Elevate Construction

Jason records exhausted from Indianapolis on four hours of sleep to make a pointed case that most superintendents are missing: even with Bluebeam, Plan Grid, and the iPad, you still need a printed half size set of drawings. He walks through his ritual of breaking out the set, packing taping the front and back, taking the bundle to Staples for colored pencils, highlighters, and pens, and turning the drawings into a working canvas for sequence, logistics, war maps, and 3D sketches. He invokes World War II generals studying terrain maps and lands on the principle that there's a builder muscle that lives in your fingers, and you can't grow it on a screen.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the iPad and Bluebeam are essential for current details, posted documents, and field reference

• Why a printed half size plan set is still essential for sequence, logistics, war mapping, and visualizing the building

• The full ritual: split into discipline packs, protect with packing tape, get clips or screw posts, head to Staples for the toolkit

• Why Patton and Bradley still studied maps even though the terrain changed: planning is what the map is for, not real time updates

• Why the loss of this discipline is one of the quiet reasons builders today don't know their projects the way they used to

The iPad is for reference. The printed set is for thinking. You need both.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason records from a Marriott in Indianapolis at almost one in the morning to respond to a LinkedIn post defining respect in construction. The post said respect means engaging and empowering the people closest to the work so that they can assess the current condition, create solutions, and standardize what's working. Jason takes issue with every "so that" in the sentence. He walks through why we engage and respect people for one reason only: because they are human beings. He pulls in the silent square simulation, where teams only solve the puzzle once they switch to a give first without expectation mentality, and lands with a direct charge to project managers everywhere: stop telling him you don't have the budget for respect.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the "so that they" framing of respect leads to a transactional give to get mentality

• The silent square simulation lesson: only give first without expectation actually solves the puzzle

• Why the labor shortage isn't the root cause of the industry's problems, the industry's treatment of people is

• Why people deserve clean bathrooms, lunch areas, worker huddles, and training simply because they are human beings

• The reframe: we respect people because we respect people, then separately we run the business

• Why a budget is the amount you can spend without further permission, not an excuse to skip the right thing

Do the right thing because it's the right thing. Then run the business. That's the only order that works.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason records this one without an outline because he's fired up, and what comes out is a passionate, occasionally ranting episode about the single thing he keeps finding missing on construction projects: a visible plan all the way to finish. He shares the recent listener story of a leadership team that couldn't show the sequence to substantial completion, walks through every excuse he's heard for not building one out, and lays down the principle that a superintendent without a schedule is a pilot without a plane. He closes by walking through the full MEP and commissioning sequence from foundations to TCO to prove that anyone, even a non mechanical expert, can show the path.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why every project, on CPM, Takt, Vplanner, or pull plans, must show a complete sequence to finish

• The two main excuses Jason refuses to accept anymore for not projecting to the end

• Why the Last Planner System presupposes a master schedule, not the absence of one

• Why the schedule is the superintendent's single most important tool

• The full path from foundations to mechanical, controls, balancing, commissioning, fire alarm, AHJ, and TCO

• The thirty second test: an owner should see what's been done, the current status, and what needs to be done at a glance

If you can't see the path to finish, you don't have one. And if you don't have one, you don't have a project to manage.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason uses the Titanic iceberg scene as a powerful project management case study. He walks through what went wrong on the ship layer by layer: the telegraph warnings from other vessels that were ignored, the missing binoculars on the lookout perch, the captain going to bed at full speed through iceberg fields, the lack of contingency plans, and the failure to know that breaching five compartments would sink the ship. He ties every failure back to a construction lesson and lands on the line that holds it all together: you are the captain of your ship, and the most important rule is to keep the ship afloat.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why listening to other projects and learning their lessons is non-negotiable, like the warnings the Titanic ignored

• The missing binoculars on the perch and the failure to have the right equipment ready

• Why poor preparation can never be fixed by in the moment heroics, like reversing the engines too late

• The Napoleon principle: have plan A, B, C, D, E, and F before the moment hits

• The theory that turning into the iceberg might have saved the Titanic, and why a single decision maker isn't enough

• Why the captain, not the commissioner, owns the outcome of the ship

You are the captain of your ship. Listen, prepare, plan multiple options, and never go to sleep at full speed through iceberg waters.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason records from his shed office, back home from Hawaii with good internet again, and lays out one of his most personal leadership convictions: energy is the center of leading teams. He pulls in Sun Tzu's Art of War on military energy, the recent back to back superintendent boot camps he ran with Brandon Montero, a story about driving a smaller engine up the sand dunes with his son, and the recovery pattern he watched Weston Woolsey use at Oakland Construction on a project that needed turning around. He closes with the metaphor that has stayed with him since he drove cattle as a kid: keep the horse's head up and it won't fall, no matter how it stumbles.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why energy (focus, physiology, words) is what every team's performance is built on

• The Sun Tzu lens on the energy of an army applied to construction teams

• The sand dunes principle: rev the engine on the flat so the team has momentum for the hill

• The seven step recovery pattern: stabilize, break people out of cycles, drive to win, keep direction, reward and create proximity, stay consistent, showcase the wins

• Paul Akers' practice of touring people through the project so workers can be proud of their work

• The horse driving lesson: keep the head up and the team doesn't roll over

Leaders show up when the energy is down. Stay strong long enough that people get tired of fighting your consistent positive energy. That's how teams turn around.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason records from Hawaii during his vacation week and shares a phrase he picked up from Fred Strasser, one of the best builders he's worked with at Oakland Construction: "Don't go to sleep on that submittal." He explains what "going to sleep" actually means on projects (wishful thinking, automation of the wrong things, false consensus) and uses the parable of the ten virgins as a fun analogy. Then he pulls in the World War Z tenth man rule: if everyone on the team agrees nothing will go wrong, one person has to assume it will and start asking the hard questions. He closes with the standard he wants on every job: every risk either becomes a projection or a mitigation plan, never wishful thinking.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• What it actually means to "go to sleep" on a critical item on a project

• The ten virgins parable as a metaphor for trimmed lamps, oil, and watching vs. sleeping

• What PMs and superintendents must never delegate: procurement, safety, and quality

• The World War Z tenth man rule: if the team is unanimous, one person assumes it will go wrong

• Why hope is not a principle of action, but faith is, and faith means digging in

• Why every job should have a risk and opportunity register and a weekly agenda item

Don't go to sleep on the critical stuff. Be the tenth person who assumes it will go wrong, and the project gets the protection it needs before it needs it.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason records from an Airbnb in Hawaii during a long overdue week off with Katie and takes on a popular but flawed industry rule: the 6 6 6 6 rule, which says the PM should be six months ahead, the superintendent six weeks ahead, the foreman six days ahead, and the crew six hours ahead. Jason makes the case that those numbers are far too short for any project that actually wants to flow, and he replaces the rule with his own 12 12 12 framework: 12 months for the PM and superintendent (who should be equal partners), 12 weeks for the foreman, and 12 hours for the workers.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the PM and superintendent are equal partners and must be working 12 months ahead together

• What 12 months ahead actually covers: procurement, buffers, quality, milestone tie ins, owner permissions

• Why foremen on major projects need a full 12 week horizon to prefabricate, kit rooms, trace circuits, and level work

• Why a 6 hour look ahead for workers isn't enough, since they need to leave the day knowing the full plan for the next morning

• Why preparing for the workday is just as important as executing the workday

The 6 6 6 6 rule sounds cute but it's the math of a chaotic project. 12 12 12 is the math of one that actually flows.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason sits down with his wife and Elevate Construction CEO Katie Schroeder for an honest, sometimes vulnerable conversation about women in construction. They open with a LinkedIn post that drew thanks from women in the industry, then wrestle with the harder question of how to support women in construction the right way: speak up or stay quiet, recognize or treat the same. They share the Hensel Phelps intentional diversity story, dig into how historical and religious framings have quietly shaped bias, and Katie shares what it actually feels like to be treated as "less than" in everyday moments. They close with a clear call to create safer, more inclusive, drama free environments on every project.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why "we need diverse teams" is both a moral truth and a business advantage

• How Hensel Phelps changed their company by being explicit about hiring women into leadership

• Katie's reflection on what it actually feels like in everyday moments where being a woman triggers diminished treatment

• Why a misread of the Adam and Eve story has fed historical discrimination that we still inherit

• Why diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones, every time

• The clear closing call: if you see something, say "we don't do that around here"

Speak up. Recruit intentionally. Treat every woman in construction with the respect she earned. That's how the industry actually changes.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason reads the full recommended book list from the upcoming Elevating Construction Senior Superintendent in response to the steady stream of requests he gets for reading recommendations. From Brendon Burchard's High Performance Habits to Patrick Lencioni's full stack of leadership fables, from The Goal and This Is Lean to Mindset and The Captain Class, this episode is a comprehensive personal library walkthrough for any superintendent or project manager who wants to elevate their game. He also points to Blinkist as an option for those who prefer the 10 minute summary route.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why High Performance Habits and Leadership and Self-Deception are foundational for any leader

• The full Patrick Lencioni library: The Motive, Five Dysfunctions, Death by Meeting, The Advantage, Truth About Employee Engagement, Ideal Team Player

• Why Mindset by Carol Dweck might be the most important book of the century

• Why The Goal, The Bottleneck Rules, This Is Lean, and The Toyota Production System belong on every superintendent's shelf

• The case for The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up applied to project sites

• Three reading paths: physical books, Kindle, Audible, or Blinkist summaries

Knowledge isn't power. Action is power. Pick one or two from the list, finish them, and implement.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw

Jason sits down with his daughter Effie Lee Schroeder for an honest and personal episode about the truth nobody admits out loud: nobody really knows what they're doing. He opens up about the fear of running Elevate Construction with 11 kids, the constant scariness of growing a business, hiring people, watching the bank balance, and trusting the team and faith. He shares verse six of the hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" as a framework for those moments when your flesh is weak and your blood runs chill, but your free spirit cries "I will." Effie closes with the principle that humans were also designed for connection, and that the hard experiences we live through become the gift we give to someone else later.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why faith is knowing something is possible, having the desire, and being willing to act

• The verse six framework: the flesh is weak, the blood runs chill, but the free spirit says "I will"

• The biodome story of trees that toppled because there was no wind to grow their roots

• Effie's reflection on opposition in all things and how growth fills the vacuum after a hard choice

• Why connection is what makes hard experiences usable for someone else later

You don't need to know what you're doing. You need faith, a team, and the willingness to say "I will" when the moment asks. The rest gets figured out one step at a time.

If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).

Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:

· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw