There’s something truly special about how the blue-collar world steps up during times of crisis, and today, we're taking a moment to recognize that.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen incredible stories of resilience and community in the face of natural disasters across the Carolinas, Florida, Texas, and beyond. It’s a reminder that while not everyone in the industry may be doing things for the right reasons, there are countless people who show up, give their time, and work tirelessly without expecting anything in return.

We couldn’t help but highlight the coordinated efforts that go into these large-scale responses—whether it’s staging areas being set up for trades to mobilize quickly or local companies stepping up with supplies and transportation. The heart of these efforts isn’t just in the immediate action but in the willingness to stick around long after the headlines fade. This commitment often turns into life-changing experiences for those who help and those who are helped, showing that the blue-collar industry is built on more than just skills; it’s built on a shared sense of purpose and community.

We’re also reminded of stories like those of our clients and friends who found their passion for the trades during pivotal moments, like witnessing the aftermath of major events and wanting to contribute. It’s this sense of purpose that we hope more leaders in the industry recognize and cultivate, turning moments of crisis into opportunities for growth, learning, and unwavering support.

If you find value in stories like these, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review. Share this episode with others who appreciate the grit and heart of the blue-collar world.

Highlights

• Community Response: We discuss the blue-collar industry's incredible efforts during recent natural disasters.
• Long-Term Dedication: Highlighting the commitment of workers who stay to support communities beyond the immediate crisis.
• Effective Coordination: Insights into the well-organized staging efforts that improve disaster response.
• Impactful Stories: Sharing real examples of towns rallying together for recovery.
• Leadership Reflection: Encouraging leaders to recognize the importance of their teams' contributions.

Connect with us:

Steve Doyle:

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Brad Herda:

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Welcome back to another episode of the Blue Cow RPS podcast, the award winning the 2024 Small Business Owner Community award winning podcast of the year presented by Podcast Town.

Yeah.

Ooh.

I am your co-host Brad Herda and my other co-host is...

Steve Doyle Jr.

junior out of the great state of Michigan. Mr. Doyle, welcome back to another show. Congratulations on the win.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Herter. Congratulations to you too.

We gotta take the W where we can, you know, I asked a lot of questions about this award to make sure there wasn't a popularity contest and. I was told more than three shows were nominated and that more than one person voted for us so. You know we. It's a win, right? Take the win. Exactly, so that was very exciting to see. Since our last recording as well, we charted on Apple.

That's right.

Hey. OK, it's the win. Take the win when you can get it. Quit asking questions.

In the US in careers at number 110 in mid October Which was spectacular and as we continue to look at our and listen to our tens of listeners and feedback and Doing some math. It's pretty spectacular that we're constantly in the and this is gonna seem ridiculous But we're in the top eight to nine thousand of all shows in the US consistently which

I know that's nice too.

Right. That's awesome.

It's spectacular when there's over 3 million active shows and you know when you're to that small percentage and everything so you got to be in the right. The Apple Top 100 is really the goal with that top 100 of 3 million is such a small percentage of all shows. Maybe someday, but you know. Slow and steady wins the race. Thank you to our tens of listeners man.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Thank you to all of our listeners sincerely. you. Wouldn't be here without you.

It's plural.

Right. And exactly. So topic de jour. I let's talk about the the hearts and soul of the industries we look to participate and serve with. Right. Let's talk about how so many have come together over the last several months with all the natural disasters in the Carolinas and

Yeah, what we got.

Florida, Texas, Panhandle, all of those things and the stories that are out there and the things and not not everybody's good people, but there are a lot of really good people doing good things and the right things with no expectation in return. So let's talk about that for a little bit, shall we?

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Right.

Alright, let's do it. Let's do it. So I just find it truly amazing like you know that some of the things that I had read is how they were already pre lining up. To be down there. But you were talking, we're talking Hurricane Milton that just happened in Florida a couple weeks ago and. Just the sheer fact that.

correct.

People, companies from all over the nation and actually even from outside the nation were lining up. They were staging up to go in and provide immediate response.

Correct.

Right. And I just find that one to be. know, yes, humanity still exists, right? That yes, there there there is some. Well, yeah, you know, people are lining up. Yes, there is some pay associated with all of that. But in general, people are moving away from their families, their loved ones to go help others in need. Right. And I just find that to be very.

Correct. Yep. And doing so in doing so mostly willingly, sometimes it's a pay, right? It does become a travel pay incentive, different things. There might be some opportunity from the organizations, but I'm confident that not all organizations are providing extra benefits for this. They're giving them the opportunity to go out and serve and

Yep.

Correct.

Yep.

take on an amazing learning opportunity. Cause it's not just all the seasoned veterans that are doing this. You know, the amazing learning opportunity that comes through these situations for everyone, right? Whether it's the high tension wire folks or the mold remediation, flash, fire, water, you know, the serve pros of the world. It's, mean, the magnitude and scale of, wow.

Correct.

Yep.

Right.

That's a massive learning opportunity to take forward with you to apply into the small jobs of life along the way.

And just the experiences that they get helping families in need, helping people in need at a time when yeah, those families. Don't think anything is coming. Right, where literally sometimes those those service workers are literally rescuing people out of harm's way.

Correct. There's a client up here of mine that she ready was filled. She's the transportation company. Fill the trailer, fill the trailer with whatever we can and take down there to support whether it's diapers or hygiene or winter clothes or Jack, whatever it was, because people literally lost everything.

Yep.

So for a firm here in Wisconsin to work on those donations to bring that to take that down there on her own, her own trucks, her own trailers to go move that material just to get it to the Red Cross or wherever the distribution points are going to be. just says a lot when, when things go horribly wrong, it's amazing how the blue collar world folks come together to support one another.

Right.

Mm-hmm.

Right. And that they do. It's unlike any other industry that I've seen before. Right. There's been things where, you know, some other disasters and stuff and people will put out there, know, hey, we're going to donate to, you know, whatever the charity is that's going to send stuff, but it's usually just short lived. What we see in the blue collar industry is it's not short lived and it's time and time again. And it's

not just a single, the singular event. Meaning they don't just go down for, yeah, well, it's not just every time, but it's also until it's resolved.

It's every time.

Right? The immediate need is here and some people will stay. Those that had that that we find to be, you know, more generous and giving, they're there for months. Helping people through this.

Right? and unfortunately I was not able to be part of the Andrew Brown interview. when we had him on the show, but that's kind of where he got his passion for the trades was through an event, a major life event. I believe it was nine 11, if I recall correctly, and he was watching the EMTs and the service folks and the, and people coming through that.

Correct. Yep.

It was.

Mm-hmm.

And he recognized the math problem. Now he's out there killing it being an advocate for industry to How do we get people engaged how we get people involved? What's the sense of purpose? It's not just about the paycheck It's about all the things we've been talking about over and over and over again with on the show with our clients with our network with our partners

Right.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

It's build, build something and they will come not a put it out there and let's hope somebody shows up.

Right, exactly. Exactly.

Yeah. So what have you found to be the most interesting piece of the response thus far?

I find honestly the coordination. That's what I find to be the most intriguing, because usually that turns out to be the biggest shit show. Is the coordination upfront where you saw like staging areas in certain states. They actually had areas where where different trades could go to be staged ahead of time. And to be honest, that was the first time I've ever seen something like that. And I was like, that is actually something learned.

time and time again through just experience of having to do this for the different natural disasters that we've seen. So that honestly was more for me, more eyeopening to see.

What about for you?

it's the individual stories out in the Carolinas, right? Of small towns and just the amount of people willing to go in and support and clean up and start the rebuild and go forward. And that, that part is, that part of the country that would never expect to get that much water ever. that is truly a once in a lifetime piece that literally took away people's lives and memories.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

homes and you just can't get that much water going down the side of a mountain to not have damage. was, it's insane. And seeing the pictures and hearing the stories, I follow a lot of NASCAR and that NASCAR community is just rallied around that part of the country. whereas everybody else moved on to the Florida side of things and, there's still a lot more work to do, but there's also a lot of people headed that direction to support before winter shows up and it gets cold.

Right. Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Let's make sure that fireplaces are working, that electricity is back in place and get the generators there. know, Generac, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, whomever, right? How do we get people there to live life and move forward and not have the holiday season? Let the holiday season be a time of gratitude versus a time of what are we going to do next?

Right.

Mm-hmm.

Yep.

Correct. Correct. Yeah, actually one of my former former employees actually went down there and he was sharing some photos of him driving a high low and I was like, the good old days when we used to drive high lows, we used to drag him and race him around and his response is is hey, whatever it takes to get things up and running. Right, so it's we all know somebody that. They have that that an act that experience to you know.

Go help those in need.

Right. It is a. It's an opportunity to leverage your skill, right? Yes, it might cost you some money to go do the things, but when people are willing to donate materials, somebody's gotta be able to do something with them. Right, the builders for first sources of the world, the ABC companies, the all those. Mills and construction yards. They got material.

Mm-hmm.

Correct.

Mm-hmm.

Cool, we'll figure out how to get you the material. But somebody's gotta do something with it.

Right.

Mm-hmm. Yep, absolutely.

And that is where the treasure of opportunity comes in. I'm truly hoping that leaders of these organizations are reflecting on what they're doing, understanding what they're creating, the sense of purpose they're giving not only to their team members, but to the communities they're serving to allow those things to move forward.

Mm-hmm.

So this is a relatively short show today, but I guess I just wanted to make sure that we recognize literally the thousands of people that are out there supporting those that have truly need a need and that just because it's not in the news doesn't mean it's fixed.

Right.

so when there's the ask, how do we step up and support others in need, whether it's, time, materials, money, opportunity to support training, education, whatever it is, what can we do to support, those individuals? And, I just want to give them big thank you and a shout out to those that, are doing the thing and making it happen.

Yeah, thank you guys for making it happen.

So with that, until our next show, have a great weekend, all right? All right, thanks.

Alright. Yeah, you too, my friend. Later.