach with over 30 years of boots on the ground experience. He guides us through best practice and gives us tips on how to sell larger projects than you thought were possible.   Here are a few things you’ll learn!  The difference between a $1,000 salesperson and a $100,000,000 salespersonHow to not come off like a desperate salespersonTips for getting your foot in the door   Episode Links Jack's WebsiteJack on LinkedIn Other Links LinkedInInstagramFacebookEddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedIn  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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A little rain never hurt anyone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life isn’t in our control. Shocked? Neither are we. How does that affect this idea of “work-life balance”? It is important to realize how to deal with the things, not in our control. We tackle the importance of realizing work-life balance isn’t obtainable, but what is obtainable is making sure we don’t become overwhelmed by the things we enjoy and the things life deals. If you have been here for longer than 30 seconds, you know we aren’t advocating for 20-hour workdays, but rather an understanding that the idea of “perfectly balanced” isn’t obtainable and may doesn’t need to be obtained.   Related Links:Door 1 - Quality ControlDoor 2 - Comedy   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!      Like us on LinkedIn!      Like us on Facebook!    Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedIn      Tyler's LinkedIn      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're reflecting on a statement made by our grandfather that had a huge impact on Tyler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Kenney is a 3rd generation roofer. Over John's 30+ years in the roofing industry he has worked in various roles. From Roofer, to Estimator to Project Manager. We dive into what has changed over his career and he shares some of the issues you can avoid when working with a roofing contractor!   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook!Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie shares a hack you should try!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. McCoy is the Director of the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech, the Beliveau Professor of Building Construction, and the Associate Director of the Myers Lawson School of Construction… He has over 24 years of experience in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, including 8.5 years of fieldwork and 8 years of managing a firm that maintained a Class A Virginia contractor license. Dr. McCoy received undergraduate degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from the University of Virginia, and an MS in Building Construction and a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech. He has authored of over 100 articles and has been a primary investigator on millions of dollars in funded projects, including ‘green’ residential construction practices, building technologies, affordable housing and safety practices in the construction supply chain.  Notable funded endeavors include:  1) Virginia Housing's PACT 3D Concrete House Printing Innovation Grant, 2) The Commonwealth of Virginia's Executive Order 32 study "Addressing the Impact of Housing Affordability for Virginia Economy"; 3) HUD's " Impact of Market Behavior on the Adoption and Diffusion of Innovative Green Building Technologies," A Sustainable Communities Research grant; 4) CREATES, a Department of Labor grant to increase Southwest Virginia Constructors knowledge and application of green technologies; 5) ELECTRI Foundation's 2011 Early Career Award; 6) NIOSH's “The Case for a Whole Industry Approach to Safety,” a grant on safety across cultures and sectors of the construction industry and 7) Housing Virginia's "The Impact of Energy Efficient Construction for LIHTC Housing in Virginia." Another endeavor was the 2009 Department of Energy “Solar Decathlon” competition, in which university teams compete to design, build, manage and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Dr. McCoy’s research won the 2015 Game Changer Award for the State of Virginia and Engineering News Record's 2014 "Top 20 under 40" for the Mid-Atlantic. Dr. McCoy's work also won ASCE's Journal of Architectural Engineering "Top Paper Award 2015" and the American Real Estate Society conference’s "best paper prize for the topic of Sustainable Real Estate."   Company Website: https://www.bc.vt.edu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpmccoy/ Video: https://vtx.vt.edu/videos/k/2021/06/1_r5xrw3ha.html Article: https://vpm.org/news/articles/30733/can-3d-concrete-printing-solve-virginias-affordable-housing-crisis   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook!Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out. The list of sayings go on and on. This week we're taking a look at some unhealthy things we can express. Here is our list of unhealthy outputs!   Venting frustration on co-workers about everything negative that happens in your dayKnee-jerk email in response to conflict or unkind words (Commenting toxic thoughts online)Disruptive, or out of place behaviors. (Sarcasm when you need seriousness.)Rambling and aimless brainstormingOpenly tearing down someone’s successesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We love interviewing authors, and today we have a great one. Henry Nutt III started in the industry when he was 19 years old. He worked as general superintendent for 34 years. Henry has been with Southland Industry for 15 years, where he currently works as Pre-construction Executive.  All of this experience makes him eminently qualified to share some advice about building strong teams.  Henry spends a lot of time talking to students about preparing for careers. As he shared his experience, he discovered that common sense isn’t necessarily common. This is why he decided to collect his insights in a book titled Seven Principles: Creating Your Success in the Construction Industry (publisher’s site, Amazon). Here are Henry’s Seven Principles: Start where you areGet a mentorRefuse to be a victimWork hardLove what you doLearn how to followKnow the difference between being a liability and an asset Tyler asks Henry to expand particularly on #7. Henry says it's about exercising self-awareness. He discusses the importance of looking thoughtfully at the dynamics of the whole team and asking if you’re being given more responsibilities or being excused early. If you find that you’re not being viewed as an asset, it’s time to ask what you can do differently.  Eddie then shifts things toward #3–and, of course, baseball. Henry says that it’s essential to acknowledge the circumstances that might pose serious challenges for you but then to shift your attention to overcoming and adjusting in whatever ways you can. Break the patterns. Shift the narrative.  Mentors (#2) can help you make these changes. Invite insight that can accelerate your journey toward greater competence. Acknowledge that you’re an empty cup, and invite wise people to fill you with knowledge. We discuss how principle #4 is absolutely essential. If you have the right mindset about hard work and can align your practices with that mindset, your actions will speak volumes. Prove your an asset (back to #7). Tyler asks Henry to discuss how he got into construction. He explains that his dad, a sheet metal worker, encouraged him to take a skills/aptitude test. A short time later, Henry received a call that said a company was ready to hire him right away.  The road was not always smooth. Henry discusses the challenges and doubts that he faced in the early years. Now, though, he is tremendously thankful that mentors and encouragers along the way kept him on the road. Eventually he found himself in a position where he could influence the culture of a work crew.  Here are a few more highlights from this episode: “Bring the best version of yourself.”“Admit that you don’t know what you don’t know.”“When recognized that I was able to affect the people, it became a labor of love.” Henry’s Megaphone Message: This industry has allowed bad behavior to go on forever, resulting in the loss of many good people. That’s changing. Many people are trying to make this industry about people. We want you to join us. Bring your talents and gifts to the table. Show up. Work hard every day. Recognize what you don’t know so you can grow and learn every day.   Find Henry Online: LinkedIN - His book at Amazon - His book at KP Publishing   Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out. The list of sayings go on and on. This week we're taking a look at some healthy things we can express.   Here is our list of healthy outputs!   Journaling Conversations with a counselor Creating something – Video, photo, graphics, woodworking, anything to do with moving your hands. Focused production work See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We know hackers are out there, but how do they get access to our information and hold our companies hostage? In order to find out, this week we're talking to a hacker. (Who happens to be our uncle!)    Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook!Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out. The list of sayings go on and on. This week we're taking a look at some unhealthy things we can be bringing into our lives. Here is our list of unhealthy Inputs. Social MediaEmailCaustic personalitiesNotifications on your phone can be unhealthyUnhealthy eating and drinkingObsessing over someone else’s successesResearch (when it doesn’t have a point, you're thrashing)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our society has an addiction to growth. This week we're diving into our experience growing a company and the pain that is introduced when you pull that trigger and try to scale. Questions to ask yourself: Why do you want to grow? Is it become more wealthy?Is it because that’s what businesses are supposed to do?Is it pure vanity? Just to show it off?Is it for the challenge?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are what you eat. Garbage in, garbage out. The list of sayings go on and on. This week we're taking a look at some healthy things we can be bringing into our lives. Here is our list of Healthy Inputs. Books (or just reading in general)PodcastsResearchEncouraging personalitiesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're revisiting the question - What comes first, the Lego bricks or the Lego master?  The modular construction movement is trying to figure out this very same issue. What comes first, is it the modules or the modular design? Construction already uses modular or unitized building materials as its basis for the design. Whether you are dealing with literal brick, lumber, plywood, or piping we use predictable sizes and shapes that complement each other and fit together well.  The big question is, how do we encourage more companies to go into modular building components? Eddie and Tyler dive into an interesting discussion this week based on a blog post Eddie has been working on.   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!      Like us on LinkedIn!      Like us on Facebook!    Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedIn      Tyler's LinkedIn        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re doing a series! This episode is to set the table for the conversations to come over the next four weeks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are some tactics we can use to find and retain good people? Our guest, Matt Gorgolinski is a recruiter for construction companies and he breaks down how we can find talent!   Matt was also kind enough to provide this resource full of tips to attract talent. - https://docs.google.com/file/d/1P1Hq7d_TmPdZo_w5wFjpPllBR7EmZmu-/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=mspresentation   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook!Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedIn  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie gives us a challenge for the coming week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Messer Construction has been a huge part of our family for generations. This week we sit down and talk with Tim Steigerwald, who is the President of Messer. During our chat, Tim shares the methods they use to recruit talent. The primary way they do this is through co-ops. If you listened to our episode with our Grandpa (Pop) and Dad, they both talked about how they came through the Messer co-op machine and how it was a massive aid to them becoming the builders they are today. For people trying to build their company, this is a super valuable episode.    Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook!Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie shares what he's doing different to avoid the challenges ABSI faced in 2008.     Thanks for joining us this week! Please consider subscribing! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Eddie's LinkedIn Tyler's LinkedIn (Our day job)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear people say "If we could get closer to owners, we could help them so much!" all of the time. This week, we sit down with Nate Patrick, who is a Project Manager from Penn State to discuss what a day in his shoes looks like. The purpose of this conversation is to open our eyes further to what's going through an owners mind. How they operate, what they care about and how we can best serve them.   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!Like us on LinkedIn!Like us on Facebook!Follow us on Instagram!Eddie's LinkedInTyler's LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.