The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget

In this replay episode, Bradley is joined by NBA Legend and Hall of Famer Bill Walton at the West Coast Lumber and Building Materials Association (WCLBMA) Annual Convention that was held October 19-21, 2022 in San Diego, CA. Bill discusses leadership lessons he learned from coaches, including John Wooden at UCLA, as well as lessons learned from reading books.  Walton also embraces our mantra at Th...

In episode 402, Randy Herrin and Bradley Hartmann discuss the topic of change management. They explore the importance of understanding human nature and the readiness capability of the organization when implementing change. They also discuss the need to set realistic expectations and invest the necessary time and effort for meaningful and lasting change.  Randy shares leadership insights from two o...

In episode 401, host Bradley Hartmann shares his most personal story yet about a childhood event that changed his life. The story involves his father—a construction leader for four decades—a local card and comic retailer, and a professional baseball player named Kevin Maas. The event educated Bradley on value, pricing, power dynamics, the role emotions play in business, and certainly negotiation s...

In this conversation, Verne Harnish discusses his insights on scaling up businesses and shares his experiences with the Rockefeller Habits . He also highlights the importance of aligning people, strategy, execution, and cash in order to drive business growth. Harnish provides a list of non-obvious leaders who have influenced him, including Hubert Joly, Dr. Robert Cialdini, Dr. Hermann Simon, and A...

In episode 399, Tom Asacker shares insights from his experience as a business owner,  innovator, and professional magician. He emphasizes the need to understand and fulfill  people's desires in order to be persuasive and influential.  Tom talks about the power of having fun and enjoying the process in achieving success.  He explores the role of doubt and skepticism in innovation and explains how c...

In episode 398, a 2016 ESPN article written by Ethan Sherwood Strauss has been converted into a vivid and engaging case study illustrating the laws of power, influence, persuasion, and value—including what to do and what not to do. The case study examines Steph Curry's rise to fame and his disillusionment and feelings of disrespect from the leaders at Nike. His decision to sign with underdog Under...

Episode 397 features an all-star lineup of leaders sharing their wisdom and experience from a recent training event held by Bradley Hartmann & Co. The panel includes: Brent Hull of Hull Works Matthew Schmidt of PulteGroup Andrew Cooper of Toll Brothers Bobby Krueger of The Krueger Group Adam Lingenfelter of Lingenfelter Custom Homes Dave Reichert of Davis-Hawn Lumber and Architectural Millworks  ...

In episode 396 of The Construction Leadership Podcast, Dr. Felix Oberholzer-Gee joins the show to discuss his book, Better Simpler Strategy and the simple, yet powerful concept of The Value Stick, Felix is the Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. An award-winning instructor, his academic work and consulting are focused on competitive strategy and the ef...

In episode 395 of The Construction Leadership Podcast, Jessica Herrala of Buildots joins the show to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is improving the construction process through better communication and progress tracking.  Jessica is a strategic thinking veteran of some of the most well-known brands in construction: Lend Lease, Skansa, Walsh, and Clayco. Jessica and I talk about the insi...

Episode 394 features an all-star trio competing in our fifth Construction Leadership Game Show: Colby Chandler, Sales Manager at Cassity Jones Building Products Meloni Raney, CEO of TEXO Association   Kevin Carey, CEO of Mountain Mover Facades and host of the 17Twenty Podcast . Among other relevant insights that can help you become a better manager and leader, these leaders share their favorite le...

In episode 393, Human Resources expert Joel Stevens joins returning guest / movie guru Matt Potter (ep. 302: Elf , 233: Glengarry Glen Ross , 173: Tommy Boy ) to break down the key leadership scenes in the 2009 film, Up In The Air, which earned six Acadamy Award nominations.  Here's IMDB's storyline: Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) enjoys living out of a suitcase for his job, travelling around the c...

In episode 392, Bill Ness, founder of 55places.com, joins The Construction Leadership Podcast to share his journey from new home sales consultant at Del Webb to launching the premier destination for active adults searching for a new home.  Bill Ness discusses: His initial steps from original insight to early implementation The sales pitch that changed his life  Challenges and opportunities to deli...

In episode 391, Wes Palmisano joins The Construction Leadership Podcast from New Orleans to talk about how renegade thinking drives revolutionary results.    For over a decade, Wes has pursued a new vision of the construction industry through his collective of brands and initiatives. Wes launched Palmisano Construction in 2013 with 11 team members and the company's signature renegade style and cul...

Brad Jacobs is venturing into building materials distribution with a new firm branded QXO . His initial forecast is $1B in revenue in Year 1 and at least $5B within three years. How, you may ask, does he plan to do that? Well, he wrote on book on it, humbly titled, How to Make a Few Billion Dollars , which I would absolutely recommend to a friend.   Upon hearing the news, Jon Vaughan and Bradley H...

In episode 389, Steve Swinney, CEO of Kodiak Building Partners , joins the show. Steve and Bradley discuss how Kodiak integrates new companies following an acquisition, how to develop trust with authenticity, intention, and speed—and how Steve would improve the long-standing culture of mediocrity within the greatest NFL franchise of all-time, the Chicago Bears.    As CEO of Kodiak Building Partner...

In episode 388, Amber Percival joins the Construction Leadership Podcast to discuss the recent sale of her second generation hearth distribution business, Urban Hearth, based on Perth, Ontario. Amber candidly shares insights on her negotiation tactics, concessions, mindset during the 1.5-year process, the challenges of secrecy among the people in the business she cared about most, and how her core...

In episode 387, journalist Hamilton Nolan joins the show to talk about his new book, The Hammer: Power, Inequality, and The Struggle for the Soul of Labor.   Hamilton Nolan is a labor journalist who writes regularly for In These Times magazine and The Guardian . He has written about labor, politics, and class war for The New York Times , the Washington Post , Gawker , Splinter , and other publicat...

In episode 386, Farrell Middleton joins the show to talk about his home building career and the insights he's learned along the way regarding management, leadership, and how to navigate the Bell Curve of Life.    After a successful 36-year career in production homebuilding, Farrell moved into his long-awaited second career as a teacher, mentor, life coach, and guide. The Bell Curve of Life is his...

In episode 385, David Ling, President of Beisser Lumber in Iowa joins the show to talk innovation, continuous improvement, and the value of an outside perspective. And! As we anticipate Super Bowl LVIII between the 49ers and the Chiefs (please win, Niners, please . . .), David shares a unique and engaging way Beisser Lumber brought the construction industry and the local high school football scene...

In episode 384, Mario Hernandez, Director of Business Planning Analytics at PrimeSource Building Products—hosting us all in their PrimeSource Studios in Dallas!—is joined by Jamie Dabbs, Vice President of Safety, Health & Environmental at TDIndustries, Inc., and Stewart Shurtleff, Chief Legal Officer of Osburn Contractors and host of the 17Twenty Podcast. These men will battle it to provide the mo...

In episode 383, we dig deep into the archives to retrieve what was thought to be lost: An epic 2018 interview with a pair of construction industry superstars, Fred Perpall and Meloni Raney.  As CEO of The Beck Group, Perpall leads the firm's global architecture, planning, real estate consultancy, and construction businesses. He began his career in design and construction in 1996. Two decades later...

In episode 382, Bradley is joined by Ray Hayles, Co-Owner of Walker Lumber & Supply in Nashville. Ray shares his remarkable journey from the gridion of SMU, to buying out his father's  company, growing it, and then selling it . . . only to find the financial independence he was searching for all along didn't bring him fulfillment. The search for camaraderie and the opportunity to serve led him to...

In episode 381, Bradley is joined by Nick Milestone, Director at Mercer Mass Timber. They discuss Nick's transition from steel to mass timber construction, which was driven by the desire to build on his grandfather's legacy, and an openness to exploring new avenues in construction. Nick also identifies key disruptions in the construction industry, including the shift towards prefabricated componen...

In episode 380, Jon Vaughan returns to the show to discuss leadership and management fundamentals to help you in 2024 through the lens of sport.   Jon and Bradley discuss Iowa football and the sad, unsurprising conclusion to the saga featuring Offensive Coordinator Brian Ferentz (son of legendary Head Coach Kirk Ferentz). Since recording this episode, Iowa lost their bowl game to Tennessee, 35-0. ...

In episode 379, Bradley shares a trio of insights delivered by one of his mentors, Charlie Munger. Charlie was Warren Buffett's longtime #2 at Berkshire Hathaway. Munger passed away on November 28th, at the age of 99.   This episode is brought to you by  The Simple Sales Pipeline®  which will organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes. ***...