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Are you ready to shake things up at the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) 2025 Convention and Industry Expo in West Palm Beach, Florida, from April 28-30? The DYOJO Podcast and C&R Magazine are thrilled to unveil the 5050 Challenge—a fun, engaging, and industry-uniting initiative that’s about to take networking to the next level! If you haven’t heard of the #5050Restore challenge, buckle up because this is going to be exciting! What is The 5050 Challenge? Dreamed up by Jon Isaacson, host of The DYOJO Podcast, the 5050 Challenge is all about bursting bubbles and building connections in the property restoration and insurance industry. Last year, Jon tested the waters, and now we’re going BIG at RIA 2025! The goal? Meet 50 new people from 50 different states (or as many as you can!) during the convention. It’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone, pop those industry cliques, and welcome new faces—whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time attendee. Why does this matter? The RIA Convention broke records last year for attendance, with a huge wave of first-timers joining the ranks. The 5050 Challenge is your ticket to embracing the incoming generation of contractors, sharing wisdom, and forging new relationships that could spark collaborations, ideas, or even lifelong friendships. Plus, you might just win some awesome swag in the process! How The 5050 Challenge Works We’ve made it super easy (and fun) to join the challenge:
Why You Should Join The 5050 Challenge The restoration industry is tight-knit, but let’s be real—we all gravitate toward our familiar groups. The 5050 Challenge is a reminder to break out of those bubbles. As Michelle Blevins, owner of C&R Magazine, puts it, “This is a good challenge because we do kind of all go into our groups. The industry is so small, so if you walk into a room, you can see where the groups of friends are. I’m certainly guilty of that.” For industry vets, it’s a chance to mentor and welcome newcomers. For first-timers, it’s an opportunity to push boundaries and connect with the pros you’ve read about in C&R Magazine or heard on The DYOJO Podcast. And for everyone, it’s a way to make the RIA Convention unforgettable. Jon Isaacson sums it up perfectly: “Those of you that have been in the industry, get out of your bubble. Meet some new people. Embrace the incoming contractors and generations. And those of you that are new, keep pushing people to burst their bubbles. Pop bubbles. That’s what we’re trying to do.” Why C&R Magazine and The DYOJO Podcast? C&R Magazine, the oldest trade publication in the cleaning and restoration industry, and The DYOJO Podcast, the go-to resource for shortening your “DANG learning curve,” are proud to team up for this initiative. Both are passionate about elevating the industry through education, advocacy, and community. C&R delivers cutting-edge insights from industry thought leaders, while The DYOJO Podcast brings practical tips and stories to help contractors thrive. Together, they’re the perfect duo to launch a challenge that’s as fun as it is impactful. Join The DYOJO and C&R Magazine at RIA 2025! The RIA 2025 Convention and Industry Expo is the premier event for property restoration and insurance professionals to network, learn, and grow. With the 5050 Challenge, you’ll make the most of every moment—meeting new people, winning swag, and leaving with a network that spans the country. So, are you ready to pop some bubbles? Mark your calendars for April 28-30, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Grab your ticket, follow #5050RestoreChallenge on social media, and get ready to connect like never before. As Jon would say, “Skibbidy, restorers!” Let’s make this convention the most connected yet. For more details on the RIA 2025 Convention, visit convention.restorationindustry.org. To dive into industry insights, check out C&R Magazine at candrmagazine.com and tune into The DYOJO Podcast at thedyojo.com/podcast. See you in Florida! 
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In Episode 122 of The DYOJO Podcast we dive into the fundamentals of construction project management, breaking down what it takes to complete projects on scope, on budget, and on time. Listeners will learn about key milestones like understanding the contracted scope, meeting deadlines, maintaining quality, ensuring site safety, and keeping clients happy. Whether you're part of a small team or a large organization, we discuss the critical role of project managers and how clear communication, thorough documentation, and efficient task management are essential for success. Discover practical tips, such as rereading contracts, breaking down projects step by step, and using tools like CRM systems and Google Docs to stay on top of project updates. Subscribe to The DYOJO Podcast to elevate your construction management skills and achieve better results on every project! Watch The DYOJO Podcast on YouTube Listen to The DYOJO Podcast on Spotify, Apple, and all platforms Read The DYOJO Blog - for additional information and sources Thursdays are for The DYOJO Podcast - Helping contractors shorten their DANG learning curve What the best price for training in the skilled trades? Free. As long as it isn't a big waste of time or just some marketing scheme to transform your employees into the salesforce for the next construction industry gimmick. Give The DYOJO Podcast 5 minutes to prove that 1) this seasons series on construction project management is worth your time as a business owner, manager, and aspiring construction professional; and 2) isn't just a marketing gimmick. We are going to try to sell you our books, because we wrote them and need to feed our families, but the content will be real work experience that will help your team members develop. This clip from Episode 122 of The DYOJO Podcast introduces six keys to success for construction project managers. The discussion emphasizes the importance in completing tasks on scope, budget, and schedule. The video highlights the multifaceted role of project management. Key milestones for success include delivering the agreed-upon scope, meeting the client timeline, providing quality controls, and maintaining a safe, orderly worksite. Project managers play a critical role in achieving client satisfaction and profitability which are crucial for business continuity. Thursdays are for The DYOJO Podcast - helping contractors shorten their DANG learning curve. Join host Jon Isaacson as we explore contractor stories, experiences, and best practices to help listeners thrive in the skilled trades.  Thank you to our advertiser - The Spring Experience - a must attend event for cleaning and restoration professionals. Join us in Punta Gorda, Florida April 8 - 10, 2025. For more information go to ExperienceTheEvents.com.
If you can believe it, there was a time when I was entrusted to coach young athletes in the beautiful sport (aka soccer). Inevitably I hit a wall of frustration that many managers and leaders can relate to: no one was listening. In the heat of the moment, I remembered the approach from my own childhood sports experiences—“Just make ’em run!”—which was often more about punishment than productivity. While enforcing discipline is key to sports and business, on this grass field surrounded by little rascals I had a brief moment of revelation and decided to try something different.  Instead of demanding compliance with an order to run laps, I made a small tweak and reframed discipline into something engaging. I threw a soccer ball out onto the field and turned it into a competitive drill. Two players raced to the ball: one played offense and the other defense. They ran, hustled, and worked hard—but instead of complaints, there was enthusiasm and laughter. This simple shift got the kids moving (run you turds) but also improved their skills in dribbling, defending, and competing under pressure. That moment of innovation didn’t just help me on the soccer field; it taught me a valuable lesson that applies to leading teams in the workplace. Achieving goals isn’t always about doubling down on discipline, it’s about finding creative solutions that make the process engaging and effective. Transforming Frustration into Employee Engagement For many managers, training employees can feel like shouting into the void. Traditional methods—long meetings, repetitive workshops, or endless checklists—often fail to inspire engagement. Employees may check the box but aren’t always learning or improving. Similar to my soccer coaching experience, doing what you have learned from prior managers, i.e. repeating old mindsets and habits, likely results in resistance, frustration, and minimal results for all involved. However, a little creativity can turn routine training into a purpose-driven activity that achieves more than just compliance.  Three Ideas for Practical Employee Engagement Here are three strategies to rethink how you train and engage your team: 1. Reframe Challenges as Games Just like turning running drills into a competitive soccer exercise, you can gamify training tasks in the workplace. Gamification taps into employees' intrinsic motivation by adding elements of competition, collaboration, and rewards.
2. Focus on the Underlying Goal When I shifted my focus from “get them to run” to “help them develop skills while running,” the results improved drastically. In the workplace, this means thinking critically about what you want employees to achieve, not just the tasks you want them to complete.
3. Build Skills Through Real-World Practice The best training happens when employees are actively doing, not just observing. Like the soccer players learning to dribble under pressure, employees benefit most from hands-on experiences that mirror the challenges they’ll face in their roles.
 Speaking of creative ways to help your employees thrive - Check out the latest book from Jon Isaacson and The DYOJO - P2T: Preparing 2 Thrive in the Modern Workplace available for $9.99 from Amazon. Employee Engagement Leads to Achieving Company Goals As managers, it’s easy to get stuck in frustration when employees don’t respond as expected. But as I learned on the soccer field, stagnation should be a prompt for innovation. Instead of doubling down on what isn’t working, step back and ask yourself these questions:
This mindset shift can lead to breakthroughs that benefit your team, your sanity, and your achievement of organizational goals. When I introduced the competitive running drill to my soccer players, it didn’t just solve the problem of getting them to listen—it made the practice more enjoyable, increased their skills, and improved our overall performance. Similarly, in the workplace, creative training strategies don’t just address immediate challenges; they also build stronger, more capable teams. Employees who feel engaged and valued are more likely to invest in their work and collaborate effectively. Rather than rinse, repeat, and reuse old methodologies, taking time to step back can lead to simple innovations with drastic long-term outcomes. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to transform your training approach. Often, a simple tweak—like reframing a task as a game or connecting training to real-world applications—can make a significant difference. Take the time to observe what isn’t working, brainstorm creative solutions, and experiment with new ideas. As you see results, continue refining your methods and sharing your successes with your team. Together, you can turn training into a powerful tool for achieving company goals, one creative solution at a time. Success isn’t always about running harder; often it is the result of simply engaging with your team over a series of small but meaningful improvements. Keywords:
P2T: Preparing 2 Thrive in the Modern Workplace by Jon Isaacson is now available as an AUDIOBOOK through Amazon.  INTRO (excerpt). Two types of people will receive and read this book. We call them Young Professional A (YPA) and Young Professional B (YPB). At the start of their career, there isn't much that separates YPA from YPB. They both have few resources, little work experience, and low knowledge about the working world. Both young professionals are going to struggle to get a job. Both young professionals have people that care about them. The difference is that one of these young professionals will listen to what the good influences around them are saying. The young professional with the right road map and the willingness to learn, will set themselves up for success. P2T creates win-wins for employers and employees. P2T is book one in the Resources for Young Pros series. Organizations win when their young professionals are engaged. Young pros win when they have a road map for success. The stories, examples, and principles shared in this book are from real world experience. P2T will prepare readers to thrive in the modern workplace. Prepared to thrive in any job interview. Prepared to thrive in any new job. Prepared to thrive as emerging professionals. Employers are be handing P2T out by the dozens to new hires P2T is available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook through Amazon. Get your copy today! #CareerOpportunities #CareerGrowth #careerdevelopment #careers #book #audiobook #youngprofessionals How does a consumer know whether a contractor is competent enough to complete remodeling and repair work? Author Ron Alford provides insights into the four types of contractors in his book, designed for property owners, titled How to Win the Insurance Claim Game (available on Amazon). In this video we review those four types of contractors, Ron's tests of competence, and how the consumer can better protect themselves when hiring a construction professional. This discussion is also helpful to business owners and managers looking to elevate their team's abilities to seek, sell, and produce quality projects.  |
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