Elevate Construction

Jason shares a powerful card game simulation that reveals why teams struggle on construction sites. Leaders assume everyone knows the plan, but they don't. The game puts 7 players in a triangle formation where only the person in front knows the full purpose (everyone needs four of a kind), while people in the back only know "win the game" without knowing what winning looks like. Teams struggle for...

Jason declares war on CPM scheduling and the industry's broken systems that create crash landings and destroy families. He's grumpy, fired up, and unapologetic as he reads construction productivity data showing the industry has declined since CPM was adopted in 1965, while every other industry improved. Follow the money trail: everyone defending CPM is financially incentivized to keep using a garb...

You are chemically addicted to emails. Your brain releases endorphins when you check them. Jason breaks down why email addiction is killing productivity and shares two methods to break free: the self-preserving batching method (4-Hour Work Week style) and the one-piece flow method (Paul Acres style). He hilariously ribs project managers glued to their computers while the superintendent begs for at...

Do you know what psychological safety is and why it matters? Jason interviews Caitlyn and Cabri about creating fear-free environments where workers can ask questions, make mistakes, and speak up without consequences. The conversation covers suicide prevention (construction has the 2nd worst rate in the US), diversity and inclusion, language that matters ("died by suicide" not "committed suicide"),...

Meet Franco Jacquinto, CEO and founder of Ipsum, a scheduling and planning software company that integrates Takt planning and prioritizes getting workers home on time. Jason interviews Franco about why the scheduling process is broken, how Ipsum connects high-level planning all the way down to workers in the field, and why construction companies need to stop hiding behind NDAs and closed doors. Fr...

Pull planning is a pain, but it's valuable when done correctly. Jason breaks down the difference between pull planning (a technique) and phase planning (planning up to milestones), then dives into how to implement pull planning the right way. He shares Principle 14 from his book: Pull not Push, pulling contractors into areas when ready creates flow, while pushing them on top of each other causes d...

Do you feel failure to the point that you don't make decisions and move forward? Jason breaks down why failing forward fast is the key to success in construction, and why adults struggle with it more than kids. Using the Culver's vs In-N-Out analogy, he explains why detaching parts of a process creates waste that looks fast but isn't. He shares Principle 13 from his book (cut for being "only" a 10...

The enemy is waste and variation, not your people. Jason breaks down why construction leaders need to raise their setpoint and fight harder against the real threats on every project. Using the Roman Triari as an analogy, he explains why senior superintendents and experienced builders are the elite third line, the ones it comes down to when projects struggle, when people are disrespected, or when h...

Jason's voice is gone from yelling at boot camp, so we're bringing you two vintage episodes from when he first started podcasting at DPR. First, Brent Elliott breaks down why empathy is his superpower, reading people daily, asking "how are you doing?" first, and building people while building the building. Second, Jake Smiley shares why making real connections matters, shutting your mouth to liste...

It takes 6 seconds to make a world of difference, but only 4 seconds for your brain to talk you out of it. Nelson Atagi shares the story of two Marines in Ramadi who stood their ground for 6 seconds while a truck bomb barreled toward them, saving 150 sleeping soldiers and sacrificing their own lives. Jason and Nelson break down what those 6 seconds mean for us, 6 seconds to call your spouse, dance...

Wake up. Apathy will kill you here. If pornography hasn't touched your life already, it's going to rip huge gaping holes in it. Jason tackles one of the most destructive yet hidden issues affecting construction workers, leaders, and families, pornography addiction. He shares stories of brilliant construction professionals whose lives were destroyed, marriages that ended, and families torn apart by...

If you doubled your communication, it wouldn't be enough. If you quadrupled it, still not enough. You need to multiply it by seven. Jason tackles the number one problem on construction projects: teams aren't communicating because they don't trust each other and they're not really a team. He breaks down why the plan can't live in one person's head, why visual communication must be everywhere on you...

Jason reveals 205 episodes times 25 minutes equals 5,125 minutes, 85 hours of podcast, probably 100 hours. In Baltimore Maryland with the DPR crew hanging out with best friends. Jim Collins quote about right people on bus: five basic characteristics for the right person. Main topic going fast but together. Think fast anticipate problems spot industry trends, companies that didn't switch to webinar...

Jason at FE Boot Camp Utah State Fair Park Zion building with horseshoe setup snowing outside 6 to 9:30pm sessions Tony Robbins energy with music dancing movement. Then reveals nothing evil about being rich, more money more people you can help, obligation to be as rich as possible. Main topic: Rest and sleep. 2014 University of Illinois study employees in windowless offices lose 46 minutes sleep p...

Jason after 17 hour boot camp day breaks down Carol Dweck's fixed mindset (intelligence static, avoid challenges, give up easily) vs growth mindset (intelligence can be developed, embrace challenges, persist through setbacks). Then reveals rich vs poor mindset: Poor mindset consumes (buy house, car, phone, clothes), lives in scarcity, doesn't rock boat, hopes for miracles, obeys authority, waits f...

Jason reveals listening is essential for collaboration, if people know you're not listening they can't weigh in, if they can't weigh in they can't buy in. Recording from hotel at boot camp not recording booth. Before power communication with rapport people said Jason you're not paying attention, now gets feedback thank you for caring being sincere really hearing me. Problem now: when listening he...

Jason reveals how clarity, personal organization, mindset, and morning routine tie together after coaching call epiphany. Tony Robbins designed Tony, calls that name the monkey mind randomness and lack of discipline goes away. HVAC analogy: Clarity document is thermostat setpoint (where you want to go), mindset is mental setpoint aligning with temperature you want, personal organization is capacit...

Jason celebrates episode 200 announcing the Elevating Construction Superintendent book now out on Audible, paperback, Kindle, ebook. At the bioscience research laboratory he had a builder foundation from Hensel Phelps, CM BIM certification, DBIA, lean core training, read 15 lean books, finished on time under budget, great team, clean organized and safe. Then shares a powerful Tony Robbins wall sto...

Jason opens with Lord of the Rings analogy: One ring (flow, Takt) rules them all (CPM, Last Planner, Scrum). Last Planner changed his life but isn't complete without Takt. Jason is CPM expert, knows theory, risk analyses, Acumen infuse risk, doesn't work. Flow where you can, pull where you can't, push when you must. Three basic habits for builders, seven key positions, nine key meetings. River of...

Jason opens with Jean R. Cook quote: Some of us created imaginary limits in our minds, there's literally genius locked inside each of us, don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Eight boot camps scheduled, expanding Elevate Construction. Then he breaks down the faith framework: Know somebody or something you believe in, know what you want, believe it's possible, want it bad enough, work for it. R...

Jason addresses listener question: How do you capture bottom-up innovation as organizations grow bureaucratic and less nimble? He reveals the framework: regional leadership sets minimum standards, provides framework and boundaries and support. Teams exceed standards, stay within framework, innovate. Spend time with your best people, send best people to anchor projects, if you send everybody to cra...

Jason brings Brandon Montero (Survey Jesus lowercase J) and Spencer East (Spence Money) to answer listener questions: How do you get people excited, wonderful, and to be role models? Brandon reveals he watered himself down for years, wasn't allowed to grow sideburns past earlobe, met everyone's expectations but nobody knew who he was, no emotional fulfillment. Spencer discusses looking past the im...

Jason reveals he's spent $35k on training and investments in his business (coaching, organizational health, Tony Robbins, mastermind, LinkedIn marketing) despite family needs because training is investment not consumption. Boot camps scheduled for next three months, attending Scrum Master course with Felipe Engineer in February. Then he breaks down reflection: CPM is pushing without reflecting, Ta...

Jason reveals his modified river of waste analogy: most people say lower water level (resources) to expose roadblocks (rocks), but in construction if you just reduce resources there's still chaos. The first step is stabilizing the water, creating calm environment before you can see roadblocks. Wavy murky unstable environment won't expose rocks no matter the water level. Then he breaks down the bal...

Jason opens with Benjamin Franklin's insight that painters throughout history struggled to distinguish sunsets from sunrises on canvas, what comes next determines which it really is (daylight of progress or darkness). He reveals signing up for Tony Robbins Business Mastery ($10k course) despite 11 kids, new business, and leaving full-time employment because training is that important. Then he unpa...