“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”
— Bill Gates
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Empowerment Defines Tomorrow
Gates on Leaders Who Multiply Human Potential Through Technology, Collaboration, and Continuous Learning
Gates learned early that influence grows when you hand others the tools, not when you hoard them. From distributing BASIC to hobbyists in Albuquerque to backing open vaccine licenses, his instinct has been to create ecosystems where smart people build solutions he alone could never have envisioned. A leader’s first deliverable, he argues, is an environment wired for scale.
That mindset relies on measurement as much as it does on mission. He pores over spreadsheets, indexes, and trial data because empowerment without feedback drifts into entropy. When numbers reveal friction, he invests in infrastructure; when metrics show promise, he publicizes success, drawing investors, governments, and citizens together. In his view, optimism is serious work: believe progress is possible, then schedule it.
The lesson for any manager is clear: delegate authority alongside information, celebrate outcomes, and iterate visibly. Your Team will surprise you, audiences will multiply, and momentum will outlive your presence. In the digital age, the highest return on capital is still investing in other people’s capability.
Enable one colleague by providing resources, clear metrics, and autonomy to solve a pressing shared problem.
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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
Mesa Desert Becomes Mega Data Machine: Project Borealis
Novva Breaks Ground on 300-Megawatt Five-Hall Campus, Promising Green Power and Thousands of Arizona Jobs Soon
MESA — Novva Data Centers yesterday unveiled Project Borealis, a five-building hyperscale campus on 68 acres near the Loop 202, committing $1.8 billion and 300 megawatts of IT load. Crews will break ground this September, aiming to energize the first 96-megawatt hall by December 2026. CEO Wes Swenson called Mesa “Utah scale with Phoenix fiber” during the launch.
Walsh Construction will erect prefab steel frames, battery-ready substations, and indirect evaporative coolers while harvesting rooftop rainwater into a six-million-gallon retention pond. Designers pledge to divert 90 percent of demolition waste and install shaded photovoltaic carports that offset twenty percent of site power, targeting LEED Silver and Mesa’s new drought-resilience code.
Economic-development officials forecast 1,100 union craft jobs at peak, 140 permanent technicians, and $12 million in annual tax revenue earmarked for water-recharge projects, STEM scholarships, plus small-business grants. Analysts say Project Borealis cements the Southeast Valley’s shift from suburban sprawl to mission-critical infrastructure and could quickly draw suppliers across Arizona’s I-10 tech corridor within two years.
INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY
TxDOT Begins $53M Brazos Bridge Fix Amid Deluge
Weekend I-69 lane closures launch Texas project extending flood-damaged Brazos River span by one thousand feet.
Southbound Interstate 69 in Sugar Land will close at 9 p.m. Friday for the Texas Department of Transportation’s $53 million Brazos River Bridge overhaul. The 48-hour shutdown, timed for weekend travel, ends at 5 a.m. Monday marks the start of phase two to replace spans battered by floods. Northbound traffic and a reversible HOV lane remain open, though officials advise caution.
Crews in booming Fort Bend County will jackhammer damaged pilings, slide precast girders, and lengthen the crossing one thousand feet north to clear the river’s shifted channel. A storm-wrecked turnaround will vanish, making room for cofferdams and rock armor that deflect future torrents. Two thousand twenty-three erosion-control funds will also install fiber-optic scour sensors feeding Houston TranStar’s public dashboard.
TxDOT expects the upgraded twin spans to open by 2027, adding shoulders sized for future autonomous trucks and trimming costly maintenance closures. Officials call the route a $28 billion freight lifeline between Houston and the Rio Grande Valley. Until completion, drivers may avoid congestion using the reversible HOV lane or detouring on U.S. Alt 90.
RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH
Duplex Boom Promises Privacy, Savings Near San Antonio
Helotes Greenlights Apollo Oaks, Thirty Rentable Duplexes With Garages, Yards, Family-Friendly $1,999 Monthly Rents
Helotes, Texas, just northwest of San Antonio, is set to host Apollo Oaks, a $12.8-million build-to-rent neighborhood designed to relieve the metro’s escalating rent burden. Canadian investor CPI Capital partnered with local developer Invest5S to acquire three vacant acres, winning unanimous city approval late Friday.
Thirty duplexes, sixty rental homes will rise along a loop road, each 1,400 square feet with three bedrooms, three baths, a two-car garage, and a fenced yard. Developers skipped clubhouses and pools to cap projected rents at $1,999, about ten percent under comparable Helotes apartments. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September 2025, with first move-ins targeted for May 2026 after five months of slab-on-grade construction.
CPI Capital’s Zeev Meyer said Central Texas land prices and in-migration outweigh currency risks, citing San Antonio’s robust job growth and Loop 1604 expansion. Housing advocates welcome duplex yards absent in apartments while softening density compared with townhouses. Councilmember Maria Luna expects eighty construction jobs and $220,000 annual property-tax revenue on stabilization for Helotes’ coffers.
TOOLBOX TALK
The Importance of Preventing Soil Collapse During Excavations
Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk covers preventing soil collapse during excavations. Excavation collapses can occur suddenly, causing severe injuries or fatalities.
Why It Matters
Soil collapses can bury or crush workers instantly. Proper prevention is crucial for maintaining a safe work environment.
Strategies to Prevent Soil Collapse
Assess Soil Conditions:
Evaluate soil stability before beginning excavation work.
Use Protective Systems:
Employ shoring, trench boxes, sloping, or benching techniques to stabilize excavation walls.
Keep Heavy Equipment Clear:
Store excavated materials and equipment at least two feet from trench edges.
Inspect Daily:
Conduct regular inspections, especially after weather changes or heavy rains.
Proper Access and Egress:
Ensure ladders or ramps are available within 25 feet of worker positions in excavations.
Discussion Questions
Have you experienced or witnessed soil collapse incidents?
How can we further improve our excavation safety?
Conclusion
Preventing soil collapse is crucial for ensuring excavation safety. Utilize protective systems, conduct regular inspections, and remain vigilant to avoid any potential hazards.
Dig safely to protect lives!