Dirt Talk by BuildWitt — Episode Summary

Episode: Bring Back the Trades, AI, and 1,300+ Attendees (BuildWitt Update #28)
Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Aaron Witt (BuildWitt Founder)
Episode #: 393

Overview

In this BuildWitt update episode, Aaron Witt provides a transparent look behind the BuildWitt organization, sharing recent experiences, internal developments, and industry insights. Key topics include the impact of the "Bring Back the Trades" movement, the evolving role of AI in construction, preparation for the Ariat Dirt World Summit, and a reflection on the importance of building genuine human relationships in the dirt world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Bring Back the Trades” Movement (00:54 – 06:41)

• Aaron's Experience: Aaron spoke at the annual "Bring Back the Trades" event at Gillette Stadium, aimed at exposing students and parents to diverse trade careers.
• Organization Origins:
  • Created by Steve Turner, a dedicated automotive upholstery business owner.
  • Started with a hat design, evolved into a nonprofit now impacting thousands of youth in the Northeast.
  • Offers trade-focused scholarships and hosts expansive vendor participation (excavation, mechanical, culinary, and more).
• Importance of Youth Engagement:
  • Aaron expresses passion for inspiring the younger generation:

    “Speaking to the next generation is what it's about... Having an opportunity to potentially impact even just one person... is a really big deal. And that is how you change the world, one person at a time.” (04:38)

  • Critiques industry veterans for not doing enough to sustain and nurture the future of trades despite having resources and influence.

2. Update on BuildWitt Improvements & Renewals (06:41 – 09:12)

• Shift to Proactive Customer Relationships:
  • The team is actively reaching out for renewal conversations, focusing on proactive support and deeper partnerships.
  • Aaron notes the improved approach:

    “We’re being much more proactive... most conversations with existing customers have been very positive. Proactive relationship building and support are the norm going into 2026.” (07:10)

• Outcomes:
  • Positive reception from industry partners.
  • Simplified product offering (“BillWitt Improve”) streamlines business focus.

3. The Role of AI & The Human Connection (09:13 – 13:56)

• AI Tools in Sales:
  • Dan, BuildWitt’s Chief Revenue Officer, attends a CRO-focused conference emphasizing AI’s impact on sales and leadership.
  • AI tools like Ask Elephant help record, coach, and summarize conversations, freeing up human time for relationship-building.
• Philosophy on AI Use:
  • Aaron stresses that AI is a valuable tool, but not a replacement for genuine human connection:

    “AI is just another tool... to give ourselves, give our people more time, more freedom to focus on the human side of the business, which is the real secret, which is the moat around everything.” (11:01)

  • Construction remains a “handshake business” despite digital transformation.
• Personal Approach to AI in Communication:
  • Aaron refuses to use AI for his own writing:

    “If you see any writing of mine, it is written by me and I did not use a tool to write it… No fancy prompts, no bullshit, just me sitting down every day asking myself, what am I going to talk about today?” (12:22)

4. Preparations for the Ariat Dirt World Summit (13:57 – 17:35)

• Attendee Milestone:
  • Over 1,300 attendees registered—excluding staff and exhibitors—making it the largest summit yet.
• Strategic Shift for Next Year:
  • Plans to reduce attendance in 2026 to about 1,250 to maintain intimacy and focus on “the companies and leaders that are hungriest.”
  • Sales efforts giving way to relationship-building and event quality.
• Event Confidence:
  • Work is “kind of done;” the focus is on delivering a rich experience.
  • Aaron praises the BuildWitt and PXP events teams for “earned confidence,” the culmination of extensive prep work.

5. On Earned Confidence vs. Perceived Confidence (17:36 – 20:07)

• Reflection:
  • Aaron distinguishes “earned confidence” (from hard work) from “perceived confidence” (from status or bluster):

    “Perceived confidence is like the popular kid in high school... Earned confidence is held by those that have done the work... We've put in the work so we don't have to stress going into it.” (18:25)

• Team Appreciation:
  • Attributes the summit’s anticipated success to not only the internal BuildWitt team but also to the external partners at PXP.

Notable Quotes

• “Speaking to the next generation is what it’s about... Having an opportunity to potentially impact even just one person… is a really big deal.” — Aaron Witt (04:38)
• “AI is just another tool... to give ourselves, give our people more time, more freedom to focus on the human side of the business.” — Aaron Witt (11:01)
• “If you see any writing of mine, it is written by me and I did not use a tool to write it… No fancy prompts, no bullshit, just me sitting down every day asking myself, what am I going to talk about today?” — Aaron Witt (12:22)
• “Earned confidence is held by those that have done the work... We've put in the work so we don't have to stress going into it.” — Aaron Witt (18:25)

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• 00:54 — Aaron recounts the origin story and impact of ‘Bring Back the Trades’
• 04:38 — Emphasizing the ripple effect of inspiring just one student
• 07:10 — Proactive customer renewal approach update
• 11:01 — The true value of AI as an empowering—never replacing—tool
• 12:22 — Aaron’s personal, no-AI writing commitment
• 13:57 — Major attendee milestone for the upcoming summit
• 18:25 — Explaining the principle of ‘earned confidence’

Conclusion

Aaron’s update captures the spirit of BuildWitt’s mission: investing in the next generation of dirt world professionals through authentic engagement, human-centric leadership, careful deployment of technology, and a relentless commitment to quality—both in products and in events. With an honest and unfiltered tone, the episode offers practical industry insights and a touching reminder of the impact one person (or one team) can make.

Contact:
Aaron encourages listeners to reach out directly at aaron@buildwitt.com or via LinkedIn and Instagram for further conversation.