Healthy Imbalance with Chris and Sheley Brien

Celebrating Small Family Businesses

In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we meet Chris and Sheley Brien of Brien Contracting, a commercial construction contractor in Scottsdale, AZ.

We learn how Chris’ background in civil construction (think building highways) and Sheley’s background in the corporate world of pharmaceutical sales combine to make Brien Contracting a standout in their industry.

Sheley also has her own podcast, titled More Action where she models her philosophy of taking action, interviews guests, and shares lessons learned.

The discussion includes the myth of work-life balance, raising children while running a business, the importance of self-care, and “over communicating” to maintain clarity in the business.

There is so much accumulated wisdom presented here and we literally ran out of time. I can see another visit with these two in the future.

Where to reach Chris and Sheley

Brien Contracting website: https://briencontracting.com/

Sheley's website: https://sheleybrien.com/

Sheley's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itssheleybrien

Sheley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheley-brien/

00:00 Introduction to Celebrating Small Family Businesses

00:20 The Importance of Taking Action

01:49 Founding of Brien Contracting

03:07 Transition from Civil to Commercial Construction

05:53 Sheley's Diverse Career Path

09:18 Balancing Family and Business

12:58 Involving Kids in the Family Business

19:31 Sheley's Health Journey and Advocacy

22:08 The Importance of Self-Care in Business

22:15 Adapting Health Routines Over Time

23:22 Teaching Kids About Nutrition

24:07 Research on Diseases and Lifestyle Factors

25:17 Balancing Work and Personal Life

29:36 The Tyranny of the Urgent

31:22 Managing Schedules and Setting Boundaries

36:44 Over-Communication in Business Partnerships

42:52 The Role of Language in Communication

44:49 Conclusion and Farewell