Constructing Greatness

We have a special guest today on the show, a man who puts his own life on the line to help others, Erin O'Donnell. He is a Firefighter recently promoted to Lieutenant at the Willingboro Fire Department, a loving husband, and a proud father of two beautiful daughters. 

Knowing what he wanted to do when growing up never was an issue for Erin; being a fireman had been his deepest desire since he was a child. He would spend so much time in his town's Fire Department before becoming 18, the legal age to start Fire School, that they had to create a Junior Firefighter training program. 

Throughout our conversation, Erin talks about his career as a firefighter, the up and downs of his profession, describes a typical day at the Fire House, and how COVID impacted the Willingboro Fire Department. We also talk about the sensations that 9/11 produced on him as a firefighter, the call he attended that marked him forever, the recent promotion he got, and his thoughts on what it means to be a good leader. In addition, we delve into Erin's passion for baseball and his retirement plans, and he kindly shared some advice for the young ones interested in becoming firefighters. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• What did you do after high school? (5:02)
• How did COVID impact you guys? Could you talk about your experiences through that process as a first responder? (20:00)
• Can you share some of your fire rescue experiences? Which one sticks out the most for you? (31:21)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Erin decided he wanted to be a firefighter (6:58)
• About Erin's experiences as a volunteer fireman (11:08)
• Erin talks about 9/11 and how particularly rough 2001 was for firefighters (25:48)
• Erin debunks some myths about firefighters' routines at the Fire House (33:25)
• The importance of being a leader that gets their hands dirty and doesn't feel they are above any duty at the Fire House (41:05)

Connect with Erin:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Email: [email protected]

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knowing what he wanted to do never was an issue for our guest, Yan Girlya, who always knew he wanted to be in the construction industry. 

One day in ninth grade, a professor asked the students to say their names and what they wanted to be as grown-ups during a history class. Lawyer, accountant, doctor, and engineer would be the most heard professions until young Yan raised his hand and said, contractor. 

Yan Contractor would be his name from that day on until the end of the year. 

Yan Girlya is the Co-president of UTV Masters. This company produces cool-looking six and eight-wheelers called ARGO. ARGOs fill the gap between recreational quads and heavy off-road equipment; they climb, crawl, or swim anywhere while carrying the equipment and tools needed for any job. He is also the Co-president of Diggerland. This out-of-this-world recreational park allows families to put their hands on operation machinery like skid-steer loaders, backhoes, tractors, mini dumpers, and small excavators. Yan is also the Principal at Sahara Sam's, an indoor and outdoor water park. 

Yan shared his passion for the construction industry since he was a little kid, his love for building things, and the many challenges he overcame during his career. We delve into how COVID impacted Yan's businesses, how they decided to start Diggerland in the US, and the expansions and new attractions they plan for the park. Yan also shared his experiences at NJ with the difficulties of making projects get out of the paper. He talks about his hobbies, how he balances his personal and professional life and advises young people thinking of joining the construction industry. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Did you always know that you wanted to get into construction? (5:14)
• You worked for Sambe Construction Company for 20 years; what made you leave in 2014? (9:59)
• You and your brother became co-owners of Sahara Sam's. Correct? Could you talk a bit about how that happened? (16:12)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The story of Yan Contractor from 9th grade (7:29)
• Yan shares the story of how Sambe Construction Company, the family business, was born and evolved through the years (14:29)
• When and how Diggerland started in Yan's life (17:17)
• Yan talks about how COVID impacted them (25:21)
• Yan shares his thoughts on why young people should think of joining the construction industry (39:23)

Resources:

• Diggerland USA website
• UTV Masters website
• Sahara Sam's website

Connect with Yan:

• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After many years in the construction industry, our guest, Christine Workman, had an aha moment facing an elevator. The first thing she noticed was that nobody around seemed to know much about them, and the second thing she noticed was that until elevators are inspected, it is not possible to get anything done. 

The idea of getting into the elevators industry was roaming inside her mind when destiny decided to give her a little push: Otis Elevator, one of the industry's giants, found her resume on monster.com. 

Christine Workman is a Regional Account Manager and Partner at MHI-Consulting. She has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, the last 13 of them in the elevators trade. 

In this episode, we dive into Christine's extensive career in the trades, her decision to get into the construction industry, and then niching down into the elevators' side of the industry. We talked about her experiences working for two industry giants, Otis Elevator and KONE Americas, their differences, and why she decided to move to Vertical Systems Analisis, where she transitioned from Project Manager to Consultant. We also talk about the pandemic effects, her favorite activity to unwind from a busy day, and the benefits of pursuing a career in the trades.

Some Questions I Ask:

• You were an Assistant Director of Code Enforcement & Zoning for a brief period. And then I guess you realized that you wanted something different, and Otis had reached out. Right? (5:48)
• You were a Project Manager, and you were also a Service Sales Account Manager. Then you moved on to KONE Americas? (10:14)
• You worked for Vertical Systems Analysis. How was that transition from working with one of the big four to becoming a consultant? (15:15)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why Christine decided to join the construction industry (3:08)
• About how Christine discovered the possibilities in the elevators industry (4:58)
• About Christine's transition into the consulting world (16:57)
• Becoming a partner at MHI-Consulting and the role COVID had in that opportunity (22:46)
• Christine describes the massive amount of great opportunities in the trades (28:50)

Resources:

• MHI-Consulting website
• MHI-Consulting LinkedIn
• MHI-Consulting Facebook

Connect with Christine:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Paul McDonald, President of McDonald Building Company, LLC, joined us to talk about his experiences in the construction industry. 

When he started his company twelve years ago, Paul committed to four principles: safety, quality, integrity, and sustainability. Today, Paul's construction company specializes in providing peace of mind through their devoted attention to detail and excellence, ensuring every project stays on track and on budget. 

We delve into Paul's journey into the industry, why he decided to start his own company, and the most significant challenges he had to overcome. We talk about the LEED rating system and Paul's projects in the LEED platinum category. We also dive into Paul's hobbies, his love for soccer, and he kindly shared some advice for those interested in joining the construction industry. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You have a history as a soccer player. Is that the reason for the surgery? (3:00)
• Your 12th anniversary just came up; you started McDonald Building Company in 2010. How do you feel about it? (6:23)
• How many employees do you have? (14:52)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Paul talks about how he got into the construction industry (3:12)
• How Paul's experience in real estate dedicated to historic preservation helped him when he started MBC (9:19)
• Paul explains what types of projects are designated as LEED platinum (12:12)
• A piece of advice for those interested in joining the construction industry (20:48)

Resources:

• McDonald Building Company website
• McDonald Building Company LinkedIn
• McDonald Building Company Facebook

Connect with Paul:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Things like ransomware, phishing, or spyware perhaps sound like something distant, too digital, in a certain way. However, the feeling of seeing our letterhead sent to one of our clients demanding a payment we never asked for can turn these digital threats into a scary palpable menace. 

Joining us today is Tim Guim, Founder and CEO of PCH Technologies, to talk about the real danger of digital threats, how to prevent them, and why he believes the world is about to experience an increase in digital crimes. Tim is a Cybersecurity and IT Expert, Entrepreneur, Thought Leader, and Speaker. He is also an Executive Board Chair of the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, a family man, and passionate about cars and racing.

In this episode, Tim shared bits of his background and details of his entrepreneurial journey, which started at a very young age, managing a paper route. We talk about Tim's academic experience, the moment he realized he needed to transform his personal endeavor into a growing company, and how he handled the hiring process. We also delve into PCH Technologies' services, the needs of its different clients, COVID's impact on the increase of cybercrimes, and how the Ukraine-Russia conflict will affect cybersecurity worldwide. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You graduated in 1997. Did you know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur? (4:31)
• When you decide to take that leap. Did you envision the company growing to where it is today? (5:23)
• How long did you work on your own before making your first hire? (6:39)
• Could you talk about this whole Ukraine thing and how that is impacting cybersecurity? (23:27)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• From working at the parents' house to a two-floor, 10,000 square feet office (6:01)
• About Tim's perspective on trust and long-lasting relationships with clients (10:51)
• How PCH Technologies helps keep companies safe from cyber-attacks (13:38)
• Tim shares valuable information about wire transfers fraud (19:23)
• Tim shares his thoughts on the best way to start the entrepreneurial journey (30:31)

Resources:

• PCH Technologies website

Connect with Tim:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running a successful business and living on stress mode 24/7 shouldn't sound like synonyms, but unfortunately, many people can't have one without the other. However, it is possible to run a thriving organization without paying with our physical and mental health, and our guest, Ajay Patel, is here to prove it. He turned his 8-hour workdays into 2-hour workdays with a simple yet effective system, and today, he'll tell us exactly how he did it. 

Ajay Patel, the Productivity Maestro, is the Founder of Create Time Today. They specialize in increasing productivity by optimizing action plans, creating effective work processes, improving team communication, and incorporating automation. Ajay's proven system helped leading companies reduce work hours by 95%, a services company reduce client onboard and evaluation from 50 hours to 5 minutes, and even a professional coach to develop a business plan for growth. 

In this episode, Ajay talks about how he went from Mechanical Engineer to time creation consultant, his passion for helping other entrepreneurs live to their fullest while running a successful business, and the challenges he faced transitioning from corporate to a business owner. Ajay also shared advice for those thinking of leaving their 9 to 5 to start their own company, his thoughts on the college path vs. the tradesman path, and how living outside our comfort zone is growth-encouraging. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• When you got that mechanical engineering degree, what were you looking to do with it? And what did you do immediately after college? (3:23)
• Can you talk a bit about your journey from corporate to starting your own business? (7:31)
• What have you learned with LinkedIn? And how has that helped you with your business? (10:11)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About the benefits of improving communication to increase productivity and make things run smoother (6:23)
• How to use LinkedIn to turn effective network building into a 90-day process (10:25)
• Ajay talks about how he helped a Fortune 500 company reduce maintenance worker downtime by 45% (19:43)
• How to create more of what our country needs: entrepreneurs (22:51)
• Ajay shares his own process of getting out of the corporate world (30:15)

Resources:

• Create Time Today website

Connect with Ajay:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Kulik was one step away from accomplishing his dream of pitching in the MLB, when in 2011, during spring training with the Cardinals, coaches suggested that he become a lefty specialist. Although he struck out 5 guys in two innings in his first outing, his arm started bothering him, and he started slowly but surely going downhill. He kept the pain to himself for some time, and surgery was the only solution when he finally spoke about it.

He alternated between Double and Triple-A teams for years, but he never lost his passion for the game. At the pandemic's beginning, he built his own version of Kinsella's Field of Dreams in his backyard, a batting cage that hosts dozens of local pro, minor league, college, and high school players daily. 

In this episode, we chat with Ryan Kulik, a man who never gave up on his dreams and found a way to turn destiny's whims into an opportunity to help and develop young baseball talents. Ryan kindly shared details of his experience at the St. Louis Cardinals, his feelings when he realized his dreams of playing in the big leagues were doomed, and how he handled them. We also go through his decision to become a college coach, The Complete Pitcher program, and why he decided to build a batting cage in his house. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Could you talk about your experience with the Cardinals and how you hurt your arm? (4:43)
• When did the realization that you wouldn't play in the big leagues come to you? Was it right after the Cardinals released you? (10:20)
• You started a backyard renovation, which looks like a mini Field of Dreams. Did that happen because of COVID? Could you talk a bit about that and the players that go there every day? (21:24)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About the motivation to becoming a pro that came from a coach saying no to Ryan (3:58)
• Ryan's painful realization, and how he dealt with it (10:33)
• The massive gap between Double and Triple-A players and MLB players' salaries (24:21)
• About The Complete Pitcher program, how it started, its mission and evolution during the last couple of years (29:43)

Resources:

• The Complete Pitcher Instagram
• The Complete Pitcher Facebook
• The Complete Pitcher Twitter

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the kid dressed in a JCPenney suit got into Advantage International's office, he already knew the internship position he wanted to apply for was already filled. He also knew he wouldn't leave that place without a fight, so he asked to talk with Tom George, Advantage International's Senior VP, and waited. 

More than two hours later, that kid in his senior year of high school, wearing a cheap suit, told Mr. George he would work for free; he just wanted to learn the sports marketing business. The following Monday, that kid, Andy Ross, started his unpaid internship and worked there for 19 years. 

Our guest, Andy Ross, is a Certified NFL Agent for Select Sports Group and Owner of Upper Edge Management. Andy negotiated over $500 million in NFL contracts and represented several high-profile players, like Quentin Jammer (#5 pick overall), Ziggy Hood (1st rd), Brandon Ghee (3rd rd), and Ed Wang (first Chinese player drafted), among many others. 

In this episode, Andy shares details of his 20-year process of becoming a successful NFL agent, the grit and effort it took, and the sacrifices it required. We delve into Andy's experiences managing several high-profile NFL players and the need to learn about medicine, counseling, finances, and especially insurance. We also talk about the importance of being an expert in hiring experts and the future of college sports. Andy shared some advice for young students interested in becoming sports agents, and he even revealed who he likes for the Super Bowl. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• Did you know you wanted to be a sports agent? (3:27)
•  Talk a little about the tough times. Did you ever question that maybe you should do something else in those moments when it was getting too complicated? (9:50)
• Who do you like in the Super Bowl? (22:09)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The Jerry Mcguire influence. About Andy's decision of becoming a sports agent (3:41)
• Why it is so hard to get into the sports industry, and what is Andy's advice on how to achieve it (8:04)
• Money never sleeps. The hard path of a service-oriented profession ( 14:51)
• Being an expert in hiring experts (19:51)

Resources:

• Select Sports Group, LLC website

Connect with Andy:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• TikTok

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jumping right to college after high school and pursuing a degree that might not be our passion but can help us land a well-paid job has been branded as the right thing to do for years. The fact that even knowing that a college degree won't translate into a good job, students sink into massive debt is not discussed enough; it's broadly accepted and, in many ways, expected. 

Our guest, David Lisowski, went for the college experience and got his Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State Abington, and although he doesn't regret getting it, he doesn't use it in his day-to-day professional life. David is a Podcast Host, Video Strategist, and the Owner of Foxal, a company dedicated to helping marketing managers get their video strategies ahead of the curve.

In this episode, David kindly shared his journey from working at a hotel as a Banquet Server to being a Marketing Strategist and then leaving college to pursue a career in music, then going back to college, and finally starting his own business. We talk about college's alternatives and the massive amount of knowledge the internet offers for a fraction of the price people pay for their higher education. 

We also talk about how hard it is sometimes for entrepreneurs to explain following their gut feels better than the traditional path, where David sees Foxal is heading this year and the rewarding feeling of succeeding on what we love to do.  

Some Questions I Ask:

• Could you tell the audience about your first experience at The Buck Hotel as a Banquet Server (3:35)
• What was the hardest part of deciding to leave college? (11:23)
• Are you happy with the decision to go back and finish college? (20:15)
•  If you were to advise a young lady, a young gentleman who just finished is about to finish high school and is unsure about what to do. What would it be? (35:11)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About the value, every job brings, even though we can't see it at that moment (4:21)
• How David built his path in creative and artistic roles that would help him massively years later (7:06)
• The differences between landing a job thanks to a college degree several years ago and now (22:20)
• About the different ways to niche down in a business (32:04)

Resources:

• Foxal website
• Foxal YouTube
• How To Win With Video podcast

Connect with David:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow your passion might be one of the most misinterpreted phrases ever; it doesn't mean "spend your time eating chips and watching movies," it means to focus on what you are good at and enjoy doing, and find a job where you can do that. If you are handy and don't like reading, don't pursue a law degree; if you are not handy and love reading, don't be a mechanic.

For the first time in the show's history, we have an attorney as a guest, Mark Hijar. Mark is an expert in cutting-edge approaches to supply chain management and federal procurement compliance. He is a successful entrepreneur, Founder of ProcureLinx, and a dear friend. His firm, ProcureLinx, created the first and only CPSR-Compliant Internal Audit Software For Government Contractors. This system provides government contractors with tools that turn the Contractor Purchasing System Review process, the most challenging business system review conducted by the US Government, into a smooth and easy-to-conduct procedure.

In this episode, Mark shared his journey into becoming a lawyer, then a consultant, and a lobbyist, what he calls the DC's unholy triangle. He also shared the details of how they came up with the CPSR - Compliant Internal Audit Software to help small businesses become Government contractors. We also talk about one of Mark's passions, writing, the book he is working on, and his positive mindset to deal with life challenges, and, in his words, "trust the process." Finally, Mark gifted us with valuable insights and suggestions for young professionals to follow their dreams and trailblaze their way up in their industries.

Some Questions I Ask:

You went to JMU. Did you want to do something different with your English degree? How did it start out for you? (3:04)

How quickly did you get into the workforce right after you graduated from Law School? (5:06)

What's your advice for young folks on what to do to find what they're good at, what they're passionate about, and love doing? (35:25)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About Mark's different ideas about his future and what made him choose Law School's path (4:09)

The unholy triangle. About the moment Mark got bored and started looking at entrepreneurship (8:01)

Trust the process. About how Mark got embedded in what it ended up being a growing niche (12:14)

An elevator pitch of Mark's book (28:51)

No one starts in the middle; everyone starts at the bottom. Mark's advice for young lads on what to focus on to build their careers (36:34)

Resources:

ProcureLinx website

Book: Donald Miller - Building a StoryBrand

Book: Tom Wainwright - Narconomics

Book: David Deutsch - The Fabric of Reality

Connect with Mark:

Email: [email protected]

MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.