Construction Genius

Many construction companies fail in their marketing efforts because of a wrong understanding of what marketing is all about. Marketing is not about slick websites, sweet logos, and cool videos. Marketing is about attracting and keeping customers, and it is the job of everyone in your organization.  In this week's podcast episode, I talk with my guest, Wayne Mullins, founder and CEO of Ugly Mug Mar...

Control is one thing that most construction business owners wish for. When you're growing, things can sometimes get out of hand, and running your business becomes more taxing and stressful than ever. To make sure you're on the right path when it comes to scaling your business, it's important to lay the right foundations, doing the work necessary from the ground up.  In this podcast episode, I talk...

Leadership is difficult. The work is endless, and you get constantly bombarded with problems left and right. Leadership is a responsibility. You have to carry the burden of making the decisions that impact your company, negatively or positively.  In a recent coaching session with the President of a construction company, we discussed three issues that every executive faces: how to make tough decisi...

Productivity drives profitability. To achieve both, organizations must excel operationally.  Technology and its implementation in company processes are essential for operational excellence. Positive change occurs when leaders are sold out to its importance and value, communicating it to their people both in the field and office. In this week's podcast episode, I have a conversation with Don Kafka,...

When should you start building and executing a succession plan? A company that values sustaining high-level leadership knows never to put this on the back burner. It will take years, not just months, of choosing who your qualified candidates are to mentoring them until you are confident enough that they are ready to take on those leadership roles with the passion for propelling the business forwar...

Methods of project delivery are ever-changing. The need to see different outcomes, especially from an owner's perspective in construction projects, has led to the adoption of approaches like Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). It's not a one-size-fits-all method, but it's definitely worth exploring.  In this week's podcast episode, I welcome my guest, James Pease. James is an Executive Director of...

Amazon is a household name that continues to lead and dominate the international business scene. The trillion-dollar business that it is today, however, did not happen overnight. Their success story involves failures, risks, inventions, innovation, and an intense company culture not for the faint of heart. Intimidating as it is, though, there is a treasure trove of ideas that we can learn from the...

Are you struggling to attract the right clients to your company? Marketing plays a huge role in addressing this dilemma as you can't just hope for the best that they will someday notice you and the services you offer. When you're doing marketing right, your message will be more intentional and laser-focused, resulting in a significant shift, client and profit-wise.  In this week's Construction Gen...

Growth is every business owner's aim. But many find growing their businesses to be overwhelming; with so many things to take care of, it becomes difficult to pick an area of focus. However, growing your business does not have to be complicated; generations of companies have focused on three things, and they experienced the growth they so longed to achieve.  In this week's Construction Genius podca...

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...