Welcome to Construction Genius. Today's guest is Frank Cespedes, a Harvard Business School professor and former managing partner at a Professional Services firm. With extensive experience in go-to-market strategy globally, he's also contributed to prestigious publications like Harvard Business Review and the Wall Street Journal. Frank joins the show to discuss his book, "Aligning Strategy and Sales," emphasizing the crucial link between strategy clarity and effective sales direction. The convers...
Apr 30, 2024•45 min•Ep. 276
Managing a business team is pretty much like handling a sports team. That’s why former football coach Les O’Hara now applies his game plan on the field to creating high-performing professional teams. Joining Eric Anderton, he shares how he applies football concepts and lessons to the construction business, which results in better teamwork and highly desirable outputs. Les also talks about the concept of a 90-minute block (and how to spend it wisely) and his four-quadrant approach to helping othe...
Apr 23, 2024•47 min•Ep. 275
Process improvement holds significant potential for enhancing the profitability of your construction business, and the cherry on top is that it is where you have the most amount of control. Join Eric Anderton and guest, Moustafa Moursy of Push Analytics, as they explore the fundamental concepts of strategic process management and how they can revolutionize the way construction businesses operate. From defining processes and identifying key areas for improvement to balancing detail and flexibilit...
Apr 16, 2024•48 min•Ep. 274
A good construction project is not just about the looks. It goes beyond aesthetics, strategically marrying form and function together. Eric Anderton sits down with Blima Ehrentreu , Founder/CEO of The Designers Group , to discuss the transformative power of a purpose-driven design. She discusses the major differences between good and bad designs, as well as her various approaches in coming up with aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional outputs. Blima also shares how she was able to create ...
Apr 09, 2024•40 min•Ep. 273
Having a strong presence on social media isn’t just about physical structures, but about creating genuine connections that set the groundwork for success in the digital era. In this episode, we have Emma Tessler, founder of Ninety Five Media, reveal the construction CEO’s guide to building a strong social media foundation. Discover why diversifying your social media team, including field personnel, is crucial for authentic engagement. She also discusses how storytelling can set your construction...
Apr 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 272
As we enter an age of rapid digital transformation, we can no longer hold off AI from entering the way we do our business. Construction is not an exception. How do we navigate this AI revolution? In this episode, Eric Anderton is with Daniel Hewson , the data capability manager at Elecosoft where he oversees the development of overall data and AI strategy. Daniel shares his expertise to help us understand how AI is impacting construction, shedding light on the misconceptions of this technology. ...
Mar 26, 2024•41 min•Ep. 271
Building a powerhouse team begins with clear communication, scalable processes, and the courage to address challenges head-on. Build not just a team, but a legacy of success through direct and effective leadership. In this episode, we have Sean Hamilton to discuss how to build a strong team, with scalable processes and direct communication. From dealing with responsibilities to overcoming communication hurdles, Sean shares how to handle team dynamics and foster a culture of accountability. He st...
Mar 19, 2024•35 min•Ep. 270
A carpenter becoming a CEO shows how resilience, ambition, and staying true to one's purpose can lead to transformation. In this episode, we have Charlie Fitzgibbon, a former school-goer who initially didn't want to go, who now works as a carpenter and runs a successful construction company, Edinburgh Construction . Today, he shares his journey with us, spilling the secrets to managing growth, overcoming recruitment challenges, picking your battles in the construction industry, and more. Tune in...
Mar 12, 2024•54 min•Ep. 269
In the construction landscape, quality is not a luxury but a necessity for you to have an edge against your competitors. Prioritizing your quality brings a multitude of benefits to your business and customers. In this episode, Matthew Kleiman , the co-founder & CEO of Cumulus Digital Systems , explains how construction business owners use systems thinking to identify and eliminate quality issues. Using his rational and high-quality manufacturing approach, Matthew was able to share his insigh...
Mar 05, 2024•42 min
Time is money, and it is a non-renewable resource. Due to mismanagement with our schedules, it costs us so much in our business. But why do people struggle so much in managing schedules to complete a job on time? In this episode, Michael Pink , Chief Executive Officer of SmartPM , talks about the key to overcoming construction schedule delays. He also reveals that hiring schedulers is unnecessary because PMs should learn how to do it. That is the problem his company saw, and they decided to crea...
Feb 27, 2024•37 min•Ep. 267
Construction is not just about building. It's leading a revolution in how we create, innovate, and redefine progress. In this episode, Gonzalo Galindo , the CEO of Cemex Ventures , discusses the current status and future trends of Contech. Join us as he shows where technology will revolutionize construction, including supply chain efficiency, sustainability, and the use of new materials. Gonzalo details Cemex’s digitalization journey, from customer-centric approaches to fostering seamless intera...
Feb 20, 2024•44 min•Ep. 266
Have you ever bit on a project where you thought, "I nailed the schedule here," then you get going and you understand that you made a lot of mistakes that have a massive impact on your profitability? It happens a lot in construction. It doesn't mean you're a bad person, but it does mean that you need to do a much better job in construction estimating up front, analyzing the schedule and the risks associated with that schedule. That is the topic of conversation here on Construction Genius, with o...
Feb 13, 2024•47 min•Ep. 265
Transform your marketing by embracing human flaws and crafting pivot stories that captivate hearts, build trust, and redefine success. In this episode, Mike Synder , partner at Raptor USA and co-author of The Great Marketing Lie , discusses approaching marketing with a unique perspective—how embracing human flaws and the art of storytelling can lead to powerful transformations in your business strategies. He reveals the secrets of building trust through transparency, even in industries like cons...
Feb 06, 2024•46 min•Ep. 264
Building a resilient construction business is not about surviving the storm, it's about managing cash and crews to thrive through any challenge, even a recession. In this episode, Scott Peper joins us to discover the challenges and opportunities faced by the construction industry, especially in the turbulent waters of a recession. Scott explores the survival strategies needed for construction businesses, big or small, to weather a financial storm and venture afloat when facing a recession. He ex...
Jan 30, 2024•50 min•Ep. 263
Business can be an opportunity to help bring change, that is, if you know where to focus. This is where the triple bottom line principle comes in, and our guest today lives it to the last letter. In this episode of Construction Genius, Jonathan Orpin, founder of New Energy Works and Pioneer Millworks , shares how people, planet, and profit form the heart of his entrepreneurial journey. He talks about his experience in the green building movement, the importance of making a positive impact, and h...
Jan 23, 2024•38 min•Ep. 262
No one is perfect, and everyone is bound to commit mistakes in the workplace. But you’ll see a difference when you have a Safety Cop, securing a safe place to fail. Rod Courtney, a Certified Safety Technician, brings us The 8 Habits of a Highly Effective Safety Culture to guide organizations in establishing a safety culture. In this episode, Rod’s wisdom will help employees to fail safely in the business because failure is inevitable. He also identifies the ten forms of energies that cause death...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 261
Blach Construction is rewriting the blueprint of Silicon Valley, marrying design-build expertise with prefab innovation to redefine how we build our future. In this episode, we sit down with Dan Rogers , President of Blach Construction, a pioneering force in the world of design-build and prefab innovation. Dan is here to reveal the secrets behind Blach Construction's meteoric rise and its commitment to revolutionizing the construction landscape. From the fusion of design-build and prefab innovat...
Jan 09, 2024•45 min•Ep. 260
It is easy to depend on your gut feeling when hiring people into your team, but you cannot always do that. Joining Eric Anderton is Jonathan Porter-Whistman , CEO of PerceptionPredict.ai and WhoHire.com , who debunks the biggest myths of intuition surrounding the most common hiring practices. Jonathan explores the high risks of recruiting incompatible talent if you fail to understand the correlation between data-driven approach and human intuition. He also unveils the dysfunctions of high-perfor...
Jan 02, 2024•51 min•Ep. 259
Your brand identity is your unique claim of distinction. Therefore, you and your entire team must have clarity on how you want to present it to your target market for it to be truly meaningful and impactful. Eric Anderton chats with Tim Leon , President of Geile /Leon Marketing Communications , about the many things to consider when establishing and maintaining a consistent brand identity. Tim explains how to effectively communicate brand positioning and promise to both clients and employees, ma...
Dec 26, 2023•29 min•Ep. 258
No one dislikes consistent sales in their business. But what makes successful sales consistent in construction? Today, ripping off the walls behind his secrets in sales, Neil Rogers, the author of Bar Tips: Everything I Learned in Sales, I Learned Behind the Bar, explains the importance of having and defining the sales process. He also shares the simple steps to consistent sales success in construction. He also identifies some practices in bringing business development. Don’t miss this opportuni...
Dec 19, 2023•36 min•Ep. 257
Your genius is something you do better than other people. Identifying it is vital in your business because it brings so much value. In this episode, host Eric Anderton flies solo to bring light on how you, as a construction business owner, uncover, embrace, and leverage your unique genius. Only by doing that can you influence your company’s success, taking it to newer heights. From mindset shifts to making the commitment to fully embrace your genius, Eric gives us a show you won’t want to miss. ...
Dec 12, 2023•16 min•Ep. 256
Unlock the true potential of your construction business! Maximize your construction business potential by mastering hiring and management, leading with purpose, and turning networking events into growth opportunities. In this episode, we have David Hernandez, head of U.S. operations for Elecosoft , explore three crucial topics that can revolutionize your approach to growing your construction business. First up, he tackles the art of hiring and managing business development professionals. He disc...
Dec 05, 2023•24 min•Ep. 255
Today's guest spent years as a vet, but she will surely provide tremendous value in the construction industry. In this episode, Dawn Bloomer , the founder of Productive PressureTM , shares her insights on structuring your deal team in acquiring businesses and how to remove yourself from the center of your business to position it at an advantage once you leave on purpose or by accident. She also explains that doing so will help improve your quality of life and increase your company's value. But w...
Nov 28, 2023•44 min•Ep. 254
Failure isn't the end; it's your pathway to progress. Embrace it, learn from it, and let it fuel your journey towards success. In this compelling episode, host Eric Anderton welcomes empathic keynote speaker, writer, and coach Erin Thorpe. Today, Erin brings a refreshing perspective on how to navigate failure, both as a leader and as a team member. She explores how embracing failure as part of the learning process is not only essential but also an opportunity for personal and professional growth...
Nov 21, 2023•44 min•Ep. 253
The future of construction is modular, sustainable, and ready to evolve. Modular construction is transforming the way we build, addressing a housing deficit of over 7 million units with innovative solutions. In this episode, Roger Krulak , Founder and President of FullStack Modular , explores how modular construction is evolving into a mature player in the game. Throughout the episode, Roger takes us on a ride through the evolution of this approach, unpacks the necessity that fuels innovation, r...
Nov 14, 2023•27 min•Ep. 252
When all is said and done, where do you see your construction business going next succession-wise? This question is not at all very easy to answer; in fact, even the great ones fumble over their succession planning like Disney. The good thing is that we’re here to learn from their mistakes. In this episode, Eric Anderton flies solo to break down the winning strategies we can learn from Disney’s leadership missteps so we can avoid the succession sinkhole. He prepares a step-by-step guide on succe...
Nov 09, 2023•49 min
Many salespeople in the construction space often see themselves as builders instead of sellers. Because of this mindset, many fall short of achieving success in construction selling as they are only focusing on low-hanging fruits. Eric Anderton sits down with Tom Reber , Founder of The Contractor Fight , to discuss the best strategies for winning more projects. He explains how to get rid of your mediocre sales tactics and focus on genuine relationship-building approaches to become an elite sales...
Nov 07, 2023•37 min
An effective team has the strongest bond and connection. Appreciation is the sugar that sweetens the relationship within your team. In this episode, Jesse Hernandez , the Author of Becoming the Promise You Are Intended to Be , tackles how a systematized appreciation helps elevate construction teams. Building your relational capital requires a mindset shift to move away from being transactional to being transformational. Jesse shows us how he spends time with his team without being transactional....
Oct 31, 2023•39 min•Ep. 251
Working for a multi-billion-dollar construction or a small family business has pros and cons. But what is the difference between these types of companies? In this episode, Joel Lipsky , the President of Lipsky Construction , brings light to reigniting passion and preparing the next generation in the family construction business. He also shares how he integrates Virtual Construction Assistance into his business. One of the large organizations Joel works with caused burnout, which led him to a bre...
Oct 24, 2023•39 min•Ep. 249
Mastering equipment utilization is the key to unlocking construction success. Strategies for asset tracking and cost reduction can pave the way for maximum productivity and profit. In this episode, we are joined by Jason Perez , the co-founder and CEO of Yards , an authority on rental equipment utilization. Jason discusses the key factors of effective equipment utilization, unraveling the reasons behind both success stories and failures in the construction industry. He also shares simple strateg...
Oct 17, 2023•38 min•Ep. 248
