EPISODE 224: Bobby Williams was a teacher and football coach with a side-hustle construction business. How did he grow the business, how is he turning customers into disciples and what is the change he made recently that revolutionized the business? Here's what you're going to get out of this construction podcast episode: - How football coaching strategies apply to running a construction business. - How and why Bobby turned his side hustle construction business into a full time job. - Developing...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 224
EPISODE 223: What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode from The Construction Leading Edge Podcast: - Benefits of starting a business in an economic downturn. - Unique challenges of building on an island. - When you have to taper your opinions. - Benefits of starting a business during an economic downturn. - The specific software and systems Ryan runs his business with. - Big differences between Quickbooks and Sage. - Setting expectations leads to happy customers. - What's in i...
Sep 09, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 223
EPISODE 222: Here's what you're going to get out of this construction podcast episode: Creating a trust based organization, and how conflict helps create trust. How Reconstruction Experts has scaled to over $100 million in a short time. What are some common mistakes businesses make when trying to scale up? How important are systems and processes to scaling up, and why? Why do some people leave when you implement processes? What are some key differences between the CFO role and the CEO role, and ...
Aug 30, 2021•50 min•Ep. 222
EPISODE 221: John Warrillow is an expert in the mechanics of selling a business. He's helped thousands of business owners build and harvest the value of a business, and his written several books on the subject. Here's what you're going to learn about in this construction podcast episode: - Why most construction businesses are unsellable, and what to do to fix it. - What is TVR? - Trojan Horse effect of a subscription model. - The "Freedom Point", and how it relates to the right time to sell your...
Aug 16, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 221
EPISODE 220: Mike Brewer is CEO of a plumbing business in Arizona with 400 employees. They stopped trying to find plumbers. Now they're creating them. What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode: - How one word on your business card can steer business decisions. - The unique solution Mike's company is using to solve the skilled labor shortage. They're not trying to find plumbers...they're making them. - The piece of information that would have prevented Mike from starting his tr...
Jul 21, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 220
EPISODE 219: What you're going to hear about in this construction podcast episode with Kevin Oakley of Doyouconver.com: - How to avoid "selling yourself into bankruptcy." - Why advertising has zero momentum. - Tips on talking to your customers about problems caused by material delays and price increases. - What's happening with the Build to Rent market. - The most interesting trends Kevin is seeing with builders across the country right now. - Why now is a good time to pace yourself, no matter h...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 219
EPISODE 218: How did a moped accident set Connor Crook up for success? Why did an attorney buy a toolbelt company, and why is having an audience such a great idea? What you'll hear about in this construction podcast episode with Connor Crook, CEO of Diamondback Tool Co.: - Why should a business create an audience, and how do you go about building that audience? - Connor's process for creating new products, and why you might want to try it. - How do you know when to say no? - Some bad jokes about...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 218
EPISODE 217: What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode: - Four steps construction business owners need to take in order to create financial freedom. - Four situations many contractors are stuck in, that you want to avoid. - How to get in the driver's seat with your cash flow. - The difference between insights and information. - Biggest mistakes that lead to "impossibly priced" projects that have no chance of profitability. -Where to start if you have plenty of work and your jo...
Jun 21, 2021•32 min•Ep. 217
EPISODE 216: Kyle Little is the COO of Sherwood Lumber, one of the largest lumber distributors in the US. What you're doing to get out of this construction podcast episode: - What's going on behind the scenes of skyrocketing lumber prices...that most people don't know? - How the fallout from 2008 connects to what's going on now. - Is this the new norm with lumber prices? - Is there a bubble coming? - What does the supply chain working itself out look like? - How can developer or contractor lock ...
Jun 14, 2021•59 min•Ep. 216
EPISODE 215: What you'll hear about in this construction podcast episode: - 3 DNA statements at Western Allied. - Keys to successful transition of leadership from one generation to the next. - One of Angie's favorite failures, and what she learned about rolling out a new process. - One thing that surprised her about being CEO, and her top priorities in that role. - Unconscious biases. - Angie's advice to young women who want to move into senior leadership. - The difference between diversity and ...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 215
EPISODE 214: Mike is the CEO of MaterialsXchange, the digital marketplace to buy and sell wood products, bringing e-commerce efficiency to the process. What you'll hear about in this construction podcast episode: -What's going on behind the scenes of skyrocketing lumber prices...that most people don't know? - How John Deere was going to wreck the economy. - The difference between a supply web and supply chain. - Where's all the money going? - What does the future of the lumber prices look like f...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 214
EPISODE 213: What you'll hear about in this construction podcast episode: - Why Margaret Whelan says we have a process constraint, not a labor constraint. - What's going on with the build to rent product. - How to be a thought leader. - Creating demand vs. adding to supply. - The builders who are disrupting housing. - The best career advice Margaret received. - Why some of the biggest homebuilders aren't really homebuilders. - Why successful builders build every house twice -The biggest risk to ...
May 24, 2021•57 min•Ep. 213
EPISODE 212: Ward Schraeder is a venture capitalist who has done bankruptcy turnarounds on 30+ businesses. He's a real estate developer and most recently, host of the HGTV show Bargain Mansions Here's what you're going to get out of this construction podcast episode: - Common factors among 30+ businesses in bankruptcy he was tasked with turning around. - The one reason that led him to shut down more businesses than anything else. - How he analyzes a business venture right off the bat. - How he a...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 212
EPISODE 211: Here's what you're going to get out of this construction podcast episode with Russ Little, of Jones Lang LaSalle: - Why "Coopetition" is better than competition. - How and why to get started with "relationship mining." - One common mistake to avoid when you start working with a new client... or change jobs. - Some changes Russ would suggest to contractors who want to be more successful. - The most challenging aspects of working inside large client organizations. - One particularly d...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 211
EPISODE 210: Here's what you're going to get out of this construction podcast episode with Justin Bride of Ascent Contracting: - The difference between commercial and residential construction, and what each can learn from the other. - The importance of preconstruction in the residential construction industry. What happens when it's NOT done well? - How to market to architects and build relationships with them. - How Justin and his team get referrals from clients. - One specific red flag Justin l...
May 03, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 210
EPISODE 209: Here's what you're going to get out of this construction podcast episode: - Things to stop doing if you want to recruit and hire young people. - What do most people get wrong about the skilled labor situation? - What is CREW Collaborative? - How the Build My Future event is different from other career fairs. - What ISN'T working when it comes to attracting young people? - What are some out of the box approaches Brandon recommends? - Why you need to stop letting people tell your stor...
Apr 26, 2021•58 min•Ep. 209
EPISODE 208: What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: - The Art Of Delegation: How To Get Out Of Your Own Way - Addition Through Subtraction: How To Compound Your Results - Cost-Plus vs. Fixed-Cost projects. - The top one or two root cause problems builders and remodelers should focus on. - Putting systems and processes in place. - The problem with free estimates Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Fieldchat: Messaging built for construction teams - https:/...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 208
EPISODE 207: What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: - Kristin Larson's top priorities as a CEO of Southwest Industrial Electric. - The keys to growing from 10 employees to 50, and the failure cycle she had to stop. - The few things on her financial dashboard she uses to keep tabs on her business. - A mindset shift that is common to most successful construction business owners. - How Southwest Electric uses games to achieve targets. - Communicating to a resolution with family m...
Apr 13, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 207
EPISODE 206: What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: What does Spencer Powell mean when he says to become "the Red Bull of the construction space." How the "script has flipped" when it comes to sales and marketing. Marketing activities that are mistakes and wastes of time. What a marketing funnel is, and the keys to a good one. Why did Spencer write an open letter to Houzz? Where you should focus efforts and resources to get the most bang for your marketing buck. How to get sta...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 206
EPISODE 205: 64% of construction companies fail in the first five years, usually because of cash flow problems. In this construction podcast episode you'll learn about: 8 mistakes construction business owners make when trying to solve their cash flow problems. What "Right to Left" operation looks like, and how it solved cash flow problems for one business. Some of the most common side effects of cash flow struggles. Details on The Construction Financial Masterclass - https://buildermasterclass.c...
Apr 03, 2021•28 min•Ep. 205
EPISODE 204: What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: - How can going modular help builders deal with the current lumber price situation? - "All modular homes are prefab homes but not all prefab homes are modular homes." What does that mean? - What's in it for the homeowner in the way of indoor air quality? - What is the business opportunity in the modular business? - A few misconceptions and myths about modular? - How are permitting and inspections handled on modular homes? - I...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 204
EPISODE 203: What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: - Unique challenges of a project that is over 1,000,000 sf on a 125 acre site. - How to get people to fill out daily reports. - The tools two superintendents from Willmeng Construction are using to keep up with hundreds of employees on a massive project. - How they're using FieldChat and ProCore to revolutionize their operation. - A few ingenious ways to use QR codes on your jobsites. - Tips for getting people on board with u...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 203
EPISODE 202: What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode: "Stop screwing around with symptoms" How to get to the root cause of just about any problem. The "Systems Mindset" and what it looks like. Top 4 Profit Bleeds most contractors suffer from. Two big profit bleeds that can't be quantified, but are incredibly expensive. Answer to the question, "Where do I start putting systems in place?" Right to Left Thinking Five areas of your business to systematize, and how to get some qu...
Mar 15, 2021•55 min•Ep. 202
EPISODE 201: What does a Navy SEAL strategy for raiding insurgent houses have to do with minimizing chaos for you? I'll try to explain... What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode: How a "touch it once" system helped Navy SEALs catch more insurgents during the war on terror. How "Point of Sale Thinking" will help you eliminate chaos in your business...even if you never use a cash register. How to use technology to automate your remembering and reminding. What an automated sale...
Mar 08, 2021•41 min•Ep. 201
EPISODE 200: Martha Weidmann - CEO and Co-Founder at NINE dot ARTS | Art Consultants and Curators. NINE dot ARTS uses the power of original art to transform spaces (office buildings, multifamily, large land developments, healthcare facilities, to name a few, into experiences. They bridge the gap between arts and business. What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: - Martha's advice on selling to developers and project owners. -How does art pay for itself? - The difference between ...
Mar 01, 2021•53 min•Ep. 200
How many referrals are you losing because of your warranty process? Matt Hobbs shares some keys to a rock solid warranty program. What you'll hear about in this construction podcast episode: - The surprising connection between your referrals and the warranty period. - How to prevent warranty claims, regardless of the type of work you do. - Four keys to a rock solid warranty program -The biggest challenges builders are facing right now. - Root causes behind warranty issues - Four wall execution a...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 199
What you'll get out of this construction podcast episode: - How creating space to fail allows for innovation. - The surprising connection between safety and asset tracking. - Problems with the typical approaches to asset tracking on jobsites. - One way to create a culture of accountability. - An interesting jobsite Innovation Lab Oracle created, and some surprising things they learned from watching real life construction folks in the wild. - Which assets make sense to track on your jobsites, and...
Feb 15, 2021•50 min•Ep. 198
You should walk into every contract expecting to negotiate? Learn what to look for and how to quit getting screwed. What you'll get from this construction podcast episode with construction attorney Karalynn Cromeens: - The bid and scope are never the same, and not understanding the difference has cost some people their business. - There's no room for charity in a business transaction. - What is the first rule of subcontracts? - Common misconceptions about subcontracts. - How liens work and why t...
Feb 08, 2021•58 min•Ep. 197
In this episode you'll hear my conversation with Ken Kucera, Vice President of Installed Sales and Manufacturing at 84 Lumber. What you'll learn from this construction podcast episode: - How you, the contractor, can get better value from your supplier. Info to share, questions to ask. - How will the lumber supply business look different to builders in the next 5 years? - Tips for nailing the handoff from design to manufacturing to supplier to the field. His team does a couple of innovative thing...
Feb 01, 2021•53 min•Ep. 196
Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas survived her brother's suicide and is now a subject matter expert in workplace suicide prevention, men's mental health and resilience. What you'll learn from this construction podcast episode: - Why a business owner said to her over coffee, "I don't want to wait until an employees dies." - Story about what a police chief said to one of his officers after he attempted suicide. - Why does the construction industry have one of the highest suicide rates? - What is the #1 can...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 195
