Workforce Skills with John Morris

In Episode 125 of Workforce Skills with John Morris , John is joined by PHP Commercial Painting Office Manager Chastity to pull back the curtain on a real hiring process happening inside their company. After reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and narrowing down candidates, they share exactly what separated the finalists from everyone else—and the common mistakes that cost applicants th...

In this episode of Workforce Skills , John Morris tackles one of the biggest sources of workplace conflict—politics, religion, and personal division. John explains why successful companies are built on a shared mission, not political arguments, and why employees who focus on learning, growing, and working together will always outperform those focused on drama. He also shares his thoughts on leader...

In Episode 123 of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John tackles one of the biggest challenges facing business owners today: professionalism in the workplace. After dealing with a situation where emotions and tempers got out of control on a job site, John shares why leaders must remain calm, logical, and focused on solutions rather than reacting emotionally. From showing up early and leading by e...

In Episode 122 of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John sits down with PHP Commercial Painting Senior Project Manager John Warner to discuss a remarkable story of transformation, accountability, and second chances. After spending nearly a decade in prison, John Warner made the decision to change his life forever. Through sobriety, personal responsibility, New Freedom, and a commitment to growth,...

In Episode 121 of Workforce Skills, John Morris welcomes DJ back to the podcast to talk about his journey from the first painting class at New Freedom to becoming a licensed, bonded, and insured painting contractor in Phoenix. DJ shares how he built Dan Zen Painting, changed his mindset around money, learned the value of systems, and created a future through discipline, patience, and hard work. Th...

Many people believe success makes life easier, but the reality is often the opposite. In Episode 120 of Workforce Skills, John Morris shares the side of success that nobody talks about—the stress, responsibility, sleepless nights, and sacrifices that come with building a company and leading a team. John discusses the misconceptions surrounding entrepreneurship, the loneliness that often comes with...

n Episode 119 of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John dives deep into the mindset traps that keep people stuck in life, on the job site, and in their careers. From victim mentality and blaming others to learning how to take ownership, John shares raw lessons from the workplace, leadership, and training people coming out of prison, rehab, and difficult life situations. This episode focuses on pe...

In Episode 118 of Workforce Skills, John Morris delivers a brutally honest message to business owners about one of the biggest problems destroying companies from the inside out: losing great employees. John breaks down the real reasons top performers leave jobs — and why it usually has nothing to do with money. From lack of growth opportunities and weak leadership to poor accountability, no struct...

In Episode 117 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris talks about the critical connection between employee safety, company systems, and long-term profitability in the construction industry. Broadcasting from Phoenix, Arizona during triple-digit heat, John shares real-world lessons from the field about hydration, heat safety, ladder safety, and protecting workers on demanding job sites. John...

In Episode 116 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris breaks down why traditional salary structures often create complacency in the workplace — and what business owners can do to fix it. John shares the real-world bonus and KPI systems he’s implementing inside his company to improve accountability, productivity, estimating performance, safety, and profitability. From tracking bid performance...

In Episode 115 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris takes it back to the beginning—sharing the real story of how he went from grinding as a painter to running a multi-million dollar company. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the truth about what it actually takes to make the shift from working in your business to leading it. John breaks down: The moment everything changed mentally Why goin...

In Episode 114 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris dives deep into what it really takes to rebuild your life after setbacks—and why your “why” has to evolve if you want lasting change. Drawing from his experience teaching in a vocational program for men and women coming out of prison, John shares powerful stories of transformation, second chances, and the reality of reconnecting with fami...

The construction industry is facing a serious problem—and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. In Episode 113, John Morris breaks down the real struggle happening right now: a massive labor shortage, rising wages, and a workforce that often isn’t prepared for the demands of the job. From hiring challenges to running a growing company, John shares what it actually takes to build a team, train from t...

Can your business run without you? In this episode of Workforce Skills , John Morris shares what it really feels like to step away from your business—and what happens when you do. After a weekend trip, John reflects on the stress of leaving operations behind, the importance of building a team you can trust, and the reality that problems don’t stop just because you’re gone. From handling employee c...

In Episode 111 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris dives into one of the most important — and most overlooked — aspects of long-term success: balance. When you’re grinding 60–70+ hours a week, pushing yourself in the gym, and carrying the weight of a business, it’s easy to ignore the warning signs. But burnout, stress, and poor health don’t show up overnight — they build over time. John b...

In Episode 110 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris dives deep into the mindset required to truly get ahead in work and life. From working 70-hour weeks to managing job site challenges, John shares real-world experiences about overtime opportunities, accountability, and why some people move forward while others stay stuck. He breaks down the importance of showing up, keeping your word, and...

In Episode 109 of Workforce Skills with John Morris , John sits down with Amber, one of PHP Commercial Painting’s most inspiring success stories. After spending 15 years in prison, Amber shares her journey of rebuilding her life from the ground up—starting in the field, pushing through adversity, overcoming injury, and ultimately finding her place in the estimating department. This episode dives d...

In Episode 108 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris talks about what happens when communication fails on a job site—and how quickly a project can spiral into chaos. From drywall mistakes that force repainting entire walls to poorly coordinated night crews and misinformed superintendents, John shares real-world stories from active job sites and explains why communication is the most critica...

In this episode of Workforce Skills , John Morris tackles a situation that many leaders and employees face in the workplace: conflict between coworkers and the emotional reactions that can follow. After receiving a phone call from an employee refusing to work with a superintendent, John breaks down why that mindset can destroy a career. In the real world, you don’t always get to choose who you wor...

In Episode 106 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris challenges a mindset that’s holding too many people back: “I have to go to work.” What if you changed that to… “I get to go to work.” From 30 straight days without a day off… to 4:30am mornings… to teaching 150 students in a vocational program at night — John breaks down why burnout isn’t about hours worked. It’s about purpose. In this ep...

Last week, John sat down with the women of PHP Commercial Painting and shared powerful stories of redemption and second chances. This week, he takes it even further. Episode 105 is raw, emotional, and unfiltered. John dives deep into addiction, relationships, personal responsibility, and the hard truth about growth. If you’re rebuilding your life after prison, fighting addiction, or simply stuck i...

In Episode 104 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris does something special — he brings together the women of PHP Commercial Painting. From the field to the office, these women share powerful stories of resilience, recovery, redemption, and growth. Many have overcome addiction, incarceration, and life on the streets. Together, they represent over 60 years of prison time — and now they’re th...

In Episode 103 of Workforce Skills , John Morris delivers a powerful message every employee and leader needs to hear: own it . From job sites and project coordination to personal responsibility at home, John breaks down why excuses hold people back and ownership moves people forward. Using real-world examples from commercial job sites, employee mistakes, leadership failures, and even everyday life...

In Episode 102 of Workforce Skills with John Morris , John dives into a tough but necessary topic: chaos in the workplace and where it really comes from. When emotions run high, coworkers butt heads, and people start walking on eggshells, productivity and morale suffer. John shares a real situation from his company where conflict between employees created friction that had to be addressed head-on....

In Episode 101 of Workforce Skills with John Morris , John breaks down what success really looks like in the real world—not the Instagram version. While there may be 101 rules of success, this episode focuses on the ones that truly move the needle. John talks about resilience, making decisions without fear, asking for help, slowing down instead of panicking, knowing when to look outside your compa...