From Boss to Bossed - The Humble Pivot with Pat Riley

Let's welcome Pat Riley onto the show this week. As an entrepreneur for years, Pat made a big pivot into working for someone else. That shift gives him a unique view from both the owner's and employee's side. This conversation challenged stereotypes we all hear Gen Z isn't lazy, Boomers aren't just selfish stock watchers, and bringing decades of experience into a new role doesn't mean you're stuck in old ways. Pat spent years owning and selling multiple businesses before transitioning into a sales management role. That transition from being the boss to having a boss required humility and finding leadership with values that aligned with his. He found both at Earth Development, bringing experience in building and leading organizations to his new position. We spend too much time labeling generations instead of recognizing what each one brings to the table. Pat's team is young and motivated by something bigger than just money. They understand the company's mission of keeping people safe in the winter. They care about purpose and community. Pat also talks about how he brought his AI expertise to transform a stagnant CRM system by simply asking technology how to solve problems differently. The college debt crisis came up when Pat shared his daughter's story about how her ideal college tuition just didn't make sense at over $200,000. The math didn't work. She ended up choosing a college closer to home which sacrificed experience but saved a lot of money in the future. Major employers are also starting to shift their requirements for four-year degrees. They've realized that many positions don't actually need one. Highlights: - Young workers care more about purpose and being part of something bigger than just money. - Pat's transition from business owner to employee required humility and finding values-aligned leadership. - College debt has reached the point where $268,000 for a teaching degree makes zero financial sense. - Major employers now accept two-year degrees because they've realized the traditional four-year degree isn't necessary for many positions. - AI tools can transform stagnant systems when you simply ask how to solve problems differently. Do you want more honest conversations about what's actually happening in business and the workforce? Make sure to subscribe to Blue Collar BS. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear conversations about what's happening in the trades from people in the trades. *Get in touch with Pat:* Website LinkedIn *Get in touch with us:* Check out the Blue Collar BS website. **Steve Doyle:** Website LinkedIn Email **Brad Herda:** Website LinkedIn Email This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy