Samantha C. Prestidge

Hi, Reader Some of us are managing like Michael Scott from The Office. Just out here declaring buzzwords like“We just need better alignment”— aka the corporate version of “thoughts and prayers.” “Alignment” shows up in every business conversation these days… but half the time, no one even agrees on what it means. Is it about getting buy-in? Keeping everyone informed? Making sure people follow the same process? Agreeing on the plan? Those are four completely different things. When leaders...

Hi, Reader! I get it—hiring help feels like one more thing to add to your already-too-long to-do list. And if you’re anything like most business owners, you might be thinking: 🚧 “I don’t know if I have enough work for a VA.” 🚧 “I don’t have time to train someone.” 🚧 “What if they’re not the right fit?” You’re not alone—almost every client we’ve worked with has had these same concerns. And you know what they say after hiring a fractional admin? "I should’ve done this way sooner." So, Let’s...

Hi, Reader Your team isn’t failing. They’re just guessing. There’s a time and place to give people the freedom to figure things out. When I take my kids on a winter hike, I let them explore—even when they’re one step away from falling into an icy creek. They’ll learn. But when we cross a busy street? That’s when we hold hands, set clear expectations, and make sure everyone knows exactly what to do. The Problem:Too many business owners expect their teams to “figure it out” when what they...

Hi, Reader! Management in one meme:"I was put in an awkward situation. And I reacted poorly." Honestly, this should be in every new manager handbook. Your employee asks for a raise mid-crisis? Awkward. You tried to “empower” your team but forgot to give actual instructions? Awkward. You held a meeting that could’ve been an email? Awkward and unforgivable. If we're all being honest, every leader has had a poor reaction to something in their career. Early in my recruiting days, I was on a...

Hi, Reader! Your managers don’t need another boring leadership talk. They need real-world strategies to:✅ Get projects moving without chasing people down.✅ Handle tough conversations—without tension or awkwardness.✅ Free up YOUR time because they actually take ownership. Here’s what happens when they do: 💬 “I was able to look at my day-to-day challenges differently and understand how I could practically and effectively solve them.” 💬 “Samantha's workshop style made it enjoyable to actually...

Hey Reader, If you think you can step into your first project manager role and just figure it out as you go, I’ve got news for you — you can, but you’ll probably age 10 years in the process. Too many new PMs are thrown into the deep end without a life vest — no training, no mentor, just a pile of problems and the expectation they’ll magically know how to handle it. That’s exactly what happened to Irene Walsh Garcia when her first PM project was a 60-story high-rise. Spoiler: She survived —...

Hey Reader, Some managers love to complain that their team won’t take initiative. “No one listens. I have to do everything myself. Why don’t they just step up?” But here’s the uncomfortable truth: You might be the reason your team isn’t stepping up. When you’re the one solving every problem, answering every question, and making every decision—you’ve trained your team to be dependent on you. And that’s not leadership. In this week’s episode of Construction Trailblazers, Jesse Hernandez joins...

There’s a fine line between strategic growth and self-serving ambition. When we make decisions—whether it’s pricing, hiring, or even how we delegate—are we truly thinking about what’s best for the business and the people we serve? Or are we chasing what feels impressive, what we want to happen, or what aligns with an outcome we’ve already decided on? I’ve seen business owners hire too fast because they wanted to step into the CEO role—before the business was ready. I’ve seen leaders delegate...

The construction industry has a hiring problem—but it’s not because young people don’t want to work. I hear it all the time: “This new generation has no work ethic.” “No one wants to put in the effort anymore.” “Retention is impossible.” But let’s be real—if you’re struggling to hire and keep great people, it’s not because today’s workforce is lazy. It’s because the way companies attract, develop, and retain talent is broken. That’s exactly what I’m tackling in this week’s episode of...

Hey Reader, Ever notice how your loyalty shifts in a nature documentary? If the camera follows a baby penguin, you pray it survives. 🐧 If it’s the starving killer whale? You suddenly hope it gets a meal. 🐋 Same scene. Different perspective. And in business—especially in construction and field service—the perspective you lead with determines who your customers and team root for. You already know your customers (or crews) should be the focus. But here’s where even the best managers and business...