In this REMIXED episode of Hard Knock University, Mark Caples takes you through Chapter 1 of The Hard Knock School of Project Management with real-world lessons from a disastrous home renovation project. Discover 7 project management truths every PM, contractor, or team leader needs to hear. From scope creep and stakeholder chaos to language barriers and permit nightmares—this one’s a crash course in navigating the storm.
🎤 Then, Mark interviews Johnny Buonadonna, a former police officer who traded his badge for blueprints. Johnny shares how he broke into the construction game, what he learned the hard way, and why integrity matters more than any invoice. If you're thinking about starting a construction business with just a truck and a hundred bucks, don't miss this conversation.
📚 Book of the Week: Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt
🧠 Knockback Q&A: Respect, ghosting contractors, and micromanagement
🎧 Bonus: Mark’s unfiltered rants, whiskey wisdom, and gear geek-outs.
👉 Grab the book: https://leadershipknocks.com/book
📩 Join the newsletter: LeadershipKnocks.com
📺 Subscribe to the podcast: @HardKnockUniversity
Podcast Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & Remix Setup
03:00 Chapter 1 Breakdown: The Chaos Project
12:00 7 Brutal Project Management Lessons
20:00 Book of the Week: Trillion Dollar Coach
30:00 Interview: Johnny Buonadonna’s Career Pivot
40:00 Knockback Q&A (Listener Questions)
45:00 Closing Thoughts + What's Next
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