Project Management Resources with guest Purdue Professor Dr. Randy Rapp.

On The DYOJO Podcast, Episode 85 we discuss elements of property restoration history and development of resources such as the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) Body of Knowledge.

Pop-ups and shout-outs from restoration past and present include:

Cliff Zlotnik

Pete Consigli

Bob Bonwell (RIP)

LA House at LSU

Paul LaGrange

Claudette Hanks Reichel

AEML Winter Break

Josh Zolin

John Pletcher

Martin "Marty" L. King (RIP)

Immanuel Kant

Claude Blackburn

Lisa Lavender

AND MORE...

YouTube.com/thedyojo 12am PST Thursday 6/30/22

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THURSDAYS ARE FOR The DYOJO Podcast INFOtainment to help you shorten your DANG learning curve. New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc.       

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Homeowners need to educate themselves on a few key items as it relates to insurance claims:  

Contractors need to continue to train their team members on how to best communicate with all parties in the insurance claims process.   Reviews and rejections, when legitimate and reasonable, are not “bad faith”.   

We invited licensed public adjuster, appraiser, and umpire Roger Howson (Seattle, WA) to join our local meeting for restoration contractors and insurance claims professionals for the month of June.   We are going to further discuss and educate ourselves on best practices for working with policyholders and insurance representatives to abide by the claims standards as we work through the claims process.   

The Claims Standard, as outlined in So, You Want To Be A Project Manager? “To restore the structure to resemble pre-loss conditions with materials of like kind and quality; no more and no less.”   

As Roger aptly points out, if an insurance company purposefully undervalues (minimizes - defrauds) there doesn’t seem to be much of a penalty. On the other hand, if a contractor or homeowner purposefully overvalues (maximizes - fraud) there are potential felony charges.   

The DYOJO Podcast - INFOtainment to help you shorten your DANG learning curve.

Developing Your Leadership Skills 

The DYOJO Podcast   

Season 3, Episode 84

This episode is for you. We will discuss many of the mindsets and habits that will help you lay a strong foundation for career growth and help you navigate the open seas of leadership development. We will discuss how to think outside of the box as well as some tips to structure your approach to management that will help you gain personal and professional ground on your goals. Topics include:

I intended for this episode to be a recap, similar to those of our good friends at IAQ Radio release on a regular basis. But, I couldn't help myself from tweaking the format and merging multiple prior episodes into one semi-coherent semi-new episode. We draw from The DYOJO Podcast episodes 12, 15, and 22. I mention both Organizational Physics and Designed to Scale by author Lex Sisney. 

Our guests and shoutouts for this episode include:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:    

Restoration Industry Association (RIA)    

Restoration Technical Institute (RTI)   

Office Services by Brandi    

Institute of Inspection Cleaning Restoration Certification (IICRC)      

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INFOtainment to help you shorten your DANG learning curve. New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc.     

READ MORE in The DYOJO Blog      

Additional Resources from The DYOJO:   

The DYOJO Podcast  

Asbestos and Mold Testing for Home Repairs 

Season 3, Episode 83   

To start off we discuss the TWO THINGS your company needs, no matter how big or small, to be successful 1) Happy Customers and 2) Profitable Projects. 

Resource - thedyojo.com/chart

We discuss the importance of identifying and mitigating hazards during water and fire damage restoration projects. There are broad rules such as those in the OSHA General Duty Clause, "The General Duty Clause from the OSHA Act of 1970 requires that, in addition to compliance with hazard-specific standards, all employers provide a work environment "free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm." There are also many specific rules regarding lead and asbestos sampling which are regulated by various entities such as Labor and Industries (LNI) in Washington State. 

We discuss some of these elements further in a recent article from The DYOJO Blog - thedyojo.com/blog/asbestos-testing-requirements-for-water-damage

Many of the safety practices that contractors follow for mold remediation originate with asbestos abatement protocols. We discuss some of the resources for these topics including:

Our discussion includes shoutouts and/or appearances by these guests:   

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:   

Restoration Industry Association (RIA)   

Restoration Technical Institute (RTI)  

Office Services by Brandi   

Institute of Inspection Cleaning Restoration Certification (IICRC)    

THURSDAYS ARE FOR The DYOJO Podcast - INFOtainment to help you shorten your DANG learning curve. New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc.   

READ MORE in The DYOJO Blog    

Additional Resources from The DYOJO:  

The DYOJO Podcast 

The Power & Practice of Questions 

Season 3, Episode 82  

Contractors who specialize in navigating insurance claims, know that the process can be contentious. In this episode, we discuss mindsets and habits that can assist you in achieving better project outcomes. 

Business is a negotiation. If you take the carrier out of the equation, you are often negotiating with your clients. Part of a successful negotiation is clearly defining the scope and expectations of the project so that you can accurately bid the cost of materials and labor.

If the carrier is paying for the work, they have the right to ask whether the scope has been accurately presented and thoroughly supported. The second meaning for negotiating is to, “Find a way over or through (an obstacle or difficult path).” 

You can view the adjuster as your adversary, but assuming so from the get-go only gives them one option - to be adversarial. Or you can proceed with the mindset to attempt to understand their position, in light of The Claims Standard, and find a means to reach a mutually agreeable outcome. 

Our primary guest is Steven Patrick of Level the Playing Field. He shares several insights that help contractors develop a framework for working through the claims process. These concepts, also are applicable to instances of resistance between contractors and customer.

Our discussion includes shoutouts and/or appearances by these guests:  

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:  

THURSDAYS ARE FOR The DYOJO Podcast - INFOtainment to help you shorten your DANG learning curve. New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc. 

READ MORE in The DYOJO Blog  

Additional Resources from The DYOJO: 

The DYOJO Podcast

Our discussion includes shoutouts and/or appearances by these guests:

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

THURSDAYS ARE FOR The DYOJO Podcast

Additional Resources from The DYOJO:

The DYOJO Podcast  

Common Estimating Shortfalls 

Season 3, Episode 80 

Lisa Lavender, Restoration Technical Institute (RTI) reached out to me about developing a course around the principles in my first book, Be Intentional: Estimating. While this book centers around the mindset and habits for insurance claims estimating success, the course will dig deeper into the technical aspects. The working title for the book and the course is How To Not Suck At Estimating: Habits For Better Project Outcomes. Module/chapters will include Developing The Agreed Upon Scope, The Claims Standard, A Good Sketch Is A Good Start, Don't Play The Blame Game, and more

This episode of the They DYOJO Podcast will center around four common estiamting approaches including, using drywall repairs as an example: 

Our discussion includes appearances by these guests:   

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We aim to entertain while we inform (INFOtainment), helping you shorten your DANG learning curve. New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc. Learn more by visiting our website

Large loss specialist and trainer Jim Thompson sat down with Jon Isaacson to discuss his life experiences and the content of his new book, “My Life Is One Disaster After Another.” Jim started from the ground up as a public adjuster, moved into cleaning and property restoration, before taking some time away to work with NASA (yes, THAT NASA).

Jim didn’t think he would return to the industry but found something he enjoyed training local contractors to market, win, and complete large losses. Projects for commercial, residential, industrial, and catastrophic disaster response, Mr. Thompson has done it all. He has compiled his 40 plus years of experience and is sharing it in written form with those willing to listen.

Our conversation also touches on:

Guest appearances and shoutouts for:

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“Annyoying but helpful.” New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays 1201am PST via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc. Learn more by visiting our website - thedyojo dot com /podcast

The Xactimate Sessions from The DYOJO Podcast  

File 007: Xactimate Claims Negotiations  

Season 3, Episode 79 

Guest: Mathew Allen, AdjusterTV (Whitefish, MT)    

This is the final planned episode of our series The Xactimate Sessions. File 007 includes a discussion with Mathew Allen of AdjusterTV.com on some of the ways that contractors can learn from adjusters and vice-versa. Mathew shares how his organization has helped to train independent adjusters to learn Xactimate, process claims, and work with contractors. These principles are also helpful to restoration professionals in learning how adjusters operate and how they can collaborate on insurance claims.   

Topics include:  

Our discussion includes appearances by these guests:   

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:  

THURSDAYS ARE FOR The DYOJO Podcast   

New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays 9am PST via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc. Learn more by visiting our website - thedyojo dot com /podcast

I recently had a fun conversation with Randy R. Rapp, who is the Professor of Disaster Restoration and Reconstruction at Purdue University and Associate Professor of Construction Management Technology.   

As our conversation, which will later be released in episodes of The DYOJO Podcast, drew to an end, I asked the Professor if he had any closing thoughts for those professionals aspiring towards are developing in their project management responsibilities. Randy shared some insights that draw from his wealth of experiences in the military, construction management, and disaster restoration response.   

Randy shared four principles that he was introduced to in 1984 while serving in the military. According to the NY Times, this Airland 2000 battle doctrine marked a fundamental shift in the tactical approach of the armed forces from defensive to offensive, and eerily apropos to current world affairs, the focus was on the Cold War conflict with Russia. He recalls those foundational disciplines as:  

Professor Rapp noted that some listeners, or readers, might ask, “What does a college instructor know about what I do day-to-day as a restoration contractor?” It’s a good question, but if you spent some time with Randy or read his excellent book, Disaster Recovery Project Management: Bringing Order from Chaos, you would quickly learn that he isn’t the stereotypical academic.   

In addition to his instruction during his military service, Randy has some harrowing experiences to share about working for the military on construction projects in areas that became active combat zones. As such, it is fitting that the fundamental tenets that he shared in our discussion (see attached video) he views as helpful and adaptable as a framework for project management.     

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THURSDAYS ARE FOR The DYOJO Podcast   New episodes of The DYOJO Podcast are released on Thursdays 9am PST via video through YouTube and/or audio is distributed through platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google, etc. Learn more by visiting our website - www.thedyojo.com/podcast