August 12, 2025 • 29 mins
Career transitions can feel like starting over, especially when you've invested years building your expertise and identity. In this deeply personal episode, Scott opens up about his journey from 14 years in construction to a new career in insurance—a shift that felt remarkably similar to leaving military service.
For many veterans, construction offers familiar comfort: structure, discipline, physical challenges, and a daily mission. Scott shares how he progressed through various roles from project engineer to operations manager, learning what true leadership means along the way. But the grind eventually took its toll. The constant pressure, long hours, and struggle to maintain work-life balance led to difficult questions about sustainability and purpose.
This isn't a story about "not being able to hack it," but about recognizing when your heart is no longer fully committed to the mission. Scott candidly discusses how he leveraged his military and construction background to build a new career in property and casualty insurance, where he continues serving the construction community, just differently. "Instead of building structures, I'm building security and peace of mind," he explains.
The episode offers powerful insights for anyone facing a career crossroads: your identity is bigger than your job title; growth requires leaving your comfort zone; community support is essential; and patience with yourself matters. Most importantly, Scott emphasizes that your mission doesn't end when your uniform or career changes—it simply evolves.
Whether you're a veteran considering a career shift, someone questioning your path in construction, or facing any significant life transition, this episode provides honest perspective and practical advice from someone who's been there. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about navigating life's challenging transitions.
This episode is brought to you buy Aerial Resupply Coffee. Aerial Resupply delivers bold flavor with every sip. Their beans are expertly roasted for peak freshness and a smooth, invigorating taste. Elevate your coffee game by using code CONSTRUCTIONVET10 at checkout to receive 10% off every order. Stay caffeinated with Aerial Resupply Coffee.
If you're a military veteran in the construction industry, or you're in the construction industry and support our military vets, and you'd like to be a guest on the podcast you can find me at constructionvetpodcast@gmail.com , or send me a message on LinkedIn. You can find me there at Scott Friend. Let's share the stories and motivate others!
Aerial Resupply CoffeeSupport and premium coffee for Americans, Veterans, and First Responders.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
- TCV Email: constructionvetpodcast@gmail.com
- TCV YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@constructionvet/featured
- TCV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/constructionvetpodcast/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
changing an identity you've held for years is tough.
I've told a lot of people Isaid, man, this feels like
getting out of the military allover again.
This is the constructionveteran podcast, connecting and
celebrating veterans inconstruction now.
(00:24):
Now here's your host, scottFriend.
Hey everybody, scott here.
Welcome back to theConstruction Veteran Podcast.
If you've been around for awhile, you know it's been a
little quiet on the channelsince January, so let's dig into
it.
So I wanted to take a minuteand explain why it's been so
(00:57):
long, catch you up on personalstuff and share where things are
headed next.
So today's going to be a soloepisode, just me talking,
sharing, reflecting.
Uh, this is a bit of a resetepisode, a way for us to
reconnect, if you will.
So I'll dive deep into mycareer transition, the lessons
I've learned along the way andmy plans for the podcast and
community moving forward.
(01:18):
So, whether you're a veteran, atradesperson or someone facing
big life changes, I hope theepisode gives you something
valuable to think about andhelps you feel less alone in
your journey.
So let's get into it.
So 14 years, that's how longconstruction has been a major
part of my life.
(01:38):
14 years of 14 years of earlymornings, hard work, teamwork,
learning.
I mean it's a long time tobuild something, a career, a
reputation and a sense ofpurpose.
So for many veterans like me,construction offers a lot that
(02:01):
feels familiar Structure,discipline, physical challenge
and a mission every day.
So when you leave the militaryyou're often searching for
something with that same meaning, and construction can fill that
gap.
So I remember my first day on ajob site after leaving the
(02:22):
military, so walking into thenoisy, chaotic world with the
smells of, you know, sawdust anddiesel in the air, uh, it was
this mix of excitement andnerves at the same time.
But I felt like I belonged.
You know, I knew I had a lot toprove though.
So I w I was still startingfresh.
(02:42):
So over the years I learned theropes.
So if you take a step back intothe military side, um, even
though we went by rank, Ibasically went from a laborer to
an apprentice, to a journeyman,to a foreman, um, and did some
safety things and scheduling.
But once I got out, moving intothe commercial side and went
(03:03):
from a project engineer to anassistant superintendent, I was
a field superintendent.
Um, I did some administrativestuff in that time.
Um, you know, I was a projectmanager at one point.
I was an operations manager atone point of a uh, a
subcontractor, and each rolecame with different but new
challenges, like each time Ichanged.
(03:25):
So leading people was achallenge, sometimes solving
problems in the moment, thestress of like got to know right
now, and managing theunexpected, so coordinating the
chaos.
And I remember multipleprojects where things are just
they're tough.
Sometimes it's weathermaterials, sometimes materials
(03:49):
are late, like really late, andsafety concerns.
You know, it's every job indifferent ways.
I've had multiple weeks thatreally just tested me, but
through the challenges I learnedwhat real leadership looks like
.
You know, I was very fortunateto be under some amazing
(04:09):
leadership through that time.
Not all of it, some prettysucky, and it's a shame.
I'm not going to tell you it'sperfect.
It's the same thing in themilitary you get some awesome
commands that you get to workfor, some great leadership on
the enlisted and officer side,and then sometimes you don't.
You know, sometimes you drawthe short straw, and it's the
same thing in construction.
(04:30):
So I'm not going to sit hereand lie and act like everything
is perfect.
Sometimes it's tough and that'sone thing that's been irking me
is that I feel like a lot of usin this space that are I want to
say the word like influencer,but a lot of people in space
that are evangelists for this weact like construction's just
always awesome.
It's not, it's hard.
(04:50):
We have to be straight up withthe next generation.
Like it is hard work, you know,but it's something to be proud
of.
That's one thing I love.
Like I didn't care a lot oftimes that it was hard
physically, mentally,emotionally, but again I learned
what the real leadership lookedlike.
It wasn't just giving orders,it was earning trust and
(05:12):
standing with your team.
That was the big thing.
But construction also shaped mepersonally too.
Like I said, the pride, thepride you feel seeing a project
come together, the friendshipsand relationships forged on
tough days and the satisfactionof the physical work those
things really do stick with you.
(05:33):
But the grind is real.
The long hours, physical wearand tear, mental stress I mean
they all add up and for me, overtime, I just started asking
myself could I sustain this pace?
So you know, I feel so blessedto have a lot of good mentors in
(05:54):
my past and some have told meman, you got to slow down, to
speed up.
Things are constantly changingon the job site and I stressed
myself out, so I'm not in anyway blaming the industry for any
of this.
I personally did not know howto slow down.
It was this 100 miles an hourat all times until I just
crashed.
Be the husband, father andperson I wanted to be and my
(06:28):
answer was no.
There's a lot of guys that do itand I have an immense amount of
respect for it's not just olderguys, it's guys that have been
doing this as long as I havethat have been, have had great
careers and I have an immenseamount of respect for them.
And you know, maybe there isnaysayers out there that are, oh
, I couldn't hack it.
Well, I don't care, sure, saythat all day, that's fine, you
can say it, I couldn't hack itand I couldn't.
(06:49):
But the last thing I wanted todo would be to be that exhausted
and have all those things on mymind and like that I'm not
being productive, I'm nothelping the team.
If I'm like that and I know alot of military guys can relate
to that, especially like youteams guys or special operations
guys you get.
(07:09):
If you have a guy on the teamthat is not all in.
Leave him in the room, leavehim back, you know, in the rear
with the gear, let him figure itout.
Maybe you held it against him,maybe you didn't, I don't know.
But you don't want that guy onthe mission with you right?
I mean, I would think you wouldagree with that.
And it was the same thing inthe field.
(07:30):
I just my heart wasn't for themission anymore.
Okay, so why make that big of acareer shift after all those
years?
I mean, it wasn't easy, it wasscary, it's still.
I'm still going through it.
It's a little scary.
You know, I went into a field Ididn't exactly know much about
yet, but physically I wasfeeling that wear and the tear
(07:52):
just more and more, more so, Iwould say, emotionally than
physically.
But mentally the high pressureenvironment was just taking a
toll Deadlines, budgets,managing crews, managing
expectations, managing clients.
The stress was just constant.
(08:13):
And then you add in familyresponsibilities.
I wanted to be more present athome.
I personally could not find out, find a better way to do that.
I again give credit wherecredit's due to the guys that
are amazing fathers in the field.
I came up on her guy that is asolid leader in his family in
(08:35):
his church, in his community andon the job site.
I just personally couldn't doit and it it sucks.
You know I was I'm not likeashamed, but I'm upset that I
could not make it all work.
I think I was trying to be toomany things at once, but I I
wanted to be more present athome and I needed to have more
balance.
So at the same time I startedthinking about how okay, how can
(09:00):
I use all the skills that I'vegained through the military,
through construction, but in newways.
And, oddly enough, that'sactually how I found insurance
of all things, um so well,specifically property and
casualty insurance.
So I'm trying to tailor whatI'm doing for construction
(09:20):
businesses mainly Not that Iwon't write other kinds of
companies, and I would love to.
I mean, I want to help lots ofpeople, but if you think about
it, it actually fits perfectlywith my background.
So I'm an insurance broker now,not an agent.
I work for an independentbrokerage.
(09:42):
Uh, if, if you think about it,this fits perfectly.
So the, the military discipline, the attention to detail, the
problem solving all the sameskills I used on the job site
now help me understand risks,policies and how to protect a
lot of my friends I mean peoplethat I've worked with and I see
(10:02):
it that I'm still serving theconstruction community, just
differently.
So instead of buildingstructures, I'm building
security, if you will, and peaceof mind.
So, making the pivot, though itwasn't without its struggles.
Changing an identity you'veheld for years is tough.
I've told a lot of people Isaid, man, this feels like
(10:23):
getting out of the military allover again.
It's something I've known.
I did twice the amount of timein construction that I did on
active duty.
So I was active for seven yearsand then later on did two years
in the reserve.
But you know, when you'reactive duty, that's your life.
It's the same thing inconstruction and many other
industries.
It's like all that was myidentity.
(10:45):
I had moments where I doubtedmyself and worried about what
other people might think, to behonest, but here's.
So I want to talk about acouple things that I've learned
through it.
So if you're out there thinkingabout a big change, let's talk
about things I've learned.
Number one your identity isbigger than your job title.
That's in the military and out.
(11:07):
So you're not just like theconstruction guy or girl or the
soldier.
You're the values and the gritthat you carry every day.
It's not your title.
It might not necessarily bewhat you do.
It's really.
It's who you are, yes, what youdo with your values, but it's
who you are.
It's who you are every day whenthe uniform comes off, when the
(11:30):
hard hat comes off, that kindof stuff.
So your identity is bigger thanyour job title.
Second point I would say isgrowth often means leaving your
comfort zone.
It's uncomfortable, it'suncomfortable, it's messy, but
that's where real change happens.
You have to get out of yourcomfort zone.
The third thing I would say islean on your community, man.
(11:52):
I mean, if you're transitioningout of the service, lean on the
community that you know, maybeback home, maybe your family,
maybe the industry you want togo into, or if you're in an
industry and shifting intoanother one, lean on your people
, your tribe, whether that'syour spouse, people at your
church, friends that know youbetter than anybody, your inner
(12:15):
circle, friends that know youbetter than anybody, your inner
circle.
Don't go it alone.
Reach out to mentors, friends,podcasts, right, like this one
or another one.
Lean on your community.
So what am I on for?
Number four be patient, maybe.
Be patient with yourself.
I'm preaching to myself rightnow.
(12:36):
I had to learn to be patient.
Transitions are not instant.
Okay, I knew.
I kind of had an inkling acouple of years ago that maybe
I'm not going to do this forever, and probably about six months
ago or so from the date of thiswas kind of nailing the coffin.
I kind of figured all right, Ineed to start looking for a
change.
So it wasn't instant.
(12:57):
Figured, all right, I need tostart looking for a change.
So it wasn't instant.
You got to be patient,celebrate the small wins you
know, day after day, and keepmoving forward.
I never took my foot off the gas.
That was one thing I'm proud ofmyself for that.
I'm not trying to gloat by anymeans, but I'm saying, look I, I
as a man, can go to bedcomfortable with who I am,
because I never, even though Iknew I was kind of looking for
(13:25):
something else, I didn't quitequit.
I didn't stop giving it gas andhelping the team with the
mission.
And one of the biggest lessonsout of all that I want to share
it's okay to evolve.
Your mission doesn't end justbecause your uniform changes.
It shifts.
It's not over.
Just because your uniformchanges.
It shifts, it's not over.
The goal has moved.
Hear me again.
It has moved.
It doesn't mean there's not agoal anymore, it has just
changed.
(13:52):
Okay, so I want to take a minuteand I want to really unpack how
my military experience preparedme for the career shift itself.
So all these people that aregetting out of the military or
changing careers, so themilitary teaches us resilience,
leadership, discipline and howto perform under pressure.
Those aren't just skills forcombat, I mean, it's skills for
(14:12):
life.
So when I started learningabout insurance and business
development, I realized theskills translated perfectly the
attention to detail I used inplanning things when we were
overseas.
It helped me understandplanning things on the job site.
It helps me understand complexinsurance policy.
Man, I've got a lot to learnand I'm loving it.
(14:36):
But the leadership andcommunication skills they helped
me build relationships withpotential clients, network with
people that I want to work withuh, people I want to be around.
The resilience piece it helps mepush through that learning
curve.
Like I said, you know you gotto study to get your license,
you got to study to understandthese policies, but that that
(14:58):
resilience is what I needed andit's helping me push through
that realizing.
Hey, I understand a middle-aged, I'm starting over, I'm doing
all this, but having thatresilience going okay.
The learning curve might be alittle steep, but I got this, um
, and if you're a veteran facinga career change, don't
underestimate your strengths,your military background.
(15:20):
It's an asset, it's you know,no matter what field you choose.
So let's talk about where theConstruction Veteran Podcast is
headed.
So, if anything, I'm more firedup than ever to bring you
stories like new stories andfresh perspectives.
So, moving forward, expect tohear from veterans who are still
(15:44):
working in the trades, businessowners, entrepreneurs and folks
who have made career pivots.
Like me, I want the podcast tobe a community where you can
find inspiration, advice andreal talk.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
If I have one issue right nowwith the industry, it's that we
(16:06):
do sugarcoat things.
We talk about getting youngerpeople into the trades and all
this stuff, but we act like it'sperfect.
It's stinking hard, it is hardwork, but it's something you can
be proud of.
Let's not act like it's notgoing to be over a 40-hour week
or it is going to exhaust you.
Let's be straight up and realwhen recruiting these people,
(16:26):
because I would hate for us togive the next generation a
vision of everything beinglollipops and rainbows and then
all of a sudden they realizethis is not at all what I
expected.
I think there's this irrationalfear that, well, nobody's going
to want to do the hard work.
That's BS.
I have worked with people inthere still now in their young
(16:48):
twenties.
You know these younger peoplethat put in harder work than
I've seen the generation aheadof me or my own.
There's still good people outthere that want to do hard work.
I have met foremen that are 28years old, that have massive
dreams and are leading crews ofpeople that are twice their age,
almost Guys that have beendoing it for 20 plus years,
(17:12):
listening to this guy as aleader who still himself works
hard.
But so that's the real talk.
Like, let's just be honest withit.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it,but all that said, I'm off my
rant, but I'm.
I'm planning new formats to youknow, shorter solo episodes, not
as long as this, but, uh, somelive Q and a sessions, maybe
(17:33):
some audio storytelling directlyfrom a site, if I get an
opportunity.
Uh, if you want to be a guestor you know somebody with a
story we're telling, hit me up.
This is our space.
Find me on LinkedIn at ScottFriend, or find the Construction
Veteran on LinkedIn, or emailme at constructionvetpodcast at
(17:55):
gmailcom.
Like, let's talk.
Like let's talk.
A lot of you guys that listen,you know me personally, so how,
like tell me, is there a storyof a person that you know
relative, friend, colleague,that is a veteran that we should
talk about this?
I'm hoping and if the guy'slistening he probably knows who
he is the guy that's goingthrough the transition right now
.
I want to hear how's it going.
You know what is skill bridge?
(18:17):
Like that program didn't existwhen I was in.
How is that?
Or, like, let's be real, areyou worried?
Are you scared?
Do you feel comfortable?
Do you feel like you're beingsupported and you're going to
make a successful transition?
From what I've seen, I thinkyou are, um, I think people are
plenty supported, um, okay, butso this is our space together.
It's not me.
(18:37):
I know I've like dubbed myselfbasically the construction
veteran, if you will, but it'sit's, it's a community, it's a
space, it's not me, um.
So I want to talk about somepractical advice too for vets
and, uh, trades people orconstruction management people,
navigating change, uh.
So, before we wrap all this up,I want to leave you with some
actionable advice too.
(18:57):
If you're facing yourtransitions, um, I want you to
reflect on what you want.
Write it down and be honestwith yourself Like man.
If you're like I want to drivethat Maserati and I want that
multimillion dollar home, writeit down.
If that's your goal, write itdown.
My goal was I wanted to have mywife not have to work, and that
(19:19):
was a goal of mine and we havealways had that and I'm very
proud of that.
Um, you know, there were timeswhere maybe we didn't have food,
we didn't know food was coming.
I never wanted my kids to havethat thought.
So if you have to define whatsuccess is to you and you had to
reflect on that but, man, itsounds cheesy, people would do
(19:43):
these.
What dream board it's, I think.
But if you have a journal oranything, just write it down
what you want.
Uh, my wife used to keep aprayer journal of things that
she would pray with or prayabout, and she would reflect
back on it and it's funny, youknow, I was in that journal
before we got married and shewould look back like, oh my gosh
, she could see all the thingsstarting to piece itself
(20:05):
together into the life thatbecame ours.
Um, so, reflect on what youwant.
Build your network.
I'm so glad, so I started doingLinkedIn like 2010, I think,
and I'm really glad I did.
There was some awesomenetworking, uh, at that time,
and there still is, like it'sway better than it used to be 15
(20:25):
years ago.
You have every not every excuse, but you have every opportunity
to build a network, connectwith people in the industries
that you're curious about, likewith that tool on LinkedIn.
Man, hit me up.
If you know somebody in anindustry, uh, whether it's a
specific trade or manufacturingor general contracting or a
location and you see that I'mconnected to that person, reach
(20:49):
out.
There are so many good peopleand I feel like people get
scared.
Like well, that's an executivevice president or that's the
owner of a company.
I can't talk to them.
Dude people are.
People.
Talk to them Like people, treatthem with respect that they've
earned and they deserved.
But hey, I'm new, I don'tunderstand.
(21:11):
Can you help me, can you guideme?
And maybe they can't, butthey're going to lead you to the
person that can.
It's so encouraging for peoplethat are seasoned in their
careers.
I'm saying this from experience.
They have a younger person comeup and say will you teach me?
We like talking about ourselvesand we like talking about the
things that we know, that wefeel comfortable talking about
because we know so much about it.
So connect with those people,learn new skills, take uh, you
(21:37):
know courses, read books, listento podcasts.
But learn new skills or honethe skills that you have and
become better at it.
I there's arguments of whetheryou should focus on one thing or
become a generalist.
I'm not going to say I'm oneway or the other.
I had my path.
It worked for me.
But choose.
(21:57):
This goes back on reflectingwhat you really want.
Learn the skills so you can dothat.
The next thing would be to setrealistic goals.
So small steps, small steps addup.
You know some people are a bigfan of Dave Ramsey.
He goes over the baby stepmethod for debt.
Not a lot of people agree withit.
(22:17):
A lot of people do.
But it's that that mental,small steps adding up to pay off
your debt.
It's the same thing in yourcareer.
Set some realistic goals, setsome small steps.
I want to achieve, you know,this certification that's going
to take me one month or twomonths to do?
Okay.
Next step I want to.
I want to get this certificateinstead of a certification.
I want to.
I want to do this certificateclass.
(22:37):
Okay, now I want to.
I want to finish my degree, ifI haven't already, or you know,
I want to become part of thisorganization.
These small steps start to addup and again you can reflect
back and see that the next thingI would say is you have to take
care of your mental andphysical health.
You cannot do it alone.
If you don't have people youcan talk to, you've got to find
(23:01):
those people that you'recomfortable with.
If you don't, if you can'tthink of anybody, there is
nothing wrong with going to likea better help or um therapy.
If you're in Dallas, I've saidI've gone to eQuest, which is an
awesome facility equestriantherapy, it's.
It's amazing.
So you got to take care of yourmental health in that aspect.
And then physical health walk.
(23:21):
If that's all you can do, justwalk.
If you can't walk, watch yournutrition.
Take care of your physicalhealth.
This is the one life we have inthe one body we have.
You got to take care of it.
Um, next thing you got to bepatient.
Be patient Again.
I said it again be patient andkind to yourself.
(23:42):
It's fine if it takes time, man.
I mean the transition, becomingwho you want to be uh, it's
going to take time.
So be patient with that andembrace the mindset of a
lifelong learner.
A lot of people say that youryour best career might be ahead
of you, and I'm living proof ofthat.
I'm so stinking happy in whatI'm doing now.
(24:02):
Um, I really feel like I struckgold and I found the career I'm
going to retire doing Um and Inever stopped being a lifelong
learner.
I didn't get a degree and say,okay, I'm done.
I had to get the MDiv becauseof what I was pursuing in the
chaplain core.
But you know, who knows, maybethere's an MBA in the future.
(24:24):
I'd like that.
Um.
There's certificates I'd liketo get.
There's things that I want tolearn.
I have to learn to be moreeffective at my job.
But I had a lot of good peoplereach out to me and say, hey,
maybe you should look into AI,stuff like learning that.
Maybe you should look into BIMman.
If you don't, if you don'tspecifically go into that piece
of the industry that's cool tooThen you have another tool in
(24:44):
your tool belt Just be alifelong learner Plus.
That's going to help youmentally in your brain
development so you don't rot outRight, all right.
So let me.
Let me share a couple morepersonal stories that really
kind of shaped me.
There have been times in mycareer where people have gotten
(25:04):
hurt and I mean that hits me orworse, we did.
I've shared, I've been on a jobwith a fatality.
I didn't know the guy, but itimpacted everybody, um, and I.
I realized that at that pointsafety is not just a box to
check it's.
It's real lives.
We're talking real people.
There's the look at thestatistics out there, people
that die in the constructionindustry, or the injuries.
(25:26):
These are lives.
These are people with kids andspouses and extended family,
loved ones, friends.
Um, but when that happened, thatthose experiences they shape
how I lead and why I care somuch about risk management today
, uh, other other times I'vebeen juggling family challenges
(25:49):
and there's always tight projectdeadlines.
Um, you know, when that happensI felt like I was failing at
both at the job, at home.
Uh, that struggle, though, ittaught me being a good leader
really means being honest aboutyour limits and asking for help.
Raise your hand.
I'm not okay, and I was openand honest with leadership.
(26:09):
Hey man, I'm not okay.
I really have to take a coupleof days off.
Um, so, thankfully, I had somegood leadership over me, uh, in
the service handout, andespecially my last company.
I can't thank them enough.
I had some wonderful peoplethat I worked with.
Um, and I want to talk aboutmindset too.
Um, so the mindset andmotivation for the long haul um,
(26:32):
we really got to talk about themindset Again.
There's a lot of powerful inthat the journey.
It's a marathon, right, not asprint.
I know super cliche, butwhether you're rebuilding after
the military, changing careersor just pushing through tough
times, mindset is, I mean, I'dargue, everything.
(26:53):
Almost.
You have to focus on what youcan control, celebrate progress,
keep your purpose front andcenter.
You know I like to remindmyself your mission doesn't end
when your MOS changes, it justevolves.
So your mission didn't end whenyou get out of the service.
It just it has changed.
(27:15):
The goal post has moved Again.
It's just shifted.
Okay, I've been jabbering.
I really appreciate you guysspending the time with me today.
I'm honored that you're part ofthis community those of you who
have encouraged me to keepdoing it.
Thank you, um.
Everybody.
Keep pushing forward, keepbuilding your future, and I'll
catch you on the next episode ofthe construction veteran
(27:37):
podcast.
If you got value from today'sepisode, please subscribe, leave
a review and share it withsomeone who might need to hear
this, and if you want to connectwith me directly, hit me up on
LinkedIn.
We're in this together.
Thank you.
changing an identity you've held for years is tough.
I've told a lot of people Isaid, man, this feels like
getting out of the military allover again.
This is the constructionveteran podcast, connecting and
celebrating veterans inconstruction now.
(00:24):
Now here's your host, scottFriend.
Hey everybody, scott here.
Welcome back to theConstruction Veteran Podcast.
If you've been around for awhile, you know it's been a
little quiet on the channelsince January, so let's dig into
it.
So I wanted to take a minuteand explain why it's been so
(00:57):
long, catch you up on personalstuff and share where things are
headed next.
So today's going to be a soloepisode, just me talking,
sharing, reflecting.
Uh, this is a bit of a resetepisode, a way for us to
reconnect, if you will.
So I'll dive deep into mycareer transition, the lessons
I've learned along the way andmy plans for the podcast and
community moving forward.
(01:18):
So, whether you're a veteran, atradesperson or someone facing
big life changes, I hope theepisode gives you something
valuable to think about andhelps you feel less alone in
your journey.
So let's get into it.
So 14 years, that's how longconstruction has been a major
part of my life.
(01:38):
14 years of 14 years of earlymornings, hard work, teamwork,
learning.
I mean it's a long time tobuild something, a career, a
reputation and a sense ofpurpose.
So for many veterans like me,construction offers a lot that
(02:01):
feels familiar Structure,discipline, physical challenge
and a mission every day.
So when you leave the militaryyou're often searching for
something with that same meaning, and construction can fill that
gap.
So I remember my first day on ajob site after leaving the
(02:22):
military, so walking into thenoisy, chaotic world with the
smells of, you know, sawdust anddiesel in the air, uh, it was
this mix of excitement andnerves at the same time.
But I felt like I belonged.
You know, I knew I had a lot toprove though.
So I w I was still startingfresh.
(02:42):
So over the years I learned theropes.
So if you take a step back intothe military side, um, even
though we went by rank, Ibasically went from a laborer to
an apprentice, to a journeyman,to a foreman, um, and did some
safety things and scheduling.
But once I got out, moving intothe commercial side and went
(03:03):
from a project engineer to anassistant superintendent, I was
a field superintendent.
Um, I did some administrativestuff in that time.
Um, you know, I was a projectmanager at one point.
I was an operations manager atone point of a uh, a
subcontractor, and each rolecame with different but new
challenges, like each time Ichanged.
(03:25):
So leading people was achallenge, sometimes solving
problems in the moment, thestress of like got to know right
now, and managing theunexpected, so coordinating the
chaos.
And I remember multipleprojects where things are just
they're tough.
Sometimes it's weathermaterials, sometimes materials
(03:49):
are late, like really late, andsafety concerns.
You know, it's every job indifferent ways.
I've had multiple weeks thatreally just tested me, but
through the challenges I learnedwhat real leadership looks like
.
You know, I was very fortunateto be under some amazing
(04:09):
leadership through that time.
Not all of it, some prettysucky, and it's a shame.
I'm not going to tell you it'sperfect.
It's the same thing in themilitary you get some awesome
commands that you get to workfor, some great leadership on
the enlisted and officer side,and then sometimes you don't.
You know, sometimes you drawthe short straw, and it's the
same thing in construction.
(04:30):
So I'm not going to sit hereand lie and act like everything
is perfect.
Sometimes it's tough and that'sone thing that's been irking me
is that I feel like a lot of usin this space that are I want to
say the word like influencer,but a lot of people in space
that are evangelists for this weact like construction's just
always awesome.
It's not, it's hard.
(04:50):
We have to be straight up withthe next generation.
Like it is hard work, you know,but it's something to be proud
of.
That's one thing I love.
Like I didn't care a lot oftimes that it was hard
physically, mentally,emotionally, but again I learned
what the real leadership lookedlike.
It wasn't just giving orders,it was earning trust and
(05:12):
standing with your team.
That was the big thing.
But construction also shaped mepersonally too.
Like I said, the pride, thepride you feel seeing a project
come together, the friendshipsand relationships forged on
tough days and the satisfactionof the physical work those
things really do stick with you.
(05:33):
But the grind is real.
The long hours, physical wearand tear, mental stress I mean
they all add up and for me, overtime, I just started asking
myself could I sustain this pace?
So you know, I feel so blessedto have a lot of good mentors in
(05:54):
my past and some have told meman, you got to slow down, to
speed up.
Things are constantly changingon the job site and I stressed
myself out, so I'm not in anyway blaming the industry for any
of this.
I personally did not know howto slow down.
It was this 100 miles an hourat all times until I just
crashed.
Be the husband, father andperson I wanted to be and my
(06:28):
answer was no.
There's a lot of guys that do itand I have an immense amount of
respect for it's not just olderguys, it's guys that have been
doing this as long as I havethat have been, have had great
careers and I have an immenseamount of respect for them.
And you know, maybe there isnaysayers out there that are, oh
, I couldn't hack it.
Well, I don't care, sure, saythat all day, that's fine, you
can say it, I couldn't hack itand I couldn't.
(06:49):
But the last thing I wanted todo would be to be that exhausted
and have all those things on mymind and like that I'm not
being productive, I'm nothelping the team.
If I'm like that and I know alot of military guys can relate
to that, especially like youteams guys or special operations
guys you get.
(07:09):
If you have a guy on the teamthat is not all in.
Leave him in the room, leavehim back, you know, in the rear
with the gear, let him figure itout.
Maybe you held it against him,maybe you didn't, I don't know.
But you don't want that guy onthe mission with you right?
I mean, I would think you wouldagree with that.
And it was the same thing inthe field.
(07:30):
I just my heart wasn't for themission anymore.
Okay, so why make that big of acareer shift after all those
years?
I mean, it wasn't easy, it wasscary, it's still.
I'm still going through it.
It's a little scary.
You know, I went into a field Ididn't exactly know much about
yet, but physically I wasfeeling that wear and the tear
(07:52):
just more and more, more so, Iwould say, emotionally than
physically.
But mentally the high pressureenvironment was just taking a
toll Deadlines, budgets,managing crews, managing
expectations, managing clients.
The stress was just constant.
(08:13):
And then you add in familyresponsibilities.
I wanted to be more present athome.
I personally could not find out, find a better way to do that.
I again give credit wherecredit's due to the guys that
are amazing fathers in the field.
I came up on her guy that is asolid leader in his family in
(08:35):
his church, in his community andon the job site.
I just personally couldn't doit and it it sucks.
You know I was I'm not likeashamed, but I'm upset that I
could not make it all work.
I think I was trying to be toomany things at once, but I I
wanted to be more present athome and I needed to have more
balance.
So at the same time I startedthinking about how okay, how can
(09:00):
I use all the skills that I'vegained through the military,
through construction, but in newways.
And, oddly enough, that'sactually how I found insurance
of all things, um so well,specifically property and
casualty insurance.
So I'm trying to tailor whatI'm doing for construction
(09:20):
businesses mainly Not that Iwon't write other kinds of
companies, and I would love to.
I mean, I want to help lots ofpeople, but if you think about
it, it actually fits perfectlywith my background.
So I'm an insurance broker now,not an agent.
I work for an independentbrokerage.
(09:42):
Uh, if, if you think about it,this fits perfectly.
So the, the military discipline, the attention to detail, the
problem solving all the sameskills I used on the job site
now help me understand risks,policies and how to protect a
lot of my friends I mean peoplethat I've worked with and I see
(10:02):
it that I'm still serving theconstruction community, just
differently.
So instead of buildingstructures, I'm building
security, if you will, and peaceof mind.
So, making the pivot, though itwasn't without its struggles.
Changing an identity you'veheld for years is tough.
I've told a lot of people Isaid, man, this feels like
(10:23):
getting out of the military allover again.
It's something I've known.
I did twice the amount of timein construction that I did on
active duty.
So I was active for seven yearsand then later on did two years
in the reserve.
But you know, when you'reactive duty, that's your life.
It's the same thing inconstruction and many other
industries.
It's like all that was myidentity.
(10:45):
I had moments where I doubtedmyself and worried about what
other people might think, to behonest, but here's.
So I want to talk about acouple things that I've learned
through it.
So if you're out there thinkingabout a big change, let's talk
about things I've learned.
Number one your identity isbigger than your job title.
That's in the military and out.
(11:07):
So you're not just like theconstruction guy or girl or the
soldier.
You're the values and the gritthat you carry every day.
It's not your title.
It might not necessarily bewhat you do.
It's really.
It's who you are, yes, what youdo with your values, but it's
who you are.
It's who you are every day whenthe uniform comes off, when the
(11:30):
hard hat comes off, that kindof stuff.
So your identity is bigger thanyour job title.
Second point I would say isgrowth often means leaving your
comfort zone.
It's uncomfortable, it'suncomfortable, it's messy, but
that's where real change happens.
You have to get out of yourcomfort zone.
The third thing I would say islean on your community, man.
(11:52):
I mean, if you're transitioningout of the service, lean on the
community that you know, maybeback home, maybe your family,
maybe the industry you want togo into, or if you're in an
industry and shifting intoanother one, lean on your people
, your tribe, whether that'syour spouse, people at your
church, friends that know youbetter than anybody, your inner
(12:15):
circle, friends that know youbetter than anybody, your inner
circle.
Don't go it alone.
Reach out to mentors, friends,podcasts, right, like this one
or another one.
Lean on your community.
So what am I on for?
Number four be patient, maybe.
Be patient with yourself.
I'm preaching to myself rightnow.
(12:36):
I had to learn to be patient.
Transitions are not instant.
Okay, I knew.
I kind of had an inkling acouple of years ago that maybe
I'm not going to do this forever, and probably about six months
ago or so from the date of thiswas kind of nailing the coffin.
I kind of figured all right, Ineed to start looking for a
change.
So it wasn't instant.
(12:57):
Figured, all right, I need tostart looking for a change.
So it wasn't instant.
You got to be patient,celebrate the small wins you
know, day after day, and keepmoving forward.
I never took my foot off the gas.
That was one thing I'm proud ofmyself for that.
I'm not trying to gloat by anymeans, but I'm saying, look I, I
as a man, can go to bedcomfortable with who I am,
because I never, even though Iknew I was kind of looking for
(13:25):
something else, I didn't quitequit.
I didn't stop giving it gas andhelping the team with the
mission.
And one of the biggest lessonsout of all that I want to share
it's okay to evolve.
Your mission doesn't end justbecause your uniform changes.
It shifts.
It's not over.
Just because your uniformchanges.
It shifts, it's not over.
The goal has moved.
Hear me again.
It has moved.
It doesn't mean there's not agoal anymore, it has just
changed.
(13:52):
Okay, so I want to take a minuteand I want to really unpack how
my military experience preparedme for the career shift itself.
So all these people that aregetting out of the military or
changing careers, so themilitary teaches us resilience,
leadership, discipline and howto perform under pressure.
Those aren't just skills forcombat, I mean, it's skills for
(14:12):
life.
So when I started learningabout insurance and business
development, I realized theskills translated perfectly the
attention to detail I used inplanning things when we were
overseas.
It helped me understandplanning things on the job site.
It helps me understand complexinsurance policy.
Man, I've got a lot to learnand I'm loving it.
(14:36):
But the leadership andcommunication skills they helped
me build relationships withpotential clients, network with
people that I want to work withuh, people I want to be around.
The resilience piece it helps mepush through that learning
curve.
Like I said, you know you gotto study to get your license,
you got to study to understandthese policies, but that that
(14:58):
resilience is what I needed andit's helping me push through
that realizing.
Hey, I understand a middle-aged, I'm starting over, I'm doing
all this, but having thatresilience going okay.
The learning curve might be alittle steep, but I got this, um
, and if you're a veteran facinga career change, don't
underestimate your strengths,your military background.
(15:20):
It's an asset, it's you know,no matter what field you choose.
So let's talk about where theConstruction Veteran Podcast is
headed.
So, if anything, I'm more firedup than ever to bring you
stories like new stories andfresh perspectives.
So, moving forward, expect tohear from veterans who are still
(15:44):
working in the trades, businessowners, entrepreneurs and folks
who have made career pivots.
Like me, I want the podcast tobe a community where you can
find inspiration, advice andreal talk.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it.
If I have one issue right nowwith the industry, it's that we
(16:06):
do sugarcoat things.
We talk about getting youngerpeople into the trades and all
this stuff, but we act like it'sperfect.
It's stinking hard, it is hardwork, but it's something you can
be proud of.
Let's not act like it's notgoing to be over a 40-hour week
or it is going to exhaust you.
Let's be straight up and realwhen recruiting these people,
(16:26):
because I would hate for us togive the next generation a
vision of everything beinglollipops and rainbows and then
all of a sudden they realizethis is not at all what I
expected.
I think there's this irrationalfear that, well, nobody's going
to want to do the hard work.
That's BS.
I have worked with people inthere still now in their young
(16:48):
twenties.
You know these younger peoplethat put in harder work than
I've seen the generation aheadof me or my own.
There's still good people outthere that want to do hard work.
I have met foremen that are 28years old, that have massive
dreams and are leading crews ofpeople that are twice their age,
almost Guys that have beendoing it for 20 plus years,
(17:12):
listening to this guy as aleader who still himself works
hard.
But so that's the real talk.
Like, let's just be honest withit.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it,but all that said, I'm off my
rant, but I'm.
I'm planning new formats to youknow, shorter solo episodes, not
as long as this, but, uh, somelive Q and a sessions, maybe
(17:33):
some audio storytelling directlyfrom a site, if I get an
opportunity.
Uh, if you want to be a guestor you know somebody with a
story we're telling, hit me up.
This is our space.
Find me on LinkedIn at ScottFriend, or find the Construction
Veteran on LinkedIn, or emailme at constructionvetpodcast at
(17:55):
gmailcom.
Like, let's talk.
Like let's talk.
A lot of you guys that listen,you know me personally, so how,
like tell me, is there a storyof a person that you know
relative, friend, colleague,that is a veteran that we should
talk about this?
I'm hoping and if the guy'slistening he probably knows who
he is the guy that's goingthrough the transition right now
.
I want to hear how's it going.
You know what is skill bridge?
(18:17):
Like that program didn't existwhen I was in.
How is that?
Or, like, let's be real, areyou worried?
Are you scared?
Do you feel comfortable?
Do you feel like you're beingsupported and you're going to
make a successful transition?
From what I've seen, I thinkyou are, um, I think people are
plenty supported, um, okay, butso this is our space together.
It's not me.
(18:37):
I know I've like dubbed myselfbasically the construction
veteran, if you will, but it'sit's, it's a community, it's a
space, it's not me, um.
So I want to talk about somepractical advice too for vets
and, uh, trades people orconstruction management people,
navigating change, uh.
So, before we wrap all this up,I want to leave you with some
actionable advice too.
(18:57):
If you're facing yourtransitions, um, I want you to
reflect on what you want.
Write it down and be honestwith yourself Like man.
If you're like I want to drivethat Maserati and I want that
multimillion dollar home, writeit down.
If that's your goal, write itdown.
My goal was I wanted to have mywife not have to work, and that
(19:19):
was a goal of mine and we havealways had that and I'm very
proud of that.
Um, you know, there were timeswhere maybe we didn't have food,
we didn't know food was coming.
I never wanted my kids to havethat thought.
So if you have to define whatsuccess is to you and you had to
reflect on that but, man, itsounds cheesy, people would do
(19:43):
these.
What dream board it's, I think.
But if you have a journal oranything, just write it down
what you want.
Uh, my wife used to keep aprayer journal of things that
she would pray with or prayabout, and she would reflect
back on it and it's funny, youknow, I was in that journal
before we got married and shewould look back like, oh my gosh
, she could see all the thingsstarting to piece itself
(20:05):
together into the life thatbecame ours.
Um, so, reflect on what youwant.
Build your network.
I'm so glad, so I started doingLinkedIn like 2010, I think,
and I'm really glad I did.
There was some awesomenetworking, uh, at that time,
and there still is, like it'sway better than it used to be 15
(20:25):
years ago.
You have every not every excuse, but you have every opportunity
to build a network, connectwith people in the industries
that you're curious about, likewith that tool on LinkedIn.
Man, hit me up.
If you know somebody in anindustry, uh, whether it's a
specific trade or manufacturingor general contracting or a
location and you see that I'mconnected to that person, reach
(20:49):
out.
There are so many good peopleand I feel like people get
scared.
Like well, that's an executivevice president or that's the
owner of a company.
I can't talk to them.
Dude people are.
People.
Talk to them Like people, treatthem with respect that they've
earned and they deserved.
But hey, I'm new, I don'tunderstand.
(21:11):
Can you help me, can you guideme?
And maybe they can't, butthey're going to lead you to the
person that can.
It's so encouraging for peoplethat are seasoned in their
careers.
I'm saying this from experience.
They have a younger person comeup and say will you teach me?
We like talking about ourselvesand we like talking about the
things that we know, that wefeel comfortable talking about
because we know so much about it.
So connect with those people,learn new skills, take uh, you
(21:37):
know courses, read books, listento podcasts.
But learn new skills or honethe skills that you have and
become better at it.
I there's arguments of whetheryou should focus on one thing or
become a generalist.
I'm not going to say I'm oneway or the other.
I had my path.
It worked for me.
But choose.
(21:57):
This goes back on reflectingwhat you really want.
Learn the skills so you can dothat.
The next thing would be to setrealistic goals.
So small steps, small steps addup.
You know some people are a bigfan of Dave Ramsey.
He goes over the baby stepmethod for debt.
Not a lot of people agree withit.
(22:17):
A lot of people do.
But it's that that mental,small steps adding up to pay off
your debt.
It's the same thing in yourcareer.
Set some realistic goals, setsome small steps.
I want to achieve, you know,this certification that's going
to take me one month or twomonths to do?
Okay.
Next step I want to.
I want to get this certificateinstead of a certification.
I want to.
I want to do this certificateclass.
(22:37):
Okay, now I want to.
I want to finish my degree, ifI haven't already, or you know,
I want to become part of thisorganization.
These small steps start to addup and again you can reflect
back and see that the next thingI would say is you have to take
care of your mental andphysical health.
You cannot do it alone.
If you don't have people youcan talk to, you've got to find
(23:01):
those people that you'recomfortable with.
If you don't, if you can'tthink of anybody, there is
nothing wrong with going to likea better help or um therapy.
If you're in Dallas, I've saidI've gone to eQuest, which is an
awesome facility equestriantherapy, it's.
It's amazing.
So you got to take care of yourmental health in that aspect.
And then physical health walk.
(23:21):
If that's all you can do, justwalk.
If you can't walk, watch yournutrition.
Take care of your physicalhealth.
This is the one life we have inthe one body we have.
You got to take care of it.
Um, next thing you got to bepatient.
Be patient Again.
I said it again be patient andkind to yourself.
(23:42):
It's fine if it takes time, man.
I mean the transition, becomingwho you want to be uh, it's
going to take time.
So be patient with that andembrace the mindset of a
lifelong learner.
A lot of people say that youryour best career might be ahead
of you, and I'm living proof ofthat.
I'm so stinking happy in whatI'm doing now.
(24:02):
Um, I really feel like I struckgold and I found the career I'm
going to retire doing Um and Inever stopped being a lifelong
learner.
I didn't get a degree and say,okay, I'm done.
I had to get the MDiv becauseof what I was pursuing in the
chaplain core.
But you know, who knows, maybethere's an MBA in the future.
(24:24):
I'd like that.
Um.
There's certificates I'd liketo get.
There's things that I want tolearn.
I have to learn to be moreeffective at my job.
But I had a lot of good peoplereach out to me and say, hey,
maybe you should look into AI,stuff like learning that.
Maybe you should look into BIMman.
If you don't, if you don'tspecifically go into that piece
of the industry that's cool tooThen you have another tool in
(24:44):
your tool belt Just be alifelong learner Plus.
That's going to help youmentally in your brain
development so you don't rot outRight, all right.
So let me.
Let me share a couple morepersonal stories that really
kind of shaped me.
There have been times in mycareer where people have gotten
(25:04):
hurt and I mean that hits me orworse, we did.
I've shared, I've been on a jobwith a fatality.
I didn't know the guy, but itimpacted everybody, um, and I.
I realized that at that pointsafety is not just a box to
check it's.
It's real lives.
We're talking real people.
There's the look at thestatistics out there, people
that die in the constructionindustry, or the injuries.
(25:26):
These are lives.
These are people with kids andspouses and extended family,
loved ones, friends.
Um, but when that happened, thatthose experiences they shape
how I lead and why I care somuch about risk management today
, uh, other other times I'vebeen juggling family challenges
(25:49):
and there's always tight projectdeadlines.
Um, you know, when that happensI felt like I was failing at
both at the job, at home.
Uh, that struggle, though, ittaught me being a good leader
really means being honest aboutyour limits and asking for help.
Raise your hand.
I'm not okay, and I was openand honest with leadership.
(26:09):
Hey man, I'm not okay.
I really have to take a coupleof days off.
Um, so, thankfully, I had somegood leadership over me, uh, in
the service handout, andespecially my last company.
I can't thank them enough.
I had some wonderful peoplethat I worked with.
Um, and I want to talk aboutmindset too.
Um, so the mindset andmotivation for the long haul um,
(26:32):
we really got to talk about themindset Again.
There's a lot of powerful inthat the journey.
It's a marathon, right, not asprint.
I know super cliche, butwhether you're rebuilding after
the military, changing careersor just pushing through tough
times, mindset is, I mean, I'dargue, everything.
(26:53):
Almost.
You have to focus on what youcan control, celebrate progress,
keep your purpose front andcenter.
You know I like to remindmyself your mission doesn't end
when your MOS changes, it justevolves.
So your mission didn't end whenyou get out of the service.
It just it has changed.
(27:15):
The goal post has moved Again.
It's just shifted.
Okay, I've been jabbering.
I really appreciate you guysspending the time with me today.
I'm honored that you're part ofthis community those of you who
have encouraged me to keepdoing it.
Thank you, um.
Everybody.
Keep pushing forward, keepbuilding your future, and I'll
catch you on the next episode ofthe construction veteran
(27:37):
podcast.
If you got value from today'sepisode, please subscribe, leave
a review and share it withsomeone who might need to hear
this, and if you want to connectwith me directly, hit me up on
LinkedIn.
We're in this together.
Thank you.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.