38 - The Fences We Build: Why Every Problem Is a Creative Opportunity with Tamara Aspeling

In this episode of Constructive, guest Tamara Aspeling talks about her journey in the industry and how she created her company, Draw a Fence, to solve a common problem. Tamara shares how her experience in the fence industry, working as an estimator and project manager for one of Africa's biggest fence companies, taught her that communication is key to a project's success. She also highlights her passion for helping others in the industry by building a solution to a problem she personally experienced.

Throughout the conversation, Tamara discusses:

• The challenge of fence drawings: Tamara explains that commercial fence projects require numerous drawings at every stage, from bidding to close-out documentation. Before Draw a Fence, companies often resorted to inefficient methods like cutting and pasting or using programs like MS Paint, which resulted in poor-quality documents that looked unprofessional.

• The solution: Draw a Fence is an online tool that works like a legal form generator. Users can select variables like height and footing type from a form, and the system generates a complete, multi-sheet drawing set, including elevations, details, and dimensions. This process takes only 2 to 5 minutes, compared to the 2 to 4 hours it would take to do it manually. The tool also makes drawings more accessible to people who don't have a technical background, improving communication between builders and clients.

• The state of construction tech: Tamara believes that many construction tech products are developed by people without a construction background who create flashy tools without understanding the real-world problems they're meant to solve. She advocates for "bottom-up" solutions that are simple and quick for the people who actually do the work.

• AI's role in the industry: While acknowledging that AI is currently overhyped, Tamara sees its potential in closed systems for fields like engineering and medicine where it can process vast amounts of data and speed up work for humans. She uses AI for idea generation and content strategy but believes a human touch is essential for writing and fact-checking.

• The importance of soft skills: Tamara emphasizes the value of soft skills like communication and problem-solving. She shares that building relationships and solving problems for people, whether they are field crews or clients, is crucial for success and trust.

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