Mack Story explains that good character is built piece by piece through thought, choice, courage, and determination—not given like talent.

Drawing from Henry Cloud’s idea that character is the ability to meet the demands of reality, he shares raw stories from his many years in the trades, including the hard lessons from dealing with his son Eric, where his lack of patience—a clear character flaw—led to ineffective control instead of true development.

Mack breaks down how values shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and how our daily choices reveal our real character to our team.

For supervisors, plant managers, and aspiring leaders in manufacturing, construction, and the skilled trades, this episode delivers simple, practical steps to spot blind spots, build patience, choose growth over control, and do the hard things until they become habits that strengthen you and your team.

In this very special 500th episode of the Blue Collar Leadership Podcast, Mack Story reunites with Derek Brown—the man who inspired him to launch the Blue Collar Leadership podcast eight years ago.

Derek shares the story of how he and Mack first connected, his own powerful personal growth journey, the professional path that shaped him, and what he’s doing today as National Sales Director at CrewPlex, where he helps construction, industrial, and high-risk teams communicate safely and effectively in loud, demanding environments. Check out the products Derek offers at CrewPlex.com

With a focus on human-first leadership, sales coaching, and team development, Derek delivers real-world insights on growth, resilience, and leading people the right way—whether you’re on the shop floor, in the field, or running a team.

This milestone conversation is both a heartfelt look back at the podcast’s beginnings and an inspiring forward look at what authentic leadership looks like in blue-collar industries today.

If you’ve ever been impacted by the show, you won’t want to miss this one.

#leadershippodcast #leadershiptips #bluecollarleadership #podcast #growthjourney

Practical, straightforward, and recorded for real blue-collar leaders, aspiring leaders, and workers who want to climb to the next level and beyond.

In this special husband-and-wife episode, Mack and Ria Story give listeners a brief, practical overview of the eight core books in the Blue-Collar Leadership® Series—part of the 35 books they’ve published.

They walk through the five 30-chapter/3 pages per chapter books:

1. Blue-Collar Leadership® & Culture: The 5 Components for Building High Performance Teams
2. Blue-Collar Leadership®: Leading from the Front Lines
3. Blue-Collar Leadership® & Teamwork: 30 Traits of High Impact Players
4. Blue-Collar Leadership® & Supervision: Unleash Your Team’s Potential
5. Blue-Collar Kaizen: Leading Lean & Lean Teams

Plus the three quick-hit Blue-Collar Leadership® Toolbox Tips books which are packed with 60 micro-lessons each.

Mack and Ria share how frontline team members can use these books for personal growth and how formal leaders and supervisors can turn them into powerful team-development tools through short book studies or by sharing weekly Toolbox Tips.

Whether you’re looking to build better habits, improve communication, strengthen culture, or lead change on the shop floor or the job site, this episode gives you the roadmap to start using these proven resources immediately—no matter your role or experience level.

#bluecollarleadership #skilledtrades #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #workforcedevelopment

In this special tribute episode of Blue Collar Leadership, Mack Story honors the life and legacy of Bob Chapman, the legendary Chairman of Barry-Wehmiller who passed away on March 19, 2026.

For over a decade, Mack has collected Bob’s most powerful quotes on leadership, culture, and what it truly means to put people before profits.

In this episode, Mack shares 50 of those quotes—raw, practical, and deeply human—straight from the man who transformed a struggling manufacturing company into a multibillion-dollar global leader while building one of the most admired workplace cultures in the world.

Whether you’re a frontline supervisor, plant manager, or CEO, these quotes will challenge how you think about leadership, inspire you to lead with more heart, and show you why Bob Chapman’s “Truly Human Leadership” philosophy remains more relevant today than ever.

This is more than a tribute—it’s a masterclass in leadership from one of the greatest voices our industry has ever known.

#leadership #bluecollarleadership #TrulyHumanLeadership #BobChampan #EverybodyMatters #servantleadership

Trust isn’t built through grand gestures—it’s earned (or lost) in the daily grind of promises kept or broken.

This episode breaks down the core truth: what we think and say sets expectations, but only what we actually do defines our character.

After we make a commitment, we’ll take one of three paths —follow through to make a trust deposit, ask to break the commitment and risk suspicion (depending on how often you do it and why), or break the commitment and trigger major distrust.

For leaders aiming to grow influence without formal authority, the message is clear: prioritize congruency (actions aligned with words/walking the talk), value others’ time and expectations, and treat commitments made as unbreakable to avoid suspicion about motives.

When you keep your word consistently, you create hope, foster loyalty, and turn your team into one that performs because they trust you.

At age 82, US Marine Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Wesley L. Fox still was still inspiring crowds with stories of the leaders who shaped him, none more than Corporal Myron J. Davis during the freezing nights of the Korean War.

Facing demoralized troops eating frozen rations in the dark, USMC Corporal Davis invested in a Coleman stove and insisted on carrying it himself—not for personal gain, but to ensure his squad could heat their food first. He passed it along without ever using it and always took the last, least desirable portions.

Colonel Fox’s simple yet profound takeaway—“We knew he cared”—highlights how selfless acts demonstrate character and earn deep trust.

Years later, at the Blue Ridge Conference on Leadership in 2013, Colonel Fox’s fist bump and connection with Mack Story showed he lived these values, teaching that real leadership isn’t about rank or perks—it’s about serving those you lead to build teams that endure any hardship.

Are you ready for an engaging discussion on building greater influence in your marriage?

With humor and heart, Mack and Ria Story share relatable stories—like Mack's infamous laundry mishap—and delve into the 5 Love Languages, revealing how his preference for quality time complements her need for words of affirmation.

This episode offers practical insights and lighthearted moments to help couples strengthen their connection.

Note: This episode is also featured on as Episode #11 “Love Languages, Laundry Fiascos, and Relationship Lessons with Mack Story” on Ria Story’s “Grace Every Day” Podcast on her YouTube channel if you prefer to watch the video version.

#bluecollarleadership #relationshiptips #relationshipadvice #intentionalliving #5LoveLanguages #The5LoveLanguages #bluecollarlife #skilledtrades

In the final part of this 3 part series, Mack Story reveals a dose of leadership truth from John Maxwell: “Children need unconditional love more than they need direction.”

Kids—your own, grandkids (young crew members and apprentices too)—crave knowing you’ve got their back no matter what, way more than they need constant rules or fixes.

This episode keeps it simple: show your children steady love first with quick encouragement, being there even when you’re wiped out from work, owning your screw-ups so they see it’s okay, and staying calm instead of losing it.

#leadershippodast #bluecollarleadership #podcast #skilledtrades #growthmindset #emotionalintelligence