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Inside-Out Power

Blaine Lee’s Map for Leaders Who Cultivate Honor, Master Themselves, and Spark Teams to Achieve Ethical Results in a Distracted World

Power exposes character, so a leader schedules the first meeting with the mirror. Before drafting metrics, examine motives, scraping vanity until purpose stands clear. Colleagues sense the shift; as ego shrinks, shared vision stretches. Honor begins inside, radiating outward like steady heat.

Clean intent turns influence from loud commands to quiet invitation. Lee calls this inside-out power: persuade by serving, correct by coaching, decide by principle. We swap fear for clear agreements, secrecy for open scoreboards, and blame for lessons. Teams show honor answer with initiative; trust compiles like interest. Celebrate small wins so everyone sees that virtue fuels performance.

Which hidden motive still clouds today’s choices? Name it, own it, watch credibility rise. Let the crew shape spending, promotion, and meeting time standards. As mutual honor hardens into habit, outside pressure fades. Leaders who govern themselves first seldom need to rule harshly.

Act inside-out today, mirror check, drop one ego motive, honor a teammate’s insight, and tweak one process to display shared principles at work.

Amazon’s $4B Rural Blitz: 120 Tiny Hubs Approved

Amazon spent $4B on 120 modular rural delivery hubs, creating 20,000 construction jobs and 100,000 permanent roles as same‑day shipping expanded outside cities.

On April 30, Amazon pledged $4 billion to triple its rural delivery footprint, green‑lighting 120 delivery stations across 13000 ZIP codes by 2026. Each 15‑acre site hosts a 70000‑sq‑ft sort hall, 80 van chargers, and rooftop solar tied to battery racks. Bechtel‑built steel modules bolt up in two days, slicing schedules by 40 percent.

Ground breaks start next week in Abilene, Marquette, and Waycross, where 450‑worker crews will stand tilt‑walls, conveyors, and 1.2 MW hydrogen gensets. Specs call for low‑carbon concrete and heat‑pump HVAC, trimming embodied CO₂ 30 percent. Nationwide build headcount peaks at 20,000 next summer with joists booked through Q1 2026.

Once the network opens, states expect 100,000 permanent logistics jobs and $8 billion in rural wages annually. Analysts see the push as proof Amazon bets same‑day demand will bloom beyond big metros and as a lifeline for contractors facing office lulls. Fourteen community colleges are racing to add CDL and mechatronics tracks for hires.

Boom at Floyd Hill, Colorado blasts new I-70 tunnel

CDOT blasts first portal for $700M Floyd Hill I-70 overhaul, adding new lane, wildlife viaduct, bike trail, 4,000 jobs, easing Denver ski jams

A sunrise blast reverberated through Clear Creek Canyon as CDOT detonated the first cut for the Floyd Hill I-70 rebuild. The $700 million job will bore a 1,600-ft westbound tunnel, straighten two miles of grade, and erase the curve that chokes ski-weekend traffic. Governor Polis pressed the plunger while drones caught rock dust sparkling over the river.

Twin crews drill 14-ft holes, bolt mesh, and spray shotcrete before each next charge. Spoil rides conveyors to rail cars, skipping 40k truck trips. A parallel wildlife viaduct of precast arches will lift elk, cyclists, and a future bike path over six widened lanes, reconnecting habitat severed since 1960. Sensors!!

Prime contractor Kraemer-Wadsworth-AECOM pledges 4,000 union jobs and apprenticeships for local grads. Toll-free express lanes open in 2028; full finish in 2029 will shave Denver-to-Vail runs by half an hour. Café owners who once dreaded detours handed coffee to miners, saying the boom sounded like freedom from bumper-to-bumper pain.

Fortified Roof Grants Trigger Gulf Building Boom

Louisiana's $10K Fortify Homes lottery opens February 12. Builders rush to nail sealed decks, and insurers promise 25% cuts as grants spread across the Gulf Coast.

Louisiana’s Fortify Homes Program opened a $10k roof-grant lottery on February 12 for IBHS upgrades. All 1,000 slots vanished in 26 minutes, and Baton Rouge suppliers saw a 38 % spike in ring-shank nail and sealed-deck orders. Builders face five-day delays on rated underlayment as crews hustle before summer storms. IJ says the signup site crashed twice during rush hour.

Carpenters now add $2,800 to a 1,800-sq-ft roof but say owners earn it back in three years via 25 % policy rebates. D.R. Horton plans to fortify 70 % of 2025 lots, and LP doubled seam-tape output in Alabama. Moody’s sees grants generating 18,000 fortified roofs by 2027, about one-third of new Gulf builds.

Critics say the lottery favors tech-savvy owners and may raise shingle prices, yet Commissioner Tim Temple plans quarterly drawings until the $30 million pot is gone. Alabama’s grants vanished in eight seconds, and Texas now drafts its bill. Insurers see wind premiums dropping 40 % coast-wide if Fortified roofs rule by 2030.

The Importance of Preventing Contact Dermatitis on Construction Sites

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk addresses preventing contact dermatitis, a common skin condition caused by exposure to chemicals, irritants, or allergens frequently found on construction sites.

Why It Matters
Contact dermatitis causes skin redness, itching, swelling, and pain. It impacts comfort and productivity and, if untreated, can potentially lead to infection or chronic issues.

Strategies to Prevent Contact Dermatitis

1. Identify and Avoid Irritants:

   • Be aware of common irritants like cement, solvents, paints, adhesives, and certain woods.

2. Use Appropriate PPE:

   • Wear chemical-resistant gloves, long sleeves, and barrier creams to protect exposed skin.

3. Practice Good Hygiene:

   • Wash hands and exposed areas regularly with mild soap and water after handling irritants.

4. Promptly Address Symptoms:

   • Report skin irritation immediately to prevent worsening symptoms or complications.

5. Properly Clean Equipment:

   • Keep tools and equipment clean to minimize exposure to residual irritants.

Discussion Questions

• Have you experienced skin irritation or dermatitis on-site? How was it handled?

• What additional protective measures could we take?

Conclusion
Preventing contact dermatitis protects your health. Identify irritants, use PPE, and practice good hygiene.

Protect your skin and stay safe!