Nic Bittle: Life and Leadership

Nic sits down with Jason Downs for a talk about career and education options. Jason is a self-described middle-aged family man with an accounting degree who recently served on a local school board. After a series of accounting related jobs, today finds him a stay-at-home dad.They start their discussion with a focus on the Swiss VET System. VET stands for “Vocational, Educational, and Training.” The system is designed to assess high school students’ aptitude, how they are wired, and then put them on a track that includes job skills training.The kids graduate ready to enter the workforce and make a real contribution rather than wait to learn everything on the job.Nic observes, “There’s something magical about being a producer and not just a consumer.”Jason shares his story about choosing accounting over becoming an architect. His heart is clear: we need to find a way for our school systems to do a better job. The statistics in Switzerland show two-thirds of kids going into the trades. In the United States, two-thirds go to college and half of them never finish college.The realization is not every kid is academically wired. Jason’s desire is for high school to be both “life prep” and “college prep.” He wants to believe there’s a better way for kids to find their path that allows them to contribute to society in a meaningful way.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic and Tarina joke about the possibility of producing a 2026 calendar featuring him and Cruze moving plants into the rain. Tarina “loves” the idea. Nic also believes Tarina lost her true calling as a word-smith. “So good it just tastes like really dark dirt,” was Tarina’s comment after taking a sip of her Americano.Nic shares a correction on the previous episode about Charlie Kirk. Nic believes people feel connected with Charlie because he was courageous. A lot of people are inspired by his example of boldness in faith, work, and life.Tarina and Nic just returned from the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) National Conference in Chicago. Nic spoke about how to have hard conversations while there. This is one of the skills Nic loves teaching. It takes courage to tell somebody they can do better.In a standing-room only session, Nic talked about being able to do an assessment on your leadership style. A lot of people afterwards came up with questions and feedback.It was a great time to catch up with people, connecting in person, and invite them to be on the podcast.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Charlie created a connection with people, especially college students. One way he did this was have conversations with people and stay cool under pressure.While Nic sees him as a greater debater, he didn’t feel like he knew him like some folks have expressed online. They both see him living boldly his values: You know where he stood on his beliefs and his perspective.Do you want to do a better job of connecting? You have to let people in, be vulnerable, practice humility, and be more curious not judgmental. You also need to be aware and available, not on your device, and have conversations.Ask yourself the question: Do people really know me? Why or why not?If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Tarina has her “Cream Dr. Pepper” and Nic confronts Tarina about her other addiction—buying plants. Her latest plant purchase is a rubber tree.To listen to Nic and Tarina’s early days and what they struggled through, you can go back to early episodes. “Everyone is fighting a fight that the rest of the world knows nothing about.” When we are vulnerable and share, it builds trust and connection. Leaders who share their own struggles will build stronger teams because it makes them relatable and human.Often, when we’re going through it, we sometimes feel like the only one. The reality is we’re all going through something. And sharing can help others heal in small ways. As Nic says, people are more inspired by your failures than your successes. Sometimes we are too eager to impress and less eager to connect.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Tarina joins the podcast with a good cup of coffee having already done her weighted-vest walk and sauna workout. Nic had replaced the organic beans with some Starbucks cinnamon strudel and Tarina is loving it.In today’s episode, Nic and Tarina talk about Patrick Lencioni’s book The Ideal Team Player, a book Nic recommends to all his clients.The top three virtues of an ideal team player are: Humble, Hungry, and Smart.Here’s a link to the TedX Talk Nic and Tarina reference.Hunger is that desire to a do a little bit more. Humility is the C.S. Lewis definition: It’s not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less often. Smart isn’t about IQ or how good you are at what you do. Smart is about having emotional intelligence, EQ.(For a primer on being good with people and improving your EQ, listen to episodes 20-24.)If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

In the spirit of football season, Tarina bought a t-shirt that says “Football Social Club” on Etsy and Nic has no idea what Etsy is. Nic compares Tarina’s purchase to the mileage he gets out of his underwear.Nic makes a point by honoring a potential customer with a phone call rather than just replying to a text. He prioritizes creating a connection with the person and understanding what they want.He wants people to know they matter. A phone conversation is one way he does this.Nic tells the story about a young man who said he’d never leave the company. Why? Nic asked. Because Harold, the owner, took the young man out to lunch and had a conversation. This took place eight years before Nic heard about it.That’s the power of creating a connection. People are looking for significance.When we connect with someone we create trust with someone. As Nic says, “Trust travels so much faster than technology.”If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Tarina notices that Nic is drinking the “healthy” coffee she bought him—and he mentions something about “dropping a load.” He was actually talking about this episode’s topic on Delegation.“If someone can do it 80% as good as you, let them do it,” Tarina quotes. Nic adds, “When in doubt, sub it out.” Our job is to do the thing we do best and ask others to do the rest.Nic talks about an activity he does in his workshops. He observes how these leaders he speaks to are achievers and doers, but they don’t delegate. He has them write down every task they do in a day, then go back and circle those items which create your value.In the context of work, your value to an organization is where you make your money. Nic recounts how he used to be a one-man band—chief cook and bottle washer. He knows now that his real value is in creating and delivering leadership content.When looking at your list ask: What is the busy work? This is the stuff you avoid doing or don’t do well. Delegating has freed up his time to focus what’s most important and deliver more value to his clients.What’s important for leaders to realize is to delegate ownership of the project not just the task. When we transfer ownership of that project only then do free ourselves from the mental stress.When you delegate you might identify a future leader. As a leader, a primary reason for why you get paid what you get paid is to develop future leaders. If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic sticks the landing on the intro. After Tarina compliments him, Nic replies with a wink, “I know things.” They talk about their new cold plunge and healthy coffee—which tastes better. And Nic claims it was his Wreck-it-Ralph elbows that “honked at” Tarina.When you don’t share your opinion, it is not humility. Combined with lying to ourselves this points to our insecurity. We are exactly in the place we find ourselves because of the choices we’ve made—which includes choosing to be honest or not be honest.Nic explains that it is self-deception—not being honesty with yourself—is the root of underachievement. When we lie to ourselves we are not holding ourselves accountable.When we lie to ourselves and to others there are consequences. It erodes trust. And when we break trust we might miss the promotion or worse. Don’t sell your soul for some cheat lie because you’re afraid to admit when you screw up.It’s about being human and making mistakes and owning the mistake. Honesty says, “I dropped the ball. I screwed up.” This is especially important for leaders, as well as just apprentices and new hires. Brushing things under the rug shows a lack of courage.Honesty simplifies life. Ask yourself: When was the last time I told the truth and even though it cost me something? With courage there is a cost.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic jokes with Tarina about having “abandonment issues.” She’s never abandoned an online shopping cart. Now Nic is the one shopping and bought a new pair of $15 shoes. Tarina told him, “I like those shoes. They don’t make you look fat.”In this episode, they ask the question: What jobs will AI disrupt or replace?One thing it’s irreplaceable is connection. It is already damaging human connection. The jobs AI is coming for are where we’ve already taken the human out of the work.One conclusion Nic and Tarina make about AI is having judgement, or discernment.Other jobs or fields they discuss include transportation, surgery, cyber security, and coding. The jobs it won’t impact are the plumbers, pipe fitters, and electricians.Nic reminds us the two most important questions to answer for yourself: 1) What do you want? And 2) What are you willing to do to get it?AI is coming for jobs that don’t require problem solving, human connection, or physically do the work. “Other than that, it’s coming for you.”If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Tarina and Nic talk about Elle’s wedding—a truly beautiful life transforming event and how they had to pivot because of weather.Nic is receiving a lot of requests for “sensitivity training.” As Nic jokes, “Kids today who never had to learn how to hold the flashlight for their dad.” Kids who never had the opportunity to take direction under pressure.The question out there among a lot of seasoned leaders who are direct is, “Why is this generation so soft?” The problem is not that leaders are too hard. The problem is some of these leaders expect the moon and don’t teach.Tarina comments, “Teaching is hard.” It’s the weak leader, Nic says, who tells a worker he/she is a piece of trash.Nic wants to empower leaders to care enough about this next generation to teach them. The other place weak leaders skirt teaching is they lie to them, telling them they’re doing a good job when they are not doing a good job.It’s about constructive criticism that changes behavior and leading through strength. It’s the courage to teach and train.Ultimately it’s about practicing “clear is kind.”If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

This episode features Mark Broadwater, VP Egan Company, leading Egan’s ATS Group: Building Automation, Technology Systems and Service. His 28 years in the industry sets Mark apart from many leaders as he supports the sales team and look for new opportunities to connect the dots inside Egan.It was Mark’s grandfather, a furniture maker, who inspired him to learn a craft and it launched his career as a field technician after completing the Electrical Construction program at Albert Lea Technical College. Today, he has enjoyed working in a hands-on role.Mark is famous for saying, “Don’t lose your people in the numbers.” He also stresses how Egan Company had the right processes in place before they focused on the people. He asks the question, “Where do you lay your head at night?”His point is to get to know your people and knowing where people are from and digging into their lives. It’s more than saying “Hi” in the hallway. It’s about asking about the soccer tournament or their vacation.In this interview, you will hear Mark’s focus and heart on people and building relationships.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

This episode features Josh Bone, Executive Director of Electri International—what he describes as the research and development lab for the electrical contracting industry. It is at the forefront at navigating market impacts and look at where technology is going.Josh has been a driving force in bringing cutting edge technology to the construction industry. In his early days he worked with mechanical design teams and has consistently championed innovation. His expertise is in bridging the gap between technology and real-world construction practices. He is a speaker and thought-leader and shares his insights with professionals nationwide.Josh shares how his driving force is connecting with people, as well as purpose and curiosity. He talks about how in his 27-year career he has helped companies manage change, especially when it comes to technology.This is a big and important conversation with keen insights and practical implications—everything from absenteeism to how data is the new oil to the use of artificial intelligence.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic tricks his new son-in-law, Micah Graf, to join him on podcast. He opens the conversation with a question, “What are your intentions with my daughter?”They talk about farming in western Oklahoma, which includes scaring up wild pigs. His favorite part of farmer is corn harvest. He also posts drone footage on Instagram @Oklahoma_Farming, capturing the seasons of farming. Check out the mile-long, 100 bushel corn harvest while a storm rolls in here.Micah’s brother (Instagram: @That_Gun_Guy) got him started using thermals for rifle shooting and is on the Pulsar Pro Staff. Oklahoma farming often requires shooting pigs and coyotes, what Nic comments “thin them out.”Nic asks him, “What do you think will be the biggest challenge of married life?” Micah says it’ll be his work schedule as a farmer and all the hours involved.Nic shared some Nic Bittle Crap with Micah when he asked permission to marry Elle. He said, “My family isn’t getting bigger. You’re creating a new family and that comes first. You got to have the courage to say no.”If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Tarina is grateful for a power nap before recording this episode. Nic compares her naps to people needing a Snickers Bar when they’re hangry. And Tarina appreciates how Nic compliments himself about how he regulates his emotions and knows things—no naps needed. (That’s some good Nic Bittle crap right there.)They laugh about cold plunges, soft-sided tackle boxes, and losing sunglasses at the beach. Life is good at the Bittle ranch. Regarding the college or career question, Nic and Tarina received some good feedback. They review a few of these, continuing the conversation about viable paths to take and the value of each. One conclusion they make is that relationships matter whether one chooses college or career after high school. A key question they ask: What kind of pain do we want to expose our kids to, so they grow up and become successful adults? It’s the pain in life that teaches us responsibility. Life is not pain free and parents can’t protect their kids from all of life’s bumps and bruises.Nic shares a comment from a high school teacher he met recently who said, “Kids today are over-mothered and under-fathered.” In other words, they observe how comfort seems to matter more than discomfort. What’s needed helping kids choose their hard. The pivotal question: What kind of life do you want? Then reverse engineer it. Choosing college or career ultimately depends on the future you want to create for yourself and who you want to serve.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic shares how he attended an event to showcase his Life-Ready Curriculum. He had a booth and two break-out sessions to talk about how and why he created the curriculum and how it’s been implemented.The point of the curriculum is to help students come up with their own answers rather than a fill-in-the-blank right answer. It was designed as a journey of self-discovery. At first, students main question is, “Will this be graded?”“If we’re going to build a successful next generation, we have to get them to think on their own,” says Nic.Especially in the age of AI, cheating is not a technology issue. It’s an integrity issue.Nic chose to build the curriculum to give something back. Leading means teaching the virtues that it takes to have a successful and fulfilling life.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic and Tarina talk about the struggle of choosing to go to college versus jumping into a career. As they prepare for Cruze to take his next step, they are wrestling with the value of higher education.They discuss the various options available to craft a life and career that doesn’t require a college degree. Cruze has expressed wanting to do what Nic does for a living, so Nic breaks down what it’d take to become a speaker/trainer.Cruze has also said he wants the “college experience.” What is that? Is it gaining the Freshmen 15? Having a professional gym is appealing, though.If you have insights or perspective, Nic and Tarina welcome your thoughts—just email them at info@nicbittle.com.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic talks with Brett Russell on what he did and does to build a strong culture. In this episode, they discuss what destroys a culture. And they agree that life is life—and so work is both professional and personal. There’s no division.Jumping in where they left off from Episode 68 (start there), Nic and Brett talk about the difficulties and opportunities to sow the right seeds to build strong leaders and a strong leadership culture. Brett identifies the importance of recognizing just how hard good leadership is.The reality is a strong culture is the result of well-trained and strong leaders.Brett Russell is the Fire Chief for the City of Clinton, Oklahoma, where he has served since 2017. With a fire service career that began in 1998, Brett brings over 25 years of experience in emergency response and leadership. He is also the founder of Classic Marble Design, a kitchen and bath company he started with his wife and parents in 1997.Brett’s passions are faith, family, and leadership—in that order. His relationship with Christ shapes every area of his life and leadership. A strong believer in servant leadership, Brett also serves as Chairman of the Board for Western Oklahoma Christian School, a PreK–6th grade elementary school dedicated to Christ-centered education.As Nic quotes Cruze, “There is going to be a hard in your life.” So, choose your hard. It’s hard to go to the gym every day or hard at the pool and be out of shape. It’s hard to build a business and it’s hard to be broke. “Which hard do you want?”Final thought: “I need to be less concerned to seeing what the seeds produce,” says Brett. “Instead, I ask what am I committed to?” We are all called to something, and you got to find what that is for you.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic talks with Brett Russell on what he did and does to build a strong culture. While Brett’s experience is in the fire service, he and Nic agree on how it applies to the trades. They discuss how to keep momentum, build a culture of high performers, and doing what you say you’re going to do.Brett emphasizes how he wants his guys to feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves. He wants everyone to feel like they are making an impact. It’s about doing all the little things well, even the things they don’t like to do like truck checks.Brett Russell is the Fire Chief for the City of Clinton, Oklahoma, where he has served since 2017. With a fire service career that began in 1998, Brett brings over 25 years of experience in emergency response and leadership. He is also the founder of Classic Marble Design, a kitchen and bath company he started with his wife and parents in 1997.Brett’s passions are faith, family, and leadership—in that order. His relationship with Christ shapes every area of his life and leadership. A strong believer in servant leadership, Brett also serves as Chairman of the Board for Western Oklahoma Christian School, a PreK–6th grade elementary school dedicated to Christ-centered education.Whether leading in the firehouse, the business world, or the community, Brett is committed to serving others with purpose, integrity, and humility.Final thought: Brett believes reading is one of the biggest attributes of a leader—even though it wasn’t one of his favorite things to do at first.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic and Tarina are going to the lake in a little bit. And Tarina is working on some home remedies. And Nic is still working on his audio books.If you want to pilot Nic’s new online Leadership Academy, reach out and let him know. When you’re right on the edge of having a meltdown and you feel drained and about to give up. In the construction industry it’s called burnout—and you almost give up. This is what Nic also calls emotional fatigue.Everything is getting done, but sometimes we just need to be more present. Tarina admits to not giving herself downtown and then she crashes.Some of the guys Nic works with start at 0300. And they jump straight into work mode from the moment their alarm goes off.Is there joy in what you’re doing? Are you feeling if there’s any end in sight to all the work? Are you losing patience and being short with your team or your family?   Emotional fatigue and decision fatigue should cause us to pause personally and professionally. Vince Lombardi once said, “Fatigue makes cowards us of all.” Health, finances, family—are types of silent pressures which contribute to our fatigue.To learn ways to “fix what you won’t face” take a listen to this episode.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.

Nic congratulates himself for killing weeds (he’s a pretty big deal, you know) and how Tarina’s dog rolled in a dead armadillo (true story).“Everybody loves change, don’t they?” Nic says with a bit of sarcasm.Think of a time when you struggled with change and it turned out not to be that big of a deal.Nic shares how he resisted moving to Corn. He believed it’d be the end of his career—and how horrible the change would be in his life. He admits how he created a false narrative.Tarina talks about their friend, Burt, who says, “You kind of live life in seasons and decades.” It’s about knowing change will happen—how it's just around the corner. This can help you prepare for change.The reality is we are programmed to stay the same. “Men are happiest when they are improving themselves physically, mentally, and financially. An idle man is a depressed man.” It all requires change.All we are called to do is take the first step.If you enjoy Nic and Tarina’s podcast and get something from listening to “all this Nic Bittle Crap,” please hit the like button, share it with a friend, or both. Your recommendation goes a long way in helping us reach more people.Also if you have questions that you want Nic and Tarina to answer, email them at info@nicbittle.com.---🛟 Click here to order your copy of Nic’s Life Ready Curriculum🧰 Check out Nic’s new solution for foremen: The Foreman's Inner Circle💬 To subscribe to Nic’s Leadership DRIP, please text the word “DRIP” to 866-998-4545 then follow the prompts.❓ If you have questions or comments for Nic & Tarina, please send an email to info@nicbittle.com.🎬 Check out Nic's Work Force Pro YouTube channel.📚 Nic has written 4 books. You can decide which one is best for you here.