How a Pro Athlete Built a Thriving Construction Business | Bryan Cohen

Keywordsconstruction, real estate, entrepreneurship, general contracting, scaling a business, team culture, leadership, networking, mentorship, value engineering, subcontractors, AI in construction, pre-construction, project management, Philadelphia real estate SummaryIn this episode, Bryan Cohen shares his journey from playing college basketball at Bucknell and professionally in Israel to co-founding Full Court Construction with his brother, Aron. After getting started in real estate through small rental renovations, the two gradually scaled into larger multifamily projects and built a construction company focused on execution, efficiency, and long-term relationships. The conversation explores what it takes to grow a construction business, from hiring the right people and building a strong team culture to navigating pricing changes, subcontractor relationships, and project efficiency. Bryan also talks about networking, mentorship, daily discipline, and how his team is beginning to use AI to support pre-construction and project workflows. A grounded look at the mindset, structure, and consistency behind building a business in construction. TakeawaysA competitive mindset can carry over from sports into business.Starting small can create the foundation for long-term growth.Strong execution is a major differentiator in construction.Hiring the right people has a direct impact on company culture.Building the right team requires vulnerability and trust.Networking becomes more valuable when done with intention.Mentorship can help accelerate growth and decision-making.Discipline and routine can support consistency in business.Learning from mistakes is part of building a stronger company.AI can help improve efficiency in pre-construction and project workflows. Chapters00:00 Competitive mindset in construction01:37 Introduction to Bryan Cohen and Full Court Construction02:27 Basketball at Bucknell and playing professionally in Israel04:46 Getting started in real estate and early renovations06:49 Scaling into larger multifamily projects09:37 Navigating COVID and pricing challenges12:55 Value engineering and project efficiency17:28 Building a strong team culture22:26 Networking and business development26:07 Daily habits and time management32:28 Lessons learned through mistakes and growth38:45 Using AI in construction workflows43:28 Final thoughts and advice