Construction Brothers

We thought about calling this first episode in our redesigned studio “Between Two Fools,” because that’s where Dad is sitting today. 00:00 - IntroductionDad’s been in construction so long that he worked on moats. Well, okay, it was a moat in a zoo, but still… Today we ask dad to impart the wisdom and experience he’s gained over the last several decades in construction. We’ve had Dad on the podcast before, but we explore some new areas today. The day after the last baseball game during the summer after his senior year, Grandpa woke Dad up and said, “Get up. You’re going to work.” Grandpa took him to the union hall for a card. Then he took him up to a worksite at Miami University of Ohio, and the rest was history. One of his gigs under that first superintendent involved backfilling around an oil tank at a zoo, where he accidentally buried Mom’s class ring. Then he had an interesting run-in with a camel.02:20 The College YearsDad shares about the awkward challenges of those early years–learning hand signals for front-end loaders, etc. He explains how the Messer co-op program that gave him a substantial head start in the construction world. Dad’s dad had been through the same program.Flipper, a frozen Ohio River, and a general distaste for gloomy Midwest winters then sent Dad south. They loaded up all their possessions and baby Eddie and headed to Sarasota. 12:55 - Heading SouthThe community there was not particularly young-kid friendly, so they moved on to St. Petersburg. Dad shares a story about palmetto bugs leading to another move. Mom was having none of that. 21:10 - Roy and the Arrival of ComputersIn St. Pete, Dad worked in a satellite office of a top-300 company headquartered in Clearwater. There, he worked under the oversight of a supervisor, Roy, who came to be a significant mentor for him. As the “kid” in the office in the early 80s, Dad fell into the role of computer expert.As we discuss the perceptions of technology in those days, Tyler mentions that user interface is really all that has changed and the the basic process is still the same. 32:00 - Hatred of ComputersDad shares about the trials of early computer technology, including large stacks of greenbar paper and the tensions between data vs instinct. We review the various waves of computer technology that have come and gone since Dad stepped into the industry and discuss the glitches that have persisted through all of those changes. This conversation involves dual-floppy computers, monochrome monitors, Lotus 1-2-3, and printers that needed to be enclosed in boxes because of the noise they made. Dad discusses the F9 key that would trigger a manual recalculation in order to preserve processing power with large spreadsheets.38:11 - Interior Finishes and Long-term RelationshipsEddie shifts us forward to the period where Dad started working on interior finishes, when he was able to become more of a difference-maker. The pace picked up at this point, and relationships grew increasingly important. Dad tells about a large job for a company with a team of aggressive MBA grads who had high expectations for quick estimate turnarounds. Dad recounts some specific jobs, recalling the project parameters and completion times. He also talks about some of the colorful characters he encountered along the way. He discusses the efficiencies that came with long-term subcontractor relationships–including “trust that transcends generations.” Helpful Links:Eddie makes a reference to this episode with Chuck Colwill.Find Dad online: LinkedIn - ABSICheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

FMF: 4 Tips for Project Managers(While we remodel our recording studio for some exciting changes, we’re sharing this Five-Minute Friday episode that was originally aired in September of 2021.)You may or may not know that Eddie is not only a master of steel detailing. He’s also a seminary dropout (as Tyler is quick to remind him… frequently.) Today Eddie’s sharing some scriptural insights that could be useful for anyone, regardless of their theological perspective.We have conflict daily on job sites, but what is the best way to get a resolution? As usual, simple, lean solutions are better than complicated ones. Depending on the scale of the conflict in a construction context, litigation is a possibility. If you’re interested in avoiding legal action and would prefer to simply maintain smooth working relationships with your colleagues, here are some steps to consider:1) Go to the person one-on-one with a humble posture. Be prepared to receive a verbal punch or two, but keep your eyes on the goal of reconciling. 2) If that doesn’t work, take one or two people along with you–preferably an unbiased party. Present your concern. Lay out your appeal.3) This step is a bit more challenging to translate into the non-church context, but try to find someone who can serve as an “elder” figure–someone who is respected by both you and the other party.Eddie shares about a situation outside of the construction context where he experienced this process. It wasn’t comfortable, but the outcome left both parties feeling respected. In case you’re interested, here’s the Bible passage Eddie is drawing from for these insights. Matthew 18:15-20 - If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

(While we remodel our studio in preparation for some exciting changes, we’re sharing this conversation with Matt Haskins that aired in July of 2022.)Matt Haskins has been in construction for a very long time. When we talked to him, he was working in northern Minnesota on a small, 100-year-old apartment building. Lead pipes. Ugh. We start out with a discussion about early mornings. He completes yesterday’s daily reports during the hour or so before everyone else arrives.Once the rest of the team arrives, he likes to take 15 minutes or so bringing everyone up to speed on what’s happening on all parts of the site that day–just so everyone has the big picture and is aware of any heavy equipment that might be active in their area.Once everyone is active, he likes to be an active presence throughout the site. He likes to cut up with the various crews in a way that builds morale. Matt makes a point of not checking email on his phone. He’ll keep an eye on the notifications, but he doesn’t want to be distracted by electronic correspondence while he’s out and about onsite. We hear a bit about the frequency of his contact with his project manager. Unlike some superintendents, Matt likes to have a few conversations with his PM throughout the day. Matt explains that he’s easily bored. For that reason, he likes complicated projects that keep his brain busy. He shares a bit about the differences between “normal” projects like wind farms. Tyler asks Matt to share about the things that cause him frustration. His answer: communication. That is what makes it all work.Eddie asks Matt which previous project was the hardest that he’s ever done. Matt said that it would be his part of a $130-million renovation of high-voltage power stations in Bismarck, ND, that are the source of power for Minneapolis/St. Paul. Matt talks us through some of the seriously challenging aspects of this power-station project that involved extra-large components, unusually configured spaces, and carry-deck cranes doing work that should probably have been done by gantry cranes. We ask Matt to share a bit about different types of project managers, and he shares some that he’s seen, including those that come straight out of college with no actual construction experience but plenty of arrogance. Matt’s Megaphone Message: Try to work as a team. You’ve got to all work together. Find Matt online: LinkedInCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Today we share some multi-generational wisdom. These are useful tips and principles passed down to us from our dad and grandfather. Our dad and grandfather both reminded us not to be a project pilot… Actually, what they meant was not to be a project “pile-it.” Don’t just pass paperwork on to others. Don’t be the “please advise” monster. Just don’t. PLEASE. DON’T!Stay in front of the airplane. Think ahead. Know what’s coming so you can ask the questions today that will give you the answers you’ll need tomorrow.Don’t be a box-checker. See your work as more than just a to-do list. Know the why behind the tasks you complete throughout the day.Have integrity. Don’t lie to get your way. It’s not a sustainable way to function. Build trust into your relationships. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

We start out with a brief discussion about the mystery of lost files (due to some tech challenges we encountered today).Today we’re discussing inefficiency–specifically as it relates to the amount of time allocated to a task.We discuss the art (or the science?) of scheduling in a way that provides just the right amount of time–not too little, not too much.OVERVIEW OF PARKINSON’S LAW: Tyler shares about the book in which he discovered a name for one particular source of inefficiency. It’s called Parkinson’s Law, and it can be seen all over the place. We discuss how this law applies in the world of construction. We discuss the relationship between deadlines and hustle. And then, of course, there’s “fake hustle.” BACKGROUND OF PARKINSON’S LAW:We discuss the history behind the term “Parkinson’s Law.” The term was coined by British naval historian and author Cyril Northcote Parkinson. He discusses bureaucratic bloat in the British military and proceeds to name the pattern after himself. FRED AND THE BUREAUCRACY:Eddie talks us through a hypothetical scenario of someone creating bureaucratic bloat in order to compensate for either decreased ability or increased laziness. We compare this hypothetical business scenario with the military analysis in Parkinson’s paper. We acknowledge that a deadline you determined is a deadline you own to a much greater degree. The more you feel like a stakeholder in a deadline, the more motivated you’ll be to establish momentum toward that deadline.Tyler and Eddie both share about specific instances from our own professional lives where we saw Parkinson’s Law at work. We discuss the causes and the consequences.THE IMPORTANCE OF DEADLINES:We challenge listeners to contribute some thoughts about setting deadlines effectively. We discuss the massive inefficiencies that can result if deadlines are abandoned and the bloat of Parkinson’s Law begins to affect your project.So here’s our megaphone question for you: How, as a person–as a leader, are you helping the industry get better in this regard? How do you properly motivate a group of people to get done the amount of work that’s reasonable for them to get done? In case you’re interested in more details about Parkinson’s Law: -BBC article-Parkinson’s actual paperProgramming Note: We’ll be highlighting some especially interesting past episodes over the next couple weeks as we gear up for some big changes in the podcast. We’re excited! Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Stunned. Tyler is stunned that he is praising Bing. While scrolling through LinkedIn, Tyler encountered a mention of punching shear. His understanding of that phrase was reasonably solid, but he thought it might be interesting to see if AI could help him understand it just a bit better.Then he challenged Bing to explain it to him in an even simpler manner–at the level that a child could understand. Moments later, Tyler had been educated on multiple levels about this engineering concept. So, the ultimate prompt we’re recommending is “Explain … to me.” See if there are some gaps in your knowledge.Now go poke your finger through a cookie. That’s punching shear (according to AI-powered Bing).Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Today we’re flashing back to an episode from May of 2022. We start out with some banter about Eddie’s kids giving Tyler a hard time. Then Tyler signs up for a marathon… Oh, wait, no he doesn’t. What a slacker.Nate Patrick is facilities project manager for the Pennsylvania State University Office of Physical Plant. Before taking that position, he worked several years as a mechanical design engineer. Nate joins us today in the studio to share some practical tips for contractors, designers, project managers and others who need to coordinate with owners to handle the construction process more effectively.Nate manages between 15 and 20 projects at a time, ranging from $250,000 to $50 million. At the moment, he’s handing almost twice that load. He says that no two days are the same in his work. As you can imagine, it feels like juggling.We ask Nate to paint us a picture of what an owner’s life looks like. Here are a few of the insights he shares:-It’s about continuous reprioritizing.-There’s lots and lots of data.-It’s nonstop communication. -It requires a great deal of coordinating between numerous parties. -The calendar gets complicated because so many parties are involved–each of which might need you to communicate in a different way.-It involves a bunch of meetings.Tyler asks how project managers can be more proactive in communicating with owners. He says that it’s important to have a proposed solution before you share your problem. Thoughtful handling of RFIs is crucial. He also says that action/deadline dates, schedule impacts, and financial impacts should be communicated with each RFI so the owner can prudently prioritize.We discuss the risk of crying wolf when it comes to prioritizing requests. It’s easy to get too aggressive and trigger vindictiveness in the other party.Nate says that building trust takes time. It’s something we all have to work on. Here’s his recipe for building trust (which he credits to a source that he has since forgotten): -Tell someone what you’re going to do. -Do what you told them you were going to do.-Tell them that you did what you said you’d do.Tyler compares this to being a good assistant. Have the tool that the person needs when you know they’re going to need it.We wrap up with a discussion about the importance of clarifying expectations with all parties at the very beginning of a project.Nate’s Megaphone Message: Care for people. We’re all people. One of us is not more important than another. We all are a part of this. These projects will not be successful without all of us working together as a team. Respect other people for who they are–for what they bring to the table. They’re not resources; they’re people. Treat them that way. There might be things outside of work that affect the way that people react in a work situation. Show gratitude and respect. Find Nate Online: Penn State University Website Check out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening

Have you experimented with it yet? Well, we’re ready to nudge you into the future. Tyler shares some insights that he thinks will increase your efficiency. Here they are:“Rewrite this.” This can work if you struggle with clarity or style with your writing.“Summarize this.” This one can work when you receive a binder full of information. “Create an agenda.” Give ChatGPT a raw collection of info and have it organize it for you.“Create a daily report.” Copy and paste relevant notes and have ChatGPT make it more readable.“Create a list of…” Have ChatGPT create a list of possibilities for you when you’re stuck.“Time-block my calendar.” Type or paste in your tasks and have ChatGPT distribute those tasks throughout your week or day. Check out the partners that make our show possible. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening!

Dan Stine is Director of Design Technology at Lake|Flato Architects. You could also say he wrote the book on architecture–or at least the top-selling textbook on Revit. As if that weren’t enough, he teaches graduate architecture classes and is active with Committee on the Environment (COTE).We start out with a brief overview of Dan’s work with COTE. Then we ask Dan to share about some of the technology he has had the opportunity to explore in his various roles. Dan discusses Tonic DM, a tool for email management and file-sharing management. Dan explains that he has found the cloud-based service to be stable and reliable. It also assists with the handling of project-management information. Tyler asks about Revit plugins and other time-savers. Dan says that Enscape has become widely used within his firm. He also discusses Forma (formerly called Spacemaker), which is especially helpful with wind and solar installations. We explore generative AI software, and Dan mentions that Enscape integrates some AI. He geeks out on some processing core technologies. Dan shares about UpCodes, a searchable platform for building codes that dramatically expedites code research. UpCodes saves time by integrating amendments based on local jurisdictions. As we discuss AI, Tyler shares his exploration of Adobe Photoshop’s AI integration, adding lamps and furniture. He was impressed.Tyler asks Dan to discuss the challenges of integrating new technologies. Dan says that the most important thing is evaluating the software to ensure that it’s worthy of being added to the team’s repertoire. Once a tool makes it through that step, deployment and support becomes easier to systematize. It’s all about ensuring that qualified people are available to instruct and support those who will be using the tool.Dan shares a bit about the Dell Latitude tablets that he and his team used in a recent video shoot with Tyler. Then he runs through the array of equipment Lake|Flato uses to support its hybrid-work structure. Data-security geeks will be interested to hear the VPN/work-station/server configuration he describes. He shares about Lake|Flato’s hybrid structure and how it is supported by their use of FlowScape virtual office spaces.Tyler explains how the video editing for the podcast will be changing based on the things he learned during the video shoot with Dan.Dan’s Megaphone Message: Thanks for creating all the crazy stuff that architects design. He looks forward to developing new means and methods that can lower the carbon footprint of projects. He’s also eager to incorporate some cool technology in that process.Here’s the video Tyler produced with Dan. Find Dan Online: LinkedIn - Lake|Flato - His blog, BIMChaptersCheck out the partners that make our show possible.Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - TikTok - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedInIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening