When a third-party inspection uncovers the wrong exterior paint on a major project, John owns the mistake—then turns it into a leadership and systems lesson. In this episode, he walks through how a costly error (≈$40,000) became a catalyst for stronger processes, clearer checkpoints, and a culture where everyone asks “why.” You’ll hear how he chose accountability over insurance, worked nights with the crew to make it right, and doubled down on daily logistics huddles, peer-to-peer mentorship, and team standards that win jobs repeatedly.

Highlights

• Turning failure into process improvements

• Building accountability and spec-check checkpoints

• Teaching teams to ask “why” and bring solutions

• Replicating what top crews do right

• Burnout, self-care, and trusting your team

If you lead people—in construction or anywhere—this is a blueprint for owning problems and coming back stronger.

John sits down with Jade Laws, a new team member who came home in January 2025 after 8.9 years incarcerated. In this candid conversation, Jade shares the real reentry journey—applications and offers pulled after background checks, rebuilding family relationships, and the grind of saving every dollar to move into her first apartment. She talks about skills she gained inside (MVD call center, B2B sales), why meal prep and budgeting matter, and the mindset shift that keeps her moving forward: don’t go back; one foot in front of the other. They compare men’s and women’s experiences coming home, the power of soft skills, and how employers can create real second-chance opportunities. If you’re starting over—or hiring people who are—this episode is a field guide to resilience, work ethic, and hope.

Highlights:

• Getting hired after incarceration: the real obstacles

• Building soft skills that win jobs

• Budgeting, meal prep, and avoiding “make-up” spending

• Reconnecting with family while staying focused on goals

• Why women’s reentry paths can look different—and what helps

In Episode 84, John Morris gets real about what “doing the right thing” looks like when you’re leading a growing company and a community. He shares why decisions must be logical—not emotional—when you’re responsible for the greater good, how PHP Commercial Painting became bigger than any one person, and why daily “What’s your win?” check-ins keep a large team feeling like family.

John also walks through a raw, in-the-moment story: a former employee calls while slipping back into alcohol. What follows is tough love, clear boundaries, and a concrete plan—90 days in a program, vocational training, and a guaranteed shot at a job if he does the work. This episode is about sober leadership, second chances without enabling, and building systems—halfway houses, mentors, budgeting basics—that turn “handouts” into a real hand up.

Highlights:

• Making unemotional, business-first decisions for the greater good

• Why PHP’s identity is bigger than a name

• Daily wins: the 9 a.m. Zoom that builds culture

• Tough love, treatment, and a path back to work

• The recipe for success: common sense, budgeting, and sobriety