The Mobile Workforce Podcast

This week on The Mobile Workforce Podcast, Mike Merrill sits down with Elevate Construction owner Jason Schroeder to talk about collaboration and productivity in construction. Jason shares his insights on how to use a proper baseline to compare results from a business perspective, and how to reduce non-value add work to increase production. They also discuss the importance of training and human development in the construction industry. 

This is a must-listen for anyone in construction or interested in learning more about the industry.

Key Takeaways:

 The importance of collaboration

 The importance of a proper baseline

The importance of looking forward

 How to use math and science to be productive

The importance of training

The need for widespread investment in human development

Millennial Culture can be confusing and frustrating for construction leaders, especially those from the boomer generation. Unfortunately, millennials make up over a third of the US workforce and that number is only going to continue to rise. Fortunately, millennials can be the most hard-working and loyal part of your team, if you know how to engage with them. 

To help give us insight into the youngest part of our workforce Mike welcomes Jen Silver, the President of Roofing Utah, Inc, a complete roofing operation and the Co-founder of Women-Owned Businesses of Northern Utah, an organization that advocates for women business owners, on for a second episode to discuss Millennial workers, how to incentivize them, train them and lessons learned on how to lead them.

As the head coach of the Roofing Academy, founder of Elite Roofing, author of Start It, Build It, Grow It: The Contractor's Guide to Success and the host of the Start, Build, Grow Podcast, Randy Brothers has spent 15 years building his own businesses and educating others to reach their potential. Randy has grown his own company by over 12x in eight years.

Going back to the inaugural episode of the Mobile Workforce Podcast, Randy shares the importance of delegation in the growth and success of a contractor’s business. He also shares the processes and mindset that delegation requires to be profitable on the job site. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Investing in your people adds value to your company. Investing in employees will only increase the value of your business. When you invest in someone, that person will immediately feel essential and engaged, and their loyalty and productivity will increase.

2. As a business owner, you need to give in order to get.  As entrepreneurs and business owners, contractors have a unique opportunity to positively impact and develop their team members. The best leaders don’t hinder growth by only thinking about what they’ll get in return. When construction leaders support their people growing as individuals and expanding their skill sets, the ROI comes back many times over in the long run. 

3. Success is not a one-person show. Sustainable revenue is only achieved when the entire team buys into the vision of the organization. A one-person show is not sustainable, and the business’s growth ceiling is low. But together you can go far.

The adage “you can’t improve what you don’t measure,” is especially true for productivity in construction. With so many job codes, people, materials, and agendas happening on every job site it was historically impossible to measure productivity accurately until after the project was over. Sometimes productivity wasn’t measurable until months after a project was wrapped up.

Today it is impossible to work efficiently enough to keep up with client expectations and job site demands without actively monitoring productivity on a monthly, weekly, and daily schedule. To help spell out the importance of tracking and measuring your productivity on a job code, individual, project and overall business level is Damien Edwards, the National Director of Production at Toll Brothers. If you have not heard it before make sure to check out episode number six and 74 where he discussed how the job site represents the business and the skills construction managers need to be successful in the eyes of their clients, the importance of a director of production, and why attitude is everything. Today’s episode covers the importance of project productivity, the accuracy and immediacy of data collection, the best practices for review and management, and the impacts of managing your productivity well or ignoring it.

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of remote work and flexible work environments. In this episode, we have a thought-provoking conversation with workplace culture expert, Gustavo Rosetti, as we explore the art of managing and facilitating a positive workplace culture and flexible work environment.

Get ready to uncover the secrets to successfully navigating the challenges of asynchronous communication in a hybrid workforce. Discover how to foster courageous conversations within your organization and create an inclusive environment where everyone's voice is heard. We also delve into the realm of defining the right hybrid work model for your organization. Learn how to effectively share information and engage with your team members in ways that suit their needs, whether it's through software solutions like Notion or employing innovative communication methods.

Key Takeaways: 

- Managing asynchronous communication in hybrid workforce

- Facilitating courageous conversations

- Defining the right hybrid work model

- Using different methods for sharing information

- Avoiding misconception of fixed schedule in hybrid work

- Importance of clear communication and flexibility

- Challenging the traditional 9 to 5 model

- Managers accommodating employee preferences

- Example of go to software company's hybrid model

- Benefits of charitable work and rituals

- Shifting perspective on work-life balance

- Importance of flexibility in companies

- Reevaluating company structures for flexibility

- Importance of honesty in communication with employees

- Empathetic leadership and its positive impact

Welcome to the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast, where we dive into the future of work and how to build a fearless culture. In this episode, we sit down with Gustavo Razzetti, an expert and author on workplace culture and teamwork. Razzetti emphasizes the importance of being fearless in the workplace, which is not the absence of fear but rather a conscious decision to understand and navigate emotions. Our discussion highlights that building a fearless culture is essential for companies to excel in innovation and overcome challenges.

We also touch on the challenges and benefits of transitioning to a hybrid work model. The biggest opportunity the hybrid workplace provides is flexibility, which can help employees work according to their needs and preferences. Maintaining a good company culture in a hybrid work environment requires open conversations, transparency, and the involvement of employees.

So, if you're looking for practical advice on how to improve your company culture, productivity, and overall morale, tune in to this episode. You won't want to miss it!

Key Takeaways: 

- Building a fearless culture

- Transitioning to hybrid work

- Workplace flexibility

- Psychological safety

- Reinventing the business

- Importance of feedback

- Asynchronous communication

- Individual work styles

- Commensalism in team dynamics

Welcome to the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast. In this episode, we have an exciting interview with Steve Antill from Foundation Software. We dive deep into their recent acquisition of a timekeeping solution and discuss how it will complement their existing offerings. The conversation highlights the compatibility of our companies' cultures and customer service philosophies, and we share our commitment to gritty, hard work, and a focus on labor-intensive contractors. We address the challenges of navigating complex labor laws in California and how our partnership will improve automation and efficiency in payroll by combining our respective strengths. We touch on the importance of collecting accurate and sophisticated payroll data regardless of the ERP used and how integrating different software solutions for the construction industry can yield better data. We also discuss the benefits of using payroll and mobile solutions in the construction industry and the challenges of finding new products and companies. Tune in to learn more about how technology is shaping the construction industry and how we are working to make it more efficient and productive.

Key Takeaways:

- Acquiring a timekeeping solution

- Compatibility of companies

- Integrating different software

- Maintaining partnerships

- Challenges of integration

- Partnership with P4C

- Benefits of payroll & mobile solutions

- Technology in construction industry

- Managing risk & decision making

- Cash flow & risk management

- Breaking revenue ceilings

- Streamlining payroll processes

- Importance of supporting industry

- Embracing technology

- Welcoming new team member

Are you struggling to effectively communicate and collaborate with your remote team? Look no further than the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast. Host Mike Merrill sits down with Richard White, founder and CEO of Fathom, to discuss the challenges and solutions for maintaining productive connections in remote work environments. From implementing a hybrid work model to valuing others' time with asynchronous communication, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips for any organization. 

Key Takeaways: 

- Challenges of hybrid work models

- Importance of communication infrastructure

- Asynchronous communication and reducing meeting overhead

- Importance of valuing others' time

- Productivity strategy of video off during meetings

- Managing remote teams and employee satisfaction

- Importance of communication and connection

- Importance of sharing context and emotions

- Tone in sales and leveraging technology

Welcome to The Mobile Workforce Podcast! In this week's episode, we dive into the potential of AI and automation technology to revolutionize workforce management, hiring processes, and productivity. Our guest speaker, CEO Jason Radisson, shares his insights on how AI can automate parts of the hiring process, expedite new hires, and improve efficiency.

But that's not all. We also discuss HR Tech and its role in creating a smooth onboarding process. Our guest emphasizes the importance of building engaging software to increase employee engagement and streamline the hiring process. The software automates compliance tasks and paperwork, allowing HR professionals to focus on valuable personal interactions with employees.

We also explore how AI can be utilized in scheduling to improve productivity and efficiency, which is especially critical for companies employing large numbers of people. In fact, job matching is a common AI application in workforce management and onboarding. The technology has been adapted from yield management algorithms used in the airline industry and is now being used to proactively reach out to candidates who are a good fit.

With the adoption of AI in the white-collar workforce at around 80-90%, with implications for future productivity. 

Key Takeaways:

- Automation & AI for workforce management

- AI in hiring process & efficiency

- HR Tech for onboarding & engagement

- AI for job matching & performance data

- AI for frontline & white-collar workers

- Streamlining hiring process for top talent

- Embracing AI in work & personal life

Are you ready to get ahead of the curve in the construction industry? The latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to stay up to date with the latest technology trends. Featuring Steve Handley, Construction and Real Estate Division Vice President at Aktion and Associates, Inc., this episode dives deep into the use of cloud-based solutions and AI, the value of standardization, and the challenges of finding skilled tradespeople. Handley emphasizes the importance of embracing technology to add value to your company and discusses the potential benefits of standardization, similar to EDI in the auto industry. Explore the impact of the pandemic on the construction industry, including the shift to remote work, the need for cloud-based solutions, benefits of AI in the construction industry and the importance of keeping up with emerging technology trends. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation and the opportunity to stay ahead of the competition. Tune in to The Mobile Workforce Podcast today!

Key Takeaways: 

- Technology progress in construction

- Importance of embracing technology

- Standardization in the industry

- Impact of pandemic on remote work

- Need for cloud access in construction

- Attracting skilled workers

- Technological advancements in the industry

- Benefits of using AI in construction

- Importance of becoming more efficient

- Benefits of cloud-based solutions

- Importance of keeping up with technology

If you're looking for the latest workforce trends, you won't want to miss this week's episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast. Ryan Naylor, is back to share his insights on the hiring landscape and what it takes to stand out in a crowded market. With a focus on impact over compensation, it's all about finding the right fit for both employer and employee. And with 80% of job seekers starting their search on mobile devices, it's crucial to lean into mobility now more than ever. But it's not just about the tech - it's about the people. With Glassdoor employment reviews now outranking customer reviews, the emphasis is on creating a satisfying work environment. And with Chat GPT's hiring kit, finding the perfect candidate has never been easier. So, join us for another enlightening conversation with Ryan and discover how to take your recruitment game to the next level. Check out Vivahr.com now and let's find that perfect fit together.

Key Takeaways: 

- Hiring trends in marketplace

- Focus on impact over compensation

- Mobile job search on the rise

- Importance of employment satisfaction

- Relevant job titles for candidate search

- Chat GPT hiring kit

Discover the power of cultural marketing with Ryan Naylor, CEO and founder of Viva HR, on the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast. As an entrepreneur who has appeared on The Shark Tank, Ryan knows the value of building a business with the right foundations. In this episode, he shares his insights on how to attract and retain great players in Small Business America by creating a framework where they feel like family and appreciated. Learn how to build a scorecard that aligns with your values and goals before even posting your job, and how to transform your business by getting candidates into interviews. With over 100,000 people successfully placed in new jobs, Ryan's expertise is not to be missed. Don't miss out on this cornucopia of valuable insights - tune in now! And remember, if you need expert technical recruiters, Viva HR is always open for your polite requests at vivahr.com.

Key Takeaways:

- Value of building business with foundations

- Cultural marketing for small businesses

- Family unit importance in business

- Celebrate business milestones

- Importance of good hiring processes

- Building a scorecard for hiring

- Helpful technical recruiters at Viva HR

Welcome to the Mobile Workforce Podcast, where we dive into the world of remote work and the latest trends in business technology. In this episode, we're excited to bring you an insightful conversation with Josh Mullins, the Managing Director and founder of Automized. Josh discusses how his company's goal is to improve work-life balance and quality of life for employees by providing process efficiencies and tools that allow them to take vacations, spend more time with their families, or be more involved in their communities.

Josh also emphasizes the importance of implementing technology tools and processes that help bridge the gap between different departments within a company. We explore how businesses can benefit from automation and optimization using technology, and identify two areas where automation can be implemented - processes that are repetitive and have defined rules, and paper-based forms.

Join us as we explore how implementing processes and systems in organizations can manage chaos and increase efficiency. Learn how the use of low-code apps and digital workflow automation tools can significantly improve processes, resulting in real-time data analysis, better crew management, and significant discrepancy reduction.

Key Takeaways:

- Benefits of automation

- Optimizing processes before automation

- Fear of job loss

- Focus on time and revenue

- Automation increases productivity

- Importance of implementing processes

- Need for technology

- Improving teams and culture

- Continuous improvement

Welcome to The Mobile Workforce Podcast, where we provide insights and knowledge into the world of remote work and business process optimization. In this episode, we have Josh Mullins, the managing director and founder of Automized. He shares his expertise on how companies can find business tools to optimize their processes and accomplish their goals more efficiently. Discover the biggest opportunities for optimization and how to drive adoption of new technologies through change management. Learn about common processes companies do backwards, the importance of integration and interoperability, and how companies can support new technologies to be the winners. With Josh's focus on trade-based industries, he shares how his company helps owners build sustainable and resilient businesses. Don't miss out on this valuable information and insights. 

Key Takeaways:

- Business process optimization

- Repetitive processes are opportunities

- Subjectivity in process optimization

- Integration and interoperability

- Preparing for new technologies

- Cost benefit analysis and ROI

- Low code app builders for paper processes

- Tooling for smaller companies

- Trade based industry focus

- Improved growth after assistance

Looking for strategies to boost your business's productivity and profitability? Look no further than The Mobile Workforce Podcast! In this episode, host Mike Merrill speaks with Josh Fuller, CEO and founder of Matic Digital, about how to be more strategic with your teams and resources. Learn from Fuller's experience of expanding his own business and the importance of hiring the right people to shape your company's direction. Discover a unique approach to staffing and project engagements, and how it can benefit your business. Plus, hear from Matic Teams about their project-focused teams and how they can help you solve problems and provide solutions for short-term projects. Don't miss out on this valuable episode filled with expert insights and practical advice. Tune in now and take your business to the next level!

Key Takeaways: 

- Expanding business & failing fast

- Importance of finding the right people

- Maddox teams & embedding staff

- Talent pairing model

- Consulting agency's unique approach

- Benefits of hiring independent contractors

- Matic Teams' business offering

- Teams as the best solution

- Supplementing the labor force

Looking to expand your business? Join us on The Mobile Workforce Podcast as we chat with Josh Fuller, CEO and founder of Matic Digital, about the right time and place to take the leap. Learn from his experiences, from embracing risk to being nimble and pivoting quickly. Discover how to strategically share resources with other businesses and how to cultivate strong relationships with partners. Get insights into making the right decisions for the future of your company. Join us next week as we continue the discussion with Josh, this time focusing on sharing your team and resources with others. Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow and scale your business. Tune in now and take away the power to take risks and make a difference in your business.

Key Takeaways: 

- Expanding into new opportunities

- Learning from mistakes

- Cultivating relationships

- Setting a course for your company

- Making better decisions

- Remembering  the big picture

- Taking risks

Are you prepared for retirement? Join the Mobile Workforce Podcast as Mike Merrill interviews Jason Parker, president of Parker Financial, about retirement planning for business owners. Discover why retirement for business owners is different from employees and how to navigate the complexities of a liquidity event. Learn about tax implications and investment strategies for business owners transitioning to retirement. The podcast emphasizes the importance of planning personal finances before and after selling a business and the potential pitfalls of sudden wealth. Advice on how to avoid exposure to lawsuits, reduce tax liability, and create certainty for buyers. Discover the importance of having a plan for the next phase of life and learn exercises and resources to design a fulfilling retirement.

Key Takeaways:

- Retirement planning for business owners 

- Importance of planning personal finances 

- Pitfalls of sudden wealth 

- Challenges of liquidating assets 

- Designing a fulfilling retirement 

- Leaving an inheritance for children 

- Importance of estate planning 

- Budgeting and stewardship 

- Discipline in managing finances 

- Importance of diversification 

- Preparation for inflation

"Secure your financial future with the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast. In this informative session, financial expert Jason Parker emphasizes the importance of retirement planning and investing early. Discover how compounding can significantly grow your wealth over time and why it's crucial to differentiate between speculation and investing. Our financial experts highlight the significance of saving for retirement and offer practical advice for individuals nearing retirement age. Learn to determine your life expectancy and create different models to stress test your plan for retirement with our exclusive Retirement Budget Calculator. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take control of your financial future and live your best life. Tune in to the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast now."

Key Takeaways:

- Retirement planning and investing for a secure financial future

- Emphasis on starting early and investing consistently, even during volatile times

- Compounding and low-cost index funds can significantly grow wealth over time

- Retirement budget calculator helps determine if enough savings have been accumulated

- Importance of controlling spending and taking advantage of employer-provided retirement benefits

- Financial education and mentorship is crucial for personal and professional development

- Focus on investing in people and empowering them for success

- Planning for retirement leads to freedom from fear and greed and allows people to make a difference in the world.

Do you struggle with building and retaining top talent within your company? Are you tired of losing your best performers and seeing a loss in revenue? Look no further than the Mobile Workforce Podcast's latest episode, where author and speaker Helen Fanucci shares her insights on the importance of retaining top talent in the tech world and beyond. With a focus on accommodating the needs and motivators of employees, Fanucci offers strategies for building a positive work environment and reputation, while also acknowledging the importance of recognizing when it's time to let go. This episode also delves into the construction industry's unique challenges in retaining subcontractor talent and keeping workers engaged and motivated. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies for building and retaining top talent in your organization. Tune in to the Mobile Workforce Podcast today and start building a stronger, more successful team.

Key Takeaways:

-The importance of building and retaining top talent in companies.

- Losing top performers can impact overall revenue and requires time and resources to replace and train them.

- Companies should find out what matters to each individual employee and accommodate them accordingly.

- Becoming known as a great developer of talent can attract new employees and retain existing ones.

- Employers should create an enjoyable and satisfying work environment beyond just maximizing income for employees.

- The power shift has changed to employees, and employers need to be flexible to retain their talented workforce.

- The construction industry highlights the significance of considering employees' personal goals and life situations to make work work for them.

- Controlling the environment in which workers operate, creating a predictable schedule, ensuring materials are available, and identifying signs of engagement are essential.

- Factors such as distractions from phone use and life events should be handled with compassion.

- Reputation matters for subcontractors who should have predictable schedules.

- Companies should hold frequent conversations to find out what matters to their employees and figure out how to assist them.

Attention all sales managers and business leaders! Are you struggling to build and manage effective sales teams in a hybrid work environment? Look no further than the latest episode of The Mobile Workforce Podcast, where host Mike Merrill interviews Helen Finucci, former Microsoft Customer Success Sales Lead and author of "Love Your Team: A Survival Guide for Sales Managers in a Hybrid World." Finucci emphasizes the importance of clarity of goals and outcomes, effective communication, and fostering teamwork and collaboration, particularly in the construction industry. 

Key Takeaways:

- Building and managing effective sales teams in the construction industry

- The importance of clarity of goals and outcomes, effective communication, and teamwork is emphasized

- Retaining top talent 

- Managing and empowering teams involves understanding what matters to them and removing obstacles

- Transparency and communication within the team is crucial

- Focusing on the value and relationship in sales, rather than just the features of the product

- Optimizing the performance of existing sellers is more important than adding new sellers

- Trustworthiness and delivering what is promised are major factors in building and maintaining customer relationships