The Grit Blueprint
Step into "The GRIT Blueprint," where AI, Branding and Building Industry Business expert Stefanie Couch sits down with industry leaders and business professionals to explore what it takes to blaze new trails and find success in different industries and professions.
Stefanie will explore topics to help you better understand industries, personal and professional development, branding, marketing, entrepreneurship, and much more. From a Fortune 500 building material distribution company to owning her own business, Stefanie has experience using GRIT to make it to the top.
Join Stefanie as she brings insights from business leaders to help you gain the GRIT you need to succeed.
Episodes
39 episodes
How Executives Can Leverage LinkedIn for Business Growth with Melanie Borden
LinkedIn represents one of the most efficient strategies for B2B companies to build visibility, attract talent, and drive business growth through executive personal branding. Melanie Borden, founder of The Borden Group and LinkedIn expert with ...
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54:56
Beyond Brick and Mortar: Preserving Business Legacies in Construction with Kim Peffley
Kim Peffley, Regional Vice President at Nation's Best, shares her journey from working at her family's True Value store to preserving business legacies across the hardware industry. Her story showcases how the building and construction industry...
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36:26
Transforming Hardware Stores: How Nation's Best Creates Retail Magic with Chris Miller
Chris Miller of Nation's Best shares how the company has grown from zero to 64 stores across 18 states by immediately investing in store renovations that transform mom-and-pop hardware stores into professional retail environments. Their strateg...
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36:38
Small, Nimble, and Thriving: How Independent Lumberyards Compete in a Consolidating Market with Erin Moore
Erin Moore shares why being small and nimble in the lumber industry is a competitive advantage in today's market. We explore how independent lumberyards can thrive amid industry consolidation by leveraging their deep community relationships and...
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27:06
Building Legacy with Innovation: The Future of Independent Lumber Yards with Mark Blickenstaff
Mark Blickenstaff, Divisional Director at Moore Lumber and Hardware, shares how their 75-year-old business is embracing AI to enhance customer service while maintaining personal relationships. His team has implemented innovative solutions inclu...
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52:55
Exit With Purpose: Creating Value When It's Time to Let Go with Deborah Everson
Deborah Everson shares how she transformed a struggling family hardware business into a thriving community hub before executing a successful exit strategy, despite having no prior retail experience. She details their journey from declining sale...
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1:02:58
A Brand That Sells: Mastering B2B Branding with Stefanie Couch
Branding in the building materials industry is the foundation of trust, growth, and legacy, not just logos and colors. Strong brands differentiate products in crowded markets, helping companies avoid competing solely on price while creating emo...
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44:12
Unleash Your Brand's Story: Marketing for Building Industry Success with Beth Carr
Stefanie and branding expert Beth Carr explore how storytelling transforms marketing in traditionally "boring" industries like construction and building materials. They uncover the psychology behind why humans connect with stories over facts an...
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47:04
Navigating Industry Challenges: From Talent Recruitment to AI Implementation with Craig Webb
The building materials industry is evolving with technological advances and operational challenges, requiring dealers to execute strategically rather than rely on market tailwinds. The conversation explores how independents can compete with gro...
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42:55
Champions of Independents: Do it Best Group's Vision for Growth w/ CEO Dan Starr
Dan Starr, president and CEO of Do it Best Group, shares insights on strategic acquisitions, technology, and branding to help independent lumber yards and hardware stores thrive against big-box competition.• Discussing Do it Best's rece...
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31:12
How To Rise In Construction with Stefanie Couch (The Builder Upper Show Guest Episode)
Are you ready to explore the dynamic world of construction through the lens of women making waves in the industry? This episode of the Builder Upper Show features the inspiring voice of Stefanie Couch, founder of Grit Blueprint and a trailblaze...
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31:02
Do it Best Spring Market Preview with Stefanie Couch and Ryan Cooley
This is a special episode! Get ready for a deep dive into the disruptive changes in the lumber and building materials (LBM) market coming to Orlando March 18th through March 20th! This episode explores the monumental mer...
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17:56
Construction Industry AI and Brand Building with Stefanie Couch (guest episode on the Specified Growth Podcast)
This is an episode recorded on the Specified Growth Podcast, where Stefanie was a guest. Find out more here: https://tatstalks.com/specified-podcastOn this episode, Stefanie and host Tatsuya "Tats" Nakagawa, explore the journey of ...
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22:44
World Millwork Alliance Podcast with Paradigm's John Wheeler
This episode was filmed live at WMA 2024. Stefanie and John Wheeler from Paradigm delve into the significance of networking within the millwork industry and the rising role of AI in enhancing business practices. We discuss industry...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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19:47
The Power of Consistency and Focused Goals for Success
In this episode of the Grit Blueprint podcast, Stefanie Couch emphasizes the importance of consistency in achieving personal and professional success. She discusses effective goal-setting strategies, particularly the concept of the 12 12-week y...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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10:42
Marion Pulse
On this episode, Stefanie is joined by Marion Pulse. Marion is a nonprofit leader with a diverse background in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, currently serving as the Member Services and Engagement Manager at the Nationa...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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53:33
Casey Ritter
Stefanie sits down with Casey Ritter. After 7 years in the firearms industry, Casey fell into construction by chance. She quickly felt right at home coming from a male dominated industry. Being the only female in the room wasn’t th...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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47:06
Keeley Ehrenriech
Stefanie is joined by Keeley Ehrenreich.Keeley is an accomplished operations leader in the roofing industry, bringing a wealth of experience from her diverse professional background. Having also worked in the window and door industry an...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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43:24
Amy Roosa
In this episode Stefanie is joined by Amy Roosa.Amy brings 2 decades of dedicated experience as a safety professional, with a rich background spanning various sectors of safety, from construction to general industry. Her journey has bee...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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46:19
Judy Haney
Judy Haney is the Region Commodity Procurement Managerfor Boise Cascade’s Building Materials Distribution division.Her current responsibilities include helping develop new productswith home center sales teams, supervising home cente...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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52:54
How To Get What You "Want"- Goal Setting Tips for Success
SummaryIn this conversation, Stefanie Couch discusses the significance of goal setting and personal wants, emphasizing the need for individuals to define what they truly desire in life. She introduces the concept of a daily wants...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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8:46
Hacia Atherton
This week Stefanie has Hacia Atherton on the show.Hacia is a dynamic and visionary leader dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in the skilled trades industry. As the CEO and Founder of Empowered Women in Trades (EWIT), Hacia h...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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37:36
Josh Luebker
This week Stefanie is joined by Josh Luebker.Josh is the Owner of Sulphur Prairie Management, a Construction Management and Construction Financial consulting firm specializing in Subcontractors. Since joining the industry in 2014, Josh ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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49:33