Blue Collar Cash - Ken Rusk

10/04/23 • 36 min

1 Listener

Welcome to Grit Nation, the Building Trades Podcast.

I’m Joe Cadwell, the writer, producer, and host of the show and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ken Rusk.

Ken is a blue-collar career choice advocate, construction industry entrepreneur and the author of Blue-Collar Cash which details how you can.... Love Your Work, Secure Your Future and Find Happiness for Life.

We’ll start today’s conversation by learning about Ken’s background and how his passion for hard work and construction earned him the nickname “The Million Dollar Ditch Digger”.

We’ll then unpack the lessons Ken learned from a lifetime in the trades that enabled him to write his book, and how these lessons have been useful in his current role as a life coach and mentor to those interested in pursuing a career as a blue-collar tradesperson.

Next, we’ll discuss the downside of buying into the oversold notion that the only pathway to professional pride and financial security is through a college degree and why now more than ever blue-collar jobs and the people who can do the work are in such great demand.

Later, Ken will explain the importance of detailed visualization in helping you map out a future that will bring you Comfort, Peace and Freedom.

And we’ll end our conversation by leaning what Ken’s definition of success is and why he is so passionate about helping people achieve their dreams regardless of their educational background or past.

The Show Notes
Ken Rusk
https://www.kenrusk.com/

Union Home Plus
Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to Grit Nation, the Building Trades Podcast.

I’m Joe Cadwell, the writer, producer, and host of the show and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ken Rusk.

We’ll start today’s conversation by learning about Ken’s background and how his passion for hard work and construction earned him the nickname “The Million Dollar Ditch Digger”.

Later, Ken will explain the importance of detailed visualization in helping you map out a future that will bring you Comfort, Peace and Freedom.

The Show Notes
Ken Rusk
https://www.kenrusk.com/

Previous Episode

The War on Unions - Mark McDermott

On today’s episode I discuss organized labor movements in America and why it is so important for UBC carpenters to develop and appreciate the storied history of our organization.

Without knowing how we got to where we are, many may find it easy to undervalue the vast amount of blood, sweat and tears that were spilled in achieving the benefits we all enjoy as union members today.

Countless hours devoted to organizing and negotiating campaigns often go unseen and unappreciated by the vary members whose lives they mean to better.

Worse yet, many union members see it as someone else’s responsibility to do the heavy lifting necessary to protect our organization from the endless onslaught of attacks from big monied interest determined to destroy our way of life.

Sadly, they do not understand the true strength of our organization, is its members.

Our ability to command livable wages, healthcare benefits for ourselves and our families, access to training, safer working conditions, representation and the prospect of retirement with dignity, fall upon our collective shoulders to protect for future generations of carpenters to come.

Today’s guest will share insight on the many hardships and successes, labor unions have endured over the decades, while paving the way towards a strong middle-class America, and how quickly our way of life can be disastrously altered if we don’t keep our eyes on the future.

Mark McDermott is a lifelong supporter of organized labor and public presenter who has given over 450 talks on the history of organized labor movements and the long struggle for economic and social justice in our country.

We’ll start our conversation by delving into why, now more than ever, we need strong labor unions.

Next, we’ll look into what attacks are being made on unions and who is responsible for these attacks.

Mark will later explain the importance of member involvement in politics and how vital it is in maintaining the balance of wealth in America.

And we will end our conversation by giving you the information needed to join the fight in protecting your future as a professional craftsperson.
Show Notes

Mark McDermott
http://www.markmmcdermott.com/

Next Episode

A Frighteningly Brief History of Halloween

Halloween is a tradition that started around 2000 years ago with the Celtic people who lived in an area that is now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France.

These ancient Celts would hold a yearly festival called a Samhain to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of the cold and dark winter months, a time of year they associated with human death.

During this annual autumn festival, the Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes made of animal heads and skins in the hopes of warding off ghosts and spirits,

which they believed returned to earth to damage their crops, wreak havoc amongst the living and generally be a pain in the rear.

Sometime around 43 A.D., the ever-expanding Roman Empire had conquered much of this Celtic territory.

During the 400 years more of less of their rule, a few festivals of Roman origin were eventually combined with the traditional Samhain celebration.

In 1000 A.D., a Pope declared November 1 the official day to honor the dead.

All Souls Day as it was known, is now believed to be the churches attempt to replace the Celtic festival with a church-sanctioned holiday.

That said, All Souls’ Day was celebrated pretty much like the ancient holiday was, with big bonfires, parades and folks dressed up in all sorts of costumes like saints, angels and oh yeah devils.

All Souls Day was also known as All-hallows. The night before, was known as All-Hallows Eve, which as you probably have guessed by now became Halloween.

In the U.S during the late 1800s, there was a move to make Halloween into a holiday that focused more on community and neighborly get-togethers than on ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.

Parents were encouraged by community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Dang.

Which brings us to now where Halloween is a month-long celebration of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, scream parks, scary movies, costume parties and more all culminating in a night of parentally supervised trick-or-treating.
The Show Notes

Grit Nation Webpage
https://www.gritnationpodcast.com
Join the Grit Nation MVP Team
https://mailchi.mp/c28da31260b8/grit-nation-podcast-sign-up-page
Email comments or suggestions to:
[email protected]Grit Nation is a proud member of the Labor Radio / Podcast Network
https://www.laborradionetwork.org/

Grit Nation - Blue Collar Cash - Ken Rusk

Transcript

Joe Cadwell00:00:08.820

Welcome to Grit Nation -The Building Trades Podcast. I'm Joe Cadwell, the writer, producer and host of the show. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Ken Rusk. Ken is a blue collar career choice advocate, construction industry entrepreneur, and the author of Blue Collar Cash, which details how you can love your work, secure your future and find happiness for life.

Joe Cadwell00:00:30.539

We'll start today's