Essel

I have a confession to make. I recently went on The Dr. Bill Show. I thought it would be a nice, professional discussion about staffing. I was wrong. Within seconds, he hit me with: "Nik, the last thing the world needs is another staffing service sending warm bodies to job sites. Superintendents need people who get the job done. Is that you or not?!" No pressure. Just my entire business model on the line. I answered. Confidently. But he wasn’t done. Oh no. He went full courtroom drama on me: "You say the right things, Nik... but so did the ‘cash me outside’ lady. HOW?" At this point, I realized I was not on a podcast. I was on trial. So, I laid it out: ✅ We don’t send "warm bodies." We use a field superintendent model to vet and oversee workers. ✅ We assess quality, pace, and production—the only three things that matter. ✅ We make sure superintendents get people who can actually do the job—not just show up. Did I survive the grilling? Barely. Did I convince Dr. Bill? You'll have to watch to find out. #construction #generalcontractor

We weren’t even hired for the project yet. Our team was just doing a simple walkthrough - checking out the site, looking for ways we could help a potential client with their punch list work. But for Essel employee Caine, it was something bigger. He flew in from SoCal to learn what it really takes to build relationships - the kind that turn conversations into contracts. He shadowed our team, watched how we talk to supers and project managers, and got a front-row seat to what being an account manager actually looks like in the field. By the end of the day, he wasn’t just observing. 👉 He was jumping into conversations 👉 Asking the right questions 👉 And seeing firsthand what separates us from the rest. And that walkthrough? It did exactly what we hoped - it proved to the client that when their deadline starts closing in, we’re the ones who will get it done. Talk is cheap. Execution is everything. Nik #construction #generalcontractor Jessica Meno edi arnold

GCs love to say, “We’re wrapping up soon.” No, you’re not. You’re about to drown in punch list chaos. That “small list” of fixes? It’s about to double. Then triple. And before you know it, deadlines are slipping, clients are pissed, and you’re scrambling to find workers who aren’t already gone. That’s where we come in. We specialize in end-of-project firefighting - sending in skilled punch list pros to clean up the mess before it turns into a disaster. ✅ Paint touch-ups, caulking, last-minute fixes? Done. ✅ Bigger issues - drywall, cabinets, finish work? We’ve got it covered. ✅ Instead of playing cleanup for weeks, you actually close the project on time. So yeah, you could keep pretending your team has it under control. Or you could call in people who actually get it finished. DM me if you're ready to hire the folks that get that job done. Nik #generalcontractor #construction

Understaffing can lead to extensive hidden costs. 💰 Learn what they are and how to avoid them. ⬇️ #staffing #staffingsolutions #construction #skilledtrades

Your subcontractor is lying about their workforce. Yeah, I said it. They told you they’d have six electricians on-site. You show up, and there are maybe three. And now? Production is slipping, deadlines are at risk, and you're stuck dealing with the fallout. So what do most GCs do? 👉 Yell at the sub? 👉 Threaten to cut their contract? 👉 Cross their fingers and hope they figure it out? None of that magically puts more skilled workers on the job. Here’s the truth: Most subs lowball their labor on bids because they assume they’ll “figure it out” later. But guess what? They can’t just hire skilled tradesmen off the street overnight! So now their problem is YOUR problem. That’s where we come in. We step in, call it like it is, and actually fix the issue by getting them the extra hands they should have had from the start. No excuses, no delays - just skilled tradespeople who can get the job done. Nine times out of ten, the sub has no clue this is even an option. And once they try it? They never go back. So you can keep playing the waiting game while your project falls behind… OR you can fix the problem today. Shoot me a DM if you're ready to fix your skilled trades workforce problem today. 📲 Nik #construction #generalcontractor

Yelling at your subs isn’t a labor strategy. But damn, a lot of GCs act like it is. “We sub everything out.” Cool. So what happens when your subs fall behind? When production slows to a crawl? When your deadlines start slipping, and your client is breathing down your neck? What do you do? Threaten them? Demand they “figure it out”? Hope they magically find the labor they need? Let me guess - none of that is working. Here’s the truth: Subs don’t WANT to fall behind. But labor shortages, unexpected turnover, and over commitment are real problems. And when they’re drowning, screaming at them from the shore won’t pull them out. That’s where we come in. A lot of subs don’t even realize there’s a solution - until we get a GC to stop the tough-guy act and actually facilitate the right conversation. Nine times out of ten, once we show a sub that there’s a way to fix their labor bottleneck, they’re all in. And guess what? The project gets back on track. So yeah, keep yelling at your subs. Or, you know, actually fix the problem. Your call. Nik #construction #generalcontractor

Not every staffing firm is created equal. ⚠️ But how do you find the right one for your company? 🤔 #skilledtrades #staffing #staffingsolutions

You Don’t Build a Killer Workforce by Posting Jobs. You Build It in the Trenches. Am I right? Everyone loves to talk about “culture” and “teamwork”—but let me tell you, that’s not how you build a real workforce - in real life. On Linkedin - YES! 😂 But, I always recommend asking our clients to included people for the field teams early in the hiring process. Nothings worse than a paper all star that just doesn’t cut it in the field. Tell me if you agree with the following: 1. The Real Ones Show Themselves Fast. Forget resumes. Forget interviews. The truth comes out on Day 1 and is crystal clear by Day 2. The guy who gets out of his truck early, asks where he can jump in, and starts moving without being told? That’s a keeper. The one who’s standing around “waiting for direction” while everyone else is knee-deep in work? That’s a problem. And the person who disappears every 30 minutes for an “urgent phone call”? Yeah… they’re not making it to Friday. You can teach skills, but you can’t teach grit. 2. Small Things Tell Big Stories. Want to spot leadership? Don’t listen—watch. Who picks up trash on the site without being asked? Who stays an extra 15 minutes to help wrap up the day? Who notices a safety issue and actually says something instead of walking by? Leadership isn’t loud. It’s not about barking orders or flexing titles. It’s about the person who carries themselves like they own the outcome—but still knows how to stay humble and respect the crew. I’ve seen it happen. The quiet guy who keeps his head down, works hard, and makes sure his team is good? That’s the one who’s running jobs six months later. 3. Weak Links Cost You More Than Money. They cost you time, trust, and momentum. I’ve had workers who crushed the first week but got too comfortable. Late arrivals. Taking shortcuts. One bad attitude turns into three. The ripple effect is real. Here’s the rule: if someone isn’t pulling their weight, cut them early. The longer you keep them, the more it drains the team. Protect the people who show up and show out—because they’re the ones keeping your project alive. These are lessons from the trenches but boy can they save your team a whole lot of $$ and headache. Anything else to add ? #ConstructionStaffing #SkilledTrades #Leadership #Hiring #WorkforceDevelopment

Technology use on construction sites is on the rise. ⬆️ How might it affect your staffing needs? 🤔 #construction #skilledtrades #staffing #staffingpartner

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