Elevate Construction

In this powerhouse episode, Jason Schroeder is joined by Lean legend Hal Macomber, who shares jaw-dropping insights from decades of experience revolutionizing how we build. From set-based design to macro-level takt planning, Hal breaks down why takt construction isn't just a theory - it's the only way forward.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why execution at the work face matters more than perfect planning.

• How to design with constraints as a strength, not a limitation.

• Why early trade partner selection and training changes everything.

• The truth about CPM vs. Takt and why one aligns with production science, and the other doesn't.

• What Hal learned delivering a 3,500-person, $multi-million project in 28 months.

Packed with analogies (think: sailing from Boston to Maine) and practical frameworks, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about planning and building projects, especially if you care about flow, certainty, and remarkable results.

🎧 Ready to build smarter, faster, and with more control? Tap into the wisdom of one of lean construction's sharpest minds. 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 one hits deep.

In this episode, Jason Schroeder pulls no punches as he unpacks a hot-button topic that's stirring up the construction world: Is Critical Path Method (CPM) helping or hurting our projects? He responds to criticism head-on and shares why blaming people instead of broken systems is a dead-end mindset in our industry.

But that's just the beginning.

Jason also dives into the real-world definitions of substantial, final, and financial completion why they matter, what most teams misunderstand about them, and how they directly impact your bottom line. He drops insights on project extensions, owner expectations, and the financial blind spots that are costing construction teams millions.

Plus, a raw behind-the-scenes update on a canceled $96M project, how LeanTakt and Elevate are pivoting with purpose, and why Jason believes something bigger is on the horizon.

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

Why Every Project Needs a "Situation Room"

In this episode, Jason Schroeder introduces a game-changing idea for modern construction: the Situation Room - a centralized command space to monitor, plan, and respond in real-time.

Inspired by legendary builds like the Empire State Building and Boulder Dam, Jason makes the case for creating dedicated rooms where project leaders aren't just reacting, they're orchestrating. From macro Takt plans and KPIs to 3D models and comms access, this isn't just a conference room, it's a mission control for your project.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What a Situation Room is (and what it's not).

• How it can radically reduce communication lag and improve flow.

• Why this approach is essential for both in-person and remote project leadership.

• The real-world tech setup and layout to make it work on-site.

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

"The Trades Won't Do It" - That's a Lie. Let's Talk.

In this episode, Jason Schroeder calls out one of the most common and laziest excuses on job sites: "The trades won't do it."

• Won't pull plan?
• Won't do huddles?
• Won't use weekly work plans?

🚨 Total. B.S.

Jason shares years of hard-won experience proving that trades will engage when they're led with clarity, purpose, and respect. He digs into a tough conversation with a field leader who said, "Just be the a-hole and tell them what to do," and unpacks the cultural conditioning behind that mindset.

In this episode:

• Why the "they won't do it" excuse reveals weak leadership not uncooperative trades.

• How field teams actually crave clarity, not command-and-control.

• The balance of decisive leadership with genuine care.

• Why asking "What do you need?" is still one of the most powerful questions you can lead with.

Whether you're a superintendent, PM, or foreman, this episode is your no-BS wake-up call to lead like a builder, not a bystander.

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

The Lie of Hustle Culture: Why Grinding Isn't the Answer

Is "rise and grind" really the path to greatness or just a trap we've all bought into?

In this episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jason Schroeder breaks down the myth of hustle culture and why it's quietly hurting workers, families, and entire project teams. From 100-hour work weeks to toxic productivity mindsets, Jason shares personal stories, challenges a popular country song, and calls out the glorification of burnout that's been passed down as pride.

You'll hear about:

• Why working harder isn't the same as working smarter.

• How hustle culture is rooted in shame not strategy.

• What lean construction teaches us about sustainable success.

• A powerful alternative: flow productivity that protects your health, family, and results.

Whether you're on a job site, leading a crew, or running a company, this one's a game-changer.

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

Framers & Concrete Crews - We Need to Talk!

In this straight-shooting episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jason Schroeder dives into a conversation the industry needs to have: framers and concrete crews asking for the entire jobsite and how it's slowing down your projects.

From hospital basements the size of football fields to cramped urban builds in Salt Lake and even oil rigs in the ocean, Jason challenges the "we need the whole site" mentality head-on. With deep respect for trade partners and decades of hands-on experience in concrete, he breaks down how smaller batch sizes, smarter sequencing, and tighter flow can cut project phases by a third or even half.

Whether you're laying foundations or raising walls, this episode is a must-listen call to rethink how we build together.

Get inspired. Get challenged. Get moving.

👉 Listen now and let's stop the madness.

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

How to Sequence Like a Railroad Over a Bridge

In this episode, Jason Schroeder reveals a powerful visual and practical framework for strategic sequencing on construction projects inspired by lions, railroads, and real-world experience.

• Discover why sequencing like a railway hitting a perfectly timed bridge can transform your project outcomes.
• Learn how AI, maps, and constraint-based planning are shaping the future of Takt implementation.
• And hear a case study that proves hopping from zone to zone (instead of going in order) can cut weeks off your schedule.

From phased curtain wall installs to smarter procurement and zone-based constraints, this episode is packed with real tools, stories, and insights for builders ready to level up.

Hit play and start sequencing like a pro. 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

What If We Required Buffers on Construction Projects?

Sounds crazy, right? In this quick but powerful episode, Jason Schroeder flips a long-standing industry mindset on its head: What if we didn't just allow buffers, what if we mandated them?

• Discover why forced downtime might be the secret to innovation.
• How buffer usage could actually boost performance instead of stall it.
• And why constraining others' time may be killing your team's creativity and growth.

Jason also shares exciting updates on the Elevating Construction book series and reflects on lessons learned from his own leadership evolution including what Toyota taught him about giving people room to think.

This episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about productivity. Listen in and start planning for real-life, not fantasy schedules.

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

Stop Losing Quietly: Why Construction Needs a Massive Mindset Shift

This isn't just another podcast this is a wake-up call for the construction industry.

In this episode, Jason Schroeder tackles three brutally honest truths:

• Loyalty ≠ Career Growth: Why being "loyal" to a company isn't as noble as you think.
• The Super's Way is NOT the Right Way: Why letting people "do it their way" is killing progress and systems.
• CPM Isn't Strategy: If you're clinging to P6 and CPM as a shield, you might already be losing the war, just a little slower.

Jason dives into what truly matters when choosing a company, why human behavior not systems is the biggest bottleneck in construction, and why we must stop defending broken processes.

Whether you're a field engineer, a PM, or a company leader, this episode will challenge your thinking and push you to ask:

Are we building to win or just trying to lose less? Listen now. Shift your mindset. Build better.

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

Tired of the same old noise in construction? This episode is your wake-up call.

Jason Schroeder dives deep into what's really holding our industry back and what we can do about it. From leadership blind spots to bold solutions, this is not just another podcast… it's a call to level up.

Whether you're a seasoned builder or just getting started, you'll leave this episode fired up to create real change on your team and in your company.

👉 Hit play and let's build something remarkable together.

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