Jesse hosts the Learnings and Missteps podcast and introduces guest Maya McGlynn, a Pennsylvania-based construction influencer, writer, photographer, and fractional support partner who focuses on “the people behind the work.” Jesse gives an LnM Family shout-out to Bryce Ager for reviewing one of Jesse’s construction trainings, and notes his business offers training, coaching, and consulting. Maya explains her passion for blue-collar stories comes from building relationships and bridging gaps between management and shop/field workers, emphasizing retention and the need for leaders to “give a shit,” not just attract more people into the industry. They discuss treating people well as foundational to solving construction’s workforce challenges, rising interest in more human-centered workplaces, and how companies that only rely on pay raises and ignore relationships will be left behind. Jesse shares his view that people should leave poor leaders to find better environments and describes how supportive leadership

00:00 Attraction vs. Retention: If Leaders Treat People Like Crap, Nothing Changes

00:21 Meet Maya McGlynn: Showing Up for the People Behind the Work

02:08 LnM Family Shoutout + What Jesse Actually Does (Training/Coaching/Consulting)

04:45 What Fires Maya Up: The People, the Shop Floor, and Bridging the Office–Field Gap

07:32 “Put Some Gas on the Fire”: Caring, Connection, and Why Liaison Roles Matter

14:25 The Human-Centered Shift: Mental Health, Culture Change, and Companies That Will Be Left Behind

19:56 Quit for a Better Leader: Unlocking Talent by Changing Environments

22:47 Zumba to Construction: Maya’s Fitness Journey and Accidental Entrepreneurship

28:07 Entrepreneurship as Survival: Divorce, Single-Mom Resourcefulness, and Building Independence

33:26 Seeing the People Behind the Work: Validation, Imposter Syndrome, and the Power of Humility

37:58 Learning to Accept Compliments: “I Receive That” + Permission to Celebrate

40:21 From Admin to Marketing: Finding the Holes and Creating Value at Work

43:31 Photography to Published Author: Turning Jobsite Photos into a Children’s Book

46:47 Advice for the Windowless-Office Grind: Skill Up, Build Proof, Move On

48:46 Building Workforce Pipelines: Fixing Leadership Gaps & Creating an Internship Program

51:39 Crew Collaborative Explained: Mission, Ambassadors, and How to Get Involved

54:26 Why the Podcast Exists: COVID, Trades Advocacy, and Doing Something About It

58:17 Money vs Meaning: Choosing Purpose, Setting Boundaries, and Mission-Driven Work

01:08:35 The Closing Question: “What Is the Promise You’re Intended to Be?”

01:14:16 Final Takeaways + Free PDF Gift and Send-Off

Get the blueprint to Plan, Commit, and Execute your way into optimal performance: https://www.depthbuilder.com/time-management-webinar-sign-up-page

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

In this episode of the Learnings and Missteps podcast, Jesse interviews Mike Chiles, a seasoned project director in the construction industry. They discuss the unpredictable challenges of construction, the importance of relationship building, and effective leadership. Mike emphasizes the role of leaders in developing their teams, creating a balanced and supportive work environment, and the value of feedback from those on the ground. They also delve into the importance of character development and the long-term benefits of investing in people-centric approaches. The episode concludes with reflections on the impact of leadership and the legacy one leaves through influence.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

00:32 Introducing Mike Chiles: The Construction Influencer

01:30 LnM Family Shoutout: Gary Martinez

02:40 Getting to Know Mike Chiles

03:56 The Role of a Project Director

05:43 Challenges and Learnings in Leadership

07:47 Training and Developing Future Leaders

11:47 The Importance of Relationships in Construction

20:18 Feedback and Continuous Improvement

23:29 Building a People-Centered Culture

35:10 Project Assignments and Training Responsibilities

36:18 Feedback Loops and Execution Challenges

36:51 Importance of On-Site Feedback

37:18 Lean Principles for Executives 38:23 Building Relationships and Appreciating Workers

40:23 Addressing Labor Shortages and Industry Challenges

44:34 The Role of Old Dogs in Knowledge Sharing

48:32 Lean Construction and Relationship Building

01:03:40 The Promise of Influence and Legacy

01:07:13 Conclusion and Free Book Offer

Get the blueprint to Plan, Commit, and Execute your way into optimal performance: https://www.depthbuilder.com/time-management-webinar-sign-up-page

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

The truth landed on us after dozens of job site chats: some folks know our training but not the show, and others love the show but don’t know we train crews for a living. So we’re making it obvious. Learnings and Missteps is now Learnings and Missteps by Depth Builder, a single, honest banner that matches how we work and who we serve. New color, same voice, more clarity.

We walk through what stays rock solid: candid interviews with builders who’ve earned their wisdom the hard way, and solo sessions packed with practical tools you can use tomorrow. We also share the part that made us pause—featuring clients without turning the mic into a megaphone. You’ll hear the guardrails we’re putting in place to keep the spotlight on guests and the lessons they fought for, not on us. If it drifts, we want you to call it out. That’s the pact.

You’ll hear why our deepest impact sits with subcontractors and field leaders—installers, leadmen, foremen, and superintendents—folks who feel the schedule squeeze and still find a way to deliver. We connect the dots between real stories and real training so you can recognize a problem, test a fix, and see it stick. Expect tighter case studies, simpler planning habits, and leadership moves built for crews, not conference rooms.

If you’ve been with us for the stories, stick around for even clearer paths to action. If you’ve worked with us in the field, welcome to a sharper platform for sharing what actually works. Tap play, leave a rating, share with a teammate who leads from the front, and tell us where we should push harder or pull back. Your feedback keeps the signal high and the hype low.

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books