The Line

What’s the difference between ownership and accountability, and why does understanding that difference matter in leadership? In this episode of Blackline Field Notes, I share a story from over 20 years ago about a young foreman who made a decision that forever changed the way I looked at leadership and building a company. The reality is, ownership is how we approach the work in front of us, while...

What does it really mean to never give up? In this episode of The Line Podcast by Blackline, Joshua D. Mellott sits down with Gary Evans, CEO and Chairman of U.S. Antimony, to discuss perseverance, leadership, and what it takes to stay in the game when things get difficult. Gary shares his experiences through success and failure, the lessons learned along the way, and why sometimes the greatest op...

There’s a big difference between making excuses and giving explanations, and as leaders, understanding that difference matters. In this episode of Blackline Field Notes, we’re talking about the importance of taking responsibility when we’ve missed something, while also recognizing the importance of listening when someone else is explaining what happened. An explanation helps us understand the circ...

Being right and doing right aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes we’re so focused on proving a point that we lose sight of what really matters. Whether on the job site, in the boardroom, or at home, knowing the difference can make or break relationships. In this episode of Blackline Field Notes, Joshua D. Mellott shares lessons learned through experience about leadership, relationships, and why...

In this episode of The Line, I sit down with Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, CEO of Contango Silver & Gold, for a conversation about what it really means to mine in Alaska. Rick shares how mining is about far more than extracting resources. It’s about investing in real people and real communities. It’s about building partnerships, creating opportunities, and providing a new way of life while taking car...

In this episode of Blackline Field Notes, we’re kicking off a five-part series called Leadership Understands the Difference. Over the years, I’ve learned that sometimes the difference between two words can completely change how we think, respond, and lead. Throughout this series, we’ll be talking about five important distinctions in leadership: Fault vs. Responsibility, Being Right vs. Doing Right...

Long before LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or podcasts existed, there were men who understood the importance of passing along their knowledge, teaching their craft, and mentoring the next generation. In this episode of The Line Podcast, I sit down with Nicholas Laviolette, Director of Mining at LRL Construction, to talk about the work we do with our hands, the fulfillment that comes from doing hono...

This week’s Blackline Field Notes, Issue 012: The Breakup is about looking at yourself first, owning what’s yours, recognizing when alignment has changed, and sometimes having the courage to walk away. Because not every relationship needs to be saved, but every ending should teach you something. --------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple...

This week on The Line, I sit down with the owner and team at Red Wing Store 705 in Bloomington, Minnesota, to talk about more than just boots. We get into the history of Red Wing, the style and craftsmanship behind the brand, what it means to be part of an organization with that kind of legacy, and the people who carry that story forward every day. For me, this one is personal. I’ve been wearing R...

Growth changes things. Pressure changes things. Leadership changes things. But somewhere along the way, we have to stop looking at what’s next long enough to look back and ask ourselves: Who am I becoming? In this Field Notes, I talk about growth, leadership, culture, and the importance of being willing to face the reflection—and do something about what we see. --------------------------WHERE TO W...

Today I sit down with Ryan Groff, Chief Strategy Officer here at Blackline. Ryan has spent his career leading people—from managing teams on the job site to managing companies. In this conversation, we dig into the strategy behind building a culture where people understand what a career actually looks like. There are levels. There are roles. There are credentials. And then there is leadership. Thos...

FIELD NOTES 010: THE PERSONALITYSometimes the thing that destroys a project has nothing to do with the work. You can have the right people, the right equipment, and the right experience, but the wrong personalities can change everything. In this Field Note, we look at ego, blame, accountability, and the personality patterns that can quietly tear a team and a project apart. ------------------------...

FIELD NOTES 009: THE MIRROR It’s easy to recognize arrogance, selfishness, and a lack of accountability in everyone else. It’s a lot harder to see it in ourselves. In this Field Note, we look at responsibility, ego, empathy, and the importance of regularly looking in the mirror to ask one difficult question: Who am I becoming?

In this episode of The Line, Joshua Mellott of Blackline sits down with Josh Moser of Moser Roofing Solutions to talk about what it means to be LOCKED IN. It’s a phrase Josh’s kids use, but it has become a powerful way to describe the focus, commitment, and intention it takes to build something that lasts. They dig into the origins of Moser Roofing, where Josh came from, the lessons learned along...

THE LINE | GROUND ZEROThis is a first for us here at Blackline. Today, we’re re-sharing a previous episode of The Line because we believe this story and these words are worth hearing again. Twenty-five years ago today, on September 11, 2001, the United States of America was attacked. We should never be surprised that there are those who seek to attack liberty and freedom. Throughout our country’s...

--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... / joshuadmellott LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ucc11qg6hxwp7tmvmr_sv7vg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklin...

What is the purpose behind what you do? This week’s Field Notes, The Call, is about finding fulfillment in the work we do by understanding the purpose behind it. It’s about recognizing that our work is more than a job, a title, or a paycheck. There is a reason behind the work, the people we serve, and the way we lead. Sometimes fulfillment starts with understanding why we do what we do. Lessons Le...

This week on The Line, I step up to the line with Dan Hammarberg of Westfield Egg Farm and the Westfield Group. Dan shares his perspective on culture, leadership, and what it really means to care for the people who do the work. We talk about knowing your team, understanding what they’re carrying, and creating opportunities for people to grow through intentional leadership development. We also get...

In this week’s Blackline Field Notes: The Grind, we talk about the reality of hard work, fatigue, and what happens when the grind goes on too long. There are times when the work simply has to get done. But as leaders, we have a responsibility to understand what we’re asking our teams to carry. Leadership isn’t just about pushing people through the work. It’s about helping them carry what they need...

What does the future look like when construction, technology, and the people who do the work come together? From the top of the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square, Joshua D. Mellott sits down with KP Reddy, Founder and CEO of Zero RFI, for a conversation that goes far beyond technology. They talk about AI and where technology is taking the construction industry, but the conversation quickly moves into s...

In this Field Notes episode, Joshua Mellott explores The Experience and why great customer service in the skilled trades is about more than simply doing good work. It’s about being intentional with how clients experience you, especially when things get difficult. Strong character, clear communication, and genuine care can turn a project into a relationship and a client into a long-term partner. Le...

Great contractors don’t document just to check a box. They document with intention. In this issue of Blackline Field Notes, we break down why accurate documentation protects the contractor, the client, the project, and the people doing the work. Lessons Learned Through Experience. Shared for Those in the Field. -------------------------- WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/sho...

They’re contractors building systems for contractors. Lou shares how their experience in the industry is shaping the technology they’re developing and why understanding the men and women who actually use these systems matters. At Blackline, we say For Trades. By Trades. That same philosophy runs through what Lumber is building: listen to the people doing the work, understand the problems they face...

What if one of the most important words in business is also one of the hardest to say? This week, David Hawthorne of Hawthorne Electric steps up to the line with Joshua Mellott of Blackline to share nearly 80 years of lessons learned in business and in life. Dave reflects on the word he wishes he had used more often, what it truly means to think and live like an owner, and why refusing to quit is...

Blackline Field Notes – Issue 003: The Cost of Silence What does silence really cost on the job site? In this week’s episode of Blackline Field Notes, Joshua shares one of the most expensive lessons of his career. He explores the difference between being a nice guy and being a good man, and why avoiding hard conversations often creates bigger problems than having them. Healthy conversations protec...