How Grief Changes the Way You Lead
My mother died by suicide when I was 22 months old. I didn't talk about it for 36 years. During that time I built companies and managed hundreds of employees, making every leadership decision with unprocessed grief running in the background.
Why your best employees are quiet quitting and what to do about it
Quiet quitting isn't laziness. It's your best employees telling you their extra effort doesn't matter. Fix the recognition and you fix the problem.
Leadership Lessons From Building in High-Stakes Industries
I learned leadership on job sites, not in classrooms. Twenty years in commercial roofing, sheet metal, and home improvement taught me that the best leadership lessons come from industries where your team knows immediately whether you're real.
Why Most Teams Do Not Need Motivation, They Need Clarity
Most teams that look unmotivated are actually unclear. Gallup's research shows 70 percent of the variance in team engagement comes from the manager, and the biggest factor is clarity of expectations. Pep talks are a waste of time compared to clear direction.
How to Lead When the Numbers Are Not Good
Every leader has had the moment: you open the report and your stomach drops. After growing businesses to $15M and $35M, I've learned that bad numbers aren't a leadership failure. How you respond is what separates leaders who survive bad quarters.
What Leadership Under Pressure Looks Like in Real Life
Real leadership under pressure doesn't look like a keynote speech. It looks like making payroll when the numbers don't add up, or keeping your team together when your best project manager walks. The leaders who survive are the ones who adapt fastest.
The 5 Leadership Lessons I Wish Someone Told Me at 25
After nearly 30 years leading in the construction industry, Khary Penebaker shares the 5 leadership lessons he wishes someone had told him at 25.
What Running for Congress Taught Me About Building a Business
In 2016, I ran for Congress in Wisconsin's 5th District. Deep red district. In 2016, I ran for Congress in Wisconsin's 5th District. Democrat. Deep red district. I lost. That campaign taught me more about running a business than any MBA program could have.
What 36 Years of Silence Taught Me About Vulnerability in Leadership
My mother Joyce died by suicide with a gun when I was 22 months old. I didn't talk about it for 36 years. Not because I forgot. You don't forget a thing like that.
A Homeowner’s Guide to Roof Replacement: What to Expect
Nearly 30-year roofing veteran Khary Penebaker walks homeowners through the complete roof replacement process, from signs you need one to choosing the right contractor.
What Business Leaders Get Wrong About Psychological Safety
Every company I have worked at or built has had some version of an open-door policy. And at every one of those companies, people were afraid to walk through the door. Not because the leader was threatening. Because the culture had never been tested.
The State of Home Improvement in 2026: Trends to Watch
Nearly 30 years in the industry, from commercial roofing to running four markets for Great Day Improvements. Here is what is actually happening in home improvement in 2026 and why a lot of it is being misread.