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“You don’t need a title to be a leader.”

— Mark Sanborn

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

Lead From Any Chair

Everyday Influence That Ignites Teams Without Ranks, Badges, or Formal Official Authority

Real influence, the speaker insists, shows up in moments nobody scheduled. It occurs when a frontline cashier notices a flustered customer and personally resolves the issue before supervisors arrive. Power in that instant comes not from a nameplate but from initiative. Culture begins to shift precisely where small acts of ownership multiply.

Yet stepping forward carries risk; critics may accuse you of overreach, and colleagues may question your motives. The remedy is clarity: act to serve, not to shine. When intentions aim outward, suspicion dissolves, and others step beside you. Soon, influence spreads horizontally, creating a peer-powered dynamo that accelerates projects beyond any manager’s directive.

Therefore, treat every task like a microphone. Use it to broadcast a possibility, greet newcomers first, draft the agenda nobody asked for, and prototype the solution everyone postponed. People will notice energy before expertise and rally around momentum. Eventually, titles catch up with demonstrated value, but by then, you won’t need them; your impact will already stand undeniable and enduring.

Initiate one unassigned improvement, assist a peer, and model service so others feel permission to lead.

HR is lonely. It doesn’t have to be.

The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.

That’s what this newsletter delivers.

I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.

Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.

Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Border States Unleashes Giant Fargo Fulfillment

Groundbreaking starts 300‑thousand‑square‑foot supply hub reshaping critical Upper Midwest logistics networks today

Front‑loaders rolled through Fargo prairie Tuesday as Border States Electric staged a ribbon‑cutting‑by‑backhoe to launch its 300,000‑square‑foot Upper Midwest distribution hub. Company President Jason Seger hailed the $ 110 million complex as the “spine” of a multistate expansion aimed at bulletproofing utility and construction supply chains.

Designed by JLG Architects and built by McGough Construction, the tilt‑up facility will pack 38‑foot clear heights, 74 dock doors, autonomous narrow‑aisle forklifts, and an automated storage‑retrieval system linked to real‑time demand dashboards. Solar‑ready roofing, LED luminaires, and energy‑recycling conveyors push the project toward LEED Silver certification.

During peak build next spring, 150 union trades will swarm the site, framing mezzanines and installing two miles of conveyor. Once operational in late 2026, the campus will move 11,000 orders daily, serving thirty branches across six states and injecting 60 permanent jobs plus $5 million in annual payroll into the Fargo‑Moorhead market. Officials expect the hub to magnetize cold‑storage, trucking, and prefab shops along Interstate 94, strengthening logistics.

INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY

Hudson Tunnel Digging Finally Begins Today

Gateway Project Launches Historic Hudson River Tunnel Shaft Construction Under Manhattan Today

Excavators sliced through an abandoned concrete rail spur near Manhattan’s Hudson Yards on Tuesday, marking the physical start of the long‑awaited Gateway Hudson River Tunnel. The $700 million “Hudson Shaft” contract, awarded to Skanska‑Traylor‑Shea last month, will carve a 63‑foot‑wide, 95‑foot‑deep box where two tunnel‑boring machines will be launched toward New Jersey in 2026.

Crews first drive secant piles around the rectangle, then excavate in eight‑foot bites, pausing to weld rebar cages and pour low‑carbon concrete floor slabs. A temporary strut forest and an on‑site treatment plant will recycle groundwater for dust suppression. Hudson River Park joggers can watch progress through a plexiglass public viewing window.

Funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Amtrak and New York’s split of federal grants, the entire Gateway megaproject now sits at full financial close. Officials say the new tunnel, plus rehabilitation of its hurricane‑damaged 1910 twin, will double trans‑Hudson capacity by 2035, cutting delays and slashing maintenance shutdowns while delivering carbon reductions.

RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH

Heat Pump Rebate Stampedes Starter Homebuilders

Federal Heat Pump Credits Propel Georgia Builders Toward All‑Electric, Affordable Starter Houses

Atlanta‑based BrightLeaf Homes broke ground Thursday on Maple Ridge, a 98‑lot community that will rely on heat‑pump HVAC and water heaters after Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs unlocked $14,000 per unit in federal Energy Efficient Home rebates on June 10. Subsidies will erase nearly all premium equipment costs for entry‑level floor plans statewide next year.

BrightLeaf says installing 18-SEER variable-speed pumps trimmed blower ducts enough to enlarge closets, allowing designers to reclaim twenty square feet per house. Trade partners completed two model installations in four hours each, compared to nine for a gas furnace-tank combo, aided by plug-and-play coolant cartridges precharged at a Tennessee factory, thereby beating schedules by five days.

Lenders using Freddie Mac’s GreenCHOICE program counted projected $72 monthly utility savings as income, boosting borrower power by about $11,500. Competitors Pulte and Smith‑Douglas toured the site Wednesday, scouting procurement leads, while plumbers protested electric‑shift job losses at the county board. Analysts predict Georgia’s rebate lottery will fill by August, spurring all‑electric starts across the Sun Belt.

TOOLBOX TALK

The Importance of Preventing Slips on Stairways

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk is about preventing slips on stairways. Stairways on construction sites are familiar places for accidents due to slipping, tripping, or falling.

Why It Matters
Falls on stairs can result in severe injuries like broken bones, sprains, or head trauma. Preventing these injuries protects your health and productivity.

Strategies for Preventing Slips

  1. Keep Stairways Clear:

    • Remove tools, debris, mud, and ice promptly from the stairs.

  2. Use Proper Footwear:

    • Always wear sturdy, slip-resistant boots when using stairways.

  3. Secure Handrails:

    • Hold handrails securely and ensure they are stable and free of defects.

  4. Proper Lighting:

    • Maintain clear and adequate lighting around stairways at all times.

  5. Regular Inspections:

    • Frequently inspect stairs for hazards and repair any damaged steps immediately.

Discussion Questions

  • Have you witnessed or experienced stair-related slips onsite?

  • How can we further reduce stairway hazards?

Conclusion
Preventing stairway slips requires maintaining clean, clear, and safe stairs. Stay alert and step safely.

Watch your step, stay safe!

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