The Builder Nuggets Podcast

The business of recruitment has changed dramatically in the last few years. The talent pool has shifted, and inevitably the employers must shift as well. David Fisher, Director of Talent Acquisition at 84 Lumber, joins us to share how they foster a company culture that retains and attracts talent. Today we talk about the difference between jobs and careers, and how to innovate in a field that can determine the success of a business.

Show highlights include:

• 2:10 Starting out in sports management

• 4:50 Getting into 84 Lumber

• 6:00 Why recruiting?

• 8:00 Creating the job description and developing recruitment

• 10:00 Borrowing from sports management and growing into the role

• 11:20 What does recruiting mean today?

• 12:50 What are candidates looking for?

• 14:25 Communicating the mission and the vision

• 17:25 How to build and amplify culture?

• 19:04 Fostering the right environment

• 20:45 Getting the story of 84 Lumber out in the world

• 25:00 How to make trainees want to stay

• 27:13 What's the next innovation for attracting talent?

• 29:56 Changes in the workforce

• 31:30 What's coming up next?

• 32:35 How to get in touch

You can learn more about David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fisher-168142223 or apply to 84 Lumber at https://www.84lumber.com/careers

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/84-lumber/mycompany/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/84lumber

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/84lumber/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/84LumberNews

Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/user/84lumbervideos

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@84lumbercompany

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

The myriad of problems facing the housing industry can sometimes feel insurmountable. The push towards high performance, the need for affordability, and the continuing rise of inflation and costs for business owners might leave you feeling like you're getting left behind. The truth is, the answers are out there, and our guest today is here to share real examples of the direction other countries have taken, and where we might be headed next. Sam Rashkin, founder and author of Retooling the U.S. Housing Industry joins us to share revelations from his newest book, Housing 2.0.

Show highlights include:

• 2:30 Sam's start in the industry

• 4:45 The upcoming housing industry disruption

• 8:50 How to look at the industry and solutions differently

• 11:20 How important is user experience in the industry?

• 15:30 Does the industry have to move towards off-site prefabrication?

• 20:30 How to translate the experience to the customer and provide value

• 24:45 The future of housing and examples around the world

• 28:45 Landscaping and architecture

• 31:45 Digitization in the industry's future

• 37:45 New players in the industry

• 43:55 What can builders do to get ahead of the disruptions?

• 49:00 Where will AI come in?

• 49:42 What should builders prioritize?

• 57:40 How does the industry prepare the builder to prepare to the new level?

• 1:03 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Sam at https://srashkin.com/ or email him at [email protected]. If you're interested to learn more about Housing 2.0 visit here.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-rashkin

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

**Trigger Warning** This piece briefly discusses suicide and suicidal ideation, and some people might find it disturbing. If you or someone you know is suicidal, please, contact your physician, go to your local ER, or call the suicide prevention hotline in your country. More resources are available below.

There are times in life when you convince yourself things will never get better. You or your business may get knocked down, but it's important to surround yourself with a community that can help to build you back up. Today's guest has been through his own hard times, and he's here to share his journey towards a mindset of abundance and how he built a foundation that won't crumble when life sends him challenges. Steve Arneson, CEO of Synergy Mastermind in Canada, understands better than most how important it is to live with intention.

Show highlights include:

• 3:05 How Steve got into real estate

• 7:00 TRIGGER WARNING: Steve shares a heartbreak that drove him to suicidal ideation

• 11:45 How did depression/suicidal ideation affect work?

• 14:10 Did people know?

• 15:40 What happened and how did you move forward?

• 20:10 END TRIGGER WARNING: Being present and intentional

• 24:00 Becoming comfortable moving forward and steps to being successful

• 32:25 Building back up

• 36:15 Where do participants come from?

• 38:00 How to get in touch and upcoming event

• 39:50 What is the intention when trying to be your best self?

• 41:30 What's coming up next?

You can learn more about Steve at https://synergymastermind.ca/.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevearneson/

Facebook - https://facebook.com/groups/thereinvestors

Instagram - https://instagram.com/steve_arneson

Twitter - https://twitter.com/arnesonsteven

Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfN7ILS4mbSoYSRvQuDBGvQ

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal ideation, please visit The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988, or message the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Both programs provide free, confidential support 24/7. More resources can be found at Lifeline (988lifeline.org) and SAMHSA.

Taking over for a sick general contractor who was supposed to be building her home led today's guest to become a general contractor and business owner herself. Meghan Billings talks about her unconventional journey into the industry, joining a Builder 20 Club, and the experience her company works to give their clients and their trades. Communication is key, and so are challenging assumptions about women in the industry.

Show highlights include:

• 2:30 Growing up in Alaska, settling in Idaho

• 3:50 How the pandemic affected Idaho and other snow stories

• 6:35 The journey into the industry

• 9:50 Starting a business

• 11:30 What were you trying to do to separate yourself?

• 14:15 Catching excitement for designing homes

• 17:30 Why design build?

• 19:52 What does the team look like?

• 23:05 What challenges have you overcome?

• 25:35 The importance of the client and the trades experience

• 33:40 Your experience as a woman in the industry

• 37:15 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Meghan at https://megconstruction.com/.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/megconstruction

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/megconstruction/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/megconstructionandDesign

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/MEGConstruction/

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

Neighborhood HOAs, high-density apartment complexes, and multi-use developments have become the new common practice in the last few decades as the answer to addressing housing concerns. Hard-fought changes in zoning restrictions and ugly battles that pit generational investments against community growth have crowded out the voices in the building industry that are clamoring for a different type of housing experience. Evan Bost joins us to share examples of success in land use reform and the steps he takes toward the topic in his family's custom home building business.

Show highlights include:

• 3:00 A musician and a home builder

• 4:25 About Bost Homes

• 8:45 Evan's journey into the industry

• 11:15 Stepping into larger roles

• 14:30 What was the reception from the team to bringing on family?

• 16:00 Getting licensed and future plans

• 18:50 Interest in land use reform

• 24:50 What is the vision for more lovable communities in the future?

• 28:50 The younger generations have different desires for communities

• 34:00 Changes in development feel out of reach

• 37:00 Examples and barriers of reimagined housing experiences

• 41:51 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Evan at https://bosthomes.com.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/bost-custom-homes/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/do_you_even_baste/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BostHomes/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/BostCustomHomesCary

Twitter - https://twitter.com/BostEvan

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

When building a company, there are so many priorities and often, not enough trained people to delegate to. Today, our guest covers the best practices surrounding building a team, retaining that team, and preparing for what's coming next. Sky Kolade, co-founder of The Association of Professional Builders, joins us as we talk culture, cowboys, and the upcoming industry reset.

Show highlights include:

• 3:20 How did the Association of Professional Builders get started?

• 9:10 What issues were you hoping APB could solve in the industry?

• 13:45 How are you seeing builders build culture?

• 19:25 Are current industry complications affecting culture?

• 23:00 What are common themes of good company culture?

• 30:10 Attracting and retaining talent

• 39:05 Team assessments for building better communication

• 41:24 What are the biggest headwinds in the industry in the next few years?

• 46:31 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Sky at https://associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/skycheristephens/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/apbbuilders/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Twitter - https://twitter.com/apbbuilders

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

Any business owner in this industry has struggled to build a good team, to scale, or to step away from the daily grind. Today, a familiar voice joins us to share his personal struggles through his seemingly meteoric rise through the ranks as a young builder. Nick Schiffer of NS Builders breaks down where he's chosen to invest, the pushback he's received, and how he's choosing to focus his energies moving forward.

Show highlights include:

• 2:00 You can love and hate what you do

• 3:10 Having a fourth child

• 7:00 How does perfection fit into scaling a business?

• 13:45 Innovation can make slow progress

• 18:40 The struggle to focus on one thing at a time

• 24:07 Risky business transitions

• 27:30 Reflecting during times of struggle

• 31:50 Where to invest for the biggest impact

• 34:00 Learning from a bad hiring mistake

• 37:15 Investing and building an A Team takes a lot of work

• 42:00 How to scale when your team isn't behind you

• 45:45 It's hard to stay in your own lane

• 48:15 To focus or not to focus?

• 51:00 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Nick at https://www.nickschiffer.com/.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickschiffer/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nickschiffer/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/NSBuildersLLC

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

Across the industry the consumer mindset has shifted immensely around remodeling and our guest today has lived through it all. Mark Richardson, author of How Fit Is Your Business, joins us to share his journey of helping set the standard for professional remodeling and his views on where the industry is headed. Today we tackle why bigger isn't always better, avoiding potholes, and changing the common misconceptions that plague remodelers trying to grow their business.

Show highlights include:

• 2:25 An interesting last few years

• 5:20 A different consumer mindset

• 7:20 Mark's journey through the industry

• 12:16 What makes a remodeler a professional?

• 16:00 Are there more professional remodelers now than in the past?

• 18:28 Shortage of skilled labor

• 21:52 How can a remodeler become more professional?

• 25:00 What does a healthy construction business look like?

• 29:20 Common business mistakes

• 34:00 Use the resources you have available - including AI

• 35:50 Who were your mentors along the way?

• 37:10 Mastermind groups

• 39:30 Where is the industry headed?

• 42:42 The difficulty of finding talent

• 46:30 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Mark by emailing him at [email protected].

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-richardson-54970255/

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

Building a business and building a business that's attractive to future buyers are two different things - but they don't have to be. Today's guest, Mark Herrmann, walks us through the process of finding and retaining a quality business broker who can help you prepare for the transition out of business ownership. He tackles the mistakes and misconceptions that many entrepreneurs make when trying to sell their businesses. We all wish selling a business was a quick and easy process, but with the right preparation and the best professional assistance, success could be just around the corner.

Show highlights include:

• 3:00 The journey into business ownership

• 6:00 Building and selling the first business

• 10:25 The transition into a new business

• 12:30 What does a business broker do?

• 13:55 The process of valuing a business

• 18:10 What has the most effect on the value of a business?

• 19:30 The timeline of a sale

• 20:45 The value of a broker vs. selling on your own

• 24:55 How does a broker get paid?

• 28:35 How to make your business more valuable in advance

• 31:00 What is the process for selling a business?

• 33:34 Finding a good fit to buy your business

• 37:00 Can the seller and buyer meet?

• 42:40 Preparing for the transition after selling

• 49:25 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Mark at http://www.carolinaadvisory.com.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/markherrmann92/

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.

Rewarding is the word often used to describe a career in the residential construction industry. Today's guest once struggled to love her job until she transitioned to a career as a home builder. Now a founder and CEO of Garman Homes, Alaina Money-Garman joins us to share how she worked her way through the ranks and helped build a company she can be proud of. Her company's values and their community outreach tell the story of how every home builder and remodeler can choose a path that brings fulfillment to not only the team, but to those less fortunate.

Show highlights include:

• 2:35 Life outside of work

• 3:20 Getting started in the industry - switching careers

• 6:10 How Garman Homes began

• 8:20 The 4 Garman Differences and why they matter

• 15:08 How did you grow a large team?

• 21:21 How do you guarantee a closing date?

• 25:35 How has Garman changed through the years?

• 27:45 Getting the business on track with changing leadership

• 32:45 Support groups, mentors, collaborators, inspirations

• 35:15 How a homebuilder can give back to the community

• 43:25 What's coming up next and how to get in touch

You can learn more about Alaina at https://www.garmanhomes.com/.

Social media:

LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaina-money-garman-51388426/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alainamoneygarman

Or hit us up through our Contact Page at https://buildernuggets.com and we'll make a personal introduction.

To get the most out of this podcast, head over to https://buildernuggets.com and join our active community of like-minded builders and remodelers.