The NEXT Academy

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we unpack Daniel Goleman’s Primal Leadership and explore how a leader’s mood, presence, and emotional intelligence quietly drive safety, performance, and culture on every jobsite. You’ll learn how to use the six leadership styles to create resonance instead of burnout, and become the kind of PM, superintendent, or foreman people actually do their best work for.

Enjoy Episode 6 and #BeNEXT

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we break down Blue Ocean Strategy and show construction leaders how to escape the bloody low-bid race by designing offers that make competitors almost irrelevant. You’ll learn how to use value innovation to eliminate waste, raise what owners truly care about, and carve out a market space where your firm is the obvious, uncontested choice.

Enjoy Episode 5 and #BeNEXT

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we unpack Clayton Christensen’s The Innovator’s Dilemma and explore why even the best-run construction companies can get blindsided by prefab, modular, drones, and AI. You’ll learn how to spot disruptive shifts early, run experiments without wrecking your core business, and become the builder that drives the change instead of getting run over by it.

Enjoy Episode 4 and #BeNEXT

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we unpack Playing to Win and translate Lafley & Martin’s strategy playbook into the world of bids, projects, and construction companies that are tired of just “staying busy.” You’ll learn how to choose where you’ll play, how you’ll win, and how to align your people, processes, and projects so your firm stops playing not to lose and starts truly playing to win.

Enjoy Episode 3 and #BeNEXT

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we break down John Kotter’s Leading Change and translate his 8-step playbook into the messy, real world of jobsites, bid boards, and “we’ve always done it this way” culture. You’ll learn how to create true urgency, build a guiding coalition, secure quick wins, and actually embed lasting change in your construction company instead of watching another initiative quietly die in the job trailer.

Enjoy Episode 2 and #BeNEXT

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we break down Zero to One and translate Peter Thiel’s biggest ideas into the real world of construction—bids, boots, blueprints and all. You’ll learn how to escape the race to the bottom, find your “secret” edge, and start building a career and company that go from just another contractor… to the only one people call.

Enjoy Episode 1 and #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace.

In today's episode, Brian asks, "What area of personal growth are you most excited to focus on, and how can you start taking action toward that growth today?"

Enjoy Episode 50 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Blake steps inside Pixar’s Braintrust to show how radical candor without authority turns rough early cuts into remarkable films. Learn how keeping decisions with the builders, critiquing the work (not the worker), and scheduling the next messy version can supercharge any team’s results.

Enjoy Episode 50 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

The Search for Fulfillment is a new short series released each Friday where we uncover lessons of the greatest minds to help you live with purpose, passion, and peace.

In today's episode, Brian asks, "What area of personal growth are you most excited to focus on, and how can you start taking action toward that growth today?"

Enjoy Episode 49 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Blake boards the USS Benfold to see how Captain D. Michael Abrashoff turned low morale into standout performance by listening first and handing real ownership to the crew. Learn how pushing authority to the edge, cutting dumb friction, and celebrating smart signals can transform compliance into pride—and results.

Enjoy Episode 49 of The Goods. #BeNEXT