The Fab Lab

As your business grows and evolves, it becomes more necessary to rely on written words instead of spoken words. Spoken and verbal communication leaves the door wide open for misunderstandings and memory lapse, not so when it's written down and recorded for future reference. Enjoy and happy fabricating!

It's easy (and common) to duck, hide, and avoid certain tasks and actions in our stone shops.  But if we let that happen, we run the risk of missing out on opportunities and results that we want.   There is too much at stake to let an opportunity slip through our fingers due to in-action.   Enjoy!  Happy New Year…and Happy Fabricating!

What if I told you that what you want in and out of your stone shop is entirely possible?  Well, that’s what I’m going to tell you in this episode! There are 4 principles to knowing and getting what you want thru your shop and I discuss them in detail: Identify Desire Determine the Stakes Believe You WILL Have It Take Massive Action   Make sure you email me to take advantage of my complimentary co...

Fellow fabricators, marketing, and branding is not just a practice for big companies.  It is something that even the smallest fabricator needs to understand and implement.   In this interview, I talk with the stone industry's leading marketing and branding expert on how to start marketing and branding in your stone shop.   Enjoy!   Reach me at: aaron@aaroncrowley.com   Check out Lorenzo’s company...

What should you do?  Do you know?  In this episode I talk about how to tell the difference between the work that you can do, should do, and MUST do so that you can get maximum impact in your business.   Enjoy.   Email me at  aaron@aaroncrowely.com   Learn more about my Mastermind Group: https://aaroncrowley.com/mastermind-group-application/   Moraware is the sponsor of this week's episode.  Visit...

What role does your stone shop play in your life?  Does it serve you or is it the other way around?  Is it a  means to an end or is it the end in and of itself?    It’s a tough question for many, but one we must ask if we want to get all we can out of this life😊   If you’d like to contact me:  aaron@aaroncrowley.com   If you’d like to learn more about my upcoming mastermind group: www. AaronCrowl...

In this episode, I talk to Rick Stimac, CEO of BBI (formerly Braxton Bragg Inc.), and hear about how he is bringing his wealth of experience from the HVAC industry to the stone industry. A great story from a great leader, enjoy! - Aaron Crowley   Visit and support BBI by clicking here : www.bbindustriesllc.com   Moraware is this week's sponsor.  Be sure to support and visit them here : www. Morawa...

If you want to change results, chances are good you need to change your thinking about those results. In this episode, I share key insight into how our thoughts have an amazing impact on what we accomplish and achieve.   Enjoy!   Click on the link below and be one of the 8-10 who starts their next journey with me and my mastermind group: https://aaroncrowley.com/mastermind-group-application/     D...

Season 3 launches with an incredible interview that I had with Michael Bungay Stainer. Michael Bungay Stanier is at the forefront of making coaching an everyday leadership behavior. He is the author of The Coaching Habit ... the best-selling coaching book of this century with over 700,000 copies sold and 1,000+ five-star reviews on Amazon. His new book, The Advice Trap , focuses on what it takes t...

Episode 100! Interview with EMyth Coach Steve Edkins The 5 years I spent in the EMyth Mastery program with my coach Steve Edkins, altered the course of history for me. Without it, I would still be at the mercy of my business with no life outside of it. In this episode, I get to interview my old cold and he brilliantly demonstrates why coaching is essential to positive change in our business and pe...

Interview Update with financial analyst Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics . What does the future hold for our businesses?  What does history show us about the current pandemic and recession?  Is there any good news on the horizon?  These are important questions.  With the rapidly changing economy, we decided to bring Taylor St. Germain back on the podcast to give us an update on what has changed...

3 Challenges with Fixed Turn Around From Template to Install When we commit to install dates, the clock starts ticking and when things go wrong, it can be a challenge! And those challenges are real! In this episode I discuss the top 3: 1. Passing on jobs 2. Delayed job scramble 3. Pressure on production when things go wrong. I'd be remiss to not acknowledge these realities after advocating the val...

The Rhythm of All Rhythms Hold on fellow fabricator, in this episode, I make a bold statement. You should have a fixed, consistent, and repeatable turn around time from template install. Yes, I said it. In this episode of the Fab Lab, I explain detail the 4 benefits of creating such a "rhythm" in your production process. 1. Clarity 2. Known Install Dates 3. Minimize WIP (work in progress) 4. Acqui...

Why Routines, Rhythms, and Patterns are Essential to Business Success. When leaders make the work in their companies predictable and "routine" the results can be astounding! I begin to look at why this is so important and where to start in this episode of the Fab Lab. I discuss: 1. Emotional Health for Employees and Customers 2. Optimal Efficiency for Operations and Profits 3. Turn Around from Tem...

We could all use a laugh right now and this episode is full of them. In this episode, I interview Aaron and asks him a few fun questions. We cover topics from Aaron's favorite books to the countertop install that went horribly wrong!  It is a fun light-hearted conversation that should put a smile on your face :) Enjoy and stay safe. -Wesley If you enjoy The Fab Lab podcast, consider sharing it.  T...

In this episode, we interview financial analyst Taylor St Germain, a financial analyst with ITR Economics . While the forecast for 2020 has become uncertain, it's not as bad as you might think.  We cover a broad range of topics and you will be glad you tuned in. For that matter, it's not just stone fabricators that will want to tune in, anyone with a business or interest in the economy is going to...

Managing Fear - Turning Panic into Productivity In times like these, fear is an almost ever-present emotion for the folks we lead and even ourselves. In this podcast we discuss 3 techniques to turn panic into productivity: 1. Remaining Composed 2. Remembering People Respond Emotionally 3. Replace Fear with Action Listen and lead well fellow fabricators and we will get through this! Take care, Aaro...

Leadership Teams - Secret Service or a Posse? When the shooting starts, it's nice to know you're not alone. It's really nice to know your team has your back no matter what. In this episode, I discuss 3 key aspects and benefits of a leadership team. 1. Trust 2. Communication 3. Sharing the Burden Its never too late to evaluate your team and select the cream of the crop to assist you in leading your...

Hello Fellow Fabricators! We are experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty in the country and economy. So what do leaders like you and I do in times like these? In this special episode, I share 6 essential steps we must take to lead our companies through whatever is to happen. 1. Recognizing our moment, its time to lead! 2. Watching quote volume and sales - they are leading indicators of fu...

Top 5 ways my mastermind group is transforming me and my future.  Hello Fellow Fabricators! You know, my goal with the podcast is to offer value and insight that will help you to run your stone shop better. In this episode, I share a very recent experience that I had that has an is profoundly impacting my life in a positive way, enjoy! -Aaron Crowley Fabricators Friend is this week's sponsor.  Be...

Chinese Quartz Tariffs - Interview with Emerson Schwartzkopf We recently got to sit down and talk with Emerson Schwartzkopf on the Fab Lab podcast. He is an expert on the topic of Chinese Quartz Tariffs.  With all the confusion, uncertainty, and rumors going around, Emerson brings clarity and understanding to this topic.  This is a great episode and we think you are really going to enjoy it.   Eme...

3 Thoughts About Employee Promotions It is common practice to promote successful employees into management positions, but it is oftentimes not ideal. I explore 3 thoughts today that are important to keep in mind when moving employees up the ladder in our company, Enjoy! And happy fabricating No Lift Install System is this week's sponsor.  Be sure to visit them here: www. NoLiftSystem.com If you en...

Employee Roles, Potential, and Retention What would you do without your employees?  What beliefs do you have that might be limiting their potential?  Wesley Rice is back on this week's episode of the podcast and we continue the topic of roles in the company...specifically the employees.  Its a great episode and we hope you enjoy it.  Moraware is this week's sponsor.  Be sure to visit them here: ww...

Another Death In the Stone Industry  If you own or manage a fabrication company, a tragic reminder of how dangerous this industry can be.  In this episode, Aaron shares some thoughts on what to do with this terrible news that a man was killed on Feb 11 moving slabs.  Be safe out there. Click  Here  to help this man's family and the GoFundMe page.    Connect with Aaron!  Aaron Crowley - Instagram C...

When our role becomes our identity There is real danger and risk if we let the work we do, define who we are and determine the value we place on ourselves. It limits us, our companies, and the world around us actually suffers. This is one of the most important podcasts I've ever recorded, enjoy! Fabricator Friends is this week's sponsor of the Fab Lab podcast.  Be sure to visit them here: www. Fab...