Per Diem Podcast

In this episode, Keaton Turner dispels profit margin myths, focusing on real-world factors in construction and mining. Joined by Dylan Mangum, he introduces sponsor $0 coach and discusses Turner Mining Group's Wingspire financing and custom Nike Air Force Ones. The episode covers equipment financing challenges, early customer planning, and securing capital partners. Keaton explores domestic mining's future, market competition, profit benchmarks, and small business struggles. Topics include gross margin vs. net income, equipment ownership, and margin volatility. He stresses the importance of dependable customers, long-term stability, and the risks of high-margin projects, concluding with closing remarks.

(0:00) Profit margin misconceptions and real-world factors

(1:01) Honest answers to margin questions

(1:15) Introduction of Dylan Mangum

(2:24) Sponsor: $0 coach

(2:54) Press release and Turner Mining Group's Wingspire financing

(4:27) Custom Nike Air Force Ones from Wingspire

(5:05) Equipment financing partners and growth strategy

(6:11) Challenges in securing equipment for large projects

(7:18) Early planning with customers and OEMs

(8:59) Securing capital partners to stay competitive

(10:30) Domestic mining in the US and its future

(11:06) Importance of making a profit to secure financing

(12:11) Common misconceptions about company profits

(13:35) Reality of profit margins in construction and mining

(15:06) Rare cases of high-profit businesses

(16:11) Employee perspectives on company profits

(17:33) Market competition pushing down margins

(18:35) General profit margin benchmarks

(20:19) Struggles of small businesses and breaking even

(20:40) Gross margin vs. net income explained

(23:26) Managing corporate overhead

(24:16) Importance of gross margin in business operations

(25:13) Impact of equipment ownership on margins

(26:14) Net income margin and EBITDA focus

(27:20) Margin fade, rework, and margin volatility

(29:14) Change orders, business strategy, and risk management

(33:22) Importance of approved change orders

(36:43) Value of dependable customers

(38:41) Subscription model for service businesses

(45:16) Challenges of unpredictable contracts

(49:13) Structuring deals for long-term stability

(52:26) Choosing dependability and predictable customers over high margin

(57:08) Confidence in predictable revenue and long-term partnerships

(1:00:22) Trade-offs and peace of mind from stability

(1:03:14) Risks of high-margin projects

(1:04:03) Closing remarks and sign-off

In this episode, Keaton Turner begins with an apology and announces a brief podcast hiatus. He shares personal moments from a surprise retirement party and family celebrations, before diving into work and ongoing projects. Using an elk analogy, Keaton discusses the pursuit of big projects, weighing effort against opportunity, and recognizing when to walk away. He stresses the importance of communicating tough business decisions and shifting focus to smaller, manageable tasks. The discussion highlights the skill of saying no, evaluating customer value beyond price, and identifying project red flags. Keaton reflects on trusting instincts, finding peace in decisions, and wraps up with a request for podcast reviews.

(0:00) Introduction, apology, and taking a podcast break

(3:29) Surprise retirement party and family celebrations

(7:23) Catching up on work and ongoing projects

(9:31) Pursuing a big project (elk analogy)

(13:26) Weighing effort versus opportunity

(17:10) Realizing when a project isn't worth it

(21:23) Communicating tough business decisions

(28:13) Examining the project and identifying errors

(29:40) Shifting focus to smaller, manageable projects

(31:01) The difficulty and necessity of saying no

(33:26) Saying no as a business skill

(34:41) Evaluating customer value beyond price

(36:03) Spotting beige flags in projects

(37:41) Team reactions to difficult project decisions

(39:56) Trusting your gut and red flag recognition

(42:15) Finding peace in business decisions

(45:34) Keaton's new F-250 truck

(45:55) Request for podcast reviews and hotline messages

In this episode, Keaton Turner challenges the view of employees as mere numbers, emphasizing accountability and the need to add value in the workplace. He encourages excellence, personal growth, and taking initiative. Keaton introduces the sponsor, Improve software by Aaron Witt, and critiques the blame mindset, recommending "The Empowerment Dynamic." He questions "best employer" lists, urging action over complacency. The discussion includes networking vs. skill-building, employee value, and company expectations. The episode wraps up with insights on long-term employment, recognition, and earning respect.

(0:00) Early reflections: employees as numbers, accountability, and listener feedback

(2:35) Critique of bare minimum performance

(4:22) The importance of adding value

(7:04) Standing out in the workplace

(9:26) Striving for excellence in all areas

(11:12) Taking initiative for personal growth

(16:25) Surprising people with results

(19:04) Sponsor: Improve software by Aaron Witt

(25:47) Addressing the blame mindset

(30:29) The Empowerment Dynamic book recommendation

(31:08) No one is saving you

(32:15) The illusion of "best employer" lists

(32:37) Stop wasting time and start improving

(33:24) Networking vs. skill-building

(35:18) Employees' value and company expectations

(37:03) Knowing the solutions to your own problems

(38:26) Reflections on long-term employment and recognition

(41:33) The reality of earning respect and rewards

In this episode, Keaton Turner shares insights on defining a business and Tony Robbins' influence on his philosophy. He provides personal updates, celebrates a birthday, and announces a new Director of Maintenance. The discussion covers the importance of business systems, leadership, and balancing business with personal life, focusing on financial freedom versus schedule freedom. Keaton offers strategies for business owners, emphasizing reinvestment, hiring top talent, and avoiding excessive profit-taking. The episode concludes with tips on building a self-sustaining business and achieving long-term financial peace.

(0:00) Introduction, Defining a Business, and Welcome

(3:27) Tony Robbins' Impact and Business Philosophy

(4:22) Keaton's Return from Naples and Personal Updates

(5:14) Birthday Shoutout and Family Updates

(7:14) New Director of Maintenance and Business Strategy

(8:12) Importance of Business Systems and Leadership

(10:23) Balancing Business Ownership and Personal Life

(13:33) Financial Freedom vs. Freedom of Schedule

(16:31) Strategies for Business Owners to Gain Freedom

(27:24) Mapping Out Time Away and Income Goals

(28:05) Game Plan for Achieving Business Freedom

(29:26) Reinvestment vs. Personal Income

(30:31) Hiring Investments and Their Long-Term Benefits

(32:57) Caution Against Excessive Profit-Taking

(33:22) Long-Term Vision and Reinvestment in Business Growth

(36:39) Preparing for Scalability and Growth

(41:27) Importance of Profits for Reinvestment

(45:08) Building a Self-Sustaining Business

(47:12) Strategy: Working Backwards from Financial Needs

(53:16) Investing in the Best Talent

(54:03) The Cost of Growing a Business

(55:20) Achieving Financial Peace

(55:56) Finding and Retaining Top Talent

(57:22) Building a Machine for Growth

(58:34) Investing in Training for Future Growth

(59:58) Long-Term Business Ownership Strategy

(1:00:14) Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead

In this episode, Keaton Turner kicks off with a rant and a shoutout, quickly moving into the ineffectiveness of complaining. He emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of personal problems and critiques the prevalent culture of complaining. Keaton discusses how building mental toughness involves understanding that nobody cares about your complaints. He introduces the philosophy of extreme ownership, encouraging listeners to accept responsibility for their choices and actions. The episode focuses on the shift from a mindset of blame to one of accountability, urging listeners to embrace personal responsibility for their growth and success.

(0:00) Rant kickoff and shoutout

(1:28) Why complaining doesn't help

(3:07) Taking ownership of your problems

(5:11) The culture of complaining

(6:21) Building mental toughness

(8:06) Nobody cares about your complaints

(10:04) The philosophy of extreme ownership

(13:50) Accepting responsibility for your choices

In this episode, Keaton Turner begins with an apology for a missed and late episode, citing a busy schedule and updates to the podcast hotline. He engages with listener voicemails, addressing Nate's question before sharing personal updates on coaching kids' baseball. Keaton postpones a planned episode on conflict resolution to focus on embracing tough times in your twenties. Through personal anecdotes, he highlights the importance of early career struggles and offers practical advice for navigating them. Keaton reflects on his hardest year in business, emphasizing learning from others' struggles and preparing for challenging periods. He concludes with the significance of tackling big problems, encouraging listener engagement via the Per Diem hotline.

(0:00) Apology for missed and late episode, busy schedule, and podcast hotline update

(1:48) Listener voicemails and responses

(5:20) Addressing listener Nate's question

(6:08) Coaching kids' baseball and personal life updates

(7:08) Episode about conflict resolution postponed

(9:28) Embracing tough times in your twenties

(11:23) The importance of early career struggles

(15:08) Personal anecdotes about early career struggles

(19:22) Practical advice for dealing with tough times

(26:00) Practical advice for dealing with tough times (continued)

(27:21) Preparing for the decade of sorrow

(29:15) Reflecting on the hardest year in business

(30:30) Learning from others' struggles

(31:06) Preparing people for the suck

(32:31) Gaining invaluable experience

(34:24) Embracing challenges in your twenties

(35:15) Personal journey of perseverance

(36:42) Importance of tackling big problems

(37:23) Listener engagement and the Per Diem hotline

In this episode, DK and Keaton Turner kick off with a discussion on motives and the significance of caring about a boss's perception. They delve into past experiences and the role of authenticity in the workplace. The conversation moves to the balance between criticizing and helping coworkers, highlighting the importance of internal friction. Keaton discusses the pitfalls of overcompensating for recognition and the long-term effects of self-promotion. Observations on LinkedIn behavior lead to an exploration of true leadership qualities and the owner's perspective on employee cynicism. The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of empowering others, recognizing true contributions, and the role of empathy and support in achieving mutual success.

(0:00) DK and Keaton: Motives, greetings, and episode intro

(1:41) Caring about boss's perception

(2:28) Reflecting on past experiences

(4:38) Authenticity in the workplace

(7:47) Criticizing vs. helping coworkers

(9:24) Importance of internal friction

(11:46) Overcompensating for recognition

(15:08) Long-term impact of self-promotion

(20:51) Keaton's workplace expectations

(24:36) Observations on LinkedIn behavior

(27:20) True leadership qualities

(28:12) Owner's perspective and employee cynicism

(29:04) Reflecting on the rant

(29:35) Empowering others for mutual success

(30:03) Recognition of true contributions

(30:22) Importance of empathy and support

(30:53) Closing remarks and sign-off

In this episode, Keaton Turner shares his daily routine, focusing on the importance of different job mindsets and the contrast between professional and worksite attire. He explores career advancement through cost-saving measures, preventing equipment damage, and enhancing employee efficiency. Keaton addresses misconceptions about employee costs and the benefits of gamifying work. He highlights motivational meetings, building a reputation for efficiency, and changing coworkers' mindsets. The episode concludes with tips for handling unmotivated team members and improving performance, along with a sponsor message from QuickBooks.

(0:00) Introduction, greetings, and Keaton’s daily routine

(1:43) Imagining different job mindsets

(2:21) Keaton’s outfit vs. worksite attire

(3:12) Saving company money for career advancement

(5:01) Phone call from Shelby Turner and daily cost-cutting

(7:04) Preventable equipment damage examples

(9:10) Continuing cost-saving discussion

(11:38) Employee efficiency and company growth

(14:00) Misconceptions about employee costs

(17:12) Equipment usage inefficiencies

(20:10) Adding value to the company daily

(23:46) The personal cost of not providing value

(26:31) Gamifying work for efficiency

(28:09) Small efficiencies’ impact on company

(29:01) Leveraging motivation for performance

(30:05) Reducing equipment idling and fuel usage

(32:17) Importance of motivational meetings

(33:34) Building a reputation for efficiency

(35:06) Career growth through cost-saving

(36:25) Changing coworkers’ mindsets

(39:06) Owner’s mindset and long-term success

(43:37) Applying cost-saving at work and home

(48:07) Attention to detail in achieving success

(51:30) Mastering your job and motivating others

(52:10) Keaton’s full day agenda

(53:25) Importance of understanding job details

(54:45) Handling unmotivated team members

(56:00) Strategies for team performance improvement

(57:30) Setting clear expectations

(59:00) Sponsor: QuickBooks

(59:45) Closing thoughts

In this episode, Keaton Turner reflects on the Tiger Woods incident and sponsor reactions, focusing on second chances. He discusses Monster Energy's loyalty and marketing strategies following Tiger's announcement. Drawing from his own experiences, Keaton shares a story about a troubled employee, Albert, highlighting the balance between cutting ties and offering chances. He emphasizes action for personal change, accepting blame, and the path to redemption. Keaton expresses belief in Tiger Woods' comeback and offers encouragement to those at rock bottom.

(0:00) Tiger Woods incident and sponsor reactions

(1:18) Introduction, listener messages, and initial reactions

(2:49) Relevance of old audio and Tiger Woods' impact

(3:38) Keaton's personal connection and second chances

(4:49) Monster Energy and sponsor loyalty to Tiger Woods

(5:16) Marketing strategies and Tiger Woods' announcement

(6:12) Tiger Woods' struggles and sponsor decisions

(8:16) Keaton's experience with a troubled employee

(11:25) Decision-making in retaining employees

(13:17) Reflecting on the mission to improve lives

(17:20) Balancing tough decisions and giving chances

(20:12) Positive outcomes from believing in people

(22:11) Fine line between cutting ties and giving chances

(22:39) Story of Albert, the first employee

(25:18) Multiple chances and Albert's loyalty

(26:48) Albert's resignation and lasting impact

(32:09) Evaluating decisions to rehire

(34:51) Importance of action for personal change

(40:15) Accepting blame and facing consequences

(44:03) The path to redemption

(48:33) Tiger Woods' rock bottom and lessons learned

(52:05) Giving people reasons to believe

(53:23) Keaton's belief in Tiger Woods' comeback

(54:21) Encouragement for those at rock bottom

In this episode, Keaton Turner returns with a recap of recent events, including a trip to Naples for the Pit and Quarry event. He highlights the importance of networking and shares a memorable experience at Bicyclette Cookshop. A meeting with a former McDonald's president leads to today's main topic, sparked by a listener's question on new hires. Keaton discusses core values, hiring practices, and the challenge of raising the bar within the organization. He explores leadership evolution, personal and professional growth, and hints at a possible future pause for the podcast.

(0:00) Introduction, return after a break, and recent recap

(1:47) Trip to Naples: Pit and Quarry event and highlights

(5:20) Importance of networking and connections

(6:04) Memorable lunch at Bicyclette Cookshop

(10:11) Meeting with a former McDonald's president

(13:13) Transition to today's main topic

(15:00) Listener question about new hires

(18:25) Core values and hiring practices

(28:26) Raising the bar in the organization

(30:00) Navigating the gap between organizational and individual growth

(33:53) Evolving as a leader

(35:25) Investing in personal and professional growth

(37:14) Opportunities for growth and promotion

(39:04) Keaton’s personal growth journey

(41:27) Evaluating improvement for self and organization

(43:36) The need for self starters and innovation

(44:30) Possible future pause for the podcast