The Builder Nuggets Podcast

Perception of the building industry is important to the overall health of the industry. What if young people were taught that the trades can offer a great salary? That they're cutting-edge, exciting, and cool? Our guest, Tim Minton talks about how the Be Pro Be Proud program is spreading across the country. Its goal is to educate youth about the trades, change the perception of these careers, build excitement through technology, and solve the critical issue of a nationwide talent shortage in these fields. Through a virtual reality experience, kids can try their hand at a trade and learn how much it would pay them. And the benefits are already being seen in a rise in the percentage of young people who participate in the program joining a trade afterward. Learn about the unique solutions being offered to encourage kids to join the industry, and how you can bring it to your area.

Show highlights include:

• 3:01 The importance of a lobbying group for the construction industry
• 4:44 The housing affordability issue is at a crisis moment
• 9:42 How the Be Pro Be Proud program got started. A great collaboration between the industry, the public, the private sector, and government
• 11:54 Life is about connectivity and the connections you make
• 17:58 About 40,000 kids a year will spend time in these trucks in North Carolina
• 23:36 There has been tons of engagement from both the students and the teachers. It's like a new way of learning
• 30:24 Keeping the momentum going and spreading the word to young people about all of the opportunities in the various trades
• 33:31 Once the trucks appear at a school all of the surrounding schools want to be apart of it as well
• 39:51 For me it's one of the most honorable professions out there…somehow we've gotten away from recognizing that

You can learn more about Tim at https://www.nchba.org/goverment-affairs/government-affairs-staff/

and more about the Be Pro Be Proud program at www.beprobeproudnc.org.

Social media:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-minton-39478310

Or hit us 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.

Giving back to the building industry can be done in many ways. Teaching what you know, donating your time and expertise, and creating projects that build community are all ways our guest today has chosen to give back. David Belman is a builder, developer, realtor, and podcast host who has dedicated his career to building a foundation for others in the industry. Today, he discusses how Belman Homes began, the family transitions that happened to get him where he is now, and where he's looking to go in the future. Join us as we talk about succession planning, business coaching, and how to be an industry leader.

Show highlights include:

• 6:38 in the early days it was challenging working through the family dynamic of having both my father and brother transition out of the business
• 11:34 I made a commitment to helping veterans get access to new homes
• 12:37 In order to grow after the transition I had to get the business to a point where it could run without me. Working with a business coach really helped with this
• 15:24 When 2 people are in charge nobody is in charge
• 15:40 We built a vision, mission and culture for the team to embrace
• 16:58 I started my own podcast to position myself as a leader in the industry
• 24:30 I am now moving having a dedicated business coach to more collaboration with other builders and leaders in the industry
• 25:45 People don't buy from the company they buy from the people behind the company
• 25:58 I have strived to achieve expert status in my market

You can learn more about David at https://www.belmanhomes.com or through his podcast Podcast | Belman Homes.

Social media:

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

Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidbelman2

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

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/belmanhomes

Or hit us 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 building and remodeling industry has long avoided focusing on the mental health of its workforce. Often swept under the rug, there is a staggering number of suicide rates within our ranks, and thankfully it's becoming a broader cultural priority to address it. With pandemic related challenges like historic supply chain shortages, record inflation, and a lack of qualified employees, it's time to address the mental health needs of our rapidly changing industry. Luckily, we have Steve Barkhouse returning to the show to share how his company has led the charge to address the mental health needs of his team – and how it affected their productivity, profit, and culture. We hope to encourage you to address the topic of mental health with your team after hearing the benefits that Steve experienced.

Show highlights include:

• 7:10 The shocking statistics of suicide in our industry
• 8:44 We are leaders in our industry but on this topic we need to do more
• 12:01 Don't bury your head in the sand about mental health
• 13:12 Consider bringing in a mental health professional to help with setting up a program for mental health awareness
• 24:45 Work became a sanctuary. It was the safe place during the upside down world of Covid
• 29:34 The first step is to just open the conversation about the importance of mental health
• 31:12 You can expect a healthy and more resilient team if you take some action and work to improve mental health in the workplace
• 35:06 We've had our best year financially after implementing this

Steve has generously offered to share his resources with our audience. Please use what's helpful for you. Please use this drive link to access the following topics:

Team video

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Anxiety Depression

Substance Use

lmportance of a Good Night's Sleep

Tools in the Wellness Toolbox

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

Social media:

LinkedIn - (99+) Steve Barkhouse | LinkedIn

Or hit us 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.

In this episode, we take a look back through Season 2 of The Builder Nuggets Podcast. Which episodes were listeners' top picks? Which episodes were most memorable for hosts Duane Johns and Dave Young? Tune in to help us relive the best moments of 2022 and walk away with some nuggets to help you kick off the new year. We're so grateful to our listeners for tuning in every week, and your downloads help us learn what you're most interested in hearing about from our expert guests. We're looking forward to Season 3 and another great year of Builder Nuggets!

Show highlights include:

• 2:45 What was popular with listeners
• 3:05 Connor Lokar
• 8:25 Steve Sims
• 11:00 Mark Neave
• 15:35 Brad Leavitt
• 19:45 Russ Stephens
• 24:45 What was memorable for Duane and Dave
• 25:10 Steve Barkhouse
• 30:55 Tye Alroe
• 35:50 Warren Barry
• 41:15 Scott Beebe
• 45:00 Matt Livingston
• 49:50 Brandee Izquierdo

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 remodeling industry is booming and our guest today shares how his company has capitalized on the demand. David Pollard has previously earned a coveted spot on ProRemodeler's 40 Under 40 list, and now he's focused on sharing his expertise with other young architects, builders, and remodelers. An architect by trade, he co-founded Liv Companies in Chicago and found his niche running his own design-build firm. Today we'll cover his story, and where he thinks the industry is headed next.

Show highlights include:

• 2:10 Early on I had an appreciation for bringing the architect and builder together
• 9:35 Avoid the triangle of distrust
• 15:50 It's important to walk your clients through the design-build process
• 17:40 The intent is to compress the timeframe of the design and pricing phases
• 22:55 Post covid and the future of what clients are looking for inside their homes
• 27:10 Using EOS to map out the future of our business
• 28:55 There are some significant changes coming to our industry

You can learn more about David at http://www.livcompanies.com.

Social media:

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

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

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Jn4kgfv-Us0fh7IhuoRmQ

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

Or hit us 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.

There's a struggle with every business owner that the passion and hours they put into their business is not always rewarded with more free time or profit. This often stems from not having the proper systems in place, and a lack of forward-thinking leadership. Our guest today is Tim Redmond, America's Top Business Growth Coach, who shares how he helps business owners manifest their ideal business. Looking to take the next step to scaling your business in a sustainable way? This episode is for you.

Show highlights include:

• 6:43 This guy actually wants to buy my business
• 9:30 Creating a business that works for you instead of you working for your business
• 12:05 Building an investment grade business
• 14:43 When you are operating on slim profit margins in only takes one hiccup to go upside down
• 14:53 The real key is to keep things super simple
• 16:19 Complexity is the enemy to adoption
• 19:52 You're either RED or GREEN
• 20:50 If more than one person is accountable then no one is accountable
• 25:58 You have to always be looking ahead in your business
• 42:56 You have to OWN your business

You can learn more about Tim at Home Page - Redmond Growth Consulting or check him out at https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachtimredmond/.

Or hit us 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.

Marketing can often seem like an unnecessary expense to a small business. As your business grows, marketing becomes more important, and our guest today reframes the conversation around marketing as the best investment you can make in your growth. Mindy Lepp is the marketing director for LEPPDESIGN - a full-service design and marketing firm that offers remote ongoing marketing services to companies in the building industry that have grown enough to need marketing help but are not large enough to justify hiring multiple marketing employees. If you've been keeping your marketing small and in-house or haven't been seeing the gains your competitors have, it's time to reconsider your approach.

Show highlights include:

• 4:56 If you are involved with NAHB in your area you may want to consider supporting the PWB (Professional Women in Building) council for your chapter
• 8:10 It's important to establish a starting point or assessment to know what a builder needs for marketing before diving in
• 11:24 A common mistake we see with builders and remodelers is that they want to cast too big of a net. Their target market is simply too large
• 17:35 Your website should be clean and simple. Many businesses over complicate their sites and overwhelm the visitor
• 18:52 You need to let the viewer know what makes you stand out you can't just state the facts
• 25:12 What goes into a comprehensive marketing plan
• 31:08 The audience wants the authenticity

You can learn more about Mindy at https://www.leppdesign.com/ or check her out at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindylepp/.

Or hit us 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.

We're taught that failure is something to avoid at all costs, but our guest today is an example that trying and failing is just part of the learning process on your way to success. Meet Jeremy Delk, a serial entrepreneur and self-proclaimed industry disruptor who believes that taking any action is better than taking none. He may have learned his lessons the hard way, losing millions of dollars throughout his career, but he would argue that it has shaped him into who he is and created a more satisfying outcome in the long term. His best advice? Keep moving forward.

Show highlights include:

• 4:58 I made choices in life to take action
• 6:05 Just get going then get good
• 8:54 I do not believe that there is anything good or bad that happens to you
• 18:59 People do business with people…period!
• 21:13 What I don't do is ever ask nor care how it's BEEN done
• 30:25 Everyone needs to question why they do anything
• 31:29 You're not a failure until you give up and stop
• 33:05 If it's worth doing then do it now
• 34:59 People don't care about you…they care about themselves so stop worrying about what other people think
• 36:10 Here are some easy ways to Just Get Started
• 38:06 You don't value what you know because you know it

You can learn more about Jeremy and his business endeavors at https://www.jeremydelk.com. You can find him on social media under JeremySDelk. His book will be released on November 8.

Or hit us 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.

Anyone who's been in the construction industry long enough knows that there can be a disconnect between architects and builders. Often this comes from a lack of education, communication, and differing expectations. Our guest, Jacob Brillhart, is an architect that has worked diligently to surround himself with a great team of builders and sub-contractors. Together they've built a strong relationship with each other and their clients, overcoming the normal industry struggles. These relationships, in conjunction with his tropical designs, have catapulted him to success. Today we hear where he started and how he built his business. A tenured professor, Jacob teaches us how improving on existing designs and being curious about new techniques can lead to a career in exotic places.

Show highlights include:

• 8:57 In the beginning I was patient and picked the projects I could be passionate about
• 9:51 My first real inspiration was for the mid century modern homes of the 1950's and 1960's that somehow got lost in south Florida
• 13:18 We were fortunate to get featured in some great publications early on along with a spot on Extraordinary Homes on Netflix. That really propelled our visibility and growth
• 16:11 Every one of our projects is original and site specific
• 17:30 I want to engage with a builder very early in the process and we establish a budget

You can learn more about Jacob and the Brillhart Architecture at https://brillhartarchitecture.com/.

Or hit us 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.

098: Let's Talk About Addiction with Brandee Izquierdo

The stigma of addiction is crippling our industry. There needs to be a path out of it. Our guest today is Dr. Brandee Izquierdo, a prior construction worker who has dealt with addiction in her own life. Now as the executive director of the SAFE Project, she shares a path toward normalizing this disease so we can solve the crisis. Creating awareness, starting important conversations young, and tackling this stigma head on is just the start. More than that, addressing this problem proactively is just good business. Hopefully soon, that will be the industry standard.

Show highlights include:

• 3:36 Addiction is not siloed. It can happen at work and at home
• 5:59 We need to have adult conversations without judgment
• 11:32 Addiction becomes a bigger problem when we ignore it
• 13:24 People are struggling and we need to show compassion
• 13:42 We know that construction workers represent about 25% of fatal opioid overdoses
• 17:45 So much success comes from believing in and supporting others
• 20:52 You need to provide a support mechanism within your company where people won't feel ashamed or scared to bring up the issue
• 22:56 We need to support but not solve
• 25:24 The things to look for in someone struggling with addiction
• 31:30 Some ways to support and offer help by starting the conversation

You can learn more about Brandee and the SAFE Project at https://www.safeproject.us/.

Or hit us 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.