The NEXT Academy

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 system or habit can you create today that will help you navigate challenges more effectively and move closer to a fulfilling life?"

Enjoy Episode 43 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Hard Lines, Soft Skills — Emotional Intelligence in Work Boots

Yelling isn’t leadership—it’s noise. In this episode, step onto a high-pressure data center build with a foreman who trades barking orders for field-ready emotional intelligence. You’ll hear how simple moves—naming tension without inflaming it, correcting in private, praising in public, and acting fast on craft feedback—drive trust, safety, and real production.

Backed by insights inspired by Daniel Goleman, Gallup, FMI, and real contractor case studies, this episode shows foremen and supers how to hold high standards and keep people bought in.

If you run crews and want fewer blowups, better retention, and stronger performance, this one’s non-negotiable listening. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael unpacks how a lost stuffed animal and a few creative frontline employees turned a simple customer problem into a story of unforgettable trust. Learn why empowering people at the edge, celebrating thoughtful details, and protecting discretionary effort can quietly define your culture and brand.

Enjoy Episode 44 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 is one imperfection you can embrace today, and how might it help you grow and find deeper fulfillment?"

Enjoy Episode 42 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

Right-Sized Crews — Line Balance Without the Burnout

If your productivity chart looks like a heart monitor, this episode is for you. Walk a clinic floor with a foreman who stops chasing “more bodies” and starts balancing the line. You’ll learn field-ready moves: a 30-minute walk-and-watch to find the true bottleneck, a plywood Yamazumi to size tasks, two simple work cells (layout + install) with a dedicated runner, and a visual flow board with a tongue-in-cheek purple baton to signal “truly ready.” We’ll show how capping WIP, dynamic rebalancing, and tiny pit-stops cut rework and overtime—without cutting corners.

Foremen and supers: turn spikes into steady beats and make Tuesday feel like a metronome. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael spotlights Emily Warren Roebling, who stepped into the storm to translate complex engineering into clear action and carry the Brooklyn Bridge to completion. Discover how learning fast, leading without permission, and turning credibility into cadence can hold a mission together when everything’s swaying.

Enjoy Episode 43 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 is one thing you can appreciate about your current life today, and how might cultivating gratitude for it lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment?"

Enjoy Episode 41 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT

The Goods is a new series that delivers wisdom for personal and professional growth. In today's episode, Michael contrasts Amundsen’s steady, disciplined push to the South Pole with Scott’s surge-and-stall approach to reveal why boring consistency beats heroic bursts. Learn how setting non-negotiable daily targets, banking rest on easy days, and designing for real conditions can compound into winning results.

Enjoy Episode 42 of The Goods. #BeNEXT

Imagine walk-through day with nothing to fix. In this Hard Hat Headspace episode, a foreman turns “good enough” into “done-done” with field-ready moves: a door-posted Gold Box standard (photos you can point to), a pocket Q-Card(height, label, torque mark, photo), and blue → white → green tags that prove self-check, peer-check, and Next Trade Ready. You’ll learn a five-minute fishbone huddle to kill recurring defects, a shared label printer/template hack that ends “mystery fonts,” and simple ergo tweaks that speed work without beating people up.

Foremen, supers, and craft leads: if you’re tired of late-night punchlists and “come back later,” press play and make first-pass green your new normal. #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 part of your journey can you embrace today, and how can the courage to keep growing bring you closer to a fulfilling life?"

Enjoy Episode 40 of The Search for Fulfillment. #BeNEXT