Drawing on an extensive real estate development background, Beau Beemsterboer cofounded Modern Wall Systems, LP, in 2015 and led it as vice president until 2024. Overseeing all aspects of operations, he spearheaded construction of some of Pittsburgh’s most iconic downtown addresses, including The Etage Executive Living Hotel at 424 Stanwix and Lumiere Residences at 350 Oliver. Beau Beemsterboer also worked with the architects Desmone and Associates in designing state-of-the-art headquarters at 3400 Butler Street.
Mr. Beemsterboer’s professional experience also includes a role as cofounder and project manager with Sycamore-Grandview Development. He worked with more than 20 owners in assembling 38 lots and creating a unified parcel, the views from which were voted as having the second best skyline view in America. The development team he assembled completed a successful design and entitlement process toward a $120 million luxury hotel and condo building project.
As the manager and owner’s representative of St. Clair Management, Inc., from 2015 to 2022, Mr. Beemsterboer guided diverse office, retail, hospitality, condo, and flex-space projects. In addition to site work and construction activities, he was responsible for coordinating design with architects, engineering staff, and legal team members.
Beau Beemsterboer is an avid traveler who had the opportunity to study at the University of Bonn in Germany and has traveled to locales ranging from Morocco to New Zealand. One of his travel highlights was running with the bulls at the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I find that making a list of things you want to accomplish the night before is a simple but effective way to boost productivity. Having a good morning routine is also important to productivity. I prefer as little friction as possible to the start of each day. This enables me to focus on the day’s work with a fresh mind, free of distractions. My days have typically been quite busy as my responsibilities range from handling business items, managing construction projects and shop production, interfacing with new and existing customers, and managing team members and trade partners. After work its usually thinking about work, working-out, and family time. There is an old saying that goes “A tired dog is a happy dog.” I find this to be true.
How do you bring ideas to life?
A common barrier for many people is not being comfortable with the unknowns. While it is advisable to have a well-thought-out plan and sufficient due diligence completed, it is not necessary to have every answer to every question on day one. Ideas come to life not because you planned everything perfectly, but because you burned the boats behind you and committed to the journey. When the stakes are high, we tend to find solutions. So, in short, I bring my ideas to life by identifying the opportunity, analyzing the risk and potential outcomes, mapping out a game plan, and then going all in on it until, by sheer force of willpower, my hard work begins to look like luck to others.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The deflationary environment for consumer goods that robotics, AI, and cheap energy will usher in. Everything we consume will become considerably less expensive in coming years.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Being organized in all matters of business and life. Routines are quite helpful. But being able to multitask and pivot between things effectively and efficiently are also great tools to have.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Trust your intuition, believe in yourself, and ignore the inevitable Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt that will be encountered along the path to success. Above all, never quit. No matter how dark the tunnel seems, and there will be tunnels, if you just keep going, keep working hard, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. The key is to never quit and have faith that this too shall pass. Don’t stress too much. And remember, the days are long, but the years are short. And please never sell a single Bitcoin!!!
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I went from conspiracy theorist to oracle on several beliefs in recent years. Anymore, it seems like people agree with me more than not. But one hill I still stand on that currently feels lonely, is the belief that everything tends to work out for the best. There is currently a lot of doomersim regarding the economy, politics, etc., but I remain very optimistic that America is trending toward becoming a better nation, not a worse one.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
There is no greater investment you can make for your future self than working out and maintaining a healthy mind through intellectual stimulation. So hit the gym, read a book, and push yourself to be better.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I try to nip that in the bud immediately by diving into the list of things I need to do and checking them off. When its written down, it becomes focused and, once prioritized, it never seems as overwhelming as it did prior to doing so. I also find working out and taking walks to be very helpful. If I really need a reset, I go do something in nature.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
When I saw a door of opportunity open to me, I walked through it even though I did not have certainty regarding what was on the other side. Without risk there can be no reward. However, it is important to define your risk and never risk more than you are willing to lose. This can pertain to new clients, new lines of business, investment opportunities, etc. But avoiding risk simply due to the fear of the unknown often leads to missed opportunity. I rarely knew exactly how things would play out, but once you define the risk it is much easier to take those leaps of faith.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
A business I founded was once blown off course and into rough seas because I rolled it up into a new venture and made a gigantic error in judgement regarding the new leadership and their motivations. I overcame it through a herculean effort to steer the ship back on course, and after a hurricane or two, and despite ourselves, once things settled down, I was able to part ways under favorable circumstances. There were several lessons learned. One that sticks with me is this: Hard times create strong businesses, strong businesses create easy times, easy times can weaken businesses because people become complacent. It is advisable to never let your guard down, especially when things are going well. We must always be prepared for the worst, even when expecting the best.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Grok AI. It is the only AI with real-time access to real-time data due to its integration with X. This is very helpful as X is the world’s public forum and, by far, the leader in breaking news, developing trends, relevant discourse, and the dissemination of new information and ideas.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I have read many books and listen to podcasts often. It is too difficult to choose favorites. Two notable books I have read recently are The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman and Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. Steve Jobs was an interesting study due to his ability to brute force into existence a reality that did not previously exist. He never took no for answer and always stayed true to his design principles, even when others did not see the value in them. And it worked. As for podcasts, I enjoy Lex Fridman’s work, even if he is often naïve. Another one I am currently listening to is Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History series was exceptional. I enjoy learning and there is a wealth of information in these pods.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I have lost touch with TV and Movies. It’s too difficult to find good programming anymore. If I watch a movie, it is with my children. TV shows I enjoyed were Rome, Deadwood, Game of Thrones, and Band of Brothers. But currently, YouTube gets the most play time due to ease of finding content I am interested in. I do like CNBC and Fox Business for market/economy data.
Key learnings
- Discipline sparks unstoppable productivity: Crafting a nightly task list and embracing a friction-free morning routine empower seamless navigation through complex responsibilities, setting the stage for daily triumphs.
- Bold commitment transforms visions into reality: While strategic planning and risk analysis lay the groundwork, it’s the fearless, all-in dedication to action that turns ideas into successes, unlocking solutions through sheer resolve.
- Courageous leaps propel extraordinary growth: Embracing opportunities despite uncertainty, with carefully measured risks, opens doors to transformative success, proving that bold moves yield legendary rewards.
- Resilience and foresight build unbreakable foundations: Trials forge ironclad enterprises, yet vigilant stewardship in prosperous times wards off complacency, ensuring a legacy of strength and adaptability.
- Unshakable optimism lights the path forward: Rooted in intuition, perseverance, and a defiant belief in brighter days, a long-term vision conquers doubt, inspiring bold choices that shape a future of hope and triumph.