In this episode of the Learnings and Missteps podcast, host Jesse Hernandez converses with Stephanie Wood, co-founder and CEO of Coal Build Construction. Stephanie, with a background in organizational leadership and trauma-informed neuroscience, shares her journey from English literature major to a construction industry leader. The discussion covers the challenges and innovations in fostering a collaborative and human-centered approach within construction, debunking the myth of toughness, and promoting grit and resilience. They introduce Builders Grit, an initiative designed to improve workplace culture and performance by addressing trauma and developing leadership skills. Stephanie also highlights the importance of creating environments for flourishing and the transformative impact her company's philosophy has on the industry's future.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
02:45 The Meaning Behind Co Build
04:35 Challenges and Pushback in the Industry
06:33 The Importance of Respect and Collaboration
09:41 Shoutout to LnM Family Member
11:21 Building a Collaborative Construction Business
13:31 Hiring and Leadership Development
24:09 Personal Journey and Neuroscience of Trauma
30:35 Neglect and Abuse in Subcontracting
31:11 Falling into Leadership Roles
32:45 Learning Leadership Skills
33:50 Embracing Leadership and Overcoming Resistance
38:09 The Myth of Toughness in Construction
41:37 Understanding Trauma and Recovery
45:52 Introducing Grit and Resilience Cohorts
53:58 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Get the blueprint to Plan, Commit, and Execute your way into optimal performance: https://www.depthbuilder.com/time-management-webinar-sign-up-page

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In this episode of the Learnings and Missteps podcast, host Jesse Hernandez sits down with Liberty Kogan, a construction social media expert with an impressive background in musical theater and business. Liberty shares her journey from performing in Legally Blonde to launching a successful babysitting agency in Atlanta and eventually transitioning into social media marketing for construction companies. Throughout the conversation, they discuss themes of vulnerability, the importance of human connection, and finding fulfillment in one's career and life. Liberty emphasizes the significance of doing what makes you happy, the challenges she faced, and how she rediscovered her passion for theater under different conditions. The episode is filled with insightful and heartfelt advice, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking to navigate their own career and personal growth.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:29 Getting to Know Liberty Kogan
01:57 The Power of Vulnerability on Social Media
09:00 Liberty's Journey in Theater
17:57 Transitioning from Theater to Business
19:21 Starting a Babysitting Agency
31:40 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
39:46 Auditioning for Kiss of the Spider Woman
41:52 The Importance of Human Connection
43:09 Returning to Atlanta and Facing an Existential Crisis
44:28 Realistic View of Pursuing Arts
50:27 Transition to Social Media for Concrete Companies
54:01 The Power of Authentic Social Media
58:37 Encouraging Vulnerability and Storytelling
01:11:37 The Promise You Are Intended to Be

Set the stage for an amazing new year with the Self First Framework.

https://calendly.com/jesse04/self-first-webinar

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

Want a year that actually changes your life? We break down a practical system to stop chasing busywork and start stacking wins that matter. It starts with a guilt-free brain dump to pull every idea, project, and half-finished goal out of your head so you can judge them by outcome, not overwhelm. From there, we introduce the Damn Matrix, a four-quadrant method that ranks your work by impact and effort. High impact, low effort goes first. High impact, high effort gets planned next. Low impact items wait their turn. The real twist: we score by the value of starting, not the fantasy of finishing, so momentum arrives early and fuels the bigger climbs.

Curveballs still happen, and we name them: rabid squirrels. Instead of letting emergencies swallow your day, we use the Daily Domination board to label, log, and move them through Done, then review weekly to spot patterns. When the same sources trigger fire drills, you design guardrails—clear expectations, calendar buffers, and ready-made responses. We also get honest about what overcommitment costs: sleep, exercise, and nutrition. The fix is counterintuitive and effective—shrink the number of daily targets so you stay calm, kind, and focused, even when plans shift.

All of this lives inside a self-first framework: plan, commit, execute. We plan across a year, then break it into thirds and months to see where impact compounds. We commit on the calendar to protect deep work and life habits. We execute daily with a simple workflow that tracks progress and interruptions without guilt. You’ll leave with a repeatable way to prioritize for impact, start sooner, and sustain energy so results stack without burning you out.

If this helps, share it with a friend who’s drowning in to-dos, hit follow for more practical tools, and leave a review telling us one high-impact, low-effort move you’ll start this week. Your next breakthrough begins with what you choose to start today.

Set the stage for an amazing new year with the Self First Framework.

https://calendly.com/jesse04/self-first-webinar

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

n this episode, Jesse discusses the critical role of servant leadership in the construction industry with Wally Adamchick. They explore how a servant leadership mindset, which includes being respectful, setting expectations, and supporting employees, can lead to higher employee retention and profitability. Wally also talks about the importance of developing frontline leaders and the distinction between coaching, consulting, and training. The conversation touches on the specific challenges faced by subcontractors, the growing emphasis on mental health, and the new movement in the dirt world spearheaded by leaders like Aaron Witt. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of contributing to others' growth and the personal fulfillment derived from it.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

02:51 The Importance of Servant Leadership

05:16 Challenges and Misconceptions in Leadership

12:26 The Role of Coaching and Consulting

18:06 Expertise and Practical Experience

23:25 Focusing on Construction Leadership

35:37 Impact of Training on Operating Income and Quality of Life

36:14 Balancing Quality of Life and Profitability in Construction

37:28 Creating a Frontline Leadership Program

38:35 The Success Triangle: Technical Competence, Management, and Leadership

40:15 Challenges and Rewards of Leadership Development

42:55 The Importance of Contribution and Service

44:53 The Role of Culture in Employee Retention and Satisfaction

52:59 The Growing Movement in the Dirt World

57:58 People in Construction Report: Insights and Data

01:02:32 Closing Thoughts and Final Message

Set the stage for an amazing new year with the Self First Framework.

https://calendly.com/jesse04/self-first-webinar

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

In this episode, Jesse hosts Bryce Harem, founder of BTG Services and creator of the Middleman Mindset, as they discuss the essence of true leadership, personal struggles, and the ways to effectively bridge the gap between office and field in the blue-collar industry. Jesse and Bryce explore the importance of self-leadership, authenticity, and communication, while also touching upon their personal experiences and the profound lessons they've learned along the way. Bryce shares how journaling, gratitude, and the ability to navigate pressure are key to becoming an effective middleman and leader.
00:00 Introduction to Leadership and the Bridge Concept
00:21 Welcoming Mr. Bryce Harem
01:49 The Middleman Mindset and Personal Struggles
05:37 The Importance of Self-Leadership
14:58 Confabulation and Assumptions
21:43 The Power of Vulnerability
29:16 The Role of the Middleman in Leadership
32:32 Building Bridges in Leadership
33:21 The Middleman Mindset
38:13 Authenticity and Leadership
46:05 Gratitude and Personal Growth
50:37 The Middleman Mindset Academy
54:19 Effective Communication in Leadership
01:00:14 The Promise of Being the Bridge

Set the stage for an amazing new year with the Self First Framework.

https://calendly.com/jesse04/self-first-webinar

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

Ready to stop storing your entire life in your head and start building a future you can actually live? We walk through phase one of guilt-free future planning, a simple, practical way to unload your ideas, goals, and projects so you can see them clearly and choose with confidence. No apps required. Just a pen, some paper, and the willingness to get honest about where your energy goes.

We begin with a full capture—every project you meant to start, every skill you want to learn, every relationship you keep meaning to nurture. Then we sort it all into three buckets: business and professional growth, personal growth, and meaningful connections. This lightweight structure exposes what’s missing and what’s overstuffed. You might discover that work dominates your mind while your health or friendships sit empty. That imbalance isn’t a flaw; it’s a map. Once visible, it gets easier to redirect attention toward actions that deliver real fulfillment and better service to the people who count on you.

You’ll hear why scheduling too soon is a trap, how to separate high-value moves from weak distractions, and what it looks like to set a bold personal target that pulls your habits into alignment. We share examples from publishing, launching a business, training for an Ironman, and refocusing on an underserved community of trade professionals. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s clarity without shame. Capture first, examine next, and hold the calendar for later. Do this now and hit 2026 at a sprint, not a stumble.

Take the next step with us: drop “Double D” in the comments for the Daily Domination Board and the follow-up email with the full Self First framework, then join the upcoming Self First Time Mastery webinar and December workshop. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: which bucket needs your attention today?

Download the Daily Domination Board and start executing with clarity → [https://www.depthbuilder.com/daily-task-template]

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

In this episode of the Learnings and Missteps podcast, Jesse interviews Uri Salgado, a bilingual business development executive at Detritus. Yuri shares her remarkable journey from helping her mother with translation in her childhood to achieving a milestone of 10 years at her previous company. She discusses the influence of her multicultural background, the importance of empathy in her career, and how divine timing has played a significant role in her professional growth. Yuri also talks about her transition to Detritus, the supportive company culture, and her future aspirations to mentor others.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
01:09 Meet Miss Uri Salgado
03:19 Understanding Divine Timing
07:13 Early Life and Career Beginnings
10:00 Lessons from Childhood
14:16 Career Transitions and Challenges
21:28 Joining Detritus
28:50 Impact and Legacy
31:37 Support Systems and Challenges
32:48 Industry Competition and Personal Growth
36:53 Balancing Work and Life
48:31 Empathy and Client Relations
59:46 The Importance of the Journey

Set the stage for an amazing new year with the Self First Framework.

https://calendly.com/jesse04/self-first-webinar

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

In this episode of the Learnings and Missteps podcast, host Jesse interviews Brian Anderson, President of Bear Construction. Brian shares his journey of starting his own construction company, driven by his desire to create his own values and methods. Despite initial setbacks, such as working for companies that went under and facing financial struggles, Brian successfully established his business, Bear Construction, with intentionality and faith. He also discusses leveraging LinkedIn for both business growth and talent acquisition, emphasizing the importance of transparency, respect, and building genuine relationships. Brian's story is a testament to hard work, faith, and the impact of a supportive community.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Values

00:29 Meet Mr. Brian Anderson

02:14 The Importance of Hard Work

03:10 Journey in the Construction Industry

04:36 Family Legacy in Construction

05:26 Starting Bear Construction

07:44 Joining Peer Groups for Growth

15:39 Building Relationships and Networking

23:17 Overcoming Business Challenges

30:48 Starting a Business from Scratch

33:59 Starting with Limited Resources

35:13 The Importance of Intentionality

36:16 Delegation and Growth

38:00 Hiring Challenges and Lessons

46:59 Leveraging Social Media for Business

54:15 Spiritual and Personal Growth

58:40 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Set the stage for an amazing new year with the Self First Framework.

https://calendly.com/jesse04/self-first-webinar

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books