Hardworking Happy Hour

Episode 139: Is it even possible to get better?!

November 25th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  59 mins 55 secs

business strategies, conflict resolution, construction, construction industry, construction trivia, creative tasks, economic uncertainty, economy, gratitude, keywords communication, labor costs, material sourcing, tariffs, time management, workplace dynamics

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss their recent experiences, focusing on their communication styles, workplace dynamics, and conflict resolution strategies. They delve into time management techniques, the importance of separating creative and logical tasks, and the impact of tariffs on the construction industry. The discussion highlights the need for effective communication and adaptability in business, especially in response to economic changes. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the various economic challenges facing the construction industry, including labor shortages, material costs, and the impact of tariffs. They emphasize the importance of understanding material sourcing and the need for ethical pricing practices. The discussion also touches on the significance of gratitude during tough economic times and the uncertainty that lies ahead. They conclude with a light-hearted trivia segment that highlights interesting facts about the construction industry.

Episode 138: Is It The Right Time To Hire?

November 18th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  56 mins 13 secs

branding, business growth, client acquisition, construction, construction industry, creative projects, entrepreneurship, hiring, keywords deck expo, leadership, outdoor living, personal development, photography, risk management, self-belief, strategic planning, team building

In this engaging conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss their recent experience at the Deck Expo, sharing insights on networking, promotional strategies, and the importance of building a strong visual portfolio. They delve into the challenges of acquiring unique clients for creative projects and emphasize the significance of staging and photography in showcasing work. The discussion also touches on the complexities of growing a team and knowing when to hire, providing valuable advice for entrepreneurs in the construction industry. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the challenges and considerations involved in hiring for a growing business, particularly in the construction industry. They explore the emotional and practical aspects of making significant hiring decisions, the importance of embracing risk, and the value of surrounding oneself with capable team members. The discussion also touches on the journey of self-belief and the realization that many successful individuals are simply navigating their own uncertainties.

Episode 137: Falling back in to good habits!

November 11th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  45 mins 43 secs

community, construction, fall, family dynamics, fitness, keywords habits, learning, meditation, mindfulness, networking, personal growth, podcast, ppe, productivity, routines, scheduling, self-improvement, time management, trivia

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the transition from summer to fall and the importance of falling back into good habits. They reflect on their personal routines, the significance of networking within their community, and actionable steps to improve their daily lives. The discussion emphasizes mindfulness, scheduling, and the need for a supportive environment to foster personal growth. In this conversation, Catherine and Sean explore themes of mindfulness, productivity, and time management, discussing personal experiences and strategies for improvement. They delve into family dynamics regarding time perception and engage in fun trivia related to construction and safety. The episode wraps up with reflections on their discussions and a teaser for future episodes.

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 135: OHSA, more like O-SHOOT!

October 21st, 2024  |  Season 1  |  59 mins 14 secs

branding, construction, construction incidents, construction news, construction safety, employee protection, fall protection, fines, ice cream maker, keywords osha, labor violations, ninja creamy, osha, personal updates, safety training, trench safety, workplace hazards, workplace safety, workplace violations

In this conversation, Catherine and Sean discuss various topics, starting with personal updates about their lives, including new clothing purchases and a cat named Tow Truck. They then transition into a discussion about OSHA's recent fines and violations in the construction industry, highlighting specific case studies of companies facing significant penalties for safety violations. The conversation emphasizes the importance of workplace safety and the consequences of negligence in the construction field. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss various workplace safety violations reported by OSHA, highlighting the serious consequences of negligence in the construction industry. They reflect on the importance of safety measures and the role of OSHA in protecting workers. The discussion then shifts to a lighter topic about the Ninja Creamy, a countertop ice cream maker, exploring branding strategies and the appeal of niche products. The episode concludes with a trivia segment focused on OSHA and construction safety regulations, emphasizing the importance of knowledge in maintaining workplace safety.

Episode 134: We did a great job?? That can't be right...

October 14th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 6 mins

construction, creativity, goals, health, humility, keywords aging, knowledge, life lessons, organization, personal growth, project management, sagrada familia, self-reflection, teamwork, trivia

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the nuances of aging, particularly as Sean turns 36. They reflect on the importance of health and setting realistic goals for the year ahead. The discussion transitions into project management, where they share insights on staying organized and ahead of schedule in their current project. Sean emphasizes the significance of planning and learning from past experiences to improve efficiency. The conversation culminates in a light-hearted self-reflection on personal growth and the acceptance of imperfections in both work and life. In this episode, Sean and Catherine explore themes of humility and self-reflection, discussing the importance of recognizing our own ignorance and the value of lifelong learning. They also delve into the fascinating story of the Sagrada Familia, the world's longest construction project, and share their thoughts on the balance between creating beauty and helping those in need. The episode concludes with a light-hearted trivia segment that highlights their knowledge and camaraderie.

Episode 128: Do we REALLY need more meetings?!

August 26th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  53 mins 4 secs

blame game, communication, construction, effective communication, equipment maintenance, goals, keywords team meetings, lumber, objectives, personal responsibility, politics, productivity, professional development, recognition, rewards, team cohesion, trivia gauntlet, working with family

Summary

In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the importance of team meetings in a business setting. They highlight the benefits of setting objectives and goals, discussing equipment maintenance and upgrades, and promoting professional development and opportunities. They also touch on the significance of recognition and rewards in team meetings. However, they acknowledge that team meetings can be time-consuming and may lack focus if not properly managed. They caution against dominating personalities and decision fatigue. Overall, they find team meetings to be valuable for communication, productivity, and team cohesion. In this part of the conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss the challenges of working with family members and the importance of effective communication in a professional setting. They also express their frustration with the blame game in politics and the need for personal responsibility. The trivia gauntlet segment tests their knowledge on topics related to construction and lumber. The episode concludes with a preview of the next episode and a farewell.

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 125: WE'RE BACK BABY!!

August 5th, 2024  |  Season 1  |  56 mins 13 secs

community, construction, construction news, construction trivia, cost, education, entertainment, favorite events, heat safety, infrastructure, keywords podcast, olympics, osha, reuse, trinity rodman, undocumented workers, waste reduction, worker safety

After taking a month off, Catherine and Sean discuss the changes they made to improve their podcast. They explore the topic of building infrastructure for the Olympics and the efforts to reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly. They discuss the construction process, the use of undocumented and migrant workers, and the controversy surrounding worker safety. They also touch on the cost of hosting the Olympics and the reuse of facilities after the games. The conversation concludes with a discussion about their favorite Olympic events and which events they would participate in if given the chance. In this conversation, Sean and Catherine discuss various topics including Trinity Rodman's performance in the Olympics, new heat safety rules in construction, and a construction trivia game. They aim to create a sense of community for listeners in the construction industry and provide both educational and entertaining content.

Episode 62 - Big Jobs vs. Little Jobs, Taking the BEST Photos, and Women in Construction Week!

March 20th, 2023  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 5 mins

build, builders, business owners, carpentry, construction, content marketing, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, framing, tradesmen, tradespeople, tradeswomen

Sean and Catherine are back to their regular programming! In this weeks episode, they touch on the never ending debate of doing fewer but bigger jobs vs more but smaller jobs. They also do a recap on Women in Construction week. And lastly they give their best pointers and stress the importance of getting the best quality pictures you can get! TUNE IN!