Reconnecting with my longtime friend and inspection supervisor, Ben Sarratt, promises a blend of personal stories and valuable insights into navigating the blue-collar business world. Our conversation provides a retrospective on our early industry days and how those experiences sculpted our careers, highlighting essential communication strategies for newcomers. As fathers, we reflect on how parenthood has shifted our priorities and perspectives, emphasizing the significance of discipline and adaptability both at home and on job sites.

Ben's career journey is nothing short of inspirational, evolving from working in a ditch to leading a team of inspectors at Crafton Tull. We discuss the importance of fortifying relationships with engineers and understanding the motivational drivers that fuel the blue-collar market, like family time and financial incentives. Ben offers candid advice for those contemplating a similar path, stressing the value of connections and consistently delivering quality work. Our chat also touches on trade school experiences and the importance of gaining hands-on expertise for stability and success in trades such as plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry.

Effective communication is the backbone of successful construction projects, and we explore its impact on relationships with engineers, contractors, and city officials. By sharing personal anecdotes, we underscore the importance of trust and conflict resolution, and how modern technology has reshaped industry workflows and expectations. Through these stories, we illustrate the intricacies of project coordination, the challenges of managing design flaws, and the necessity of starting from the bottom to build a reputation that opens doors to lucrative opportunities. Join us for a candid look into the blue-collar world, where adaptability and professionalism pave the way for career advancement.