Hardworking Happy Hour

Episode 152: Systematize Having Some Systems!

March 3rd, 2025  |  Season 1  |  56 mins 10 secs

builder relationships, business systems, challenges, collaboration, content organization, delegation, efficiency, growth, industry insights, innovative products, keywords international builder show, las vegas, networking, productivity, remote support, systems, teamwork, trade shows, workflow

In this conversation, Catherine and Sean discuss their experiences at the International Builder Show (IBS), highlighting the event's growth, networking opportunities, and innovative products. They reflect on the importance of face-to-face interactions in the industry and share insights on the challenges of managing content and systems within their business. The discussion also touches on the pros and cons of Las Vegas as a trade show destination and the significance of delegation and organization in enhancing efficiency. In this conversation, Catherine and Sean discuss the importance of aligning teamwork and workflow, the significance of delegation, and the benefits of embracing remote support. They explore the creation of effective systems to enhance productivity and growth, while also reflecting on the challenges faced along the way. The discussion culminates in a light-hearted trivia challenge, emphasizing the importance of consistency and learning from experiences.

Episode 136: It all comes back to communication...

October 28th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  58 mins 7 secs

challenges, communication, concrete, concrete work, construction, diy, door-to-door sales, education, home depot, home improvement, hvac, imposter syndrome, keywords construction, learning, mistakes, personal experiences, project management, teamwork, trivia

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss various personal and professional updates, including construction projects, experiences with door-to-door sales, and a new policy at Home Depot requiring executives to work in stores. They explore the importance of understanding different perspectives in the workplace, the significance of communication within teams, and the lessons learned from mistakes made during construction projects. The conversation emphasizes the need for better communication and collaboration to enhance team dynamics and project outcomes. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the challenges faced while working on concrete projects, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and the educational value of trial and error. They also touch on feelings of imposter syndrome that can arise in leadership roles and the normalization of such feelings. The episode concludes with a fun trivia segment that tests their knowledge on various topics related to home improvement and construction.

Episode 131: Are you paying attention to your backlog?

September 23rd, 2024  |  Season 1  |  59 mins 16 secs

advantages, backlog, business operations, challenges, client perception, construction industry, disadvantages, dismantling dams, emotional roller coaster, hiring a salesperson, keywords backlog, maintaining infrastructure, manpower needs, opportunities, peace of mind, sales cycle, stability, strategic planning, tracking, tracking trends, trivia, unique selling proposition

Summary

The conversation revolves around the topic of backlog and its impact on business operations. The hosts discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being booked out for a long period of time. They also touch on the importance of tracking the sales cycle and using backlog as a future indicator. The conversation highlights the need for strategic planning, managing manpower needs, and making informed decisions based on backlog data. The hosts also mention the potential impact of backlog on client perception and the benefits of having peace of mind and stability. They briefly discuss the idea of hiring a dedicated salesperson and the unique selling proposition of their business model. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with backlog management. In this episode, Catherine and Sean discuss the concept of backlog in the construction industry and how it can affect businesses. They explore the emotional roller coaster that comes with not knowing when the next job will come in and the importance of tracking and analyzing trends. They also touch on the dismantling of dams in the United States and the challenges of maintaining and restoring them. The episode concludes with a trivia segment where they test each other's knowledge on construction-related topics.

Episode 126: Will the trades take over college enrollment?!

August 12th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 1 min

advantages, apprenticeship, career exploration, challenges, clt, college, construction, cross-laminated timber, perception, student loans, trade, trivia, union

The conversation explores the debate between going to college or pursuing a trade, with statistics showing a decline in college enrollment and an increase in interest in the trades. The availability of student loans and the perception of different career paths play a significant role in decision-making. Union membership in the trades has been declining, and there is a growing interest in advanced degree tech schools. The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a new wood product in construction is also discussed. In this conversation, Catherine and Sean discuss the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in construction. They explore the advantages of CLT, such as its renewable nature and lighter weight compared to steel and concrete. They also discuss the challenges and limitations of using CLT, including its current higher cost and code restrictions. The conversation transitions to a trivia segment where they ask each other questions related to construction. They reflect on the importance of allowing young adults to take time to explore different paths before committing to a career.

Episode 113: Do you have a fun job site?

May 6th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  57 mins 55 secs

challenges, color, design trends, fun, gray, gray tones, greenery, interior design, job site, keywords construction, millennial flip house, natural colors, othering, pool houses, simple patterns, warm colors

Summary

In this conversation, Catherine and Sean discuss various topics including the challenges of a construction project, the importance of having fun on the job site, and the trend of making people look dumb in internet videos. They also touch on design trends, specifically the use of color in interior design. The conversation explores the trend of moving away from gray tones in interior design and embracing warm, natural colors. The overuse of gray in recent years, particularly in the millennial flip house trend, has led to a desire for more unique and bold design choices. The conversation also touches on the concept of 'othering' and how it relates to design choices. Additionally, the resurgence of pool houses and the incorporation of greenery, both real and fake, into design are discussed. The conversation concludes with a mention of the trend towards simpler patterns and the balance between simplicity and complexity in design.