Be a Healthy Skeptic with Ken Larsen

The DYOJO Podcast LIVE w/ Ken Larsen CR WLS FLS CLS CMP CSDS (Episode 46)

This was recorded LIVE on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 830am PST.

The DYOJO Podcast will be switching to a LIVE format, with episodes releasing Thursdays at 9am PST - www.youtube.com/thedyojo - also broadcast to Jon's LinkedIn and Facebook.

This show is sponsored by the NEW BOOK from Jon Isaacson and a collaboration of talented authors - Be Intentional: Culture - AVAILABLE NOW in Kindle and paperback through Amazon. 

Ken states his mission, and career trajectory, is dedicated, "To improve the credibility of the restoration industry with trustworthy technical information and encouraging others to embrace it."

He is the author of the leading industry reference guide on "state of the art" structural restorative drying practices, Leadership in Restorative Drying. If you contact The DYOJO and reference this podcast episode, you can received 40% OFF.

We discussed:

• Ken started his 43 year career in the restoration industry working with his dad in Canada.
• Mr. Larsen has been vocal about trends in the industry that he believes are unhealthy, we will address a few of these items and Ken's perspectives on righting the ship. He started his formal efforts in training and education in 2003 with Dri Eaz. 
• He shares his thoughts on "IICRC-isms" and drying myths perpetuated by the industry. Ken says, "Accurate information is empowering." 

Ken shared a few key principles for growth minded professionals in restoration:

• First seek to understand
• Get educated
• Get certified
• Be a healthy skeptic
• Start writing for trade journals
• Start teaching the principles you have learned 

He shares his experiences with restoration industry groups and why Ken believes it's important for modern restorers to rally together. Mr. Larsen is actively involved in the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), which he believes is the premier gathering for industry professionals. He is proud of the momentum the RIA has built with Ed Cross "The Restoration Lawyer" and the Advocacy and Government Affairs (AGA) Committee. He looks forward to meeting with restorers in June at the RIA Annual Convention. 

I made a conscious effort to not spend too much time on topics that Ken has already addressed. Do yourself a favor and listen to Ken's appearances on IAQ Radio

• Ep 134 Drying quackery
• Ep 436 Restoration education
• Ep 426 Ken & cliff zlotnik articles in IICRC journal Aug 2016 addressing "the elephant in the room"

We took a "commercial break" for Born to Repair's Tip of the Week 004 and a Christmas message from GMS Distribution.

Michelle Blevins from Restoration and Remediation Magazine also joined us to discuss the Top 10 articles, authors, and videos from 2020.