Pipelayer to Podcaster w/ Sy Kirby – DT 348

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dirt Talk by BuildWitt
Episode: Pipelayer to Podcaster with Sy Kirby – DT 348
Release Date: June 19, 2025

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Introduction

In episode DT 348 of Dirt Talk by BuildWitt, host Aaron Witt engages in a deep and candid conversation with guest Sy Kirby. The episode delves into personal growth, leadership challenges, the intricacies of the construction industry, and the importance of self-awareness. Through honest dialogue, Aaron and Sy explore the multifaceted aspects of running a construction business while maintaining personal well-being and fostering a positive team culture.

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Creativity in Construction and Problem Solving

Aaron opens the conversation reflecting on his perceived lack of creativity, prompting Sy to challenge this notion.

Aaron Witt [00:00]: "Just detoured my mind a little bit on maybe not being as creative as I thought I was."

Sy Kirby [00:04]: "Oh. I think people in construction are some of the most creative people out there."

Sy emphasizes that construction inherently involves creative problem-solving, highlighting the industry's demand for innovative solutions. Aaron concurs, underscoring the importance of approaching problems with multiple solutions rather than presenting issues without options.

Aaron Witt [00:07]: "Don't bring me problems. You want to bring me a problem, that's fine. Just have a couple of working solutions."

This exchange sets the tone for the episode, emphasizing that creativity is not just an artistic endeavor but a crucial component in construction and business management.

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Social Energy and Introversion

The discussion shifts to personal energy dynamics, with Aaron expressing his introverted tendencies despite appearing extroverted.

Aaron Witt [01:00]: "Yes, people would say so. But personally, with dealing with people as much as I have over the last 10 years, I just want to be in the woods by myself."

Sy elaborates on the concept of a "social battery," explaining how different individuals have varying energy needs when it comes to social interactions.

Sy Kirby [01:12]: "I think everybody needs to be around people. I think being isolated, like the worst form of torture imaginable."

Aaron and Sy discuss strategies for managing social energy, emphasizing self-awareness to handle interactions effectively without burning out.

Aaron Witt [04:24]: "Once you understand how you operate, you can work with it rather than against it."

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Struggles with Alcohol and Personal Growth

A significant portion of the conversation addresses Aaron's past struggles with alcohol and his journey toward sobriety.

Aaron Witt [05:37]: "But I don't want to just numb myself while I'm drinking; I'm numb the whole next day until I'm drinking again."

Aaron shares a pivotal moment during a family camping trip that led to his realization about the detrimental effects of excessive drinking.

Aaron Witt [18:01]: "I broke my stepdad's rib. Completely embarrassed myself to the point of, what am I doing?"

This incident catalyzed his commitment to social drinking in moderation, highlighting the importance of personal accountability and the impact of one's actions on loved ones.

Sy Kirby [07:07]: "I'm giving myself a disadvantage in life right now, and I can't afford that."

The duo explores the broader implications of alcoholism, societal perceptions, and the necessity of prioritizing personal health for professional success.

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Leadership and Team Management

Transitioning to leadership, Aaron reflects on his initial approach to managing his team and the lessons learned.

Aaron Witt [13:27]: "The input, output. And I see you start stacking business... they can tell when you're doing this."

Aaron discusses the importance of prioritizing family, faith, and work, and how implementing structured schedules and self-awareness has improved his leadership.

Sy emphasizes that leadership is not about delegating every task but about empowering team members to stay within their strengths.

Sy Kirby [38:00]: "They can see your intentions through actions, not just words."

The conversation highlights the shift from ego-driven leadership to a more collaborative and supportive approach, fostering a positive work environment.

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Business Challenges and Solutions

Aaron candidly shares his experiences with business missteps and the necessity of continuous learning and adaptation.

Aaron Witt [22:14]: "I started looking for these resources like yourself. I had to not just put another band aid if I truly wanted to fix my business for my team."

He recounts the tough decisions made to align his business practices with his values, including enforcing accountability and addressing discomfort to promote growth.

Sy discusses the importance of discipline and consistency in business operations, reinforcing that meaningful change requires persistent effort.

Sy Kirby [30:10]: "Consistency is everything. Whether that's business, whether that's family, whether... I don't care what it is."

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The Importance of Time Off and Company Culture

A key topic is the implementation of structured time off to ensure team well-being and productivity.

Aaron Witt [48:06]: "It's hard to find... but sitting there with no outline... allow more benefits like two weeks off around Christmas and New Year."

Sy and Aaron advocate for designated vacation periods, explaining how these breaks lead to energized and more productive team members post-holiday season.

Sy Kirby [50:37]: "Two weeks is a lot. At least between Christmas and New Year's."

They discuss how this approach not only benefits employees but also enhances company culture, setting the stage for a more committed and efficient workforce.

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Handling Industry-Specific Challenges: Licensing and Inspectors

The conversation delves into the challenges specific to the construction industry, such as licensing requirements and interactions with inspectors.

Aaron Witt [92:11]: "A water distribution technician... has to have a license... and he has zero regard for your life."

Aaron shares his frustrations with an uncooperative inspector, illustrating the complexities of navigating regulatory requirements.

Sy offers strategies for maintaining professionalism and seeking constructive solutions despite difficult interactions.

Sy Kirby [95:28]: "You have total control over your response and actions regarding the situation and your emotions."

This segment underscores the importance of emotional intelligence and strategic problem-solving in overcoming industry-related obstacles.

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Communication and Documentation within Teams

Effective communication is highlighted as a cornerstone for business success.

Aaron Witt [87:26]: "If you shot me a text 2, 3 days ago... that's not gonna do it. Email it up or document or whatever."

Aaron emphasizes the necessity of proper documentation to ensure clarity and accountability within the team, reducing misunderstandings and enhancing project management.

Sy agrees, pointing out that structured communication methods prevent issues from escalating and promote a more organized work environment.

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Navigating Online Negativity and Personal Branding

The duo discusses the impact of online negativity and the importance of maintaining a positive personal brand.

Sy Kirby [65:28]: "People on the Internet... hate... it affects most people on their way through."

They explore ways to handle online criticism by focusing on genuine value creation and ignoring unwarranted negative feedback.

Aaron Witt [82:45]: "It's not healthy to just consume... everyone should create."

This segment encourages listeners to engage authentically online, fostering a supportive community rather than succumbing to negative interactions.

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Conclusion and Key Takeaways

In conclusion, Aaron and Sy emphasize the critical role of self-awareness, disciplined leadership, and effective communication in building a successful construction business. They advocate for a balanced approach that prioritizes personal well-being, team culture, and continuous improvement. The episode serves as a valuable resource for industry professionals seeking to navigate the challenges of business ownership while maintaining a healthy and productive work environment.

Key Takeaways:

• Self-Awareness: Understanding personal strengths and limitations is essential for effective leadership.
• Balanced Leadership: Prioritizing family, faith, and work leads to a more harmonious and productive team.
• Structured Time Off: Implementing designated breaks can rejuvenate the workforce and enhance overall productivity.
• Effective Communication: Proper documentation and open communication channels prevent misunderstandings and foster accountability.
• Handling Negativity: Focusing on authentic value creation helps mitigate the impact of online negativity and criticism.
• Continuous Learning: Adapting and seeking resources for business improvement is crucial for long-term success.

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Notable Quotes

• Aaron Witt [00:07]: "Don't bring me problems. You want to bring me a problem, that's fine. Just have a couple of working solutions."

• Sy Kirby [04:24]: "I think life starts to become... it works for you."

• Aaron Witt [18:01]: "I broke my stepdad's rib. Completely embarrassed myself to the point of, what am I doing?"

• Sy Kirby [05:22]: "I'm a fucking dummy. And so I need, I need every advantage I can get."

• Aaron Witt [48:06]: "It's a good way of saying it. They all sat at home for their two weeks."

• Sy Kirby [65:28]: "People on the Internet... hate... it affects most people on their way through."

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This episode of Dirt Talk by BuildWitt offers invaluable insights into personal and professional growth within the construction industry. Aaron Witt and Sy Kirby provide practical advice and share personal anecdotes that resonate with industry professionals striving to balance business success with personal well-being.

Transcript

[Aaron Witt]

Just detoured my mind a little bit on maybe not being as creative as I thought I was.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh. I think people in construction are some of the most creative people out there.

[Aaron Witt]

I am a big. With my team. Don't bring me problems. You want to bring me a problem, that's fine. Just have a couple of working solutions. I'll sit here and we'll. We'll talk about good, bad, pro, cons, whatever, to all of these solutions. But for the love of God, don't just bring me the problem.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I think you're. You're a good example of this. Like, well, I'm just gonna start somewhere.

[Aaron Witt]

And I'm, like, the most awkward when it comes to putting myself out there. Like, although people look at me, they're like, you kind of an extrovert. Like, hardcore.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

But at the same time, I guess you would say that.

[Unknown Speaker]

Do you get energy from being with people?

[Aaron Witt]

Yes, people. People would say so. But personally, with dealing with people as much as I have over the last 10 years, I just want to be in the woods by myself. You know what I mean? Got a little bit introvert on me.

[Unknown Speaker]

I think that's where people. I think people mess the definition up, though. I think it's really what gives you energy. And some people really need to be around people to get them jazzed up. I think everybody needs to be around people. I think being isolated, like the worst form of torture imaginable. That's what solitary confinement's for. But me, I'm like, I very, very much have a social battery. And when it goes. When it goes to zero, I don't want to. I don't want to deal with a fucking soul. I'm done. Yep. And it's just. And I would get in trouble. I was dating this girl in college, and so we would be going to these parties. And at this point, I didn't drink the first few years of college. Then I drank a little bit towards the end. But whether I was sober drinking, whatever it was, we'd go to these house parties, and I did the fraternity thing for two years.

[Aaron Witt]

Oh, you did?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. But I was like a. I was. I was a black sheep. Yeah. And so I. You know, the writing was on the wall. Two years. And I was like, oh, no, I made it three semesters. So I made three semesters. And at that point, I was like, I'm sorry, boys, I shouldn't be here. Yeah. Like, I just. I don't belong here. So I dropped out. But, you know, you still know who's who. And you go to these every once in a while. It wouldn't be all that often, but anyway, you know, it would get to like 11:30 parties. Just starting to get riled up. Riled up. And I just. At like a certain point, it would vary in the evenings, but I would just like, I'm fucking out of here.

[Aaron Witt]

Done.

[Unknown Speaker]

And I would then go. I'd go like, hide in the backyard and would just, like, sit by myself.

[Aaron Witt]

Nipple. A beer.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, it was.

[Aaron Witt]

Nobody bug you.

[Unknown Speaker]

Awesome. Loved it. Especially if I was a little buzzed. It was be. It would be. That'd be even cooler. Like, this is great. Like, this is so cool. Then like the just. Just position. Like this quiet night, it's in the dark and just this chaos going on 15ft from you within this shitty house in Tempe, Arizona, with. With a bunch of just wasted, wasted college kids, frat boys. Yeah, that was great. But that. And I. But I didn't. The point of the story is I didn't really recognize what was going on. I would just. It would just almost be automatic. I would just. I would just have to get out of there. But then I started to figure out, wait a minute. No. This is how I operate. I'm introverted. I can manage it better now. I'm not just gonna be like, at dinner with you last night, my like, yeah, go to the bathroom and then just leave.

[Aaron Witt]

Like, I was like, oh, dude, I'm sorry. Yeah, no, I didn't know we were leaving. You know, I thought I was being rude.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's not gonna be like that. But also, Jack, if you're listening, can you see if you can turn the air conditioning down? Make sure it's down. I just forget about every time.

[Aaron Witt]

Thank you, Jack.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where was I going? But now I know how to manage it better. But I'm just. I'm aware of it, which is great. Like, once you understand how you operate, you can work with it rather than against it. Y. And it starts. I think life starts to become.

[Aaron Witt]

And it works for you. You start instead of questioning in your mind of why is it. Why am I like this?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Instead of now you're using it almost like a subliminal force that you have. Because I think the self awareness thing, like you just said, dude, is so huge. And I think age in general, 30s hit hard and you have to deal with all these self realizations. And then anybody that's in business on top of that, it's just so fast and in a hurry. But social battery got to be around people. No doubt about it. But I have that switch, man, where I'm like, no, I'm done. I've learned how to manage it, though. That's a good way of saying it. And how to manage it before I hit that switch. Because when I hit that switch, I just don't care. You know what I mean?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah. Bye.

[Aaron Witt]

Bye.

[Unknown Speaker]

If you go over the. Yeah, you go over the cliff. It's like quick. Yeah. You got to recognize, hey, it's coming up. And then that's the sweet spot. Like, okay, I can act before this happens.

[Aaron Witt]

That's right.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'm in control here. But if you go over.

[Aaron Witt]

Alcohol, man. No, especially.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, there's alcohol involved.

[Aaron Witt]

I was all.

[Unknown Speaker]

All rationalities out the window.

[Aaron Witt]

It was bad control. It was bad for this guy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

So that's why I'll socially drink. I'll socially drink a little bit. I used to be a decent drinker. I don't know how you say that. But never alcoholic status or nothing like that. Every night 12 pack was easy. But when that brown water came in. Brown water magician is what my wife called me and wasn't proud of that and started having young. You know, we've got three kids. Me and my wife been married 11 years now coming up. And those young babies, man, they start changing you real quick. And I was looking at them one night and I was just like, all this ain't worth it. It ain't worth it. I'm missing moments in my life because I want to have a beer or.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And it's with me. I'm that type of person. Just like you were talking about. Social battery. If I drink a beer, everybody else drinks a beer and it goes up a notch. I ain't stopping at one, dude. We going to have a night. And I couldn't learn to control it.

[Unknown Speaker]

And so 12 would kill me right now.

[Aaron Witt]

Me and you both, bro. I wouldn't move for two weeks.

[Unknown Speaker]

I would be. I'd put me in the hospital. Literally. I don't even. But that even. That's just a lot of carbonation too. I don't even know if I could put 12 down.

[Aaron Witt]

And I wonder why. I had so many stomach issues and I'm just never hungry. Yeah, I was terrible. But that is some big self awareness for myself that it just wasn't worth it. And then now I've harnessed it and I'm like, oh, well, you're.

[Unknown Speaker]

You're just like, you're. I don't know why you would intentionally, like, mute life.

[Aaron Witt]

Ooh.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because you're And I get it. Like I understand why people do it. And alcoholism is a real thing and pain in life. Real like I totally understand it. I will never judge someone heavily drinking. Nope, I get it. But you don't. You're not just numb while you're drinking, you're numb the whole next day until you're drinking again.

[Aaron Witt]

That's right.

[Unknown Speaker]

And then you're not sleeping well.

[Aaron Witt]

Nope.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because alcohol really fucks your sleep up. So it's the whole 24 hour period every day that you're just intentionally, whether you know it or not, just dimming. Like you're taking the dimmer switch and just pulling it down and it just, I feel like mutes everything. Which is, which is crazy.

[Aaron Witt]

That's crazy. That's a good way of saying it. But yeah, zero judgment here on this side. I still got buddies that'll sit there and pound them away as I'm sitting there talking with them. You know, it's, it's, it is what it is. And zero judgment. But no, for me in my life and everything that I've been trying to do over the last 10 years, like it had to fade. You know what I mean? I couldn't just. You're right. 24 hours. I can't wake up the next day and be 150% to go win the day. Whether it's pushing dirt, laying pipe, whatever it is. No, I can't have that hold back. And especially when it's self inflicted.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well that, that's the thing. And I'm like I'm a fucking dummy. And so I need, I need every advantage I can get. So drinking, like why am I going to give, give myself a disadvantage is how I see. That's why I stopped. It's like I'm giving myself a disadvantage in life right now and I can't afford that. I'm not good enough for that. That's right one, I'm not good enough for that too. That's not going to get me to where I need to be. So it just doesn't math. And maybe it's, maybe it's too extreme. Like maybe there's an opportunity to enjoy it every once in a while with, with the right people and the right, right atmosphere. I'm starting to maybe go down that path. I don't know yet. I, I, I, I know I'm not an alcoholic. Like I'm, yeah, I've always been able to just turn it on, turned off, don't even think twice about it. I, I, I don't have and I'M I'm so grateful for that.

[Aaron Witt]

My dad was bad.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I. Yeah. It's crazy, though. You start talking about it, there's not a single person that's like, yeah, I've actually never dealt with alcoholism anywhere, ever. Everybody, it's bad.

[Aaron Witt]

It's funny. It's not funny. I shouldn't say funny. That's a bad choice of words there. But when small shorts or whatever, and you're watching a group of individuals at an AA meeting or NA meeting, and they're all discussing what brought them there, and these drug users will always turn to an alcoholic and go, man, I'm sorry. Cause that alcohol, man, I couldn't even imagine having to deal with alcoholism and being sober and it literally being the gas stations, restaurants, like, you know, at least somebody that get. Comes clean, say, off a meth. You've got to go out and search it actively. But with alcohol, it is in front of your face 24, seven a day.

[Unknown Speaker]

And that's how people get together. Like, you want to go to dinner?

[Aaron Witt]

What do you do at dinner?

[Unknown Speaker]

It's isolating in a way. I mean, you lose if you stop drinking. Like, you lose. That's something you lose friends over.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because that's the foundation of the. The friendship is. Especially for men. I mean, men and women, I guess it's. It's. It's no different, but different. Different drinking, typically. Yeah, yeah. Men are more bush.

[Aaron Witt]

Light bush latte.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I mean, like, that's the. That's the foundation of a lot of relationships. So you pull the rug from underneath. There's nothing else there.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah. And then just sit.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And.

[Aaron Witt]

And if you're not growing, you're dying.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah. But it's easier said than done because then you've got crabs in the bucket. Like, you try to get out of the bucket and they're like, no, no, come back down here. Hey, hey, hey. We've got. We've got a good thing going on. This bucket. Why are we trying to get out? Come on. And then you get boiled. Yeah. Which is, you know, crap, man.

[Aaron Witt]

I am. Yes, it is.

[Unknown Speaker]

My God.

[Aaron Witt]

I like me some crab legs, but no, I agree, man. In life in general, it's just those self realizations and self awareness that I think more folks, whether it's whatever input into your body, if you're wanting to output and be a family man, run a business, do media, do all the things that you, you know, your heart and set and desire is. Yeah. Sit down. Go to the woods if you got to. For 24 hours and evaluate your life and do some self awareness. Don't get me wrong, I still make mistakes, everybody does. But you've got to actively try to set yourself up personally if you're going to try and lead anything. You know what I mean?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And go ahead.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's like one of our values is we are what we do. It's a newer one, but it's really inputs, equal outputs. It's not more complicated than that. You just have to figure out what do I want the output to be? What do I want my, you know, child to be? Marriage to be, career to be, house to be. Whatever, whatever. Faith, you know, you could go down the list. What do I want? Okay. And then you work backwards. Well, what do I have to put in to achieve that? A lot of people, they want this, but then you look at what they're putting in, you're like, well, you don't want that.

[Aaron Witt]

Nope. Because you talk about it all you want.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, but I like, I would either be putting more in or adjust your expectations. One or two. It's your decision to make, but there's going to be a time where you're going to be very disappointed because what you're doing, it just doesn't math. No, I see that all the time. All the time.

[Aaron Witt]

The input, output. And I see you start stacking business. I know we've been talking kind of more personal here, but you start stacking business on top of that and try and output any other expectation for your team members, for your guys. They can tell, you know, when you're. Where I was going with that is I struggled with prioritization of my family, my wife, my kiddos, the business. And then, you know, in the last couple years, this media stuff is kind of kicked up. I had to learn how to prioritize, how to make a list and live by a schedule and a calendar. And I thought, I ain't gonna lie to you. Five years ago I would laugh at myself for saying that because yeah, you don't need all that.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

But in the self awareness and self realizations, it's like, sigh. You keep missing these things because you're not prioritizing. And then like now when I set a schedule, it's hey, babe, what we got going on the next couple of months? What's kids got going on? Basketball. And then that goes on the schedule. And then I start, you know, working all the way around that within the business and other priorities past that. But I think it takes some time to figure out, you know, faith, family, then work and you can. Especially when you're trying to build a business from the ground up. It's very blurred lines trying to prioritize and ensure that you're inputting to each of those priorities and not just forgetting your responsibility, not just meeting your responsibilities because they're your responsibilities, but inputting 150%. Man, you said it right. Or change your expectations because something's going to change. Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

So again, it's like, yeah, I'm not here to tell you what's right or wrong for you. I'm just saying something doesn't matter.

[Aaron Witt]

Nothing changes if nothing changes, man.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And like I said, I see that all the time.

[Aaron Witt]

I live by it.

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Aaron Witt]

No, I'll be, I'll be honest with you. I will. I'll be straight up and honest with you. We went camping with my family and never talked about this. So exclusives here on the old dirt talk. Come on back.

[Unknown Speaker]

Go wherever you want to go.

[Aaron Witt]

I I a little bit musically inclined and play a couple instruments but I love to sing and just by the fire drinking a few and what song you want and then get everybody singing and carrying on and we were camping to behold. It is. I can definitely play the guitar. I can't carry a tune to save my life but man, they all sound good. When you're 24D, you know, and this has probably been five, six years ago now, maybe maybe four. And it's. It's bad that I don't know the exact date, but I try not to carry it as a milestone. But we were sitting there and probably 20 of us and a good buddy of mine was sitting there and they were hagging on, hey, take a shot, take a shot. And at this point in my life, the liquor was gone. Like, I didn't even mess with that stuff at all. It was just beer or twisted teas. I think it was that night. Honestly, I like them twisted teeth.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's a hell of a hangover. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And so they. I got pretty inebriated and I was sitting there and then all of a sudden they switched it out for Jack Daniels bottle.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And buddy, I commenced and I was. I was already pretty deep in four hours later, I start to sober up and start to look at everything. I literally went ape, dude. I ripped T posts out of the ground. I don't remember hardly any. Any of it. Broke my stepdad's rib. Completely embarrassed myself to the point of, what am I doing? And I come out of that camper that next morning and I looked and it looked like a dad gum tornado had gone through across the road there. I. They had a barrier rope with T post to keep people from driving. And for some reason I went through there and popped like 11t posts out of the ground. Rip broke my chain that my wife had given me. And that I think probably messed me up the worst because I couldn't find it. And I did find it in that field searching that morning before we left. But that was it for me, man. That was, wow, you're trying to be a leader of individuals. You're trying to be a leader of your family, and this is the kind of display you're going to do. And it really affected me. And since then, I'll socially drink.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sure.

[Aaron Witt]

Little mixed drink. I won't even touch a beer hardly anymore. It just hurts my dang stomach. But, man, after that, I really affected the people that I love the most. And I don't like that.

[Unknown Speaker]

And it was. It was, it was you with that realization. It wasn't like your wife sitting you down at the end of that.

[Aaron Witt]

But like, hey, we didn't even talk about it. I was so embarrassed, man. Like, that's not me.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sure.

[Aaron Witt]

And. And the big thing with drinking is I would never drink unless I was around people. I say that I would never go past that point that we've been talking about unless it's people that I trust, family, good buddies, you know that are gonna deal with me when I get to that point and. But after that it didn't matter. It truly didn't matter. My when. When your wife takes the kids to bed just because they don't. She doesn't want them around Daddy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah. That's a problem.

[Aaron Witt]

It's a major problem. And anyways from that point I just refocused.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sure.

[Aaron Witt]

That was probably one of the largest self realizations in life. And I'm like if. Just like you were speaking about man. If I'm going to sit here and talk about outputting or input to all of these necessary responsibilities within my life some inputs have got to go.

[Unknown Speaker]

I think. And that's where I think like shame and embarrassment has a place in life. I feel like people that are just trying to like you talk to people that have cleaned up all sorts of things. Oftentimes it's something like that that's just like what the fuck am I doing? But it has to. Usually it's it a lot of times it gets pretty bad and you have to be like really embarrassed to be like listen, I'm not doing. And it could be something even like public speaking or the media stuff. Whatever.

[Aaron Witt]

It is like putting yourself out there in general.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And that like that in itself is very motivating because it' like man, I just ate. I'm not doing that again. And then you work harder than ever before to. To get to a better place. Like I think it's actually quite to. To just sit in. It's not helpful to sit in. It is. Is. Does you no good. But I do think it's. It's a pretty powerful tool.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah. And especially if you use it to change your life.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And I going to change gears just a little bit here because it's funny you brought shame and embarrassment up because as I'm going to go business side here over the last year and a half, almost two years I was doing business really wrong up to that point.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sure.

[Aaron Witt]

And didn't know what I didn't know. Started looking for these resources like yourself. And within that I had to not just put another band aid if I truly wanted to fix my business for my team. And it's not necessarily that it needed fixed. It ran just like everybody else.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

But I don't want to be like everybody else. There's a better way to do it 100% there is. And there's a new age and in the dirt world. No offense here guys. And in the Utility worlds, the boomers and the older gentlemen are, you know, in the next 10 years, it's going to be. They got to hand it off. Like, there's new age faces coming and new ways to do things. But the shame and embarrassment that I had to go through for my team and sitting in a room with seven individuals that I pay, and then I've got this one lady sitting here going, sigh, why do you do this? And I have to sit there and go, I don't know.

[Unknown Speaker]

That's a good question.

[Aaron Witt]

That's a good. I feed my ego. Like, I'm honest. I was so honest through this. And I had good employees, dude. Five year plus employees just jump. Yeah, I cranked the accountability. I cranked the uncomfortableness. If we're going to grow, we're going to do it together. And. But it was everything they were asking for. But I had to walk through. And maybe that moment in my life prepared me to walk through. I've never put that two and two together. But continually being shamed and embarrassed internally, you literally let this get to here.

[Unknown Speaker]

Mm. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And you just beat yourself up. But anyhow, when your team starts supporting what you're doing and starts recognizing, go. Oh, man. He just didn't know, man. They band with you more than ever. It makes me emotional.

[Unknown Speaker]

Even though people, people know, like, where your intentions really lie. Regardless of words. You can say whatever fucking words you want. That's what, that's what just makes me chuckle with some of these big companies, like, they think they can go mold things with these fancy statements. It's like, no one's buying that.

[Aaron Witt]

Like, that's not. While looking at your actions.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like, guys, come on. Like, like this is, this is. It's to the point where it's like, it's almost insulting. Like, it's. You're. You're insulting my intelligence. And you are. And you're insulting, like your whole workforce in a way. Like, this is. This is a bad path to go down.

[Aaron Witt]

You're not wrong, bro.

[Unknown Speaker]

But people, People know if you're one, you know, if you're doing your best. A lot of people bullshit themselves.

[Aaron Witt]

Yes, they do.

[Unknown Speaker]

But you, you cannot. At the end of the day, you cannot bullshit yourself. There is just no way around that.

[Aaron Witt]

You either won or lost the day. Yeah, that's it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And, you know, ideally, you string more wins and losses together and you end up with something pretty cool at the end. But one, you can't fool yourself, but you sure shit can't fool people. Around you as well. And so they know. They know if you're genuinely doing your best or not. Regardless of what you're saying.

[Aaron Witt]

Actions will always speak louder than words.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And that's very powerful. You can really use that to the advantage of yourself and others, I think. But you've got to do the work yourself first.

[Aaron Witt]

You have to.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And during this whole transitional period, I'm sitting here looking at, you know, I just want their jobs to run better. Honestly. I just want the team to be able to do what we do smoother.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

More streamlined and. And through that process, I thought the whole team was bought in. You know, by God, we're doing this together.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Man. I lost several good folks, you know what I mean, along the way. But those were stepping stones to get to where we're at right now. Because those folks looked at me and go, they were. You're right. They were wishy washy. Is he really. Is he doing this? Is this. And I got to tell him myself again because myself and Sarah alongside Scicon's only been fixing to start a 10th year in August. So we're very baby compared to most of the companies that come.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. But a decade is.

[Aaron Witt]

It's pretty cool, man.

[Unknown Speaker]

Nothing under your belt.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah, it's pretty cool.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'll say though, something you said was, you know, it was. It was all about you and like ego when it began.

[Aaron Witt]

100 but I don't see that as.

[Unknown Speaker]

A problem at all because that's how I got going was like, I feel like that's how most businesses start. It's kind of with like a fuck you. That's what I love about America compared to other countries. Is there. There is this fuck you mentality that just doesn't exist in a lot of other places. For better or for worse. Like, it works for and against us. But I feel like that's important in business. You have to. Or, or, or when you're doing something new. Not even in business when you're embarking on something. I feel like some of that you and some of that ego is. Is really the only way to get through the early days. I don't think it can carry you forever. I think you have to then transition. Like, wait a minute, this is bigger. This is way bigger than me. This isn't even about me. You kind of like you, you, you know, you're the caterpillar and you merge as the. As the butterfly. You're like, whoa, okay, this is. But, but, but it's how you got there in the first place. As well.

[Aaron Witt]

100%.

[Unknown Speaker]

And so I think, like, people are. They're always trying to make everything seem fucking noble, and it's like, no, no. I started this business because I wanted to be around machines all the time, and that was the way to do it. There was no, I'm gonna go change the world, and I'm gonna do it for, you know, we're gonna go build this great future team, and I'm gonna go change the lives.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah, you're exactly right.

[Unknown Speaker]

There wasn't any of that. Like, that's. That's ridiculous. I don't really think there's a lot of that in the early days, especially as a young man.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah. Oh, it was. I was gonna go prove everybody wrong.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, exactly. Which. Which. But that's like, again, it's. It's not. I don't think you can run on that forever. I think that can. It can take you down a pretty.

[Aaron Witt]

Bad path, but an unprofitable path.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I, I just. But I, I. It gets you there, and I think there's a lot of value in that. That fuck you watch me mentality.

[Aaron Witt]

I want to hit on that real quick because I immigrated. I was 11 years old at my 10th birthday. I'm sorry, my 10th birthday, I. I immigrated into the States and obviously haven't been all over the world like yourself, but growing up in Canada and elementary school and being around Canadians and getting to come down here. Yeah, you are absolutely right. It is the land of opportunity.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's very, like, Canada is very different just then, the mentality. Alberta has some. You.

[Aaron Witt]

You bet you they do. Come on, boys. Keep it up, cowboys.

[Unknown Speaker]

But, but, but right and left.

[Aaron Witt]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Not as much originally from Toronto area, and. But when I come down here, I look and maybe God just gave me that little bit of extra edge, because when I come down here, and I think it just feeds into that immigrant mentality. And I understand that immigrant mentality. I'm like, what do you mean? You're complaining about your. Look at all this stuff you can be doing. Back to the input, output situation like we were speaking on. I'm just like, you just got to keep going. You just got to start doing something. And the immigrant mentality, man, the opportunity that's spoken about in this country is unbelievable. That you can start literally with an idea.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Run with it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And look at you. I mean, literally, I'm from an idea of, I want to be around machines. I really like taking photographs. Boom.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Just starting. And you hit it earlier or maybe last night, the Consistency is everything. Whether that's business, whether that's family, whether. I don't care what it is. But discipline and consistency is where you get to where you're going. And guess what? You lose the day. Chalk it up as a loss. As long as you've got your discipline set, wins will come back and wins will string. You know what I mean?

[Unknown Speaker]

Sure.

[Aaron Witt]

And, but the, the land of opportunity here, taking an idea, making it into a business is unbelievable. In no other place on the planet is like it.

[Unknown Speaker]

No. And I think it's been eroded in the, in America. Which is a bummer. We don't really have a middle class anymore. People say we do. It's like not really.

[Aaron Witt]

No. It's pretty hard to find.

[Unknown Speaker]

But that's what I love about the trades is I feel like it's really one of the only places within the United States economy where the American dream is still alive and well, more than ever. More than ever. Which is very cool. Very, very cool. But if you go look at every, like you want to go start up banking a bank tomorrow, go fuck yourself. Like, you know, an airline, a railroad car company, phone company. Like everything else is, is really consolidated.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

And there's, I mean there's a lot of small business. But it's like the fragmentation of the trades is a problem. It's, it's somewhat screwed the trades in a lot of ways. But it's also the opportunity because anybody can finance a skid steer, a backhoe, a mini excavator, a pickup truck, some tools on a trailer, literally and let it rip. Which is, which is pretty damn cool.

[Aaron Witt]

And see a lot of these guys, I speak to a lot of the one to three year startup guys and one of their largest questions is how do you, how do you finance all this stuff? When do you buy, when do you rent, when you lease all this other stuff. And I'm like, guys, once you get into business and you're just doing just a little bit, it's a signature. It's literally a signature in most cases on a $300,000 dozer to a mini X or whatever the case it is. But it's up to you to reproduce the income every single month to ensure that it gets paid. But literally once you're on the other side in the LLC realm, it can get nerve wracking how easy it is to go finance all this stuff. But it's the actual use and production of that turns into money and there's such a struggle. But on that's the excavation side. But man, we need plumbers, electricians, concrete guys. We're gonna need truck drivers eventually here coming very quickly.

[Unknown Speaker]

We need truck drivers yesterday. I know, I know that's a huge problem. But however, the complexity there is automation. Exactly that one. Scary at that one. I'm like at least long haul, like.

[Aaron Witt]

Build them a new highway and just put them on. Hey let's, I mean, well, on the same highway.

[Unknown Speaker]

They've got them running on the same highway out west. Really? Oh yeah. They already have automated semis.

[Aaron Witt]

I've seen a Tesla.

[Unknown Speaker]

The technology is there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the technology is there. I mean and I'm not saying all truck drive like truck drivers are the fucking backbone of the United States economy.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

And they'll, they'll be around for a very long time. However, you do have the automation question there. That's like substantially far along.

[Aaron Witt]

I would otherwise much rather though looking back, you know, how much easier it would be to go find master plumbers and finance vans in tools, you know what I mean? Compared to a skid steering Mini X to get a start. No, you got to $20,000 van. Don't get me wrong, you probably got 20, 30,000 tool worth of tools in that van. But it's two guys over and over again. Go to school, go work for a plumbing outfit. Go. If you're sitting here listening to this and you're like, well what do you mean? Just start. I'm literally telling you, just start. Go find somebody that knows the trade, jump in with them, learn everything you can about that trade for they'll even pay you to go to school. Most plumbing outfits or electrical outfits, you know, go learn and obtain that trade and you can literally start your dream tomorrow.

[Unknown Speaker]

But this is where you were saying. The, you know, the early business owners, they get, they just get a little stuck and it's like all that matters is constant forward motion. That's, that's all that. And you, you, you are going to fuck a lot of things up. That's just, that is just part of it. It's just. And, and you can talk to other people and see how they did it and it might be helpful. But the help of that is I, I don't think all that valuable. I just think that constant, like everybody I know that's built anything substantial within the construction industry, it's just been constant.

[Aaron Witt]

Forward motion and not taking no for an answer. Yeah, I've been told no 10,000 times.

[Unknown Speaker]

They're just relentless and, and they've, they've just figured it out. And so it's not that helpful. Like just figure it out. But that's how I've seen it done.

[Aaron Witt]

You're not wrong, brother.

[Unknown Speaker]

By everybody.

[Aaron Witt]

It's literally, I call it winning the day now. But it's just constant persistence of dealing with whatever problem. When you're smaller, there's more problems you can't delegate, you can't, there's nobody else to help with that problem. You are the answer. But there's two, two ways you can kind of combat that for the early guy is that, you know, when I was early on I could have leaned on more folks, fractionally whatever the case may be, CPA, etc. But we try to just do everything ourselves. We were just talking about this, you know, and I would encourage those guys to do a little research.

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't have time to do any research.

[Aaron Witt]

No, you haven't.

[Unknown Speaker]

But that's, but that's what I mean by constant forward motion. I don't just, I don't just mean put your head down, go to work. I think that's part of it. You need to work. But there's a lot of people that work their whole life that end up at the same place they started. That's, that's not, that's not the whole thing. The constant forward motion is doing the other things too. And I, I just, I don't necessarily subscribe to the whole. I have to do. I, you know, I'm the one that does everything myself early in the day. Like I think, I don't think that does anybody any kind of service whatsoever. And that, that, that just makes you self important and not trust people and it just stifles everybody around you. Whereas like in a way I used my, not to pat myself on the back, but I used my ignorance as a, a tool. I, I knew what I could do well and I stayed in that lane. And I got other people on a contract basis. I didn't hire people the first year business, year and a half, talk about it on a contract basis to help out in the lanes that I didn't understand, I didn't need to go understand all these other things. I could just find people and pay them and trust them to stay in their lane. And there's a lot of people like, no, no, no, you have to know everything. It's like, I don't know, I've gotten this far without knowing a lot of what our business does. And you do have to. You can't just have your head in the sand. You can't be completely unaware.

[Aaron Witt]

Doesn't mean you have to be the expert.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, but like. And I'm in a different world. So someone could say, well, fuck you, you're on a contract. Yeah, you're right. Good. But the example I have is, hey, there was in the early day photo and video. I'm not good at video. I don't think in video it doesn't work. It does not work. In my head, I didn't do it. I said, I am just going to be world class at this one category or try to be, strive to be. And when I need video, I'm gonna bring in people on a contract basis to help. And when I can afford it, I'm gonna hire somebody to do it. I'm not gonna go try to do it. It's gonna make it worse. And it's like, yes, I'm saying no to opportunities right now, but I'm. But it's also getting you ahead in a way that discipline. And so. And I just applied that to design and to websites, etc. We don't do that anymore. Now I'm applying it to software and training and podcasts and etc. But the best guys I know, again, going back to the dirt world, they've done that as well. They've stayed in their lanes. Like the best companies, they have somebody that runs the field well and someone that runs the office well. They're two different skill sets. Oh yeah, they're two different skill sets.

[Aaron Witt]

And I will tell you, I'm telling you, I'm doing a lot of things differently. I didn't know what a disc assessment was and I didn't know. I knew of a personality test, but I had everybody in leadership of my company. Admin office. I'm sorry, admin or field or indirects, it doesn't matter. I want to know. I want to know how you think. I want to know why you think that way, how you deal with stressful situations, how I wanted to know everything, how they're feeling internally without them having to sit here and tell me. And man, I learned so much from what I was already currently doing that was affecting the same problem over and over again. At 101, my estimator up front, I would backlog starts dwindling. What do I do? I run up there, hey, what's going on? What can I do? How can I jump in? How can I help? Yeah, and from that disc assessment, man, sorry, I may have kind of shot off here on a different leg, but from that disc assessment I figured this is my number one employee. This was the guy that started this gig with me after 10 years. Like he's been here since the start. And I just found out in year nine that me running up there in those moments throws him further backwards than it does propel him. Well, sigh. You getting a bunch of number and you know, from the ego standpoint of myself, it's literally only feeding my ego. It's not okay, I'm gonna run up there, change a few numbers, send stuff out the door to get ink on the paper. Well, that's cool. Well, I just, I just ate some of my profit just to get the job. Like, what's the point in that? How about look at the desk assessment? Okay. I've normally go in here and do this with you, Dylan. Now I'm approaching him. Dylan, backlog starting, you know, get here. What do you need me doing? How can I help you? Well, boss, it'd be awesome if you just went through the CRM and just made contact with some of these guys. I'm like bet. And I'm good at that, bro. I'm freaking good at that. I am not. I am not the have to know the reason behind everything guy like Dylan is the best at it and he's so good to have it at the front of the house because he is asking the question and then asking the 10 questions from that answer of that question before we ever send a number out the door. But me running up there in this little bit of ego downturn for myself, oh, we need more contracts. Let's send it out the door. Hamster Wheel of death and the production team sitting here going, hey man, this is a really tight job. It's a good job. But why are the numbers staying tight? I don't even stand a chance. Well, because boss ran up here anyways. But entrusting in your people is where I was going with that. And I want to talk to maybe the guy that's sitting there going, these guys are sitting here talking about but they don't know about so and so that screwed me over or this guy or that guy. I I'm telling you guys, both these gentlemen at this desk has been burnt by several people along the way to get to where we're at. And it's going to happen. And I literally am going through that myself over last year. Lot of really important people that I thought was going to be there to the end. I'm building this for them, bro.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, I don't.

[Aaron Witt]

My name's in it, but like I'm doing it for the team, you know. And so when they started jumping ship. And when they just literally were like, I don't want to do this anymore. Took that so hard as I am over here, like, we're talking more than ever, trying to ensure that their job runs seamless with input from their job.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

A lot of them didn't want to put input. They didn't want to change. And obviously that.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And people. People leaving it. But it really is just a hurt, a hit on your ego, really, because I've been there so many times over. But then it's like, listen, they're. They're not. Most people aren't trying to fuck you over. No, there's those people, but most people, they're not in that category. They're just trying to do what's best for them and what's best for their future and what's best for their family. And you might disagree with their decision, but they're still making that decision with their. Whatever's best for them and their family in mind. And it's like, well, who am I to tell them what's best for them?

[Aaron Witt]

Right.

[Unknown Speaker]

And even, Even. Even if I did know, it's like, it's still not my decision. It's their decision to make. But I. Going back to the assessments, I think they're quite helpful. I just start to get a little anxious for people because I see companies using them as the easy button. They're trying to make people and culture and personalities and past history as something you can quantify and put on a piece of paper. Okay. Oh, okay. Well, sigh. Psy took this, and now I know what box to put him within. Great. Easy. It's like, that's not how people work.

[Aaron Witt]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

And so I think it's. I think it's helpful when it's another clue. Like, it's a. It's a data point.

[Aaron Witt]

Yes.

[Unknown Speaker]

Amongst many data points. But if it's the only data point, you put people into boxes, you fuck the person, you fuck the company. Like, that's.

[Aaron Witt]

And the whole trajectory of what they're trying to do.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. It really does no one. It really does everybody a disservice. And so it's like, it's how you're using. It's great because I think, like, I think you can learn a lot from just listening and working with people. But it is. It is a helpful data point. But again, it's. It's like, let's aggregate everything I've already learned about this person and all the data I already have and what I've already listened to. And then that might help make sense of the data. Oh, okay. And then you can align your actions in a better, more productive way going forward.

[Aaron Witt]

Them and you.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, Yeah. I just. I get nervous when I see companies doing it, like, right away. First. First off, come in. Let's get you a disc assessment. Let's get you one of these assessments. And then that almost doesn't give the person a chance.

[Aaron Witt]

Right? They have a personality, too.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah. Like, they're.

[Aaron Witt]

They're.

[Unknown Speaker]

They start day one in a box, and it's like, again, if you have the right program, that's not the case. But it's a slippery slope. It can happen.

[Aaron Witt]

I'm a long ways from that. And I can see that, though, now that you're sitting here talking about it. And people change every day. Me, every. I've changed. Yeah. You know, that's the fun of it. But if you're looking again, nothing changes. If nothing changes. I wanted this year to run better than ever. And so why that all came about is I actually provided my team 15 questions. I paid them this year for their Christmas bonus. I actually did an election with them. I'm like, hey, you want to do bonuses or do we want to sit at home for two weeks? And I'll pay you guys from Christmas to New Year's, And I've done that before, and I have families first here, man. This is what I designed Cyclone to be. It's not a place to do 70 hours. It's not a place to do 60. It's 45 and be with your family. And so they all sat at home for them two weeks. And it was some good time for me because I was having my. Me and Sarah, obviously Sarah, not myself, was having our little baby girl on December 30th. We needed the time anyway.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, perfect.

[Aaron Witt]

But, man, I worked on myself a little bit there.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And day one of that, of that vacation, they all gave me crap about it, but I sent them 15 questions. I sat at a word in an email, and I was like, I got to know more if we're going to try and go somewhere in the next year. I got to know what's driving them, what's motivating them, what am I doing? What is the company doing? It wasn't like a super in depth. It was, hey, what are your personal goals for this year? Hey, what are your professional goals? I found a foreman who's literally been wanting to be a foreman that I thought for the past three or four years finally makes foreman, and it has nowhere on his goals about Being a foreman, he's big on being safety. And the QC guy. And I'm like, blew my mind. But I'm using it as a tool to try and help implement positive changes. We have the culture. If you want to talk about culture. I went the other way. I went, I'll take you on fishing trips. I took them to the beach, but there was no incentive on production to get there. So they knew it was already coming. So it didn't really matter what we had to output. That is not the way.

[Unknown Speaker]

So, yeah, again, it's another trap.

[Aaron Witt]

It is.

[Unknown Speaker]

Here's your treat.

[Aaron Witt]

Exact.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like. And again, I'm not criticizing that. Like, fuck. I'd be taking people on fishing trips all the time if I could. I don't. I don't have fishing trip, though. But maybe one day.

[Aaron Witt]

Neither did I.

[Unknown Speaker]

But. But it has to be like, on top of the other, like that on its own. Doesn't get you a great result.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah, but if they were standing on that boat knowing that the company was profitable for the year because they helped us get there.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Then they get this.

[Unknown Speaker]

Let's go.

[Aaron Witt]

Totally different. Yeah. But in my mind, I knew. Culture is huge. Family first, culture. I mean, a dude can call me at 1:30 on a Tuesday, hey, kiddo, blah, blah, blah. All right, I'm heading to you. Or somebody else will move things or. It doesn't matter.

[Unknown Speaker]

The. You said you asked them if they wanted a bonus or two weeks off. Then you said you did two weeks off. So did the majority want the two weeks off?

[Aaron Witt]

Not one, not a single person raised their hand for a money bonus.

[Unknown Speaker]

No shit. So ever. So that. That's okay. That's interesting. That's good. Because I. We've done two weeks off since we've began. It is. I want to sit here and say it's just the right thing to do because we're great employers, Bill. It's great to work for, but it's just good business.

[Aaron Witt]

It is. They get a reset.

[Unknown Speaker]

They get a reset and a few days is not enough. And it blows my mind how employers try to work people between Christmas and New Year's because it's like you are getting nothing out of people and they resent you for it. Yeah, literally.

[Aaron Witt]

And not only that.

[Unknown Speaker]

What are you doing?

[Aaron Witt]

If you're a pipe guy, this is literally one of the number one reasons that we even consider. We did this a couple years ago as well. But essentially, when you're a pipe guy, the city and the engineers is what you live and buy. You know, die by if you can get production in or not.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Them city officials get three, four weeks of vacation every year. And I promise you, they ain't gonna make an inspection between Christmas over the holidays. So send your boys to the house.

[Unknown Speaker]

And when all the bosses are off, like right across the board, everybody shooting ducks, you know, and it's such a shame too, because you're making. Then people use their time off. Like. Well, we give two weeks off. So you're making people take 50% of their time off just to have their holidays with their family, which then gives them 50% less time. Like, what do they do during spring break? What happens fall break when their kids off. Summer, Their kids are off for three months.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, it just doesn't. To me, it's just good business. But, but like you said, it gives them a reset even if they don't want it.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

You just. You in a week, I feel like just isn't enough. Like. Like a two week period. It really. And it's crazy because every time, every time it comes around, I say, listen, this is not guaranteed here.

[Aaron Witt]

That's right.

[Unknown Speaker]

We don't have to be doing this. There's nothing that says, nope, I should be doing this. We're doing this. It's a privilege. You run to it, you run out of it.

[Aaron Witt]

Mm.

[Unknown Speaker]

And if you set those expectations, it is wild how much gets done in December. And it's even crazier how much gets done in January. Like, January is fucking gangbusters every year. Every year. And the number one thing I hear from people is I had no idea how much I need did that.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep. And you know what? You're sitting at the top, like myself and a lot of guys sitting here listening, and they probably ain't taking a reset in a minute.

[Unknown Speaker]

And it gives you time off because everybody else isn't.

[Aaron Witt]

There's no phone calls, boys.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. If people. But. But even, even if there aren't phone calls, you're still sitting there worrying about shit and safety.

[Aaron Witt]

And if you're a good one.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're still thinking, so if everybody's off, then you can be off. Like, everybody wins. Everybody wins.

[Aaron Witt]

And you know, to, to that point is my family deserves that. And daddy works very hard throughout the year and is gone working late hours a lot of times. I. Traveling, whatever. But that two weeks around Christmas and New Year's, like, it's everything to me and my family. Why wouldn't it be? I sit there, I literally sat there this year, and I'm like on my front porch with the dogs. And I'm like, I'm thinking about all my guys and how they're probably enjoying their time right now with their family. And I have a lot of. Not a lot. I have a few immigrants that, by the way, they love working for an immigrant.

[Unknown Speaker]

Sure, yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

But they go back to Mexico and spend a couple weeks down there. So now, okay, to your point, they didn't have to burn their vacation, but if they want to take three, four weeks and go down there, there's two weeks from the company they stack. If they've been here three years or more, they get two weeks. Ishmael's working on that this year, and he's going to Mexico for a full month paid off, which is insane. But in January for us, as you know, it's dragging trying to get the year started, get where we doing strategy, productions, etc, and so it's not really as much as the guys running out there and getting stuff done, but you got to prepare for that. But it's a great month for training as they're coming back and they're actually reset. I know I've said that already, but you can see it on their face when they come back. They're just energized and they're. They're like, huh, Kids are gonna drive me crazy. So I wasn't. We're gonna have to do a week next year. You know, I mean, they need it and they're not gonna take it. A lot of these guys in our world, they're not gonna take a week unless mama says so.

[Unknown Speaker]

And that. But. But that, again, it gives them permission to take it off when everybody's off. And you almost have to prescribe it. It's not good for everybody. Like, the holidays can be hell. It definitely can be hell. So it's a time to also support everybody. And I haven't really thought about that as much as I should have in the past, but for most people, it's bad. I think for everybody, it's badly needed. It's just not always enjoyed in the same way.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah, I agree with that 100%.

[Unknown Speaker]

But there's. I mean, there's the. I've spent the past three Christmases in Australia. The whole country's off for two weeks. Whole country, really done. Done. Work done.

[Aaron Witt]

And it's summertime during Christmas over there, right?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah. Europe, we're done and it's summertime. Exactly. That's. That's when you're going, no, this is a sacred cow. We're taking the time off. And I I really appreciate that. And. And it's not, I'm not, I'm not saying like, we should make it a federal standard here, but as a company, that just gives you an advantage. Like, I feel like that's a. That's an easy win.

[Aaron Witt]

100.

[Unknown Speaker]

Really easy way to differentiate yourself.

[Aaron Witt]

Every single bucket. Like, there's no negative to it other than you're paying guys not to work, but.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, you've got a plan.

[Aaron Witt]

I would hope so.

[Unknown Speaker]

Maybe you got some customers, customers that are like, no, the. You're not working. I get that.

[Aaron Witt]

I understand you hit the nail on the head.

[Unknown Speaker]

But if you plan for it, if.

[Aaron Witt]

You start looking at it in October and going, hey, we've got.

[Unknown Speaker]

Talking about in July, you bet.

[Aaron Witt]

No, yeah, but I'm saying from a production standpoint, hey, guys, look, it's October. Here's our schedules. Everything's got to be done by the 15th of December. We're wrapping stuff up, burying holes and moving on.

[Unknown Speaker]

And they're looking pissed off, their jobs.

[Aaron Witt]

Done, you know, and they're out there gas and giving it everything they've got right here. They're getting a reset come back in January. Dude, I'm telling you guys, if you're not doing it, I encourage you to do it. Because there is so many across every. You can't find a metric that it doesn't give positivity to.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, at least, I mean, two weeks is a lot. At least between Christmas and New Year's. Yeah, I just, I think that's just bad business, working people between Christmas and New Year's. I get it. If you're law enforcement, you bet. I understand there's services we need, you know, airline pilots, this and that. Like, I get it, I get it, I get it. Not everybody can just take time off, but most everybody in construction, unless you're out there repairing water line breaks, which isn't everybody. That's important, but it's not everybody. Like, that's right again. They'll come up with a hundred reasons why, but it's like, all right, 99 of those aren't. They don't have to be true.

[Aaron Witt]

I ain't gonna lie though. If one of our utility companies, we do emergency utility work, 20 from 36, 24 inch feeder lines down to 8 inch distribution mains. Like, it doesn't matter. If somebody were to call me during that time, I'm gonna go, hey, look, I ain't got much of a crew. I'll come out there. There ain't no doubt about it. Me and whoever I can gather. But I need you to understand during this time. But yeah, the infrastructure still. Infrastructure. I'm gonna do everything I can. You think I'm gonna call all my guys. Hey, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not during that. Like you said, sacred time. It's a good way of putting it, my guy. But you still have customers. But guess what? Those customers are probably off vacation in themselves.

[Unknown Speaker]

They're all hanging out, man.

[Aaron Witt]

They're all the big boy investors in the private world. They shut down bid invites, man. They shut down second week in November, dude.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, post Thanksgiving. Yeah. No one gives a shit. It's like, what do you people do? Like, how do I get this gig? And the government too. Like, getting anything done. December, good luck.

[Aaron Witt]

You gotta have it done before the second week of this post Thanksgiving.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, nothing's happening. It's actually crazy. Like, this is. I mean, this is why I started doing this. Because early in business, I'm like, let's go. I'm gonna get after it. I'm gonna work harder in December. I'm gonna get even more done coming up into the new year.

[Aaron Witt]

Right.

[Unknown Speaker]

And it's like, that's great. But no one's doing anything.

[Aaron Witt]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

So, like, they kind of, you know, pat you on the head. That's. That's really cute. You think anything's gonna happen in December.

[Aaron Witt]

But it ends up costing the company money to employ people to do nothing.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. This is a January problem, bubba.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

And you know, the government can do that, but small business, hey, just prepare for it.

[Aaron Witt]

But I will. I will tell you that the benefits. Absolutely. As you're. If you're a contractor going, man, I really don't want to ride out $50,000 worth of bonuses this year. Okay, well, give it to your. Give it to your guys. Give this option to them and ask them and. And your admin staff, you know, hey, what yalls thoughts? And you will be very surprised at the answer, I do believe. But like you said earlier, it all depends on your culture and what culture you're already living in.

[Unknown Speaker]

Exactly.

[Aaron Witt]

And what culture you've already set by your actions and not your words.

[Unknown Speaker]

And that. That's where I think a lot of people have soured. It's like, well, that's just not how it works here. It's like, yes, you're right. That's not how it works there. Because there's just not that infrastructure from a cultural standpoint. Yeah, that's a. That's a big point.

[Aaron Witt]

Because the cult. I've seen so many companies. What do you mean you're not working between that time and it's like, what do you mean? You are. You know what I mean? Yeah, but. And these are guys that have been in business 30, 40, 50 years locally, you know what I mean? So I'm just like, how did you get there doing this same thing over and over and over and over again? I question it all the time. Time. I'm like, yeah, well, I, I, I.

[Unknown Speaker]

I shouldn't even be talking about it because it's like I, it's a legitimate advantage. It's, it's really nice. Like, this is something I should just keep to myself. Like, oh, this is, that's literally why I started. This is a nice little help, nice little trick that I have. But it's like, why would I do that? Why? Like I want to, I want to shout from the rooftops how good this is because, boy, it's game changer, man. Yeah, it's a game changer.

[Aaron Witt]

It is, it is. But dude, I gotta tell you, thank you truly for pioneering what you've done in our world. Because, number one, the awareness of it. And, but how did you, especially in the early years as you're walking these job sites, massive job sites, how did you break the stigma of. Hey, I'm just wanting to show this off, you know what I mean? In the media, on a commercial job site, like for the first couple of years, walking around my job sites, people just think I'm crazy with this big gimbal and all this other. But the way you did it, man, opened up doors for folks like me to start, just start and do this, you know. But I wanted to hear a little bit about the stigma. As you were first coming through, did folks really support what were you were going. I mean, obviously they started jumping in once you started clicking, but getting those first couple of companies to really buy in, I mean, was, was the filming? I guess the question would be was it discouraged at first when you're trying to break into this stigma? Because it's never been done like these. Yeah, I mean, there's a video once a year, this big job we're doing, look, but not on a daily weekly basis. Folks out there recording, sharing, drones are now bigger than ever, you know, actually involved with not just media, but lidar and everything else and topos. So I just wanted to hear a little bit about that. My guy, and I think everybody does.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, I appreciate, I don't want to take too much credit because there were people doing it before me. I just thought I could do it my way. And there wasn't many. There wasn't a lot going. So I was, I arrived at the party at the right time, I feel like. And it's not that novel of an idea either concept either, because it was already done plenty in other worlds. Like cars, for example.

[Aaron Witt]

Oh, yeah. Trucks too.

[Unknown Speaker]

Trucks. All kinds of stuff had already been done a lot of times over. Nature, animals, all kinds.

[Aaron Witt]

Asmr.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it kind of goes back to like, how are you talking last night at dinner about comments and other people, etc.

[Aaron Witt]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

I haven't struggled with that very much because I've really just ignored it. Like, you really just have to ignore it. Like, you have to do whatever it takes to protect yourself from it.

[Aaron Witt]

Guard that peace.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And, and so I don't, I don't interact with a lot of other people in this world, etc. And it's, it's not. There's nothing personal. It's just like, listen, this is what I need to do to protect myself.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

And just keep my lane. My lane.

[Aaron Witt]

Keep the main thing to me.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. I don't want to do your thing. I don't want to do anybody else's. I just want to do my thing and I have to protect that as much as possible. And on, on job sites, I've. I don't know, are there people that don't want us there? Sure, I'm sure all the time. But I don't, I don't even think twice about it because I'm not, I'm not there for me. I'm there for them.

[Aaron Witt]

And it's, it's whether they realize it or not.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And, and, and, and, and, and some people might perceive that in a very different way because, yes, it is me all over the fucking place. Podcast with the vlog, etc. Like, I get it. I understand. It's my face everywhere. Yes. But I've, I've, I've, I've had to do that because you do need a personality behind what the hell's going on. Like it. But it's not self promotion. I don't, I'm not sitting there at all talking about how good I am, smart I am, etc. All I'm doing. Everything we're doing is talking about the industry, and I'm just talking about what I'm learning from the people we're with and I'm showcasing. Yeah. And we're trying to do a better and better job of, of doing that in as authentic of a way as possible, but that's always Been the intent. I'm not, I'm not at the job site to go get a cool photo for more followers. Like, that's not how like the fault. Like, and I was even telling you the analytics, like, I don't, I don't spend a lot of time on them.

[Aaron Witt]

Surprised me.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, because that's not the goal. Like, the goal is to just tell a great story about something. I love the numbers and shit. That's going to take care of itself if I just tell a great story.

[Aaron Witt]

That'S true to bring value.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, that's true to me and the story I'm telling. Like, yeah, and bring value. It's. That's, that's been it. And, and that, like, when you have that purpose behind it, it's a lot easier to ignore all the bullshit. Right?

[Aaron Witt]

Agree.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, it's like, I don't know, people write bad stuff all time. I really, I don't spend energy on it at all anymore because it's like when you have that, when it's really aligned with, with you and really aligned with something bigger, it's really easy to not give a single about these people on the Internet. Seriously.

[Aaron Witt]

And YouTube is frothing with hate.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, I, I find it hilarious, though. Like, it's so funny how angry people are and it's just like, oh my gosh. I, it's just. I find, I really do. I genuinely, like, every once in a while, like, I get bothered when other people are bothered that aren't used to it. Like, we had an example recently where people were writing comments about this other person in the video that were just not fucking cool. And I was going through and deleting all those because I'm like, dude, you can make any comment you want about me all day, whatever you want. You can like any kind of shade imaginable. Usually it's not even that creative. It's like, if you're gonna talk, at least, at least come up with something funny or creative. Like, give me, give me something real here. Like, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. I was like, wow, congratulations. Like, good for you. Like, like, you're right. I don't know what I'm talking about. Congratulations. Like, that's the best.

[Aaron Witt]

Listen to another video, my guy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Go somewhere else. Yeah, like, like, joke's on you. You're here commenting. I don't even know who the fuck you are.

[Aaron Witt]

User8735 yeah, but, but it was, it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Was a bummer to see, to see another person. Like, that wasn't the goal, I wanted to, like, hey, this person's so knowledgeable and so excited about what the heck's going on and how they're changing the world. They deserve all the credit in the world. And most everything was super positive, but they just, they hadn't been in that arena before. So you don't focus on the, like. And the positive stuff was so kind and nice and great and. And it was really nice, but then you zero in on the negative. And I've just. I've been in that world for almost 10 years now, so I can compartmentalize it real quick. It's just people on the outside of that, like, I feel a need to protect them because that's not. That's not what we're here to do.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep. And I think you hit it the nail on the head with the message, man. The message and how I started this and. But you do have a unique ability in that regard because it does affect most people on their way through. And I do believe that's why some of the great ideas never make it, is because of the down tour and the downtrend of the hate and just Internet.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh.

[Aaron Witt]

Doing whatever they're saying. But yes, again, self awareness, self realization.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Hey, I call it the 50 to 1 ratio. With my guys on projects, nobody gives a Damn about the 50 good jobs you do. They don't care. Nobody cares, bro. But the one bad job, that's all I talk about.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. But it's also, I find, like, it's like kind of a boogeyman.

[Aaron Witt]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, it's a lot scarier in your head than it really is.

[Aaron Witt]

Great. I agree with that. But it's experience, though, of feeling that. Because at first you're just like, oh, who's going to read this? This guy's going to read that and this. But none of that's really happening.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And honestly, too, a lot of people, A lot of people talking about that stuff, they're not really the ones doing it. Like, you don't see, like, you don't see top sports players, for example, worried about people talking shit about them.

[Aaron Witt]

That's right.

[Unknown Speaker]

They're not really talking about it all that much because they really just don't give a. Like, they're just at that higher level.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

And I. I understand why people talk about it when they're first getting into it, but there's a lot of people that just about it to about it. Like, oh, poor me, I'm getting all this hate right now. It's like, dude, I don't have time. Get out of here.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

This is amateur hour. That's like. Like we're back in kindergarten.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep. Who cares about your problems? Work harder.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah. Like, oh, no. People are saying mean things about you on the Internet, so welcome to the club. Like, that's just.

[Aaron Witt]

You're doing something that's.

[Unknown Speaker]

Anybody on the Internet. You don't even. You're not even. You don't even have to do something to get mean things said about you. It's crazy. Just the. The kind of gets thrown around online now is wild. And I don't know, maybe that's an ignorant perspective, but it's.

[Aaron Witt]

No, it's a. It's a very unique perspective, and that's why I wanted to hear it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. It's also. I feel like it bothers people when they're not really doing things according to them. They're trying to be someone they're not 100% my guy. I think those are also the people you need to look out for that get really bothered because. Yeah, they're just not. Like, I've always just been me. So it's like, list. All of you know, Like. Like. Like the. Like, a really common insult is, well, I'm not from the industry. I grew up well off. And it's like, yeah, I did. I've said that a hundred times.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

And, like, fucking sue me. I didn't choose my parents.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

I didn't choose the neighborhood I grew up in.

[Aaron Witt]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

I just grew up there.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah. And.

[Unknown Speaker]

And I'm here. I'm here. We need to get different coasters. No, you're like, the.

[Aaron Witt]

It's.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's happened to a lot of people.

[Aaron Witt]

Can I just sit it on the wood?

[Unknown Speaker]

Are you good?

[Aaron Witt]

No. Okay. Nope. Fair enough. Here, I'll put it on the ground. Don't worry about it.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, I just.

[Aaron Witt]

I would be, too, after hearing all this.

[Unknown Speaker]

So pretty.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah, dude. But that's why I asked. You're fine. You're good. No, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. You goober.

[Unknown Speaker]

But, but, but. But it. But it's like, I'm not insecure about that again. Like, oh, yeah, my. Your dad's paying for everything. It's like. Well, I know he's not. He hasn't talked to me in years, so.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah, you should.

[Unknown Speaker]

Or. Or if he was paying, like, great.

[Aaron Witt]

That. That'd be even better.

[Unknown Speaker]

Why. Why would I not. Why would I not pull on that thread? Like, why would I not use that to my advantage? I didn't have that I've had to find capital elsewhere, and I have from some great people. But, yeah, it's. It's. If you're just really doing your thing, there's not a lot that people can say to knock you off it.

[Aaron Witt]

No, I. I was more or less for the audience wanting to get in your head a little bit, because you have dealt with it for 10 years. And here I am just, you know, a couple years into this. It's all still pretty new to me. And how do you compartmentalize that? Obviously, I'm not trying to bring attention to it, but it's there. How do you keep moving past it, et cetera. So. But that focus on the 50 good ones compared to the one bad one. And that's kind of what I remind myself with. But I would encourage folks to document. It's not about work you can do. It's about work you can document you've done in our world. And I would encourage you. 82% of the global web traffic is now video based. Yeah, I am a big supporter of it.

[Unknown Speaker]

And 72% of that's porn. But.

[Aaron Witt]

I mean, I didn't know that statistic. I know, but literally, why? If you're trying to communicate a message, whatever the message may be, just start. But the commercial construction world, I'm not in a huge market. I'm in a large market, but not a huge market in this. In this country. But walking around, shedding light. I just wanted to throw out, like, some of the benefits from the contractor side. Dude, I've been hiring people off of there. Like, the people. Yeah, they're going to look for resources to make their job better. And if you provide the resource for them, guess where they're going to want to come? You start hiring employees, people. I just did a podcast for my three guys. Hey, how do you feel about this? I wanted to know how they felt about it. Like, with the cameras flying around and the answers I got was astonishing. It was, oh, you know, my family, they don't know what I do. You know, I wanted to show them, and they're 18 hours away. Same with me. My dad is 18, 19 hours away, and all my family up in Canada, like, they have no idea what I do, so how else am I supposed to. And we started on that. On that path. But literally, man, I just wanted to pick your brain a little bit of how you've navigated that. The repetitive frothing, hate subject matter, but just don't give it attention and move on, is what I'm hearing.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, just But. But to get around it, just do your thing.

[Aaron Witt]

Just keep doing things.

[Unknown Speaker]

And it's hard. It takes a lot of work, but just do your thing. Like, that's. It's like when people ask, like, how'd you. Like, I haven't studied to my detriment in a lot of ways, but I haven't studied podcasting. I haven't studied photography. I haven't studied YouTube all that much. Like, again, to my detriment in a lot of ways, but I haven't done it. So this is where, like, my dad growing up, he didn't read a lot of books outside of his field.

[Aaron Witt]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

He didn't read a lot in general. Like, he read a shitload his whole career. But then he stopped at a certain point because he was like, he would justify it. Like, I just don't want other people's ideas involved in what I'm doing.

[Aaron Witt]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

And I thought it was, like, the dumbest thing I'd ever heard at the time. I thought it was just so stupid. But I. The further I get into this creative work in this world, the more I appreciate that because it's like, what other people are doing doesn't matter, and it starts to influence what you're doing. I see it all the time. Like, people will be just talking in these weird ways that they don't talk. Like, ideally, if somebody sits like, you have dinner with me last night. Yeah, he's the same. Pretty much same guy. I would hope he's just as incoherent as he is on podcast.

[Aaron Witt]

Like, I, I, but same guy, man.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I. Yeah, I hope there's like a. There's like a. At least a consistency there. People. When people. Yeah, there has to be. There has to be. And I couldn't have done it this long. I couldn't have bullshitted people. No. You're following inconsistency, but sometimes you'll see it and you're like, stop trying to do somebody else. Stop trying. Like, stop talking. That just. You do you. And it's hard, but it's so much more fun that way.

[Aaron Witt]

And, but. And also, too, just pick the thing you're passionate about. And, you know, dirt talk. You're passionate about these machines, and I'm passionate about, you know, kind of the same folks that you're trying to help build, you know, the dirt world a better place.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Like, that is such a slogan. But, like, there's so many things within this industry that it needs to change immediately.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And we need more folks out there dumbing down the white collar lingo for these skilled trades guys to understand and get past that three year point in business. And it's, it's very difficult to navigate without said resources. But that's extreme. I'm extremely passionate and I hope I share that passion with you. I really just want the next up and comers to not have to go through the crap that I went through to get where I'm at. And that was that message. And I'm, I've never. Through this media campaign. I guess I don't know even what you call it. I'm literally just doing things to get information out there.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And. But I think when you are super passionate about something, you don't even have to try because it's already here. It's already non stop correct.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And yeah. There's no scripts. There's no. Don't get me wrong, everybody needs an outline. I think I probably wouldn't have lost my train of thought nine times today if I had myself an outline. Like I. Yeah, but he's just saying.

[Unknown Speaker]

That we do actually work on an outline.

[Aaron Witt]

Oh yeah. No, 100%. Yeah, yeah. You know, word for word. If you can't tell. But anyhow, that's just my brain.

[Unknown Speaker]

But that, but that's where people are like, how do you, how do you, how do you have energy for this? It's like, it's just what, I don't know what, what gets me going. It's like I'm a fucking golden retriever. And that's a tennis ball, dude. I will never get tired of that tennis ball. For better, for worse. Like, and it's kind of dumb too. It's like, man, we've done this 78 times, exact same thing, yet you're still just excited. It's like, yes, I know I am. Am I accomplishing. I don't even know if I'm a cop. But it's just like I just have to chase the tennis ball. And that's different for everybody. I think people take that in a wrong way too. Like I'll go to these guys one to three years in, in construction. I'm of the opinion a lot of these people shouldn't be in business, bro.

[Aaron Witt]

Why do you think there's so many coaching programs out there?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, I just, I just don't think. But I'm saying that not, not at all as in like a derogatory sense. I'm saying it because it's not in their best interest. Like it's not what's best for them and not aligned with the life they want to live. And, and so they're, they're putting themselves through this hell that's not aligned with them as an individual like that. That path alone has to be aligned for you. And I've never doubted it. I, like, this is 100% for me, but I'm, I'm also fucking insane. And it's, and it's come with a lot of costs. Like, I'm not, I'm not living the typical 30 year old life right now that in a lot of ways is a lot cooler, is a lot more chill. And, and, and like some days I'm like, man, that'd be cool. I don't, I don't ever legitimately envy it because I know I'm where I should be. I don't, I don't look at it like, man, that's something I really want. But it's like, it would be cool to just sit down and watch a football game on a Sunday. That would be, that would be really cool. Just have some beers.

[Aaron Witt]

Two hours on a couch, dude, just.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, two hours locked in on a game. Like I, that sounds, that sounds sick. Like really, really exciting. But that's just not the program I'm on.

[Aaron Witt]

And time, money is a tool to buy time. And time's dwindling every minute.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. And there's, and I think most people are better off working for a great business, making a great living, and then leaving the business and going back to do whatever the hell else they want to do if they're passionate about building canoes. Like, maybe you don't make a career around building canoes, but you maybe work.

[Aaron Witt]

For the best one out there.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, you, well, but you work for a great company, great career, make good money, you go back, you can finance your canoe hobby, you've got time for your family, you can then take your family in the canoe and you know, paddle around wherever you want to like. It's a dumb example.

[Aaron Witt]

No, it's on point, buddy.

[Unknown Speaker]

But I think that is a way better lifestyle for a lot of people. And so the, the low barrier to entry in construction, it works both ways. One, it's great because it does allow anybody that wants to give it a shot to give it a shot. But two, it, it gets people into the game that shouldn't be in the game. And I'm saying this because I see this not just in construction, but also in the creative world. Like, there's just so many creatives. It's just, it's just bad for them.

[Aaron Witt]

I'm not going.

[Unknown Speaker]

Even if they're, Even if they're making good money. Like, it's just not. It's just not healthy.

[Aaron Witt]

Like, my brain is. So I'm telling you, I am the furthest thing from a creative mindset. Like, I can barely draw a stick figure. Like, it just never. But then Will shout out to Will, my content guy, he, like, looks at me, he's like, hey, write a post about this. And I can sit there and just write a post about it. He's like, how. What do you. What do you mean your brain's not creative? That's gold. But I just, I have the analytical, the result driven. Where are we heading to? I mean, that's everybody, but that's the way my brain works. So if I start trying to do creative things within the business, guess what? It's probably gonna go straight to the priority, bottom of the priority list for me. It's never gonna get done. Give it to somebody with a creative brain support and empower them and it gets done as you're doing your other things that are on the priority list, you know?

[Unknown Speaker]

But I think everybody has a creative brain.

[Aaron Witt]

Has to in some sense, in some ways.

[Unknown Speaker]

I think even we put. And I just did this. You put creativity into a box and like, people. Someone saying, I'm not a creative like that to me just bums me the fuck out, okay? Because it's so cool to create. Like everybody. You should create. And there's so many. I think that's where so much misery comes from in the world right now, is there's so many people. All they do is consume. They just consume. They're working in a career that doesn't really add value. They're scrolling social media, they're drinking. Like, they're just. All they're doing is consume, consume, consume. And I don't think that's good for human beings.

[Aaron Witt]

I don't think it's healthy.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, I think we really should create and add and make the world a better place. And that looks different for everybody. But that's a creative process. I just think there's a lot of.

[Aaron Witt]

People consuming, and that's literally. I was one of those people. I can't say all the way down to what we're describing, but I was looking for the resource to consume, you know what I mean? And not exactly what I wanted to find out there for what I think. And I'm just sitting here on one hand telling you I'm not a creative brain. But, like, I've got all this media stuff happening behind the scenes that I have to be a creative brain on. So to your point. Yeah, I got a little bit of creativeness in there, but nothing compared to across the table.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, no, no. But I think business is a creative endeavor. I think pipeline is a creative endeavor. It's all creative. Like, construction is a.

[Aaron Witt]

Is creative the way you get it done. Yeah, it's always different.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. You're not. You're not creating what the end product is going to be. I need a pipeline from here to here, and if you don't do that, we've got a fucking problem. Right. And I need it per these specs, but they don't. They don't give you the manual, the instructions sheet on how to get it from A to B, and, oh, there's some rocks in the middle. I didn't know there were gonna be rocks in the middle. And so. And if you weren't creative, it'd just be like, sorry, there's rocks. We can't put this from A to B. But that's not the. You know, you immediately go to, well, how do we get the rocks out? We need a solution. We need to create. Like, that's, that's the creative process. It's all creative.

[Aaron Witt]

You may have just detoured my mind a little bit on maybe not being as creative as I thought I was.

[Unknown Speaker]

Oh, I think people in construction are some of the most creative people out there.

[Aaron Witt]

I am a big. With my team. Don't bring me problems. You want to bring me a problem, that's fine. Just have a couple of working solutions. I'll sit here and we'll, we'll talk about good, bad, pro, cons, whatever, to all of these solutions. But for the love of God, don't just bring me the problem.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

You know what I mean? For years, as you're building a business, you are the problem solver. And then you start training people on how to deal with said problems. But at the end of the day, you're right, my guy, because by the time it gets up to you, it's usually a giant problem. And you've got to find a very creative solution on your way out.

[Unknown Speaker]

Hopefully you're at this point, you're. You're the, you're the creative problem solver for the bigger problems.

[Aaron Witt]

Oh, yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know, if they're bringing, hey, there's some rocks in the way. Like, hopefully that's something somebody else can figure out at this point.

[Aaron Witt]

Yes, sir.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah. Like, you're more so like, hey, we're losing our ass on this job. We're underwater.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

We've got serious, like, at that point, you're getting involved, you're solving the problems other people can't.

[Aaron Witt]

That's right.

[Unknown Speaker]

But it's. Yeah, it's all creative.

[Aaron Witt]

Made me rethink that a little bit, brother.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. I think, I think people. Yeah. They just define creative is like, well, I can't write. And then it's like, okay, yeah, you can't write because you haven't practiced writing. Like, yes, I'm not worth shit at three free throws, but I. If I practiced free throws, you know, every day for the next year, I would be pretty good at free throws.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

At that point, it's the same damn principle. Like, oh, I'm not good at writing. I'm not good at speaking. I'm not going to communicate. He's like, what? Like, that's, that's. And as a leader, to say that, like, that's crazy because that's your job.

[Aaron Witt]

I've never even thought of it that way.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, literally your whole job is to.

[Aaron Witt]

Communicate that I've got on point. But the, the creative. Yeah, I mean, solutions are. Are absolutely creative. That's crazy, man. Literally, those problems. Yes. I think a lot of guys miss that too, that all the problems don't have to be your problem, but you need to start training people on your way to navigate to said. Deal with those problems. But those same people, big problem for, say, somebody like me, a foreman who's wanting to step up into the superintendent role. Well, you got to know how to email, and you got to know how to write an email. And everybody's so scared to death of an email. Aaron, Dude, I had no idea how to write an email. Hello. I need this. Thanks. At the start, you know, until people started, hey, why don't you have a signature? Hey, hey, you don't know what you don't know.

[Unknown Speaker]

And hey, like, we don't. Like, one, let's complete sentences, please. Two. We don't need a novel.

[Aaron Witt]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know, if it can be two sentences instead of 12.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker]

Let's keep it to like, there's. But it's not. It's. It's basic principles. It is, but you just assume like, well, they know how to write an email because I know how to write an email. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And they just look at you and you're like, boss, I never wrote an email in my life.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And I'm like, oh, oh, okay, well, here, boys. And I can't tell you the amount of times that I have sat down and go send an Email to myself, you're gonna say, sorry, this is what's happening on my project. What should I do? Send. Just try that, that right there is going to be your note, your new documentation method with me. That way if there's a problem arise, as long as it's in my inbox, you're probably a lot of the same way. If it's in my inbox, I got to deal with it on my email. But if you shot me a text 2, 3 days ago or you we had a 4, 5 minute conversation about a problem, that's not gonna do it. Email it up or document or whatever. But as long as I've got it there, I can come back and we can work on it together. And so just literally getting these guys non creatives. Okay, if we wanted to walk down that path, these non creatives saying that they're non creative. I can't do an email, I can't do all this, I can't do that. But it, all it takes is just a little bit number one employers training, like down to sending an email. If he doesn't know how to send an email, sit with him, teach him.

[Unknown Speaker]

Or there's like the forever conflict between the contractor, the inspector. Right, right. Like I'm sure no one's ever been there. Have a difficult inspector that's like just not wanting to pass anything you do or oh, it happens all the time.

[Aaron Witt]

Or you lose tens or hundreds.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, but, but, but whoever's leading things out the field, like all they have for that problem is a hammer. And then you're upset because they just took a hammer to the situation. It's like, well, that's all they have in their toolbox is a hammer. And a hammer works. When you're laying pipe like you do, you do need a hammer.

[Aaron Witt]

Got to hit some stuff just while.

[Unknown Speaker]

You just got to get shit done, man. It's just, it's just hard work. It's hard work and anybody that's been in a ditch laying pipe understands that. But it doesn't do you as much good when you're talking to the bolt.

[Aaron Witt]

And bolts up or anything.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, the inspector you want to call some really, really bad words and, and, and you could be totally justified. But then again it's like there's a bigger picture. What are we trying to do? Are we trying to prove we're right to this inspector or are we trying to just get this job done, build a relationship with this inspector customer who we odds are probably going to have to work with again?

[Aaron Witt]

Oh, no doubt, Bob.

[Unknown Speaker]

And so even if I have the ability to make them eat shit here, that's not going to serve me all that well down the road. But even that, like, that's very. And especially sitting here talking about it. It's so obvious.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

But out in real world, you know, August and it's miserable and your schedule is blown already blown out of the water and it's still not done. And the inspector's been an asshole for the past month. It's a lot harder, but it's impossible if there's no other tool than a hammer. And that's part of it as well. Cool. We're going to elevate this person to a crew leader, to a super whatever. But do they have those tools to have that conversation? Because that's more important than knowing how to lay pipe.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep. Or the opportunity to obtain those tools.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes, yep. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And I think, I mean, seriously, I, I was the guy that would get mad about them trying to use a hammer on a different kind of problem. They didn't have the right tools a couple years ago. Three years ago at this point. All right, let's start cross training and how you guys understand admin. And so we're a lot further than most when it comes to point in a decade long company. I understand companies with 50, 60, 80 years have definitely got different systems as well, but no, I think you're, you're hitting the nail on the head. And if you don't, not just physical solutions, but up here, mental solutions. And what I tell my guys all the time, hey, man, don't bring me a problem. That's great, but we don't argue with inspectors. That's what I tell my guys.

[Unknown Speaker]

You.

[Aaron Witt]

It's not, it is not your job to argue with that guy. It is your job to put in the ground. Well, my plans say this boss, and he's telling me to do this. Well, that's fine. We're gonna have to get involved and have us a conversation and etc. But if we've got one in our working area, that is bad, I'm sure. Really, really bad.

[Unknown Speaker]

Everybody has one. You bet. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And we can go down there and we'll do the same tasks three times, the exact same way, and then finally we'll pass. I mean, it's, it's crazy. But when those problems arise. Yes, sir, Absolutely. We'll take care of it. And if it becomes a, a direct money issue. Well, yeah. Hey, hey, Brent. What's the deal, man? What are we not doing? Explain to me, because I don't want to keep repeating this.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Well, if he's just. And a lot of those guys are sitting there, well, he ain't going to tell you. You're right. He's not going to tell you. He's just going to keep you guessing because he's a miserable, you know, guy in general. But let me come down there, have the conversation, try and learn. Try and build that relationship for my guy so that the next time they run into this guy, they hopefully he comes out there with a little better mindset of, hey, I know the owner of this place. Yeah, I met him.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, we.

[Aaron Witt]

We talked a little bit. You know, there is guys like the guy I'm talking about. It won't ever change him, not even a little bit. But at the same time, there is guys out there that will give you the view and personification of, hey, these guys are actually trying. Okay? They're not just sending guys out here. Dude came out here, had a discussion. This was my problem. He provided solution, and we move forward.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. There's no downside to trying to improve that relationship.

[Aaron Witt]

You have to.

[Unknown Speaker]

And even if they really are just this troll that has nobody that loves them, that is just. They have this bitterness inside them that is just biblical. There are those people just crusty as it gets. You still have power in that situation. You can get all pissed off about it all day, or you can just be like, hey, what can I do? This is the third time we've done it. But I'm not going to let Mr. Troll get me all worked up because it's just not worth it.

[Aaron Witt]

That's the 100%, dude. And I can speak on myself, like, at first. Building the business. What do you mean, this guy. But I think it also goes back to what you were saying earlier about ego.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Because you have this ego about you. I'm boss man now.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

I'm telling you, every single time I've walked up to an inspector pissed off, and this is how it's going to be, it always ends up four times as bad.

[Unknown Speaker]

You got your shield up. Let's go to war. And what do you get?

[Aaron Witt]

You get. You get a war, you go nowhere.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

But if I walk up and go, hey, man, just like you said, I'm just trying to understand where are we going wrong in what step of the process? Because I want it. You see that guy over there? He's really frustrated because this is the third time you're asking him and you haven't provided any insight as to what he's doing. Wrong. I'm not asking you to tell me how to do my job. I'm not asking you to, to be peace, peace, peace. But when I get to the end result, it's not what it is what the book says it can be, but it's not what you think the description of that book says it's going to be. So I'm just trying to understand. And a lot of guys, you're right, the troll, I think I'm going to call from here.

[Unknown Speaker]

But you can even understand again, say you have no sway over that individual. You can even start to predict though what they're looking for and what really gets them going. And then it almost becomes a game. Like wait a minute. All right, he, he was a royal pain in our ass on this tea or whatever it was, you know, back here, this hydrant, you know, I don't know what it was. And, and so we are going to make this the best damn hydrant this guy has ever seen. Ever seen this side of the Mississippi. Like, this is going to be a fine. We're proud of our hydrates. And you can almost make it into a game at that point. Like let's, let's make it really, really damn hard to find a problem with this. We know already what he's had problems with. Like you, there's just pet peeves. There's so many. Yeah, there's, but there's so many, there's so many angles you can take it to control the situation. And again, it's so much easier us sitting around just talking about right now, bruh. It's way easier. I'm not in ankle deep mud right now. It's not 100% humidity. I haven't been dealing with this guy for a month. I, it's, it's. And I'm not losing my ass on this job. Like it's way easier said than done, but it's something to strive for.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah. Oh yeah. And you've just, like we were saying earlier, it's taking the little steps to win the day and stringing those wins together. But when you're, when you're losing 20, 30, 40, 50 grand or 100 or 200 grand or millions or whatever, and this guy is just continually being a royal pain in the ass over this one subject matter. And you've tried to approach the situation differently. Sure. It's still put yourself in those shoes walking up to this guy, not wanting to take his head off with that hammer. You said we've only got.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's some, some low level government Employee between you and payroll.

[Aaron Witt]

You know what makes me so. I get so freaking mad, dude. Brutal in Arkansas. And I don't know how these are across the states, but you. To be a water distribution technician, okay, to work for a water department in the state of Arkansas, you have to have a license eventually after OJT called a water license, distribution license, treatment license, whatever. And it has to have active hours on it. And so I got that. I was 19 at the first municipality I worked at. And I've kept on to it, done my continued education every year when I mean, kept up with it. But I'm one of the only contractors in the state that has contractor's license and that license. And this same inspector I keep circling about, he will come out there, you're right. Low level employee, really high in that world in that regard. But at the same time, he has zero regard for your life, zero regard for what's going on in your world. He does not care. But you still have to find that middle ground and move forward and try to get out of there with a little bit of education, I guess is where I'm trying to get with that.

[Unknown Speaker]

But it does. But you have to play this game mentally of like, I find it. It's almost like a game like, I'm not gonna let this person get to me.

[Aaron Witt]

Can't.

[Unknown Speaker]

I am dictating this situation. And even if it doesn't look like it on the outside, I really think like a situation like that you have total control over when it comes to how you treat the situation. You have no control over the other person and even the situation, big picture, but you have total control over your response and actions regarding the situation and your emotions. Yeah. And that's. That's what I love. And I love even. It's just a. It's like a game. Like, even, for example, like in the airport when people like there's a flight delay and people are getting all worked up, I'm just, I'm intentionally like, I'm gonna have. Have no emotional response. Zero. I'm not gonna give a single. Like, this is a game. Look at all these people getting. They're just. Their nights just ruined right now. They're all, oh my gosh, they're. So what are we gonna do? And yeah, I might be sleeping in the airport tonight, but I'm gonna have as little of an emotional response as possible. And it's. I don't always succeed. You know, sometimes when it's midnight, you're in. You're like, I just want to be Home. But.

[Aaron Witt]

Come on, Delta.

[Unknown Speaker]

But. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry. Sorry, Delta. They're all. They're all. They're all guilty. They're all guilty as the next guy. But it's like, to me, I make it into a game. Like, I'm not. I'm not gonna let this situation or this person take from me. No way. Nope.

[Aaron Witt]

Can't, man. Because then it starts affecting who you are for your people.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And not just inspectors, but bankers or anybody else that's influencing you in those games, per se. It's always a game. And it is fun, dude. It's a fun game to play.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. You have to. Exactly. But you have to make it into a game or else you're going to go insane.

[Aaron Witt]

Yes. That's where I was going.

[Unknown Speaker]

You got to have fun with it. It has to be a game.

[Aaron Witt]

You've got to find ways to win.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

At this game and. And be okay with the losses when they do come. Sure.

[Unknown Speaker]

But that's part of the game.

[Aaron Witt]

You bet.

[Unknown Speaker]

As long as you don't lose the.

[Aaron Witt]

Whole thing or just lose all season. Because that gets really tough.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes. You know, sometimes losing is a prolonged period. But.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'm just saying that because I spent enough time there and if I was still there, I'd be jumping out the window.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

At this point.

[Aaron Witt]

Too much.

[Unknown Speaker]

It's too much.

[Aaron Witt]

And if you don't find ways to make it essentially fun.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

It's not necessarily fun, but it's fun in its own regard. Sure.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. Yeah. Where can people find what you have going on in the Internet world?

[Aaron Witt]

Okay. YouTube is kind of our main source. Psychon Sync and excavation and utilities. We put up a couple videos every week. And I also am the host of blue collarbusiness podcast.com. you can listen or watch from there totally free or find it on any subscription that you're on.

[Unknown Speaker]

Nice. Has it always been. It's always been that title.

[Aaron Witt]

Yep. Blue Collar Business podcast.

[Unknown Speaker]

I. I feel like someone else reached out at a certain point. I don't know.

[Aaron Witt]

It's probably me.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, No. I don't know who it was, but they're like, hey, we. We have a new podcast and we named it something like. It was like our talk.

[Aaron Witt]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker]

And. But we didn't. We didn't know you. Your podcast existed when we did it. Like, do you have a problem with that? And I'm like, no, I don't. I have no recourse. You can go name whatever you. And even if I did, like, I've got better things to do that's right. You can go name whatever you want. You could go. You could go take my name, Aaron Witt, like, for all build with 2.0. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Have at it. But I was like, hey, I would just, if I were you, make it something different because we've got like 500 episodes. So from an SEO standpoint, good luck, but no. So. Right on. All right. Stupid story, but thank you for stopping by.

[Aaron Witt]

It was not a stupid story. Dude, I've had a blast. I thank you for the invite, my guy, and thank you for all you do.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, likewise.

[Aaron Witt]

Seriously.

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't put any pipe in the ground.

[Aaron Witt]

No, I know, but you showcase and you highlight the folks that do.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

And you've pioneered for folks like me to feel okay about broadcasting it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, no, I appreciate that.

[Aaron Witt]

It's big deal, man.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, it's. And it's. It was me for a brief amount of time, but it's thanks to a lot of really damn good people.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

Really talented, talented people.

[Aaron Witt]

I wouldn't be sitting here this morning without a damn good team myself, you know, And I think it's the mindset of finding that out quickly rather than trying to do everything yourself. And even though you build a great team, then you start dealing with on the business tasks and still try to shoulder them all. Don't do that.

[Unknown Speaker]

But those people just stress me out.

[Aaron Witt]

I'm sorry.

[Unknown Speaker]

No, they're just hard to be around when. No, I was like that. Like, like. But they're really hard. I was hard to be around.

[Aaron Witt]

I was. I pushed people away.

[Unknown Speaker]

They're just. They're so stressed out. Their phone's going non stop. And it's just. I've got to go over here. And I've got to go over here. Like, there's. There's a lot of those people.

[Aaron Witt]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker]

And. But it's. And it's. They're so stress. And it stresses you out to just be around.

[Aaron Witt]

I was. I pushed some good friends away because I wasn't taking the time for myself and learning from my own and having those self realizations. Hey, dude, Breathe.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Aaron Witt]

Prioritize schedule, list this crap out. You won't be so stressed. It's real. It's really stressful when you try to do what we do. Disorganized, like. Oh, my gosh. But sorry, we can probably go off on another subject.

[Unknown Speaker]

We could, but. No, no. Thanks for. Thanks for coming.

[Aaron Witt]

No, thank you.