Construction Genius

In the construction industry, project hand-offs from one project manager to another are common occurrences from time to time. But despite how common it is, the transition is not always easy. New project managers face many challenges, including understanding the work involved and building relationships with fellow workers and the general contractor or owner. In today's Construction Genius podcast e...

Leaders are caught up with juggling different tasks at a time but still end up feeling like they haven't accomplished anything. We all want to boost our productivity and increase effectiveness, leaders especially, and the best way forward is to let go of multitasking in order to focus more, therefore resulting in achieving more.  In today's Construction Genius podcast episode, we are joined by Dav...

If you're thinking about selling your construction company and gaining the best outcomes, it's imperative that you take the necessary steps today towards making sure it's saleable. The process is far more complex than just putting up an announcement that it's for sale, especially since potential buyers will have to look into a number of things before they even consider buying your company.  In thi...

In today's episode, I am joined by Dave Kievet, the president and COO of The Boldt Company. He has been in the industry for more than thirty years. He and I discuss why being too tactical in business is not advisable, how relationships affect your construction company, and how your professional and personal life interact. This episode will be very insightful for many leaders at all stages of their...

Half of today's workforce are Millennials, and they are in critical leadership roles in most construction companies.  In this week's podcast episode, I had a great discussion with Justin White , the CEO of K&D Landscaping and a repeat guest, about the generalizations that the younger generation is facing up against, and how he managed to break that stereotypical mold. We also talked about how comm...

Almost everyone has already heard about "branding," but hardly anyone ever knows what it truly means. How is it different from logo-making or putting up a business website? And why should it matter to a construction company? When we think of branding, the first thing that comes to mind is a company logo. However, the truth couldn't be further from the misconceptions that surround it. A brand is so...

Financial issues can be a deep challenge for many contractors. While the situation is often unavoidable, there are ways to overcome these financial struggles and grow your business. In today's episode, I welcome Jesse Weissburg, the co-founder and chief commercial officer of Billd, a company specialized in providing accessible funds to different contractors. Jesse discusses the importance of lever...

The world of business consists of peaks and valleys. Sometimes, you rise. Other times, you fall. So when your business suffers a tremendous loss, should you choose to stay at the bottom of the pit? Or should you bounce back up, taking the lessons that you've learned with you as you go? In every failure and mistakes made, there is always a lesson to learn and an opportunity to do better. This week...

You know you have to do it, but crafting and executing a succession plan is not easy. There is a proper way of structuring it that will allow you to enjoy the rewards that a successful succession plan brings both emotionally and financially.  In today's episode, Dan Darchuck and I will be discussing everything about succession plans and why it is essential to your construction company. Importantly...

Marketing is how you get your ideal client to know you, like you, and trust you enough to do business with you.  In today's episode, I welcome Allan Dib, an established marketer and entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in the field. His marketing expertise has helped many companies build better marketing plans. He and I discuss the importance of knowing what your clients need, how und...

When your business grows, challenging situations of all sorts arise. How can you effortlessly lead your business through growth pains and achieve long-term success?   In today's episode, I am joined by Claire Chandler, a professional consultant with years of experience in the field. We discuss why growing pains happen in the business, how to adapt well to the growth, and why culture is the foundat...

We all want clients to do business with us over the course of many years and this surely is not an easy feat as we know that clients come and go. If we want loyal clients, it is essential that we strive to build good relationships on a deeper level. Who you are as a person will contribute a lot to achieving long-term client relationships because if they like you, if they trust you, they are sure t...

Would you like to overcome distraction and discouragement, and stay focused on executing your leadership responsibilities? Define a compelling vision and mission. Commit to a strong ethical code. Understand and leverage your unique skill set. Clarify your top initiatives, and be accountable for their execution. Cultivate relationships inside and outside your company, and continue to work on your o...

There are several ways to describe an effective leader. A leader can be strong, passionate, and humble. While all of these traits are essential to leadership success, there is something in leader humility that makes it unique.  In today's episode, our guest, Marilyn Gist and I discuss what leader humility is and what it is not. Marilyn also explains how humility bridges the power disparity between...

There is a rapid shift happening in the workplace today. Millennials are firmly established in leadership positions. While this proves to be useful for companies, some Boomers and GenXers find it difficult to adjust and see the good that the Millennial generation offers. Finding the balance between the strengths of each generation and how to put it to good use is crucial to get the workplace in or...

Do soft skills have a place in hardened industries like construction? Dennis Doran —CEO, speaker, and author of Soft as Steel—explains the value of soft skills and relationship building within the construction industry. In today's podcast episode, we will tackle how soft skills create leaders. We will also learn how soft skills are similar to a building's foundation and how it supports the structu...

Social unrest, widespread protests and riots, and a global pandemic. These are just a few of the crises that we are dealing with at present. When everything seems to be in a state of total unrest, what are the steps to take to maintain the equilibrium within your business? Today's podcast explores the stance of Coinbase, an online platform that buys, sells, and trades crypto currency. I will point...

If you look back on your days as an employee at your first company, would you still be able to remember its core values and strategic focus? Most likely, not. How about if you surveyed your employees, do they know what your values and strategy are? Core values are what helps employees behave in a manner that benefits the company and strategic focus gives them a clear picture of how the business is...

LeBron James is in the NBA Finals again. It's amazing the level of performance he's sustained for over 15 years. We all know he's incredibly talented, but his success is not due primarily to his natural abilities. Hard work, dedication, and understanding how to succeed is far more critical to LeBron achieving consistent excellence.  Today, let's learn some lessons from LeBron and other top-perform...

Every day construction companies produce a treasure trove of information: Bidding benchmarks, production metrics, accounting data. There is a vast amount of value to that data if it is managed and utilized effectively.  This requires the efficient implementation of technology and an understanding of the strengths and limitations of various technology solutions. Unfortunately, this is where many co...

Do the math they said. Math is the stronghold of business they said. They're not wrong. But while there's no denying that learning to count in more ways than one determines game-changing decisions in construction. Numbers are crucial for very obvious reasons, especially when it comes to changing gears from strength or growth to a business's impending survival mode. Got more than what you spent? Aw...

The construction industry is one of the major contributors to the US (and global) economy. But schools are putting less priority on technical education for young adults who will soon occupy most of tomorrow's workforce. People now have the choice to either get a 4-year degree from a college or immediately join the workforce right after graduating from high school. However, without having any pract...

The buildings and infrastructure you see all around you started with a single thought. That thought was communicated to people who then built with skill and hard work. Without that thought, nothing would be created. Just like how those buildings started with a thought, your thoughts and your mindset also play a critical role when it comes to the success of your business. Your thoughts dictate your...

As a construction executive, devoting all or much of your time to work is normal. After all, you need to adhere to some strict schedules and deadlines. But what you don't realize is that in putting yourself under immense pressure, you may be on the path to emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. In this fast-paced environment, you may feel the need to do everything all at once in as little amo...

One thing that all business owners need to face is that one day, we all need to pass the baton on to the next generation. However, for someone who has built his or her business from the ground up, it might not be the easiest thing to do. Succession planning is something that business owners tend to avoid. After all, giving away something that they've worked so hard to build to someone else is a to...