Dirt Talk by BuildWitt — Episode Summary

Episode: Coal, 2026 Dirt World Sales, and 100 New Videos (BuildWitt Update #31) — DT 399
Host: Aaron Witt
Date: December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this BuildWitt Update, Aaron Witt offers an inside look at the company’s latest achievements and strategies, focusing on their record-breaking 2026 Dirt World Summit ticket sales, significant advancements in their training platform (BuildWitt Improve), and personal experiences in the field. Emphasizing transparency, team development, and industry impact, Aaron discusses how BuildWitt is shaping the next generation of the Dirt World — the people and companies constructing critical infrastructure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2026 Dirt World Summit Sales Success

• Record Sales: In the first week, BuildWitt sold 718 out of 1,250 available tickets for the 2026 Dirt World Summit. Fifty sponsors were secured, and half the tickets for the pre-event John Deere workshop were sold.
  • "In one week we sold 718 of the 1250 available tickets. So well over half of the available tickets sold in one week, which is huge. We closed 50 sponsors, which is huge.” (01:02)
• Relief and Momentum: Aaron shares his personal relief at the event’s strong sales, allowing the team to shift focus from constant selling to enhancing the Summit’s quality.
  • "I'm always looking at money, I'm always looking at business. Things have got to work ... but fortunately it did happen for us. I am so appreciative of everybody..." (02:05)
• Targeting Engaged Companies: The focus has shifted to nurturing companies that are truly engaged, rather than spending resources trying to convince those who haven’t responded in previous years.
  • "I deleted a lot of names and companies that have had no response to the previous three years... I can just focus on those that have been engaged with us, pour into them, and this is going to be a great thing." (04:42)
• Discounts Still Available: Significant discounts on tickets are offered through year-end.

2. BuildWitt’s Core Mission & Activities

• Purpose Explained: Aaron reiterates that BuildWitt’s mission is to “build the dirt world’s next generation” by supporting those who construct critical infrastructure.
  • "Our purpose is to build the dirt world's next generation. The dirt world is the companies and people building the critical infrastructure and supporting those who build our critical infrastructure that we need to live the lives that we do." (05:58)
• Primary Offerings:
  • BuildWitt Improve: A daily training and development platform used by about 300 civil construction companies, aiming to enhance both professional and personal growth.
  • Dirt World Summit: Positioned as the premier opportunity for team and leadership development in the sector.

3. Industry Change: Quality Over Quantity

• Small, Impactful Audience: Aaron challenges the idea that growth in event size is necessary for meaningful industry change, emphasizing the influence of a smaller group of committed leaders.
  • "Because you only need a small group of very convicted leaders that are very impactful and influential in the industry to create huge change."
  • "We don't need to go create this monster event with 20,000 people. We just need to focus on the 1250 that want to get better and that are hungriest." (08:40)
• Competitive Advantage: The goal is to help engaged companies improve so significantly that they set new standards for the industry.

4. Expansion of BuildWitt Improve Training Library

• 100+ New Videos Added: New topics include fire extinguishers, water/wastewater, formwork, concrete foundations, truck safety, gas distribution, and erosion control.
  • "We added over a hundred new training videos to build with improve. New topics include fire extinguishers, water and wastewater form work, concrete foundations, competent person truck safety truck pre trips, gas distribution and erosion control basics." (12:13)
• Largest in the Industry: The platform now boasts over 2,000 concise, field-friendly training videos — the most extensive in civil construction.
  • "It is by far the best training content in the industry. All of these videos are roughly two to three minutes long. They're built for everybody in the field to learn a little bit every day..." (13:02)
• Continuous Improvement: Ongoing media team efforts ensure that the platform’s content remains top-tier and relevant.

5. Field Experience: Lignite Coal Mining

• Keynote at Lignite Energy Council: Aaron served as keynote speaker in Bismarck, ND, then toured a lignite mine with North American Coal.
  • "I was lucky enough to be the keynote speaker at the Lignite Energy Council annual meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota. And then after that ... I had the opportunity to go see some lignite myself." (15:01)
• Upcoming Content: Visits with dragline crews will feature in an upcoming video, promising a rare look at the operation of massive mining equipment.

6. Team Development & Culture

• Team Gathering at the Summit: BuildWitt brought the entire remote team together at the Summit for the first time in years.
  • "This was the first year in which we were able to bring our entire team to the Dirt World Summit ... it was the first time that a lot of people had met one another in person. The first time I had met a lot of people in person." (17:21)
• Cultural Impact: The experience infused renewed energy and camaraderie into the team, with hopes for more in-person interaction as the company grows.
  • "It gives you a whole ... new level of energy within the business, within the culture. It's a breath of fresh air. We're seeing the benefit of it." (18:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On event success:
  "It didn't just feel like a great event ... everybody there got value. So much so that most companies actually bought five plus tickets for next year." (11:20)

• On industry transformation:
  "By helping those companies become better and better, we will give them the greatest advantage that they've seen competitively and we will force the rest of the industry to catch up, which will create change across the industry." (08:10)

• On the power of a dedicated group:
  "We don't need to go create this monster event with 20,000 people. We just need to focus on the 1250 that want to get better and that are hungriest." (08:52)

• On team culture:
  "It's cool to bring everybody together ... our goal is to facilitate more and more facetime within the company as time goes on, as the business matures, and as we can work it into the budget." (19:13)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – Episode intro and overview
• 01:02 – 2026 Dirt World Summit sales update
• 05:58 – What BuildWitt does and why
• 08:10 – Impacting the industry through key influencers, not large numbers
• 12:13 – Addition of 100+ training videos to BuildWitt Improve
• 15:01 – Lignite Energy Council keynote and coal mine visit
• 17:21 – The remote team reunites at the Summit
• 18:31 – Reflections on team culture and company energy

Closing Thoughts

Aaron’s candid reflections reveal a company hitting its stride, choosing to focus on depth rather than breadth—both in customer relationships and team development. This episode highlights BuildWitt’s dedication to practical industry change, hands-on leadership, and a people-first business model, all while delivering the largest training resource in their sector. The future for the “Dirt World” is being paved by those hungriest to learn and lead, with BuildWitt at the helm.

Contact: For feedback or questions, Aaron invites listeners to email: aaron@buildwitt.com
Sign-off: "Stay dirty, everybody."