Dirt Talk by BuildWitt

Episode: Australian Adventure and Activities (BuildWitt Update #19) - DT 375
Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Aaron Witt

Episode Overview

In this episode, Aaron Witt takes listeners on an in-depth journey through BuildWitt’s recent activities, especially the much-anticipated Australian business trip. Aaron offers a candid breakdown of his experiences visiting mining and construction sites across Western Australia, provides updates on BuildWitt’s growth (with a focus on hiring and product development), and spotlights the upcoming Ariat Dirt World Summit. True to the company's value of transparency, Aaron keeps it authentic, sharing not just wins but the hard work, logistical challenges, and the big vision driving the team forward.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Listener Engagement and Feedback Issues

[00:12–02:30]

• Aaron highlights the importance of transparency and keeping listeners updated on BuildWitt’s progress.
• He candidly admits to missing newsletter responses due to a technical oversight, but assures listeners he now can access messages directly.
• Quote:

  “If you have sent me a response, sorry... To get me directly, just email aaron@buildwitt.com. Would love to hear from you...”
  (Aaron Witt, 01:34)

2. Australian Adventure: Mining, Maintenance, and the FIFO Culture

[02:31–10:20]

• The trip kicks off in Aaron’s “second favorite country,” Australia.
• Explains ‘antipode’: Perth, Western Australia, is the exact opposite point of Nashville, geographically.
• The visit includes touring the Teess Western Australia Maintenance facility and witnessing haul truck and engine rebuilds.
• Describes the scale of mining in Pilbara, the “middle of nowhere,” and a key global mining region.
• Introduction to the FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) workforce model unique to Australian mining, with workers living in Perth and rotating to remote mine sites via their own airports.
• Aaron shares the significance and challenges of in-person relationship building in Australia’s mining scene.
• Quote:

  “You can build all of the relationships you want online, over email, over the phone, but at a certain point you’ve got to just go shake hands with people and you’ve got to figure things out.”
  (Aaron Witt, 08:06)

• Video content from this trip is coming, pending approvals.
• Teases next episode’s visit to a remote gold mine.

3. BuildWitt’s Homefront Operations & Leadership Transition

[10:21–13:00]

• Aaron credits Randy, the CEO, and the leadership team for steering BuildWitt while he's traveling.
• The company is now shifting hiring focus from sales to the development/software team to accelerate the BuildWitt Improve platform.
• Emphasizes rigorous, assessment-driven hiring to elevate team performance.
• Stresses the evolution into a higher-performing software company with “more development horsepower.”
• Quote:

  “Software is predicated on development and we need more development horsepower... We’ve got to move faster, we’ve got to iterate...”
  (Aaron Witt, 12:10)

• Aaron’s excitement about offering a unique employment opportunity and serving the dirt world better through software.

4. Ariat Dirt World Summit 2025 Announcement

[13:01–15:08]

• Event scheduled for November 5th–7th in Dallas, TX.
• Described as the opposite of a “snooze fest”—for leaders and go-getters.
• Featuring a world-class speaker lineup: Jesse Cole (Savannah Bananas), James Clear (Atomic Habits), Kim Scott (Radical Candor), Mark Miller (Chick-fil-A Leadership), Tim Grover (Michael Jordan’s trainer).
• Listeners can use code “AARON10” for 10% off registration at dirtworld.com.
• Quote:

  “You will not hear from a lineup like this anywhere else.”
  (Aaron Witt, 14:50)

5. Sales Team Successes and Direct Communication Philosophy

[15:09–18:40]

• The sales team surpassed their weekly goal of 25 meetings and set a monthly activities record.
• Sales activities include calls, emails, LinkedIn messages—measured for both quantity and quality.
• Organization into regional teams under Dan’s leadership has improved effectiveness.
• Aaron stresses that he personally messages people on LinkedIn and other channels—no ghost-writing or automation.
• Quote:

  “If you get a message from me on social media, I promise you it’s coming from me. I work all the time. I have no family, no children—just a few plants and some clownfish here in the office. But I work all the time.”
  (Aaron Witt, 17:10)

6. Product Vision and the Push Toward Software Excellence

[18:41–22:55]

• BuildWitt’s return to its bread-and-butter: field-first solutions. The “BuildWitt Improve” platform is designed to develop workforce skills, safety, and upward communication.
• Points out the civil construction industry’s highly fragmented nature and how BuildWitt aims to bridge the gap between field and office with enhanced data and communication.
• Strives to help field workers become not just better at their jobs, but better people and leaders.
• Expresses the ambition for “world domination”—or die trying.
• Quote:

  “World domination is 100% our intent. It will happen, it’s just a matter of when—or I will at least die trying.”
  (Aaron Witt, 21:41)

• Acknowledges the contributions and trust of customers and the BuildWitt team.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Transparency and Feedback:

  “One of our values, transparency wins. Trying to just share more as we go about things.”
  (Aaron Witt, 00:34)

• On Australian Mining Operations:

  “The scale of the operations are extraordinary, but they’re out in the middle of nowhere... the mines operate as what’s called FIFO (fly-in, fly-out)... the entire workforce flies in and flies out every week.”
  (Aaron Witt, 05:40)

• On Product Philosophy:

  “The core offering is daily training and development for the field—for the workforce within the civil construction industry—that’s our bread and butter.”
  (Aaron Witt, 19:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Listener Engagement/Technical Email Issues: 00:12–02:30
• Australian Trip & Industry Insights: 02:31–10:20
• BuildWitt Leadership & Development Hiring: 10:21–13:00
• Dirt World Summit Plug: 13:01–15:08
• Sales Team & Aaron’s Direct Approach: 15:09–18:40
• Product Vision and Software Focus: 18:41–22:55

Conclusion & Next Steps

Aaron wraps up by teasing more Australian adventures for next week and reiterating his commitment to listener engagement. He invites feedback and questions via email, staying true to the BuildWitt value of transparency and personal touch.

• Contact Aaron: aaron@buildwitt.com

“Stay dirty everybody.”
(Aaron Witt, 22:54)

This summary captures the scope, energy, and transparency of Aaron Witt’s update, giving non-listeners a vivid sense of BuildWitt’s adventures, business momentum, and future ambitions.