January 2, 2026 • 22 mins
Cut The Tie Podcast with Erin Khan
Construction is one of the most critical industries in the world—and one of the hardest to change. Erin Khan has spent her career working directly inside that tension.
In this episode of Cut The Tie, Erin shares her journey from civil engineering to leading construction innovation initiatives, and eventually launching her own consulting practice. She explains why technology adoption in construction is less about tools and more about behavior, trust, and execution on the ground.
This conversation explores how real change happens in legacy industries, why innovation fails when people are left out of the process, and how Erin helps contractors turn promising technology into real-world impact.
About Erin Khan
Erin Khan is an independent construction technology and innovation consultant based in Los Angeles. With a background in civil engineering and years of experience working inside large general contractors, Erin helps construction teams adopt technology that improves efficiency, safety, and collaboration.
She specializes in bridging the gap between contractors and technology providers, ensuring solutions are not only implemented—but actually used in the field.
In this episode, Thomas and Erin discuss:
- Why construction has historically resisted change
- The real reasons technology adoption fails
- Balancing experienced field professionals with emerging tools
- Moving from a large organization to independent consulting
- Supporting smaller contractors with limited resources
- Why innovation only matters if it reaches the job site
- Making construction more visible and attractive to the next generation
- Creating impact by connecting people, process, and technology
Key Takeaways
- Legacy industries don’t change overnight
Progress requires patience, trust, and consistency. - Adoption matters more than innovation
A tool unused is a problem unsolved. - Behavior change drives real results
Technology succeeds only when people buy in. - Impact happens in the field
Solutions must work where the work actually happens. - Modernization benefits everyone
Industry-wide progress requires inclusion, not exclusivity.
Connect with Erin Khan
🌐 Website: https://erinkhanconsulting.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-khan-655a761a/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ErinKhanConsulting
Connect with Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: https://www.cutthetie.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 Instantly Relevant: https://www.instantlyrelevant.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Welcome to the Cut the Tie Podcast.
Hello, I am your host, ThomasHelfrick.
I'm on a mission to help you cutthe tie to whatever it is
holding you back from success.
Now you have to define thatsuccess yourself or uh you're
chasing someone else's dream.
So today we're going to learnfrom Aaron Kahn.
Aaron, how are you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
Doing well.
Great to be here.
Thanks, Thomas.
SPEAKER_01 (00:16):
I appreciate you coming on.
We're gonna we're gonna well,we're just gonna dive into it.
But start with first of all whoyou are and uh what it is you
do.
SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
Yeah, so quick, quick intro.
Uh my name's Aaron Kahn.
I'm based here in Los Angeles,uh sunny SoCal for me.
Um, and then what I do, uh, mybackground's in the construction
industry.
And I got into technology andinnovation.
And what I do today, I supportcontractors who are building
things to connect withtechnology providers who are
(00:48):
making technology solutions umto kind of talk to each other so
that they can build moreeffectively, efficiently, and
safer.
SPEAKER_01 (00:56):
I'm unfamiliar with the space, only that it's
generally you don't see thatgroup on LinkedIn a lot.
Let's say it that way.
So uh like the lagger nature ofthat community and is that your
unique identifier too?
SPEAKER_00 (01:09):
Um, so yeah, construction traditionally has
been a you know quite thelaggard in terms of
productivity.
Uh so if we like compare it tomanufacturing, it's kind of
behind, quote unquote.
Um, and it's also been prettyresistant to change and
technology and adoption of newmethods.
So uh yeah, construction kindcan kind of feel a little stale,
(01:33):
a little old sometimes, butwe're trying to change that.
And my specific niche is kind ofa niche within the industry
itself.
So it's really focusing on thatinnovation piece, getting team
members to adopt new practicesand try new things.
Um, so yeah, it gets a littlespecific, but without kind of un
unfolding the whole thing,that's the the high level view.
SPEAKER_01 (01:55):
That's good.
You know, it's getting behaviorschanged too, right?
And what they uh like manyindustries, we do it this way
because we've always done it.
Right.
And and uh I assume that has youhave some degree of that in your
uh in your industry.
SPEAKER_00 (02:11):
Yeah, there is a spectrum.
Um, so you'll have you knowtenured um staff that's been
doing construction for 30, even40 years, I've seen, um, in the
industry.
So they absolutely are experts,but they don't necessarily want
to try a new technology or theykind of get frustrated with
changing their process becausethey know what works, they want
(02:32):
to stick to it, even if it mightbe a little bit slower or clunk,
clunkier, or maybe even lesssafe.
Um, but you know, on the otherend, you have maybe, let's say,
like a fresh grad coming rightout of school.
They're ready to use all thegizmos and gadgets to kind of
get their work done.
They, you know, I think we allwant to go um home on time.
(02:53):
So any piece of automation thatcan help do that, you know,
they're interested in.
Um, so it's kind of balancingthose two uh sides of the whole
thing that's going on with techadoption.
SPEAKER_01 (03:04):
What what's uh what's your definition of
success?
SPEAKER_00 (03:08):
Yeah, um, such a good question.
And as you said, it's it'sdifferent for everybody.
Um, I think where I'm at today,it's uh, you know, so I'm I'm an
independent consultant, um, justreally me at my business.
And what success means is justreally being able to support um,
you know, the clients I'mworking with.
(03:29):
I would say I'm a boutiqueconsultant, kind of really going
deep into a few specific areasof the business, um, and also
having some fun and learningalong the way.
So one of the things that Ienjoy most about this industry,
there is always more to learn.
There's always more to exploreand discover.
Um, so if I'm learning, I'm I'min that success range.
(03:52):
So uh that's kind of what keepsme going.
SPEAKER_01 (03:55):
You know, there's a beauty in it.
And I go back and forthsometimes of just, you know, I
would I would you know, I haveteams and we have four clients.
And there's a beauty that'sdifferent when you're just by
yourself.
I'm like, well, yeah, but then Iwouldn't have any pay anyone.
And it's like I could, but Ican't get as much done, but I
have to just do differentthings.
But then I'm at risk.
And and that's a struggle.
We could talk about that maybealong your journey a bit, but I
(04:16):
I I totally appreciate whereyou're at with it.
Um talk about your journey alittle bit and what you're doing
to you know, what metaphoricties you're cutting or have cut
to get to that level of successyou define.
SPEAKER_00 (04:27):
Yeah, it's kind of interesting.
So um maybe not necessarily likea cut of the tie, but I feel
like my journey's just kind ofbeen a natural progression of
different steps, you know,closing doors and opening
others.
Um, but my my background iscivil engineering.
So I studied at USC, Universityof Southern California.
(04:48):
Um, so fight on for any otherTrojans out there.
Um and then my senior year ofschool, I had the incredible
opportunity to intern as aproject engineer, renovating one
of the historical buildings oncampus.
And that just really opened myeyes to the whole construction
world.
So that's kind of how I got in.
(05:08):
Um, so you get hooked, you kindof get in somehow to the
industry.
And it was just awesome being ona team, working collaboratively.
Every day is different.
So again, you know, it's not,it's not ever boring in
construction, um, which issomething I really, really
enjoy.
Uh, but I also realized, youknow, through that first
(05:29):
experience, like, oh my gosh,like where's the technology?
You know, stacks of paper, likepaper, even the size of me, like
like actually the size of me.
If you can imagine, like ahuman-sized sheet of paper.
Um, so you know, me coming intothis, like as an intern, like
where, like, where why isn'tthis in the computer?
Like, I think of the the scenein Zoolander where he's like,
(05:52):
the files are in the computer.
Like, yeah, like why aren't wedoing that?
Um, but that just really sparkeda passion.
So it for me, it was like, hey,you know, let me get my team
together.
Let's learn how to use digitaldrawings on iPads so that we
don't have to lug paper out tothe field.
We can just take our iPad, pullup our, you know, uh our plans
(06:13):
and specs and information thatwe need to build the building on
demand, and maybe the projectwill be a little bit better.
Um, so that was my early days.
Kind of took that and ran withit, um, did a few more
historical renovation projects,but eventually um I ended up at
Suffolk Construction, amazingcompany.
So they're a national generalcontractor.
(06:34):
Um, started there first as aregional, later on as the
national director ofconstruction solutions, which
basically is a fancy way ofsaying, you know, finding good
solutions and then bringing themback into operations for the
teams to use.
Um, but had a really amazingtime learning there, um, working
on some really interestingprojects throughout the country,
(06:57):
supporting various teams, um,and then also seeing the
successes and failures ofdifferent tech startups.
So that was a really interestingpiece there.
Um, but you know, what I thinkmade me um kind of again, maybe
not so much cut the tie, butlike kind of move on or realize
that I need to or wanted to um,you know, do something else uh
(07:20):
which was start my own company,um, was maybe just kind of, you
know, seeing, hey, you know, I'mat a big comp big company.
We have a lot of resources fortech and innovation, we've kind
of got this down, but like whatabout everybody else out there
who, you know, it's maybe a momand pop shop or a smaller team,
or maybe it's a specific tradethat doesn't really get into
(07:43):
technology much.
Like, how can we help the restof the industry?
Because um there's so manyplayers and we all need to be
successful for for the industryto be successful.
So um is kind of the thought,like, hey, there's more, there's
more out there.
Um, so I started my consultingpractice in 2023 and and doing
(08:04):
more of the same.
So helping find solutions toproblems in construction.
SPEAKER_01 (08:10):
Are are you uh do you have a like a big struggle
right now, though?
You're trying to like a kind oflike today's tie, so to speak,
that you can't you you'restruggling to cut or get around?
SPEAKER_00 (08:20):
Oh geez, today's ties.
Um that's that's kind of whereit's like, well, it's always a
journey.
Um, so maybe not necessarilysomething to cut, but you know,
there's only so many of me.
There's just one.
Um, I do have a fantastic umassistant, Pam.
Shout out to Pam.
But uh yeah, one of thechallenges is as a business
(08:43):
owner, you just have to wear somany hats.
So um it's just finding theright resources to help
supplement, I think,strategically.
Uh so yeah, finding ways to beable to get a little bit more
time back in my day uh to focuson maybe strategic projects or
things that are, you know, apassion project of mine to kind
(09:05):
of get to.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (09:08):
Well, I mean, and that's a common thing, right?
SPEAKER_00 (09:10):
It's the yeah, yeah, very common.
SPEAKER_01 (09:12):
Scale versus, you know, and then are you are you
struggling to with uh wow, toget to a certain level, I'll
need to take this risk, likehire somebody or go do something
else?
Is that on your roadmap of howdo I take it past where I am
now?
Yeah, or or whatever else orworking hard.
SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
Um yeah, not necessarily focused on like a a
ton of growth.
It's I'm actually at a prettygood spot where I'm just
enjoying, you know, learningabout different areas of the
industry that I haven't reallyworked in before, um, or you
know, beginning new excitingprojects.
So one of the things though, Imean, I'm I'm on this podcast.
(09:52):
I would love to get a little bitmore into putting more
information out there onYouTube, on on TikTok, maybe,
um, on social media, because thecool parts of the industry are
just so buried that I think alot of the incoming
professionals don't and andkids, right?
You know, you have dreams ofwhat you want to be when you
(10:13):
grow up, but nobody reallydreams of being in construction
because it doesn't seem thatcool, but it really is.
Um, so if we make that moreknown and make that more
accessible, um, I think thatcould be something really
amazing.
Um, so yeah, I I wish I had, youknow, a little bit more time to
(10:34):
have more presence in the uh theuh in internet, I guess, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (10:40):
Well, it's uh it's uh it's always a challenge of
like what it's also expected ofyou as a child.
And you know, where it is.
I I have one who's actuallywould probably like, you know,
it's certainly you know, yougotta go to university, that's
what you grow up in.
There's no way I was doing atrade.
Or I have a differentperspective on this now.
If my my kids said, Hey, I wantto be a plumber, I'd be like,
(11:01):
Okay.
Because I'd be like, You'regonna learn a trade, you're not
gonna have to pay for school,you're gonna make money.
But I'd like you got to takebusiness classes to learn how to
run a business because you don'twant to work for somebody as a
plumber.
Uh you you I'm giving you anexample, you want to own it at
some point, I would think.
Um, and that's where the realmoney is because a few plumbers
I know drive you know Bugattis.
So a minivan, so I'm in thewrong spot.
(11:23):
But are you struggle with any ofthat?
The expectations versus now thatyou're working for yourself,
though it's a little differentpiece.
But do you ever struggle withsome of the uh labeling that's
you're given as a child and thedefinitions of success from
parents?
SPEAKER_00 (11:36):
Um, yeah, interesting question.
So yeah, I I guess not really,which is kind of why I probably
ended up here in construction.
Um, so my my dad's anelectrician.
I was always exposed to kind ofyou know little different
projects going on growing up.
Was never an issue if I took aninterest or something.
(11:57):
Um yeah, so I don't know.
It kind of felt like, yeah, aslong as you know you're
successful and happy withwhatever it is that your path
you're going down, it's not toobad.
But a lot of people don't maybehave that type of experience
early on, or you know, they kindof just get set like, oh, I have
to do this or I have to do thattype of thing, or you know,
(12:18):
whatever the case may be.
But um to to what you're sayingearlier about like the plumbing
example too, but you know, theseroles and and jobs are actually
getting far more sophisticatedthan we could think of before.
So, you know, the if I think oflike a commercial project or
something that's maybe a littlebit more complicated, the MEP,
(12:39):
so mechanical electricalplumbing, like there's all sorts
of amazing 3D coordinationtechnologies that you know kind
of feeds into virtual reality,augmented reality.
So you're bringing out like 3Dmodels into the field to help
coordinate your work.
Um, it's it's reallysophisticated, interesting stuff
that it's almost like a videogame.
(12:59):
So um, yeah, it's it's changing.
I think it's the dynamicschanging.
So that's where I'm like, well,no, it's like it's really cool.
Um, and we should show more ofit.
SPEAKER_01 (13:09):
It is, I mean, it's a great industry.
It's being it's building things,it's just yeah.
It it'll uh I I think thatindustry in particular is gonna
really benefit from technologieslike AI and then the then the
things that kind of behind thatwill need to be in place to
automate, do stuff and roboticsand humans stop building stuff
and other things.
Anyway, it's gonna it's gonnahave a it's gonna have an
overhaul of tech, hit it and howwe build things and the
(13:31):
materials we use and speed.
SPEAKER_00 (13:33):
Yeah, it's it's it's happening now.
So um it's just rapidly trainchanging, even the past couple
of years, just with AI, has justblown up a lot of our processes,
which is exciting, but alsoneeds to be strategic and safe.
So yeah, there's always a ameasured process to it.
SPEAKER_01 (13:52):
Um is uh do you do you feel do you feel like when
you're when you're when you'rein this work right now by
yourself, you're making animpact?
SPEAKER_00 (14:02):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Um so I think where I'm attoday, and like, you know, given
any industry, but I think whereI'm at is at the edge of
discovery, or maybe notdiscovery, but um that that
impact edge.
So it's like exactly where, youknow, some interesting
(14:22):
discoveries have been made.
There's a lot of excitingstartups and solutions out of
there, but it doesn't reallymean much if nobody's using it,
right?
Um, so I'm the you know, entitythat comes in and helps people
use some of those excitingbreakthrough technologies and
discoveries that are happening.
(14:42):
So yeah, absolutely.
I feel like I'm working right inthat impact space where um it's
kind of like that connector roleof saying, like, hey, check this
out.
It might help you, you know,improve this process by 50%.
And someone says, Hey, like,yeah, I actually used it.
Um, it automated all myinvoicing for construction.
(15:04):
Now I can go home, you know, ontime, or maybe I can actually
focus on things that shouldactually take my time and
attention instead of justmatching numbers to other
numbers, um, that kind of thing.
So yeah, I would say I'm likeright in that impact zone, which
is super rewarding every day.
SPEAKER_01 (15:20):
It's funny because when you put things, you know,
one of the some of the work wedo with customers is we help
them solve a critical problem.
Like we say, or we help themidentify the critical problem
they solve.
I should say it that way.
And oftentimes you'll just say,hey, listen, it's 50% faster.
That's not the critical problem,right?
The critical problem is I get togo home and work out now or have
a beer earlier, or not one ofthe people.
SPEAKER_00 (15:44):
I'm happy, I'm excited to come back to
contribute the next day.
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (15:50):
All the all the stuff that saving time does for
somebody is is um is the criticis so it you are having impact
for sure because people get thatsomething they're oh my god, a
week ago I had to do it.
Now I don't, like that'sovernight.
SPEAKER_00 (16:02):
So tons of benefits everywhere, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (16:05):
What do you what are you most grateful for in your
life?
SPEAKER_00 (16:08):
Oh geez.
Um, there's a lot.
Um, I'm always grateful forhealth, uh, you know, being able
to do what I do.
Um, so that's that's number one.
Or, you know, it there's a fewnumber ones.
It's a tier, maybe.
Um, definitely family, um,people in the industry.
(16:31):
There's just a lot of support.
Um uh yeah, so yeah, people ingeneral are, you know, number
one supporters.
My husband as well, who alsodoes a really great job of you
know helping me figure outanything that I need to, all the
way from like, hey, my emailwon't open to, you know, how do
I get to this place across townthat I need to get to in time?
(16:54):
So yeah, really grateful forthat.
SPEAKER_01 (16:56):
Awesome.
Um if you know you could go backin your timeline at any point
right now, you know, when wouldyou go back?
What would you do differently?
SPEAKER_00 (17:05):
Yeah, so I you know, I s I was thinking about this
question.
I really don't think there'sanything I would necessarily
change all that much.
Um I guess what one thing, onething that I think um that might
(17:26):
click in some some otherpeople's minds who are listening
in is just finding a solidworkout routine sooner.
Um yeah, I think so.
I think so.
You know, between like yoga andjujitsu and going on a run or a
walk, I've got it at this point.
(17:48):
But gosh, I could have benefitedlike way earlier and way sooner
had I figured out the actualstuff that I like to do for
exercise and then did thatinstead of being like, oh, I
gotta get like X amount ofminutes in per day doing this
and that, just find activitiesyou like to do, keep it routine.
Yeah, that that helps me a lot.
I would have done that sooner.
SPEAKER_01 (18:09):
You know, if you can cheat exercise, what I mean is,
you know, I grew up playing aracket sport and and I I can't
stand running because it's justboring and it kind of hurts.
But I'll go out and turn it offplaying tennis and four shirts
and be like, I would never dothis in any fashion.
Just take the racket out of myhand.
I'm like, nope, I'm gonna go laydown.
And and it's it's true.
(18:29):
So find ways to cheat exercisethrough fun is is a no-brainer.
It's like burning, learnings canbe boring sometimes because you
just don't.
But then if you make it fun orit's gamified in some way, uh
the same applies to like kind oflike albeit a business.
Okay, listen if you gamify it,make it more fun for them, same
price.
SPEAKER_00 (18:46):
Yeah, and it just has so many other benefits too.
Like, so if you're able, right,you know, or you know, do do an
activity that you're able to do,but you know, it gets at least
for me, like my mind in theright state, more focused, um,
just feel better and more ableto actually kind of accomplish
the tasks that I need to do,which I know will have that
impact later on.
SPEAKER_01 (19:06):
So I find it, you know, I every morning I
struggled with this for years ofjust finding the time.
Um if now if it I know if itdoesn't happen in the morning,
if I can't find if I can'trepeat it, I'll do it.
So if it doesn't have themorning, it doesn't happen.
But it's got like yeah, I gotkids.
So after they're kind of out andgone, I got this window between
eight and ten.
I just like out and I eighttwenty-ish, eight ten, try to
(19:27):
get out of around nine-ish, notstay there super long, and just
get back, get your day set upand first meetings or whatever
at 10 every day.
Like I even go Saturday andSunday because taking two days
off, it just gets you out of theway.
Yeah, it's like I might as welljust go and do something,
anything, just to do theroutine.
So I agree with you.
Um be before we kind of uh youknow ask the last question, it g
(19:49):
let everyone know how to get ahold of you uh once again.
SPEAKER_00 (19:52):
And yeah, um absolutely.
So let's see, uh, most direct,you can email me, Aaron at
Aaron.
Conconsulting.com.
That's E-R-I-N-K-H-A-N-H beforethe A.
And then on pretty much anyplatform, LinkedIn, YouTube,
TikTok, Instagram, it's AaronCon Consulting.
(20:15):
So E-R-I-N-K-J-N.
Just search that up.
You should find me.
I do read my messages onLinkedIn.
So you can absolutely shoot me amessage there.
I will read it and look at it.
And it's a human, I promise.
SPEAKER_01 (20:27):
So I I I'm not gonna, you know, instantly
relevant man manages socialmedia.
I'm not gonna say they do it,may not be me online.
If you guys reach out to some ofyou, it may be just gonna be the
it's a big time saver not to manto not do your own not to
manage.
Oh man.
Absolutely.
If there's a question though Ishould have asked you today and
I didn't, what would thatquestion have been?
SPEAKER_00 (20:51):
Yeah.
Um gosh.
Uh a lot of good topics.
I mean, when it comes to, youknow, my specific my specific
niche, it's it's interestingbecause there's not a ton of
organizations that are exactlylike mine out there.
(21:12):
Um one question I get asked themost is like, how did you
actually do it?
You know, you were you were at alarge company, um, great role,
great team, and then youswitched, you know, kind of
overnight, it seems like itwasn't overnight, but it seems
like um to kind of running yourown thing.
So how did that actually happen?
(21:32):
Um, I get asked that all thetime.
And, you know, what I have tosay on that is you just need to
kind of decide to do it.
I think I also had the luxury ofhaving a lot of support.
I was in a good spot.
Um, if I was gonna take a riskuh at any point in my career,
you know, that was the time todo it.
So it kind of aligned prettywell.
(21:54):
Um, but also just not beingafraid of the change.
So I'm kind of crazy.
I kind of feel feel like I justleapt off a cliff and kind of
did the thing and was like, allright, we'll see how it goes.
And if I fall flat on my face, Ifall.
And you know, if I happen totake off, I take off.
So um it's kind of just beingopen to that change a little bit
(22:15):
more too.
That kind of helped me getthrough some of those transition
phases.
SPEAKER_01 (22:20):
That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (22:21):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (22:22):
Uh thank you for coming on today.
I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00 (22:24):
Yeah.
Thanks for having me.
Um short but sweet discussion.
Really enjoyed it.
SPEAKER_01 (22:29):
I appreciate it.
And listen, anybody who made itthis point in the podcast, I
appreciate you getting here aswell.
Uh get out there, go cut a tieto whatever's holding your back.
Make sure you, though, defineyour success first, because
otherwise you're chasing someoneelse's dream and it's not going
to feel a value when you getthere.
So take that step first.
Thanks for listening.
Welcome to the Cut the Tie Podcast.
Hello, I am your host, ThomasHelfrick.
I'm on a mission to help you cutthe tie to whatever it is
holding you back from success.
Now you have to define thatsuccess yourself or uh you're
chasing someone else's dream.
So today we're going to learnfrom Aaron Kahn.
Aaron, how are you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:14):
Doing well.
Great to be here.
Thanks, Thomas.
SPEAKER_01 (00:16):
I appreciate you coming on.
We're gonna we're gonna well,we're just gonna dive into it.
But start with first of all whoyou are and uh what it is you
do.
SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
Yeah, so quick, quick intro.
Uh my name's Aaron Kahn.
I'm based here in Los Angeles,uh sunny SoCal for me.
Um, and then what I do, uh, mybackground's in the construction
industry.
And I got into technology andinnovation.
And what I do today, I supportcontractors who are building
things to connect withtechnology providers who are
(00:48):
making technology solutions umto kind of talk to each other so
that they can build moreeffectively, efficiently, and
safer.
SPEAKER_01 (00:56):
I'm unfamiliar with the space, only that it's
generally you don't see thatgroup on LinkedIn a lot.
Let's say it that way.
So uh like the lagger nature ofthat community and is that your
unique identifier too?
SPEAKER_00 (01:09):
Um, so yeah, construction traditionally has
been a you know quite thelaggard in terms of
productivity.
Uh so if we like compare it tomanufacturing, it's kind of
behind, quote unquote.
Um, and it's also been prettyresistant to change and
technology and adoption of newmethods.
So uh yeah, construction kindcan kind of feel a little stale,
(01:33):
a little old sometimes, butwe're trying to change that.
And my specific niche is kind ofa niche within the industry
itself.
So it's really focusing on thatinnovation piece, getting team
members to adopt new practicesand try new things.
Um, so yeah, it gets a littlespecific, but without kind of un
unfolding the whole thing,that's the the high level view.
SPEAKER_01 (01:55):
That's good.
You know, it's getting behaviorschanged too, right?
And what they uh like manyindustries, we do it this way
because we've always done it.
Right.
And and uh I assume that has youhave some degree of that in your
uh in your industry.
SPEAKER_00 (02:11):
Yeah, there is a spectrum.
Um, so you'll have you knowtenured um staff that's been
doing construction for 30, even40 years, I've seen, um, in the
industry.
So they absolutely are experts,but they don't necessarily want
to try a new technology or theykind of get frustrated with
changing their process becausethey know what works, they want
(02:32):
to stick to it, even if it mightbe a little bit slower or clunk,
clunkier, or maybe even lesssafe.
Um, but you know, on the otherend, you have maybe, let's say,
like a fresh grad coming rightout of school.
They're ready to use all thegizmos and gadgets to kind of
get their work done.
They, you know, I think we allwant to go um home on time.
(02:53):
So any piece of automation thatcan help do that, you know,
they're interested in.
Um, so it's kind of balancingthose two uh sides of the whole
thing that's going on with techadoption.
SPEAKER_01 (03:04):
What what's uh what's your definition of
success?
SPEAKER_00 (03:08):
Yeah, um, such a good question.
And as you said, it's it'sdifferent for everybody.
Um, I think where I'm at today,it's uh, you know, so I'm I'm an
independent consultant, um, justreally me at my business.
And what success means is justreally being able to support um,
you know, the clients I'mworking with.
(03:29):
I would say I'm a boutiqueconsultant, kind of really going
deep into a few specific areasof the business, um, and also
having some fun and learningalong the way.
So one of the things that Ienjoy most about this industry,
there is always more to learn.
There's always more to exploreand discover.
Um, so if I'm learning, I'm I'min that success range.
(03:52):
So uh that's kind of what keepsme going.
SPEAKER_01 (03:55):
You know, there's a beauty in it.
And I go back and forthsometimes of just, you know, I
would I would you know, I haveteams and we have four clients.
And there's a beauty that'sdifferent when you're just by
yourself.
I'm like, well, yeah, but then Iwouldn't have any pay anyone.
And it's like I could, but Ican't get as much done, but I
have to just do differentthings.
But then I'm at risk.
And and that's a struggle.
We could talk about that maybealong your journey a bit, but I
(04:16):
I I totally appreciate whereyou're at with it.
Um talk about your journey alittle bit and what you're doing
to you know, what metaphoricties you're cutting or have cut
to get to that level of successyou define.
SPEAKER_00 (04:27):
Yeah, it's kind of interesting.
So um maybe not necessarily likea cut of the tie, but I feel
like my journey's just kind ofbeen a natural progression of
different steps, you know,closing doors and opening
others.
Um, but my my background iscivil engineering.
So I studied at USC, Universityof Southern California.
(04:48):
Um, so fight on for any otherTrojans out there.
Um and then my senior year ofschool, I had the incredible
opportunity to intern as aproject engineer, renovating one
of the historical buildings oncampus.
And that just really opened myeyes to the whole construction
world.
So that's kind of how I got in.
(05:08):
Um, so you get hooked, you kindof get in somehow to the
industry.
And it was just awesome being ona team, working collaboratively.
Every day is different.
So again, you know, it's not,it's not ever boring in
construction, um, which issomething I really, really
enjoy.
Uh, but I also realized, youknow, through that first
(05:29):
experience, like, oh my gosh,like where's the technology?
You know, stacks of paper, likepaper, even the size of me, like
like actually the size of me.
If you can imagine, like ahuman-sized sheet of paper.
Um, so you know, me coming intothis, like as an intern, like
where, like, where why isn'tthis in the computer?
Like, I think of the the scenein Zoolander where he's like,
(05:52):
the files are in the computer.
Like, yeah, like why aren't wedoing that?
Um, but that just really sparkeda passion.
So it for me, it was like, hey,you know, let me get my team
together.
Let's learn how to use digitaldrawings on iPads so that we
don't have to lug paper out tothe field.
We can just take our iPad, pullup our, you know, uh our plans
(06:13):
and specs and information thatwe need to build the building on
demand, and maybe the projectwill be a little bit better.
Um, so that was my early days.
Kind of took that and ran withit, um, did a few more
historical renovation projects,but eventually um I ended up at
Suffolk Construction, amazingcompany.
So they're a national generalcontractor.
(06:34):
Um, started there first as aregional, later on as the
national director ofconstruction solutions, which
basically is a fancy way ofsaying, you know, finding good
solutions and then bringing themback into operations for the
teams to use.
Um, but had a really amazingtime learning there, um, working
on some really interestingprojects throughout the country,
(06:57):
supporting various teams, um,and then also seeing the
successes and failures ofdifferent tech startups.
So that was a really interestingpiece there.
Um, but you know, what I thinkmade me um kind of again, maybe
not so much cut the tie, butlike kind of move on or realize
that I need to or wanted to um,you know, do something else uh
(07:20):
which was start my own company,um, was maybe just kind of, you
know, seeing, hey, you know, I'mat a big comp big company.
We have a lot of resources fortech and innovation, we've kind
of got this down, but like whatabout everybody else out there
who, you know, it's maybe a momand pop shop or a smaller team,
or maybe it's a specific tradethat doesn't really get into
(07:43):
technology much.
Like, how can we help the restof the industry?
Because um there's so manyplayers and we all need to be
successful for for the industryto be successful.
So um is kind of the thought,like, hey, there's more, there's
more out there.
Um, so I started my consultingpractice in 2023 and and doing
(08:04):
more of the same.
So helping find solutions toproblems in construction.
SPEAKER_01 (08:10):
Are are you uh do you have a like a big struggle
right now, though?
You're trying to like a kind oflike today's tie, so to speak,
that you can't you you'restruggling to cut or get around?
SPEAKER_00 (08:20):
Oh geez, today's ties.
Um that's that's kind of whereit's like, well, it's always a
journey.
Um, so maybe not necessarilysomething to cut, but you know,
there's only so many of me.
There's just one.
Um, I do have a fantastic umassistant, Pam.
Shout out to Pam.
But uh yeah, one of thechallenges is as a business
(08:43):
owner, you just have to wear somany hats.
So um it's just finding theright resources to help
supplement, I think,strategically.
Uh so yeah, finding ways to beable to get a little bit more
time back in my day uh to focuson maybe strategic projects or
things that are, you know, apassion project of mine to kind
(09:05):
of get to.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (09:08):
Well, I mean, and that's a common thing, right?
SPEAKER_00 (09:10):
It's the yeah, yeah, very common.
SPEAKER_01 (09:12):
Scale versus, you know, and then are you are you
struggling to with uh wow, toget to a certain level, I'll
need to take this risk, likehire somebody or go do something
else?
Is that on your roadmap of howdo I take it past where I am
now?
Yeah, or or whatever else orworking hard.
SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
Um yeah, not necessarily focused on like a a
ton of growth.
It's I'm actually at a prettygood spot where I'm just
enjoying, you know, learningabout different areas of the
industry that I haven't reallyworked in before, um, or you
know, beginning new excitingprojects.
So one of the things though, Imean, I'm I'm on this podcast.
(09:52):
I would love to get a little bitmore into putting more
information out there onYouTube, on on TikTok, maybe,
um, on social media, because thecool parts of the industry are
just so buried that I think alot of the incoming
professionals don't and andkids, right?
You know, you have dreams ofwhat you want to be when you
(10:13):
grow up, but nobody reallydreams of being in construction
because it doesn't seem thatcool, but it really is.
Um, so if we make that moreknown and make that more
accessible, um, I think thatcould be something really
amazing.
Um, so yeah, I I wish I had, youknow, a little bit more time to
(10:34):
have more presence in the uh theuh in internet, I guess, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (10:40):
Well, it's uh it's uh it's always a challenge of
like what it's also expected ofyou as a child.
And you know, where it is.
I I have one who's actuallywould probably like, you know,
it's certainly you know, yougotta go to university, that's
what you grow up in.
There's no way I was doing atrade.
Or I have a differentperspective on this now.
If my my kids said, Hey, I wantto be a plumber, I'd be like,
(11:01):
Okay.
Because I'd be like, You'regonna learn a trade, you're not
gonna have to pay for school,you're gonna make money.
But I'd like you got to takebusiness classes to learn how to
run a business because you don'twant to work for somebody as a
plumber.
Uh you you I'm giving you anexample, you want to own it at
some point, I would think.
Um, and that's where the realmoney is because a few plumbers
I know drive you know Bugattis.
So a minivan, so I'm in thewrong spot.
(11:23):
But are you struggle with any ofthat?
The expectations versus now thatyou're working for yourself,
though it's a little differentpiece.
But do you ever struggle withsome of the uh labeling that's
you're given as a child and thedefinitions of success from
parents?
SPEAKER_00 (11:36):
Um, yeah, interesting question.
So yeah, I I guess not really,which is kind of why I probably
ended up here in construction.
Um, so my my dad's anelectrician.
I was always exposed to kind ofyou know little different
projects going on growing up.
Was never an issue if I took aninterest or something.
(11:57):
Um yeah, so I don't know.
It kind of felt like, yeah, aslong as you know you're
successful and happy withwhatever it is that your path
you're going down, it's not toobad.
But a lot of people don't maybehave that type of experience
early on, or you know, they kindof just get set like, oh, I have
to do this or I have to do thattype of thing, or you know,
(12:18):
whatever the case may be.
But um to to what you're sayingearlier about like the plumbing
example too, but you know, theseroles and and jobs are actually
getting far more sophisticatedthan we could think of before.
So, you know, the if I think oflike a commercial project or
something that's maybe a littlebit more complicated, the MEP,
(12:39):
so mechanical electricalplumbing, like there's all sorts
of amazing 3D coordinationtechnologies that you know kind
of feeds into virtual reality,augmented reality.
So you're bringing out like 3Dmodels into the field to help
coordinate your work.
Um, it's it's reallysophisticated, interesting stuff
that it's almost like a videogame.
(12:59):
So um, yeah, it's it's changing.
I think it's the dynamicschanging.
So that's where I'm like, well,no, it's like it's really cool.
Um, and we should show more ofit.
SPEAKER_01 (13:09):
It is, I mean, it's a great industry.
It's being it's building things,it's just yeah.
It it'll uh I I think thatindustry in particular is gonna
really benefit from technologieslike AI and then the then the
things that kind of behind thatwill need to be in place to
automate, do stuff and roboticsand humans stop building stuff
and other things.
Anyway, it's gonna it's gonnahave a it's gonna have an
overhaul of tech, hit it and howwe build things and the
(13:31):
materials we use and speed.
SPEAKER_00 (13:33):
Yeah, it's it's it's happening now.
So um it's just rapidly trainchanging, even the past couple
of years, just with AI, has justblown up a lot of our processes,
which is exciting, but alsoneeds to be strategic and safe.
So yeah, there's always a ameasured process to it.
SPEAKER_01 (13:52):
Um is uh do you do you feel do you feel like when
you're when you're when you'rein this work right now by
yourself, you're making animpact?
SPEAKER_00 (14:02):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Um so I think where I'm attoday, and like, you know, given
any industry, but I think whereI'm at is at the edge of
discovery, or maybe notdiscovery, but um that that
impact edge.
So it's like exactly where, youknow, some interesting
(14:22):
discoveries have been made.
There's a lot of excitingstartups and solutions out of
there, but it doesn't reallymean much if nobody's using it,
right?
Um, so I'm the you know, entitythat comes in and helps people
use some of those excitingbreakthrough technologies and
discoveries that are happening.
(14:42):
So yeah, absolutely.
I feel like I'm working right inthat impact space where um it's
kind of like that connector roleof saying, like, hey, check this
out.
It might help you, you know,improve this process by 50%.
And someone says, Hey, like,yeah, I actually used it.
Um, it automated all myinvoicing for construction.
(15:04):
Now I can go home, you know, ontime, or maybe I can actually
focus on things that shouldactually take my time and
attention instead of justmatching numbers to other
numbers, um, that kind of thing.
So yeah, I would say I'm likeright in that impact zone, which
is super rewarding every day.
SPEAKER_01 (15:20):
It's funny because when you put things, you know,
one of the some of the work wedo with customers is we help
them solve a critical problem.
Like we say, or we help themidentify the critical problem
they solve.
I should say it that way.
And oftentimes you'll just say,hey, listen, it's 50% faster.
That's not the critical problem,right?
The critical problem is I get togo home and work out now or have
a beer earlier, or not one ofthe people.
SPEAKER_00 (15:44):
I'm happy, I'm excited to come back to
contribute the next day.
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (15:50):
All the all the stuff that saving time does for
somebody is is um is the criticis so it you are having impact
for sure because people get thatsomething they're oh my god, a
week ago I had to do it.
Now I don't, like that'sovernight.
SPEAKER_00 (16:02):
So tons of benefits everywhere, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (16:05):
What do you what are you most grateful for in your
life?
SPEAKER_00 (16:08):
Oh geez.
Um, there's a lot.
Um, I'm always grateful forhealth, uh, you know, being able
to do what I do.
Um, so that's that's number one.
Or, you know, it there's a fewnumber ones.
It's a tier, maybe.
Um, definitely family, um,people in the industry.
(16:31):
There's just a lot of support.
Um uh yeah, so yeah, people ingeneral are, you know, number
one supporters.
My husband as well, who alsodoes a really great job of you
know helping me figure outanything that I need to, all the
way from like, hey, my emailwon't open to, you know, how do
I get to this place across townthat I need to get to in time?
(16:54):
So yeah, really grateful forthat.
SPEAKER_01 (16:56):
Awesome.
Um if you know you could go backin your timeline at any point
right now, you know, when wouldyou go back?
What would you do differently?
SPEAKER_00 (17:05):
Yeah, so I you know, I s I was thinking about this
question.
I really don't think there'sanything I would necessarily
change all that much.
Um I guess what one thing, onething that I think um that might
(17:26):
click in some some otherpeople's minds who are listening
in is just finding a solidworkout routine sooner.
Um yeah, I think so.
I think so.
You know, between like yoga andjujitsu and going on a run or a
walk, I've got it at this point.
(17:48):
But gosh, I could have benefitedlike way earlier and way sooner
had I figured out the actualstuff that I like to do for
exercise and then did thatinstead of being like, oh, I
gotta get like X amount ofminutes in per day doing this
and that, just find activitiesyou like to do, keep it routine.
Yeah, that that helps me a lot.
I would have done that sooner.
SPEAKER_01 (18:09):
You know, if you can cheat exercise, what I mean is,
you know, I grew up playing aracket sport and and I I can't
stand running because it's justboring and it kind of hurts.
But I'll go out and turn it offplaying tennis and four shirts
and be like, I would never dothis in any fashion.
Just take the racket out of myhand.
I'm like, nope, I'm gonna go laydown.
And and it's it's true.
(18:29):
So find ways to cheat exercisethrough fun is is a no-brainer.
It's like burning, learnings canbe boring sometimes because you
just don't.
But then if you make it fun orit's gamified in some way, uh
the same applies to like kind oflike albeit a business.
Okay, listen if you gamify it,make it more fun for them, same
price.
SPEAKER_00 (18:46):
Yeah, and it just has so many other benefits too.
Like, so if you're able, right,you know, or you know, do do an
activity that you're able to do,but you know, it gets at least
for me, like my mind in theright state, more focused, um,
just feel better and more ableto actually kind of accomplish
the tasks that I need to do,which I know will have that
impact later on.
SPEAKER_01 (19:06):
So I find it, you know, I every morning I
struggled with this for years ofjust finding the time.
Um if now if it I know if itdoesn't happen in the morning,
if I can't find if I can'trepeat it, I'll do it.
So if it doesn't have themorning, it doesn't happen.
But it's got like yeah, I gotkids.
So after they're kind of out andgone, I got this window between
eight and ten.
I just like out and I eighttwenty-ish, eight ten, try to
(19:27):
get out of around nine-ish, notstay there super long, and just
get back, get your day set upand first meetings or whatever
at 10 every day.
Like I even go Saturday andSunday because taking two days
off, it just gets you out of theway.
Yeah, it's like I might as welljust go and do something,
anything, just to do theroutine.
So I agree with you.
Um be before we kind of uh youknow ask the last question, it g
(19:49):
let everyone know how to get ahold of you uh once again.
SPEAKER_00 (19:52):
And yeah, um absolutely.
So let's see, uh, most direct,you can email me, Aaron at
Aaron.
Conconsulting.com.
That's E-R-I-N-K-H-A-N-H beforethe A.
And then on pretty much anyplatform, LinkedIn, YouTube,
TikTok, Instagram, it's AaronCon Consulting.
(20:15):
So E-R-I-N-K-J-N.
Just search that up.
You should find me.
I do read my messages onLinkedIn.
So you can absolutely shoot me amessage there.
I will read it and look at it.
And it's a human, I promise.
SPEAKER_01 (20:27):
So I I I'm not gonna, you know, instantly
relevant man manages socialmedia.
I'm not gonna say they do it,may not be me online.
If you guys reach out to some ofyou, it may be just gonna be the
it's a big time saver not to manto not do your own not to
manage.
Oh man.
Absolutely.
If there's a question though Ishould have asked you today and
I didn't, what would thatquestion have been?
SPEAKER_00 (20:51):
Yeah.
Um gosh.
Uh a lot of good topics.
I mean, when it comes to, youknow, my specific my specific
niche, it's it's interestingbecause there's not a ton of
organizations that are exactlylike mine out there.
(21:12):
Um one question I get asked themost is like, how did you
actually do it?
You know, you were you were at alarge company, um, great role,
great team, and then youswitched, you know, kind of
overnight, it seems like itwasn't overnight, but it seems
like um to kind of running yourown thing.
So how did that actually happen?
(21:32):
Um, I get asked that all thetime.
And, you know, what I have tosay on that is you just need to
kind of decide to do it.
I think I also had the luxury ofhaving a lot of support.
I was in a good spot.
Um, if I was gonna take a riskuh at any point in my career,
you know, that was the time todo it.
So it kind of aligned prettywell.
(21:54):
Um, but also just not beingafraid of the change.
So I'm kind of crazy.
I kind of feel feel like I justleapt off a cliff and kind of
did the thing and was like, allright, we'll see how it goes.
And if I fall flat on my face, Ifall.
And you know, if I happen totake off, I take off.
So um it's kind of just beingopen to that change a little bit
(22:15):
more too.
That kind of helped me getthrough some of those transition
phases.
SPEAKER_01 (22:20):
That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (22:21):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (22:22):
Uh thank you for coming on today.
I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00 (22:24):
Yeah.
Thanks for having me.
Um short but sweet discussion.
Really enjoyed it.
SPEAKER_01 (22:29):
I appreciate it.
And listen, anybody who made itthis point in the podcast, I
appreciate you getting here aswell.
Uh get out there, go cut a tieto whatever's holding your back.
Make sure you, though, defineyour success first, because
otherwise you're chasing someoneelse's dream and it's not going
to feel a value when you getthere.
So take that step first.
Thanks for listening.
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