Construction Hot Takes

Ascent Consulting
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

Hosted by Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, alongside Senior Consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, Construction Hot Takes show dives into the gritty, unfiltered realities of building a profitable construction company. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, they’ve been there—from carrying gear on job sites to leading Ascent, a consulting powerhouse that exclusively serves construction companies across North America. Each episode is packed with insights, strategies, and insider knowledge from the industry’s top consulting firm for contractors. Discover what big national contractors know about growing a business, get actionable advice on boosting efficiency, and learn how to supercharge your project pipeline. Tune in, get inspired, and gain the knowledge to take your construction business to the next level.

  1. 3d ago

    Your Subcontractor Might Be About to Burn You

    In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, host Jeff Robertson dives into the often-overlooked but critical process of subcontractor pre-qualification. From identifying red flags like disappearing labor and aggressive billing to understanding key financial metrics, Jeff explains why every project manager must be a risk manager first. Learn how to look past professional relationships and focus on the data to prevent subcontractor default before it starts Chapters: 00:00 Subcontractor Default and the Power of Pre-qualification05:50 Defining Pre-qualification: Beyond the Paperwork02:22 The Cost of Ignoring Pre-qualification07:23 Subcontractor Red Flags: Early Warning Signs09:55 Predicting Failure: The Financial Review13:11 Common Mistakes PMs Make with Pre-qualification15:21 Final Action Items: Be Proactive, Not Reactive. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    17 min

  2. May 21

    Automation vs. A.I. in Construction: How To Navigate

    In this episode, Jeff Robertson and Gregory Gorman deconstruct how construction firms could be thinking about automation and artificial intelligence in construction. We hope this brings lots of value to your construction organization! Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    28 min

  3. May 14

    How To Achieve Your Construction Company’s Growth Targets In Months, Not Years (Strategic Planning)

    In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, our hosts, Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson, break down why strategic business planning is often the first thing construction leaders ignore—and why it’s the most critical for long-term survival. From the "engineering mindset" trap to identifying actionable milestones, learn how to move past reactive decision-making and build a roadmap that survives economic shifts. Hope you enjoy this episode! Chapters:00:00 The "Day-to-Day" Trap: Why Leaders Avoid Strategic Planning04:09 The Role of Third-Party Facilitators in Construction06:33 The "Book Report" Method: Prepping the Team for Strategy17:15 Actionable vs. In-Depth: Gradient Levels of Planning18:50 Accountability: Ensuring the Plan Doesn't Gather Dust Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    24 min

  4. May 1

    3 Reasons Your CFO Hates You (And It’s Costing You Money)

    If your CFO feels like the enemy… it’s probably not them. Most business owners unknowingly create friction with finance—and it shows up in missed profits, bad decisions, and constant tension. In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest mistakes leaders make that drive their CFO crazy—and how fixing them can unlock serious growth.  Chapters:0:00 – Introduction: The CFO-Ops Dynamic1:39 – Forecasts as a "Contract with the Future"6:58 – Understanding "Potential Costs" vs. Real Risks14:21 – The Friction of "Taking Profit" Early25:31 – Bridging the Communication Gap31:13 – The Most Expensive Sentence a PM Can Say35:14 – Final Thoughts: Same Team, Different Languages  Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=1

    32 min

  5. Apr 23

    Construction Industry HOT TAKES REACTIONS: Part 2

    Everyone loved Part 1, so we are doing Part 2! In this episode, Adam, Jeff, and Greg react to five HOT TAKES about the construction industry and decide whether they agree or disagree. You’re not going to want to miss this one. Comment with any takes you feel like deserve a reaction and dissection! Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction: The Reaction Segment Returns0:48 – Topic 1: The Lowest Bidder Mindset5:22 – Topic 2: Ego vs. Technology Problems7:57 – Topic 3: Superintendents and Company Culture11:21 – Topic 4: Project Manager Retention and Ownership16:56 – Topic 5: The Danger of the Growth Phase21:14 – Wrap-Up: The Importance of Shared Language   Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=1

    20 min

  6. Apr 16

    3 Systems to Scale Your Construction Company (in 2026)

    In this episode, Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson bring their decades of experience to lay out 3 of the top processes necessary for a construction firm to grow. We hope you enjoy this one! Chapters: 0:00 – Scaling Preconstruction & Estimating7:30 – Systems for Operational Performance15:18 – The Strategic Role of the Back Office20:33 – Comparing GC vs. Trade Contractor Scaling31:43 – Specialization & Future Growth Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    32 min

  7. Apr 9

    Construction Industry HOT TAKES REACTIONS: Part 1

    In this episode, Adam, Jeff, and Greg react to four HOT TAKES about the construction industry and decide whether they agree or disagree. You’re not going to want to miss this one. Comment with any takes you feel like deserve a reaction and dissection!  Chapters:   0:05 – Segment Intro: The Rules of Engagement  1:06 – Statement 1: Labor vs. Leadership  9:47 – Statement 2: Subcontractors vs. GCs in Creating Chaos  15:09 – Statement 3: Did BIM Really Fail?  17:31 – Statement 4: Safety as a Culture or a Shield 21:14 – Outro and Where to Find More  Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=1

    22 min

  8. Mar 26

    3 Ways AI Can TRANSFORM Your Construction Business Today

    In this episode, Jeff Robertson breaks down the three ways construction companies can leverage AI to boost productivity, eliminate data silos, and make smarter decisions on the job site. Chapters:0:00 – Introduction: The AI Tipping Point in Construction0:48 – Level 1: AI-Enhanced Software2:53 – Level 2: Integration and Orchestration Layers5:01 – Level 3: AI-Native Applications6:45 – Conclusion: The Foundational Role of Data and Processes Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    7 min
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5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Hosted by Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, alongside Senior Consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, Construction Hot Takes show dives into the gritty, unfiltered realities of building a profitable construction company. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, they’ve been there—from carrying gear on job sites to leading Ascent, a consulting powerhouse that exclusively serves construction companies across North America. Each episode is packed with insights, strategies, and insider knowledge from the industry’s top consulting firm for contractors. Discover what big national contractors know about growing a business, get actionable advice on boosting efficiency, and learn how to supercharge your project pipeline. Tune in, get inspired, and gain the knowledge to take your construction business to the next level.

Information

  • Creator
    Ascent Consulting
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ascent Consulting

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