Contractor Evolution

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP136 The number of contractors who speak aspirationally about franchising their business one day compared to the number who actually do is astounding. People talk the talk but rarely walk the walk. And I’ve always wondered why that is. Are people smoking hope dope? Is franchising way more complicated than people realize? Some combination of the two? Our guest on the show today is Blair Rebane. He is a franchise lawyer and strategic advisor to many home service franchises, including the world's largest junk removal company. Over the last 30 years, he has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs franchise their businesses and, perhaps more importantly, talked hundreds more out of it. We literally can’t think of anyone better to give us a sobering walkthrough of what it actually takes to franchise your business. (hint: it’s way more complicated than most people think) If you’ve ever considered growing your business using the franchise model this episode is a must listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To download the Supervisor and Employee Performance Review Documents, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP135 Performance Reviews are a misunderstood facet of a company’s performance management cycle. You may have already implemented them and love how they help grow and develop the talent on your team. You might think they’re an unnecessary formality from the corporate HR world. Or (and I suspect this is a lot of you) you might be somewhere in the middle, doing a quasi-formal year-end meeting where some feedback is given, but it quickly devolves into a compensation negotiation or a bitch and moan fest (not ideal 😬.) Wherever you sit on this spectrum, I promise you’ll get a tonne from this episode, where we outline exactly why you need to start doing them (if you’re not already) and how to get started. To help me, I’m joined by one of our amazing Breakthrough Academy coaches, Ashley Ennis. Ashley’s been with BTA since 2017 and has helped hundreds of our members implement performance reviews that their teams are pumped for. So if you want to develop your people faster, create leaders within your business, and foster a culture of transparency and data-driven feedback, listen to this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP134 Our guest on the show this week is Brian Scudamore, the visionary behind 1-800-GOT-JUNK—the largest junk removal company in the world. Brian’s story is a fascinating one, but the part we zoom in on in this episode is how he found his Integrator and COO, Erik Church, and here is why… Most of you are visionaries who will, at some point, need an integrator. Your brain is naturally tilted toward the future and teaming with bright (and some not-so-bright) ideas. As your business grows, it will become necessary to hand off the day-to-day execution of your business strategy to someone who is even better at it than you. A right-hand man/woman. A strong #2. The yin to your yang. Why not learn from someone who has done precisely that to the tune of $500MM a year in sales? Listen to this episode to learn how Scudamore became one of the most successful home service entrepreneurs in the world by hiring out his weaknesses and tripling down on his strengths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP133 To learn if a house-build trip is right for your team, click here: https://bajabound.org/ A team that is tightly knit and cohesive is going to outperform one that is loosely assembled. 10 times out of 10. Team building is about more than selecting the right people for the right roles. We, as leaders, also need to bring people together intentionally, facilitate rapport building, and play a role in helping develop the connections between staff from “just coworkers” to “someone they’d go to bat for.” One of the quickest shortcuts we’ve found in the Breakthrough Academy universe to boost TEAM COHESION is service-based activities and trips. Go carts and wing nights are awesome, but if you want to put team bonding on steroids, doing something good for a person, a family, or a community is the fastest way to do it. We all have an innately human need to serve others, and these experiences' emotional intensity can help bring down people's walls. Mike Sherbakov, our guest today, is the founder of the Greatness Foundation a non-profit that leads impact initiatives and community projects aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. He’s also a partner in The Veteran Fund venture capital firm that invests in high-growth technology startups led by ex-military founders (how cool is that?) Through the lens of his military background, Mike explains WHY team cohesion is fundamental to success, what happens to units without it, and how to bring your team closer while doing some good in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP132 John Maxwell’s book The 5 Levels of Leadership is one of the most popular and highly rated leadership books ever. The fundamental premise is simple. No one cares that you are the boss, foreman, site supervisor, or business owner. Sure, a title gives you a small amount of clout, but the leverage it gives you is limited and certainly doesn’t last long. To gain the sphere of influence you want and need, you need to progress through the 5 Levels of Leadership. Position Permission Production People Development Pinnacle I’m excited to have Perry Holley guesting on the show today. He hosts the Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast, is a certified Maxwell Leadership coach, and is the author of Repeat the Remarkable. Listen to this episode to learn how you can ascend through the 5 levels of leadership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP131 Attend Tommy and Al’s Freedom Event in Orlando: https://freedomevent.com USE THE DISCOUNT CODE BTA40 for 40% off My guests on the show today are Tommy Mello and Al Levi. Tommy’s company, A1 Garage Door Service, now operates in 37 markets across 19 states. They’re on pace to do north of 200M in revenue this year with an EBITDA of 17%. Al Levi is the author of The 7 Power Contractor and one of Tommy’s most trusted mentors. He helped Tommy develop the SOPs, create the org chart, write the operations manuals, and define the vision for what A1 would become. In today’s conversation, we talk about Tommy’s new book Elevate: Build a business where everyone wins. Al shares his perspective on Tommy’s long and arduous journey to success (nearly broke, living in a small apartment in Phoenix, and writing payroll cheques out of his personal account) We also talk a lot about A1’s current geographic expansion strategy, how they analyze and select markets, and the roll-up process when they decide to green light one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To get Free SOP resource bundle click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP130 Writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs for short) is sorta like flossing your teeth. It's one of those things you know you need to do… but somehow never find the time for. Five things become damn near impossible for your business without them, though: You can’t deliver a consistent product or service (because everyone does everything their own unique way) You can’t develop talent (because you have no structure to grade them against) You can’t scale profitably (because nothing is repeatable) You can’t attract or retain A players (because they’re looking for an employer with SOPs to follow) You can’t build a company of value (because written processes are one of the first things a buyer is going to look for) So why go another day with all your business SOPs inside your head? Listen to this episode to learn how Blaise McDonald of MAC Reno and Brett Bernard of ProCor Group tamed the chaos in their business using SOPs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Check out our easy-to-share list of AI tools: https://trybta.com/PCEP129 Let’s cut right to the chase. There are a gazillion AI tools out there, and new ones arriving every day. How many of them are ACTUALLY helpful to YOU? Not that many. That’s why Morgan Knox and I put together a short list of AI tools your contracting business might actually use.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP128 Check out FutureSight Labs and all of Seth’s work here: https://www.sethmattison.com/ My guest on the show today is Seth Mattison, CEO of FutureSight Labs, a research institute, organizational design, and transformation partner helping category-leading brands and peak-performing leadership teams prepare for the future. He’s also a world-renowned keynote speaker and expert on the future of work. In today's conversation, he shares his field report from the front lines of work, and we explore 5 emerging trends he’s writing about and speaking about with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Caterpillar, Adidas, Master Card, and Thomson Reuters. He did a great job distilling this down and speaking to how these trends will affect YOUR contracting business!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP127 Austin’s Google Local Services Ads SOP: https://www.basecoatmarketing.com/learn/local-services-ads-for-painters/ Google Local Service Ads are a newish feature from Google that not enough business owners are taking advantage of. Search ads have become insanely expensive as the algorithm has begun catering to the highest bidders. Google Local Services Ads (or LSA’s for short) are Google’s answer for the small business owner who simply can’t compete, at least on the pay-per-click front, with national brands or massive lead aggregators. While you’re not going to scale your entire business on this one lead source, they’re a super easy-to-deploy marketing channel that more or less acts as an extension of your Google Business Profile. Leads that convert at around a 50% close rate for $20 to $50 a pop sounds like a pretty good deal to me. And this can be easily layered on top of pretty much any marketing strategy you’ve got going. Austin Houser is the owner of Base Coat Marketing, a Digital Marketing Firm for Painters. If you’re not a painter, don’t worry LSAs still apply to you. Austin has been doing Digital Marketing since 2008, and his team of 25 in-house employees have become known for delivering exceptional results. Today, we talk about: why lead aggregators kinda suck, and how Google Local Service Ads can be your antidote to effective lead gen online Austin gives us a super detailed walkthrough of how to get started with LSAs and a whole bunch of best practices to help optimize them over time. This lead source is a no-brainer! Get going on them now, and beat your competition to the punch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP126 To buy David’s Book, click here: https://trybta.com/WisdomforFamilyEnterpriseSuccessors Our guest on the show today is David C. Bentall. During his tenure as President & CEO of Dominion Construction, the business doubled in size to just under $300 million in sales. He played a leading role in the development and construction of landmark projects across Canada, including GM Place (now Rogers Arena, where the Canucks play 🏒), the TD Centre Office Complex in downtown Winnipeg, plus many other notable buildings in the Vancouver skyline. David just authored his third book, Dear Younger Me: Wisdom for Family Enterprise Successors, and in today’s conversation, we focus on 9 transformational leadership traits that anyone can learn. Expect to learn: Why the AI revolution will put an even greater premium on critical thinking skills How curiosity can drive innovation inside your business Why being impatient with your organizational growth always backfires If you want to level up your leadership, listen to this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP125 Register for Breakthough Academy’s 2024 Winter Summit: https://www.btacademy.com/wintersummit/register/ Order one of Mike’s books:https://mikemichalowicz.com/books/ My Guest on the Show today is Best Selling Business Author Mike Michalowicz. Mike has written some classics: Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan, Fix This Next, and Get Different, just to name a few. Mike's body of work is beloved for one simple reason: they work. Today, we zoom in and hash out one of the fundamental ideas in his book Fix This Next, which he calls The Business Priority Pyramid. Mike believes that the biggest problem facing most entrepreneurs is that they don’t actually know what their biggest problem is. And I would tend to agree. Think about it… How much time have you invested solving the wrong problems? How many hours and dollars have you wasted on stuff that seemed important but really wasn’t in the grand scheme of things? Prioritization is arguably the most vital of entrepreneurial skills, and the Business Priority Pyramid is the most no-nonsense framework I’ve found to help us get better at it. To figure out the right fire for you to put out next, listen to this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP124 Rhythmical and ritualistic meetings function like the war drums of your business by providing your team with a tempo and a beat to stay in sync with. Without them, things become chaotic, disjointed, and you find yourself repeating the same conversations over and over. Brody Funk is one of our amazing Breakthrough Academy coaches and used communication cadences to scale and exit his two businesses, Super Plumber and 360 Comfort. Today, we dive into five levels of ritualistic meetings: Annual strategic planning sessions Quarterly reviews Monthly town hall meetings Weekly L10s And Daily Huddles (that must include a “win-the-day” number) Listen to the full episode to learn how to get your meeting schedule on track and keep your team paddling in the same direction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP123 Check Out LMN here: https://golmn.com/ My guest on the show today is Mark Bradley, Founder and CEO of Landscape Management Network (or LMN for short). Since its inception in 2007, LMN has become the most trusted software in the world for landscape professionals, with over 250K users on the platform. What makes Mark different from most tech CEOs (who've spent most of their career on a laptop) is he’s actually rolled up his sleeves and done the work too. Prior to launching LMN, he built one of the biggest landscaping companies in Canada, TBG Environmental. Through some highly strategic vertical integration and a penchant for taking on the hard jobs many other shops shied away from, he grew his company up to 50MM and 300 employees before selling off a few of its divisions and diving into the software world full time. This guy is a serious player. Today’s conversation is about: How your leadership needs to evolve as you scale from 0 to 5MM and then from 5MM to 10MM Why revenue per employee hour is the most profit-inducing KPI and how lean manufacturing principles can help you drive it How to use visible scoreboards in your office to gamify production and keep your crews pushing the tempo on projects And his take on how AI will shape the future of the construction and trades space Listen to the full episode to hear about Mark Bradley’s incredible journey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP122 Today’s conversation is about Conscious Leadership. What it is. Why it matters. And how to access more of it. And we’re going to delve into this topic through the experience of Mason Marquis. Mason started his business journey early, founding his painting company Spray Tex in Dallas Fort Worth at the age of 21. In five short years, he scaled it up from 500K to north 5MM. An insane drive and will to win drove Mason to grow his business at an unrelenting pace. In the midst of building sales teams, dealing with customer issues, developing production managers, and implementing scalable systems, he began to realize something many of you can relate to. Growing for the sake of growing wasn’t sustaining him. The need to be validated and seen as a success was no longer motivating him the way it used to. The inherent stressors of business were beginning to pile up inside him. Frustration was turning into outright anger. He didn’t recognize the hardened exterior that had begun to develop. His business, his relationships, and his sense of purpose were suffering as a result. Leading unconsciously was beginning to cost him dearly. The reason Mason is on the show today is because I know for a fact many of you are going through this inner journey as we speak, or are about to. And sometimes hearing about someone else’s hardship can help you sort out your own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP121 Learn more about Jeff's company Groundwork here: https://www.hellogroundwork.com/ If you’re using ChatGPT to write your website copy, create sales scripts, develop your brand, or outsource your critical thinking… guess what!? So are all your competitors! Your clients are looking for a thoughtful company that stands out from the crowd. One surefire way to NOT achieve this is to use the same tool (which pulls from the same data set) as everyone else. GPT certainly has some utility for contractors (which we’ll discuss), but its blind over-utilization will commoditize your company and destroy your brand - neither of which are good things. My guest on the show today is Jeff Wraley, founder of Groundwork, a virtual sales tool that makes it easy for homeowners to send you a video of their project, letting you instantly qualify prospects and increase in-person close rates. Our conversation is about: How using video content in your pre-estimate nurture can help you get rid of tire kickers and boost your SR The risks of overleveraging AI and large language models like GPT in your contracting business And why personalization is the best way to stand out in a competitive market. Listen to this episode for the full conversation with Jeff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP120 Breakthrough Academy’s annual “Turnaround of the Year” award is given to the entrepreneur who has achieved extraordinary growth despite facing great adversity. That's a fancy way of saying it goes to the man or woman who's been through some seriously heavy stuff and come out the other side. This year's winner was Stephen Osborne of The Osborne Company. And 2021 was not kind to Stephen. His father, David, the founder of the company, passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly. Infighting amongst siblings ensued, everyone wanting their cut. Adding insult to injury, a group of non-construction consultants hired by family members, unbeknownst to him, forced him to step down as president. As grief and conflict ripped through the family, the business suffered too: their Net Profit dropped down to 1.7%, and the business was hanging on by a thread. Fast forward two years, and the Osborne company is on trend to do north of 15MM, with a super healthy 15% net. The team is the happiest and most functional it’s ever been, and they’ve become of the largest EV charging station installers in the US. The conversation that follows is about HOW Stephen got through the darkest time in his life, steered his father's company and legacy away from financial ruin, and won the Turnaround Of The Year Award. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP119 Start your Free 14-day Trial with NiceJob here: https://nicejob.grsm.io/bta Here are 3 factoids you should probably know when considering how you’ll take your marketing and sales to the next level: 90% of consumers think reviews are more important than any information provided by salespeople. Reviews are 12x more credible to a customer than the sales copy on your website. While 75% of customers would be willing to provide a review, only 13% of small businesses ask. That’s a data-driven way of saying: buyers only care about what other customers say about you. And that’s about it. To learn how to get better reviews more often, with less effort, you’ll want to check out this week's episode of Contractor Evolution with Lars Kristensen, Founder and CEO of NiceJob. Click the links below to learn: why a 4.8/5 rating is better than a perfect 5 how to capitalize on your customer’s “moment of peak excitement” and how to deal with the dreaded 1-star reviews (newsflash: starting a heated battle in the comments for all to see ain’t it ;) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP118 Check Out Nick Here: https://nickslavik.com/ My guest on the show today is Nick Slavik. Owner of Nick Slavik Painting and Restoration Company, the Chairman of the Board for the Painting Contractors Association, and a minor celebrity in the painting world known for his “Ask A Painter” Facebook live series. On today’s episode, we try to answer one simple question Should you collaborate with your competition? Or protect your trade secrets? Entrepreneurs have strong opinions when it comes to this polarizing question. And I’ve heard the case made for both sides 100 times. Many claim it's unwise to share your trade secrets or fraternize with the enemy in any way. Others say “there’s more than enough work for everyone” and that connecting with other contractors is the fastest way to compress learning curves and raise the bar for the industry. Listen to this episode for some answers from Nick Slavik.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP117 Check out Alan’s work here: https://ultimaterainmaker.com/ Have you ever crunched the numbers to figure out: how many leads your business generates that go unestimated? How many leads get estimated but remain unsold? How much lost revenue that all adds up to? Most small businesses are wildly inefficient with their lead flow. You wouldn’t dream of buying twice the materials you need for a project only to abandon the leftovers in a pile. So why do we do this with our marketing spend and our lead flow? Why do we recklessly burn and turn leads like they grow on trees? A solid “rehash” system can help you maximize the revenue off of the leads you already generate, and I’m excited to speak to Alan Michael McKenna, founder of The Ultimate Rainmaker, about it. Alan’s system has recaptured north of $100MM dollars of lost revenue for many of the biggest brands in the home service and remodeling industry, including Renewal by Anderson, Kohler, and One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning. If you want to know how to add 10% to 20% to your top without spending a dollar more on marketing, listen to this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP116 Red Stag Contracting: https://redstagcontracting.ca/ Royal Heating and Air Conditioning: https://royalheatingandair.com/ Project Management Resource Bundle: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP116 Do you have Project Managers Or Professional Firefighters? The answer to this question is so directly connected to your year-end profit it’s not even funny. They say: Money Loves Speed. But what does that really mean? It means that the faster and more predictably your projects closeout, the faster you can move on to the next project. Over the course of the year, this means more revenue in the door which means more money to pay for your overhead and pad your bottom line. The most profitable construction, trades, and home service companies all have on thing in common. They chew through projects QUICKLY, with fewer hiccups, mistakes, and callbacks than their competition. So if the Project Management in your business feels chaotic and you want to learn how to fix it, this episode is a must-listen. Andrew Spear, a high-performance home builder in Summerland BC shares how he used PM systems to scale from an exhausting 2.6MM in 2021 to being on trend for a smooth and profitable 7MM in 2023. And Chris Collins of Royal Heating and Air Conditioning, a 3rd generation commercial HVAC contractor in Willoughby, Ohio, who’s used PM systems to modernize the business he took over and increase his gross profit from 31% to 42%.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP1115 To Download Power SellingPros CSR Training Resources, click here: powersellingpros.com/free Do you ever listen to your office manager or salesperson speak to a lead on the phone and think to yourself: “You’re doing it WRONG!” ? The way calls get handled has a direct impact on how much revenue you do, how efficient your marketing spend is, how easygoing the customer is when the crew arrives, and how your brand is perceived in the marketplace. It's the first impression a customer has of your business, and if done poorly, it will be their last. We’re very fortunate to have Zac Garside, CEO of Power Selling Pros, on the show today. Power Selling Pros helps customer services representatives, and entire call centers boost their booking percentage and create amazing customer experiences from the very first interaction: Expect to learn: Why rigid call scripts don’t work and what you should be using instead How to train your call handers to build value, use strategic empathy, and ASK for the business And the 6 KPIs you need to measure call handling success objectively Whether you’re still doing all the calls yourself or you run 25 person call center, you’re going to get a tonne from this conversation with Zac GarsideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP114 To Download Your Built To Sell Checklist, click here: BuiltToSell.com Ever wonder what your business will be worth when it comes time to sell? Building a business of actual value - something you can sell for a pile of money - is not (despite what many people think) just a function of hard work and dedication. There’s a strategy to it. A playbook, if you will. And countless entrepreneurs, sadly, don’t read it. My guest on the show today is best-selling business author John Warrillow. John’s 3 books, Built To Sell, The Automatic Customer, and The Art Of Selling Your Business, have, over the years, become something akin to sacred scrolls for the entrepreneur looking to build a business they can cash out of. Listen to this episode to learn: How specialization can keep your service from becoming commoditized. Why charging upfront keeps your monthly cash flow healthier but also boosts the price a potential acquirer is willing to pay. And why giving away equity to long-term employees (while often done with the best intentions) usually backfires when it comes time to sell your business. Full of brilliant insight and decades of experience, this conversation with John Warrillow is a must-listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP1113 Check Out David’s Book Leaving A Legacy here: https://www.amazon.ca/Leaving-Legacy-David-Bentall/dp/1894860977 Connect With Next Step Advisors Here: https://www.nextstepadvisors.ca/ Did you know that 85% of businesses (globally) are family owned? And did you know that family businesses, on average, last twice as long as non family businesses? Turns out entrepreneurs like to keep their success in the family. That doesn’t make it a walk in the park though. On the contrary, running a company with your mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin, uncle, or [insert relative] adds a layer of complexity that few understand. How do you maintain professional, productive working relationships during business hours, and then slide into loving and nurturing family relationships the rest of the time? How do you keep your responsibilities to the company separate from your role as parent, son, or daughter? Then comes the question of succession planning. Who is going to run this thing when the older generation retire? How do we structure and prepare for that transition? For answers to these questions and a bunch more, listen to this week’s episode of Contractor Evolution with David C. Bentall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP112 Check Out Ami’s Language Building Blocks Template, Click Here To connect with Ami message him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apsanyal/ Learning to write persuasively is a massively underrated skill and not something we’ve spent enough time on this podcast. See, there is a scientific process to crafting messages that truly compel someone to: apply to your job posting, to fill out the inquiry form on your website, to subscribe to your newsletter to award you the contract and not your competitor The list goes on. Whether you hoping to transact in dollars or just in information, there are certain spots in your business where the exact words on the page really matter. The technical term for what I’m talking about is conversion copywriting, and the concept is simple: construct sentences in such a way that makes the reader feel seen and understood and want to interact with you more. Another way to think of this is “Salesmanship In Print.” Ami Sanyal is a marketing strategist, the CEO of The Uncommoners Club (his agency), and our conversion copywriter here at Breakthrough Academy. I’ve worked firsthand with him over the past year, and honestly can say he’s the most talented person at his craft that I’ve ever met. Long story short, if you want to learn how to write job postings that give you an inbox full of resumes, how to write follow-up emails that get excited responses, or website CTAs which get you leads, learning the basics of conversion copy is probably a good idea. The good news? Mastering this craft is easier and more formulaic than you might think.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP111 Check out Priority Builders on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prioritybuildersyeg/ Love it or hate it, Instagram can deliver impressive results for your construction business. If you’ve become disenfranchised (as so many have) with this platform, this week's episode is the antidote. For many contractors, Instagram is a time-sucking vanity project with no ROI, but for our guest Sean Walford, it’s a hyper-efficient lead-generating machine. Get this… Sean’s Edmonton-based renovations company gets 70% of its sales directly from ‘the gram’ - and he hasn’t even been at it that long! Two short years ago, he decided to pour some focus into this platform and has since built up a super-engaged following of 12,000 that BUY. Today his gonna peel back the curtain and tell us exactly how he did it. We discuss posting strategy, comment management, and how to embed CTA’s that convert followers into leads. So if you’re tired of mediocre Instagram results, listen to the full episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, Click Here Download Breakthrough Academy’s Interview Guide, Click Here Let me know if this situation sounds familiar… You hired someone a month back. When you called to tell this person they got the job, you were excited, and so were they. But now the glimmer is gone. The excitement you felt is slowly turning into doubt. There are a couple of things about this new hire you didn’t see before: They don’t have the skills their resume led you to believe they did. They aren’t the team player you hoped they were. Their reliability is hit-and-miss. They need an attitude adjustment. [insert behavior you’re not loving] The reality is even great team builders don’t shoot 100%. Look at professional sports, and you’ll see first-round draft picks that end up being busts. Major contracts awarded that only a year later seem totally boneheaded. If the most sophisticated and well-resourced team builders in the world get it wrong from time to time, it seems probable that you in your business are going to as well. No sweat. Part of the journey. The question is, how do you deal with it? Do you exit quickly, learn and bounce back? Or do you let this mistake linger and fester? Today’s episode is 16 Signs You've Hired The Wrong Person. To hear them all, listen to this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP109 One of the most common questions we get is: how should I pay my people? This makes sense when you think about how influential your compensation plans are to the success of your business and the people inside it. Is what I’m offering compelling enough to attract the talent I need? Am I using incentives and bonuses effectively to get staff focused on the right things? Is dolling out cash at the end of the year out of the goodness of my heart the right way of going about it? The value in answering these questions can’t be overstated, and yet, you don’t hear people having money conversations like this all that often - at least not openly. “Performance Pay” is one of the best ways to align the goals of the individual with the goals of the organization - share the gain, share the pain. Shane Bannerman, one of our incredible Breakthrough Academy coaches, is here today to explain how to set up performance pay for the archetypal roles most contracting businesses have: production managers, field staff, salespeople, and administrators. Shane coaches over 40 different BTA companies. He’s seen firsthand the comp plans that drive results and those that FLOP! Listen to this episode for deep dive into performance pay for contractors! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, Click Here Check Out Marcus’ sales & marketing training company: www.impactplus.com Order His Book They Ask, You Answer: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119312973/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3 Our guest on the show today is globally renowned speaker and consultant: Marcus Sheridan. Author of They Ask, You Answer and The Visual Sale. Marcus is the go-to guy for content marketing and inbound sales (especially for contractors and home services). His philosophy is simple but powerful: If your customers are asking about it, you should be creating content around it. Getting out in front of the concerns and questions of your potential buyers is the easiest way to build authority and elevate your company from “one in a sea of options” to “the only one” they want to do business with. Expect to Learn: How to build trust and transparency through your website’s content using “The Big 5” framework - turning visitors into buyers while exponentially increasing site traffic Just how educated the modern buyer truly is and why relying on uninformed clients is no longer a viable marketing strategy (if it ever was) Marcus’ insights on navigating through a changing market, having carefully steered River Pools through the 08 financial crisis and into one of the most successful pool franchises in the US Making great content doesn’t have to be hard, you just have to know where to start.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here, Click Here To download our printable DORAGI framework for your job sites, Click Here Download the BTA Training Checklist Contractor Quick Tool, Click Here Don’t know if you’ve noticed… but new employees often come with more skill gaps than advertised. How many times have you hired someone you thought had certain skills only to find out on-site that they, in fact, do not have said skills? The reality is when it comes to the talent pool, almost no one is truly “plug and play.” There are hundreds if not thousands of intricacies and nuances about how YOU do things, and that doesn’t always line up with how your new recruits have been trained via their previous employers, experience, or education. See… transferring skill is a SKILL in and of itself, and it’s one we see contractors struggle with. Today’s episode is about DORAGI, a framework for skill transfer that dramatically compresses learning curves. If you want better-equipped crews in less time, listen to this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, Click Here Use The Scrollers To See Dan’s Brand Transformations (srsly cool): https://www.kickcharge.com/portfolio/small-business-rebranding-before-after/ Dan’s Book “Branded, Not Blanded:” https://www.amazon.com/Branded-Not-Blanded-KickChargeTM-Service-ebook/dp/B0BBL1CCJ9 If you’ve ever wondered whether wrapping your fleet of vehicles is worth the cost, this episode is a must-listen. We’re suuuper lucky to have the “G.O.A.T.” of vehicle wraps, Dan Antonelli, on the show today. His agency KickCharge Creative has built brands for some of the biggest home service companies in North America: A1 Garage, Goettl Air Conditioning, and Absolute Airflow, just to name a few. Today’s conversation is about outdoor advertising in general but, more specifically, the 5 rules that all contractors and home service business owners need to follow when designing a vehicle wrap that pops and drives results. We also talk about his new book Branded, Not Blanded. It’s the best book I’ve ever read on branding for our niche. We’ll link it in the description.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, Click Here Matt’s Build Show Network: https://buildshownetwork.com/ Risinger Build: https://risingerbuild.com/ The Build Show Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-build-show-podcast/id1560010348 My guest on the show today is Matt Risinger. Matt is one of the most recognizable thought leaders in the construction space. His Youtube channel, which has over a million subscribers, is dedicated to all things building science, and he’s parlayed that into the creation of an entirely new platform called Build Show Network - Picture Netflix, but all the content is for construction nerds. Pretty awesome! His actual construction company, Risinger Build, is one of the most sought-after in Austin, Texas, where he lives with his family. Today’s conversation is about his entrepreneurial journey… Why he chose this industry, how he built his construction empire, and became the household name he is today. He shares some of the life-altering mistakes he made along the way, plus I get his take on the future of residential construction in North America. I really look up to Matt and deeply admire everything he’s built but, more importantly, the values he embodies. For all his success, he’s one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. We need guys like Matt, and I consider myself blessed to have gotten to know him a bit over the last year. Listen to this episode to hear the full Matt Risinger story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, Click Here Learn More About Jeff’s Work And His Book Here: https://www.jeffskipperconsulting.com/ Ideas are the easy part. The truth is getting implementation projects across the finish line is ALWAYS harder in reality than it is in your mind's eye. You’ve, no doubt, fantasized about the business efficiencies made available by new technology, the rollout of SOPs, a new sales methodology, whatever… and then been met with blank stares from your team when you excitedly announce these grand visions: “Why do we need to do this?” “This seems complicated!” “What's wrong with what we're doing right now?” As today’s guest, Jeff Skipper, says: the easiest thing for an employee to do when confronted with change is NOTHING. Jeff is a Change Management consultant and just authored a new book called Dancing With Disruption (definitely check it out). If you need to get your people doing things a new way, adopting a new system, or dropping an old one, the fundamentals of Change Management can help. At its core Change Management is about guiding organizational changes all the way from conception through to implementation. Jeff gets hired by companies like IBM, Suncor, Cenovus, Bayer, Molson, and Sport Chek to help them make monumental internal changes, and he’s here today to help us do the same.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, Click Here If you’ve ever wondered: How do I set up performance based pay for my Production Managers? Is it possible to effectively interview for “coachability”? (cuz saying “I’m great with feedback” and actually taking it are two different things) Or, how do I make my field staff accountable for quality without my direct supervision? In Today’s episode of Contractor Evolution Igor and I tackle five tricky listener questions head on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To register for BTA's Staff Accountability Secrets Masterclass, CLICK HERE The late and great Arnold Palmer asserted that golf was a game “predominantly played in the 6 inches between the ears.” Business and life are no different. Your mental game - what happens inside that head of yours - influences reality to such a profound degree it's difficult to measure. Where you set your sights, how you feel about yourself and your work, what you think is possible for you and your team, and how you handle massive setbacks; all of this and more are 100% dictated by the thoughts you allow (or do not allow) through your mind. The contractor’s formula for a high-performance mindset exists, and Shawn Feurer (Shawn Feurer Consulting) is here to break it down for us. Shawn has built a mindset framework specifically for contractors and actively coaches about 60 individuals through it. On today’s episode, you can expect to learn: The most common self-limiting beliefs contractors struggle with and where they come from How to distinguish “what you truly want” from “what you think you can have” A 3-step daily mindset routine that magnetizes your brain for prosperity (I’ve already started it and am loving it) So if you’ve been looking for the fluff-free, non “woo-woo” approach to disrupting your thoughts and reprogramming your mind for success and abundance, watch this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP101 To Download Contractor Dynamics Testimonial Guidelines, click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP101 If you, like me, are always looking for inexpensive but effective brand upgrades, look no further than client testimonials. Simple videos of your happy clients talking about how pleased they were with the experience they had with your company are one of the best assets to start collecting, and here’s why. The modern homeowner doesn’t put much weight on what you have to say about your own business or service. And why should they? You’re biased. It’s your business, after all! Of course, you’re gonna say how amazing it is. Fifty years of constant bombardment from advertisers and brands have made today’s consumers a bit more scrupulous and a bit less gullible. This is why getting clients to sing your praises is orders of magnitude more effective than singing your own. It’s just that simple. Here’s what I love about client testimonials: They’re cheap They’re versatile as hell (you can put them on your website, social media, in your sales process, and about eight other places too) People watch video content more than they read Social Proof from actual customers is way more persuasive Today on the show Joseph Hughes, founder of Contractor Dynamics, is here to unpack why they work, how to capture them, and where to put them. Listen to this episode to get these low-cost, high-conversion videos working for you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP100 To download Benji & Igor's 10 Commandments of Contractor Success, click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP100 We want to hear your feedback after 100 episodes, click this link to complete the survey (3 min): https://trybta.com/100 Yeehaw! That’s 100 episodes down (and goodness knows how many more to go!) We’re blessed and humbled to have spoken to some incredibly smart people over the past two years and have noticed some fundamental commonalities among them. Belief systems, habits, and tactics the best of the best all seem to share. Today’s episode is an amalgamation of the 10 things we’ve observed about success in the contracting and home service space after 100 episodes of Contractor Evolution. Huge thanks to both our guests and you listeners. We couldn’t do it without you! Tune in to find out why: No one at the top of their game is a ___________. The labor market is a challenge, but___________. ___________ matters more than working hard. Listen to this episode to fill in the blanks on these three and the remaining seven!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP99 To download Devon's 7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Marketing Agency, click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP99 Search Engine Optimization for your business can be a thorny rat’s nest full of technical jargon, disappointing results, and shifty marketers who’ll not only underdeliver but hold your website hostage if you ever try to leave. This is why going into a relationship with a 3rd party without at least a baseline understanding of how it works and what questions to ask is a recipe for disaster. We’re super lucky to have Devon Hayes of Elevation Marketing on the show today. Her Denver-based digital marketing agency is niched to serve contractors almost exclusively. Over 80% of their client base are businesses like yours, and they do phenomenal work. I learned a tonne from her, but my highlights were: The seven questions you need to ask your SEO person or agency before engaging. No joke, these could save you thousands of dollars and dozens of headaches. Easy “SEO Layups” - simple things you can do for little to no money time that provide an immediate boost to your findability online. And lastly, Devon drops a truth bomb about the risks of overusing Chat GPT for your website’s content; listen right until the end for that nugget! Whether you're a total SEO newb or already know a thing or two, listen to this episode for a beginner’s guide to SEO with Devon Hayes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP98 I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but employees tend to be much better at pointing out problems than fixing them. “Hey Boss, just wanted to let you know that [insert business issue you’re already abundantly aware of here]. We should really do something about that, hey?” Staff drop problems in your lap as consistently as a golden retriever drops a tennis ball at your feet. But what if you could instill a culture of problem-solving within your team? How much easier would your life be if, instead of you being the single source of critical thinking, your entire team was encouraged and even rewarded for making problems go away on their own? In today’s episode of Contractor Evolution, I talk about why problem-solving is one of the most critical traits to look for in new hires and even how you can develop it with the team you already have. Listen to this episode to find out why problem solvers are infinitely more valuable than problem finders. Highlights: Why finding problems is easy How to interview to find problem solvers How to spot Problem Solvers How to instill a culture of problem solving into your current team See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP97 To learn more about Tom and The Contractor Fight, click here: https://thecontractorfight.com/ My guest on the show today is Tom Reber. You may have heard of him. He hosts the Contractor Fight Podcast, speaks at many conferences, and has become a pretty well known guy in our space. Tom runs a program not unlike our beloved Breakthrough Academy, but for slightly smaller businesses. In fact, you could even call him our competitor (Ahh, the horror 😱). Here’s the thing though. We tell our contractors to collaborate with the competition and raise the entire industry on a daily basis, and the same rule applies to us. Practice what you preach. Tom is a phenomenal guy with a message you all should hear loud and clear, and we were lucky to have him. You can expect to learn the following from my conversation with Tom: Why trades and construction play one of the most essential roles in a functioning western society but get almost no credit for it How we overestimate how much we can accomplish in a year but underestimate what's possible in a decade And how to make trades cool again in the eyes of our young people, our clients, and ourselves See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP96 To Download A Visual Representation Of Artisan’s Sales Process, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lkfp3NXG6r0QjFNu_5ts6qY_B8pUYatM/view?usp=share_link To get in touch with Brad & Devon you can email: [email protected] One facet of our businesses' that will undoubtedly look wildly different in 10 years is in-home selling. How we sell leads into closed deals hasn’t changed much and is ripe for major disruption. Think about it… Get lead > Call lead > Call lead again cuz they didn’t pick up > Qualify lead over the phone > Schedule appointment > Do appointment > Close deal ~40% of the time > Follow up with the rest until you’re blue in the face. This way of going about it leaves a few things to be desired. For one, there’s very little time spent actually selling. The drive there. The drive back. The time spent measuring or building a scope. Oh, and don’t forget about the four outbound calls you had to make to reach them in the first place. Rising costs in fuel make this format increasingly burdensome too. And then there are changing buyer preferences to consider: Baby boomers may welcome us for a cup of coffee and a two-hour chit-chat in the backyard, but are millennials looking for that level of personal touch when they need work done? Doubt it. My personal take? In-home selling is ripe for disruption and is about to evolve in ways that will blow your mind. Brad Baker and Devon Crowell of Artisan Roofing are at the forefront of this progression. Using marketing automations, clever email nurtures, EagleView reports, and a VA in the Philippines, they drove 6.6 Million in sales out of one salesperson in one of the worst markets (economically speaking) in the country. BTW, they did this all in a city of only 116,000 where the average income is 38K. Oh, and the kicker….zero time lost in the car driving from appointment to appointment. This conversation highlights the story of a roofing company. But the overall thought process and implementation will have parallels and learnings for any contractor. The lingo might be different, and the tools might vary, but mark my words, this is the way it’s going, no matter your industry niche. To hear how these two are pioneering a brand new way of selling, listen to this episode. Highlights: How Artisan roofing hit 6.6 M in sales with 1 salesperson selling small residential jobs Where Artisan roofing borrowed from other industries to design their sales system to be hyper efficient How it’s possible to provide a very personal experience in an 'automated' sales process The changing landscape of sales in 2023 and what it means for contractors in the next 10 years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP95 To connect with Storyhook click the links below: Website: https://www.storyhook.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearestoryhook/ You can find Erik Miller on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spelledwithak There are many competing philosophies around how to build a brand customers feel a connection with. Erik Miller might have my favorite angle, and he is my guest on the show in this episode of Contractor Evolution. Erik believes instead of bending over backward to fit the mold you believe your ideal client avatar wants, it's way less work to look inward and display what's already there. In other words, finding out who you really are by paying attention to what your clients already love about you and highlighting THAT, is faster and more authentic than trying to be something you're not. Erik founded StoryHook in 2015, a branding agency obsessed with the power of stories. He’s also the Director of Brand for Company Cam and has been instrumental in making them the household name they are today. Today’s conversation is about: How and where contractors can find the “hooky” parts of their story and put them on display Why your sales team is the ultimate testing ground for new brand ideas and how you can use them to reality test new concepts. Because believe it or not, not everything you come up with is pure gold ;). And lastly we talk about the best LOW BUDGET brand upgrades that any contractor can do without engaging an expensive agency. To learn more about how to accentuate the amazing elements of your brand, listen to this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP94 To find out more about Baeumler Approved click here: https://www.baeumlerapproved.ca/ Our guest on this episode of Contractor Evolution is Bryan Baeumler. Star of HGTV’s hit shows Disaster DIY, Leave it to Bryan, Island of Bryan among others. Behind the TV Persona is a pretty sophisticated yet down-to-earth businessman with a super diverse portfolio of companies, the largest being his actual construction company, Baeumler Quality Construction, which is on trend to 60 Million plus next year. We talk about How and why our education system is under serving mechanically minded youth The best and worst parts of being a TV star Why hiring a CFO was one of the smartest business decisions he’s made and the growth it unlocked And I get his honest and unpolished take on what effects (both positive and negative) HGTV shows like his have had on the construction industry. To find out what really goes on behind the scenes of a celebrity contractor listen to this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP93 You can find Dr. Ken Keis by contacting the Consulting Resource Group at https://crgleader.com/ Today’s conversation is about Core Values. The term “values” comes up a lot these days, but I’m pretty dissatisfied with how surface level the conversations are around it. “Hire for values train for skill” “Core Values are the foundation of a strong culture” “They didn’t align with our values” You get the gist. Now we can all agree values are extremely important and deep, but I always want to get behind the buzzwords and figure out what’s really going on. In order to find out what really makes a difference we have a friend of the show, Dr.Ken Kies, returning on this episode of Contractor Evolution. Dr. Keis holds a PHD in leadership and management and is the president of Consulting Resources Group, a global consultancy focused on team building, leadership, and communications. In this episode he shares with us: -Why 80% of the working population is unhappy with their career and the role values play in that -How to go think about, talk about, and write about your core values so they’re way more than just some 5 dollar words on a poster that no one actually understands -And perhaps most importantly, how to assess core values fit in an interview so that you don’t find out the hard way 6 months later that you are indeed not at all aligned To learn how to define your core values and leverage them for performance (out of both yourself and your team) click on the links below Highlights Why 80% of the working population is unhappy with their career and the role Values play in that How to go think about, talk about and write about your core values so they’re way more than just some 5 dollar words on a poster that no one actually understands And perhaps most importantly, how to assess core values fit in an interview so that you don’t find out the hard way 6 months later that you are indeed not at all aligned See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP92 To learn more about Brian’s company gfour marketing go to https://www.gfourmarketing.com/ This episode of Contractor Evolution is with Brian Kaskavalciyan, Author of The 7 Secrets to becoming a Wealthy Contractor, Host of the Wealthy Contractor Podcast, and Co Founder of gFour Marketing Group: A relationship marketing firm that helps contractors unleash the power of their customers by installing the industry leading framework for driving referrals. Before becoming the well known figure he is today, Brian founded Handyman Network which he developed into a national franchise. It was there he began to realize the power of not just referrals, but having a customer base that truly promotes you and reps the brand. So he began to develop a wholistic approach to Relationship Marketing which makes up the framework that he now implements with clients through gFour. I wanted to go deep with Brian on how to put a referral program on steroids and become a company where our raving customers do a lot of the marketing for us. If you do good work and take care of your clients you're obviously going to get some referrals organically, but if you're a growing company and want to become more intentional with this all important lead source, there’s actually a ton of stuff you can implement. Our conversation is anchored in four core areas: How to drive google reviews which boost searchability and position you as the customer service leader Customer Appreciation and how automated post job gifts and notes of gratitude build crazy goodwill in the marketplace We talk about Referral Rewards programs which incentivize clients to actually bring you hot leads And lastly we talk about the all important long term nurture sequence which keeps your brand front of mind and makes you a repeat business magnet. To learn more about how to put your referrals on steroids, listen to this episode. Highlights: How to drive Google reviews which boost searchability and position you as the customer service leader Customer Appreciation and how automated, post job gifts and notes of gratitude build crazy goodwill in the marketplace Referral Rewards programs which incentivize clients to actually bring you hot leads Long term nurture sequence which keeps your brand front of mind and makes you a repeat business magnet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP91 To join the Bookkeeping, Beer and BS FB group click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourblueskies To learn more about Blue Skies Admin Services for home service companies click here: https://yourblueskies.com/ As you’ve grown your business you may have noticed that there are certain sizes or stages that feel worse than others. There are times when the scale of your business seems to be in a “Sweet Spot”, and then there are other times when you feel stuck in purgatory. If you’ve grown your team, and your top line, but your actual profits have stubbornly stayed the same (or sometimes even deteriorated), then this episode will give you the path out. To learn more about these Business Purgatories, what causes them, the revenue ranges they rear their ugly heads in, and most importantly what to do to pass through them as quickly as possible, listen to this episode. Highlights The 3 common business 'purgatories' that happen in contracting businesses - which revenue levels you’ll typically see them, and what to do about it How to ensure that your management team doesn’t make decisions that allow your costs to balloon out of proportion Actions you can take to speed through these purgatories so you don’t end up trapped for years in the ‘no fun zone’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP90 To visit Sales Talent Agency click here: https://www.salestalentagency.com/ If you’re wondering, like I am… What effect will inflation and climbing interest rates have on employees and employers alike? How does a recession change the landscape of the labor market? What emerging trends should business owners stay in front of moving into 2023? How do you capitalize on hiring opportunities in a down market? …Then this episode is for you. In this episode of Contractor Evolution I’ve brought back Asad Zaman, CEO of Sales Talent Agency and a friend of the show. For those of you that listened to our Ultimate Hiring Funnel Series, you’ll remember him from episode 3. Sales Talent Agency is an international recruiting agency, they’ve helped acquire talent for over 1500 companies: Harley Davidson, SAP, IBM, Salesforce, and Sonos just to name a few. I wanted Asad back to talk about the state of the workforce and what we can expect out of the 2023 talent market. To learn where big trends are going, what to watch out for, and how to jump on opportunities this year, listen to this episode. Highlights The effects the last 3 years has had on the workforce and recruiting in the trade How inflation and a recession will impact the talent market and where to leverage opportunity as an employer Why you can't lower the bar for candidates you're hiring, even in a tough labor market Why you should never have your top employees asking you for a raise, and if they are, why you’re in trouble The reason knowing your data going into a recession is especially important The key traits that you should be looking for in your candidates in 2023 and which ones are different from previous years? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP89 To find Lydia on Instagram click here: https://www.instagram.com/drywallshorty/ To watch Lydia on The Build Show click here: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/lydiacrowder Our guest on the show for this episode is Lydia Crowder (aka Drywall Shorty). Lydia puts out the best content for the drywall trade on all of the interwebs. She’s been a drywall finisher for 20 years, and owns Trinity Drywall in Bozeman Montana. She started to make educational videos about 3 years ago and today her following has grown to over 1 Million subscribers across her various platforms. Our conversation is about what it's like to be a female tradesperson in a historically male-dominated industry and how business owners can attract and retain women in the trades. To learn more about why you should be pushing hard to recruit women, what they bring to the table, and how to create an environment that attracts them, listen to this episode. Highlights What's it's like being on site as a female tradesperson How women in the trades are treated today vs 20 years ago 2 Unique qualities tradeswomen bring to the job site How to build a work environment that appeals to women and has them wanting to stay for the long haul Advice to women thinking about getting into the trades See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP88 Download your free 2023 Strategic Plan Templates for Rapid Growth here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP88 We did a Strategic Planning Roundtable with some Breakthrough Academy Members a couple weeks back. We had over 300 live attendees and tons of positive feedback so we thought we’d release it as a Contractor Evolution episode. Given that you are probably doing some much needed year end reflection and beginning to chart your course for 2023, we thought this would be a timely conversation as well. Moving from one year to the next without evaluating what in your business went well, what did not, and what needs to change is a recipe for exhaustion, frustration and stagnation. One of the coolest things about being an entrepreneur is the opportunity you have to choose where your business goes, what it becomes and why. This is like… the fun part. So if you're not creating space every year to reflect and strategize, not only are you hindering your businesses growth, you're also just missing out on one of the richest aspects of entrepreneurship. If you’re wanting to learn first hand how the best in the business take the vision in their mind and turn that into a reality, listen to this episode. *Note* - This was originally delivered as a web class with video and slides, so if you want to see the slides, move on over to YouTube. If you’re in the car though, this will still totally makes sense with just audio only. Episode Highlights: What business looks like before you have a plan, and what it can look like after How to build a detailed annual plan, and what data should drive your decision making How to get team buy-in AND accountability A deep dive into REAL Annual Strategic Plans, both before a year starts and after a year in review Where to find the time to set an annual plan when you’re super busy How to evaluate key drivers and restrainers to adjust targets See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP87 To connect with Buildertrend click here: https://buildertrend.com/ If you listen to Contractor Evolution, there’s a good chance you’re not only an entrepreneur, but you are smart enough to understand that you’ll have big opportunities to cut your costs using software in the next few years. However, understanding what a software service does vs implementing it are two COMPLETELY different things. In fact, if you’ve tried getting your team to adopt new tech at some point already, it can easily lead to you wanting to fire everyone, quit the trades, and start a simpler business like building space stations. All joking aside, it’s not easy to embrace change, especially when it comes to tech. My guest on the show today is Brett Jones, a Key Account Executive of Data Solutions at BuilderTrend. Over the last 3 years, Brett has done over 150 On Site Consultations helping builders, GC, and Remodelers implement BuilderTrend so that it functions at its fullest and delivers the highest possible ROI for the Entrepreneur and their team. To learn what Brett has observed about the builders that succeed in this area, vs those that don’t, listen to this episode. Episode Highlights: Why so much of the contracting industry hold their cards close and why that isn't working as a competitive advantage anymore The Profile of a strong tech implementer vs poor tech implementer (after implementation consulting with 150 Contractors) How the contracting industry has changed as a result of tech adoption and the big picture trends that will shape the industry in the next 10 years The impact of venture capital in the contracting market and how it’s changing the way contracting companies are being run Where Buildertrend is innovating in the contracting space and the big value they will be bringing builders in fintech Advice to young entrepreneurs for the next decade - where they should focus their attention for maximum results See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.