You’re Not Bad at Business, You’re Just Stuck in the Trades Mindset with Jay Meacham

Why do so many great contractors feel stuck once they go out on their own? In this episode, Chris G sits down with Jay Meacham, a business coach and former builder, who shares his story of losing his childhood home and how that shaped his purpose. Jay talks about why contractors hit walls in business, how to build a strong team, and why slowing down your thinking, not your hustle, is key to growing. They also dive into why knowing your values, having faith, and taking care of both your home life and business life really matter. If you're a contractor trying to grow your business and stay sane, this one’s worth your time. Jay Meacham is a leadership and business coach who works with home builders, remodelers, and skilled trades business owners. Raised on a farm in Iowa, he learned early the value of hard work and resilience. With degrees in accounting and an MBA, Jay spent years leading teams in large corporations before launching his own coaching practice. Since 2014, he’s helped contractors and small business owners grow their companies while staying grounded in their personal values. Jay brings a mix of practical business strategy and personal insight, focusing on both the business side and the human side of leadership. He also serves as a coach for the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City and is actively involved in his faith and family. Connect with Jay: Website: https://coachjaymeacham.com/ Episode highlights: (0:00) Intro (1:01) Jay’s story: house fire and finding purpose (2:57) Why contractors hit a wall (6:33) How to build team loyalty (10:29) Not every low performer needs to be fired (13:46) Knowing your values (14:48) Faith and family matter in business, too (17:53) Goal-side vs soul-side coaching (23:29) Why thinking time is so important (27:47) Get out of “either-or” thinking (29:15) Why business owners need a coach (31:24) Building a legacy, not just a paycheck (35:28) Where to find Jay (36:44) Outro Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/