Construction Genius

A leader is many things, but most importantly, a leader should be someone willing to take accountability, even if some things are out of their control. A great leader should have the ability to prove that actions speak louder than words.

In this week's episode, we have the absolute pleasure of conversing with an exceptional author, keynote speaker, Pat Tilman Military Scholar, and founder of Loyalty Point Leadership, Patrick Nelson. He is an accomplished leader who served in the US Army as a paratrooper for nearly seven years and led soldiers on three combat missions. His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. Patrick is an engaging facilitator who has conducted leadership development programs for a wide range of customers, including Fortune 500 companies and small enterprises from various industries. During one of his deployments, his failures as a leader resulted in one of his comrades being killed in combat. This life-changing experience led him on a quest to help others avoid making the same mistakes. Join us as we talk about how failure can lead you to be an exceptional leader.

Starting the conversation, Patrick kindly shares his childhood background and the reason behind his joining the US Army. Then he explains some of the misconceptions the world has about the people and culture in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the reasons why sovereign countries that go into these countries repeat the same mistakes. We turn our attention to the 'Pride Factor', where people don't like being told that they are doing something wrong and how that affects the safety culture in construction.

It's important that we develop relationships in the workplace because, in an industry like construction, where safety is a huge concern, there have to be people who care about your welfare. We talk about the value of developing a work culture where people care about the well-being of others. Furthermore, Patrick shares his knowledge on developing leadership skills along with some leadership lessons that he learned from the military that are applicable to construction.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[02.40] Patrick's childhood and the journey to the US military.

[05.12] Parachute training.

[09.06] The misconceptions that the world has regarding Afghanistan and Iraq.

[15.31] The sense of community.

[17.22] Ego and safety in construction.

[21.02] The reasons behind safety failures that are preventable.

[23.00] The importance of developing relationships in the workplace.

[26.15] Safety Stump Speech.

[31.22] Opioids addiction recovery.

[33.01] Leadership lessons from the military.

[36.40] Is leadership an innate skill or a developed skill?

[40.00] Forward-looking accountability.

[42.28] Accountability of a leader.

TIPS & TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Actions speak louder than words.

2. Luck is not on our side all the time. You are going to run out of luck eventually.

3. Develop relationships with people who you are working with.

4. You have to be able to lead yourself first if you want people to follow you.

5. While we can all learn, grow, and acquire most of the qualities, not everyone is destined to be a great leader.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Patrick Nelson

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/patrick-nelson-b2964b1b/

Website - loyaltypointleadership.com/

Written by Patrick Nelson

Front-Line Leadership: How to Eliminate Complacency and Build All-In Engagement

amazon.com/Front-Line-Leadership-Complacency-All-Engagement/dp/1394240759

Maintaining a healthy relationship takes hard work, no matter how personal or professional. It takes time and trust. To pass through the initial steps of building a relationship, you have to be patient and faithful.

In this week's episode of the podcast, we had the absolute pleasure of conversing with another industry professional, Fawn Radmanich, a marketing professional working in professional services marketing specifically focused on engineering and construction over the last 25 years. Her passion and skills include working in teams to win multimillion- and billion-dollar design and construction projects, spotting opportunities for personal and corporate branding, and cultivating a sense of community and participation among employees. As a strategic marketing and communications specialist, she has participated in over 800 pursuit activities and diverse market sectors, including higher education, civic, theme park entertainment, aviation, data centers, seismic and historic renovations, sports, and many more. She joined us today to share her knowledge on how to secure your dream project by building relationships.

Starting the conversation, Fawn explains what pursuit marketing is, along with the reason why it is connected to building relationships. Fawn then explains how to choose the right people according to the needs of your client. We also pay attention to why stellar products or great proposals aren't enough to win projects if you don't possess relationships.

Figuring out the hidden motives of people is a challenge. In this phase of the conversation, Fawn explains how she looks at different aspects of people's lives by using social media because people put a lot of information about themselves out there often. We then talk about how challenging it is to ask necessary questions sometimes, along with Fawn's suggestion on how you can put those questions out there with ease. Furthermore, we listen to Fawn's expertise on building a bridge between what you want to do and what your client wants you to do to make the project a win-win situation for both parties.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[03.29] What is pursuit marketing?

[05.05] Can you build or win it?

[09.52] Positioning people according to the needs of a project to build relationships.

[14.28] The importance of investing in relationships.

[16.45] Figuring out the objectives of the client.

[19.51] Uncovering hidden motives of people.

[24.56] The difference between business development and pursuit marketing.

[30.23] How to ask appropriate questions to get information.

[36.21] Finding a balance between the client's and your expectations for a project.

[39.31] Selecting the next best person.

[43.21] Thought leadership.

[44.23] Using social media to market conditioning.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Understand the decision-makers of an organization.

2. Position the right people for the right job.

3. A stellar product or great proposal is not going to get you a job if you lack relationships.

4. Use social media as a source to learn about people.

5. Asking about past projects is one of the best ways to get information.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Fawn

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/fawnradmanich/

Website - stantec.com/en

Being a leader is not just about the role, it's about the goal. The goal is to witness the growth process of those who work under you. A great leader knows when to be a coach and when to be in command, as both are necessary in the workplace.

This week's episode features Jake Thompson. Jake is a leadership performance coach, keynote speaker, and author. Jake has spent more than a decade working with leaders and organizations worldwide on how to get better results for themselves and their teams. He has been featured in Forbes and has directly impacted over 80,000 ambitious leaders, including those with multiple AGC state chapters, BOLDT, Baker Concrete, MW Builders, and more. His motivational business workshops offer his listeners doable actions and useful tactics they can implement right away to improve performance and achieve better outcomes in their careers and personal lives. He joined us today to talk about how to shift leadership styles from commander to coach in construction.

We start the conversation with Jake defining leadership and why a leader should be someone who people are willing to follow because they have the best interest in people's success. Jake then explains how the development of technologies helped people get a better idea of a healthy workplace and why the command and control style doesn't work very well at present. We also talk about toxic personalities in the workplace and how one troublesome person can sink your work culture to the point where you cannot get it back up easily.

Asking good questions and listening carefully are key parts of good communication. Most people don't have the initiative to ask good questions or the ability to stay focused on a conversation. In this part of the episode, Jake explains what you can do to ask good questions, along with the importance of asking follow-up questions. He also explains some tips that you can follow to stay focused in a conversation. Jake ends the conversation by sharing his idea of how a new leader could figure out if they are successful in their new role.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[02.10] What is leadership?

[06.00] How technological development built the awareness of a healthy workplace environment.

[10.00] Command and control workplace environment.

[11.32] What causes the lack of flexibility as a leader?

[16.15] Protecting your workplace culture from toxic personalities.

[23.43] The structure of an effective coaching conversation.

[25.20] What initiates good questions?

[30.01] Asking natural questions.

[32.35] Improvement requires intentionality and time.

[34.22] What makes a good listener and how to stay focused on a conversation?

[40.06] The first 90 days of a newly promoted leader.

[43.33] A leader's ability to watch people grow.

[47.11] Who is Jake?

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. A leader should be someone who genuinely has a great interest in the success of those who work under them.

2. A leader should have the ability to switch between command & control and coaching.

3. Leadership is a skill that needs to be taught.

4. Allowing troublesome people no matter how much of a high performer they are, will eventually sink your culture.

5. Uncomfortable questions typically lead to a stronger relationship through conversation.

6. Improvement requires intentionality.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Jake

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jakethompsonspeaks/

Instagram - instagram.com/jakethompsonspeaks/

Website - competeeveryday.com/

jakeathompson.com/

The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever

By Michael Bungay Stanier

amazon.com/Coaching-Habit-Less-Change-Forever/dp/0978440749

One of the most unique things about being human is that we keep learning new things every day. Everywhere we look, there's knowledge about something we haven't heard but might be important to our existence. As we continue this path to knowledge, we might meet the most unique cultures that stand as a beacon of light that guides us and offers us the most interesting pieces of information. It's a choice of how to add this information for our benefit.

In this week's episode of the "Construction Genius" podcast, we bring you a special solo episode where we break down the Netflix culture document, "Netflix Culture: The Best Work of Our Lives." Join us as we dive into the four core principles of Netflix culture, embracing the professional sports team mentality, hiring people who have the quality to share knowledge, finding the right person for the right position, figuring out the aspirations of an organization, and more.

We start the document with the four core principles of Netflix culture: the dream team, people over process, uncomfortably exciting, and great and always better. We break down these core principles and how we can use them to our advantage in the construction industry. When we look inside the first core principle, 'the Dream Team', there are values that bind a dream team together: selflessness, judgment, candor, creativity, courage, inclusion, curiosity, and resilience. Netflix's second principle is 'People Over Process.' As there's nothing wrong with an organization choosing its process over people, it's important that you, as leaders, allow employees to make a difference because the difference is all we need sometimes. The document shows how Netflix tries to inspire and empower people to make their own decisions about their work, which might have a great impact on a successful work experience.

The third principle is 'Uncomfortably Exciting.' Although this principle is unique to Netflix, it can be of great value to organizations that are new and open to adaptation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Another core value mentioned in the document is 'Artistic Expression' and it shows how Netflix is trying to be open about what it is to work with them because they are not afraid to repel the wrong people and attract the right people. The last principle is 'Great and Always Better.' According to the document, Netflix has a never-ending thirst for greatness, working every day to do something better than yesterday. This can be of great value to your organization because if you don't think your organization is in the place where you dreamt it to be, you can check what's holding it back from success, make necessary adjustments, and then move forward.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[04.10] The four core principles of Netflix culture.

[05.02] The importance of allowing employees to make decisions on their own.

[07.44] Excellence and determination.

[10.45] Professional sports team mentality.

[15.38] The importance of hiring people who are willing to share knowledge.

[20.00] How candor can help you improve both individually and as a company.

[22.25] Keeping the right person in the right position.

[28.08] Coach-player mentality.

[31.34] Simple, efficient, and impactful processes.

[36.06] Repel the wrong people, attract the right people.

[40.00] The importance of figuring out the aspiration that drives your organization.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Make sure you hire people who are not only good at what they do but also good at working together.

2. Make sure you give employees the right information and the freedom to make decisions themselves.

3. Build self-awareness to understand what should be better, and make sure you have the discipline and resilience to get there.

4. Try to build a place where your employees can do the best work of their lives.

5. It's important you embrace the professional sports team mentality in your workplace.

6. Create a culture by hiring people who are willing to share learnings throughout the organization.

7. You must insist on keeping the right person in the right position in your organization.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Netflix Culture — The Best Work of Our Lives

jobs.netflix.com/culture

The world constantly changes with new technologies. They proceed with providing better versions of the existing technologies. 3D printing is one of those technologies that continues to grow and change the world with each footstep. In this episode of the Construction Genius Podcast, we've got to have the most intriguing conversation about 3D printing in the construction industry with Anna Cheniuntai. Join us as we dive into the world of 3D printing, where we discuss the current status of 3D printing technology for commercial contractors, the difference between 3D and traditional printers in terms of cost-saving, the challenges of MEP, how 3D printing affects the human labor force, and more.

Anna Cheniuntai is the CEO and co-founder of Apis Cor, an American construction technology company headquartered in Melbourne that creates exclusive robotic technologies and materials to boost the construction industry. Anna stepped toward entrepreneurship after earning her bachelor's degree in space physics in 2014. Anna went on to work in construction and industrial machinery manufacturing with Nick Cheniuntai, where they successfully managed a massive $6 million project to build and deploy the ground navigation system supporting the infrastructure of the Olympic Games in 2014, which proved to be a watershed moment in recognizing the construction industry's desperate need for automation.

We start the conversation with the current progress of Anna's company and their unique project, the largest building they have ever printed, which is located in Dubai and holds the Guinness World Record. Then we pay attention to the difference in cost between 3D and traditional printers, where Anna explains how cost savings depend on design and location.

In the second phase, Anna explains their unique experience installing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing because of their walls and how they bring productivity up with it. Furthermore, we talk about the misconception that 3D printing is going to eliminate labor and listen to Anna's explanation of why it is good that we have the option of 3D printing in the construction industry.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[02.05] The current state of 3D printing technology for commercial contractors.

[05.55] The viable applications of 3D printing.

[07.57] The future of 3D printing in commercial space.

[12.17] The cost-saving difference between 3D printers and traditional building methods.

[15.03] The printing quality and the cost.

[18.42] The challenges regarding mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.

[20.56] Hesitation to use 3D printing as a new technology.

[23.44] Does 3D printing eliminate the labor force?

[26.15] Obstacles to the extensive adaptation of 3D printing.

[28.19] Maintaining the quality in different regions.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Make sure your printing quality is good.

2. The perception that 3D printing eliminates the labor force is completely wrong.

3. Before you produce something you do the quality controls, and make sure that this demand meets the requirements for this particular formula.

4. 3D printing can save a lot of money on transportation, labor, and framework.

5. Building a market of more single-family houses is an urgent matter to be addressed.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Anna

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/anna-cheniuntai-96669177

Website - apis-cor.com

This week on the Construction Genius Podcast, we are having a quick sneak peek into the world of electrical machinery where we discuss the cost difference between electric vehicles and diesel machinery, the replacement and application process, environmental concerns about lithium mining and its current progress, the involvement of heavy machinery in the carbon footprint of the United States, and many more with our guest Raymond Wang.

Raymond Wang is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of HEVI Corp. With over 20 years of expertise, Mr. Wang specializes in strategy, corporate governance, and management. He has held prominent executive positions in the manufacturing, banking, and finance industries. He has worked for Zhongchai Holding, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America. He is passionate about promoting environmental sustainability and actively engages in non-profit and community service projects in his hometown.

Starting the conversation, Raymond shares his motive behind focusing on electric vehicles, saying their purpose is to introduce cleaner tools to specific jobs in the industry. Then we hear how they remedy the dissuasion of people from buying electric vehicles due to the upfront cost difference between electric vehicles and traditional machinery. Raymond then explains why they keep their machinery simple and how it helps to keep the cost down and adoption high.

Adopting new technologies might be difficult for some people at first, but with the right guidance, they can fit in with them and continue working. Here, Raymond explains how their labor unions are adopting electric vehicles and how they have faith in transitioning to cleaner technologies. We then pay attention to lithium mining and environmental concerns as it continues to progress in mining accuracy.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[03.36] Raymond's motive behind focusing completely on electric vehicles.

[06.44] The upfront cost difference between electric construction vehicles and traditional diesel machinery.

[11.16] The performance difference between diesel vehicles and electric vehicles in extreme weather conditions.

[21.11] Lithium mining and environmental concerns.

[23.48] What will the future look like with regard to the balance between electric and diesel-powered vehicles?

[27.12] The role heavy equipment plays in the carbon footprint of the USA.

[31.30] The 10-year goal of Raymond's company.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Make sure people are comfortable and willing to try new power sources.

2. Keep the machinery simple.

3. Simple machinery will keep the cost down and adoption high.

4. Try not to sell machines that are not catered to fit their use.

5. The role of electrical machinery is to fit into the right place in the business and do a cleaner job.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Raymond Wang

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/raymond-wang-gtec/

Website - gethevi.com/

Twitter - x.com/realraywang

This week on the Construction Genius Podcast, we are joined by Hans Lorei, a designer based in the Nashville Metropolitan Area. In this conversation, we bring you a glimpse of the designer world where we discuss commercial and residential spaces, the key elements of a great space, the unique kinship between music and design, and many more topics related to being a good designer.

Hans Lorei entered the construction world as a real estate agent in 2015. After transforming to design and development, he noticed a similar trend with short-term rentals: better-looking properties with more facilities had higher occupancy and rented at higher rates. He started a consulting business a few years ago, helping people with short-term rentals. He likes to do long-term projects and looks forward to working with people who like to do exciting things and take chances.

Starting the conversation, Hans shares his designer journey and explains what makes a good design, along with the two elements that make a great space: enclosed space and open space. We then talk about the most unique similarities between music and design, where you can find an interesting story behind the process of producing a song and building a place.

Spending a lot of money on something doesn't mean it's going to be good. Most of the time, it's not the money, but the taste. In the next phase, Hans kindly explains the value of a good designer, who should have the ability to balance rations, details, plans, and texture. Furthermore, Hans shares both the pros and cons of reinventing yourself according to the changes in time. It is a superpower and a choice, but not a necessity.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[03.19] Hans's designer journey

[08.04] Commercial and residential space.

[10.00] Enclosed spaces and open spaces.

[18.00] The democratization of music with social media.

[19.27] The relationship between music and design.

[26.06] The value of a good designer.

[27.50] How to develop your design taste over time.

[31.37] The relationship between human evolvement and design.

[35.17] The pros and cons of reinventing yourself.

[44.31] The services that Hans provides and why he likes long-term projects.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Be persistent, have faith, and don't force things to happen.

2. Take time to be intentional about small details in a building.

3. The value of a designer comes with the ability to balance rations, details, plans, and texture.

4. The evolution of style is a choice, not a necessity.

5. A great space should include both elements of enclosed and open spaces.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Hans

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/hans-lorei-b9659139/

Website - hanslorei.com/

Instagram - instagram.com/hansloreidesign/

Twitter - x.com/hanslorei

In this episode of Construction Genius Podcast,

We take a close look into the mind behind yet another thriving industry expert, Michael Fortinberry, co-founder and COO at Protiv. Throughout the conversation, we discuss the connection between motivation and brain, communication and teamwork, the pillars of successful company culture, incentives and their impact on project schedules, the benefits of performance pay, and more.

Michael Fortinberry is a New York businessman and entrepreneur who possesses years of experience in the construction industry and is an expert at incorporating modern technology into his commercial endeavors. Michael has always been fascinated with new technology, which led him to build Protiv in 2021. Protiv is a new payment platform inspired by the human potential that took three years of development and testing to reach this point. Before Protiv, Michael founded Sciovia, a technology-focused business consulting service for real estate and construction.

In the first part of the conversation, Michael shares his knowledge and experience about the connection between motivation and the brain, explaining that when it works the right way, it can change behaviors and boost the quality of work over time. Then he explains the four pillars of a successful work culture: authenticity, people-centric culture, bi-directional communication, and caring about growth.

In the next phase, we make sure you get a rough understanding of how incentives and overtime work are tied to the project schedule and the impact they have on staying on schedule. Furthermore, we talk about how performance pay can be an opportunity to make the field teams aware of the challenges of running a successful business.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[04.11] To find a solution to a problem, you have to understand the problem first.

[07.00] The connection between motivation and brain.

[11.14] The importance of clear communication and teamwork.

[15.30] The four pillars of a good company culture.

[18.00] Strategies to attract the best talent.

[24.06] Building a culture where everyone cares about being successful on a project.

[29.07] Incentives, overtime, and how they affect a project schedule.

[33.29] Incentives and their impact.

[39.14] The importance of performance pay and the opportunities it creates.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Try to understand the problem before trying to find a solution.

2. Construction rework is costly, try your best to get it right the first time.

3. Try to build a culture where your team cares about getting the work done.

4. Be authentic to who you are as a company.

5. Make your cultures centered around your people.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Michael

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/michaelfortinberry/

Website - michaelfortinberry.org/

michaelfortinberry.co/

protiv.com/

Twitter - x.com/MFortinberryNYC

In this episode of Construction Genius Podcast, we explore another inspiring career journey of someone who spent most of their life in the construction industry and possesses a wide range of expertise and knowledge of it. We discuss how you should make clear communication happen between generations, how you should give people opportunities to make mistakes and grow as a leader, and the importance of balancing health and work with this week's guest Ryce Elliott.

Ryce Elliott is the president of Benning Construction Company in Atlanta, Georgia. He started his career journey as a laborer at Benning in 1994. His responsibilities include corporate planning, risk analysis, contract review, and pre-construction management. Throughout his career journey of 29 years at Benning, his experience and knowledge are of great value to clients, business associates, and Benning Construction as a whole. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and was a US Army veteran.

Throughout the conversation, we collected knowledge on the importance of understanding how different generations process information in different ways. Here Elliott walks us through an experience he had on how Gen X and Gen Z process information. We also pay attention to the challenges executives face regarding health and fitness due to heavy workloads.

It's vital as a leader that you give opportunities to people to do their jobs on their own. If you do things on their behalf, there's no room for growth. Elliott explains why it's important to make people understand that failure is unavoidable and an essential part of the growth process. At the end of today's discussion, we listen to Benning's approach to reducing workforce challenges in the construction industry.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[04.54] The impact of military background in the initial stages of Elliott's career.

[07.09] How different generations process information differently.

[12.50] Balancing fitness and work.

[16.36] The importance of giving people opportunities to do their job on their own.

[20.29] The fear of failure and building confidence.

[25.36] Elliott shares the story of becoming and handling the position of president at Benning.

[27.36] Rebranding and going forward.

[30.33] Ongoing programs for workforce challenges in the construction industry.

[34.53] How do you want to be remembered on the last day of your career?

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. Pay attention to communication differences between generations.

2. You can accomplish anything with a schedule, plan, and discipline.

3. Always make time for your physical and mental health.

4. Make sure you give opportunities for people to do their job.

5. Make sure your people understand that failure is a part of the process.

Are people problems eroding your company's profits? Discover proven strategies to lead, strategize, and sell effectively, ensuring your projects stay profitable. Elevate your construction business by purchasing Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies today and turn your people problems into profit!: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Ryce

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/ryce-elliott-b1a19012/ Website - benningcc.com/

Mentioned in the Episode

Chops Lobster Bar, Atlanta: chopslobsterbar.com

This week on the Construction Genius Podcast, we explore the risk aspects of projects in the construction world, where the contractors have to be extra vigilant on the first 100 pages of a tender specification document, and how AI can help you make the process easier with our guest, Melvin Newman.

Melvin Newman is the President/CTO of PataBid Tenders & Quantify Platform. He is a skilled chief estimator with a background in both general and mechanical contracts. He is exceptionally skilled at managing information for tenders. To promote more accurate estimates and an ecologically sustainable methodology that eliminates paper usage, he developed numerous key developments in estimating, one of which was a fully digital approach.

During the conversation, we delve into the top three risks that every contractor must consider: schedule, liquidated damages, and delivery. We also discuss the importance of the contractor pre-qualification process, the reasons why AI won't replace humans, the distinctions between humans and AI in terms of intuition, the limitations of applying AI in construction, and the impact of AI on our thought processes. Malvin also shares his insights on why you need to develop a certain level of trust in the person with whom you are entering into a contract, but it is a necessity to verify that trust. He also talks about his company, PataBid, and the services their AI can provide for general contractors.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[03.09] The top three risks every contractor has to face.

[06.30] What you are missing in your pre-qualification process as a general contractor.

[10.22] The second law of thermodynamics and AI.

[17.18] Intuition and AI.

[20.22] Why AI has significant limitations in the construction industry

[23.27] How AI affects our thought process.

[28.30] The immediate use of 3D printing in construction.

[33.41] What every contractor must do when they are going into a new contract.

[40.31] Melvin's company and how their AI can help contractors save time and make better decisions.

TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY

1. It doesn't matter what size you need to pre-qualify your trades.

2. Trust but verify.

3. If you have a trade that isn't a perfect match for a project, you have to mitigate it before it becomes a risk.

4. AI isn't here to replace humans. Ai is here to save you time by working faster. But speed is not equal to intelligence.

5. As a general contractor you must make everyone who is bidding on you aware of what's in the first 100 pages of a contract.

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Is an executive or leader in your company struggling? Reach out to Eric to discuss how his transformative executive approach can help. Schedule a 10 minute call with Eric today to learn more: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

RESOURCES

Connect with Melvin

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melvin-newman-208240a3/

Website - patabid.com/