Elevate Construction

Jason and Katie Schroeder discuss why receiving help is actually a form of giving. Construction workers have the "tough exterior" mentality, thinking they should do it all themselves, never need help, always pay the bill. But refusing help is selfish because it's pride-based and denies others the opportunity to give (which is the ultimate form of happiness). Katie shares her sister's story: single mom, nurse practitioner, three jobs, won't accept help with cooking or cleaning. Katie herself struggles, 11 kids, homeschooling, helping with business—thinks "if I was enough, I could do it myself." Superintendents and PMs think the same: "I should be an expert scheduler, never need help, do it all myself." The result? Isolation, stress, working too many hours, hurting families. Book reference: "Goodbye Things" by Fumio Sasaki, everything around you sends messages, creates silent to-do lists, and causes anxiety. High-powered consultant story: Making $68k/day, reaches out to help Jason for free because it fits his core purpose. Jason kept asking "How can I repay you?" until consultant said "Stop, I want to help, that's my purpose." Receiving allows others to fulfill their purpose and creates human connection.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Construction workers think they should do it all, never need help, always pay the bill, maintain tough exterior

• Refusing help is selfish: It's pride-based and denies others the opportunity to give

• Katie's sister example: Single mom, nurse practitioner, won't accept help with meal delivery or house cleaning

• Katie's struggle: 11 kids, homeschooling, business help, "If I was enough, I could do it myself"

• Superintendents/PMs same mentality: "I should be expert scheduler, never need help, do it all myself"

• Result: Isolation, stress, too many hours, hurting families, feeling alone

• "Goodbye Things" by Fumio Sasaki: Everything sends messages, creates silent mental to-do lists, causes anxiety

• Undone tasks tell you: "You're not good enough, prove it by not asking for more help", perpetuating cycle

• Construction applications: Get help cleaning trailers, ask craft to help, hire consultant, nothing wrong with that

• High-powered consultant story: Makes $68k/day, helps Jason for free because it fits his core purpose

• If giving is happiness, refusing help steals that opportunity from others

• Receiving allows you to: Be present, form human connections, feel blessed by others' service

• Practical advice: Next time someone says "I got it," just say "Thank you"

Let people help. Receiving is giving. On we go.

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 challenges superintendents and PMs to know their project financials, you can't manage what you can't measure, and you can't play the game without a scoreboard. Know your job cost report, contingency position, exposures, change orders, and projected fee (including staff labor gains, craft labor gains, insurance/bonds gains, and lump sum self-perform). Strategy matters: is your self-perform lump sum or part of GMP? If lump sum, coding COVID cleanup into project budget (not self-perform) protects fee. Don't leave money on the table, if budget is healthy, don't short-change final cleaning or remove tower crane early when you still need it and get rental gains. Add field engineers to increase labor gains. Four revenue streams beyond fixed fee: rented equipment, labor gains, insurance/bonds savings, and lump sum self-perform improvements. Tony Robbins example: 8% average increase across key areas = 134% total growth. If you can't rattle off contingency, internal reserves, buyout remaining, and fee position, there's a problem.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• You can't manage what you can't measure - superintendents must know the numbers

• Key reports: Job cost, contingency, exposures, change orders, projected fee

• Strategy question: Is self-perform lump sum or part of GMP? Coding decisions affect fee

• Don't short-change yourself: If budget is healthy, don't cut tower crane, field engineers, or final cleaning early

• Four revenue streams beyond fixed fee: Rented equipment, labor gains, insurance/bonds savings, lump sum self-perform

• Tower crane example: If you own it and get rental gains from project budget, why remove it while you still need it?

• Field engineer example: Adding FE creates labor gains (difference between billing owner and paying employee)

• Lump sum strategy: Money saved in lump sum self-perform goes to your pocket (no shared savings clause means project budget savings go to owner)

• Tony Robbins business growth: Elevate growing 143% by increasing clients 30%, transaction value 25%, repurchase frequency 50%

• Optimization example: 8% average increase across 7 key areas = 134% total growth

• What you should rattle off: Contingency remaining, internal reserves, contracts to buy out, fee position (0.98 of target), labor/equipment/bond gains, exposure projections

Know your numbers. You can't win without a scoreboard. On we go.

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 opens with a serious message about Operation Underground Railroad (rescuing children from sex trafficking) before diving into his most comprehensive defense of Takt/Last Planner/Scrum vs CPM. His official stances: CPM is a push system (worst - forces out-of-sequence work, crashes crews, creates chaos). Last Planner & Scrum are pull systems (queue work behind ready work). Takt is a hold system (everyone agrees to hold dates for even flow). You can't see flow when building a CPM schedule, only God could build a CPM network and see problems while constructing it. Follow the money: schedulers make $150-350/hour using a broken system that keeps them employed. Jason makes $0 criticizing CPM and loses friends. Trade partner problems? Mostly GC's fault for dictating schedules, crashing projects, interrupting supply chains. Don't fall for the tyranny of "or",use "and." Adapt systems to project needs like shopping at a grocery store. Complexity is the enemy of execution. Simple systems (Takt, Last Planner, Scrum) scale; complex systems (CPM) create 100,000 useless jobs.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Operation Underground Railroad: $150B spent on child sex trafficking, 30M slaves worldwide, 2M in US—$1,250 saves a child

• CPM = push system: Forces out-of-sequence work, crashes crews, pushes materials forward/back—worst possible system

• Last Planner & Scrum = pull systems: Queue work behind ready work, focus on making ready

• Takt = hold system or flow system: Everyone agrees to hold dates for even flow, best for construction

• You can't see flow when building CPM schedule: Only God could build CPM and see problems while constructing it

• Follow the money: Schedulers make $150-350/hour using broken system, Jason makes $0 criticizing it and loses friends

• Trade partner problems are GC's fault: We dictate schedules, crash projects, interrupt supply chains, treat them like crap

• When to see schedule quality: When you're BUILDING it (like QC inspectors placing concrete), not after with metrics

• CPM metrics = "watch your head" AFTER you hit it: Takt prevents problems from happening in first place

• Tyranny of "or": Don't choose this OR that, use AND, adapt systems to project needs

• Complexity is enemy of execution: Takt/Last Planner/Scrum are simple and scale; CPM creates 100,000 useless jobs

• Software recommendations: VPlanner, Huly, SmartSheet with PowerBI, Mural for pull planning, Excel for Takt

Jason's official stances, use the right system for the situation. Adapt. Protect workers. On we go.

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 challenges you to raise your expectations. Most contractors think "good" is good enough, but good is NOT good enough, it's a nightmare for workers. Successful projects mean 90%+ fee, on schedule, remarkable quality and safety, workers enjoyed it, team met career goals, and owner is delighted. Jason uses the mountain analogy: it's easiest to be at the top (excellent) or bottom (bad), hardest to be on the side (mediocre/good) because gravity pulls you down. Excellence is self-sustaining. Once systems are sustained and culture climbs on board, you could leave for 2 weeks and they wouldn't miss you. Being "good" requires constant babysitting, fighting fires, and trades disrespecting you, workers saying "this job's horrible." Paul Acres runs perfectly clean shops with 2-second lean improvements daily, easier to manage excellent teams than good ones. High expectations: nothing touches the floor, everything prefabricated unless permission, no trash, scheduled deliveries. You have to be fanatical about everything to run a remarkable project. High expectations equal respect.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Successful project metrics: 90%+ fee, on schedule, remarkable quality/safety, workers enjoyed it, team met career goals, owner delighted

• The mountain analogy: Easiest to be at top (excellent) or bottom (bad), hardest on the side (good/mediocre)

• Excellence is self-sustaining: Once culture climbs on board, systems keep working without you

• Good teams are the worst situation: They think they're good enough and resist change

• What "good" really feels like: Don't get home on time, babysitting/fighting fires, trades disrespect you, workers say "this job's horrible"

• High expectations create respect: Nothing touches floor, everything prefabricated, no trash, scheduled deliveries

• Paul Acres example: Perfectly clean shop, 2-second lean improvements, excellent teams easier to manage than good ones

• You have to be fanatical about everything to run remarkable projects

• Jason's personas: Schroeder (podcast), El Emperador Malvado (projects), The Coach (coaching)

Elevate your game. Have high expectations. Be fanatical. High expectations equal respect.

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 sick daughter got sick then family got sick. Business Mastery Tony Robbins day 3 of 5, would pay 50k for just afternoon info. Elevate Construction big hairy audacious goal: preferred trainer construction with most addictive useful fast training. Main topic two second lean videos scaling excellence. Paul Acres method before after videos with iPhone and YouTube account. Video tools: Teleprompter for video app 12 bucks, ring light tripod, Vidyard presentations. If don't have capacity on job to do lean you need help doing it wrong. Free time to stay organized work with team plenty coverage implementing lean.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Business Mastery day 3 of 5: Would pay 50k for just afternoon info, learn more in 5 days than 2 to 4 years university
• Elevate big hairy audacious goal: Preferred trainer construction, addictive useful fast training
• Two second lean videos: Before after videos, scaling excellence quickest manner
• Paul Acres method: iPhone and YouTube account, super easy way to do videos
• Video tools: Teleprompter for video app 12 bucks, ring light tripod, Vidyard for presentations
• Challenge: Get started on 2 second lean journey today, scale excellence throughout company

If don't have capacity on job to do lean you're doing it wrong, need free time stay organized work with team.

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 hit 40,000 podcast downloads. Business Mastery with Tony Robbins 2 days in, superintendent boot camps starting northeast south Texas southwest southern California. Three core services: recover projects, remarkable training, business consulting. Main topic distraction and stress come from fear. Tony Robbins quote two states fear and flow. Jason's projects had custom indoor bathrooms, indoor lunchrooms, worker huddles, cleanest project, wonderful material delivery logistics, barbecues games for workers. Made tough decisions from confidence not fear. Staying same is safe but you have same problems, new levels bring new problems new vistas of achievement.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• 40,000 podcast downloads: Original downloads not listens, probably 80 to 120,000 listens total
• Business Mastery Tony Robbins: 2 days in, implementing notes incrementally, superintendent boot camps starting
• Three core services: Recover projects or teams, remarkable training, business consulting for construction companies
• Distraction stress from fear: Tony Robbins quote two states fear and flow, distraction is fear stress is fear
• Tough decisions from confidence: Custom bathrooms lunchrooms, worker huddles, cleanest project, zero tolerance, barbecues games
• Challenge: If distracted or stressed it's fear get out of it, make tough decisions head right direction

Staying same is safe but ineffective hurting people hurting yourself, new levels bring new problems new vistas of achievement.

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 interviews Mike Truelove from Plano Texas, 24 years construction experience. Mike worked cleanup gopher framing crew, KB Homes superintendent 45 to 60 houses at time, Hensel Phelps field engineer to superintendent 10 years. Main topic transparent leadership. DPR block game with pull planning, different teams plan differently, swap team members mid-exercise to cause disruption on purpose. Mike does gut checks with people, how did I come off in that meeting. Five dysfunctions of a team book recommendation. Challenge: recognize where you are as leader today versus where want to be tomorrow, check ego humble yourself ask trusted people how am I as leader.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Mike Truelove background: 24 years construction, cleanup to KB Homes superintendent 45 to 60 houses, Hensel Phelps 10 years
• Transparent leadership topic: Building trust teams through transparency
• DPR block game: Pull planning, different teams plan differently, swap members mid-exercise cause disruption
• Leadership gut checks: How did I come off in meeting, am I leading or just commanding controlling
• Five dysfunctions of a team: Must read if leading team
• Challenge: Recognize where you are as leader vs where want to be, check ego ask trusted people how am I

Maybe I'm the problem, maybe it's not this individual, need to check yourself first.

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 interviews Paul Dunlop from Dunlop Consultants Australia, lean manufacturing consultant six years. Paul learned from clients on shop floor, fell into manufacturing early career grew passion for lean. Main topic hearts and minds giving people voice. Jason's lean definition: respect for people and resources, stable environments bring problems to surface, total participation, continuous improvement. Paul's current condition: organizations hierarchies exist to support people at front lines generating revenue servicing customers, everything else exists to support that function. People get out of bed with best intentions want to do good job, process culture leadership impedes ability.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Paul Dunlop introduction: Dunlop Consultants Australia, lean manufacturing consultant six years
• Jason's lean definition: Respect for people resources, stable environments, total participation, continuous improvement
• Hearts and minds topic: Giving people voice, engaging with people remove impediments
• Current condition: Organizations hierarchies exist support front lines, everything else supports that function
• People want to do good job: Get out of bed best intentions, process culture leadership impedes ability
• Challenge: Think differently, let go everything we think we know about industry, let go power assumptions conditioning

Lean is antidote to human problem where process culture leadership impedes people's ability to do good job.

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 selling Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within, spent 9 grand on tickets hotels planes for kids but COVID-19 hit week everything shut down. Main problem not knowledge but no vision mindset personal organization morning routine giving 100%. Firewalking with 15,000 people real hot coals, 5 to 10% get burned not in state. Dickens process works past limiting beliefs get leverage against fears. After Tony Robbins went from senior super to general super to field director to project director to business owner. Jason gets no money from podcast episode 231 stays up late does it for you.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Tony Robbins Unleash Power Within: Jason spent 9 grand tickets hotels planes, COVID-19 hit shut down
• Main problem not knowledge: No vision mindset personal organization morning routine giving 100%
• Firewalking experience: 15,000 people real hot coals, 5 to 10% get burned not in state
• Dickens process: Works past limiting beliefs, get leverage against fears overcome blocks
• Jason's promotions: After Tony Robbins went senior super to general super field director project director business owner
• Challenge: Sign up Unleash Power Within, pay money take time play full out don't hold back

Jason gets no dollar from podcast episode 231, stays up late does it for you, invest in your own mind.

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 went K1 Speed racing with son Reno, got car sick from work on proposal, son beat him first time, ate In-N-Out Cold Stone feeling queasy. Gordon Hinckley quote life not perfect, most putts don't drop most beef tough, trick is thank Lord for letting you have ride. Main topic procurement tracking early and often. Procurement log tied to takt plan not CPM. Project engineers oversee scope beginning to end not just manage tools. Inspect design coordination visualization approval fabrication delivery installation testing close out. Only 15% of jobs do this right.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Life not perfect: Gordon Hinckley quote, most putts don't drop beef tough, trick thank Lord for ride
• Control is illusion: Need visual cues schedules systems to see problems react and do best
• Procurement tracking critical: Procurement log tied to takt plan not CPM, reviewed weekly with superintendent
• Project engineers role: Oversee scope beginning to end, not manage tools RFIs submitts
• Materials inspection: Design coordination visualization approval fabrication delivery installation testing close out
• Challenge: Get supers in weekly meeting, procurement log up, tie to takt plan not CPM

Current condition only 15% of jobs actually come close to doing procurement tracking right.

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