if you're uncertain about a decision, it's likely a lack of data causing the hesitation. Rens shares his journey of harnessing data to make informed decisions, emphasizing the significance of data in areas like marketing, sales, project management, and cost-effective design strategies in structural engineering. With personal anecdotes, he illustrates how understanding data can shift from a sense of gambling to a confident investment in business strategies.

These experiences later fueled H&O's move toward Open Book Financial Management, underpinning their mission to shatter career ceilings for structural engineers. Through this framework, team members are empowered by understanding the business's financial goals, fostering a culture of smart, informed decision-making. And with the development of the H&O Cost Index, Rens's team bridged the gap between design and client value, ensuring cost-effective structures that align with customer priorities.

Key Takeaways:

• Without sufficient data, decisions in business can feel like gambling. Accumulating relevant data creates confidence and reduces the risk of poor decision-making.
• Exposure to business financials can drastically impact decision-making and communication within a company, leading to outsized returns.
• Implementing Open Book Financial Management can empower team members by aligning their efforts with the business's financial goals, enhancing overall company performance.
• Developing systems that align project budgets and goals can prevent inefficiencies and burnout, providing team members with a clear understanding of their resources.
• Establishing cost-effective design strategies through meticulous data analysis can transform a company's approach, offering high-value services and fostering client satisfaction.

Notable Quotes:

1. "If you are unsure of what decision to make, you lack data."
2. "Exposure to business financials changes how decisions are made and can drive outsized returns for a company."
3. "The H&O Cost Index fundamentally changed how we operate our business and communicate with our clients."
4. "Don't spend $50,000 worth of time solving a $10,000 problem."
5. "We can't expect an engineer to design cost-effectively if they have no cost data to make design decisions."

Resources:

• Jeremiah's insights from the Great Game of Business by Jack Stack.
• H&O Structural Engineering's website
• The Great Game of Business Podcast featuring Jack Stack

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!
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Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

In this solo episode of Design Development, host Rens Hayes dives into the wisdom of Charlie Munger, an influential figure whose insights have profoundly impacted Renz's professional journey. This session is packed with valuable lessons drawn from Munger's philosophies, aimed at those in real estate, design, and construction who are eager to enhance their strategic approach and leadership skills.

Rens introduces two impactful quotes from Charlie Munger, discussing how aligning incentives within a company can ensure long-term success and prevent culture debt—a crucial challenge for small to mid-sized businesses.

He elaborates on how reading can expose blind spots, enhance judgment, and promote a well-rounded perspective essential for effective leadership. By sharing how these concepts have shaped his own career, Rens encourages listeners to adopt these strategies for personal and professional development.

Key Takeaways:

• Incentives and Outcomes: Aligning incentives among employees, clients, and the company is crucial for sustained growth and success.
• Culture Debt: Misaligned incentives can lead to high employee churn and culture debt, hindering long-term compounding results.
• The Power of Reading: Consistent reading is linked to wisdom and improved judgment, helping leaders make well-rounded decisions.
• Continuous Learning: Being a lifelong learner is vital for exposing blind spots and enhancing leadership skills across various domains.
• Objective Self-assessment: Reading enables leaders to objectively evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, and decision-making processes.

Notable Quotes:

• "Show me the incentive and I will show you the outcome."
• "In my whole life I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time. None. Zero."
• "If you align incentives, you're going to overcome a lot of constraints and a lot of obstacles."
• "Judgment is far more valuable than time."

Resources:

• Charlie Munger's insights and videos
• Content from H&O Structural Engineering: H&O Structural Engineering

Listen to the full episode of Design Development for an enriching discussion on aligning incentives and the indispensable role of continuous learning in fostering leadership and organizational success. Keep tuning in for more transformative insights from top performers in the industry.

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!
Design Development Podcast!

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Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Most business owners go through a pivotal moment—their first real look behind the curtain at how buyers value companies. For Rens Hayes, that moment came when he went through a sale and due diligence process for his father’s structural steel business. What he learned from that experience completely changed how he approached building and scaling his own company, H&O Structural Engineering.

In this episode of Independence by Design™, Rens and host, Ryan Tansom, break down how he engineered his business for value creation, using Ken Sanginario’s Engineer’s Value Opportunity Profile (VOP) as his roadmap. Instead of scaling haphazardly, Rens built his company by systematically improving the eight functional areas that drive business valuation—the same areas buyers care about most.

Rens and his partner have taken a deliberate approach to aligning cash flow, valuation timelines, and growth goals, ensuring that every dollar reinvested moves them closer to financial independence. Whether you are preparing for an eventual exit or simply want to build a business that works for you instead of the other way around, this conversation is packed with insights that will change the way you think about scaling, hiring executives, and managing risk.

Rens Hayes is a structural engineer and entrepreneur who transformed H&O Structural Engineering by applying enterprise value principles to modernize the traditional engineering industry. After experiencing due diligence firsthand, he shifted from operator to owner mindset, implementing Ken Sanginario's Value Opportunity Profile to align business growth with long-term value creation. Hayes helps real estate developers maximize returns through strategic design and cost-efficient engineering, while sharing insights on scaling, capital allocation, and executive hiring—expertise valuable for business owners seeking to build wealth-generating enterprises rather than just larger companies.

Resources:

Website: H&O Structural Engineering

LinkedIn: Rens Hayes

Podcast: The H&O Podcast

Sound Bites:

"Scaling a business isn’t just about revenue—it’s about building an asset buyers actually want." – Rens Hayes

"The biggest mistake founders make? Hiring executives before they know what success looks like." – Ryan Tansom

"If you don’t know how to allocate capital inside your own business, you’re just hoping for growth—not engineering it." – Rens Hayes

"There’s a difference between working in the business and working on the business. The sooner you figure that out, the sooner you get your time back." – Ryan Tansom

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.

Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!

Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!
Design Development Podcast!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTube

Find out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/