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Todd Dawalt
The Construction Leading Edge is a one stop shop for contracting professionals who want to be more effective entrepreneurs and leaders. Business owners, managers, project executives, project managers, and field leaders will all benefit from the interviews, resources, tools, and tips offered.
Mistakes to Avoid If You Want Your Business Sellable: Why 80% of Construction Businesses are Designed to Fail
EPISODE 312: Here’s the reality: Most small construction businesses have unintentionally designed their failure. Surprising, right? And that’s why eight out of ten construction companies find themselves where selling becomes nearly impossible. So, what mistakes should you avoid if you dream of selling your business and enjoying retirement? In this latest episode of The Construction Leading Edge, I unravel the six mistakes that could render your business unsellable. We’ll also dig into the symptoms signaling trouble under the surface. Lastly, I also share four actionable steps to make your business sellable and why planning an exit strategy shouldn’t be the first thing on your list. Let’s dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Why 80% of small construction businesses can’t be sold (01:02) Symptoms that your business is designed to fail (03:54) Mistake #1 that makes businesses unsellable (10:04) Mistake #2 that makes businesses unsellable (13:02) Mistake #3 that makes businesses unsellable (14:08) Mistake #4 that makes businesses unsellable (17:50) Mistake #5 that makes businesses unsellable (19:42) Mistake #6 that makes businesses unsellable (21:01) Four actionable steps to make your business sellable (23:43) Why planning an exit strategy should be last on your list (28:02) Additional Resources: - Watch the replay on How to Recession Proof Your Business HERE - FREE training on how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Schedule your business evaluation call with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
34:2704/12/2023
Recession Proof: 10 Ways to Make Your Business More Resilient | E311
EPISODE 311: How can you make your business resilient in the face of challenges? Forget the traditional definition of a recession as a financial crisis–it goes beyond that. When I say recession, it could be when your star employee jumps ship to a competitor. It could also mean something happens to you, and your business can't run without you. As a CEO, what's your game plan when those happen? In this episode, I’ll be sharing ten (10) foolproof strategies to recession-proof your business so it can weather any storm that comes its way. I'll be sharing some practical and actionable steps you can implement as early as possible, highlighting some of the great resources we have at your disposal so you'll be better equipped with the knowledge to run your construction business through any rough waters. Ready to recession-proof your business? Let’s dive right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The many faces of recession (02:25) Drive your cash flow (04:24) Focus on maximizing your bottom line (06:24) Make your team more agile and efficient (11:39) Monitor your trade partners in your supply chain (17:27) Establish a go/no-go date on all of your projects (24:05) Upsell to current and past clients (28:43) Focus on your core competencies (30:51) Jim Collin’s The Hedgehog Concept explained (32:10) Lead your team well (33:34) Operate as the CEO (37:26) Leverage the 80-20 principle (40:44) Quick recap (42:14) Great resources for you to check out (43:22) Additional Resources: - Watch the replay on How to Recession Proof Your Business HERE - FREE training on how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Schedule your business evaluation call with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
50:3927/11/2023
5 Ways Right-to-Left Thinking Can Work for You | E310
EPISODE 310: Most of the time, our goals remain goals–forgotten and collecting dust. That’s what usually happens when you operate in left-to-right thinking. But what if you could turn those business, life, or health goals into reality? In this week’s episode, I’ll discuss what right-to-left thinking is all about and walk you through the five ways to make it work for your construction business. We’ll also talk about the problems with left-to-right thinking (what most of us are stuck with), what it looks like when you apply a right-to-left thinking approach to your construction business, and so much more! Let’s jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The problem with left-to-right thinking (01:24) What is right-to-left thinking? (04:13) How to apply right-to-left thinking in big-picture strategic planning (04:43) What does financial right-to-left thinking look like? (08:52) Applying the right-to-left thinking in sales (13:56) How to nail the handoff (17:54) How to use right-to-left thinking when hiring (25:16) The Big Five Activities explained (28:52) Episode wrap-up (30:00) Additional Resources: - Join our FREE Get Paid For Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Schedule your business evaluation call with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
36:5020/11/2023
Growing a $250M Business by Focusing on Preconstruction with Wes Palmisano | E309
EPISODE 309: What does it take to grow a construction business to $250M in revenue? In this week’s podcast episode, I sit down with Wes Palmisano, CEO and owner of WJ Palmisano and its subsidiaries, to talk about how he scaled up his construction business by focusing on preconstruction. Today, Wes explains the importance of preconstruction and having the right systems and processes when scaling a business. He also talks about the biggest roadblocks hampering construction innovation, how he and his team are tackling those, how to work with external trade partners and subcontractors, with emphasis on building trust, and a lot more. Let’s get right into it! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) How Wes Palmisano got into construction (02:30) Biggest construction problem that Wes is taking on (06:09) What are the roadblocks that are hampering construction innovation? (09:20) What does being a master builder look like? (14:08) Working with external trade partners vs. internally (16:06) How subs and external trade partners can build trust (22:52) How important is preconstruction (24:51) The importance of having systems and processes in scaling up a business (34:30) The guardrail approach explained (39:56) Advice to construction business owners in scaling up a business (42:43) Rapid-fire questions with Wes (48:21) Episode wrap-up (51:34) Additional Resources: - Join Chaos to Control: Streamline Your Construction Business 28-Day Challenge HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE Connect with Wes: - Follow Wes on LinkedIn HERE - Check out their company website HERE - Explore their other brands HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
57:1713/11/2023
From Chaos to Control: Four-Step Blueprint to Save 40 Hours a Month | E308
EPISODE 308: Do you feel like you just don’t have enough time? Are you working more hours than you want to? Well, you’re certainly not alone in that struggle. After talking and coaching hundreds of construction business owners, we’ve uncovered the common problems that are taking much of your precious time and energy. In this episode, I’ll share a game-changing four-step blueprint that could save you an extra 40 hours each month. And the best part? You don’t need to hire someone else or walk away from your duties and responsibilities. Additionally, I’ll delve into some clever strategies for those who are constantly putting out fires, Jeff Bezos’ secrets for task prioritization, what it looks like to finally reclaim your time, and a sneak peek at our exciting 28-day challenge. Let’s jump right into it! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Do these sound familiar to you? (01:01) Time-saving adjustment #1 - stop believing this lie (03:55) Common time and energy problems (07:11) Strategies when you are always putting out fires (10:57) Time-saving adjustment #2 - stop dealing with the symptoms (20:23) Time-saving adjustment #3 - get out of this vicious cycle (30:47) Time-saving adjustment #4 - communicate proactively (36:55) The truth about free estimates (40:53) What it looks like when you apply these adjustments (43:55) The 28-day challenge and other bonuses (45:51) Additional Resources: - Join Chaos to Control: Streamline Your Construction Business 28-Day Challenge HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
53:0407/11/2023
Reexamine Your Job as CEO | E307
EPISODE 307: 70% of construction businesses fail in the first five years. Alarmingly, the construction industry also has the second highest rate of suicide of all workplace industries. What if some of the most painful issues that construction business owners deal with can be traced back to a wrong belief? In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss how you should reexamine your job as CEO of a construction company. Today, I’ll unveil the biggest problems that most construction business owners face, how to prepare yourself as a leader to sustain your business growth, the problem with the if attitude, and so much more! Tune in now! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The biggest lie (01:23) Biggest problems for construction business owners (04:20) The story of Tanner, who wants to be a starting catcher (05:51) What happens when you’re focused on getting something (10:08) The question you should be asking yourself (12:07) Two attitudes toward preparation (15:18) The problems with the “if attitude” (17:07) Questions for you to think about (20:36) What does it look like to prepare as a leader (22:44) Final thoughts (24:41) Additional Resources: - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE Listen to these episodes and learn from other CEOs - How Navy SEALS Would Build Houses, Mantras & Attacking the Housing Shortage with Garrett Moore | E250 - 3 Key Concepts to Grow a Custom Home Building Business with Alex Gregg | E299 - Foundations for Scaling a Business to $50M with Shawn Dominguez | E297 - Nailing the Handoff, Small Adjustments, and Navigating a Business Transition | E286 -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
28:2702/10/2023
Wealthy Clients, Reframing Problems and Letting Your Team Create Processes with Michael Algren | E306
EPISODE 306: What would you do if every day all you’re doing is putting out fires in your business? Have you considered selling your construction business to escape the daily stress at work? In this week’s guest, Leyah Hostetter, Construction Leading Edge’s Director of Customer Success, sits down with Michael Algren, owner of Algren Design & Building, to talk about the struggles he had with his luxury homebuilding and remodeling business and what did he do to transform it. Michael was already on the verge of selling his construction business last winter to transfer to Vermont. The stress was just too much for him to take. It was already affecting his physical, mental, and emotional health until, one day, he came across our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program. Today, Michael shares his business and personal life story before joining the SYCB program, how he lets his team create processes and empower them, what it’s like working for wealthy clients, and the systems he learned from SYCB that transformed his business. Let’s jump in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Michael Algren and his works (02:52) How Michael’s business looked like before and its ripple effects (04:03) What does it mean to be working with wealthy clients (08:06) A different approach to solving tardiness issue (11:13) How did Michael was able to let his team create their processes and solve problems (16:10) What were the impactful lessons that Michael learned from the SYCB program (25:10) How is life different now since Michael joined the SYCB program (28:33) Blueprint to systematize your construction business (31:42) Additional Resources: - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
34:0125/09/2023
How to Make Faster, Better Decisions Like a CEO | E305
EPISODE 305: Does every question come to you? Do you find yourself giving different answers to the same questions? Your construction business could be having a major decision-making problem. In this week’s podcast episode, I talked about a crucial aspect of building a successful business, and that is decision-making. How do you make faster, better decisions like a CEO? Today, we’ll unravel the common symptoms of having a decision-making problem, the five failproof strategies on how to make faster, better decisions, and how to apply these in real-world construction problems. Let’s get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Symptoms that you have a decision-making problem (02:04) Myths and misconceptions in decision-making (05:22) CEOs should make as few decisions as possible (12:00) How to decentralize decision-making (15:20) The importance of documenting your processes (18:10) What is manufacturing urgency and how to create it (23:56) Make decisions in parallel instead of in series (30:00) Separate the decision from the implementation (33:10) How to use the 4-step framework in real-world problems (37:10) Quick recap (42:16) Final thoughts (44:18) Additional Resources: - - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
46:4518/09/2023
How to Get Anyone to Do Anything with Instant Influence Principles | E304
EPISODE 304: Are you struggling to motivate your team to be more productive or get them to use that new software subscription? In this week’s podcast episode, I sit down with two of our very own, Leyah Hostetter and Monish Khadye, to talk about the principles behind one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read–Instant Influence by Dr. Michael Pantalon. Today, we will talk about the Instant Influence principles, how psychological reactance gets in the way, and how to apply these principles to real-life situations. Let’s dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet The Construction Leading Edge Coaches (01:58) An overview of the book Instant Influence by Dr. Michael Pantalon (04:21) The three guiding principles of the book (06:17) How does psychological reactance get in the way (07:13) Why providing autonomy to your team is important and how to build it (19:34) What makes Monish’s employee performance reviews exceptional (34:34) How to use the Instant Influence principles to solve real-world problems (44:18) Final thoughts (1:06:16) Additional Resources: - Listen to our first book report episode HERE - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE Book Mentioned: - Instant Influence: How to Get Anyone to Do Anything Fast by Dr. Michael Pantalon - 10x is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy - How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:12:5013/09/2023
Will Your Business Scale or Is It Designed to Fail? | E303
EPISODE 303: Is your business designed to scale or fail? How do you scale a construction business? In this week’s episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, we’re doing a Q&A session. We will answer the most frequently asked questions and problems visionaries face when scaling a construction business. Today, we will debunk some myths and conceptions you may already believe when scaling a business, what you should do to scale a business, and the exact resources that will help you systematize your construction business. Ready to build your way to the top? Let’s jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Debunking the most common myths in construction (01:38) The real definition of systems (06:48) Why it’s important to put systems in place (10:00) Signs that builders need new systems (11:41) Tips for business owners who want to enjoy life out of business (16:20) The real reason why people don’t embrace a new process or systems (21:54) Strategies to prevent people from reacting negatively against new processes (24:25) How to scale your construction business (30:39) Available resources to systematize and scale your business (38:07) Additional Resources: - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE Book Mentioned: - The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
43:5505/09/2023
The Reality of Running a Construction Business with Your Spouse | E302
EPISODE 302: Is it good for husband and wife to do business together? In this week’s episode, Construction Leading Edge Director of Customer Success Leyah Hostetter sits with two of our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program students–Aaron and Ashley Steffens. Aaron and Ashley are the husband and wife dynamic duo behind Moose Ridge Design-Build Construction, a custom remodeling company based in Iowa. Today, they talk about their challenges running a construction business as a busy married couple. They share what they did to solve those challenges and what life looks like now after they went through the SYCB program. Let’s get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Aaron and Ashley Steffens (06:22) Difficulties that Aaron and Ashley had with their remodeling business (07:21) What does it look like being married and working in the same company (09:04) Main takeaways from the SYCB program (10:36) The most beneficial change for their business (17:05) How project templates move their business (17:56) What does life look like now? (18:48) Why say no to wrong clients (21:56) Additional Resources: - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
25:3428/08/2023
The Real Reasons Your Team Won’t Change | E301
EPISODE 301: Have you ever rolled out a new process to your team only to be disappointed by how few people followed it? Perhaps, you thought about hiring new people and starting a clean slate at one point. In this week’s episode, I will pull the veil back on some of the real reasons why your team won’t change. And you’d be surprised to know that many of these reasons have very little to do with them. Today, I’ll break down the five real reasons why your team resists changes, some research studies to back these claims, and concrete action plans that you can apply in your construction business so you can get out of the day-to-day firefighting and make your business run without you. Let’s jump right into it! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) A lesson I learned while managing a $20M project (03:10) Understanding psychological reactance (06:47) The why and WIIFM deficiencies (12:00) Uncovering the competing commitment concept (16:44) The four-part process of holding a competing commitment (22:19) Kanter’s Law: everything looks like a failure in the middle (32:29) The shiny object syndrome (36:25) Quick episode recap (41:33) Action plan to get your team to change (43:10) Additional Resources: - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
48:4322/08/2023
5 Secrets to Hire and Retain the Right Employees: Never Make a Bad Hire Again | E300
EPISODE 300: What if there’s one simple document that would tell you everything you need to know about hiring and retaining new employees? What if that same document would help increase your new hire retention by 82% and productivity by 70%? In this week’s episode, I’ll share a webinar replay I did recently. Here, you’ll learn the five secrets of hiring and retaining the right employees. We'll uncover the three foundational pieces missing in most construction businesses, how these sabotage your hiring process, why your job descriptions could set up your new hires to fail, and what you can do instead. Plus, download a FREE copy of our onboarding guide and learn how you can apply it to your construction business so you’d never have a bad hire again. (Link is in the additional resources section below.) Let’s dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The onboarding roadmap (06:30) Pretend that you're from Missouri (13:05) The Big Five concept (18:47) Outcomes of a well-designed Big Five (26:03) Get over your fears (29:21) Fix your missing foundations (36:24) Quick recap (45:58) Action plan (46:42) Episode wrap-up (49:42) Additional Resources: - Download the FREE onboarding guide HERE - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
55:0914/08/2023
3 Key Concepts to Grow a Custom Home Building Business with Alex Gregg | E299
EPISODE 299: What does it take to grow a successful custom home building company? In today's episode, we've invited a Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) client, Alex Gregg, a teacher-turned-construction-business-owner of Gregg Homebuilding, a Tennessee-based company specializing in custom-built and spec homes. Today, Alex shares the key concepts that moved the needle for his custom home building business and how he became a better leader. He also talks about how his company was able to switch from giving away free estimates to charging pre-construction services agreements, the major takeaways he had from joining SYCB, and more. Make sure to tune in so you won't miss it! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) From teaching to homebuilding (01:07) What was it like starting a construction company in 2008? (04:19) Spec vs. custom home building (05:48) Misconceptions about custom home building (09:26) Keys to growing a successful custom building business (13:57) The truth about giving away free estimates (16:52) The Kent Hooper story (20:28) Why is it important for Alex to become a better leader? (27:07) Delegating outcomes vs. delegating tasks (32:07) The biggest problems that Alex had before joining SYCB (36:01) What is nailing the handoff and its impact on Alex's business? (52:43) The turning-the-tables concept (56:29) Working ON vs. working IN (58:03) The 3 key concepts that grew his construction business (59:27) Life after implementing what he learned from SYCB (1:07:53) His most valuable takeaway as being part of the CEO Alliance (1:11:41) The biggest truth about running a business (1:16:06) Rapid-fire lightning round questions (1:19:20) Additional Resources: - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Alex - Follow Gregg Homebuilding on Instagram HERE - Visit their website for more information HERE Books Mentioned - Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman - Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin - The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes, Jay Conrad Levinson, Michael Gerber, and Amanda Holmes -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:26:3107/08/2023
Why 10X is Easier Than 2x | E298
EPISODE 298: How is 10x easier than 2x when scaling a business? Join us in today's episode as I sit down with our Director of Customer Success, Leyah Hostetter, and our client-turned-business coach for Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program, Monish Khadye. Today, we will dive deep into Dan Sullivan's book 10x Is Easier Than 2x and how this could hack your construction business growth. We’ll talk about the 10x versus 2x framework, the mindset behind it, and how you can apply it to fast-track your business growth and make it run without you. You surely don't want to miss this. Tune in now! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) A brief background about the book (01:52) Why is 10x easier than 2x (04:18) The 10x versus 2x framework (11:30) Eliminating the 80% and focusing on the 20% (17:05) An example of focusing on value (25:11) The mindset behind “how to 10x” (35:03) How owning your unique ability creates abundance (37:16) The gap versus gain mentality (39:42) Why you should practice gratitude (43:46) How the victim mentality creates scarcity (47:55) You get to choose the story you tell yourself (55:18) How to implement what you’ve just learned (58:31) Episode wrap-up (1:06:39) Additional Resources: - Join the FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Hear our clients' success stories HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Books Mentioned: - 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy - The Obstacle Is The New Way by Ryan Holiday -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:13:3031/07/2023
Foundations for Scaling a Business to $50M with Shawn Dominguez | E297
EPISODE 297: What is it like scaling a business? As a former Navy pilot with winning embedded already in him, Shawn Dominguez already had that fire to build a successful construction business. In 2022, Dominguez Design-Build Inc. was the fastest-growing company in Pensacola, number 4 in Florida, and number 11 in the U.S. This was just years after they went full-time in 2018. But Shawn knew that if he wanted to scale his business from $20M to $50M in revenue, he had to get the right pieces in place. And that's what motivated him to join our Systematize Your Construction Business or SYCB program. In today's episode, our very own Leyah Hostetter sits down with Shawn to talk about some of the foundations for scaling a business. He talks about how simple tasks can sometimes get in the way, the connection between standard processes and cash flow, what winning looks like, and the effects he and his team are experiencing after going through the SYCB program. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) From Navy pilot to construction business owner (03:03) Challenges that Shawn and his team had before SYCB (06:03) What was it like handling frustrations in everyday executions? (08:30) Personal challenges that come with scaling a business (10:44) On nailing the handoff and creating an accountability chart (12:24) What does winning look like in construction? (13:42) Most impactful part of the SYCB program (16:56) Ripple effects of joining the SYCB program (17:53) Additional Resources: - Check out the Systematize Your Construction Business Program details HERE - Hear success stories from our clients HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
22:1224/07/2023
Manufacturing Adversity and Burning the Ships | E296
EPISODE 296: Adversity has a remarkable way of bringing out the best in you, which is exactly what happens when you start burning the ships. This act becomes a symbol of your unwavering commitment to your goals. When those ships go up in flames, all means of escape vanish, leaving no safety net or fallback plan behind. Through this situation, success becomes a matter of life or death, and the only way forward is through sheer determination, resilience, and perseverance. The question is: are you ready to go through this? So in today's episode, we will explore various misconceptions around stress, why you should be burning the ships, practical ways to manufacture adversity, and some tips on applying what you'll be learning today to your construction business. Make sure to tune in now! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The Johnny Cash song (00:53) Misconceptions about stress (02:39) How Navy Seals see adversity (07:09) Why you want to manufacture adversity (08:51) What does it mean to burn your ships? (14:09) Practical ways to manufacture adversity (18:19) Applying what you have learned (24:29) Great resources for you to bookmark (27:04) Additional Resources: - Listen to Episode 274 with Torrey Hawkins HERE - FREE training on how to get paid for estimates HERE - FREE webinar on how to make your business run without you HERE - Hear success stories from our clients HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Books Mentioned: - Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - The Art of War by Sun Tzu -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
29:5017/07/2023
Escaping the Free Estimate Trap and Indoctrinating Your Clients with Bobby Williams | E295
EPISODE 295: Do you ever wonder if you can get paid for estimates even when doing small home building, remodeling, or commercial projects? In today's episode, we've invited one of our Masterclass students, Bobby Williams, president and CEO at BGW Construction in Indiana. Today, Bobby shares his experience after joining our Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass. He talks about some of the biggest problems with giving out free estimates, why it's high time you start charging for pre-construction work, and the transformative ripple effects it can have on your construction business. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Bobby Williams of BGW Construction (04:38) What are the biggest problems that come with free estimates? (09:16) Ripple effects of providing paid pre-construction services (12:37) Don't compare yourself to your competition (21:24) The best of Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass (24:36) Why sign up for the Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass? (31:13) Episode wrap-up (34:29) Additional Resources: - FREE training on how to get paid for estimates HERE - Hear success stories from our clients HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
37:1310/07/2023
How to Red Team Your Construction Business to Make it More Resilient | E294
EPISODE 294: How resilient is your construction business? And what should you do as a business leader to mitigate the risks? There is a military and business strategy called red teaming. Basically, it allows an organization to expose its weak points and stress test plans and strategies to counter them. So in today's episode, we’ll dive deep into what a red team is, why you should use it, and some tools to help you red team your construction business to make it more resilient. Plus, we also have Leyah interviewing John Hall, a construction business leader, on how the Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program helped him reclaim his time and empower his team. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: What is a red team? (01:44) 5 reasons why a construction business needs to run a red team (05:43) The above-the-waterline or below-the-waterline analogy (09:46) The five-by-five risk matrix explained (13:22) Questions you need to ask as a business leader (18:57) Whose job is it to red team a construction business? (20:09) How to recession-proof your construction business (22:58) Leyah’s interview with John Hall (25:11) Problems that led John to join the SYCB program (25:53) How the SYCB program helped John and his team (27:46) Life before and after joining the SYCB program (31:31) Additional Resources: - FREE webinar on how to recession-proof your business HERE - Hear success stories from our clients HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
34:4628/06/2023
How to Get a Check From the IRS: Tax Credits Your CPA Isn’t Telling You About | Justin Rupple | E293
EPISODE 293: Did you know your construction business could be entitled to a whopping six-figure check (or more) from the IRS? For others, that may sound too good to be true, but yes, construction business owners can get significant cash incentives from the federal government. Large companies routinely take advantage of these cash incentives, yet most small companies like yours don't even know these benefits exist. Why is it so? In today's episode, we are joined by Justin Rupple of Business Group Resources, a business incentive recovery firm, to talk about tax credits your CPA may not be telling you about. Today, Justin discusses the tax credits that are available for business owners like you, how much money most construction businesses are leaving on the table, and how you can qualify for these tax credits. Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) #1 Most overlooked tax credit program (05:02) How much money is left on the table by construction businesses (07:43) Misconceptions about the research and development tax credit (08:47) How construction businesses can qualify for the R&D tax credit (12:57) Why does the R&D tax credit program exist? (14:58) Tax incentives: big corporations vs. small businesses (16:21) Reasons why CPAs don't go after R&D tax credits (18:32) Examples of how much construction businesses get from tax credits (21:40) Who can qualify for this tax credit? (27:22) Episode wrap-up (34:33) Additional Resources: - Recover your tax overpayments HERE - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Sign up for our FREE training HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Justin: - Check Justin out on LinkedIn HERE - Check Business Group Resources for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
49:0219/06/2023
How to Use Femininity to Nail the Handoff Process in a Male-Dominated Industry w/ Amy Rans | E292
EPISODE 292: What is it like to be a woman in construction? In this empowering episode, our Director of Customer Success, Leyah Valgardson, sits down with Sunkota Construction's Marketing and Business Development officer and co-business owner, Amy Rans. Today, Leyah and Amy delve into the fascinating role of women in the construction world and the truth about what it's really like to be a woman thriving in a traditionally male-dominated field. Amy also shares how she rebranded Sunkota Construction using her marketing expertise, tips for creating a great customer experience as a commercial contractor, and how our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program simplifies their handoff process. Make sure to check it out! Key Takeaways: How Amy got into the construction world (01:39) Biggest challenges construction business owners face (05:16) Lessons that Amy learned being in the construction industry (06:54) How to be an attractive employer (09:41) The main transformation that Amy did with Sunkota Construction (16:11) What the business looks like before joining the SYCB program? (17:47) How to create a great customer experience as a commercial contractor (25:36) On retaining and attracting top-quality talents (38:39) The changes that SYCB did to their construction company (39:48) How to wow your customers (41:26) What it's like to be a female business owner in a male-dominated industry? (47:37) Advice to women who are interested or currently in the construction industry (49:49) The future of women in the construction industry (59:17) For those who want to start a construction business (1:00:18) Additional Resources: - Book a FREE call with our team HERE - Sign up for our FREE training HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Amy Rans - Check Amy out on LinkedIn HERE - Visit Sunkota Construction for more info HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:05:3212/06/2023
The Burnout Cycle & Letting Go of Control with Josh Fravel | E291
EPISODE 291: Do you feel like you're in this endless burnout cycle? Our guest for today indeed felt that way. He was getting used to taking a mini break and then coming back into the same rut repeatedly. But he has finally decided to get away with it. How was he able to break that cycle after sixteen long years? Well, you're about to find out. In this week's episode, Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) coach Monish Khadye sits down with Josh Fravel of Fravel Home Improvements. Today, Josh talks about how he transitioned from wearing many hats to finally delegating tasks and letting go of control. He also shares how he empowers his construction team, the main problems he faced that led him to join the SYCB program, and its ripple effects on his business and personal life. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: Meet Josh and his works at Fravel Home Improvement (00:56) Failure that set Josh up for later success (03:16) From doing everything himself to delegating tasks (08:43) On letting go of control (12:42) The growth catalyst for his remodeling business (17:24) On working with subcontractors and setting standards (19:50) How to set up your employees for success (23:41) One piece of advice he would give to his younger self (27:28) Part of the business that Josh has cracked on (29:12) What made him join the Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program (32:57) Ripple effects after joining SYCB on his business and personal life (39:29) Episode wrap-up (47:52) Additional Resources: - Book a FREE call with our Construction Leading Edge team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Check out Fravel Home Improvement - Follow Josh and his team on Instagram HERE - Visit their website for more information HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
58:5705/06/2023
Stop Trying & Stopping Profit Bleeds with Ashley Fleschner | E290
EPISODE 290: The reason you're not making any progress toward your goals is that you're trying. And I'm not saying you're trying too hard, but the problem is that you're trying, period. You may not know it, but trying will not turn your construction business into a $50 million business a year. What you need to do is to stop trying and start training. In today's episode, I'll share the key differences between trying and training, action items that move the needle, and the power of the "until attitude". And to prove that training rather than trying to be a better CEO of your construction business can stop profit bleeds, we have Ashley Fleschner to share his Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program success story. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What is trying? (03:16) Difference between trying and training (04:07) Questions to ask yourself (17:33) The if attitude vs. until attitude (19:34) Quick recap (22:39) SYCB success story with Ashley Fleschner (24:38) Final question (30:50) Additional Resources: - Book a FREE call with our Construction Leading Edge team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
33:4329/05/2023
Your Customer Experience Roadmap: How It Impacts Your Bottom Line & Company Culture | E289
EPISODE 289: There is one part of your construction business that could lead to profit bleed, but they never show up on an invoice. That is your customer experience! Focusing on creating a great customer experience roadmap could differentiate you from your competitors. But where do you start? In this week's episode, Leyah Valgardson, our Director of Customer Success, and I will discuss why customer experience matters whether you're a homebuilder or a commercial contractor. Today, Leyah and I talk about the symptoms of customers having a bad experience, the three steps to creating a good customer experience and journey, and action items you can do today to improve your customer journey and make it a company culture. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Why customer experience matters (03:08) Your customer is buying an experience (09:06) Reasons to have a customer experience strategy (15:06) Symptoms of a customer having a bad experience (18:53) Customer experience vs. customer journey (25:06) Have a clear customer journey roadmap (26:39) Setting expectations clearly and consistently (38:26) Seeking ways to wow your customers (48:06) Positive ripple effects of providing great customer journey (1:00:57) Action items you can do today (1:07:21) Additional Resources: - Apply to work with the Construction Leading Edge team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:17:3822/05/2023
What High Performers Actually Want & Finding Opportunity in Chaos with Isaac Barlow | E288
EPISODE 288: How do you attract top talents to your construction business? You'd be surprised that it isn't just about the money; it's something else. So in this week's episode, I sat down with Isaac Barlow, the CEO of busybusy, a top-ranked GPS time tracking software that provides what every construction business owner wants in a tracking app. Today, Isaac and I talk about what high performers really want and how having this in place will help you recruit top talents in the industry, improve your company's productivity, increase your profitability, and create a culture of excellence. He also shares some tips on handling obstacles and resistance in construction businesses and the role of faith and persistence in getting to where his company is today. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) How busybusy started out (02:52) Describing the business roadmap and handling obstacles (11:52) Does construction have to be chaotic? (19:24) Root causes hiding underneath the construction chaos (21:24) Why should you invest in a good pre-construction system? (24:45) Common misconceptions about a construction manager's role (27:47) Some of busybusy’s best features (31:37) How important is having access to job site data (34:06) How to improve productivity in construction businesses (40:46) Construction business trends that might surprise people (45:54) Cultivating company culture with busybusy (49:23) Episode wrap-up (57:55) Additional Resources: - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Isaac Barlow: - Connect with Isaac on LinkedIn HERE - Check busybusy for more information HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:05:5615/05/2023
How a Rigorous Handoff and a Solid Pre-Construction Process Leads to More Freedom with Daniel Hickey | E287
EPISODE 287: Here's what no one is talking about - good construction companies are actually good pre-construction companies. Instead of giving away free estimates, they charge for doing them to bring great value to their clients, even at the early stage of the construction process. So in this week's episode, Construction Leading Edge's Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) coach Monish Khadye speaks with Daniel Hickey, owner and project manager at Hickey Construction. Daniel shares how his construction business went from earning $550k to $2M in just a few years - all thanks to solid pre-construction and rigorous handoff processes. He also talks about how he was kicked out of his business in a good way, the positive ripple effects that his customers and team have seen after putting in the right systems and processes, how the SYCB program impacted his business and family life, and more. Let's get this started! Key Takeaways: Meet Daniel Hickey of Hickey Construction (03:17) What helped Daniel grow his construction business? (06:51) On delegation and accountability (12:12) The advantages of having a pre-construction process (14:56) From working 10-12 hours a day to 5 hours or less (17:06) On having clarity on what to achieve (26:59) “If you’ve got that drive, you can do it.” (32:17) Handoff and pre-construction tips (34:17) The ripple effects of a rigorous handoff and pre-construction process (45:22) Life after doing all the work in the SYCB program (56:48) How to systematize your construction business (1:20:31) Additional Resources: - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Daniel Hickey: - Reach out by sending your email to [email protected] - Check Hickey Construction for more information HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:27:2008/05/2023
Nailing the Handoff, Small Adjustments, and Navigating a Business Transition | E286
EPISODE 286: Bringing in a family member into your construction business and transitioning leadership is more challenging than you'd think. But our guests for today had cracked the code and can now go on vacations without being on their phones or laptops. In this week's episode, Construction Leading Edge's Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) coach Monish Khadye speaks with Tru Builders' owners, Max and Lori Christiansen, and their daughter/senior designer, Cassie Parra. Today, Max, Lori, and Cassie share their lessons on how they made it through the 2008 slowdown, navigating business transition, and the systems and processes that make their construction business successful. They also talk about the lessons they've learned from joining the SYCB program and its ripple effects on their business and lives. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: How Tru Builders started (03:30) On handing the business over to your kids vs. them earning it (08:41) Being a designer is more than just the aesthetics (12:58) Failures and lessons that set Tru Builders for later success (17:43) On creating transparency with clients and charging the right amount (29:47) Systems and processes that are working well for Tru Builders (36:42) Lessons they learned from SYCB that made all the difference (44:55) How are life and business different now after joining SYCB (52:27) Tru Builders' 12-month and 5-year visions (1:00:03) Three crucial systems to accelerate your business results (1:06:08) Additional Resources: - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Tru Builders: - Check Tru Builders’ website for more info HERE - Follow them on Instagram HERE - Got any questions? Send your email to [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:12:5701/05/2023
Family Partnerships, Hard Conversations, and Dealing with Rejection with Jake Lewendal | E285
EPISODE 285: Are you part of or considering joining a family construction business? Do you find it hard to handle a family partnership? Our guest for today has learned it the hard way. In this week's episode, Systematized Your Construction Business (SYCB) coach, Monish Khadye, sits down with construction business owner and SYCB mentee Jake Lewendal. Jake built Momentum Development after coming out from two business partnerships, one of which was a family partnership that took a toll on his family. Today, Jake shares some key learnings from his family partnership, the best practices when considering joining a family business, and a few crucial things you must do upfront when setting up a business partnership. He also talks about handling hard conversations and rejections, the positive ripple effects he has experienced in life and business after joining SYCB, and more. Let's jump in! Key Takeaways: How Jake got into the construction world (03:16) The biggest shift that turned him from failure to success (08:57) How their family construction business broke down (15:24) On filling up the void with a business partner (21:20) Tips for people who are a part of or considering joining a family partnership (31:43) What he believes to be true in business that others find unconventional? (43:57) How Jake’s strengths became his weaknesses (45:56) Crucial questions to ask when starting a construction business (1:02:56) How to deal with rejection and build a rejection-proof routine (1:04:07) The main construction problems he had before joining SYCB (1:16:54) Most impactful things he learned from the SYCB program (1:25:13) How to systematize your construction business (1:42:39) Additional Resources: - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Jake Lewendal - Reach out to Jake by sending your email to [email protected] - Follow or DM Jake on Instagram HERE - Follow Momentum Development HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:52:1024/04/2023
How a Special Forces Commander Used Team Meetings to Fight Terrorists | E284
EPISODE 284: Do you feel like you don't get anything out of your team meetings? What happens if your meetings continue to be ineffective? General Stanley McChrystal, a retired U.S. Army general and book author, cracked the code on how meetings helped them win the war on Al Qaeda. In this week's episode, we'll talk about the best practices when conducting team meetings and how you can apply them to your construction business so you can make it run without you. Today, you'll also learn the connection between good team meetings and the culture of accountability, the ripple effects of ineffective meetings, and a success story from a construction business owner who's started implementing the strategies you’ll be learning today. Let's jump into it! Key Takeaways: The operations and intelligence brief (02:47) Teaching people how to think vs. telling people what to do (05:54) You don't have time to wait for the 100% solution (09:11) The benefits of using empowered execution (11:58) Common issues with meetings (16:19) What are the ripple effects of ineffective meetings? (20:48) Best practices for construction team meetings (22:54) Three crucial systems to run effective team meetings (32:36) How to accelerate your results (35:26) David Hopkins' Systematized Your Construction Business (SYCB) success story (40:57) Additional Resources: - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
53:1417/04/2023
Communication & Delegation Hacks to Help You Get Out of Operations | E283
EPISODE 283: Are you stuck in the day-to-day operations of your business? Do you worry that your business wouldn’t be able to run without you? Then I have two things for you - communication and delegation. In this week's episode, I want to share communication and delegation hacks to help you get out of operations so you can truly operate as a visionary. Listen in as I talk about the leading dominoes that will improve your organization's operational process, how to effectively communicate and delegate to your team, and a Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) success story featuring Andy Shelton of Birch Home Builders. So if you're a construction business owner looking to systematize your business and make it run without you, tune in now. You don't want to miss this! Key Takeaways: Are you a Trevor or a Logan? (02:40) Your brain is probably the root cause of communication problems (05:24) The Forgetting Curve study explained (07:10) Why you need to communicate less? (10:22) What is asynchronous communication? (13:06) How to effectively train your team (17:01) Think differently about delegation (23:24) How to delegate to your team (24:55) The five levels of delegations (30:22) A quick recap (34:06) Systematize Your Construction Business’ (SYCB) success story (40:04) Additional Resources: - Want to learn more about what you could achieve with our SYCB program? Check out these success stories HERE - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
52:0010/04/2023
How Great Entrepreneurs Think About Adversity & The Stockdale Paradox | E282
EPISODE 282: How do successful construction business owners get out of a slump? What do you personally do when things aren't going well? Most of us would tend to focus on the negative things and just go into a downward spiral trend. In many cases, we start spouting off self-fulfilling prophecies, which eventually get worse as they happen. So in this week's episode, I want to share how great entrepreneurs think about adversity and how they overcome it. I talk about the Stockdale Paradox, how to get control of the story you’re telling yourself, what a mental hygiene exercise is, and some proven strategies for turning trials into triumphs. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: What most of us would do when things don't go well? (01:12) There are no good or bad things (03:59) Separate observable facts from the story you're telling yourself (05:59) Detach from what’s going on in your head (06:42) Cultivate the habit of gratitude (07:45) Control the controllables (08:52) Reframe the situation (10:09) The Stockdale Paradox explained (12:39) Take extreme ownership of the situation (17:00) The catastrophizing strategy (19:03) How to do a mental hygiene exercise (20:53) Episode wrap-up (23:13) Additional Resources: - Schedule a FREE breakthrough session now with our team HERE - Learn how to get out of your business and make it run without you HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Books Mentioned: - Good to Great by Jim Collins - Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
28:3903/04/2023
Eclipsing Financial Targets by Saying "No" and Focusing on the People | Mikhail Gannage | E281
EPISODE 281: Learning to say no to the people or things that don't serve you or your business gives you room to say yes to those that do. And we've invited someone who just skyrocketed his construction business by saying no and focusing on the people. In this week's episode, I sit down with Mikhail Gannage, president of Gannage Design & Construction. Mikhail went from being a long-time robotics engineer to running their family-owned construction business. According to Mikhail, by being selective in what projects he and his team take on, they have seen tremendous business growth - something they haven’t seen in years. So he's here to share the main root cause of his company’s profit bleeding and the systems and changes he implemented that grew his construction business from 2% to a whopping 15% net profit. He also talks about the connection between an accountability chart and a good handoff to profitability, the benefits of being in a mastermind group of construction business owners, and why working less makes him a better leader. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: From robotics engineering to construction business owner (01:06) Best advice for those taking over a family business (04:42) Business problems Mikhail was dealing with (09:59) The main root cause of profit bleeding and its ripple effects (13:08) Most impactful systems and changes that grew his business (23:32) Dealing with one big hairy audacious goal (29:49) On accountability chart, good handoff and profitability (35:36) A peek into his construction business’s numbers (42:07) Benefits of being in a mastermind group (49:15) Why do construction business owners isolate themselves? (53:35) Why working less means doing more? (56:32) The biggest question to ask when starting a business (58:36) One final piece of advice (1:01:39) Additional Resources: - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Connect with Mikhail Gannage: - Follow Gannage Design & Construction on Instagram HERE - Reach out to Mikhail at [email protected] - Visit Gannage Design & Construction website for more info HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:06:5527/03/2023
The Habits of Success: 3 Things You Need to Do Daily to Set You up for Success | E280
EPISODE 280: Success isn't determined by your age, gender, location, or any of those similar factors; it is the formation of habits that will. In this week's episode, I've invited Leyah Valgardson, Director of Customer Success here at Construction Leading Edge, to unpack the three core habits of success that successful construction business owners do. Leyah and I also talk about what really is success and happiness, how to build those habits of success as a construction business owner, creating accountability with like-minded people, and more. Let’s dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What is a habit? (01:28) Success and happiness defined (04:10) Follow an effective morning routine (14:50) The power of gratitude (27:14) What is mindset, and how important is it? (29:29) Managing your inner critic (39:30) Prepare, plan, and execute (51:18) On execution being so hard (56:51) Strategies to create accountability (1:00:06) Episode wrap-up (1:05:58) Additional Resources: - Listen to "The Hidden Dangers of Procrastination & How to Conquer It" episode HERE - Listen to the "5 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Manage That Nobody Warned You About" episode HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE Books Mentioned: - The 5 AM Club by Robin S. Sharma - The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday - The 10x Rule by Grant Cardone -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:15:1414/03/2023
Housing Crisis Opportunities & How a Venture Capital Firm Looks at the Construction Industry | E279
EPISODE 279: Why would venture capital firms put their money in the construction industry, especially nowadays? In this week's episode, I've invited David Bloom of Signia Venture Partners to talk about a venture capitalist view of the construction industry as a whole. Signia is a venture capital firm founded in 2012. David and his partners invest in entrepreneurs applying new technologies to old industries. Today, he's here to discuss why venture capital firms invest in the construction industry, their views on the housing shortage and the ripple effects, what type of companies they invest in, guidelines when investing in companies, and more. Tune in now to learn more! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Venture capitalist’s perspective on the construction industry (01:30) What is a venture capital firm? (03:44) Why invest in the construction industry? (05:52) Symptoms of the current housing crisis and the ripple effects (08:03) How venture capital firms view the housing shortage (15:10) David and his firm's portfolio of companies and what they're solving (18:05) What are the red flags to look for in a leader when investing? (22:34) On transitioning successfully from being a startup to CEO of an ongoing business (25:18) Key takeaways from Cetera's $2B venture funding failure (32:17) What are the things that outsiders don't know about the construction industry? (43:56) Additional Resources: - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE Connect with David Bloom: - Reach out to David by emailing him at [email protected] - Check out his articles on Substack HERE - Follow him on LinkedIn HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
54:1006/03/2023
Are You a Visionary? The Top 10 Challenges For a Visionary & Myths They Believe | E278
EPISODE 278: How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as a visionary leader? But what does it mean to be one? Does being a visionary guarantee success along the way? In this week's episode, I've invited Monish Khadye, a construction business owner and our very own Systematized Your Construction Business (SYCB) facilitator and coach. Monish is also a visionary, and today he talks about some of the challenges, misconceptions, and myths that a visionary has to deal with every day. Join us as we discover how a visionary's mind works, some practical tips, and how a visionary should overcome challenges to achieve his visions and create a thriving environment in his organization. Tune in now! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What do visionaries bring to the organization? (03:24) What do inconsistencies look like for a visionary? (12:03) The organization whiplash explained (13:36) Visionaries lack clear direction (19:20) Why are visionaries reluctant to let things go? (23:17) Visionaries have underdeveloped leaders and managers (24:30) The genius with a thousand helpers (26:32) Visionaries get a sense of value from people being dependent on them (32:32) Resistance to following standardized processes (37:56) Visionaries get easily bored (39:32) On having no patience for details (43:32) Misconceptions and myths about being a visionary (44:39) Breaking down what a visionary should be doing in their business? (54:36) What happens when visionaries fully embrace their role? (1:06:15) Additional Resources: - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE Books Mentioned: - Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters - Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman - Good to Great by Jim Collins -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:17:3727/02/2023
5 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Manage That Nobody Warned You About | E277
EPISODE 277: We all want to be successful entrepreneurs. But most of the time, what drives us up to the pinnacle of success is not what we've learned from school. In this week's episode, I reveal the five most important things that successful entrepreneurs manage that nobody warned us about. And I wish I had known these earlier when I started my career. When you're able to manage these five things properly, you become not only the best leader for your construction business but also the best version of yourself. But there's also a quick way for you to manage all of these (without the guessing game), and I'll share that, too, in the podcast. So let's jump in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) You need to manage your fears (01:24) Manage your inner critic (08:07) What happens when you don't manage your inner critic? (17:22) Manage your mental energy (19:25) One thing that's killing your mental energy (21:21) Manage your emotional state (22:56) Manage your strengths, not your weaknesses (27:14) Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
31:2120/02/2023
The Hidden Dangers of Procrastination & How to Conquer It | E276
EPISODE 276: Have you been putting things off lately? Do you thrive working on last-minute situations? There are serious hidden dangers that come with procrastination which most of us tend to ignore. In this week's episode, I've invited Leyah Valgardson, Construction Leading Edge Director of Customer Success. Leyah and I sit down to talk about the six different types of procrastinators, according to psychologists. We also discuss the hidden cold-hard truth about procrastination, the strategies to overcome procrastination based on each type, and how procrastination affects the quality of your life. So if you want to know what type of procrastinator you happen to be and how to defeat it so you can become a better construction business owner, and a human being, in general, tune in now to this week's episode. Let's jump in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Procrastinator #1 - The Worrier (04:21) Procrastinator #2 - The Perfectionist (08:32) Procrastinator #3 - The Overdoer (14:17) Procrastinator #4 - The Crisis-Maker (19:57) The Strengths Finder test explained (25:03) Procrastinator #5 - The Dreamer (26:19) Procrastinator #6 - The Defier (31:42) How does procrastination show up for us (35:45) Failure is a myth (39:54) Some cold-hard truth about procrastination (41:00) What happens if you continue to procrastinate (45:19) Procrastination affects the quality of your life (52:08) How to overcome procrastination (1:01:31) The fastest way to stop procrastinating (1:12:42) Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:18:4313/02/2023
Stewardship, Creating Terminal Value & Increasing Profit 60% with Michael Moore | E275
EPISODE 275: We all know how systems and processes could make or break your construction business. But what's holding you back from taking those dramatic changes that could increase your business profitability? In this week's episode, I've invited Michael Moore, owner and President of Waterton Construction Group. Waterton Construction is a hardscape site work improvement company based in north Texas. Michael is here to share with us the systems and processes he used to increase his company's revenue by 30% and profitability by 60% year over year. He also talks about the effects of creating positive pressure for himself, the concept of stewardship, how it affects how Michael runs his business, and the systems and processes he had put in place to grow his business to eight figures working only twenty hours a week. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Michael Moore (05:40) Best habits that Michael picked up while working for a production builder (10:20) What led Michael to reach out for a business coach? (15:24) Most impactful systems and changes that moved the needle (25:55) The moment when Michael realized what his doing was working (38:22) What the business looks like now? (42:07) How his business growth impacted his personal life (46:37) On putting positive pressure on you (53:40) The most valuable part of being in a construction CEO group (1:02:51) What does stewardship in a business mean? (1:06:11) Mindset shifts that are crucial to his success (1:08:45) Episode wrap-up (1:15:05) Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE Connect with Michael: - Find Michael on LinkedIn HERE - Check out Waterton Construction Group HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:22:2706/02/2023
Scaling to $200 Million: How Torrey Hawkins Did It | E274
EPISODE 274: What makes a construction business successful? Is it cementing a failproof system OR finding the right people that get things done? Torrey Hawkins, President of Angler Construction, LLC, drops some value bombs on how he managed to scale his construction business to $200 million in revenue per year. In this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Torrey to talk about... - the biggest challenges that Torrey has faced in growing a business to $200 million per year - the systems and processes that catapulted his business to success - some advice on how to lead your construction team through tough times - what his day looks like as someone who has grown a business to such size and scale - and a whole lot more! If you're a visionary looking to scale your construction business while getting out of the day-to-day details, you'll get a lot of practical advice from this episode. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Meet Torrey Hawkins (01:06) How Torrey started his construction business (05:37) What does the business look like now? (07:16) Biggest challenges during the growth (13:08) How to level up as a construction business leader (18:03) Recruiting and hiring top-quality talent (20:15) On systems and processes that scaled the business (23:24) What it's like to be a visionary (30:29) How Torrey spends his time as a 9-figure construction business owner (36:50) Keeping your team moving forward during a crisis (38:14) On sharing the vision and getting the team on board with it (43:18) The burning-the-ship mentality (50:25) Managing the double-edged sword of being a visionary (53:23) Episode wrap-up (58:08) Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Listen to my 2015 interview with Torrey HERE - Connect with Torrey HERE - Check out Angler Construction HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:01:3331/01/2023
Forget About Goal Setting: Focus on Habits & Systems Instead | E273
Episode 273: Your brain is hard wired to love habits. Here's how you can use that to your advantage, and achieve just about any outcome you set your mind do. What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode: "You don't rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your __________" Why habits exist, why they’re so powerful. How to hack habits The Golden Rule of Habits How to use Right to Left Thinking to harness the power of habits. What a keystone habit is, and why you want to start with them. Lessons from two of the most popular books about habits. Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Move the Needle 28 Day Challenge - www.constructionleadingedge.com/group The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX - www.constructionleadingedge.com/advance Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team: www.constructionleadingedge.com/apply
37:1324/01/2023
Discipline, Systems, and 75% Annual Revenue Growth with Andy Kolp | E272
EPISODE 272: What is the secret formula to growing a business? What should a construction business owner have to lead a successful company? There's really no secret formula, but our guest for today, Andy Kolp of Epic Building Company, did take his "steady" remodeling company to new success in its 14th year. After implementing new systems into his business process and shifting his mindset, he saw changes and wished he had done them sooner. From having one employee, Andy now has five employees on his payroll. His company has surprisingly gone up to 75% in annual revenue. And he isn't slowing down anytime soon as he's looking at a 100% revenue growth for next year. What did he do to achieve all of these incredible milestones? Tune in to this week's episode to find out more. Let's get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Andy Kolp (02:36) Discipline and weight loss success (04:51) How important is mental toughness? (18:55) Working in vs working on your business (26:04) What does stagnant mean from a business perspective? (32:13) The mindset growth (38:10) Most impactful systems that brought success (43:34) What business looks like now? (56:13) On pre-construction services and agreement (58:36) What led to Andy’s mindset shift? (1:04:14) Last few questions (1:10:44) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Visit our website here - Check out Andy’s construction company here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:19:4527/12/2022
Why Every Construction Business Owner Needs a Virtual Assistant | E271
EPISODE 271: Are you tired of doing never-ending, less urgent administrative work? As we all know, small business owners wear a lot of hats - bookkeeping, responding to emails, and posting on social media, to name a few. These tasks not only take a lot of time but also keep you from doing things that matter. And that's what we'll talk about in this week's episode. I sat down with two construction business owners - Kevin Franklin and Nathan Spearing - who found a great solution to their never-ending to-do list and after-hours work. Stay tuned and discover the benefits of hiring a Belay virtual assistant and the wonders it can do for your construction business. Let's get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Kevin Franklin (03:40) The problems before signing up with Belay (04:12) Lessons from Michael Hyatt’s Your World-Class Assistant book (06:25) Misconceptions about working with virtual assistants (VA) (07:11) Main tasks of a VA that have been most impactful (08:19) Why hire a virtual assistant from Belay? (13:08) Hacks in training a virtual assistant (16:00) Meet Nathan Spearing (19:49) Nathan’s pivotal moment (23:15) Life after hiring a virtual assistant with Belay (36:12) Nathan's Life on Target podcast (46:07) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Visit our website here - Hire a virtual assistant through Belay here - Connect with Kevin Franklin here - Connect with Nathan Spearing here - Listen to Nathan’s Life on Target podcast here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
51:1319/12/2022
How to Avoid Lawsuits Over Construction Defects & Reducing Risk with Attorney Marc Gravely | E270
EPISODE 270: The only time contractors get involved and talk with an attorney is when something goes wrong. Do you agree? To prove that claim, we have Attorney Marc Gravely on the podcast today, whose work is on representing owners exclusively in construction disputes with general contractors, architects, and engineers. Atty. Gravely is here to share with us the common construction defects in building that lead to litigations, how to avoid or reduce the risk, insurance and contracts, and everything in between. So, make sure to tune in on this one and get yourself informed so you won’t have to deal with any litigations. Let's get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Atty. Marc Gravely (04:25) What do lawyers think about contractors? (05:36) Most common construction defects in buildings that lead to litigation (09:57) How to reduce the risk of construction defects (15:14) The missing process (18:15) Most common mistakes contractors make (22:05) GMP, time, and material contracts (25:04) How can a contractor protect themselves (26:39) How contractors should respond to issues (32:22) Mistakes to avoid that people make worse (38:30) The truth about a business that some find unconventional (43:07) Failures that set him up for later success (44:16) Marc's Reframing America's Infrastructure book (46:18) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Visit our website here Connect with Marc - Grab a copy of his book here - Follow Marc on LinkedIn here - Visit Marc’s website here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
54:1512/12/2022
First Principles, Taking Ego Out of Ideas and Solving Big Problems with Paolo Tiramani, Boxabl CEO & Founder | E269
EPISODE 269: Joining me in this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast is Boxabl CEO and Founder Paolo Tiramani. He's here to sit down and talk with me on how Boxabl solves housing problems - one of the pressing issues we have in the U.S. and globally. Boxabl is a housing construction technology based in Las Vegas that revolutionizes global housing. With its innovative foldable house product, it has the potential to solve skyrocketing housing costs and homelessness around the world. If you want to know what it takes to build a company that solves big problems and how Paolo shares that big vision with his team, make sure to tune in to find out more. Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Paolo's career prior Boxabl (01:08) What is Boxabl? (05:32) First principles explained (10:55) “Not all things need fixing” (24:30) How do you find the right questions to ask? (31:24) On global housing problems (35:29) How to share a big vision with your team (41:18) Business beliefs that others think are unconventional (46:39) Episode wrap-up (52:59) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Visit our website here Check out Boxabl - Visit Boxabl’s website here - Follow Boxabl on Instagram here - Subscribe to Boxabl on YouTube here - Do you want to join their team? Shoot them an email at [email protected] -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
56:1505/12/2022
Jett Set Farmhouse’s Noell and Daniel Jett On Adversity, Perseverance, and Success | E268
EPISODE 268: When you grow up fighting battle after battle, it's easier to throw in the towel and accept things the way they are. But that wasn’t the case for our guests today. Joining us in this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge are Daniel and Noell Jett - DIY home builders and creators behind the widely followed Jett Set Farmhouse and book authors of Create Your Dream Home on a Budget. This power couple overcame their own battles, persevered, and built a successful life - inspiring millions of people to make their dream houses even on a tight budget. And they're here to share with us… - the adversities they had to go through and how they overcame those - how they persevered in building their dream home even on a limited budget - and chock full of helpful tips for all of you brave enough to take on house projects. If you want to know more about handling adversities, perseverance, success, and working together as a homebuilder couple, make sure to tune in to this week's episode. You don't want to miss out on this one! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Noell's childhood story (01:19) The connection between success and perseverance (04:34) Building their dream home together (08:04) How do Instagram collaborations work? (16:20) Building your own home vs. hiring a builder(18:04) What is broken within the construction industry? (22:42) Tips for married couples who work together (25:38) How to address disagreements as a couple (28:28) How to avoid decision fatigue? (30:33) On believing something that others find unconventional (35:54) What's the purpose of social media? (36:47) Noell and Daniel's book launch (42:27) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Visit our website here Connect with Daniel and Noell - Follow them on Instagram here - Visit their website here - Grab a copy of their book here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
47:1028/11/2022
How to Get Your Team Engaged and On Board with New Processes | E267
EPISODE 267: Did you know that only 15% of employees are engaged while the rest of the 85% isn't? According to a recent Gallup State of the Global Workplace Study, low employee engagement caused companies $450 - $500 billion per year. Think about that. Now, are your people engaged enough? Or do you do all the planning and implementation by yourself? How do you get people to come out of their way to engage? We'll talk about that in today's episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast. And joining me today is Leyah Valgardson, Director of Customer Success here at Construction Leading Edge. Tune in now as Leyah, and I talk about… - Why people don't want to engage? - Is money enough to get them motivated and engaged? - How to boost employee engagement? - And a whole lot more If you want to skyrocket your employee engagement and get your company closer to your vision, make sure to listen in. You don't want to miss this one! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Why are people disengaged at work? (02:32) What are employees looking for that will improve their engagement? (10:13) How do you get your team on board with your company's vision? (16:13) How to get people to embrace new processes? (24:30) Feedback when teams respond to new processes (29:18) Things that surprise people (33:03) How important is compensation to motivation? (38:20) Practical tips to improve employee engagement (40:22) Episode wrap-up (43:54) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Visit our website here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
46:4521/11/2022
3 Secrets to Eliminating Subcontractor Chaos | E266
EPISODE 266: Your construction business’ success also depends on your trade partners (as I’d like to call them) or subcontractors. Most of the time, when subcontractors mess up production, the general contractors’ (GC) initial response is to replace them. Little did they know, though, that in doing so, they’re not just addressing the root cause of the problem, but they’re creating another issue that leads to another one, and so on. And that’s what we want to avoid. So, in this week’s episode, we’ll talk about three secrets on how to eliminate subcontractor chaos without finding new subs OR, worst, doing all the work yourselves. In addition, we’ll also touch base on some construction myths and thinking traps that contribute to this industry’s chaos and how to crush them instead. And when you finally understand these secrets, you can become the general contractor of choice in your market. If that sounds like the direction you’d want your company to take on, make sure to tune in to today’s episode. Let’s get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What are the problems with trade partners/subcontractors? (01:53) Is there really a skilled labor shortage? (03:13) Most common places people are losing time (05:06) Technology as a hurdle to productivity (12:16) You may be part of the productivity problem (13:23) Use the five why’s method (14:50) The underlying problem - JETS trap (17:06) How to eliminate all the chaos? (29:31) Quick recap (30:35) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
38:4714/11/2022
Why All Business Problems are People Problems with Eric Anderton | E265
EPISODE 265: When you think of it, all business problems are people problems. And in the chaotic construction world where systematization is not a norm, it’s safe to say that people problem remains the biggest main challenge, and it’s not the tools, projects, and whatnot. And to help us understand more about people problem, we have Eric Anderton on the podcast today. Eric is a leading construction leadership and strategic consultant, author, and keynote speaker behind Construction Genius, with over 25 years of experience in public speaking. And he’s here to sit down and talk about… - Why every business problem is a people problem? - How do you repel the wrong people and attract and retain your rockstar employees? - A guide on how leaders should help build their team’s confidence - The 3 Fs in conducting an effective team meeting - Plus so much more If your construction business is struggling with endless problems, it’s time to get down to its root cause before it worsens. So, make sure to listen to today’s episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast and learn how. You don’t want to miss this one! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) People problem as the biggest challenge (02:38) Symptoms if you have a people problem (04:02) How to repel the wrong people? (07:48) Best retention strategies (10:42) When a newcomer leapfrogs long-time employees (16:26) How does a leader build his team’s confidence? (19:46) Steps in making team meetings functional, fast, and fun (32:17) The truth about retirement (41:59) Episode wrap-up (44:28) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here Connect with Eric - Grab a copy of his book Construction Genius here - Check out his podcast here - Visit his website here - Find Eric on LinkedIn here -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
49:1707/11/2022
How to Set Up a Company That Earns 8 Figures WITHOUT You | E264
EPISODE 264: What happens if you step away from your business for a week or a month? Would it thrive, survive or fail? Is it even possible to run a business without you yet making eight sales figures? Yes, it's possible! Someone cracked the code, and that's what you are about to learn today. We have Marc-André La Barre of Lib. as our guest for today, and he'll let us in on his secrets on what makes his design and construction service company runs like a well-oiled machine with little to no involvement from him. (His company just made $14M in sales on commercial services last year.) In today's episode, Marc and I will dive deeper into ... - His company's core values and how those translate to success - How to design a business that runs without you? - The mindset shifts needed - and a whole lot more If you're a visionary who thrives in new business ideas and wants to create a business that runs without you, then you shouldn't miss out on this. Let's get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Marc (01:02) How did it all started? (01:56) From residential to commercial services (10:38) What is Lib and what are its core values? (16:38) How do Lib's values show up for its staff and clients? (19:44) Marc's interpretation of E-myth (23:31) How to design a business that runs without you? (27:08) On trusting your staff and making mistakes (39:38) Why share equity in your business? (43:31) Mindset shifts needed for success (45:36) Episode wrap-up (59:18) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Books mentioned in this episode: The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters Traction by Gino Wickman Power to the Edge by David S. Alberts and Richard E. Hayes The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss Connect with Marc: - Visit Lib’s company website here - Or email them at [email protected] -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:03:0524/10/2022
Time-Tracking Hacks Every Construction Company Should Know | E263
EPISODE 263: Are you spending your weekends on timesheets and payroll? If that's how your weekend looks, you have a big problem going on with your business. And that's what we'll solve for you in this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast. We've invited James Jessop, Ben Ercanbrack, and Isaac Barlow to talk about how they've finally won back their time and increased their revenue using the Busybusy app. Busybusy is an easy-to-use construction time-tracking app with features like digital employee clock in and out, photo upload for project documentation, equipment visibility, accurate job costing, and much more. As a project manager twenty years ago, I know how complex projects are, and I've learned that business management is way more important than the actual ability to build. And if you don't strengthen the business management side of things, then you won't have anything to build. The numbers are out there to prove that. One of them shows that 70% of construction companies fail within seven years. And one of the major roadblocks in a construction business is the employee timesheet. Overpayment, unverified timestamps, over breaks, and unclear task documentation - do these sound familiar to you? So, if you’re in that same boat, make sure to tune in to today's episode as we unpack the benefits of using Busybusy and how it would impact your company and clients. Let’s get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What challenges lead James Jessop to sign up for BusyBusy? (03:55) On overpaying employees and incorrect timesheets (07:52) Benefits of using BusyBusy (10:48) Ben Ercanbrack on how challenging collecting time is (26:45) On Busybusy’s accurate job costing feature (30:20) Isaac Marlow on measuring results and better performance (33:23) What does winning look like? (37:28) What’s the norm in a construction business? (39:53) How did BusyBusy get started? (44:14) What problems does BusyBusy solve for contractors? (48:12) The future of BusyBusy (56:59) Episode wrap-up (1:05:08) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here - Win back your time using Busybusy here The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!
01:07:3117/10/2022