Shows
Build Big IdeasStrategy for Infrastructure Businesses, 7 Powers by Hamilton Helmer, Ep. 15Strategy for infrastructure businesses is the focus of this episode of the Build Big Ideas podcast. Specifically, we begin by summarizing Hamilton Helmer's concepts from the book "7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy." We then apply the concepts to various infrastructure businesses. Good businesses have power that their competitors can't access; bad businesses don't. The 7 powers are: scale, counter-positioning, switching costs, branding, cornered resource, and process power. Note that operational excellence is necessary, but not sufficient, to benefit from a power.
Full show notes are available at buildbigideas.com
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2021-05-3048 minBuild Big IdeasRoundabouts, Episode 14The big idea for this podcast is to discuss roundabouts, including their history, myths, pros, and cons.
For full show notes see: www.buildbigideas.com
2021-04-1829 minBuild Big IdeasOffshore Wind with Bruce, Episode 13The big idea this week is to discuss offshore wind power development with Bruce Carlisle. Bruce is the Managing Director of Offshore Wind at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). MassCEC is a quasi-governmental organization. Bruce's role takes a multi-faceted approach to encourage offshore wind development, including overseeing the operations of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, the nation’s first port facility designed to support the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects.
Full show notes are available at:
https://www.buildbigideas.com/post/off-shore-wind-with-bruce-carlisle-of-the-massachusetts-clean-energy-center-ep-13
Mass CEC is a st...
2021-04-1442 minBuild Big IdeasIt's Time to Build by Marc Andreesen, Ep. 12The big idea this week is to discuss an essay by the renown venture capitalist Marc Andreesen, entitled "It's Time to Build."
For full show notes, see: www.buildbigideas.com/post/it-s-time-to-build-by-marc-andreesen-ep-12
Some key quotes from the essay are found below:
“Every Western institution was unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic, despite many prior warnings. ... Part of the problem is clearly foresight, a failure of imagination. But the other part of the problem …. is a failure of action, and specifically our widespread inability to *build*.”
"Is the problem: Money? Capitalism? Technical compet...
2021-04-0742 min
Build Big IdeasGary Klein of WJE: FIU Bridge Collapse and Exceptions to the NTSB Findings, Ep. 11The big idea for this episode is to discuss the FIU Bridge Collapse with Gary Klein of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE). Mr. Klein takes exception to the NTSB/FHWA findings.
This episode is technical, detailed, and assumes the listener has a general knowledge of the FIU bridge and collapse investigation. For a more general introduction to the FIU Bridge, please see Collapse of the FIU Pedestrian Bridge, Episode 1.
Much of this conversation follows along with a presentation that Mr. Klein delivered to the AASHTO Committee on Construction 2020 annual meeting.
...
2021-01-0941 min
Build Big IdeasJim Goodman and Renewable Energy, Ep. 010The big idea of this episode is to learn about Jim Goodman's experiences in the renewable energy industry. From developing and constructing wind farms to starting-up an electrical vehicle charging stations company, Jim shares his unique, real-world stories from the field.
For full show notes see buildbigideas.com
Outline of the Discussion:
- Wind Farm development, knocking on famer's doors in Illinois and negotiating with John Malone in Colorado.
- Wind Farm construction in Vermont: logistics, site access, and supply chain.
- Cyclicality and tax subsidies in renewable energy industry
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2021-01-0440 minBuild Big IdeasCan you turn off Niagara Falls? Podcast Ep. 009Is there a switch somewhere that can turn the water off at Niagara Falls?
The answer to this question is an interesting interweaving of the natural and built environments, International politics, and managing all the different interests (industrial, commercial, and recreational) surrounding Niagara Falls.
For full show notes, see www.buildbigideas.com/post/can-you-turn-off-niagara-falls-ep-009
Outline of the conversation
First, all 5 great lakes are naturally hydrologically connected…in theory a drop of water in far western Lake superior could find it’s way to the Atlantic ocean flowing across superior through the stra...
2020-12-1430 min
Build Big IdeasIncentives in Organizations as Exemplified by Tires Les Schwab, Ep. 008Incentives drive the behavior of people and the performance of organizations. Tires Les Schwab is a study in win-win business relationships.
See https://www.buildbigideas.com/post/incentives-in-organizations-as-exemplified-by-tires-les-schwab for full show notes.
Quotes by Charlie Munger:
- “Show me the incentives and I will show you the outcome.”
- “Never, ever, think about something else when you should be thinking about the power of incentives.”
Charlie Munger points to the book "Les Schwab Pride in Performance: Keep in Going" as indicative of the philosophy that he and Warren Buffett use to i...
2020-12-0327 min
Build Big IdeasCost of Energy, Solar is King, Podcast Ep. 007For full show notes, see www.buildbigideas.com/post/cost-of-energy-solar-is-king-podcast-ep-007
The cost of generating solar electricity has dropped by an order of magnitude over the last decade. Solar is now least expensive option for generating electricity, beating out natural gas, coal, wind, and nuclear on an unsubsidized basis. This is a world-changing fact that is very optimistic for the future development of human civilization around the world. The biggest remaining challenge is that energy storage still costs almost an order of magnitude more than solar electricity generation.
"Solar becomes the new...
2020-11-0410 min
Build Big IdeasA view of the Rocky Mountains...at 200 kph. Front Range Passenger Rail. Podcast Episode 6For full show notes, see www.buildbigideas.com/post/a-view-of-the-rocky-mountains-at-200-kph-front-range-passenger-rail-podcast-episode-6
The big idea for this episode is a brief case study of a future passenger rail initiative in Colorado. We discuss how passenger rail is planned and integrated into existing infrastructure and ponder some important planning assumptions for rail mass transit in the future.
Currently it takes 70 min to travel from Fort Collins, CO to Denver, CO...without traffic or construction....some days the trek can take 90+ minutes. Imagine if it took, 45min, every time in all conditions.
2020-11-0323 min
Build Big IdeasShelterBox CEO Sanj Srikanthan, Episode 005For full show notes, see www.buildbigideas.com/post/shelterbox-ceo-sanj-srikanthan-ep-005
Outline of the conversation:
- Sanj's career progression.
- Overview of ShelterBox organization, including the history, mission, and funding model.
- Case studies of ShelterBox projects.
- Next steps for the community after ShelterBox leaves.
- Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and infrastructure.
- Contact info for Shelterbox and how people can learn more or get involved.
https://www.shelterbox.org/ (United Kingdom site)
2020-10-2741 minBuild Big IdeasWhat Risk Is. Episode 4See www.buildbigideas.com/post/what-risk-is-podcast-ep-4 for full show notes and references.
Risk is about rationally allocating resources into an uncertain future.
In the world of infrastructure, risk equals probability times consequence.
Some business school students may learn the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) where risk is considered to be equivalent to volatility, as represented by the greek letter Beta.
Value investors often say, instead, that risk is the probability of permanent loss of capital.
For-profit businesses and investors allocate their capital in pursuit of the highest financial return...
2020-10-1942 minBuild Big IdeasWho We AreSee www.buildbigideas.com/post/who-we-are for full show notes.
We experience infrastructure every day both in a macro and micro sense. Historically it has been an engine for national economies, thus we all, society as a whole, experience its collective benefits.
It is also the road you drive to school or work on. When we turn the light switch on, the lights turn on. When we turn the faucet, the water flows. These and many more on-demand services, that are so ubiquitous we don’t even think about it, is infrastructure. &nb...
2020-10-1010 minBuild Big IdeasEffective MeetingsSee www.buildbigideas.com/post/effective-meetings for full show notes.
Four Imperatives for Effective Meetings:
1. Preparation
2. Leader
3. Agenda
4. End with an Action Plan: Champion and Deadline for each item
Five Meeting Tips:
1. Keep meetings small. Seven people or less is best.
2. Ban devices
3. Keep it short. 30 minutes or less is best
4. Make sure everyone participates
5. Don't hold a meeting just to update a team
See www.buildbigideas.com for full show notes.
References
Maker’s Schedule Manager’s Sche...
2020-10-0657 minBuild Big IdeasCollapse of the Innovative FIU Pedestrian BridgeSee www.buildbigideas.com/post/podcast-fiu-bridge-collapse-ep1 for full show notes, slides, video, and images.
The big idea for this episode is to discuss the root causes of the collapse of the FIU pedestrian bridge that occurred on 15 March 2018 in Miami, Florida. The bridge designer pursued an ambitiously unique and complex design on a very small budget, in response to the owner's request.
2020-09-2754 min