Construction Brothers

If you need to learn a construction skill or train an employee on a specific skill, Jordan Smith has you covered. Jordan is the Head of Education of MT Copeland (in addition to owning and operating his own design/build firm). MT Copeland provides affordable, professional-grade video courses for specific construction skills. Jordan does several of the videos, but a whole array of specialized instructors also share what they’ve learned in their many years on the job.  Jordan shares how the craziness of COVID led him to head to the shed. He proceeded to turn that shed into a small custom video studio and record construction tutorials. Eventually, Jordan was hired to structure the curriculum of MT Copeland’s construction videos. Now MT Copeland has over 70 hours of video instruction on their website. The content ranges from more big-picture  commercial principles to the mechanics of doing a good paint job. Jordan has come to see that the process of training has two parts: head-knowledge insights and hands-on training. The video content that he and MT Copeland offer is designed to help with the head knowledge. Most trainees then work with practicing local contractors to get the necessary hands-on experience.   Here are some other things you’ll hear in our conversation with Jordan:

• A discussion about one remodeler who has his crew earn “digital passports” for training on specific tasks such as properly hanging a door. 
• A story about a cynical Irish guy at a trade show
• A surprise connection between the novel Cheaper by the Dozen (the novel, not the movie) and efficiency in masonry. 
• Connections between proper training and employee retention–as well as some thoughts about how to deal with employees to take off after you’ve invested in training them. 

Jordan’s Megaphone moment: If you’re having a hard time finding good people, it’s time to be the person who produces good people. (He actually said “the onus is on you.” Yes, that is a real word, and yes, he used it properly. Check it out here if you’re interested in working it into your next chat with your employees.)  Learn more about Jordan and MT Copeland: MTCopeland.com - Jordan’s design-build company, Smith House, - Jordan’s LinkedIn - MTCopelandmarketing: teams@mtcopeland  Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biff is back. This time he’s creating chaos in the water fountain line.    Since Tyler was homeschooled, he never had to deal with the complex social dynamic of “Give me fronts!” The thing is… None of us should have to deal with that in the world of construction.   So Eddie has a message to the general contractors out there: When you tell me that you’ll be done with something on a certain date and then you shift that schedule around–don’t gripe about the fact that my resources are now directed somewhere else. You’ve lost your place in line. I’m not going to penalize the rest of the people in line because you now want “fronts.”     (Sorry we didn’t produce regional dialect versions of this episode for you Midwest “drinking fountain” people and you Wisconsin and Massachusetts “bubbler” weirdos.)     Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a gap in the industry. Few people are doing more to fill that gap than Lydia Burns.  Lydia is known as a senior manager with Allied Construction Industries, a trade group that works on advocacy, networking, and solutions for a variety of parties within the construction industry. Last time we met with Lydia, we discussed her work with K-12 programs that familiarize students with various aspects of construction. Today, we talk about her ambitious work with She Builds a division of ACI that focuses on increasing the number of women in the construction industry. Only 9% of the skilled trade workers within the construction industry are female. This under-representation is the result of everything from corporate hiring practices to parents’ messages to their children. Lydia and the She Builds team work strategically to increase construction interest among women. Here are a few things they do:

• Address specific reasons that high school girls give for not pursuing a career in construction,
• Address academic concerns (particularly math),
• Recruit and train adult women who are shifting careers,
• Work with everyone from students to executives in an effort to break down stereotypes.

  We ask Lydia how guys in construction make the field more appealing to women. Here are some of her thoughts:

• Avoid offering them help unless they clearly need it.
• Shut down your inner diner waitress. In other words, don’t call them “honey” or “sweetie.”
• Talk to women in the industry and ask them for ideas.

  Papa Eddie (father of three girls) raises a few concerns. Lydia (second of three daughters) addresses them:

• Empower your daughter. If you see that she has STEM skills and interest, foster that interest.
• Remind yourself that there is a diverse range of jobs within the construction industry–and not all of them involve carrying bundles of shingles up a ladder.
• Seek to increase the possibilities rather than reduce them.
• Involve them in your construction projects–both around the house and at work. 

  Lydia’s megaphone (her second time): Start having the conversation in your company and your area. Women can do this work. We’re out there.  Learn more about Lydia and her company: Lydia’s LinkedIn -  ACI - She Builds Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody’s going to make sure that you do it. It’s the advance preparation required for a project.    And it’s your responsibility.   You’ll see that Eddie feels pretty strongly about this–understandably so. It’s simply not fair to show up unprepared and then expect someone else to step up and fill the gaping chasm you’ve created.    Take responsibility for your own failures. Admit it. Then you may politely ask for help.   Don’t be a Biff.   Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all see communication disconnects between designers and builders every single day, so today we talk to one of our Dad’s old work buddies, Chuck Colwill. Why Chuck? Because Chuck is an expert in the design-build approach that produces a much more nimble and efficient building team.    Chuck’s work with his firm, Colwill Engineering, is a great example of how to gracefully, creatively navigate the complications that come with supply-chain problems, bureaucracies, labor shortages, and other challenges. The firm’s use of design-build helps them execute projects with impressive efficiency. They’re prepared to handle all MEP work in a way that streamlines problem-solving.     Here are some of the insights Chuck shares: -Everything goes more smoothly when there is early and active communication between designers of a project and those whose hands will be moving the physical pieces.  -Early communication helps everyone. (You’ll hear echoes of our discussion with Ernie Maschner.) -Whether it’s generators or flex duct, unexpected supply-chain complications create problems that can be easily solved by a team who is equipped to formulate quick work-arounds.  -Client expectations haven’t changed much since Chuck and Dad Campbell were running together, so changing industry dynamics are forcing contractors to tighten up the process wherever we can.  -Siloed organizations simply can’t compete with the agility of a well-managed design-build company.   -Design-build firms do have some unique challenges. For example, it’s essential for their leadership teams to thoughtfully align the supply chains and manpower needs on multiple overlapping projects.   In the megaphone moment, Chuck coins the term “three-bid-itis” to describe the mess that leads to the cheapest guy building the most expensive design. Chuck says the solution to this problem is to go open-book with subcontractors so that a general contractor can go with the person he or she trusts and then move forward with confidence that things will be done well.  Learn more about Chuck and his company: Chuck’s LinkedIn -  Colwill Engineering Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yup. Just two brothers talking about fartlek.    Life is busy. It’s easy to let physical fitness fall by the wayside. Today we step aside from professional concerns and into this area of personal improvement. We share a bit about our own experiences with physical training–specifically running.    Fartlek is a Swedish term. It refers to a kind of training that involves varying the pacing, intensity, and length of workouts. We’ve both experienced the benefits of this and other deliberate approaches to our fitness regimen.    Listen in as we geek out about VO2, glycogen stores, and mud runs. Then get out there and hit the road!   Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie wore khakis and a button-down shirt to the office every single day for his first couple years in the office. He felt like this was a necessary part of showing that he took his role seriously. Tyler followed Eddie’s fashion leadership… for about a month.  Now, both of us wear jeans and a t-shirt to the office every day. And there is purpose behind this choice. This isn’t an episode about fashion, but more an episode about questioning your motivations for doing things.  Here are some touchpoints from our chat:

• We are surprised but deeply honored that there are actually people out there who have watched 100 episodes! 
• It’s beneficial to ask, “Why do we do things the way we do?” The willingness to confront this question sends a message of respect to everyone in the organization. 
• When there’s room for freedom and comfort in the process of delivering quality work, then it’s probably wise to embrace that freedom and comfort.
• Having a personal uniform–even if it’s a somewhat casual one–can help enhance a sense of consistency.
• If you need to monitor the mouse movement of your remote workers, it’s probably time for you to examine your hiring practices and your company’s culture.
• Team dynamics suffere when the supervisor is a clock-Nazi. 
• The key? Focus on the outcomes. 

Also, Tyler quit drinking coffee so prayers are appreciated. 🤣 Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we focus exclusively on the price of the bid, we risk finding ourselves working with people we can’t depend on. At the same time, we all know that our industry is built around profit.    Teams work best when there is balance between profit and relationship. This requires trust. When trust is present within and between crews, a project runs more efficiently and results in a better end product. On top of that, the process is more enjoyable for everyone.      Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you work in construction, you know that we have a problem. We need more young people! Someone needs to connect the countless dots of classroom learning, workplace skills, career awareness, and student interests. Lydia Burns is that connector of dots.  More formally, Lydia is known as a senior manager with Allied Construction Industries, a trade group that works on advocacy, networking, and solutions for anyone within the construction industry. Lydia’s specific focus is on the Construction Career Center, and even more specifically their K-12 programs, which work to familiarize students with various aspects of construction. The goal of these programs is to increase the number of young people heading into construction.  Here is what the ACI program does:

• Takes a systemic, big-picture approach to increasing student awareness and working them toward actual jobs,
• Fosters relationships between companies and groups of students as early as 5th grade,
• Seeks to reduce the anxiety many students feel regarding the math skills that are foundational to jobs in engineering and construction,
• Helps schools develop and implement project-based learning curriculum focusing on connecting math lessons to the real-world applications,
• Engages students in an actual small-scale construction project within the school building,
• Coordinates sequential training: 7th-grade framing, 8th-grade pipefitting, 9th-grade electrical, and so on.

As you can imagine, there are challenges to this kind of work. Changing public school curriculum takes time. Putting a bunch of inexperienced high school kids in the middle of a mock construction project has risks. It’s difficult to coordinate the schedules and align the instruction of various educators and contractors.     Here are some of the things ACI does to meet these challenges: 

• Becomes familiar with the entire public school administrative structure within a state and district;
• Facilitate communication and policy alignment among OSHA, insurance companies, attorneys, and schools regarding the presence of minors on work sites; 
• Establishes and enforces GPA requirements and other eligibility requirements for participants;
• Equips classroom teachers with lesson plans that focus on hands-on-learning . 

As a result of their work, ACI in the Cincinnati Public Schools has seen students receive industry-recognized credentials before they leave high school.  Here are some other bits and pieces from this episode:

• Tyler and Lydia share their own frustrations with math back in the day.
• We explore how working in residential construction can lead to work in industrial construction. 
• Lydia explains the message she communicates to school districts: “Hope is not a strategy.”
• We celebrate that most state departments of education have finally acknowledged that not everyone should be heading to college. 

Learn more about Lydia, ACI, and their programs: Lydia’s LinkedIn -  ACI’s web page - Info about ACI’s k-12 Program Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unclear expectations, scope creep, “Dude, that’s not my job!” Regardless of the phrasing, you’ve experienced it if you’re a contractor or a sub. Today we discuss how to avoid it.   What’s the answer?    Refine.  Be clear.  Empathize.    Find individuals who are masters of their specialties. Define the job you need each person to do and then hold yourself to those boundaries.    That’s the message of today’s Five-Minute Friday.    Find Us Online: Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.