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Episode 113: TOOLS! Part 1 Team Yellow vs. Team Red vs…
Episode 113
There's an awful lot of brand loyalty for tools in the trades and there are good reasons for that, but there’s also some ridiculous “team” mentality at play there. This episode considers what tools are the best choice and why someone might choose one over the other.
Building Consensus: Episode 112 - Hungry Hungry Hippos with The Modern Craftsman
Episode 112
Special guests Nick Schiffer and Tyler Grace continue the conversation with Brandon and Travis they began on the Modern Craftsmen podcast in this episode, but with a specific question in mind. When does it make sense to staff up, grow your company or even start another business to serve the demand you’re seeing in the market? Or does it make sense to let those demands be served by others while owner / operators maintain limited volume to offer more focused or boutique services
Building Consensus: Episode 111 Should You Work for Friends and Family?
Episode 111
Working for clients with whom you have an existing personal relationship can be more complicated since there’s more at stake beyond the build. When the way the project is going can effect the personal relationships of your spouse or your kids, you have to factor that into the risk beyond that of a regular construction project. Would we be better off avoiding this risk altogether, or is it our responsibility to care for these uniquely associated clients?
Building Consensus: Episode 110 - Scheduling Apps and Sharing Info with Clients
Episode 110
Is there value in sharing detailed schedule with clients? How much is it worth to them? When we assign realistic costs to the time spent implementing, updating and maintaining software based solutions for schedule and budget tracking we find clients less interested in covering that amount, despite their desire for constant updates and access. Is it better to commit the time and money to a software platform or utilize lower tech solutions to keep everyone in the loop?
Building Consensus: Episode 109 - Subcontractors vs. Employees
Episode 109
What do you subcontract and what do you self perform? Can your subs complete things with the same result your crew would deliver? When building we are faced with a decision as to what work we will subcontract and what we’ll handle in-house.
Building Consensus: Episode 108 Master Builder
Episode 108
History going back to the ancient Egyptians suggests that the Master Builders of that time weren’t just overseers but also designed and constructed things with their own hands. In todays residential build process things are way more specialized, so the guys discuss what it takes to be a builder these days and how each of them measure up.
Episode 104: Rage Against The Energy Code
Episode 104
Travis and Brandon discuss building permits and energy regulations in Kansas City, Missouri, focusing on insulation standards and their impact on construction costs and affordability. They emphasize the trade-offs between upfront costs and long-term benefits of energy-efficient housing, with successful examples like high school students building energy-efficient houses annually.
Episode 103: Can People Change?
Episode 103
Travis and Brandon discuss the challenges of implementing change in a business setting, focusing on team members' mindset and behavior. They express frustration with the difficulty of fostering lasting transformation, emphasizing the need for alignment with organizational goals and understanding change limitations.
Episode 102: Specs vs. Custom
Episode 102
The majority of new homes in America will be speculative projects, with custom homes offering higher profit margins. This raises questions about whether building spec homes makes sense, as it can lead to uninformed buyers and a race to the bottom, impacting the economy and environment. The hosts discuss their experiences and opinions on this topic.