Work and Talk Podcast | Building Builders in the Trades

Most electricians don't fail.They get comfortable.The longer you're in the trade, the easier it is to believe you've seen it all, learned enough, and have nothing left to improve.In this conversation with Jeffrey Lorenzano of JL Electrical, we discuss why some electricians continue growing into leaders, foremen, project managers, and business owners while others stay in the same place for years.It needs electricians willing to keep learning, keep adapting, and keep pushing themselves long after they become good at the work.Welcome to Energize Us Edu Inc — Your #for1 Channel for all things Construction & Skilled Trades 🚀At Energize Us Edu, we are your one-stop shop for all things trades-related. Throughout 2023–2024, we’ve traveled the country interviewing the most influential tradespeople, sharing their stories, and documenting every step of our own journey to help you build a successful career.🔧 We break down:How to get started in the tradesThe mindset and tools needed to go proReal-world advice and mentorship from industry leadersThis isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about building a future.🎧 Follow our journey, get inspired, and take control of your skilled trades path today.📌 Explore More:🌐 Visit Our Website: https://energizeus-edu.today🎙️ Listen to the Podcast: https://podcast.energizeus-edu.today/📘 Free Blueprint eBook: https://info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energizeusedu/

🎙️ In the last episode, we talked about the realities of being an electrical apprentice and the things nobody warns you about when entering the trade.But one topic always comes up once electricians gain experience on the jobsite: money.Many apprentices and journeymen wonder if electrical contractors are making huge profits while electricians struggle with wages and rising costs of living.At the same time, contractors carry the financial risk of running a business — payroll, insurance, tools, trucks, permits, and project liability.So what is the truth?📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

Every electrician remembers their early apprentice years.

You’re learning tools, running material, trying to keep up with the pace of the jobsite.

But after a while something becomes obvious.

Some apprentices move forward quickly… while others stay stuck doing the same tasks.

So what actually makes the difference?

In this episode we break down the habits that experienced electricians notice immediately on a jobsite and the practical things apprentices can start doing today to grow faster in the trade.

🎙️ In this episode we break down the real blueprint for becoming a great electrician.We talk about what separates the electricians who level up from the ones who stay stuck as helpers for years. From understanding prints, asking better questions, taking ownership on the jobsite, and building the mindset that this trade demands.If you're an apprentice trying to figure things out, or a journeyman looking to sharpen your edge, this conversation is for you.The trades need more professionals who take pride in the work. This episode is about building that standard.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

🎙️ Is becoming an electrician still a smart move for an 18-year-old in 2026?For years the message was simple: go to college. But while that happened, the skilled trades kept aging. The average worker in construction is now in their 40s, and companies across the country are struggling to find the next generation.So if the opportunity is so big… why aren’t more young people entering the trades?In this episode we break down the real decision facing young people today. College vs apprenticeship, student debt vs earning while learning, and what a career as an electrician can actually look like over the next 10–20 years.Topics we cover:• Trade school vs college• The electrician career path (apprentice → journeyman → contractor)• Why the construction workforce keeps getting older• Opportunities coming from electrification, EV infrastructure, and grid upgrades• What an 18-year-old should really think about before entering the trades🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today🏗️ B.U.L.D. Association: info.energizeus-edu.today/buld-association📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

🎙️Most apprentices don’t quit because they’re weak.They quit because year one hits harder than anyone tells them.Low starting pay.No real mentorship.Toxic jobsite culture.Unclear growth path.Pressure at home.Pressure at work.And then we wonder why they leave.In this episode of The Builder Show, we break down the real reason apprentices walk away from electrical, construction, plumbing, and HVAC. Not theory. Not social media hype. Real experience and real numbers.Over 100,000 apprentices complete programs each year.Even more leave before finishing.So what’s actually going on inside the trades?Is it pay?Is it leadership?Is it culture?Is it unrealistic expectations?Or are we building workers instead of building leaders?If you’re:– An apprentice thinking about quitting– A journeyman frustrated with “this generation”– A contractor struggling with retention– Or someone considering joining the tradesYou need to hear this conversation.The trades aren’t glamorous.They aren’t always fun.But they can absolutely be worth it — if the system is built right.🗣️ New episodes every week — hit subscribe so you never miss a moment.🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

Electricians attack other electricians more than anyone else.
Pricing wars. Ego battles. Comment section toxicity.
Undercutting. Belittling. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years.”

And then we wonder why the public doesn’t respect the trade.

In this episode of The Builder Show, we stop hiding from it.

We talk about:

• Why electricians attack other electricians
• The insecurity behind the ego
• Why undercutting is killing pricing power
• The leadership vacuum in the trade
• How this behavior is holding the entire industry back

This isn’t about being soft.
This is about accountability.

If we don’t address this now, the next generation will inherit the same broken culture.

Electricians — it’s time to look in the mirror.

🎙 The Builder Show
📅 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
⏰ 7AM Eastern / 4AM Pacific
🎧 Work & Talk Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple

Drop your honest take below.

Do electricians really hate each other… or are we just avoiding the truth?

Gen Z electricians are going to make more money than Millennials.

Not because they’re better.
Not because they’re stronger.
Because they’re adapting faster.

In this full episode of The Builder Show, we break down the generational divide inside the electrical trade:

• Do younger electricians actually have it easier?

• Are Millennials getting comfortable?

• Does “30 years in the trade” still mean something?

• Is loyalty hurting income?

• Does access to YouTube, AI, and instant information change everything?

This isn’t about disrespecting experience.

It’s about mindset.

Every generation thinks they paid more dues.
Every generation thinks they worked harder.
But the electricians who evolve with the tools available today are the ones who win.

Electricians — is this about age… or about adaptability?

🎙 The Builder Show
📅 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
⏰ 7AM Eastern / 4AM Pacific
🎧 Work & Talk Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts

Every electrician has seen it —Union vs non-union.

Scab. Rat.

Name-calling instead of real discussion.

In this episode of The Builder Show, we break down:Where terms like scab and rat actually came from

Why intent and character matter more than labels

Why union vs non-union isn’t a black-and-white issue in 2026How OSHA, DOL, and state licensing actually work

What apprentices should really be asking before choosing a path

Most electricians are just trying to:

Show up.

Work safe.

Get paid fairly.

Go home with the same fingers they came in with.This episode isn’t anti-union or anti-non-union.It’s pro-electrician.If you’re an apprentice, journeyman, contractor, or shop owner trying to figure out what path makes sense for you, this conversation is for you.

Drop a comment:

Are you union or non-union?

Why did you choose that path?

What would you do differently?🗣️ New episodes every week — hit subscribe so you never miss a moment.

🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram

🎙️ Most electricians are told the same thing over and over:“Just do good work.”“I’ve been doing this for 30 years.”“Let your work speak for itself.”And that mindset is exactly why so many electricians stay stuck.In this episode of The Builder Show, we break down why electricians keep getting this one thing wrong — and why quality work alone is no longer what gets you paid, hired, promoted, or booked.We talk honestly about:Why customers don’t hire based on ‘clean work’Why responsiveness, clarity, speed, and predictability win jobs firstHow the electrical industry is entering a full reset between 2026–2029Why the next few years are the biggest opportunity electricians have had in decadesHow apprentices, journeymen, and contractors can separate themselves without working harderWe also address the uncomfortable truth:White-collar investors are buying electrical companies — and running them successfully — without knowing how to bend pipe.That should tell you something.This conversation is for:Electrical apprentices trying to stand outJourneymen who feel cappedContractors struggling to sell or stay bookedElectricians tired of toxic jobsite culture and ego-driven adviceIf you’re an electrician coming into the trade in 2026 or beyond, you’re starting at the best possible time — but only if you understand what actually creates value now.🗣️ New episodes every week — hit subscribe so you never miss a moment.🎧 Listen now on Work N Talk.📌 Explore More:🌐 Website: energizeus-edu.today🎙️ More Episodes: podcast.energizeus-edu.today📘 Free eBook: info.energizeus-edu.today/blueprint-ebook📸 Follow Us: @energizeusedu on Instagram