“A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
John C. Maxwell
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Lead by example, illuminate paths others will follow
Leadership thrives on clarity, action, and example. First, learn the landscape, define a direction, and commit to it. Then step forward visibly, accepting responsibility when progress is slow and crediting others when momentum builds. People believe what they see; your consistent behavior becomes the map others choose to follow.
Practice knowing the way by asking better questions and listening fully. Practice going the way by tackling hard tasks, removing roadblocks, and finishing what you start. Practice showing the way by teaching, sharing context, and inviting others to own outcomes. Influence grows when your habits match your promises.
Begin today. Pick one challenge that matters, outline three steps, and take the first before noon. Share why it matters, ask a teammate to join, and celebrate the smallest win. Repeat tomorrow. In time, your choices will compound into trust, and trust will compound into results.
In ninety days, clarify vision, take daily visible actions, mentor two teammates, and document progress to build an accountable team.
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
How could smarter hiring unlock your growth?
Growth in construction begins with clarity and courage. You build cities, not spreadsheets. The right hires multiply your effort and free your focus. Choose a path that simplifies hiring so you can pour energy into quality work and loyal clients.
Start with a picture of your ideal teammate. Let a streamlined system handle outreach, screening, and scheduling while you protect your calendar. When the noise is filtered, every conversation you have is with a serious professional who can move projects forward.
This is about momentum. Partner with people who understand the trades and respect your time. Show up for the final interview, say yes or no with confidence, and get back to building with a stronger crew and a clearer mind.
Simplify hiring, guard your time, and choose partners who deliver finalists so you can decide faster and focus on building.
INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY
Will protected bike lanes reshape Whitney Avenue traffic?
This week in New Haven, crews kicked off a multimillion-dollar safety upgrade along Whitney Avenue. The first phase adds a two-way protected cycle track, converts four lanes to three, and installs raised crosswalks and modern signals. Traffic will continue to flow while work advances block by block.
These elements come from complete street design. A road diet reassigns space to calm speeds and reduce crash severity without major capacity loss. Protected cycle tracks separate bikes from moving cars using curbs or posts, while raised crossings and tightened corners shorten walking distance and improve visibility.
Construction staging matters as much as design. Crews typically pave at night, shift cones for utility work, and coordinate deliveries to keep buses and businesses moving. When finished, the corridor should feature steadier speeds, clearer turn pockets, and safer trips for people driving, biking, and walking.
Learn project phases, traffic patterns, and detours to reduce risk, protect crews, and help complete safer streets on time.
RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH
Will Canada's drop in lumber prices lower U.S. costs?
Canada withdrew challenges to some U.S. softwood lumber duties on September 18, aiming to clear the path for broader negotiations. For residential builders, litigation outcomes can sway delivered lumber costs, bid validity, and contingency planning even before any policy change filters into invoices.
The duties themselves still stand. In August, the U.S. Commerce Department finalized its latest review of Canadian softwood lumber, setting countervailing duty rates roughly in the 12 to 17 percent range; combined with firm-specific antidumping margins, effective combined rates span about 26 to 48 percent. Commerce issued amended final results on September 11 to correct ministerial errors and update company listings.
The practical takeaway for builders this week is stability with a risk of volatility. Appeals withdrawal may reduce legal uncertainty and open room for talks, but current duty-driven price structures remain. Monitor distributor quotes and lead times, and make sure contracts reflect defensible price adjustment mechanics while you track any policy movement.
Lock framing prices when bids are favorable, diversify suppliers, monitor duty updates, and include lumber escalation clauses to protect margins.
TOOLBOX TALK
Rigging and Crane Lift Safety
Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today, we’re covering safe rigging and crane lifts for material handling.
Why It Matters
Load drops, tip-overs, and contact with power lines can cause severe injury or death. Swing radius, blind picks, and pinch points add risk.
Strategies for Safe Lifts
Planning and communication: Develop a lift plan, confirm load weight and center of gravity, assign hand signals or radios, and hold a pre-lift briefing.
Equipment inspection: Check slings, shackles, hooks with latches, and tags. Remove gear with cuts, kinks, heat damage, birdcaging, or missing IDs. Pad sharp edges.
Set up and environment: Keep the crane level with outriggers on pads, verify ground bearing capacity, maintain at least 20 feet from overhead lines up to 350 kV, and follow wind limits on the chart. Barricade swing radius and define travel paths.
Rigging practices: Choose sling angles of 60 degrees or greater when possible, calculate leg tension, use tag lines, never stand beneath a suspended load, test lift a few inches, and avoid side loading.
Work area control and shutdown: Establish an exclusion zone with spotters. Stop if signals are lost. Land loads on stable cribbing, inspect and stow gear, report damage, and secure the crane.
Discussion Questions
What lifts are scheduled today, with weights, pick points, and travel routes
Who are the signal person, qualified rigger, and operator, and how will we communicate
Conclusion
Planning, inspection, and tight control of the work zone prevent strikes and drops.
Plan it, rig it, lift smart!
