Ever feel like your team knows what’s expected—but still falls short, time and again? If you're a construction leader tired of repeating yourself, dealing with resistance to change, and constantly putting out fires, it may not be a people problem—it might be a standards problem. This episode reveals how vague expectations are undermining performance, and what to do about it. In this episode featuring host Bradley Hartmann and his 13-year-old son who is a catcher, you will: Discover how clear, do...
Aug 19, 2025•23 min
Do you know which of your leadership decisions will pay off—and which are quietly setting you up for delays, cost overruns, or missed opportunities? In this episode, you’ll learn how legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver built a career on outthinking his opponents—thanks to lessons learned from his mob-connected bookie, Uncle Bud. We’ll break down how these same probabilistic thinking skills can transform how you lead construction projects, forecast challenges, and guide your team to consistentl...
Aug 12, 2025•24 min
In this episode of the Construction Leadership Podcast , host Bradley Hartmann asks a powerful question: Are you thinking too small? He’s joined by Christy Avalos, founder of Accessology and visionary behind Bethel Cannon Ranch in Whitewright, Texas—a one-of-a-kind, 83-acre social enterprise blending accessibility, healing, and community impact. From Highland cows and reindeer rentals to vocational training and paid transitional jobs for veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those rec...
Aug 05, 2025•13 min
In episode 470 of The Construction Leadership Podcast , host Bradley Hartmann explores a powerful shift in how companies can better support young talent through meaningful relationships—by prioritizing partnerships over mentorships. Sparked by a client’s initiative to launch a formal mentorship program, Bradley reflects on why many such programs often fail despite good intentions. Drawing on real-world insights from companies across the industry, he uncovers common pitfalls in “corporate force-f...
Jul 29, 2025•10 min
In episode 469 of the Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann shares insights on leading with poise based on the advice of Nick Murray. Nick Murray, the tribal elder among leading financial advisors, hails from outside the construction industry, yet his leadership advice is rooted in the tendencies of human nature that affect us all. Murray emphasizes emotional control, trusting thoughtful long-term plans, and viewing equity investments as company ownership rather than mere stocks...
Jul 22, 2025•13 min
This podcast episode explores the leadership lessons of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, drawing parallels between his naval strategies and modern business leadership. Host Bradley Hartmann and guest Paul Redwood discuss Nelson's innovative tactics, courage, and ability to lead from the front during the Battle of Trafalgar. The episode emphasizes Nelson's key leadership traits: technical mastery, willingness to take risks, and trust in his team. For listeners, particularly those in sales and leaders...
Jul 15, 2025•28 min
In episode 467, we flash back to December of 2021 to revisit the life and leadership philosophy of American war hero and former Vice Presidential candidate Admiral James Stockdale. The episode focuses on his experiences as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and his stoic approach to surviving extreme adversity. Hartmann delves into Stockdale's key influences, particularly the philosophical work "The Enchiridion" by Epictetus, which emphasizes controlling one's emotions and focusing on what's within on...
Jul 08, 2025•19 min
In episode 466 of the Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann delves into John W. Miller’s new book, 'The Last Manager: How Earl Weaver Tricked, Tormented, and Reinvented Baseball.' Hartmann explains why this is the best leadership book he’s read in the past two years, highlighting Weaver's innovative use of analytics and his unique leadership style that led to his success as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Miller, a journalist, high school baseball coach, and former scout w...
Jul 01, 2025•32 min
In episode 465 of the Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartman meets up with Chad Raymond, Division Director of the Henry Company . They discuss fostering innovation, team growth, and effective leadership. Listeners will learn actionable strategies to enhance their teams' innovativeness, including the importance of keeping an open mind, utilizing a victory log, and fostering proactive habits. Chad shares his experiences and insights on balancing reactive and proactive tasks, encoura...
Jun 24, 2025•37 min
In episode 464, host Bradley Hartmann shares a personal story about his attempts to sell an executive of a multi-billion-dollar company on a new idea. It’s a story about persuasion, business development, and entrepreneurial resilience. Hartmann shares his journey of launching a startup after the great recession, including details about his struggle to build a business. The episode provides listeners with an intimate look at the challenges of entrepreneurship, including financial pressures and th...
Jun 17, 2025•15 min
Episode 463 features the expert builder panel from the 6th Annual Sales Fundamentals Workshop held in April 2025 in Fort Worth. The panel features industry leaders Brent Hull of Hull Millwork, Matthew Schmidt of PulteGroup, Bobby Krueger of The Krueger Group and MAVREK Development, Nathan Marsh of V&M Development, Jose Berlanga of Tricon Homes, and Dennis Casey of Cassity Jones Lumber Co. The panel discusses sales strategies, overcoming challenges in construction, and improving customer rela...
Jun 10, 2025•35 min
In episode 462, Dr. Matthew Reyes takes over as host to explore the University of Oklahoma's specialized MBA program tailored for construction professionals. Dr. Reyes and guest Bradley Hartmann discuss the origins of the program, challenges faced, and curriculum designed to build stronger leaders in the construction industry. Reyes and Hartmann delve into the importance of leadership training, communication skills, and decision-making tools like the 'inversion booklet' and 'Better Decisions App...
Jun 03, 2025•37 min
Episode 461 features a candid conversation between Bradley Hartmann and Adam Kouri from DPR Construction , exploring leadership, personal growth, and team dynamics. Listeners will gain insights into effective leadership strategies, including managing emotions under pressure, understanding "shadow behaviors," and building team health. The discussion covers key leadership principles like treating people fairly but not identically, focusing on project success over individual wins, and creating an e...
May 28, 2025•32 min
In episode 460 Hartmann and TJ Shaheen (Executive Vice President at Builders’ General) record before and after segments while together in New York City as they saw Glengarry GlenRoss Live on Broadway starring Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr, and Bob Odenkirk (aka Saul from Better Call Saul ). The conversation explores sales dynamics, leadership, and professional growth through the lens of the famous play about real estate salesmen. Key insights for listeners include: •The importance of generating your ...
May 20, 2025•32 min
Episode 459 features Jose Berlanga, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Tricon Homes in Houston, sharing insights about business, real estate development, and entrepreneurship. Berlanga discusses his journey from starting in various industries to becoming a successful home builder, emphasizing key lessons like developing contractor loyalty, being patient with business growth, and not falling in love with your product. Key takeaways for listeners include: •Financial literacy is learnable, eve...
May 13, 2025•40 min
In episode 458 of the Construction Leadership Podcast sponsored by LBM Journal and facilitated by Rick Schumacher, Bradley Hartmann deconstructs the elements of sales leadership detailed in his new book “The Air Raid Sales Offense.” Joining Hartmann are three industry leaders: Bob Eakin of Curtis Lumber (NY, VT), Tina Breen of Manufacturers Reserve Supply (NJ), and Colby Chandler of Cassity Jones (TX). These leaders reveal how top-performing sales teams are reimagining their approach to customer...
May 06, 2025•41 min
Episode 457 focuses on Brad Jacobs' recent acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply, featuring insights from industry experts Craig Webb and Jon Vaughan. The discussion explores the strategic rationale behind the “hostile-adjacent” takeover, with Jacobs aiming to double Beacon's profits in three years using his proven playbook. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on industry consolidation, potential technological innovations in building materials distribution, and the challenges of integrating...
Apr 29, 2025•27 min
In episode 456 host Bradley Hartmann explores the dangers of overcommitment through the lens of two contrasting figures: Jim Valvano, the national champion basketball coach at N.C. State and Cal Newport, the Georgetown University professor and author. Bradley reflects on Valvano's life, highlighting how his boundless energy and desire to seize every opportunity ultimately led to burnout and potential health consequences. He draws parallels to his own struggle with saying yes to everything and in...
Apr 22, 2025•16 min
Episode 455 is Part II of Jim Sobeck’s negotiation principles drawn from Mario Puzo's "The Godfather". The discussion explores critical business insights, including how to handle negotiations effectively, the importance of patience, and why taking business personally matters. Sobeck shares personal stories from his entrepreneurial career, highlighting strategies like never giving something for free without getting something in return, understanding your walk-away point, and surrounding yourself ...
Apr 15, 2025•31 min
Episode 454 features Jim Sobeck’s return to the Construction Leadership Podcast as he discusses negotiation and leadership lessons from the legendary Mario Puzo novel "The Godfather" novel. Sobeck, a construction industry veteran, shares insights on effective communication, saying no gracefully, and maintaining emotional control in business interactions. The episode explores key themes like persistence, position power, and the importance of apologizing sincerely. Listeners will gain practical wi...
Apr 08, 2025•26 min
Jon Vaughn returns to the show to discuss leadership through the lens of sports, with a particular focus on basketball. Jon and Bradley dive deep into Rick Pitino's transformation of St. John's basketball program, exploring how innovative strategies and intensive coaching can drive success in both sports and business. The conversation covers key leadership topics like competitive differentiation, motivating young talent, and effective negotiation principles. Listeners will gain insights into: •H...
Apr 01, 2025•34 min
This podcast episode explores leadership principles through the lens of inversion—focusing on what not to do to become a better leader. Bradley Hartmann shares insights from CNS 5632:Leadership Principles in Construction within the University of Oklahoma’s MBA program for construction professionals, which was heavily influenced by Charlie Munger's mental models. The episode provides a comprehensive list of leadership "don'ts" developed collaboratively with students, covering critical areas like ...
Mar 25, 2025•25 min
Episode 451 dissects a clip from The Tim Ferriss Show featuring inventor Danny Hillis as he shares an entertaining story about working his way into Marvin Minsky's AI Lab at MIT. How? By living out our leadership tagline, “You are owed nothing. Deliver value first.” He proactively solved problems and sought ways to be genuinely useful. Listeners will gain insights into: 1.Building meaningful professional relationships 2.The importance of expertise and problem-solving 3.How to approach mentorship...
Mar 18, 2025•21 min
In episode 450 of the Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann interviews Dr. Sarah Buchner, a remarkable entrepreneur whose journey took her from being an impoverished 12-year-old carpenter in rural Austria to become a Stanford-educated tech founder. Buchner shares her inspiring story of overcoming societal barriers to build Trunk Tools , an AI-powered platform revolutionizing construction technology. You will gain insights into: -The importance of creating a culture that embraces...
Mar 11, 2025•36 min
In episode 449 of the Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann reunites with Dave Reichert for an in-depth exploration of business growth, family dynamics, and leadership evolution. Eight years after his first appearance, Dave reveals how Davis-Hawn Lumber Company has transformed through strategic acquisitions, technological innovations, and the integration of his three sons into the family business. This is an inside look at successfully scaling a lumber and millwork company while...
Mar 04, 2025•37 min
In episode 448, host Bradley Hartmann discusses the importance of having robust, reliable processes that can withstand economic cycles. Using legendary physician Richard Feynman’s "cargo cult" story as an analogy, this episode emphasizes the need to challenge assumptions and understand the true drivers of success, rather than relying on tribal wisdom. Key takeaways include: 1) Develop a "process stack" that defines the critical steps, activities, skills, and tools for key processes like sales 2)...
Feb 25, 2025•16 min
Episode 447 features Ed DeAngelis, CEO of EDA Contractors . Ed provides a masterclass in effective leadership for construction companies. DeAngelis shares how he has built a thriving, 450-employee organization by embracing "humanity as a strategy”—refusing to “keep the personal stuff at home" and embracing the fulness of each employee. DeAngelis discusses the importance of vulnerability, trust, and creating a fun, supportive work culture that is also serious about the results it delivers to clie...
Feb 18, 2025•32 min
Episode 446 is a must-listen for any business leader looking to grow their influence and impact. Storytelling expert Paul Kix shares invaluable insights on how crafting compelling narratives can transform your career and company. Learn first-hand how top organizations like Disney and ESPN leverage storytelling to drive revenue. Discover strategies to uncover the limiting stories you tell yourself and reframe them for success. Paul also provides a behind-the-scenes look at his acclaimed books and...
Feb 11, 2025•36 min
Unlock game-changing sales tactics with this exclusive excerpt from Bradley Hartmann’s November 2024 guest appearance on The Lumber Slingers Podcast with Natalie Heacock and Chelsea Zuccato of Patrick Lumber. In this episode, you’ll discover an actionable framework for crafting voicemails that demand a callback as well as other tactical sales management and sales rep skills to help your team differentiate and deliver value first. They also discuss Hartmann’s new book, The Air Raid Sales Offense ...
Feb 06, 2025•25 min
Exclusive excerpt from Bradley Hartmann’s new book, The Air Raid Sales Offense —a sales philosophy based on simplicity, fearlessness, optimism, and fun. It draws parallels between the innovative Air Raid football offense and a new approach to sales that makes it easier for customers to buy. Hartmann shares his personal story and passion for the topic, introducing a system to help sales teams deliver value first and make the sales process enjoyable for both buyers and sellers. With the focus on v...
Feb 04, 2025•28 min
