Jason and John Coffman dig into a mindset that's defined both of their careers: problems are gift-wrapped packages, and solving them is how you get the gift. John tells the incredible story of getting called into a "forest fire" of a nuclear power plant job early in his career, a decision that shaped the rest of his path, and Jason revisits the SkyTrain survey disaster they solved together. Together they lay out a real, repeatable process for tackling tough problems instead of avoiding them, and make the case for why the people who learn to solve problems become the ones companies can't do without.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why running toward hard problems, instead of avoiding them, is what actually builds a remarkable career
The step-by-step process for solving a problem, from defining it to identifying root cause to executing a plan
Why gathering real data before acting is the key to solving almost any problem
A real story about fixing a five-and-a-half-inch survey error on a major transit project under serious time pressure
Why asking your team "what's keeping you awake at night" surfaces the problems that actually matter
Next time you see a hard problem coming your way, will you step back and avoid it, or will you dig in and go get the gift?
If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).
Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:
· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg
· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt
· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured
· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw
