We’re talking with Jacob Emery, a guy who went from digging trenches at $9 an hour to running the company and that’s just half the story. Jacob’s not just leading R & R Pipeline in central Ohio, he’s also building a culture that challenges the old-school, cutthroat mindset in the trades. What really hit us was the moment someone looked him in the eye and asked, “What the hell are you doing with your life?” That one question flipped a switch.

Jacob grew up around heavy equipment, started working in the field before he even graduated high school, and decided to skip college and bet on himself. Within three years, he went from laborer to crew leader, all while chasing his personal transformation through fitness and self-development.

We got into what it means to lead a crew without micromanaging, how to actually build trust in your people, and why clear expectations and accountability matter now more than ever. Jacob's approach is blunt, real, and unapologetic and we love that. He’s not afraid to say the failures are his responsibility and the wins belong to the team.

He’s also launching a coaching platform to help younger versions of himself avoid the same detours. His mission? Unlock the greatness people already have but never tap into. The guy is fired up, and it’s contagious.

Highlights:

• From $9/hour laborer to owning R & R Pipeline.
• The power of asking the hard questions.
• Holding leaders accountable, not just crews.
• Building culture in a blue collar business.
• How lifting iron changed Jacob’s life and mindset.

If this episode hit home or made you think differently about leadership in the trades, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. We’d also love to hear what stood out to you send us a message on LinkedIn and let’s keep the conversation going.

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Get in touch with us:

Check out the Blue Collar BS website.

Steve Doyle:

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Brad Herda:

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