Contractor Evolution

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP36 To learn more about Eric visit his website at https://www.erictermuende.com/ or purchase his book RETHINK WORK here https://www.erictermuende.com/rethink-work/ What’s up with the new generation? People have been complaining about “kids these days” since before the dawn of time.  This whole “young people are entitled and don’t know how good they have it” thing isn’t new, and it seems to be an especially well used trope in trades and construction.  When you have young 20-somethings demanding a higher hourly wage than you ever made and the quality of their work is suspect, it's tough NOT to be a little cynical.  This puts you in a tough spot because as infuriating as some of the Gen-Zers and Millennials are to you, the physically demanding nature of your business means you need to find a way to connect, attract and lead young people.  The other pitfall of cynical thinking is that you paint a huge population with too broad a brush.  Writing off 70 million people as “lazy” is, ironically, a form of laziness in and of itself.   For every blue-haired tick tocker that makes your eyes roll, there is a quiet mechanically minded kid who wants to work with their hands...  and it's your job to find these youngsters and showcase what an amazing lifestyle and career IS possible through trades and construction.  Our education system definitely ain’t doin it, so like it or not, this responsibility lies squarely with you… the evolving contractor.  To bridge this gap and debunk some myths, we’ve brought in Eric Termuende, a leadership author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Eric specializes in working with organizations to build incredible teams and attract the next generation. Eric delivers north of 75 keynote speeches a year to large organizations like John Deere, Zoom, Amazon, Toyota and various Trade Associations. He is the author of the book, RETHINK WORK and has been unpacking the generational challenge for the last 7 years. In this episode we cover: How the changing world ends up shaping each generation in a unique way Why approaching the conversation in terms of this generation vs that generation is ass backwards How to leverage the story you already have to catch the attention of ambitious, driven and loyal young people. How the physically demanding hands-on nature of your business may actually be its most attractive feature rather than a detractor. How you need to conduct yourself as the owner and leader of the company to bring in young talent The super simple method any leader can use to quickly build trust in their teams See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP35 To download the 3 stages coaching pdf click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP35 What are you working so hard for? Money for you and your family. And the time to enjoy it. Most evolving contractors want both.  The finer details of the picture may change from entrepreneur to entrepreneur, we are all unique.  But for a lot of us, our dream life and business is centered around more money and more time.  You can’t really savour one without the other. Now, as you’ve definitely realized already, this dream is impossible without competent staff who can independently solve problems, make decisions, and drive the business forward.   Developing leaders within is essential because if everyone and everything needs us, we’ll never feel the freedom that motivated us to start our company in the first place.  Do you want empowered teams and leaders that execute well without you?  Or a bunch of worker bees who need constant babysitting?  The choice is yours. This is why “coaching” will always be more effective than “bossing”. To help us move from boss and coach, we’re joined by James Dale, one of our favourite recurring guests.  As you’ve heard in other episodes James is Director of Training and Development for Breakthrough Academy.   Today’s conversation is about situational leadership and how to coach your employees as they go through the 3 developmental stages associated with taking on a new role or learning a new skill. If you can’t develop talent your business will always run you! To avoid this, here are a few key points we go over: How to tackle the very common scenario of moving a skilled employee into a management role What happens to contractors that don’t see themselves as a coach in their business How to work with someone when they have low skill but high commitment The coaching style most contractors skip when their employees are doing OK that holds back big opportunities for growth How NOT to lead employees that have high competency and high commitment What to do when you are too busy to properly coach each employee that reports to you See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP34 If you’ve been a contractor for even a short period of time you’ve no doubt noticed that technology is changing the game…..and fast. There are technologies and softwares purpose-built to help you with nearly every aspect of your business.  From lead gen to estimating, Bookkeeping to HR, inventory management to time tracking.  No matter what the task is, there is some platform out there to help you with it.   And if there isn’t yet there will be soon. Now, to be clear, I’m not saying randomly buying software subscriptions is going to fix everything. In fact, if you don't know how to navigate this world you can actually do more harm than good - and we’ll talk about how to avoid that mistake in the episode.  But for evolved contractors planning to play this game for a while yet, the slow and methodical implementation of your tech stack is no longer optional. This is why we brought Piers Dormeyer to the show today.  Piers is the president of Construction and Utilities at EagleView.  If you’ve not heard of EagleView yet, let me give a great example of how tech is changing the game.  They’re a geospatial software designed to help take estimating and project planning to another level.   Let me explain: Eagleview owns and operates a fleet of over 100 aircraft that are constantly flying over the towns and cities of North America, taking high-resolution aerial photos of buildings and properties.  These photos then get turned into hyper-precise diagrams accurate to a 10th of a foot.   Think about it… you could drive to the customer’s house with a tape measure and a ladder, to spend an hour painstakingly measuring and estimating.  Or you could order an EagleView Report and have all that data (images, 3d models, measurements) in seconds.  No human error, no drive time, and way better information to build your pricing and project plan around.   That’s probably why over 54,000 contractors ordered an  EV report last year. Anyway, Piers’ background, before joining EagleView, which we’ll let him explain in a second gives him a super unique perspective on technology's influence on the contracting industry. In this episode with Piers we unpack: How the contracting tech space has changed in the last 15 years The specific tech stack that Piers would recommend if he were starting a contracting company from scratch The difference in mindset between ‘early’ adopters and ‘late’ adopters and where each path leads The process you should be using to both select and integrate new software into your business How Covid has permanently altered the way contractors use technology Where Piers sees technology evolving in the contracting space in the next 10 years To watch the full episode and access free resources go to www.contractorevolution.com If you are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP33 To download our Annual Strategic Planning Quick Tool click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP33 You could say that there are two groups of businesses out there - ones that put actual thought into where they are headed, and ones that do not. It’s no secret that all high performing organizations in the world put some real brain space into mapping out the future, in order to be able to channel resources and human energy towards achieving intentional goals.  Our company, Breakthrough Academy - which brings you the Contractor Evolution show - has been ranked among the country’s fastest growing companies for years in a row, and one of our big keys to success has been our rhythmic Annual Strategic Planning process that happens every December.  One of my favorite quotes about entrepreneurship comes from Stephen Covey, and it goes something like this “all things are created twice - once in the mind, and then in real life”.  What that means is that everything you want to make a reality - the lifestyle you’re after, the income you want to make, the size of business, specific employes and leaders to have inside of your company, the dialled in CRM, or perfect, beautiful office - will first come to life in your mind, and then be created into reality.  A great mechanism to allow this creative process to unfold is the Annual Strategic Planning ritual. For years, it has been the arena to reflect, to dream, vision, and create a path for a brilliant future. In today’s episode, the three Directors at Breakthrough Academy come together to give you a peak behind the curtain and tell you about how they go about their Annual Strategic Planning process.  We have Igor Trninic, our Managing Director, James Dale, our Director of Training and Development, and Danny Kerr, BTA’s Director of Assessment, as we give you a play-by-play of how they plan the future and bring it to reality with extraordinary accuracy.  On today’s show, we dive into: What’s at stake for you personally if you don’t take the time for Strategic Planning? Why you SHOULDN’T be planning in a boardroom with whiteboards and laptops - and where to go instead How do you know when you’ve got a plan that will work vs a pipe dream on paper? The 3 things you should come away with once you’ve completed your Annual Strategic Plan The step-by-step process BTA uses when we plan they the next year The critical moves that happen immediately after your Annual Strategic Plan that ensure momentum So let’s dive into Strategic Planning, with Igor, Danny and James.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP32 To get the Strategic Planning Quick Tool click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP32 This episode is going to be a little different from our typical format. While a lot of our other Contractor Evolution episodes are more instructional, this one is more of an in depth observation of the contracting and trades industry on a personal level. Over the last few years, I’ve conducted well over 1000 business assessments, each lasting roughly 2 hours, where I dive deep into the biggest challenges each contractor is facing. What becomes blatantly obvious over time is that most of the issues I see come back to 3 core problems that are totally preventable. So in this episode I’m going to lay out (or maybe rant a little) on a few key points: General observations after conducting more than 1000 business assessments with contractors 3 easy to avoid mistakes that 9 out of 10 contractors are making in their everyday decisions The area where a company falls apart when there is no clear vision Why being the ‘nice guy’ sentences you the death of a thousand cuts The biggest opportunity for recruiting that is sitting right in front of contractors faces but few recognize it A rant that most contractors need to hear about where they focus their efforts General observations after conducting more than 1000 business assessments with contractors 3 easy to avoid mistakes that 9 out of 10 contractors are making in their everyday decisions Specifically where a company falls apart when there is no clear vision Why being the ‘nice guy’ becomes the death of a thousand cuts The biggest opportunity for recruiting that is sitting right in front of contractors faces but few recognize it A rant that most contractors need to hear about where they focus their efforts    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP31 You, more than likely, didn’t start your business to stare at quickbooks, reconcile receipts, or painstakingly track every expense down to the penny.   You started your business because you had a vision, you wanted to lead, and you wanted to create. Being an entrepreneur was the best vehicle for that.   And while your big picture thinking is critical to success, let’s not forget at the end of the day your business needs to make money.  This part of the equation can be extremely difficult without solid bookkeeping and accounting systems.  You can build teams and process all you want, but if your business doesn’t reliably generate profit, you won’t be playing this game very long. While this concept is simple enough to understand... it's a lot harder to implement.  Let’s not kid ourselves... tracking financial data really well and using it to make the right decisions requires great accounting infrastructure and the right person to do it diligently.   The good news is that person doesn’t need to be you. Your responsibility is to assemble the right people around you to get this done successfully.  The bad news is that a lot of bookkeepers can often be incompetent, unreliable, or straight up shady. And as a busy business owner it can be hard to find the true pros that ARE out there. To shed some light on this thorny issue we brought Morgan Ray onto the show. Morgan is Managing Partner at Bookkeeping for Trades - a professional bookkeeping firm built exclusively for entrepreneurs in the Trades and Construction space.   Morgan’s firm has managed the accounting cycle for over 200 trades businesses helping them gain true financial clarity and increased margins. When it comes to bookkeeping for trades, she understands the needs of the market. In this episode we unpack: Why bookkeeping is so frustrating for contractors and why you aren’t alone in thinking it is The 2 kinds of bookkeeping and why 1 sucks and the other is pretty fun, but few contractors use it What a good bookkeeper SHOULD be doing, and also what they SHOULDN’t be doing The crucial security pieces every contractor needs to have in place to avoid fraud, embezzlement, or a nasty call from the tax man What good bookkeeping FEELS like to you the business owner, and how to know when you’ve nailed it The 3 traits you should be looking for when you hire a bookkeeper If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP30 To download the Employer Brand Quick Action Guide click here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP30 Last week was the first part of our Contractor Roundtable on the topic, “Where Did All The Good Talent Go?” In that first episode we reverse engineered the 7 patterns that top Employer Brands seemed to share. An Employer Brand, in case you are wondering, is a contracting business that attracts the best talent in the industry, regardless of what is going on economically.  If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, I suggest you add it to your playlist. This week we broke down 6 quick actions that any contractor could implement that makes them more attractive to potential applicants. In this episode we cover: The imagery and messaging to use on your job ads and landing page that attracts top talent How to leverage your Instagram account to peak the interest of potential applicants An easy way to add fun into your team culture so you can showcase it to the world The way to add style to your team that gets them and prospects excited An ‘outside the box’ referral program that you won’t find in most contracting businesses What’s at stake in the next decade if you don’t implement some of these things See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP29 To get the 7 Traits Of An Employer Brand PDF you can download that here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP29 This conversation is a big one.  If you’ve been following along and listening to our episodes each week you know we’re deeply committed to empower you, the evolving contractor, to build the business you dream of. We’ve talked about tactics and systems, habits and best practices, but we feel like there is this elephant in the room - which is none of this matters if you feel like your labour pool is evaporating before your eyes. And no, you’re not crazy, or alone.  Millennials and Gen Zers aren’t as gritty as Gen Xers or Boomers.  COVID has simultaneously increased demand for your services while shrinking the workforce you have to deliver them. If you're feeling the pinch in your hiring efforts right now, pay attention.  On this episode of the show we are joined by three amazing Breakthrough Academy coaches - Danny Kerr, Thomas Cobleigh, and Ryan Gabel. FYI Breakthrough Academy Is the parent company to this Contractor Evolution Podcast and its where Igor and I work the rest of the time. Breakthrough Academy is a coaching and development program purpose built for fast growing trades and construction companies.  Because we actively coach over 400 companies right now, and have coached hundreds more over the years, we have a very broad and powerful perspective on these bigger trends in the industry.  We thought it would be fun to get some of our brightest minds together to discuss this labour shortage, where it came from, and what to do about it. In this episode we cover: The major trends we are seeing right now in the contractor labour market A simple solution you can implement today  if you can’t afford top talent How to attract top talent and what it means to be an ‘employer brand’ The culture that attracts great people, how to build it, and how to measure it. The 7 Fundamentals you can leverage to become a top employer brand The characteristics of a present leader that a team chooses to follow  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP28 To get your free GSR template (for a Project Manager) go to https://trybta.com/PCDLEP28 So if you listen to this show with any regularity, it’s pretty safe to say the organism that is your business is evolving.  And while that’s an exciting feeling, it also brings about a feeling of uncertainty you’re probably familiar with…. Are my people doing what I hired them to do?  Are they an ROI-generating asset for my business?  Or are they just an expense?  Are they executing at the level that I was back when I was doing their job (and a million others)? Or are they a costly piece of dead weight?  I realize that might sound a little cynical.  Or like we’re assuming the worst.  But I’m sure most of you have had this thought cross your mind at least once or twice. When your business was small and simple.  This question was pretty easy to answer.  If you hired a laborer to work alongside you, you could see with your own two eyes that they’re completely effing the D.  There’s the door.  Bye!   But as your company evolves, roles become more complex and nuanced, layers get added to the organizational chart, truly knowing how people are performing becomes less clear.   So the question becomes…. How do we, as leaders, manage at scale?  How do we make sure our individual team members are executing on their individual goals, so that we as a company hit ours? To answer this question we brought Dave Stephens on the show.  Dave’s company, Lida Homes is an 8 figure custom home builder and high end renovation contractor.  He runs a tight ship of 24, and specifically in this show we’re going to learn how he uses one on one Goal Setting and Review meetings (or GSR for short) to lead his 5 project managers to create award winning homes and customer experience.   Over the last 3 years, he’s won the Canadian Home Builders Association’s builder of the year award, and over the last two has received the highest level customer satisfaction award in his Vancouver Island region.  Dave directly attributes this success and recognition to the way he leads his team through GSR.   His people do their jobs. Extremely well. In today’s Episode: What a GSR is and why it is important to both quality and growth in your business How to use a point system in your GSRs to create black and white accountability What a contracting business looks like before implementing GSRs vs after implementing GSRs How you can expect your team (especially your PM’s) to respond when you introduce GSRs What a great GSR with a project manager specifically looks like How to have a hard conversation with an employee who is underperforming See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP27 Link for Webrunner’s landing page layout: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP27 If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallenge If you’ve ever wasted money on marketing this episode of Contractor Evolution is for you. The fact of the matter is that there are a ton of marketing agencies out there that are more than happy to take your money even when they aren’t sure they can get you results. Want to know how to filter out the great marketers from the shitty ones? This episode will give you the 6 key questions to ask, as well as what you need to do BEFORE you talk to a marketing agency so you see great ROI when you get the ball rolling. Episode Highlights: What questions should you ask to filter out good marketing agencies from those that are good at BS? What are the best marketing strategies for contractors that are working right now? What are 2 core elements a great marketing agency can clearly show you a poor agency can’t Which marketing strategies are a clear waste of time for contractors? How to know when you are ready to hire an outside agency 1 increasing marketing trend that contractors need to pay attention to in the next 5 years See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP26 One of our mantras here at Contractor Evolution  - LEADERS ARE READERS!!!   Lemme unpack that…. As a great leader, you know you don’t know everything.  More importantly, you’re totally okay with that, and you’re actively working to shrink those knowledge gaps and timeframes by tapping into the wisdom and experience of people smarter than you.   Whatever challenge you're facing right now, someone’s already solved it and captured their learnings for you in a book you can read or listen to.  Thinking that you should have all the answers already is insane.   So today’s episode is Contractor Evolution’s “Must Read” List I know you don’t have an abundance of time to sit in a lounge chair, sip chamomile tea and leisurely work through a list of books.  But the fact that your listening to this podcast means you don’t use your busy life as an excuse to not be constantly improving.  So if you can find a spare minute or two, here is what we recommend you dive into. Now to keep things organized, we’ve structured this list in a particular way After working with thousands of Contractors, we’ve observed a pretty clear pattern…  There are 6 key areas in a contracting business that are often under-systemized.  Think of these as 6 areas that are super important but very difficult to master. Budgeting & Financial Tracking Organizational Structure Recruiting and Hiring Training & Onboarding Sales & Marketing Goal Setting & Execution To help you along your own pursuit of excellence we’ve collected our favourite books in these areas. Some key highlights from this short episode are: 1 (not boring) book on budgeting that has you taking out profit before expenses A book that shows you how to structure your team when everything seems chaotic Which book to pick up when you want to hire the right people to replace you Where you can find information about a top tier interviewing system 2 Marketing and sales books that give you gamechangers to implement into your customer journey The undisputed most effective book on leadership as voted by Breakthrough Academy members See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP25 To watch the full episode and access free resources go to www.contractorevolution.com If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallenge Episode #25 of Contractor Evolution is with Kim Larson of All Elements Design. Manage. Build. Kim is truly one of our highest performing contractors in the Breakthrough Academy Program.  She’s an awarding-winning luxury high-performance home builder in Kelowna, BC, Canada.  Some people have grit, some have talent.  Kim is one of those rare individuals who has both and she has a story that needs to be heard. While she enjoys success today (she’s won many awards including Best Design-Build Firm in BC, her waitlist is booked out a couple of years in advance, and she owns a massive portfolio of income-generating real estate), it wasn’t that long ago that she had to decide between feeding herself or putting gas in her car.   And that’s what I think I love most about her story of perseverance… how close she came to not being the success she is today. And I think that’s the case for a lot of people at the top of their game. Big risk equals big reward   In Today’s Episode Kim tells us: Why it pays to work for free in the right circumstances The big picture benefits of never compromising on quality The core principles that took Kim from 1 to 10 million a year in annual revenue Whether you should you hire for a role before you can afford it? How do you maintain quality as you scale? 2 key pieces of advice for young trades entrepreneurs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP24 You’ve heard the expression “there’s more than one way to skin a cat”? Sorry for the graphic intro, but the point is there is always more than one way to get a job done. The same holds true for scaling your business.  While the growth path for most trades and construction companies follows a similar pattern, there are some entrepreneurs who truly see scaling as one problem with many possible solutions.   Eric Barstow of Foothills Painting and National Painting Group is one of these entrepreneurs.  Some of you may know him from his huge online painting community called Painting Business Pro, or his massive YouTube following.  Eric has followed the path less traveled by using an innovative partnership model that takes the intense pressure to grow  - most of us are familiar with - and share this load with capable partners.   I’ll let him break down his actual model, but for you the listener, what we really hope you take away from this episode is that while Eric's model is A-Typical, it WORKS. This guy has done it a different way, so what could a different way look like for you?  I hope his story helps put the expansion of your business in a new light.  What got you here, won’t necessarily get you where you want to go.  It rarely does.  And being exposed to a completely different approach to business growth could help you creatively problem solve your next few moves in the pursuit of excellence. Eric has accomplished a tremendous amount as a young guy - his business is doing a very profitable 11 million dollars a year in revenue, and headed for massive growth in the coming years. However, his path to get here has been full of huge challenges and massive setbacks, which he openly shares with us in today’s episode.  One of the things I really appreciate about Eric is his ability to absorb failures and learn from them in a powerful way. In today’s show, we dive into many of the significant challenges he’s run into, and his greatest lessons coming out of them.  So let’s dive into both Eric’s unique expansion model and some of the lessons he shares with us including: How pursuing multiple opportunities stunted Eric’s growth Why Eric doesn’t like the traditional Franchise model to scale The unique model Eric has created that has allowed him to scale to 11 million and maintain balance Why pursuing fast growth ironically led to a 2 year setback How to spot opportunity and why you want to avoid the flashy ones The reason setting goals around personal income can lead to failure To watch the full episode and access free resources go to www.contractorevolution.com If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP23 Brand has never mattered more than it does right now. People, the public, your customers, are busier than ever.  Not only that, but the competition for their eyeballs, their attention, has never been fiercer. Between social media algorithms, shrinking attention spans, and an ever-expanding marketplace it can feel daunting for you, the small business owner, to stand out and be remembered. There is a reason why 1-800-GOT-JUNK can charge $1,000 to haul a load of junk when no one else can.  It’s the same reason why you’ll happily spend $90 for a t-shirt at Lululemon, or why people will line up to spend $4,000 on a simple laptop at Apple. People know, like and trust the brand. Of course, being the next Lululemon may not be your goal, but if you look around within your industry (whether you’re a Landscaper, Painter, Builder, Roofer, or Sub Trade), there are numerous brands that carry mass influence.  And if they’ve created it, you can too.  If you’re serious about creating a lasting business, you must. It’s important to look at your brand as a foundation that you build your organization on top of. It’s an investment worth adding to, as a great brand will pay back in dividends over the course of your career.  To explain the importance of branding, and the process of creating great brands in the contracting industry, we’re joined today by the best that we know of - Noel Fox from FreeBird agency.  Having worked with Noel for years, both on creating the Breakthrough Academy brand, as well as your favorite podcast, Contractor Evolution, I can promise you that he is the real deal.  Brian Scudamore, the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK will also tell you that Noel is his #1 go to when it comes to bringing an impactful brand to life. Noel Fox and FreeBird agency have created industry-leading brands for companies such as You Move Me, Wow 1 Day Painting, Shack Shine and have been a massive part of the brand development of 1-800-GOT-JUNK as well as those famous lululemon bags you see on every street across the world. A few key pieces from this episode on brand include: What separates a great brand from an average brand? The thing contractors often get wrong with their own brand. How to leverage your brand for recruiting and hiring How to evaluate your brand the way a world class branding agency would The signs you’ll see when you have a brand that’s working for you A step-by-step walkthrough on how to build a powerful brand on a budget To watch the full episode and access free resources go to www.contractorevolution.com If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP22 As your contracting business grows you’re going to encounter an interesting and complex scenario (and you may have already) that you are recruiting for, and hiring, a role that you know very little about. Here's a classic example - you’ve expanded to the point where you're hiring for a dedicated full-time office manager. Someone who oversees all the complex administrative elements of your multimillion-dollar contracting business.  You get (generally speaking) how you want things to look when it comes to business organization, but my question is do you fully understand the intricacies of managing a CRM, or a project management software?   Have you ever managed five different inboxes while handling all the calls that are coming in?  Have you ever developed all these office processes that make sure that no details get missed. Whether you’ve gone through this process or are about to, you can definitely see how hard it would be to successfully hire and onboard for this. Maybe that's why most contractors' first office manager is literally running out the door in the first six months. There are going to be dozens of roles like the example above as you expand. Whether it be a marketing manager or an executive assistant, the point is that you are going to run into this situation many times in your career and it's going to require you to educate yourself on these roles that you may not understand, but you desperately need. In this week’s episode we brought back Dr. Ken Keis to share his insights and thoughts on this topic. Dr. Keis has been on episodes in the past and is a foremost expert on Personality Styles and how they relate to leadership. In this episode Dr. Ken Keis shares:  The exact 5 step method that seasoned employers use to successfully hire for roles they don’t understand. The right way to research what responsibilities the new role will have (it’s not google). Why it’s a bad idea to copy and paste a job description from another company. A process that allows you to select for the right skills AND the right personality. The big mistake that almost every employer makes when they first hire for a role they don’t understand. What you need in place before a new hire starts that fosters loyalty and eliminates frustration. To watch the full episode and access free resources go to www.contractorevolution.com If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP21 In trades the terms ‘project management’ and ‘project manager’ have become somewhat watered-down. The unfortunate truth is that in our industry most project managers are actually just professional firefighters. That isn’t to say our PM’s are doing their absolute best, but what they're missing are the fundamentals that make the science of project management what it is in other industries. If you look at manufacturing, automotive, or oil and gas you'll see their PM's are following a set of guiding principles and best practices that allow them to complete projects of unimaginable scope and still come in on time and on budget. So this gap is something that our guest on the show today, Paul Atherton, helps address within the companies he coaches for Breakthrough Academy. Prior to becoming a BTA coach 5 years ago Paul was a professional engineer and project manager for a decade. He has project managed super large construction projects in various countries around the world. Since joining Breakthrough Academy Paul has worked with over a hundred contractors helping them achieve significant growth and success and one of the cornerstones of his coaching philosophy is the implementation of world-class project management systems. In this episode Paul shares some highly applicable insights including: 2 examples of what great project management looks like 3 Questions to ask a P.M. that allow you to determine their level of control over a project 5 Systems you can implement with your team that will allow you to hit or beat project deadlines The 3 personality traits to look for that make a great project manager Common mistakes contractors make when they hire and onboard project managers How to leverage a great project management system to set yourself apart from your competition If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP20 Here’s a common scenario: Two contractors have worked equally hard over 20 years in their businesses.  At the end of the 20 years, one sells off their assets for $200K, while the other sells their business for $10M.  What’s the difference? Planning. If you want to build a business of tremendous value that can thrive without you and allow you to cash out and move on, then Kevin Shaw, our guest on this episode of Contractor Evolution, has some invaluable insights to get you there. Kevin is the President and Managing Director of Canada Corporate Finance Baker Tilly, which specializes in mergers and acquisitions.  Kevin has been involved in hundreds of business deals over the years. With all his experience, he gives us the 7 core areas he’s looking at when he values a business for sale. Unfortunately, these 7 areas can’t be built into your business overnight. Most take years to develop and integrate into your company, so it pays to understand them well in advance. If you have a vision for your business that involves you ‘Cashing Out’ one day, this episode is a must listen. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP19 Have you ever been frustrated by the fact that your team JUST DOESN’T GET IT? It’s so clear to you what needs to happen within your organization - what problems need to be solved, what priorities should be front of mind, where the effort of your organization needs to be, but most if not all of this is totally lost on your employees. Owners frequently overestimate how clearly they are communicating the standards that they have in their mind to the people who need to hear it most. This is why themes are such a powerful leadership tool for contractors to know about. Themes are a super process-driven way to make sure your team's action is aligned with that vision that's so crystal clear in your head. This is why we're really excited to have Ashley Ennis on this episode of Contractor Evolution. Ashley has previously run a highly successful window cleaning franchise system spanning seven states and provinces with 45 franchisees. Since then Ashley has spent the last four years as a business coach for Breakthrough Academy actively training and coaching 40 contracting home service companies and achieving the controlled growth that they want and they need.  She uses themes with her Breakthrough Academy members to over-communicate business priorities and make sure that what needs to get done does. In this episode we dive into a bunch of really cool stuff including: How it’s possible to transform your team’s weakest point into its strength Why the most effective teams are not the ones that do the most The reason it can be dangerous to be the ‘ideas guy’, especially if you are the leader How to ‘layer’ themes in the right order so their results compound What common mistakes owners often make when they implement their first theme If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP18 When it comes to taxes you’re going to have to pay them whether you want to or not. However spending the time upfront to establish a solid tax strategy could save you up to 40% AND lead to a much bigger investment portfolio long term. It’s key to know your strategy BEFORE you even start your fiscal year so put an hour into this episode now and reap the benefits for the rest of your life. We bring in Ben Dixon, an accountant and tax strategist who has worked with a number of contractors on setting up a strategy that has them winning into retirement. In this episode you’ll learn: Why contractors get flagged for audits and how to avoid them How much you should pay yourself as an owner What to look for when you’re hiring an accountant - especially if you want them to advise you Equipment and land - know when to buy vs lease, and know what the bank wants to see When to know you are ready for a holding company (and no it’s not based on a financial figure) Why contractors that meet with their accountant only once a year often lose out on big financial opportunities If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP17 To download the Career Meeting prep docs discussed in the episode go to https://trybta.com/PCDLEP17 How do you build loyalty in high performers? It’s not pizza night, go karting or laser tag. Another myth is that you need to pay them more. While those things help, they aren’t keeping ambitious, driven, and hardworking people on your team. By nature, the best performers are those that have built in self-improvement loops. They have an inner drive to learn and grow. That’s exactly what makes them great. So you need to make it VERY clear to them that you have a business and an environment that supports their goals and their desire to move up in the world. This is the entire purpose of the Career Development Meeting. You take the time to explore where your best players are aspiring to go, and then it’s your job to try to line that up with the direction your business is going. These meetings done properly take time and effort but they pay you back in dividends, especially when you consider the cost of losing your best players to the competition or their own ambitions. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP16 How are you managing personalities on your team? Or are you? We’ve invited Dr. Ken Keis onto the show to discuss his methods for assessing personality, and how you can leverage your team’s innate ability to thrive by leveraging their personality styles in a scientific way. Dr. Ken Keis is the CEO of the Consulting Resource Group and developed the PSI (Personality Style Indicator) test, which is widely regarded as one of the most accurate personality tests in the world. His research has spanned decades and he regularly consults with companies to enhance the performance of their teams by simply putting the existing employees in the right roles. Dr. Ken Keis work has significantly impacted a number of the Breakthrough Academy members businesses so it was time that we brought him onto the show to openly share his wisdom with us. You can find Dr. Ken Keis by contacting the Consulting Resource Group at https://crgleader.com/ If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCPE15 Every business owner deals with a number of pain points on their journey to success. Whether that's recruitment challenges, stress and time management, or revenue and sales (to name just a few). Learning to navigate them alone can be tough (if not impossible). Being able to reach out to others in the industry and learn from their successes (and failures) enables you to navigate those humps. In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Benji and I have compiled 10 of the most frequently asked questions from contracting entrepreneurs and are stoked to share with you our experiences. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP14 Financials – the one word that can have even the most seasoned contracting leader running for the hills. But, sorry to break this to you, mastering a budget is a bedrock skill for your entire career as a business owner. Business owners who have a strong and solid financial plan (and a well thought-through budget) are able to be more decisive and end up with financial freedom. Well, can't you just hand it over to your bookkeeper or accountant, and be done with it? Afraid not...if you want to grow and succeed long-term. It's really not as scary (or dry/yawn-inducing/grey hair encouraging) as it may seem. So, where do you start? BTA's Igor Trninic to the rescue * cue superman music * In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Igor (our numbers whizz) breaks down what a solid financial plan looks like and the steps to get there. Basically, if you have Grade 8 math and you don't mind screwing up the first few times, you're already ahead of the game. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here:https://trybta.com/PCEP13 Have you ever wondered what makes an elite contractor in your space ‘elite’? Or, to put it differently, have you ever wondered what keeps the chuck in the trucks stuck? Why, when two business leaders, with similar companies, in a similar space, with amazing services, does one succeed and the other, get caught in the growth plateau? The answer may surprise you (and no, it isn't luck). James Dale, Breakthrough Academy’s director of training and development, has a voracious appetite for helping entrepreneurs reach their utmost potential. Having worked with 100s of contracting entrepreneurs during his career, he has witnessed first-hand what it is that truly differentiates the elite contractor. James sits down with BTA's Benji and Igor to talk about the 3 common traits of elite contractors, and, conversely, the 3 destructive habits that hold contractors back from success. His insights will truly open your eyes. You’ll feel like your windshield has finally been cleaned. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP12 Sales is, and always will be the lifeblood of your business. But if you're a business leader doing the lion's share of the selling and your team's closing rate is piss-poor (or even if it's, well, meh), you could be heading for a business blood clot.It's time for a sales blood transfusion! Otherwise known as the wise words from this episode's guest, Ryan Groth, CEO of Sales Transformation Group – a man on a mission to change the industry by working specifically with contractors to help them achieve explosive sales growth.Let's face it. As a business leader you really shouldn't be carrying the majority weight of the sales load – so how can you step aside, safe in the knowledge that your business won't go down the can?And another question: How is it your competitor manages to close virtually all their deals, when your team only manages <30%?In this episode, Ryan and BTA's Benji and Igor shed light on these questions by explaining three habits that separate the above average sales team from the elite.Mind...blown. It will be! To get in touch with Ryan and the Sales Transformation Group go to https://www.salestransformationgroup.com/ If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP11 Team huddles: What are they and why are they absolutely essential to long-term business success? You probably know them as team meetings, or perhaps the “bitch and moan fest.” It’s that one hour in the week/month/quarter when you gather your team to talk strategy, goals, and updates....and it turns into a complete gong show. Exhausting. They suck. What's the point? In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Breakthrough Academy's very own Igor Trninic and Benji Carlson explain why meetings are at the core of every well-run business, how it's your responsibility as a successful leader, and why us humans really need them. After all, contracting is a team sport. The guys break it down into a simple 6 step process that will instantly improve those team huddles. Let's just say, the BTA weekly huddle is the highlight of the team's week. Time to find out why. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP10 "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." Toby Woodiwiss, painting contractor extraordinaire, is a firm believer in this philosophy; and the results, well, they speak for themselves. His business runs like a well-oiled machine thanks to a carefully selected team and investment in the ‘right’ people. It wasn't always this way. He admits he spent a lot of time (and money), on recruiting, onboarding, and investing in (what turned out to be) complete duds. So what changed? Woodiwiss sits down with Breakthrough Academy hosts Benji Carlson and Danny Kerr to talk recruitment, personality tests, why investing in your people should be your #1 priority, and, yikes, conflict resolution. His approach will blow your mind, and make you take a long hard look in the mirror. Don't say we didn't warn you. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP09 When Will Brown took over Brown Boys Roofing of Bentonville, Arkansas from his father four years ago, it was micromanaged to within an inch of its life. Will's father could never escape the business...no bathroom break for you! Fast forward to 2021 and by making one small yet significant change (which he learned from our friend Jocko Willink, thanks Jocko) he has turned his business around. He increased profits from $2 million to $10 million, has a team of high-performing problem solvers, AND he has cut the number of hours he works in half (his wife is a happy camper). What did Will do to score the ultimate contractor dream of work/life balance? In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Will talks about his journey and proves that getting your life back after starting a business isn't just a pipe dream. Always read the fineprint: Warning, listening to this episode could result in you running a highly profitable contracting business while you're out having fun on your skidoo or dirt bike. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP08 Does the perfect high-performing sales team really exist? C'mon?! According to Mason Marquis, owner of Spray-Tex and Jesse Kreisman, owner of Alco Products Inc., it does...and once you've found the secret elixir, your business will finally be free to level up. Marquis had a hard time stepping away from sales. He loved it. And, more importantly, he didn't trust someone enough to release those reins. Kreisman in contrast understood that his business had hit a ceiling, and it would require a certain kind of salesperson (and not the kind we would expect) to break through the roof. What did these two incredibly successful entrepreneurs do to attract and hire sales superstars and what steps do they take so they don't lose those unicorns? (They also managed to step away from their business and they don't have to deal with any sales drama.) Breakthrough Academy hosts Benji Carlson and Danny Kerr sit down with Marquis and Kreisman in our latest Contractor Evolution podcast to ask the questions people are often too scared to ask.  We've got you covered...no worries. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP07 How do you turn a one-man mowing business into a $1.5 million landscaping company? Just ask Jason Hoke, owner of A Cut Above Landscape in Colorado. When he took over the business, he bought himself a job. He was sleeping on a friend's sofa to make ends meet and spending 24/7 onsite or in the office. “I was more like an employee than a leader.” Fast forward five years and he has a team of 20 who service more than 10,000 jobs a year. Last year alone he saw a 50 percent growth in revenue, and he is about to smash those targets for 2021. He now works on the business, rather than in it (40 hours a week, max). How? He became a Master Implementer (yup, he was the winner of our 2020 BTA Implementer of The Year Award). In this episode of Contractor Evolution, hosts Igor Trninic and Benji Carlson sit down with Jason to discuss what it takes to turn a business around and why the traditional way of running a contracting company will no longer cut it. They ask the awkward questions and give exact examples of how systems and strategies will change your life as a leader. Oh, this is good. Trust us. To take the Free 10 Day, 'Evolved Contractor' Challenge to step out of the day-to-day of your business, got to https://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP06 In our latest Contractor Evolution podcast, Janzen, takes us on his company's onboarding journey, and reveals what makes his process so ridonculously successful in the world of contracting. Janzen kicked the old school way of onboarding to the curb (you know, the “welcome to the chaos, now shadow this dude and learn something or you're fired” style) and instead perfected a fast-track onboarding strategy that puts him way ahead of the competition. He has it so dialled in these days that people come knocking on his door inquiring about jobs. So, what's his secret? Welcome back to the rise of a new breed of contracting entrepreneur with Breakthrough Academy hosts Igor Trninic and Benji Carlson, who talk about what it takes to build a business people want to work for in this competitive landscape . . and make your life as a leader so much more enjoyable. Kick off your shoes, turn up the volume, and join us in our latest no BS interview where we dive deep inside the mind of a successful contracting entrepreneur, what works, and what doesn't, and more importantly, why and how. To take the Free 10 Day, 'Evolved Contractor' Challenge to step out of the day-to-day of your business, got to https://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP05 Can you run a multi-million dollar contracting business and take six months off a year? That's crazy talk! But in this Breakthrough Academy (BTA) podcast, 27-year-old contracting entrepreneur Graeme Bouvier gives it to us straight on how he actually made that possible. Graeme went from struggling to build a drywall business as a med student, while running around like a chicken with his head cut off, to becoming a leader of a $7-million drywall business with 80 employees...all while being able to take six months off to travel and just, well, enjoy life. And all this within a few short years. But how? Welcome to the rise of the contracting leisure entrepreneur, with Breakthrough Academy hosts Igor Trninic and Benji Carlson, who get down and dirty on how you can win in the contracting industry, become a leader, and reclaim your time. Kick off your shoes, turn up the volume, and join us in this no BS interview where we dive deep inside the mind of a successful contracting entrepreneur, what works, and what doesn't, and more importantly, why and how. To access resources, or watch this episode in video, visit www.contractorevolution.com To take the Free 10 Day, 'Evolved Contractor' Challenge to step out of the day-to-day of your business, got to https://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP04 Every contracting leader has a story about the time they recruited someone who turned out to be a waste of space (and money); no-one has time for that, especially in the fast-paced world of contracting. In this episode of Contractor Evolution we sit down with two-time Grey Cup champion, motivational speaker, and business leadership coach Angus Reid who offers tons of fascinating insights on how to recognize and recruit the MVPs of the contracting world. He cuts through the BS to talk about what it takes to create a culture focussed on results, and the steps to get you there. It's time to talk sports and business, with Angus Reid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP03 Is your contracting business partner pissing you off? With 50% of business partnerships failing in the first 2-3 years, how do you ensure you don't become another statistic (or punch their lights out)? Early on 505-Junk founders Scott Foran and Barry Hartman had a major blowout and realized that they did not think the same. They divided up the responsibilities of the business based on what they thought they’d be good at, only to realize they were unhappy in their roles. However they weren’t communicating their challenges and it was now threatening to bury them. What they did next not only repaired their business partnership (and friendship), but resulted in their business growing 100 percent in one year alone. Welcome to the third Contracting Entrepreneur podcast, where Breakthrough Academy hosts Igor Trninic and Benji Carlson and their guests pull no punches on what it takes to co-run a successful contracting business. Warning: These conversations may make you feel uncomfortable, but hey, that’s what comes with looking in the mirror. There’s no lipstick on this pig!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP02 With a diverse workforce ranging from field workers to office staff, is it possible to have a company culture in contracting where all your team is on the same page? Nestor Tarango runs a multi-million-dollar solar energy company. He has successfully onboarded more than 150 people over the past 12 months alone . . . and his company culture is exemplary. How? After working in a hostile environment, Tarango decided enough was enough. He stepped outside of the “traditional” contracting mould and built a company that has a performance culture others would kill for. Tarango sits down with Breakthrough Academy hosts Igor Trninic and Benji Carlson to talk about the mistakes contractors make that result in a toxic culture, recruitment challenges, and takes us through the steps he took to build a culture of uber high-performers. Can you see the sunshine after the rain? (Admit it, that song is stuck in your head now) Join us here for real tips from those who speak your language. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP01 Reclaim 5 Hours per week with this free Contractor Quick Tool: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP01 If you're running a successful contracting business, then why are you working 70-hours a week? Contracting entrepreneur Ryan Steward was working 70 hours a week, seven days a week. He was stretched so thin that he had little to no time left over for his wife and kids. Fast forward five years and Ryan works 40-hours or less, he is a present father, friend and husband (no divorce for him!), and he gets to spend time doing the things he loves like snowmobiling, skiing and fishing. Oh yea, and he's happy. He has also doubled his profit margin and leads a $11 million contracting company with a team of 25. What did he do to end the chaos and give him back his life? Join us in this awesome episode of Contractor Evolution as we explore what it takes to be a successful contracting leader with time to enjoy the fun things, without burning out or getting hypertension.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.