From Good to Great

Jim Collins’s Playbook for Leaders Who Build Level-5 Culture, Seat the Right People, and Spin the Flywheel to Long Lasting Success

Good companies stall because they tolerate almost, nearly, pretty good. Jim Collins argues greatness starts the minute leaders kill that comfort. He begins with brutal facts: face the data without excuses, let reality sting, and curiosity awakens. Conversation becomes a mirror; every reflection asks, Are we built for yesterday or tomorrow? Then the Hedgehog Concept appears one piercing idea at the intersection of passion, economic engine, and unrivaled skill. Naming it feels small at first, yet it magnetizes resources and repels distractions.

Collins insists the next decision is people, not direction. Seat the right people on the bus, the wrong people off, and only then pick the route. Level-5 leaders hire for character and curiosity, knowing skill can grow. They talk less about charisma, more about quiet will and personal humility that deflects praise and absorbs blame. With that ethos, debate turns fierce on issues but civil toward colleagues.

Today, confront one brutal fact, invite one fresh thinker onto the bus, and push the flywheel a single bold, focused turn toward your Hedgehog horizon.

Intel’s $3.5B New Mexico 3-D Fab Rises at Record Pace

Intel’s $3.5 billion Rio Rancho advanced-packaging fab tops out steel, keeps 2027 Foveros chip launch on schedule, and adds 2,900 construction jobs

Intel bolted the final beam on its $3.5 billion advanced-packaging expansion in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at dawn on May 8, twelve months after crews poured the first footing. When production begins in 2027, the 700,000-sq-ft structure will house Intel’s Foveros 3-D stacking lines technology, critical to AI and data-center processors. The milestone lifts the overall project to 45 percent complete, matching the timeline tied to federal CHIPS credits and $500 million in state incentives.

More than 2,900 craft workers are shifting from frame erection to clean-room build-out. Crews have placed 180,000 yd³ of low-carbon concrete, strung eight miles of process utility racks, and installed a 200-MW substation to feed the new hall and a neighboring 75-acre solar farm. A closed-loop cooling system is being welded into place to recycle 90 percent of process water, trimming annual river withdrawals by 1.2 billion gallons.

When the line ramps, Intel expects to add 700 permanent technicians and engineers while securing New Mexico’s domestic chip-packaging supply chain position. Sandoval County projects $250 million in yearly payroll and spin-off spending, and local colleges have launched six-month micro-electronics certificates to meet hiring demand. Analysts say the topping-out proves that, even as some greenfield fabs slip schedules, back-end packaging investments are charging ahead to relieve the industry’s most immediate bottleneck.

The Susquehanna rail bridge deal has been signed

Amtrak inks $1.6B design-build to replace 1906 Susquehanna River rail span; double-track steel arch promises 90-mph trains, 8K jobs

Excavators hit Perryville clay minutes after Amtrak inked a $1.6 billion design-build with Walsh-Kiewit to replace the 1906 Susquehanna River Rail Bridge. A test pile rattled the truss as an Acela snaked by, whistle cheering Maryland’s most significant rail spend in decades.

Two new 1.9-mile double-track arches will rise just east of the old span, raising clearance to 65 ft for Coast Guard cutters and wind-turbine barges. Barges will float segmental piers and 900-ton ribs into place; ballastless track slabs arrive prewired with fiber-optic strain sensors.

The build will hire 8,000 union workers and is funded by a $1.1 billion federal grant, state bonds, and an RRIF loan paid back with faster Acela fares once speeds hit 125 mph. Crews must pause river work for shad runs, and salvaged steel will become port cranes. If milestones hold, trains will shift to the new west span in 2030, and four-track service will follow in 2032, ending signal failures and lift-bridge jams that plague riders today, student interns.

EPA Formaldehyde Ruling Jolts Home Cabinet Makers

Final EPA formaldehyde risk finding forces composite wood overhaul; builders brace for pricier cabinets, new low-VOC adhesive lines

EPA stunned builders Jan 2 by finalizing its TSCA risk review for formaldehyde, declaring “unreasonable risk” in composite wood and insulation. The finding starts a two-year sprint toward rules that could ban urea-formaldehyde and slash emissions 80 % for cabinets sold after 2028.

MasterBrand and American Woodmark now fast-track no-added formaldehyde MDF, while Huber tests soy binders for AdvanTech. NAHB says upgrades, mostly cabinet upgrades, add $3,800 to a 2,000-sq-ft starter, yet emissions may drop below 10 ppb. Tax perks ease pain.

Installers fear shortages by 2026 when inventories dry up. Home centers reserve aisles for mineral-fiber boards, and LP plans a 400-MMSF low-VOC mill in Alabama. Trade groups may sue, but analysts doubt courts will stall a rule pitched as a kids’ health shield. Designers pivot to metal or frameless boxes to dodge the resin crunch.

The Importance of Preventing Strains from Awkward Postures on Construction Sites

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk focuses on preventing strains from awkward postures. Construction tasks often involve bending, twisting, or working in uncomfortable positions, increasing injury risks.

Why It Matters
Awkward postures stress your muscles, joints, and spine, leading to painful injuries, chronic conditions, or lost workdays.

Strategies to Prevent Strains

1. Position Tasks Properly:

   • Adjust your work height or position materials close to reduce unnecessary reaching or bending.

2. Use Appropriate Tools:

   • Select ergonomic tools and lifting aids to maintain neutral body positions.

3. Alternate Tasks Regularly:

   • Rotate between tasks frequently to reduce sustained awkward postures.

4. Stretch and Move Often:

   • Take short breaks to stretch and relieve muscle tension throughout your shift.

5. Seek Help:

   • Ask for assistance when tasks require difficult positions or excessive force.

Discussion Questions

• Have you experienced strains or injuries due to awkward postures?

• How can we better manage ergonomics on-site?

Conclusion
Avoiding awkward postures prevents painful injuries. Always position yourself correctly, use proper tools, and stretch frequently.

Work comfortably and stay injury-free!