Construction Trailblazers: Paving The Way to Excellence

Interview with Adam Swain
Samantha C Prestidge: [00:00:00] Welcome to Construction Trailblazers, the podcast that gets real about leading people, managing projects, and simplifying growth.
I'm Samantha C Prestige and I work with construction and trade leaders who need to untangle back office chaos so they can have less firefighting and more traction. You can catch past episodes@constructiontrailblazers.com and find practical strategies for building a business that runs. Smoother.
Today's guest is Adam Swain, founder of 6 33 Group, a civil construction company here in Colorado. Adam left the status quo behind to create a people first business, rooted in care, integrity, and faith. He's not just building projects, he's building a culture where workers are valued. Subs are respected and leadership feels personal, and to warn you or get you a little excited, we're gonna be diving into faith and ministry in today's episode.
So if you've ever wondered what it looks like to lead with conviction in a tough [00:01:00] industry, then this episode's for you. Thanks for joining us today, Adam.
Adam Swain: Yeah, thanks.
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah. So, okay, you started 6 33 group with a mission to make civil construction better for the people in it. What made you wanna take that leap?
And then how has that mission really shaped your leadership from day one?
Adam Swain: Yeah. That's, that's a good one. Well, it's not, it's not something that happened overnight. It, I think it started in college actually. In,
Samantha C Prestidge: Okay.
Adam Swain: in college, I, I started going to a church for the first time in my life.
Samantha C Prestidge: Oh,
Adam Swain: and I
Samantha C Prestidge: okay.
Adam Swain: to, to find this new purpose in life. But about the same time I started working in construction I interned at a couple of construction companies while I was in college getting my civil engineering degree. and what I found was, man, these people they all want and need something greater. They're, they're all, they're all [00:02:00] looking for something. And and, and people are often mistreated and, and need help. So that, that kind of created this it wasn't a leap per se, it was this seed that got planted. So I spent a, a, a short career really working in construction and then in the, in the office as an engineer. And then ultimately decided want to finish out my purpose by caring for people in construction that really need it the most. And so, so then I took the leap and started the company against, some advice.
But it's, it's been good. Yeah.
Samantha C Prestidge: you gotta just go, go out and take that leap. And so it's interesting that you said that people are looking for something greater and I really, I wanna dive into the, the leadership aspect of that because I also find with a lot of leadership development. There's a lot of self-reflection that needs to happen.
And what can end up happening is [00:03:00] like, there's so much focus on turning inward and like figuring yourself out and like, you know, you can do it and all that stuff when it's really freaking hard and we do need something greater to kind of help us navigate that and really be able to step up. So how do you think a faith-driven leader is gonna differ from like your everyday secular leader?
Adam Swain: Yeah. You know. I'll say this. And I don't know if this is coming because this is what the, the algorithms on social media do for me. But feel like a lot of people really find or need really strong faith to be leaders in, in this industry. I think it's hard. It's really hard out there. It, it beats you down every day.
As, as we
Samantha C Prestidge: Hmm.
Adam Swain: earlier it, I think people really need to hold on to a greater mission and purpose to know that they can keep going and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And, really for, for you to be a business owner. [00:04:00] I'm gonna say, you're not gonna go as hard or as long as somebody that has a purpose If you don't,
Samantha C Prestidge: Hmm.
Adam Swain: that's, that's the way
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah. So has the most interesting part for you then kind of been, okay, I was exhausted the night before and now I've gotta wake up with a whole new energy, or what has really been the surprising part for you running your own business?
Adam Swain: Yeah. I mean that's, that is one you know, starting, I didn't realize that I'd get phone calls that wake me up at three in the morning, five in the morning. Often just to, to get my day started or to solve a fire in the field. But another surprising thing that I didn't really think about is people are really challenging. That it sounds, it sounds simple but I, I just mean that as an employer, I've never been on that side of, of seeing the whole person and caring for them [00:05:00] even despite their struggles at home and, any other outside of work challenges or, or, or mental challenges, which is, which is why I started this to care for people in that way.
But man I, I had no idea how, how taxing and difficult that could be,
Samantha C Prestidge: Wow. So sounds like you're really getting to know your employees at a different level than maybe what you got to know. Your colleagues before, when you're an employee, what do those engagements look like? Are these like, we're checking in every week, or these are daily huddles? Like what does that really look like for you?
Adam Swain: Yeah. It's, it's pretty informal. For me. You know, everybody's got their different communication styles. Some
really well in, in groups or at at parties, or some people are more introverted and, and some people are really good at one-on-one. And I, I really love when I'm going from job site to job site trying to find each person go to them, ask them how are you doing, man?
How's the [00:06:00] thing with your mom? How's how's this challenge for you? Things like that. I, I think that's, that's been a great way for me to to talk to people. And, and really uncover those needs. But even then some of the needs come up just last minute. Somebody doesn't show up, won't answer the phone. Where, where'd they go? know that that happens.
Samantha C Prestidge: Oh, was that that level of like, okay, I wanna get to know my people. Was that something that you felt like, okay, the Holy Spirit kind of planted that in you? Did you have a mentor? Or previous boss kind of modeled that for you.
Adam Swain: That's a, that's a great question. I I don't know where I, where I learned that. I think you know, my, my faith, it is extremely important to me. And like I mentioned that time in college I spent a lot of time in what, what we'd call at church discipleship. so I would when I, when I was a [00:07:00] freshman in college, the, this guy got one-on-one with me before my class every, every couple days.
And and he would just teach me what it's like to be a faith-driven man. And, and maybe I learned that. From him explicitly. But it's, it's something that you also see really good leaders do in our industry. I, I can't remember the name of the CEO at CW Matthews. But he, he is a, a great example of this, that kind of leadership.
He, he's got, you know, hundreds of people at his company and he, he knows everybody's name and asks him how their family's doing. And
i, I aspire to be like, because it, it lifts people up.
Samantha C Prestidge: Hmm. Yeah, I, I think it's. It's interesting that a lot of people don't realize, like even if you don't believe in Jesus, the principles in the Bible are just a recipe for a good life, right? Like there's so much we can learn about being a good human, a good [00:08:00] spouse, a good leader from just reading the Bible right Now, you said earlier,, that you find a lot of people end up needing or eventually finding faith.
Just by being in the construction world 'cause it's so tough. And so I'm interested, there's still obviously many in the industry that haven't found that. And it's tough. Like there may be kind of bitter hardened people 'cause that's just what they've experienced in the industry, right? So really how are you acting out your faith and really leaning into this ministry when there's not always space for that.
Adam Swain: Yeah. Well, I, I'm creating the space for it. You know, I, I think I, I learned something recently that if I if I try to. Stifle it. I'm not really being true to who I am, you know I believe in God and I, and I love Jesus. And he, [00:09:00] he, he coaches me through, through my whole life.
And he's ultimately who I live for. So why would I. Why would I try to pretend that it's different?
You know, I'm finding that people respect somebody holding to their values. A as difficult as, or, or as controversial as it may be, I just need to walk past the, the controversy
Samantha C Prestidge: I like your conviction here, and I, I wanna take a moment to maybe go a little off script and learn from you. 'cause we're both in Colorado. Which is a pretty left-leaning unspiritual community or spiritual, but like, in other ways, right? And so I think for me, I, I find sometimes, not that I wanna stifle, but I do struggle to find that balance of, okay, how can I show up with faith, kind of be the light and the salt in the world that we're called to be,
Adam Swain: Hmm.
Samantha C Prestidge: while also not over salting because [00:10:00] maybe.
I'm supposed to be here for this person and they're gonna have some wake up call in a year or two.
Adam Swain: Yeah.
Samantha C Prestidge: So have you had to navigate that or do you feel like, okay, because we're shining the light, we're naturally kind of drawing in other believers.
Adam Swain: You know, in college the ministry I was a part of took this approach. I. Which was difficult, but basically share Jesus with everybody. You know, going, almost the door to door. I was really uncomfortable with that. then there's the other side of the spectrum, which I also wasn't so comfortable with, which was don't say anything. Don't step on anybody's toes. I just hide it. It's something I keep at home. but the, the middle ground that I'm, I'm loving and, and finding really awesome, in Colorado, is being the human that cares about people. And then knowing that that, that you said wake up [00:11:00] call moment is gonna come and it comes often in the construction industry. Part of the reason I love it here, but people will need help. If you are that true friend that, that loves Jesus, that cares for them as as Christ would people, people know that you'll be there for them if you are that true friend. And yeah, it, it's great. We. We have friends with extremely different beliefs than us. They're, you know, opposite side of the spectrum, but my wife, she runs with them all the time and just loves them, cares for them. And you know, they were uncomfortable to share that they were actually a gay couple. And, and my wife said like, you, you know what my opinion is on that, but. I still love you guys. I'm still your friend, and they go to her for advice and she continues to lovingly salt the, the the relationship. [00:12:00] But it's, yeah, it's really hard. If people assume things about you and, and push you away instead.
Samantha C Prestidge: Oh, that's cool. That's reminding me at my church we had a guest speaker. Come preach a message once, and he, he dropped some money on some really nice stakes, right? Like awesome stakes. And he had three stakes up on, on the stage. And then he had one that was no salt at all. Like, you can't even tell like that your faith is there, right?
He had another and he just dumped like a whole thing. Like you can feel everyone cringe. 'cause these are beautiful steaks, right? And I'm, I'm a steak, I'm a food girly, right? So I'm sitting in the audience like, oh my God. Like no one can use this steak at all. Right? But totally over salting it. Right? And then he's got one in the middle that's like, okay, we're sprinkling this, we're seasoning it.
Well, right? And, and you come to enjoy it. And I, so I appreciate And that's, that's so. Beautiful what your wife is doing. 'cause there are those people that have maybe [00:13:00] damaged the Christian reputation. And people think that we are here to judge rather than say like, Hey, I'm, I'm here to love you. Right?
Sometimes that means I gotta say something hard and you're not gonna like it, but I'm here to love you. Right. So then if we look at this from the perspective of 6 33 with your own employees or even the, the trades that that show up on site. Has there been any moment where someone's just been like totally refreshed of like, oh wow, like this job site feels different than others I've been on before.
Adam Swain: Yeah. My, I think the best example I can think of is my, my superintendent. You know, he, he doesn't share the same faith, but he he's just the nicest person. But he's like, man, he says it maybe every week. This has never been done in the construction industry before. Like, this feels so different.
People aren't yelling here, nobody's throwing wrenches. This is, this is fantastic. [00:14:00] We need more of this for, for our industry. So I hear it from him all the time, and I, I love it. And I've, and it, it, it comes across as you have a very professional staff. they, they care about you just as emotionally intelligent, professional would you, we, we hire a, a lot of really good people that share the values.
Samantha C Prestidge: , There's, again, go back to there's just gotta be a good human first, right? What does the, the Bible tell you to do?
Adam Swain: Yeah.
Samantha C Prestidge: So on that, if we compare that to other job sites where there is yelling and throwing and stuff, I, I think there's also a, a high. Likelihood for burnout, right? Like the suicide rates in the industry are no lie.
And so you've witnessed this mistreatment. You've witnessed people being burnt out. What lessons from those experience have really stuck with you as like never again? Moment. Thanks.
Adam Swain: Yeah. That's a, that's a tough, just a [00:15:00] tough topic to think about. And now I, I think maybe I should say first I haven't firsthand seen or, or I don't know anybody directly in the industry. I haven't been here super long that has, has committed suicide. But. One thing I have seen is like alcohol addiction or other substance abuse. And it's, it's really just a slippery slope that leads to, so what, what lessons? Know, it honestly is difficult to pick a, a single lesson learned except for that people need to be seen heard and know that you believe in them. And, and then brought into a community that feels the same way.
It can't just be one person. And, and then people find, find freedom. They find that community is so important. And that, that's what, that's what this industry needs more of that, that I'm learning every [00:16:00] day. Wow. There's another person. Wow. I just heard this story of somebody who who struggled with that. yeah. And, and thankfully there's, not as many, many wrenches being thrown anymore. I think people are starting to learn that
this, this new generation coming in doesn't tolerate that for very long at all. And they, they know they can just dip. They can go to
Samantha C Prestidge: Mm-hmm.
Adam Swain: 11 across the street and make the same amount of money and work in the AC rather than in the field shoveling or whatnot.
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah, that's a, a good perspective, right? Like they've got options.
Adam Swain: Yeah.
Samantha C Prestidge: and sometimes they quit without even having anything else lined up. Right. So you said something interesting if people need to feel seen and believed in, and we hear that a lot in the leadership circles, but I'm wondering if you can kind of ground that idea for some of our listeners, because that could be kind of hard to take from idea into execution.
So is this just going [00:17:00] back to checking in randomly on the job side of like, how's your mom? Or are there other practical ways you do this with your team?
Adam Swain: Yeah. I, from a, from a leadership perspective, it, it doesn't just happen during the workday and, and sometimes, often it can't happen during the workday, it's a. It's a full, full-time job and overtime job for a leader who who cares about, about their team. And you, you asked the question earlier what was one of the most surprising parts of the team?
And and I mentioned the 3:00 AM phone calls that wake me up. And, it's a really sad voicemail where, where somebody needs, needs help. And that's that's part of it. But another really big part is just yeah, as, as tough as it is, making yourself available outside of work hours to to communicate with care for and just love people.
Frankly,
Samantha C Prestidge: Hmm.[00:18:00]
Adam Swain: the way.
Samantha C Prestidge: then if we bring that back to your, your faith there. 'cause what I also kind of hear in that is, hey, you're pouring a lot out. And we are told in the Bible like, it's easier to give than to receive, but that can get exhausting, right? And you can be. You kind of setting yourself as up for burnout as a leader as well.
So then how maybe is your faith playing a role in helping you prevent burnout?
Adam Swain: Yeah. Well, they they say of of marathon runners, they go into it thinking it's gonna be easy, they'll get halfway through it and they'll quit.
Samantha C Prestidge: Hmm.
Adam Swain: but if they go into it knowing it's gonna be a challenge and they have the mental endurance to finish the race they, they will. And that's, that's what it says in the Bible, in in Timothy to finish, finish the race with, with perseverance. In terms of burnout, I, I operate at, at burnout right now. Often I, I [00:19:00] need, I, I just tell my wife, I, I need rest. And that's why, why the advice I give to people is don't, don't start a construction company. don't do it. But my, in terms of my faith, I have a really, really caring community. I, I'm often shocked I have multiple texts on my phone. Like, Hey man, how was your week? How was your day? Just from, from brothers that love me and then other brothers that, that get together and, and disciple me still.
Samantha C Prestidge: Oh.
Adam Swain: So yeah, I, I love my community. I, I love my wife and I couldn't do any of this without them even though sometimes I wish I wasn't doing this. It's it's still, yeah. I, I need them.
Samantha C Prestidge: That's so cool. 'cause even just those little texts or little like five minute check-ins with someone like that can fill your cup. So that's cool. Now you dropped a verse to and Timothy, but also, which tells me you're, you probably have way more verses memorized than I [00:20:00] do. I'm so. Bad at even attempting to memorize scripture, which I need to do, but your business name is inspired by a scripture, so fill us in on that and like why that scripture?
Adam Swain: Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. It's, it was kind of a weird weird thing when I was starting the company a couple years ago. I was like, oh, Swain Construction, or like, something Adam this realized like after a long time thinking about it. Everybody names their company after themself. What can I do to to honor God and name something after him, because that's really the only purpose. Of my life and it should be of my business also. And I remembered that one of my favorite verses that was shared with me and my wife when we were starting premarital counseling was to, first his kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be added to you just as your, your rule of thumb. And that's [00:21:00] Matthew 6 33. So I named the company 6 33 Construction. And, and people always wonder what does that, what does that verse mean? And to, able to share? And, and it encourages people. I, I think so.
Samantha C Prestidge: That's cool. It's a conversation starter right off the bat.
Adam Swain: yeah.
Samantha C Prestidge: cool.
Adam Swain: Absolutely.
Samantha C Prestidge: now, okay, so let's kind of, let's take a different look at this. 'cause I mean, I could talk faith all day and we can get super excited about it. But what we're also talking about is like, hey, how. Can we really be focused on people and being a good human?
And you've mentioned this and, and this has, you know, been mentioned in different business circles that doing the right thing doesn't always align with profit. So how do you kind of wrestle with that tension between purpose and the sometimes very slim margins that we might have on a project?
Adam Swain: Yeah. One thing that comes to mind is to, to, as an employer, take ownership of [00:22:00] mistakes of, any problems or otherwise errors that our employees make on, on behalf of, of everyone. This ownership mentality cares for the employee by letting them know, Hey, this is okay. I, you're covered. And then another, another example is, just requests from employees. Either it's a, Hey, I want to go see my family, or I want to travel. I, it's, I will, I will pay for your trip or, yeah, you can have as much time off as you need. With the goal of, of showing, showing grace and care for the human first rather than, anything project related. The, the, the clients will, they'll be okay. We will get pushed. They may get grumpy, but they'll be okay. It's, it's this person that I care about the most.
Samantha C Prestidge: Oh, it's, it, it's interesting because I, I think a, a lot of [00:23:00] times many business owners bend over backwards for clients and they don't realize that sometimes setting boundaries and like sticking to your morals and values. Earns a little bit more respect and like those clients have a higher, can have a higher satisfaction on, on projects or become repeat clients.
Are you experiencing that?
Adam Swain: Well, I mean, it's, it's the hardest, it's the hardest balance. Sometimes I find it's, how much do I help the client out? How much do I help us out? And there's a strong tension there. yeah, I've, I've bent over backwards for, for clients. But if it's at the expense of people, I, I, I need to be conscious of that.
I think that's the most important thing. And what I'm seeing is as I show that care, they show the same care in return knowing, oh, the client needs this. Let me maybe not schedule my dentist appointment for that really important day in the field. Can I schedule it the next day? Mm-hmm. [00:24:00] Yeah. I appreciate that from them. But it's, yeah, it's, it's not an easy, easy balance to strike at all.
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah.
Adam Swain: I need help understanding how to, how to balance that. Definitely.
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah, and I, I get that too. Like our, I have clients that I'm like, okay, I will jump through hoops for you. But like the second they kind of ask someone else to jump through like, hoops with fire, I'm like, hold on. What? Wait. Right. And the boundaries have to come out. So okay. So if, if someone was listening and they're thinking about starting.
A people first construction company. Now I know you have the phrase of like, don't start this unless do, do, do. But if they were, they're excited about it. Or even they just want to, to think about how can it be a more compassionate, be people, focused leader? Then what's the one thing you'd want them to know and understand or try
Adam Swain: Yeah, well never give up. Is is something you've heard since kindergarten? Maybe your parents preached it to you if they were [00:25:00] supportive? But I never really understood how important that was until now.
Samantha C Prestidge: Hmm.
Adam Swain: to give up all the time. I wanna I wanna sell the business. But that's not the mission. so other than the advice of just don't start a blue collar business and live out your purpose from the workplace if you're die hard enough to start the business. I, I listened to a lot of Keaton Turner and he gives that advice and, you know, I said, you know what? I'm gonna start saying that too. He had the, the Per diem podcast and he says, don't start unless you can't breathe without it. And I, I
Samantha C Prestidge: Mm.
Adam Swain: That's the position I was in is I, I wanted to do this since I was 19 years old is when I first wrote down, start a civil construction company.
Samantha C Prestidge: Cool.
Adam Swain: yeah. Give it your all. You have to make a lot of sacrifices and I am so thankful [00:26:00] for a wife that literally came down from heaven in a ball of fire and then landed next to me. That that's not everybody's experience. If the, the spouse, if, if there is one is not 110% supportive and onboard, then it's not it, it'll, it won't end well. there's, you know, that's the other statistic in, in
Samantha C Prestidge: construction
Adam Swain: is the amount of divorce. Not only for the employees, but especially employers which is just, it's just sad. God doesn't love divorce. He actually says he hates it in the Bible. 'Cause it's such a good thing. That's, that's
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah.
Adam Swain: that's my 2
That's my 2 cents.
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah. Well, I, I, I think so what I'm hearing on top of the never give up is, I mean, and also like hopefully you get a spouse that comes down in a ball of fire or you're having a good spouse. But there was a thankfulness there. And I, I think sometimes when we get lost in like the day-to-day [00:27:00] fires and all the chaos and how hard stuff is, we lose that thankful perspective and.
One of those recipes in the good old Bible of how to live a good life is to focus on gratitude. So what are the small things like maybe it is an employee that just changed their their dentist appointment, or it's just how someone showed up with a smile one day and you're grateful for that. Or it's just the fact that, hey, you had a hot breakfast sandwich instead of something cold in your car that's spilling coffee on yourself on the way to a job site, right?
Like, what are the little things you can be grateful for? And that I think, makes such a big shift in then how you can show up in the day.
Adam Swain: Yeah, yeah. That's
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah.
Adam Swain: a, that's
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah.
Adam Swain: point. man, you know.
Samantha C Prestidge: You know the.
Adam Swain: tangent kind of is a lot of people, they get into church and they're like, so pastor, like, what's God's will for me? And, and what they, they might
And what they, they might not
it actually
Samantha C Prestidge: is that
Adam Swain: If
Samantha C Prestidge: it,
Adam Swain: read first Thessalonians five
Says, rejoice,
says.[00:28:00]
pray without seizing, give thanks and everything for this is God's will for you. and I
Samantha C Prestidge: And I think,
Adam Swain: man, that's the
Samantha C Prestidge: and that's the heart if
You
Adam Swain: always thankful, and then
Samantha C Prestidge: not only
Adam Swain: thankful,
Samantha C Prestidge: only thankful
Adam Swain: your request to God, to knowing that he'll
Samantha C Prestidge: knowing he
Adam Swain: and
Samantha C Prestidge: of you.
Adam Swain: for him, man, that is, that is God's will for a healthy, happy life that that honors him. And that's, that's key there.
Samantha C Prestidge: Yeah.
Adam Swain: so.
Samantha C Prestidge: this is where I have to be a little proud of myself 'cause I do have a verse memorized, somewhat memorized to go along with this. And it's Philippians four, six. I hope it, I hope that's what it is. I'm gonna butcher this now. I got too excited. But I think it's a, do not be anxious about anything, but through prayer petition and Thanksgiving hand over or give all your worries to God and then you'll have oh my gosh, I'm butchering this.
But it's like, then you'll the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will come upon you. [00:29:00] So like that is the three things. Prayer, petition, Thanksgiving, that's repeated over and over like. Okay, there it is. Simple. 1, 2, 3 steps. Right,
Adam Swain: yeah, yeah. Exactly.
Samantha C Prestidge: exactly.
Adam Swain: speaking of, of prayer being so important, like, man, the other day I was, I was on my construction site, I feeling up late
Up late at night,
Eight o'clock,
Samantha C Prestidge: eight o'clock.
Adam Swain: the excavator so the crews can be ready for the next day. And I'm, I'm realizing like, man, we don't have the cash to make payroll like tomorrow.
And I've been worrying about this all week and, and I, I kneeled down there oh, you know what it was, it was 6:33 PM is is why it was such a moment for me, which is why I remember this. You're like, you know what, I'm
Samantha C Prestidge: pray
Adam Swain: And I did.
Samantha C Prestidge: And I did.
And
Adam Swain: I get home,
Samantha C Prestidge: I get home
Adam Swain: open the mailbox
Samantha C Prestidge: months
Adam Swain: there's a
Samantha C Prestidge: and
Adam Swain: just a
Samantha C Prestidge: [00:30:00] a check. Just a
Check. Yeah.
Adam Swain: lot from, from this big project.
And it came early. That never happens.
So we, we made payroll and we haven't missed one yet, but early on in business it can be it can be a
Samantha C Prestidge: yeah.
Adam Swain: Yeah.
Samantha C Prestidge: Oh man. The way God comes through. That's such a cool story. Oh, oh, wow. Well, thank you so much, Adam, for giving us your perspective to leadership, and I have been wanting to do an episode focused on faith-driven leadership, and so I feel so honored and blessed to, to get, have you to share that story and, and talk through that with us today.
Adam Swain: Yeah, thanks a.
Samantha C Prestidge: Thanks. Fun. Yeah.