Elevate Construction

There's a common saying in construction: "You're not doing your job unless your name's on the porta john." Jason and Mark Story break it down and break it apart. Disrespect is not a badge of honor. It's a warning sign that leadership is failing.

Instead, they show how real leaders win trust and build high-performing jobs by supporting their teams, not fighting them.

You'll hear field-tested stories of:

• Turning messy, conflict-heavy projects into stable, clean, and respectful jobsites.

• Why adding restrooms and daily worker huddles can instantly boost morale and productivity.

• How trades are already bending over backwards and what GCs must do to better support them

• Why "leadership" boils down to one thing: removing roadblocks so your people can succeed.

This episode is about more than porta john graffiti. It's about flipping the culture of construction from disrespect to dignity, from chaos to flow.

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

Unions spark some of the strongest emotions in construction. Jason finally tackles the topic head-on sharing both the best and worst he's seen. From world-class training halls to toxic bullying, from skilled Southern California carpenters to right-to-work states with weaker pipelines, he unpacks why unions exist, where they add value, and where they've gone off track.

In this episode, Jason covers:

• Why unions are ultimately our fault, a response to toxic management and disrespect for people.

• The undeniable benefits: training, tools, benefits, and raising the bar on craft quality.

• The dark side: threats, vandalism, mafia-like behavior, and how that destroys trust.

• Real examples from California, Texas, Arizona, and Illinois that show both extremes.

• Why "all union" vs. "no union" politics is broken and what a balanced path could look like.

• A bigger truth: nobody in the U.S. should be threatened or killed for their beliefs, union or non-union.

The bottom line: if companies want to avoid unions, they must take better care of their people. And if unions want lasting respect, they must hold themselves accountable to higher standards.

This is a raw, unfiltered conversation you won't hear anywhere else. Hit play and join the dialogue.

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

Too many leaders want Lean to be "instant pudding" just add water and see results. The truth? Real transformation isn't instant, and it will never happen by delegating change or running small pilot experiments.

In this episode, Jason explains:

• Why true Lean scale takes 18–24 months, not overnight fixes.

• The "three of three" essentials every company needs to succeed.

• Why leaders not consultants must own the operating system.

• The non-negotiables every site and team must follow to achieve excellence.

• How total participation and accountability drive sustainable results.

If you're ready to stop chasing shortcuts and start building systems that actually scale, this is the episode to hit play on.

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

From boot camps to field training, Jason shows why our schools and even many corporate programs are broken, and how the construction industry can step up with meaningful education that sticks.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why grading and homework are damaging and outdated.

• How schools condition kids to stay quiet instead of staying curious.

• Why colleges and traditional training leave people siloed and scared to speak up.

• Examples of companies (Hensel Phelps, Petticoat-Schmidt, O'Shea Builders) doing training the right way.

• Why ignorance benefits the ruling class and why we must fight it with education.

• The dangerous excuses we keep repeating in construction ("workers are the problem," "we can't do that here," "retention is fine") and why they're all wrong.

• The books, tools, and lean practices that every builder should be learning and applying today.

Jason's challenge is simple: training, training, and more training. Not once a year, not when it's convenient, every day, until learning becomes the heartbeat of your company. Because we don't rise to the level of our ambitions, we fall to the level of our training.

If you're ready to swap ignorance for growth and excuses for real learning, this episode will light a fire.

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

Competition may sound like it sharpens us, but in practice it creates waste, weakens innovation, and leaves most of us struggling while a tiny fraction benefits. Cooperation, on the other hand, unlocks speed, quality, and respect for people.

In this episode, Jason shares:

• A powerful example of how rivalry once stopped firefighters from saving lives.

• Why Asian manufacturers thrive on total participation while U.S. industries stall.

• How CPM schedules and competitive contracts reinforce the wrong behaviors.

• The overlooked "ninth waste" in construction: competition itself.

• Personal stories of being punished for helping others and why that mindset is broken.

He challenges leaders to imagine a jobsite where trades, GCs, and partners stop hoarding information and start sharing openly. What would happen if instead of fighting each other, we fought waste together?

If you're ready to flip the script from rivalry to results, this is the episode to hit play on.

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

This episode gets real about why good delivery models go bad. Jason breaks down the traps that derail IPD, Design-Build, and CM at Risk, and shows how systems thinking, flow, and true collaboration keep projects on track.

Key points:

• The "competitive design proposal" trap burns millions and cannibalizes unpaid design.
• Phased design without a full kit leads to rework: missing sleeves, embeds, blue bangers, and chaos.
• If it violates Goldratt's Rules of Flow, it will fail no matter the contract wrapper.
• Deming's lesson: we fail despite best efforts when we don't think in systems.
• Stop sub-optimizing and start collaborating across teams, trades, and tech.
• Update your playbooks continuously instead of treating methods as frozen versions.

If you want delivery models that actually deliver, build the system first, protect flow, and make collaboration non-negotiable.

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

In this episode, Jason breaks down why great systems fail in the field and how to make them stick. Using a simple glucose and insulin analogy, he shows that tools and manuals (value) only work when teams are ready and structured to receive them. You'll also hear a quick reveal of the new one-day Builder Huddle designed to ignite real implementation across entire cities.

Key points:

• Implementation lives in the socio-technical side, not just the technical.
• The "three of three" pattern to make change land.
• Plan with First Planner, Takt Production, Last Planner.
• Scale with a clear operating system, company-wide training, monthly field walks.
• Switch by making it clear, making people want it, and clearing their path.
• Without master builders to receive the value, even the best system stalls.
• Builder Huddle: a high-energy, practical day to turn concepts into next-day habits.

If you want your teams executing instead of admiring the plan, this episode gives you the checklist and the charge to make it real.

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

In this episode, Jason tackles a tough truth: our industry has quietly stopped training. Core builder skills are disappearing and it's costing us.

Drawing lessons from Japanese craftsmanship, U.S. military history, and decades of field experience, Jason makes the case that training is not optional it's survival. Just like Japan rebuilds its temples every 20 years to preserve skill, we must continually rebuild our workforce to preserve the craft of building.

Key Points:

• How technology has replaced not supported builder skills.

• Why the silence of older generations cost us vital knowledge.

• The impact of rapid scaling without matching training systems.

• Why field engineering must remain a cornerstone skill.

• A vision for mass-producing master builders to rebuild America.

If you've ever wondered why projects feel harder to staff with skilled leaders, this episode will open your eyes and point to a way forward.

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

In this episode, Jason shares a real-world story from the road to the Super PM Bootcamp in Dallas and the powerful lesson it revealed: being prepared creates freedom.

By handling the small details in advance, you clear space for innovation, calm, and focus. Instead of fighting fires, you get to lead.

Key Takeaways:

• Preparation eliminates chaos and stress.

• Buffers protect you from last-minute crises.

• Clean, organized systems multiply performance.

• Taking care of details frees you to innovate and improve.

If you want projects and life to flow smoother, start by getting the details 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

PM and Superintendent are not rivals. They are a duo. In this fast moving conversation with third generation builder Nic Parish we tackle the real friction and the fixes that actually work in the field.

What this episode gives you:

• A simple model for PM brings the pieces and the Super puts them together.

• The mantra see the future and feed the project.

• Daily five minute touchpoints and weekly lunch to build trust.

• Visual systems on the wall so nothing lives in someone's head.

• One rule for culture all problems are team problems.

• How to stop the office versus field blame loop.

• Practical cues for procurement logs delivery plans and look aheads that actually connect.

Nic brings stories from 45 years of civil and trucking experience. Jason maps those lessons to clear plays you can run tomorrow. If you want fewer firefights and more flow this one is for you.

Tune in and level up your PM Super partnership today.

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