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The difference between a stalled project and a successful ribbon-cutting ceremony lies in the project champion, a leader who possesses the courage, fortitude, and strategic mindset to navigate complex bureaucracies and transform ambitious plans into multigenerational realities. Today on the podcast, BJ is joined by MCFA’s Brian Pieplow and Michael Fuhrman to talk about the necessity of cultivating a project champion to manage upcoming billion-dollar infrastructure programs. They unpack the three As, characteristics all project champions have, and highlight the importance of third-party consultants who provide the objective perspective needed. They also introduce the DNA framework, a strategic tool to help leaders assess project viability and overcome institutional inertia.  Tune in now to learn why leadership-driven approaches are critical to infrastructure projects to deliver long-term value to the public.  Key Points From This Episode: Understanding the importance of a champion in moving projects forward.They dig into the three As of a project champion.How external partners bridge organizational gaps and enable effective execution of vision.Brian takes us through the DNA process: discover, navigate, accelerate.The importance of the project charter. Quotes: “Sometimes a third party within your organization can color outside the line and kind of protect and buffer the internal champion.” — Michael Fuhrman   “Discover, navigate, [and] accelerate is not necessarily a linear process, but it's iterative.” — Brian Pieplow   “Multigenerational projects are not easy and not for the faint of heart.” — Michael Fuhrman  “I think one takeaway — is the importance of the project charter, setting the tone and using DNA to help develop a strong project charter — every major project, mega project has a charter…” — Brian Pieplow  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Brian Pieplow on LinkedIn Michael Fuhrman, MCFA Make No Little Plans:  A Planning as Project Development Approach to Building Infrastructure  DNA Workshop Workbook Study (managing risk) Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty JETC American Planning Association Conference Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to turn an ambitious vision into a buildable, fundable reality?  In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, host BJ Kraemer sits down with Brad Tubbs, president of Willis Construction Consulting, to discuss cost estimating, risk management, and the leadership role estimators play in complex construction projects. In their conversation, Brad explains why great estimators do far more than assign numbers to drawings, how estimators mentally build projects long before design is complete, and how they help owners and teams make better decisions earlier in the process.  Brad shares how early estimating supports smarter planning and stronger project outcomes and unpacks the importance of communication, trust, team dynamics, and leadership. Brad also shares the lessons he has learned from leading his own firm, why estimating remains deeply creative work, and why the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and ask better questions still matters.  Tune in to hear why cost estimating is not just a technical service, but a strategic advantage for owners, project teams, and future leaders in the built environment. Key Points From This Episode: What early-stage cost estimating looks like and how estimators translate vision into scope.Learn how estimators break large creative ideas down into a detailed scope and budget. Discover how estimating helps teams navigate risk, feasibility, and budget limitations. Explore why effective communication is an essential skill for cost estimators. Unpack why cost estimators are value-add rather than extra project cost. Quotes: “[Estimators] really have to define the big scope and then each one of our estimators in their own specialized division whittles that down into the small scope.” — Brad Tubbs “The real value of an estimator – is the creativity and the imagination that you have to have as an estimator to understand what’s not currently shown in the documents and apply a solution to what’s not shown.” — Brad Tubbs “The estimator is the person, in the team, who really is most intimate with the project as a whole.” — Brad Tubbs “Learn the drawings, learn the process of design and engineering so that you can manage projects well, but also learn to communicate.” — Brad Tubbs Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Brad Tubbs Brad Tubbs on LinkedIn Willis Construction Consulting Brad Tubbs Email Heroic Leadership The Power of One  Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to build a championship football program that shapes not just great athletes but exceptional leaders?  In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, host BJ Kraemer sits down with Frank DeLano, Head Football Coach at Haddonfield Memorial High School, to explore how to build a winning culture rooted in relationships, values, and community, and his leadership lessons from decades of success on and off the field.  Frank explains the origins of his “we” philosophy, the mission statement that guides his coaching, and how creating a sense of belonging for every player can change a team into a family. He delves into the challenges behind youth sports culture, the pitfalls of early specializations, and the importance of relationships, communication, and core values in a “me-first” world. He also shares how to cultivate team culture, develop leaders, and leave the game better than you found it.  Tune in to learn how to lead with purpose, passion, and humility with Frank DeLano. Key Points From This Episode: Frank’s coaching mission statement and the values that shape his leadership.Why he chose to eliminate individual awards from his football program.Find out what his “we, not me” philosophy looks like on and off the field. Why relationships and communication are essential for meeting kids where they are.The benefits of multi-sport and the dangers of youth sports specialization. Quotes: “I have always loved the passion of the X and O part of football. I always knew that being a fan simply wasn’t good enough.” — Frank DeLano  “Rules are for people who don’t have discipline. Standards are for those who want to be elite.” — Frank DeLano  “[Coaches] didn’t invent [football] and our job is to make this game a little bit better than when we found it.” — Frank DeLano  “Clinic seasons are great; they’re also dangerous. Because you might sit in front of someone for 45 minutes, they’ve got this wonderful idea, and they never told you what went wrong.” — Frank DeLano  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Frank DeLano Haddonfield Memorial High School  InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives Do You Love Football?: Winning with Heart, Passion, and Not Much Sleep Fearless: How an Underdog Becomes a Champion Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

It’s easy to assume that growth comes from adding more, but it often actually requires doing less with greater intention. Today on the Leadership Blueprints Podcast, BJ sits down with Jeff Evenson, Scaling Strategist at Scaling.com, where he helps clients 10x their business in three years or less, which Jeff describes as the “impossible goal”. Tuning in, you’ll find out what it really means to grow a business strategically, including compressing timelines to sharpen decision-making, learning how to distinguish signal from noise, and setting clear boundaries around what not to pursue. Jeff introduces the concept of “frame, floor, focus,” and explains how simplifying priorities can unlock higher-impact opportunities. He also explores the identity shift required of leaders as their roles evolve, and why coaching and accountability are essential to sustaining progress.  Listen in for a grounded, practical perspective on leading and scaling with intention! Key Points From This Episode: Using time as a tool to force better decisions and innovation.The concept of signal vs. noise in business decisions.Identifying which opportunities are distractions rather than true growth paths.Introducing “frame, floor, focus” as a scaling framework.Setting a floor to define what work and clients to say no to. Quotes: “The impossible goal is a 10x goal, but the more impossible piece of it is to collapse and use time as a tool.” — Jeff Evenson  “If we use time as a tool, we can force people to think differently and create innovative pathways to get to that 10x goal in a much shorter timeframe.” — Jeff Evenson  “That floor will indicate what things we can do, and, more importantly, what things we say no to.” — Jeff Evenson  “Personally, professionally, having somebody [who] is always in your corner, yet is also relatively rigorous with accountability, is a superpower.” — Jeff Evenson  “Our goals and our future self really shape who we are today.” — Jeff Evenson  “The goal is just a tool. We don't want it to be a cudgel or a punishment or anything like that. We want it to be a tool, a useful tool that challenges our thinking and really shapes our decision making now.” — Jeff Evenson  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jeff Evenson on LinkedIn Jeff Evenson Email Scaling.com The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think Possible Bill Watkins on LinkedIn Dan Sullivan Books Benjamin Hardy Books Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less Freddie Kim on LinkedIn MILSPEC TALENT Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Setting priorities and staying aligned is essential in business. But without the right systems, it’s only a matter of time before you get caught up in day-to-day operations and lose sight of the bigger picture. Since 2018, MCFA has been using quarterly reviews to set a 90-day cadence, allowing teams to align efforts, set priorities, and ensure clarity across teams. In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer discusses the importance of quarterly reviews and how they connect your long-term vision with your daily actions. He shares why setting up robust systems is essential for staying focused on larger targets, emphasizing the role of weekly check-ins and accountability in turning plans into meaningful progress. BJ also explores how you can apply quarterly thinking beyond work to your personal goals and growth.  Listen in for a practical framework to reset your focus and make the most of the next 90 days! Key Points From This Episode: Using a 90-day cadence to align efforts, set priorities, and get clarity.The gap between annual reviews and reactive daily work.Using quarterly reviews to connect your long-term vision with your daily actions.Understanding your limitations and how to make trade-offs.The 90-day challenge: define priorities, build a plan, and track weekly progress. Quotes: “We are going to prioritize where we're going to invest our time, our energy, our creativity, and our focus for the next 90 days.” — BJ Kraemer  “This is our chance to synchronize everybody's efforts, get everybody back on the same page and make sure that we're really working on the hardest things.” — BJ Kraemer  “Even though I've been doing this for eight years, there are different parts of my life where I get out of sync with the discipline of a 90-day world.” — BJ Kraemer  “We can't do it all. – There is a limitation to what we can invest, whether that is our own time or reinvesting company profitability. There's always a limitation. So you have to really be good with understanding trade-offs.” — BJ Kraemer  “The quarter, [or] the 90-day world is short enough to create urgency, [and] long enough to actually give yourself time to create change.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to lead major infrastructure projects when the work is complex, there are many stakeholders, and the outcome must last for decades?  In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Brian Pieplow, Chief Project Development Officer at MCFA, to explore how project development leaders transform big ideas into tangible, resilient realities. Brian shares the path that shaped his work in planning and the built environment, and he breaks down how he approaches planning and problem-solving across disciplines. He also explains why diverse teams create better outcomes and why strong coordination matters when projects involve public agencies, private partners, and long timelines.  Tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: The “MCFA is ME” idea and how MCFA reinforces a people-first approach.Hear why diverse team backgrounds improve how projects get developed and delivered.Explore how curiosity and continuous learning show up in Brian’s day-to-day work.Learn why the built environment needs different skillsets working together to succeed.How professional networks can help solve problems more quickly and unlock new opportunities. Quotes: “Life is more than a sum of transactional experiences.” — Brian Pieplow “When new developing staff or new talents come in and find an environment [and get to] create their own journey and thrive, it’s extremely exciting.” — Brian Pieplow “I think a lot of challenges in our industry, particularly design professionals [and] engineering professionals, don’t know is that there is a business side as well.” — Brian Pieplow “There really isn’t a problem we shouldn’t be able to figure out how to solve.” — Brian Pieplow Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Brian Pieplow  Brian Pieplow on LinkedIn The 4-Hour Workweek Make No Little Plans Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Most leaders believe the lie that “hustle” is the only path to success. But true success is actually an optimized daily experience sustained over time. When you neglect your physical, mental, and spiritual health, you become a reactive leader-swinging a dull axe and working harder for fewer results.  In this episode, BJ explores the powerful intersection of servant leadership and personal sustainability. Through the classic leadership parable of the Two Lumberjacks and a personal story about how his mom embodied servant leadership, he unpacks what it truly means to lead by serving others. Most importantly, he explains why protecting your ability to serve requires intentional leadership maintenance and practical frameworks for long-term sustainability.  Don’t miss another insightful episode of Leadership Blueprints with BJ Kraemer. Key Points From This Episode: What servant leadership is all about.Why we can’t forget about the sustainability of servant leadership.The importance of renewing ourselves: mind, body, and spirit.What it means to sharpen the saw.Why it’s essential to protect your ability to serve to build an incredible career. Quotes: “When your instinct, [and] your life or leadership philosophy is about serving others, and helping people and solving problems and leading and giving of your time, you can easily forget or run out of margin in your life for sharpening your soul.” — BJ Kraemer  “Leadership begins with the natural desire to serve others.” — BJ Kraemer  “The interesting thing about servant leaders, sometimes it's those people that give the most of themselves that are most likely to run themselves into the ground.” — BJ Kraemer  “Sharpening the saw is about maintaining the very instrument that allows you to serve others, which is you.” — BJ Kraemer  “The truth is, if you're going to lead people, if you're going to serve others, if you're going to help others grow, you can't do it effectively if you're exhausted.” — BJ Kraemer  “The leaders who truly build incredible careers, who influence people for decades, they understand they have to protect their own ability to serve – not because they are selfish, but because they know something way more important: that a sharp saw serves more people.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Robert Greenleaf Simon SinekStephen Covey on Instagram West PointUS Air Force The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change  David Allen — Getting Things Done Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Time is the most precious resource leaders manage, and you can either drift with time or direct it. In a world where there is not a lot you can control, your time is something you can take ownership of. In David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, he teaches readers his methods for stress-free performance and emphasizes that your productivity is directly proportional to your ability to relax. A few years ago, BJ interviewed David about this topic, and today, we are playing that conversation for you again.  Tuning in, you’ll hear all about David’s career and writing journey, the kinds of people who read his book, how to implement his system, and so much more! We delve into ambient anxiety before David tells us about the tools and resources he offers and where you can get his training. He even talks about how often we should be processing information.  Finally, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions. This episode is jam-packed with pearls of wisdom about one of the most popular and timeless productivity methods in the world, so be sure to press play now!  Key Points From This Episode: Why time is the most valuable resource a leader has.How you can direct your time instead of drifting with it.The importance of scheduling your priorities in your calendar.BJ gives listeners a three-step time-management challenge.What it takes to implement his GTD (Getting Things Done) system. Quotes: “I will be bold enough to say that my book, Getting Things Done, was really the seed for the whole life-hack movement that started in the 2000s.” — @gtdguy “You don’t need time, you need space. How long does it take to have a good idea? It takes no time to have a good idea. What you need is no distraction in your head so you can take that idea, grab it, and do something with it!” — @gtdguy “One of the things my stuff delivers is hope.” — @gtdguy “Your head is for having ideas, not for holding them!” — @gtdguy “You can have very, very high-performing people, but if your process sucks, the outcome sucks. But the [converse] is also true. You can have a fabulous process, but if you have people who personally can’t manage themselves and their role in that process, your outcome sucks. You need both.” — @gtdguy Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: David Allen on LinkedInDavid Allen on X David Allen on Instagram  Getting Things Done GTD Focus Installation Guide  Crucial Learning Getting Things Done Humankind My Plan for Living to 156 Hitster Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Part of being a great leader is being self-aware and understanding the blind spots in your leadership approach. In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Jill Macauley to unpack the concept of blind spots through the lens of Martin Dubin’s book Blindspotting. Jill is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials and brings over 15 years of experience in business and non-profit consulting. Her work centers around helping leaders grow, plan strategically, and communicate well with their teams. She supports leaders in analyzing behavioral patterns, navigating role transitions, and fostering healthier and more effective workplace cultures. They discuss what a blind spot is, the misconceptions around the concept, and why being self-aware as a leader is vital. Learn how not recognizing your blind spots impacts your team, the hidden costs of blind spots for an organization, how leaders can balance empathy with accountability, and how to get the most out of your employees while keeping them happy. They also talk about why sustainable performance requires cycles of intensity and recovery, what the Blindspotting model and assessment focus on, and more.  Tune in to learn how spotting your blind spots, building awareness, and leading with agency and dignity can help you show up stronger for your team, your organization, and yourself. Key Points From This Episode: How blindspots and being self-aware act as the foundation for better leadership.Explore the concept of a blind spot in leadership and why it is hard to identify.Discover what turning self-awareness into self-reflection looks like in practice.Learn how fostering dignity and agency in the workplace drives performance.What dignity means in the workplace and how fear-based leadership impacts results. Quotes: “We’re not factory workers, we’re thinkers. Thinking work is the dominant work in the workplace now.” — Jill Macauley  “The definition of business success, quarter to quarter and shareholder output, is not wholesome, it is not sustainable, and it is not how businesses actually have compounding success.” — Jill Macauley  “I think a lot of people forget about awareness of the organization and they forget the organization is bigger than any one of us.” — Jill Macauley “You can’t have a greater understanding unless you understand yourself first.” — Jill Macauley  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jill Macauley on LinkedIn Behavioral Essentials Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams  The Dichotomy of Leadership: Balancing the Challenges of Extreme Ownership to Lead and Win Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger Blindspotting Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What hard conversation are you avoiding right now? In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ reflects on Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and even the Winter Olympics to unpack one central leadership tension: compassion and accountability must coexist. Real leadership is not choosing between love and standards - it is holding both. Through presidential vignettes, youth sports culture, and lessons from business and family life, BJ introduces a practical three-part framework for developing leaders: Compassion, Clarity, and Courage. This episode challenges listeners to examine whether they are truly leading with compassion - or simply avoiding discomfort. Thanks for listening in! Key Points From This Episode: • Why growth - for you and your team - is determined by the number of uncomfortable conversations you’re willing to have. • The difference between compassion and comfort, and why lowering the standard helps no one. • Lessons from presidential leadership such as Lincoln’s empathy paired with accountability, Washington’s self-discipline and moral restraint, and Roosevelt’s belief that high standards are a form of respect.  • The three-part leadership blueprint: compassion, clarity, and courage • What Norway’s youth sports philosophy and Olympic success reveal about balancing joy and standards in development. Quotes: “Love without accountability is a leadership weakness.” — BJ Kraemer “Accountability begins with self-discipline and self-governance.” — BJ Kraemer “I think when you have high-love, high-expectation leadership, performance will increase. The mission will get accomplished. The culture will be improved.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The Dichotomy of Leadership Lincoln on Leadership  The Art of Manliness Do Hard Things Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it mean to create a safe space to fail?  During this episode, we are going outside of the built environment to speak to a different kind of inspiring leader in his field. Paul Donovan is the CEO and Head Coach of Jersey Wahoos, a USA swimming club program located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. He is a champion of self-compassion and kindness. In this conversation, Paul shares how to balance compassion with accountability, navigate parental pressure, and prevent burnout in youth sports. He reflects on quiet leadership, the real mission behind his coaching that goes far beyond the swimming pool, and why leading by example and giving generously of one’s time is essential as a youth sports coach.  There are so many principles for life that can be learned through sports, and today’s episode is a deep dive into how, with the right coach and leadership, participating in them can really be a last bastion of discipline in challenging environments. Thanks for listening.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   What it looks like to balance compassion and accountability while leading young people. •   Causes of burnout in youth sports. •   Building awareness of the organization while remaining focused on celebrating internal successes. •   Leading by example in coaching and youth sports. •   How youth sports can be the final bastion of discipline in challenging environments.     Quotes:   “I think burnout is an emotional state of mind, not a physical state of mind.” — Paul Donovan    “I believe in quiet leadership. You know the old saying parents had about kids is that they should be seen but not heard? I think leaders should be heard but not seen.” — Paul Donovan    “Our actual goal for the kids isn’t for them to win a medal at the world championships. Our actual goal with them all is to open up doors that are otherwise unattainable.” — Paul Donovan    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Paul Donovan on LinkedIn Paul Donovan on Instagram Jersey Wahoos Swim Club The Power of Habit The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Steve Magness The Sport Parent on X Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Consider your funeral – what is being said in your eulogy, and what do they thank you for? Are they praising your achievements and accomplishments or memorializing your character and the relationships you nourished?  In this solo episode, BJ challenges listeners to define the leader you are trying to become, not just at work, but at home, too! You’ll hear all about the inspirational books (and soldier) that inspired this episode, the danger of being too focused on achievement, the importance of building character, and so much more! BJ even dives into the power of approaching the world from a place of joy.  To hear all this and be inspired to challenge the way you’re forming your character, be sure to tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: The danger of getting too focused on achievement. Why character is far more important than strategy. The importance of being a good leader at work and at home. Why achievement is really about learning and becoming. Bringing a posture of joy to how you approach the world.  Quotes: “It’s easy to get focused on achievement.” — BJ Kraemer  “When I talk about joy, sustainability, and – leadership effectiveness, none of them start with strategy; they all start with character.” — BJ Kraemer  “Your character is what lasts.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Unshakeable Black Hawk Down Steve Young Interview with Tim Ferriss Gary Gordon Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if the true measure of leadership is not what happens on your watch, but what happens long after you are gone?  In this episode, we speak with John Teichert, an expert in leadership, about unlocking your team's potential and achieving organizational excellence. John is a retired U.S. Air Force general, combat and test pilot, and senior defense leader with thousands of flight hours across a wide range of aircraft. He is now the founder and president of Capital Leadership LLC, where he focuses on developing innovative, integrity-driven leaders across government and industry.  In our conversation, we explore why leaders should prioritize people and the mission, why investing in people ensures long-term success, and why intentional use of time and resources is essential for organizations. John explains how leaders can demonstrate care and empathy while helping people connect to a greater purpose, and he unpacks the importance of inspiration in leadership. He also breaks down the qualities that make for an effective leader, the ways to foster connections with your team, why continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for leaders, and much more.  Tune in to learn about the significance of intentional leadership and living up to the responsibility of being a leader that people deserve with John Teichert! Key Points From This Episode: Learn why leadership is about leverage and multiplying impact through other people.How organizations show their priorities through how they spend their time and money.Explore why investing in people is vital for the long-term success of an organization.Why leadership is not only about inspiring but also about handling tough situations.Discover the steps for implementing corrective action with empathy and compassion. Quotes: “If [leaders] are not intentional about investing our time and our money in developing people to become the best possible version of themselves, then we are fooling ourselves.” — John Teichert “People need to be loved or cared for, and people want to be part of something greater than themselves.” — John Teichert  “The equipping, challenging, and convicting; those are all some of the bread and butter that [leaders] should be doing every day.” — John Teichert  “We’re all lifelong learners of leadership. No one has arrived.” — John Teichert  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: John Teichert John Teichert on LinkedIn John Teichert on YouTube Boom! Prayers for a Nation The Dragon Who Earned His Wings InSideOut Coaching The Infinite Game Greater Than Yourself Lincoln on Leadership American Generalship The Maxwell Leadership Bible George Washington’s General Orders Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

True leverage is about multiplying leaders!  In this solo episode, BJ explores the concept of leadership and leverage and shares why he believes that leaders are actually levers. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about what to consider when thinking about leverage, the power of discerning leverage properly, and how the 80/20 rule can help leaders.  BJ delves into the importance of leveraging and protecting your time before discussing the difference between responsible and irresponsible leverage. BJ even talks about systems, why they’re imperative, and why bad systems are problematic. Finally, we touch on the idea that people aren’t leverage, their growth is.  To hear all this and even be challenged to consider how you are discerning your leverage, be sure to listen now!  Key Points From This Episode: What leadership actually is and why leaders are levers. BJ explains the 80/20 rule and what it means for leaders. Responsible leverage versus irresponsible leverage. The difference between true leverage and fake leverage. Three things to ask yourself this week to be a better leader. Quotes: “Leverage without discernment and wisdom turns into burnout, overextension, anxiety, or – using people instead of developing them.” — BJ Kraemer  “Leadership requires us to constantly ask, ‘Where am I spending time that someone else can grow into [or] – that I might be able to delegate to somebody? – Where am I holding onto work that’s preventing scalability? Where might I be confusing activity with impact or results?’” — BJ Kraemer “Time is the only resource that you can’t get more of.” — BJ Kraemer  “If your organization or family relies on your heroic effort to function, you don’t have a leadership problem, you have a systems problem.” — BJ Kraemer  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The ONE Thing Buy Back Your Time Leadership Blueprints Podcast Leadership Blueprints Podcast on YouTube MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Projects don’t fail in the field; they fail when leaders aren’t clear on the upfront work needed to make a project successful.  Today on Leadership Blueprints, Daniel McCaulley joins us to discuss how he ensures projects go well. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about who our guest is and what he does, how he approaches projects so they are successful, how he paces an owner so that a project gets planned properly while maintaining enthusiasm, and so much more!  We delve into some of the best leadership lessons he has learned that have contributed to his success before discussing bad hires and how to avoid them. Daniel touches on his business philosophy and why he prioritizes laser-focused communication in the world of engineering. We even discuss the importance of being open to learning and growing throughout your career. Finally, our guest tells us about his favorite leadership books, quotes, and dream dinner guests (dead or alive). Thanks for listening!  Key Points From This Episode: Daniel explains his blueprint for getting a project on the right track. How to help an owner slow down to plan a project properly. Daniel shares some leadership lessons that have served him well. An example of a bad hire that Daniel made and how he handled it. How he facilitates an environment of constant learning for his employees.  Quotes: “You really do have to go slow to go fast sometimes. Everything in construction is better done yesterday.” — Daniel McCaulley  “Hire good people and get out of their way!” — Daniel McCaulley  “People do need to be managed differently.” — Daniel McCaulley  “We’re all created to be here on a specific mission, and let’s not let that time be wasted.” — Daniel McCaulley  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Daniel McCaulley on LinkedIn Moonshot The 5 Levels of Leadership  Leadership Blueprints Podcast MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn