Feed Me Your Construction Content

Why We Keep Returning To The International Builders’ Show

• Joshua & Carolyn McMahon • Season 5 • Episode 4

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A winter of ice and slush tested our patience and our process. We walked through how a near-ready slab slipped by three days and triggered a two-week delay, what happens when independent haulers call it for safety, and how to rebuild a critical path without losing client trust or crew momentum. Then we took that energy to Orlando with a plan: get sharper on building science, get smarter about lighting, and meet the right people with intention.

We’ve been overwhelmed by big shows before. That’s why we arrive with targets—specific classes, must-see products, and scheduled meetups that move our work forward. We dig into why windows are not just a look but a performance system, breaking down Fibrex vs vinyl in real terms: expansion, finish, energy ratings, and long-term serviceability. We balance ambition with budget, showing where to invest once—air sealing, insulation, window performance—and how to future-proof for later upgrades like ERVs, heat pumps, or smarter controls without tearing the house apart.

Debates on spray foam and manifold plumbing pop up too. Rather than choose a camp, we share practical pros and cons and how to guide clients toward the next best option when the “perfect” choice is out of reach. On our own specs, we talk about the line between raising standards and overbuilding, and how field pivots—relocating a return, carving a linen, protecting sightlines—turn a plan into a home that feels considered. Through it all, networking remains our force multiplier: show up as yourself, share your vision, and look for culture fits with vendors, subs, and peers who value craftsmanship and clarity.

If you’re heading to the International Builders’ Show, come say hello. Subscribe, share this episode with a builder friend, and leave a review with your top must-see session—what’s your focus this year?

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Carolyn can be found on LinkedIn at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-mcmahon-937b89158
Joshua can be found on LinkedIn at:
www.linkedin.com/in/joshuamcmahon15
Email for feedback, questions, complaints, etc:
mcmahonjoshua15@gmail.com

Daily Journal: https://amzn.to/41p9aKE

Josh McMahon:

Oh. I love that. I love that.

Carolyn McMahon:

Hey y'all. Welcome back to another episode of Feed Me Your Construction Content. I'm Carolyn McMahon.

Josh McMahon:

And I am Josh McMahon.

Carolyn McMahon:

Welcome on this wet, wonderful winter wonderland.

Josh McMahon:

It's been a crappy three weeks in Richmond, Virginia. Three weeks of snow sitting on the ground. Really six inches of ice sitting on the ground that is starting to work its way away as we are sitting at 44 degrees and it's raining.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yes. So, you know, it did stop, halt a couple of things. We had to be um inventive with how we kept work going.

Josh McMahon:

Man, no kidding. We had a s a foundation in the ground. We were able to shoehorn the plumbing into the under slab before the weather came, almost got the slab completely prepped, inspected, and poured, and we missed it by about three days, and it cost us two weeks.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yeah.

Josh McMahon:

It's it really it really sucks because we had so much positive momentum on that job side. It felt good. The building was coming together. We had a lot of pressure on ourselves to get certain details dialed in.

Carolyn McMahon:

And you pressured other folks to get it done.

Josh McMahon:

I pressured other folks, yes.

Carolyn McMahon:

Um You're a pusher.

Josh McMahon:

Um I am definitely a pusher. And uh and then the weather just got us, and and that's it, right? I mean, uh the customer is not happy about it, and he even said to me on uh uh Thursday or Friday, he's like, Hey, what what's the status? And I'm like, Well, the the company that delivers the gravel, they they won't they won't make the delivery. And he says, Looks good to me. I'm like, to you, me, and the concrete guy, it looks good.

Carolyn McMahon:

Oh, yeah, to the guy sitting at the end of our driveway who wouldn't come on our street when I was leaving for work because there was ice on the ground.

Josh McMahon:

Yes, yeah, that's exactly right. So we tried to get them to come out one time, they would not come. It's three hundred dollars for that dump truck to come out, say no, I'm not doing it, and then going back. And by the way, the dump truck drivers are that's their dump truck, it's their business. You're not forcing them to do anything. So uh, so we you just you just chalk it up, and then the worst part is you gotta rebuild all your schedules. That's that's the hardest part for me because it's just like, man, I've got it done, now I gotta do it again.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yep.

Josh McMahon:

And uh it is what it is, though. We're we're all teed up, and we've uh that particular job, we're teed up for slab prep Tuesday, inspection Wednesday, pour on Thursday. Man, we are ready to roll, and uh I'm excited about it. I'm I'm really looking forward to seeing that one come out of the ground. That's our first Barnow build, and uh, I think it's gonna be a really cool build.

Carolyn McMahon:

And you know what? He's our first client who truly took a chance on us.

Josh McMahon:

That's right, that's right. And uh and it wasn't really a chance. He could see how great we are.

Carolyn McMahon:

Oh, he could just he just felt it.

Josh McMahon:

But uh that that's been going great. Um, so as you may not know, today is February 15th. We are actually in the uh prep stages because we are flying to Orlando tomorrow for a full week for the International Builder Show. I'm not gonna say IBS because then you're gonna think it's the wrong thing, but the international builder show.

Carolyn McMahon:

Pack extra underwear.

Josh McMahon:

The pack you always pack extra underwear because you never know.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right. It's it's the how many times am I ownership myself?

Josh McMahon:

It it's it's uh one pair of underwear plus one. That's the rule, right? N plus one.

Carolyn McMahon:

Oh my gosh, yes. So we we are preparing. Everybody was like, oh boo-hoo, you're gonna go to Orlando, you know, all week. And you know, what is it gonna be? Mid 70s. It's gonna be almost 80 there. And of course, I was like, but I've got nothing to wear. And that is the truth.

Josh McMahon:

That is the truth. Uh you know, look, it's gonna be painful live, you know, living for a week and in really great temperatures, but uh, we're gonna figure it out, right? We don't have a choice.

Carolyn McMahon:

We're gonna do our best. So, IBS 2026, it is the last and final year. It will be in Florida.

Josh McMahon:

So they say it's the final year. I think it's a good thing. Um, I like Orlando. I I think I like Vegas, though. I prefer Vegas, and we're not nightlife people. I just I like I like the aura of Vegas.

Carolyn McMahon:

Listen, I love everything that Vegas is, but I'm at a stage where I just don't bounce back. I cannot handle the jet lag. So I am I am uh tickled to be on this side of the world in our time zone. I don't have to like set my IBS calendar for a different time zone. I know where I am. I mean, the it's a direct flight, and it's gonna be super great. So listen, why do we go to IBS every year? What's important to us?

Josh McMahon:

And and mind you, this is probably our fifth or sixth year in a row of uh I think it's probably our fifth year in a row of going to IBS. And we we go every year. So here's the real backstory. The first time we went, oh, the first time I went was actually in Orlando.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yes.

Josh McMahon:

And uh um, it was a terrible experience. I I did not have a good experience. Work was out of control. I didn't have the support that that uh the company needed to do the work that we were doing. So I actually didn't focus. I I had a hard time really getting any value from it. I bought up my own plane ticket and flew home early. That was my first experience at IBS, and and I'm like, man, what a terrible experience.

Carolyn McMahon:

But let's do it again the next year.

Josh McMahon:

So the next year we do it again, we we go, and um it was extremely overwhelming. Like we were there for the show, but it was overwhelming. There's so much coming at you from the the different booths, the vendors, the new product, the the people, the classes. I mean, you name it, it's there. And we didn't have a plan. We were just like, okay, we're just gonna do this. Like, I knew I wanted to do some marketing stuff because I'm not a marketing guy, so I'm like, well, I want to do some marketing classes, some sales classes. That's really where I wanted to uh focus my attention. So that's what I did. But beyond that, I was like, man, I don't care if we ever come back. I mean, how did you feel that first time we went?

Carolyn McMahon:

I I think all of the above, uh, the amount of just I mean, heck, just sheer walking.

Josh McMahon:

Yeah, god, yeah. You better get some new walking shoes.

Carolyn McMahon:

Was a killer, and you know, eating dinner at 10 o'clock.

Josh McMahon:

That was super difficult. Yeah, because if you eat dinner at seven o'clock on the West Coast uh time zone, Pacific time zone, it's 10 o'clock for for us normal folks. That's that is really difficult when you go to bed at 8 30 Eastern Standard Time.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yeah. Well, I mean, I know what I like to see and what I focus on. What do you focus on typically when you go?

Josh McMahon:

This is a good question. So, what what I think we did learn after that first year was you had to have a plan. So for me, uh each year has been different on what I want to focus on or what I want to see. So, one thing I'm always looking for uh when I go there is networking. I mean, there's there's people that I know uh across the country, across the world, in our industry. I like to catch up with them, hear how they're doing, learn new things from them. So I really enjoy that piece of it, which is you know always crazy because I've always been more introverted than extroverted, but I I have the ability to turn it on when uh when it's go time. So certainly networking for me is a big deal because I get to see some of my old friends and and people in the industry. So I look forward to that piece and maybe meeting new people.

Carolyn McMahon:

Well, or meeting people that you haven't like met in person, right?

Josh McMahon:

Yes, that's it.

Carolyn McMahon:

Talk to a lot of folks, you touch a lot of people on LinkedIn through social media, and it is this kind of you know, almost like a melting pot per se. I mean, people come up from across the country, overseas. Um, it's it's a big deal, and you never know um how you've touched people and you've never met them. I mean, we've said in the past that we have uh met people who have heard our podcast, which is still it just tickles me. Um, but it's it's a good time. Uh I go for new product.

Josh McMahon:

Yep.

Carolyn McMahon:

You know, what's in, what's out. There's lots of design education. I'm hoping to see some lighting stuff this year. Not necessarily product, but I need to go through the app and look to see if there's any type of lighting innovations and things like that. Again, just not from a fixture, you know, like a shiny thing, but but what's in. I mean, Pinterest is funny to me. It's similar to designers. You will find a designer who will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Um, you just have to go through them and you will see on Pinterest exactly what you want to see, and and and you can see it. Does that make sense? Like it's like, you know, social medias, you know, have this one designer that says, Oh, if you do this, it's ugly, it's terrible. And then there's another designer that says you do the exact opposite, it's wonderful. It's like, you know, so all of these things, you kind of have to take it with a a grain of salt. Yeah. Um, you know, the trends are always evolving, typically on our side of the world. It's slower, it takes it longer to get to the E2. Yeah, absolutely. Um, as it does, I mean, all the things that are coming back. And if you've been in the industry for a long time, it's like bill bottoms are coming back, and you're like, what?

Josh McMahon:

It's true.

Carolyn McMahon:

And so all these other things in design are coming back, and they've, you know, made this that just design is cyclical. I mean, you know, in my world as a cabinet designer, and people ask about colors and things, and I'm like, look, you're either ripping out white kitchens or installing them, and it's never going to change.

Josh McMahon:

That's true.

Carolyn McMahon:

Um, it's it's tough, but I go there just to see new product. Um, I think some of our focus is on building science this year, which I think is is really cool. Because if you're not embracing building science, I think you're gonna be left behind.

Josh McMahon:

Well, I think as we build tighter and tighter houses, like we take a lot of pride in in building a tight house, but I think there's a lot more that goes into it with just the air that we're breathing, what type of products we're putting in the house and how it affects the the consumer. And and I think it's imperative for us as a custom home builder to become more versed in some of that that information and really um be able to bring that product to our consumers and to our clients and say, hey, this is the this is the product that you're looking for to do what it is that you're trying to do. So really meeting someone face to face, talking with the rep, talking about how does this product work, uh, what what's the best way to educate our consumers when when it comes to this product? Because I think that's the hardest thing for me is um we we are Anderson approved Select Builder, so we do Anderson Windows. That's our we prefer to use Anderson Windows in all of our custom builds. Well, a lot of people don't understand the difference between a Fibrex product or a vinyl product, and there are vinyl windows in two million dollar homes, and I cringe. But I also think that some of the the disconnect is that we're not doing a good enough job educating the consumers on the difference between this window and this window.

Carolyn McMahon:

Well, right. I mean, you have to tell them why they should care.

Josh McMahon:

Yeah.

Carolyn McMahon:

And and try not to be like me. Like, I just want a black window. I don't give two shits what it does or how it insulates. I just want a black window. And and like you said, we were at Home A Rama, and there was a$1.5 million home that had black vinyl windows. We we know the brand very well. Yep and it is a a total rotten apple to an orange. I mean, right. I I I think so.

Josh McMahon:

I mean, just when you think about the energy efficiency of the windows, when you think about vinyl expanding and contracting, and what that does long term, when you think about the uh I don't believe the black is through the entire frame. Like it's right. So what happens if if if you scratch it or something happens, then how do you touch that up?

Carolyn McMahon:

Oh, you you you don't do it well.

Josh McMahon:

Right. So I I I think some of those areas are are reasons why I prefer the Anderson brand because I I think you do get better energy rating. Because you think about you know, a window that's six foot wide by by five foot tall, that's a lot of space that you're losing energy.

Carolyn McMahon:

Is it sponsored by Anderson?

Josh McMahon:

You know what? We have dinner with Anderson this week. We will ask them to sponsor our show.

Carolyn McMahon:

I think that would be excellent. Now we do have some pretty cool Anderson swag though.

Josh McMahon:

We do, very cool. Um, and you'll if you see us in in uh Orlando this week, you'll see me uh sporting that.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yes, comment on on Josh's swag. It's please he looks very handsome. So, but I think too not that you want to debunk anything, but all of these things are coming out, you know, that you should do this, you should, you know, do all these things. XYZ, yeah. If you don't, you're a failure. Uh I I think sometimes it's in direct conflict to the housing crisis and affordability. You know, building science is not cheap.

Josh McMahon:

Correct. That's that's right. I don't think this is I don't think this is an us versus them type of thing. I think there's a place for for everything, for every product. And if you're able to afford to do those things, your clients able to afford to do those things, I think it's in our as professional builders, we should be informing and educating our consumers on the reasons that they should make that choice. If the consumer's not able to, we should be talking about future proofing. So maybe you can't do this today, but here's how you can still do it tomorrow. Like, for instance, you're not installing Windows tomorrow. You're gonna install Windows one time and that's it. You're gonna install insulation in the walls one time and that's it. So you want to spend the money and get it the way you want it so your home is the way you want it to be. You want to be comfortable.

Carolyn McMahon:

Well, it's just the next or or describing what the next best thing is, what their budget will allow. Absolutely. You know, it's like we were talking about spray foam, right? You you've got one spectrum that says you know, spray foam is is is the best insulator. And then you have all of this this other group that says it's the worst thing, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You can't tell, you know, if a house leaks.

Josh McMahon:

That's right.

Carolyn McMahon:

All of these things, and um, you know, how to really just talk to a client about that and through that, well, if we can't do this, well, what can we do? Right. I mean, I I was joking that we had talked to two clients in a row that had talked about manifold plumbing.

Josh McMahon:

Yep.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yeah, it's like, what you know, no one does it, at least, you know, in our area, they don't do it a ton. And um, and there's all these great things about it, but then when you really kind of peel, you know, the layers off, it's not that great, but you need to be prepared to talk about it and and why you shouldn't or should do something. So I think just educating ourselves on that.

Josh McMahon:

And and that's that's where I'm really a fan of IBS because like the manifold, if that's something that's of interest to you as a builder, I bet you there's classes on manifolds there, the pros and cons, why why this is a a good thing. Uh and and I think that's ultimately what we should be doing as builders. That's why I like the uh the international builder show is because it challenges the way that I think of how we build homes and what we do. It challenges my beliefs, and that's what I need to be a better builder. Because if I just go through thinking I'm great and I walk on water and the way I've done it for 20 years is great, well, I'm falling further and further behind, and I'm not doing it justice to our customers. Right. And and that's what I really appreciate about the uh IBS for this next week is that man, we are gonna be tossed into the deep end on things, and and you can really pick and pull. And um the education uh courses that they do are really good because a lot of times it's not it's not necessarily consultants or people trying to sell you something, it's it could be real builders or remodelers who were who have done it. Like they've tried this, they they're telling you from their experience, or you couple a builder with a consultant and you kind of get the best of both worlds.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right. I've I've enjoyed it. Uh, and there's multiple platforms, you know, you can go to IBS and just go to the floor.

Josh McMahon:

Yep.

Carolyn McMahon:

And typically K Biz is in town at the same time. Same thing, yeah.

Josh McMahon:

Kitchener K B I S and IBS, same time.

Carolyn McMahon:

And and so it's it's great. And um, they all have different platforms, but um, for the education thing, it's a it's a separate add-on, right? So you get those speakers, yes, education. I think it's a place for you to commiserate with your kind of you know, your peers too, and you're all feeling the same things. And sometimes it's it's nice to be in a group. Um, I mean, hopefully with like-minded people, um, because you're there for for the same thing, the same experience. Um, we we we both get different things out of it. Yes, that's for sure. Um, you know, some people walk out and uh mid-edu, but um I I just really enjoy some of the selling stuff. Even marketing things appeal to me, even though I'm not in marketing. Um because you have to figure out how to sell. How do you appeal to somebody? You know, how do you from in my job, how do I make someone part with their money?

Josh McMahon:

Well, I mean, I like it because I think that we're all in sales, we're all in marketing. Sure. And so that's what makes this great. I'm going there for building science this this round. Like all the courses I'm gonna take is gonna be building science related. You're gonna focus on what you just said, lighting is gonna be a big one, which I think that's great. Lighting is a is a whole nother level of design, right? Like there's designers, then there's lighting designers, because if you place the lighting incorrectly, you can really throw things off, you can throw the mood of the whole house off. So I think you kind of getting more grasp on that is it's huge. It's a great tool in your toolbox.

Carolyn McMahon:

I I and I hope that they have something. If not, I'll I'll I'll do something locally. But you know, again, you know, social media, these designers get on there and pretty much say that if you use a six-inch, you know, ceiling light, you really are a POS. And you know, it's funny.

Josh McMahon:

I think to touch on that though, social media influencers and algorithm is designed to put people against each other because we love controversy and we love fighting and we love arguing. That's that's who we are. So that's what it's pushing you to do. It's like this is the only right way, right? And this is the only wrong way. And it's like, no, that's not true.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right. And it's and you know, perhaps that's not their intention, but I swear to God, they make me feel terrible.

Josh McMahon:

That is absolutely their intention.

Carolyn McMahon:

They make me question what I do and you know how I help people.

Josh McMahon:

It is their intention because if they get you to continue to come back and then start thinking that they're the only way, then they can sell you whatever package that they're putting together to help you become a better designer. Right.

Carolyn McMahon:

Want to hear more? Buy this.

Josh McMahon:

And and I I think this is what again, this is what I like about going to IBS is that I can seek out those people that I that disagree with how I believe things. And I'm open-minded that I want to be challenged in that way, but I'm not gonna say, Oh, I'm an idiot because I'm not doing this.

Carolyn McMahon:

I mean Or you're an idiot if you don't do this.

Josh McMahon:

Well, I think I I think um Matt Reisinger does a great job with the build show and everything he's doing in Texas. Not everybody has the money to do monopoly framing or all of the high efficiency things that they're doing in their builds. That doesn't mean that you're building a piss poor house because you can't do this. Like everybody has a uh a price point they're comfortable with in the home that they want. And as we progress through life, one day we might be able to get to the point where we can build that house that that they're pushing. And I think that there's something for everybody, and that's right.

Carolyn McMahon:

It's not that we can't build it.

Josh McMahon:

No, I mean that everybody can't afford it.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right.

Josh McMahon:

Everybody can't afford to build with uh you know, with insulation on the exterior of the system, like uh of your house. Like that's expensive.

Carolyn McMahon:

And the same people who who want all of those things and would maybe sacrifice, then don't understand what they would have to then further sacrifice on the inside of their home. What makes a house a home? Um, you know, those things that you want where you're like, well, I'm sorry, you spend it all in the envelope of your house and you got nothing left.

Josh McMahon:

Well, and the problem with that that thought is that I would say 70% of your budget is going to the build itself and only 30% is towards your finishes. So if you've got a budget of a million dollars and you put eight or nine hundred thousand into the structure and and the exterior and the windows and doors and those things, that's great. But you don't have you know three hundred more thousand sitting there to to put into the the finishes, which is what it might take.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yeah.

Josh McMahon:

So you have to really you need the right builder to kind of pull all of that stuff together and then help you understand well, this is where you can future proof, this is where you can upgrade later, and it's not gonna cost you an arm and a leg.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right, right.

Josh McMahon:

Those are those are smart decisions. But you know, that's why I want to go this week because I want to be challenged on some of these upgraded features, and then how do we make it affordable? How do how do we build differently to maybe add that component and increase our minimum standard of what we build as a home builder to add that and make that a non-negotiable for our builds? Right. Like I'm a big fan of two by six exterior walls. Well, look, that adds money to the to the budget, adds to the trim, adds to uh not much to the drywall, adds definitely to the insulation. So you're adding to um to the build just by adding the two by six walls, but I think uh from an energy efficiency standpoint and the comfortability of the home, I think it's worth that additional money. But that that's not gonna be everybody. Right.

Carolyn McMahon:

I mean, yeah, the difference between a two by four wall and a two by six may put some of the buyers out of the market for your house that you're building, especially on a spec.

Josh McMahon:

Oh, absolutely. I I think you you have to be really careful when you're building that type of thing, right?

Carolyn McMahon:

Like, to not overbuild.

Josh McMahon:

To not overbuild. And and I think we do overbuild our our specs. That's just in our nature, and and we're fighting each other on like, well, let's just do this. And it's like, well, are we overdoing it? Are we overdoing it? And because I think we build our specs to a minimum standard that I think is on par or better than most, and we're willing to spend that extra money to do that.

Carolyn McMahon:

Well, and I and I think too, I mean, we you know, we had this conversation today. We were we are walking a brand new plan. Uh, it's in framing. Yep. First time building this first time building it, you know, seeing how it all come together. And we did make some pivots. And, you know, I'll be damned if a return air grill is gonna go right in the middle of a wall in the in a in a living space. Like, there has got to be another option. You know, talking through that, talking through these empty pockets, like we're you know, where's the linen? Oh, well, there isn't one. Well, there needs to be one, and how do we get it in there?

Josh McMahon:

So there is now.

Carolyn McMahon:

So there is now, and it's only gonna add that to the budget. It's gonna cost a hundred bucks.

Josh McMahon:

It's it's well worth uh the money again to do it right.

Carolyn McMahon:

Thoughtful details. That's I mean, I feel like that's my platform.

Josh McMahon:

Yeah, I I completely agree. I mean, we we put a lot of time into the planning of the of the drawings, and we caught a lot of things. We missed the linen in the owner's clock owner's bathroom. So we got it fixed because the space is is so uh big that there was plenty of room to to make this addition without really Yeah, and remember a drafts person had the first go at this, right?

Carolyn McMahon:

And so we had the shell and the picture, and we're like, this just does not function. How would I do it? And I got my tracing paper out and we made it happen. It looked like you threw the house and you played Yahtzee with it.

Josh McMahon:

Yeah. And it's better, it's much better. If it feels really good, it's um it's an awesome house. So we're we're excited about that build. Um, I want to ping on as we close out this episode, you know, the real value for me of IBS is the networking. But but before I get into that, I really want to stress it can be overwhelming to go go to IBS because there's a lot coming at you. I mean, a lot. The focus should be go there with some intentionality.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right. Are you looking for new design services? Uh that you know, whether it's an architect, draft firm, um, design firm.

Josh McMahon:

Whatever that is, have that be your focus. We went there one year knowing that we need to find an architect, and that's what we needed to do.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yeah, and and interestingly enough, we we ran into them at a social event. At a social event, right.

Josh McMahon:

We were introduced to this this individual, um, Eric from TK Design, and hit it off immediately, went through some consultations after we got back home, and and uh we had a great relationship with them. I mean, they're great people, and I hope we're we're gonna run into them uh in a couple days, right? We're gonna see them in Orlando. But that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't said, hey, we're going to go out there and we're gonna find an architect. Where most people say, How the hell are you gonna find an architect? I'm like, because that's what I'm gonna do. If I put my mind to something, I'm going to accomplish it, come hell or high water. Um, so that's what I would say is be intentional about what you're doing. Um, the networking in in Orlando or or Vegas or wherever international builder show is being held is off the charts. So if you're there to meet people, go there and meet people.

Carolyn McMahon:

Yeah, do the meet and greets and and the things after the show. Um I think it's great. You know, we will have um, you know, we're we're from Virginia, so we'll have our HBAV there.

Josh McMahon:

Yeah. Is that Tuesday night?

Carolyn McMahon:

I think so. I'm not sure.

Josh McMahon:

We have something every single night with with some group that we're we're gonna go to dinner with, which is which is great.

Carolyn McMahon:

So so maybe, you know, you have a representation from your state, but that's kind of cool for us because we meet people in the greater state of Virginia when we're there. And it's interesting because you know, as your network um expands, sometimes they could be in your backyard and you just don't know. And they have a service that you know they they're willing to, you know, drive an hour and a half or and so that's great when that happens.

Josh McMahon:

I I I think that's a huge opportunity. Um, I I think that's a great opportunity. Networking with your your local HBA at the at the uh show is a massive win. Um, I think if you're going there, you're looking for work, you're you're doing any of those things, this is a great opportunity. And this is what I'll share with you. When I'm looking for clients or I'm looking for subs, anybody to partner with, I'm sharing who I am, what my vision is, what what you know, my vision is what I see and how I see myself moving forward. You will do that, and some people will not be interested in what you have to say. I'm gonna tell you that it is perfectly fine. Because if you think about it like the dating scene when you were dating, if you're still dating, you understand this. You didn't marry every girl or boy or other that you ran into.

Carolyn McMahon:

You just try to take them home.

Josh McMahon:

Maybe. But maybe that was your vision.

Carolyn McMahon:

That was me.

Josh McMahon:

So whatever your vision is, that's fine. Go and attack that. But what I'm saying is if they don't fit what you're trying to do, it is okay. Because that's not a good that's not a good fit, right? When we think about culture and the culture fit, it's important. It's not good enough just to have the job or just to have the work. You want to have the right fit. And sometimes we don't realize that it's not the right fit.

Carolyn McMahon:

Well, sure. I mean, you and listen, everybody is trying to romance each other at these things, right? They're putting on their best self. That's what it is, right?

Josh McMahon:

Yes, so don't put on your best self, put on yourself. This is who I am.

Carolyn McMahon:

Right. Be true to who who you are, and you know, you can you can gloss it over a little bit, but I mean, don't try to to put on false airs, right?

Josh McMahon:

I I think I mean, the more you can be yourself and people want to be around you, want to partner with you, isn't that a great feeling? They like me for me and who I am and what I bring to the table. Not everybody's gonna like you. I mean, not everybody's gonna like me. And I am perfectly okay with it. And I'm telling you that it took me a lot of years to become okay with it, but now that I am, it is a really great feeling.

Carolyn McMahon:

It's refreshing, isn't it?

Josh McMahon:

It's very refreshing. Um, all right, we're gonna wrap this show up. There is uh um a good friend of ours, good friend of the show, Steven Bello, uh purchasing, estimating type in the Richmond, Virginia market, currently looking for a new role.

Carolyn McMahon:

Heck yeah. So talk about supporting your your fellow man. Anyone know in the Richmond area if you're looking?

Josh McMahon:

Or beyond, right? Because we can do a lot of the stuff virtually today, right? Because estimating purchasing, the thing that's great about Steve for me was always his ability to connect with subs, his ability to work with me on the production side. Like I pushed Steve, and and we made each other better through those exercises. Um, but the cool thing is uh Steve's gonna be at IBS with us this week, and uh he's actually gonna stay with us at our at our uh our little apartment. What do you call that thing we're staying at?

Carolyn McMahon:

I got I got no clue.

Josh McMahon:

Yeah, who knows? But we're staying.

Carolyn McMahon:

It's not a hostel, I know that.

Josh McMahon:

But that's what we can afford. So Steve will be staying with us for the week, which is great. We're gonna introduce him to a bunch of people because we want him to find the right company with the right culture that values hard work and doing the right thing and maybe not being stuck in high school and things of that nature. So we want to support Steve, get back on his feet because he's a badass individual.

Carolyn McMahon:

Well, with that, we'll see you at IBS.

Josh McMahon:

You damn right we will.

Carolyn McMahon:

Until next time.

Josh McMahon:

See ya. Yes.

Contributor

Carolyn McMahon

Co-host
Contributor

Joshua McMahon

Co-host