

Construction Genius
Eric Anderton
Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration."
This show interviews hard-working construction company owners and executives who share their wisdom, perspectives, and lessons learned from decades of experience bidding, planning, and building profitable projects. Topics include leadership, strategic planning, conflict resolution, niche identification, succession planning, talent management, business development, and business growth.
Industry expert, Eric Anderton also shares his insights about how construction company owners can increase project profit by improving communication, running productive meetings, and attracting, developing, and retaining talented leaders.
Tune in each week and get practical inspiration for how to build people, projects, and profits.
"I know of no genius but the genius of hard work." John Ruskin
This show interviews hard-working construction company owners and executives who share their wisdom, perspectives, and lessons learned from decades of experience bidding, planning, and building profitable projects. Topics include leadership, strategic planning, conflict resolution, niche identification, succession planning, talent management, business development, and business growth.
Industry expert, Eric Anderton also shares his insights about how construction company owners can increase project profit by improving communication, running productive meetings, and attracting, developing, and retaining talented leaders.
Tune in each week and get practical inspiration for how to build people, projects, and profits.
"I know of no genius but the genius of hard work." John Ruskin
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 21, 2020 • 57min
From One Generation to the Next: How to Prepare Tomorrow's Leaders, Today
Most leaders set career goals, whether it's becoming a senior partner or a company executive. But the journey towards achieving those goals is the biggest challenge that we actually face. In this week's podcast episode, I have a great discussion with Eric Jones, President, and CEO of Foushée. We talked about his journey from the Naval academy to construction, and how he went in headstrong and gathered experience along the way as he traveled the leadership path towards eventual partnership in his company. We explore the importance of letting go of your ego in making important decisions and how he steered the company towards success when he became CEO. We also discuss how Eric's journey has prepared him to help the next generation of Foushée leaders travel a similar route with the goal of being the third generation of Foushée partners. Tune in to this episode and learn how to remain unfazed and steadfast in your goal and ultimately build the path towards success. What's Discussed in This Episode: Eric's journey from the Naval academy to construction [03:09] How he underwent a reflective process at a young age [05:01] How his youth affected his decision [05:56] Eric as a son and a father [08:35] The essence of having field experience [10:44] Eric's advice to aspiring partners [19:02] His entrance to Foushée [13:54] The value of forging quality relationships with clients [19:41] How he took his company to greater heights by exploring new opportunities [20:44] Project managers should focus on mentoring project engineers [22:43] Taking Eric's story as an example for aspiring leaders [24:42] Why not being slated for the leadership role didn't affect Eric at all [28:21] Laying down the path towards leadership [29:13] Transitioning to the partnership role [25:27] Letting go of your ego is a big part in decision making [30:31] How the owners removed themselves from the company [33:35] Creating a dry run for the ownership transition [35:14] Becoming the president and CEO of Foushée [32:35] Lesson learned: You can't plan for things you don't know [36:43] The essence of forging a bond and having daily fear of the unknown [39:49] Passion: A key ingredient in overcoming challenges [40:55] Navigating the company through the dot-com bubble burst [38:10] Drawing experience from previous leaders [45:47] Always prepare for a downturn [46:35] Maintaining relationships with laid-off employees [48:28] Using the dot-com bubble experience in today's crisis [42:49] Three pieces of advice for other leaders [51:45] Eric's favorite restaurant [54:33] About the Guest: Eric Jones is the president and CEO of Foushée, a commercial and general contractor based in the greater Seattle area that focuses on pre-construction and construction management for offices, automobile dealerships, parking garages, and athletic clubs. Resources: Eric Jones's restaurant recommendation when in Seattle (https://thaiginger.com/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

Jul 14, 2020 • 23min
79 - How to Discover and Leverage Your Company's Unique Personality
Each person has a unique personality. Companies are made up of people, and each company has a unique personality, or way of behaving. This week marks Part 2 of our four-part series explaining the Triangle One Page Planning Process. In this episode, we'll focus on how to discover and leverage your company's unique personality. I will cover: The definition of personality, The distinction between personality and values, How to discover and clarify your company's unique personality, How to use your personality as a competitive advantage, and How it works with purpose to provide a solid foundation for your company. Start leveraging your company's unique personality to your advantage and stand out from the rest of the competition by listening to today's podcast episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: The four fundamental personality types [00:09] Values defined [04:39] Personality is a reflection of the company [05:34] What is personality and how does it differ from values? [03:56] Personality and purpose should be aligned [06:35] The benefit of discovering your company's personality [07:49] Being technically and/or ethically sound doesn't equate to being a good fit [08:56] How personality affects the success of your company [09:55] How to discover and clarify your unique personality [07:13] The importance of personality compatibility to your company's success [12:30] Always drive towards hiring people who are personality-fit [13:20] Using personality as a competitive advantage [11:16] Purpose and personality are the bedrock of a successful company [15:46] Why purpose and personality drives your business [16:26] Vance Lancaster, VP of Lancaster-Burns on purpose and personality [18:46] How personality works together with purpose for your business to succeed [14:43] Set aside a meeting to define personality [20:30] Communicate your personality with the rest of the company members [21:07] Three steps you can take to find purpose and personality [19:59] Resources: Do you need help clarifying your company's unique personality? You could benefit from engaging an expert meeting facilitator that knows construction. Here's what Vance Lancaster, Vice President of Lancaster-Burns says about working with Eric on the Triangle One Page Plan process: You helped us understand what our Purpose, Personality, Plan, and Priority is. We probably had an opportunity to do this 10 years ago, but we didn't take it. I can't imagine how much further along we'd be if we had. It's now a tool we use in every personnel review, conversation, quarterly meeting, and interview. It's a foundation of what this organization is about, and we use it to help everybody understand that. Clients come in and we use this triangle to help them understand what type of contractor we are. To chat with Eric about if and how he can help go to his website: www.ericanderton.com/contact Books mentioned in this episode: Patrick Lencioni's The Advantage (https://www.amazon.com/Advantage-Organizational-Everything-Business-Lencioni-ebook/dp/B006ORWT3Y) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

Jul 7, 2020 • 33min
78 - Boosting Performance and Profits by Inspiring Safety Leadership
In the construction industry there are many strategies to generate and increase profits, including safety. However, with some construction companies, instead of creating a balance, we see a pendulum that swings between productivity and safety, undermining the truth that a safe company is a profitable company. In this week's podcast episode, I have a great conversation with Larry Markham, co-owner and founder of SAFE (Safety Associates For Employers, LLC). He stresses the importance of prioritizing safety in the workplace and how it affects profitability, how the safety culture starts at the top and how CEOs can demonstrate this culture personally to their employees. We also talk about making the right financial investments when it comes to safety, and what the safety culture will look like in 5-10 years from now. Tune in to this episode and gain valuable insights regarding the need for a safety culture in the construction industry. What's Discussed in This Episode: Larry talks about how his passion for safety was developed [1:49] Balancing boosting performance, profitability, and adherence to safety standards [3:17] How to balance production and safety [4:06] What sets apart the top 20 percent of contractors who adhere to safety [5:33] Practical examples of the practice of safety [6:33] Safety culture starts at the top and is sustained by those in the bottom [7:26] The importance of coaching [8:42] The safety coach (who to hire) [9:28] Balancing the letter of the law and the spirit of the law in terms of safety [10:34] Advice for companies trying to balance regulations and execution [11:44] Successful vs failed safety initiatives [12:40] Running an effective tailgate meeting in terms of safety [13:55] Actionable steps to gear towards a safety culture [17:33] Safety leadership and safety management [19:22] Making the financial investments towards achieving safety goals [22:05] Three immediate actions to perform safety at a high level [25:11] How construction CEO's should spearhead a culture of safety [27:05] The safety culture in the next 5-10 years [29:50] About the Guest: Larry's health and safety experiences began in 1978 operating his own businesses. He values quality health and safety compliance and training for employees and subcontractors to better control liability and workers compensation insurance costs affecting bottom-line profit. In 2011, Larry began training employees and sub-contractors in body mechanics, lifting and stretching warm-up exercises to reduce injuries. He understands challenges employers face with constantly changing regulations to running a profitable business. He assists companies of all sizes in private, public, government, military and mining projects. No job is too big or small. With a passion for health and safety, Larry, and his wife Cathy, formed SAFE- Safety Associates For Employers, LLC to provide Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Compliance, Education, Staffing and Training. They offer services to Construction, General Industry and Mining combined with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Working for business owners and decision-makers, Larry and Cathy deliver results that enhance and improve employee attitudes, efficiency, leadership, performance, profitability, and quality by promoting the value of workplace safety. Resources: Visit the SAFE website (https://safety4employers.com/) Learn more about SAFE trainings (https://safety4employers.com/training/) Contact Larry through... Phone (775-843-8318) Email (1larrymarkham@gmail.com) Where to stay and eat in Reno: The Atlantis Hotel (https://atlantiscasino.com/) The Oyster Bar at the Atlantis (https://atlantiscasino.com/dining/fine-dining/sky-terrace-oyster-bar) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

Jun 30, 2020 • 26min
77 - Go Deeper: How to Define Purpose and Spark Your Business Success
The basic purpose of every business is to make money. But if you want to stand out from the competition, you need to define what your business's deeper purpose is. Most successful businesses know what that is and it usually goes beyond the desire to make and have more financially. This week's podcast episode is Part 1 of a four-part series aimed at the four critical questions that will help you to structure a one-page plan to drive your business. I begin this series with defining the deeper purpose of your company. I'll cover: Why having a deep business purpose is important, How to craft your purpose statement, with examples from real-life construction companies, How to use your purpose to guide business decisions. If you haven't figured out yet what your business's deeper purpose is, dive into this episode and get the inspiration you need to take action in crafting your very own purpose statement. What's Discussed in This Episode: Analogy of cars and business [1:26] Overview of podcast episode [3:29] The 'Why' question [4:36] Deeper purpose keeps you from a life of regret [6:19] Deeper purpose makes you unique and stand out [6:58] Deeper purpose keeps you from a life of grasping [7:12] Deeper purpose leads to fulfillment [7:39] Deeper purpose enables you to make the contribution your business is designed for [7:40] Why having a deep business purpose is important [5:21] Why spending time defining your deep purpose is vital [8:37] The concept of having skin in the game [8:50] Gather your core team [9:20] Bring a facilitator in [10:34] Setting aside time to have a discussion [11:18] Ask the question 'why do we exist?' [11:48] Crafting a deeper purpose is not a marketing or team building exercise [13:38] Don't do it for the approval of others [14:09] How to craft the deep purpose of your business [8:44] Examples of purpose statements from real-life construction companies [15:32] The unique personal aspect of your purpose statement [17:35] Using the deep purpose of your business in your daily decisions [18:04] Authenticity in your purpose statement [20:56] Allow your deeper purpose to drive your business [23:22] Resources: Are you frustrated with the planning meetings that get nowhere? You could benefit from engaging an expert meeting facilitator that knows construction. Here's what Gregg Hall, President of Tilton-Pacific says about working with Eric: "Eric has a natural ability to drive the conversation where it needs to go. Despite having no prior experience with our company, our culture, or our team, he was able to steer the conversation in the right direction without wasting any time. Rather than telling us what to do, he helped us to solve our own problems just by the questions he asked and the way he facilitated the conversation. I would also add that Eric has a natural gift for bringing out the best in the participants. Everyone was engaged and no one felt restricted in their ability to share openly. His personal communication and leadership style, combined with a solid knowledge of construction, allowed us to accomplish so much more than expected in such a short period of time. It is for these reasons that I consider our time with Eric of great value and I have no hesitation in recommending Eric Anderton to others who might benefit from a skilled strategic planning facilitator who understands the construction industry." To chat with Eric about if and how he can help go to his website: www.ericanderton.com/contact Books mentioned in this episode: James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras Built to Last (https://www.amazon.com/Built-Last-Successful-Visionary-Essentials/dp/0060516402) Patrick Lencioni The Advantage (https://www.amazon.com/Advantage-Organizational-Everything-Business-Lencioni-ebook/dp/B006ORWT3Y) Verne Harnish Mastering the Rockefeller Habits (https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Rockefeller-Habits-Increase-Growing/dp/0978774957) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

Jun 23, 2020 • 36min
76 - How to Leverage LinkedIn to Sell More Work
Social media is here to stay and it would be a huge mistake to not incorporate it into a company's marketing strategy because who isn't on social nowadays right? Today's businesses are utilizing it for the purpose of engaging with their customers and their audience. Construction companies are lagging behind though but it's not too late to start and while there are a lot of social media platforms out there, Linkedin is by far the most effective way to reach your niche. In today's episode, I talk with Tats Nakagawa, he gives valuable information about how construction companies can leverage their engagement through social media. We discuss also what areas most construction companies are failing when it comes to their social strategies and why finding the right person to manage your business's social media accounts is very important. If you still haven't committed to using social media for boosting your business, let this episode motivate you to start now. What's Discussed in This Episode: Tats shares what social media platforms interested him way back 2004 [2:13] Mistakes construction companies do with their social media activities [3:03] What it takes to succeed in social media [4:30] Why now is the best time to utilize social media [5:45] Constructing a message that appeals to your audience [6:53] Finding persons internally able to manage social media accounts [10:35] Why social media is relevant nowadays [13:19] Linkedin Instagram Best social media platforms for construction companies [15:16] How to boost shared posts, articles, on Linkedin [17:57] Strategies to boost reach on Instagram [20:02] How to measure success on social media engagement [21:03] Authenticity in social media [23:39] Laying the foundations of a successful social media presence [26:25] An overview of Tat's company [33:13] About the Guest Tats Nakagawa is the COO of a roof coating manufacturing company called Castagra. They help contractors, and commercial property owners solve difficult roof (tar & gravel) coating challenges. He is also an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and expert on innovation & marketing. Over the past 20 years, Tats has launched hundreds of products and services, co-authored Overcoming Inventoritis: The Silent Killer of Innovation (Forward by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple), spoken to a variety of industry groups including: Chartered Accounts of Canada, Canadian Bar Association, The American Chamber of Commerce and The International Internet Marketing Association, written articles for Fast Company, Construction Today and Industry Week and been quoted on CBS News, Global TV, CBC and in The Globe and Mail and BC Business. Resources: Tats Nakagawa's Podcast (https://tatstalks.com/) Follow Tats Nakagawa on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatsuya/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tats_n/ Check out his company Website (https://www.castagra.com/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

Jun 16, 2020 • 15min
75 - How to Prepare to Have a Great Day, Every Day
In the construction industry preparation is vital for everything, from bidding, planning, and building work. We spend time preparing for things in the business so we can execute our work well; however, as important as it is to get the work done by careful preparation, have you stopped and asked if you are devoting that same amount of quality time to get ready for the day and ready for your leadership responsibilities? A great day doesn't just happen by chance, if we desire for a great day to unfold, we also need to prepare for it and that's what I talk about in this week's episode. I share my personal morning routine, the things I consider during reflection and how it helps me get into the right frame of mind so I am ready to face a great day, every day. I do not just wish to inform but challenge you as well to get into this daily practice although it's not easy. If you're up to the challenge of getting ready for a great day, tune in to this episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: My morning routine [0:56] Overview of podcast episode [1:19] Gratitude [2:04] Pain [4:24] Encouragement (Who needs encouragement?) Accountability (Who needs accountability?) Recognition (Who deserves a pat on the back?) Love [5:54] Know what your unique contribution is [8:37] Sobriety [10:09] Resources: I have spoken live and virtually to construction associations such as: The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) The Associated General Contractors of California (AGC of California) Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange (SRBX) Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) Construction Financial Management Association (Sacramento Chapter) Contact me about speaking to your association or convention go to: https://www.ericanderton.com/contact/ Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

Jun 9, 2020 • 52min
74 - The Prefab Queen: One Woman's Quest to Transform Construction
Change can be difficult, but if you look at it from a growth perspective you will see that the risks that come with change are nothing compared to what you can gain. Prefabrication is being rapidly adopted across Construction and presents lots of profit opportunities for contractors who are willing to learn and adapt. In this week's Construction Genius podcast episode I talk with Amy Marks. She is the Head of Industrialized Construction Strategy and Evangelism at Autodesk, but is better known in the industry as the Queen of Prefab. She gives valuable insights on why there is limited awareness of the prefab revolution that's happening, the barriers of the adoption of prefabrication, how to overcome the project mindset to move up the learning ladder, and a lot more. This is an interview that will open your mind to what change in this industry looks like and why you should adapt now. Here are some of the great takeaways from this episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: How Amy became known as the 'Queen of Prefab' [2:45] Amy's transition from Xsite Modular to Autodesk [3:38] Why there's a limited awareness of the industrial revolution that's happening [6:38] How companies struggle to pitch prefab to owners for better understanding [9:16] Barriers of the adoption of prefabrication to the AEC industry [11:18] Educating on how to integrate prefab and how it might affect designs upfront [13:49] Why making money should not get in the way of integrating prefab [15:58] The need to upgrade your skill set to integrate prefabrication [19:12] Reason why a disruption in the construction industry has not happened yet [20:25] Overcoming the project mindset to move up the learning ladder [22:11] What the industry will look like 5-10 years from now [26:00] How Autodesk is positioned to help those in construction scale [28:03] Where to find the resources to begin educating yourself [35:10] The government's role in driving prefabrication [39:27] Actions GC's and SC's can take to become more part of the AC ecosystem [44:45] About the Guest: Amy Marks is a leader, innovator and changemaker. Before joining Autodesk, she was the CEO of XSite Modular and pioneered a path to become the world's preeminent prefabrication consultant and is often called the Queen Of Prefab. Literally creating the role as the first prefabrication consultant. Amy champions the use of optimized prefabrication across many building types including high-tech, healthcare, hospitality, data centers, residential and commercial buildings. She is a unique and outspoken agent for change that is well-respected across many industries and is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and chairperson of conferences on prefabrication. Resources: Connect with Amy Marks on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amykulkamarks/) Visit AutoDesk for more information (https://www.autodesk.com/solutions/architecture-engineering-construction/construction) Connect and Construct Autodesk University (https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/conference/las-vegas/connect-construct-summit) Advancing Prefabrication (https://www.advancing-prefabrication.com/) Beckhard and Harris "Change Formula" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_for_change) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Jun 2, 2020 • 24min
73 - Stuck! How to Help Someone Who is Struggling
You do not want to meddle in another person's affairs, but sometimes it's obvious that someone on your team is struggling. Their ability to perform at a high level is affected by what they are going through. They are stuck. In this week's episode of Construction Genius, I explore why people get stuck, the impact it has upon your organization, and how you can help people get unstuck. Tune in to this episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: The first reason people get stuck: Skill [2:25] Client-based Business development Job specific basis The second reason people get stuck: Relationships [3:49] Change in culture in construction Change in technology Change in economy Personal crisis The third reason people get stuck: Will [6:13] The impact of stuck people upon your organization, project partners, your clients [9:41] How to respond when someone in your organization is stuck [11:38] A simple framework of small steps you can take to help those who are stuck [15:09] A challenge to commit to meeting people who are stuck [21:53] Resources: Career Development Plan (https://www.ericanderton.com/onepagecareerplan/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

May 26, 2020 • 30min
72 - How to Use Software to Bring Order to Your Business and Secure Profitability
Technology? Friend or foe? Most of us have been in business for quite some time now, and whether we like to admit it or not, doing business nowadays is different from the way it was done, say, 30 years ago. The processes in the past, although effective, were limited. In today's business environment, technology is helping break down those limitations and construction companies are among the businesses benefiting from it. In this week's podcast episode with Matt Harris, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Viewpoint, we talk about the critical role technology plays in a construction business. Matt shares with us what challenges are common among large and small construction companies and how technology helps overcome those challenges. He also talks about what entails successful implementations of new technology in a company and the reasons implementations fail. We also discuss how contractors are adapting to technology in this age of digital transformation especially with the current situation due to this pandemic. If you are among those needing a reason to incorporate new technology in their construction business, dive in to this episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: Technology solutions for construction businesses in a time of recession [2:43] Key metrics to look for in a scenario planning [5:03] Common challenges large and small construction companies share [7:55] How challenges differ among small and large construction companies [9:13] Practices of best performing contractors in terms of overall profitability [10:01] Creating a balance for the need of reporting [10:36] Differences in willingness and ability to adopt technology [12:28] Fundamental challenges in implementing new construction solutions [14:08] Drivers of change management in successful implementations [15:06] Rhythms of communication to be on track [17:22] Reasons implementations fail [18:29] Willingness to apply business changes relevant to software implementation [20:44] How contractors are adapting to this age of digital transformation [22:44] Factors attributing to a contractor's readiness to adopt technology [24:01] Why technology in the workplace is vital in this generation [25:10] Advice to construction company owners contemplating technology change [25:51] About the Guest: Matt is responsible for driving Viewpoint's overall product strategy and roadmap, ensuring they address the real-world business issues construction professionals face every day. In addition, he is responsible for Viewpoint's merger and acquisition strategy and execution. Over the past 8 years at Viewpoint, Matt has helped to completely transform the Viewpoint product portfolio to include state-of-the-art browser based solutions along with multi-platform mobile applications, all of which integrate into Viewpoint's class leading construction ERP platforms. He has also led Viewpoint through eight construction software acquisitions which have added critical new products to the Viewpoint portfolio and cemented Viewpoint's construction software leadership in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. He is passionate about the application of technology to transform work being done in the construction industry and has spoken at dozens of industry events on the best practices for construction technology strategies and implementation. Resources: Visit the Viewpoint website (https://www.viewpoint.com/) Connect with Matt Harris on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattharrispdx/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!

May 19, 2020 • 39min
71 - Bridge Builder: Leading Your Company Over the Chasm of Uncertainty
A better year, that's what we all hoped 2020 would be like. But five months into this year and we're all feeling the heavy weight that the challenges this current climate brings. For CEO's or those in executive leadership, there's a choice that you have to make though, either choose to look inwardly and start worrying about one's self or be mission focused during a period like this. In this podcast episode, I have an interesting conversation with Curt Rocca, he shares his thoughts on what a realistic optimist is and also gives helpful advice for leaders who are facing the challenges that this crisis brings. We also discuss ways for companies to be effective in their scenario planning, the number of scenarios to plan for, focusing on the opportunities that lie even in this crisis, and a lot more. If you want to be that bridge builder that your company needs, tune in to this episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: What it means to be a realistic optimist [3:13] How do successful entrepreneurs bear the weight of responsibility in a crisis [4:18] Recommended readings for leaders in a time of crisis [7:34] Helpful advice on thinking creatively [9:33] Staying ultra close with customers [11:12] Being mission focused even in a time of crisis [11:42] Advice for companies to be effective in their scenario planning [13:15] Important things to take into account in a time of crisis [15:24] Collectability of accounts receivable [16:54] Planning different scenarios [19:45] How CEO's or Executives should approach problem solving creatively [21:16] Recognizing what opportunities are in front of you [23:24] Real examples of companies that were able to right the ship [26:16] Managing cash today for better opportunities in the future [31:28] Recommended actions for CEO's to take in the next 30 days [32:50] About the Guest: Curt is a highly experienced and successful operating executive who leverages his personal experiences to help other companies become more successful. At DCA, Curt works with companies to enhance their success and financial reward through effective strategic planning, operational effectiveness, acquisition-driven growth, and creating high-value exits for business owners. He is a creative problem solver and is often called upon by companies looking for innovative, out-of-the-box solutions to their most challenging or their most critical issues. A seasoned and skilled negotiator, Curt is also one of the region's most experienced and most successful M&A advisors, having overseen dozens of highly-successful transactions. Resource Links: Visit DCA Partners website (www.dcapartners.com) Scenario Planning Spreadsheet (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-QEYxYY0DXufD9uxVg4E_dTAZTo8ltD6/view?usp=sharing) Restaurants in the Sacramento Area: Vaiano Trattoria (http://vaianotrattoria.com/) Jack's Urban Eats (http://www.jacksurbaneats.com/) Leatherby's Family Creamery (https://leatherbys.net/) Mikuni Sushi (https://mikunisushi.com/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to the Construction Genius: A Leadership Master-Class Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. Thank you for tuning in!


