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The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

Todd Dawalt

449 episodesEN

Show overview

The Construction Leading Edge Podcast has been publishing since 2014, and across the 12 years since has built a catalogue of 449 episodes. That works out to roughly 380 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.

Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 35 min and 1h 4m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 25 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 56 episodes published. Published by Todd Dawalt.

Episodes
449
Running
2014–2026 · 12y
Median length
52 min
Cadence
Fortnightly

From the publisher

This podcast is dedicated to helping construction business owners eliminate chaos, maximize profit, and reclaim their freedom. Designed for leaders who are ready to step out of the daily grind and take control of their business, The Construction Leading Edge Podcast delivers actionable strategies on systematization, time management, increasing profitability, and business growth. Whether it's stopping profit bleeds, building high-performing teams, or creating systems that allow your business to run without you, each episode will leave you with practical tools to unlock more profit, freedom, and impact. Join Todd Dawalt every week for solo episodes packed with insights and guest interviews featuring industry experts who've mastered the art of building self-sustaining businesses. If you're ready to stop wearing so many hats and start leading your business like a visionary CEO, this podcast is for you.

Latest Episodes

View all 449 episodes

The Hidden Design Shift That Unlocks Growth, Profit, and Free Time in Your Construction Business | Ep. 449

Jun 22, 202625 min

The One Question That Finally Gets Your Clients To Follow Your Process | Ep. 448

Jun 15, 202639 min

Short-Staffed or Just Disorganized? 5 Tests Before You Hire | Ep. 447

Jun 8, 202641 min

The 4 Questions to Ask Before You Try to Fix What's Not Working | Ep. 446

Jun 1, 202633 min

How to Sell on Value Instead of Price | Ep. 445

May 26, 202631 min

The Toyota "Pull the Cord" Method Your Construction Business Is Missing | Ep. 444

May 19, 202640 min

The Firing: A Business Parable for Construction Owners | Ep. 443

May 11, 202623 min

The Nail the Handoff Framework: 4 Crucial Handoffs to Increase Profit and Eliminate Chaos | EP 442

May 4, 202646 min

The Cost‑Plus Contract Trap: 3 Simple Moves to Prevent Budget Blowups and Legal Nightmares | EP 441

Apr 27, 202637 min

Keys to Operating from a Position of Strength in High-End Remodeling with Andy Kolp

Apr 20, 202651 min

3 Keys to Taking Back Control of Your Construction Business with Daaron Yester | EP 439

Apr 13, 202653 min

Your Customers Experience Your Systems, Not Your Intentions | EP 438

Apr 6, 202632 min

What the P-38 Fighter Plane Can Teach You About Business Strategy | EP 437

☎️ Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE EPISODE 437: In 1937, the U.S. Army Air Corps sent out a design proposal with a set of detailed performance specifications for a new pursuit aircraft — one that didn't yet exist and that no plane at the time could match. That proposal eventually produced the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a fighter that flew over 130,000 missions and, according to some historians, helped tip the balance of the war in the Pacific. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, Todd breaks down the business lessons hidden inside that story — and why the way the Army Air Corps built the P-38 is exactly how successful construction business owners should be thinking about strategy, vision, and delegation. Todd walks through three core lessons: how to establish performance specifications for your business instead of just reacting to whatever comes at you, why the visionary's job is to define the what and then hand the how to the people who know best, and why the time to develop your strategy is long before you actually need it. He also walks through two detailed business examples — including how to design a pre-construction handoff process and how to build an organization chart for a company targeting $13M in revenue. 👉 If you've been running on instinct instead of strategy, this episode gives you a framework to change that. Tune in. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 03:30 The story of the P-38 Lightning and how it started with a spec sheet 08:50 Lesson 1 — You get to set the performance specifications for your business 12:20 Right-to-left thinking: start with what you want, then work backwards 16:35 Lesson 2 — Define the what, then delegate the how to your team 22:10 Real-world example: designing a pre-construction handoff process 27:15 Real-world example: building your org chart around a revenue target 30:00 Lesson 3 — Develop your strategy before you need it 34:05 The questions every construction owner should be asking about the future 38:20 Free resource: Strategic Planning Guide download Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Mar 30, 202635 min

Ep 436How John Springstead Doubled Revenue While Cutting His Work Hours | EP 436

☎️ Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE EPISODE 436: John Springs has been in construction since 1991. For most of those years, everything lived in his head — no written systems, no pre-construction process, no clear handoffs. He was the first call for every problem, working 60-hour weeks, and couldn't step away without something falling apart. Three years ago, that started to change. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, Todd sits down with John Springs, owner of John Springs Construction in Glen Rock, New Jersey, to break down exactly how he transformed his business from a one-man operation held together by hustle into a systematized company that grew from $1.7M to $3.1M in revenue — with two fewer employees. John shares how implementing a pre-construction process eliminated chaos before jobs even began, how he handed off field operations to his superintendent Jonathan, and why he now leaves the office every day at 4:00 PM. 👉 If your business still depends on you for everything, this episode shows you what's possible on the other side. Tune in. Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) John's background and how he got into construction (03:30) Going out on his own — and why it failed the first time (06:00) Starting John Springs Construction in 2011 (07:40) What led John to reach out to Construction Leading Edge (08:40) The root causes of his profit bleeds (12:20) The moment he knew the systems were actually working (13:50) How to handle customers who push back on your process (16:10) The pre-construction process and the job site hub (19:35) Learning to let employees do their jobs (20:30) Day-to-day life before vs. after SYCB (22:00) From $1.7M to $3.1M with two fewer employees (24:40) What eliminated the chaos — clarity of roles and pre-construction (26:45) The non-measurable results: sleep, time, watching his team grow (30:15) Biggest implementation challenge — and how to overcome it (33:05) The CEO Alliance and the value of peer accountability (36:15) One goal he didn't think was possible three years ago (41:45) Where to find John (45:40) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Mar 23, 202647 min

Ep 435Mental Malware | EP 435

☎️ Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE EPISODE 435: There's a belief running in your construction business right now that sounds completely responsible. Maybe it's "now's not a good time." Maybe it's "when things calm down, I'll fix it." Maybe it's "we just need to hire more people." It sounds like you're being smart and protecting your business. And it's the exact thing that's keeping you stuck. That gap between what you tell yourself and what's actually holding you back — that's where the real problem lives. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, Todd introduces the concept of mental malware — belief patterns running silently in the background of your mental operating system, capping your growth without you knowing they're there. He walks through 11 of the most common mental malware files he's heard from hundreds of construction business owners, the one deeper program running underneath all of them, and 3 steps to start identifying and deleting the beliefs that are keeping your business dependent on you. 👉 If this episode stings a little, that's your signal. Tune in and find out what's really been capping your construction business. Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) Todd's website gets hacked – the malware analogy begins (01:15) Mental malware: what's running silently in your business (02:45) "That's not scaling, that's just scaling stress" (03:50) "That's not high standards. That's identity protection." (06:10) Run a mental malware scan – 11 belief files (06:30) The vacuum cleaner story – seeing what you can't unsee (12:50) The root program underneath all the mental malware (15:40) Jim Rohn: the pain of discipline vs. the pain of regret (18:10) Imagine a business that runs without you (20:00) 3 steps to delete the mental malware (21:05) The cost of inaction (25:35) Next steps: business evaluation call + 5-minute action item (27:10) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Mar 16, 202631 min

Ep 434The Solution Is Inside the Problem | EP 434

☎️ Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE EPISODE 434: There's a problem in your construction business right now that you've already identified — but haven't engaged with yet. A tough conversation with a client or employee, a financial trend you keep meaning to address, a hire you've been putting off. And every day you wait, it takes up more mental real estate. And that gap between recognizing a problem and actually engaging it is the breeding ground for fear, anxiety, and 2 a.m. wake-ups. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, I borrow a lesson straight from Navy SEAL tactics: the answer is in the room. The solution to the problem is inside the problem, so speculation, hesitation, and waiting for more information won't get you closer to solving it. I share 3 steps to stop standing outside the problem and start solving what's in front of you. 👉 You don't get to decide if you address the problem. You only get to decide when. Tune in and make it now. Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) The best shirt you're not sponsoring (but should be) (00:57) The problem you've been avoiding in your business (02:48) Jocko Willink: The answer is in the room (10:14) Name the problem precisely (12:07) Collapse the timeline before fear takes over (13:55) Replace imagination with facts (15:35) David ran at Goliath… and so should you (17:06) Why your business keeps producing the same problems (22:05) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Mar 9, 202627 min

Ep 4335 Decisions That Free the Overworked Construction Owner | EP 433

☎️ Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – EPISODE 433: Construction business owner buried in reactive mode, watching your business grow while your stress grows with it? Working 60+ hour weeks, stressed about profit, team management, and scaling your construction company… and still feeling behind? If that hits a little too close to home, this episode is for you. Most construction business owners who feel overwhelmed assume they need more people, better software, or tighter time management. But that's rarely the issue. What's really happening is that you've outgrown the current design of your business, and more effort will only increase stress instead of freedom. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, I break down the five decisions that determine whether growth creates real freedom or a larger, more chaotic operation. I talk about eliminating root cause problems, designing around results, and systematizing your construction business so you stop being the bottleneck. You don't need to work harder. What got you here won't get you there. If you want to scale, it's time to redesign the system. 👉 Listen now and start building a business that can run without you. Key Takeaways: You've outgrown your construction business design (00:00) Construction business growth and reactive mode trap (02:06) Take ownership of your construction company (11:24) Design your construction business around results (14:05) Define what you want from your construction business (15:52) Eliminate root cause problems in your company (17:43) Redesign your construction business systems on purpose (18:45) Separate business decisions from implementation overwhelm (20:50) The real cost of inaction (25:15) How to systematize your construction business for freedom (27:48) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE ⚡Download the How to Buyout a Construction Project Playbook HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Mar 2, 202629 min

Ep 432This Is How We Do It Builders: Leading Clients With a Proven Process | EP 432

☎️Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – EPISODE 432: What if the reason your team is stressed, your projects feel harder than they should, and your profits aren't where they should be has nothing to do with labor shortages, material pricing, the market, your subcontractors, or even your clients? What if the real issue is that you've been letting your clients run your business and, without meaning to, have adopted what I call the Burger King philosophy? In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, I break down why letting clients run your business is costing you big time, and how to take back control without losing the relationships you value. You'll learn a clear framework to set boundaries that protect your time and profit, and build a rhythm where clients follow your proven process instead of running your schedule. 👉 If you're ready to take back control, tune in! Key Takeaways: Burger King Philosophy (00:00) The Issue with Client-Driven Processes (03:10) Taking Back Control (08:17) Chaos is a Choice (11:20) 3 Steps to Take Back Control (14:29) Separate the Decision from the Implementation (24:16) Outro (28:46) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Feb 23, 202630 min

Ep 431Is Indecision Crippling Your Construction Business? | EP 431

☎️Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – If you've been listening to podcasts, reading books, going to conferences, and consuming business content for months, but your business still looks the same… this one's going to sting. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, I break down how construction business owners use podcasts, webinars and "research" as a way to numb the frustration of being stuck, instead of making the decisions that would actually change their business. I explain why waiting for perfect information is a myth, how indecision creates paralysis, and why the real risk isn't making the wrong move, it's making no move at all. This episode is especially valuable for those of you who are working 50, 60, even 70 hour weeks, those who know they need to hire, raise prices, systemize, or get help, but keep pushing the decision down the road in the name of being "responsible." Remember: you don't have a knowledge problem. You have an action problem. 👉 Stop using information as a painkiller. It's time to take action. Tune in. Key Takeaways: Information as a Pain Killer (00:00) The Cost of Inaction (04:56) Identifying and Addressing Inaction (11:40) The Law of Diminishing Intent (18:05) My Challenge for You (23:31) Outro (35:03) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Feb 16, 202633 min

Ep 430Nail the Handoff System: Build a Rock‑Solid Preconstruction Checklist Your Team Actually Follows | EP 430

☎️Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – EPISODE 430: If your construction projects feel chaotic before they even start, the problem isn't execution, it's the handoff. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast, I explain how a weak preconstruction handoff creates scope gaps, delays, missed details, and profit bleeds long before work begins. He breaks down why many builders rely on "figuring it out later," how urgency addiction keeps owners stuck in firefighting mode, and why starting jobs with incomplete information guarantees chaos in the field. You'll learn how to design a simple, practical preconstruction checklist that locks in decisions early, clarifies scope, and sets your team up for success from day one. I also share how to involve your team in building the process so it actually gets followed, not ignored. If you're a builder, remodeler, or general contractor who wants smoother projects, fewer surprises, and better margins, this episode will show you how to nail the handoff from office to field. 🎧 Listen now and start eliminating chaos before the job starts. Key Takeaways: Why Projects Feel Chaotic Before They Even Start (00:00) The Hidden Problem: Urgency Addiction (05:30) The Missing Phase Every Profitable Builder Obsessively Manages (10:45) How to Design a Preconstruction Checklist Your Team Will Follow (15:00) Nailing the Handoff from Office to Field (18:30) Additional Resources: ⚡Schedule a Business Evaluation Call with The Construction Leading Edge Team HERE – ⚡Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn ⚡Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE ⚡Visit The Construction Leading Edge for more information HERE The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Feb 9, 202625 min
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