Contractor Evolution

Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP194  Get your copy of Greg McKeown's new Essentialism Planner here: https://gregmckeown.com/books/the-essentialism-planner/  Do you know what you want this year? Or next year? Or in five years? In this distracted world we’re living in, it can be pretty hard to drown out the noise, algorithms and influencers and figure out what it is that you want. And how to go get it. Our guest on the show today is Greg McKeown, author of one of the most beloved books in the small business world: Essentialism: the Disciplined Pursuit of Less. He’s here to teach us how to define and achieve what’s truly most important to you by narrowing your focus and aligning your actions with the highest priority—the most essential—goals in business and life. Late last year, Greg released a new workbook to help readers work through the concepts of an essentialist lifestyle, and we’re lucky enough to get a preview into what the process looks like on the show. Episode highlights: Learn how to apply the concepts of Greg McKeown's book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less to your business and life. Get tips from Benji and Greg on how to figure out what it is you actually want in life, and how to go after it with laser focus. Gain a new perspective on your 2025 strategic plan and vision, just in time to go out and crush your goals. 00:00-Intro 01:44-Essentialism: A 2024 Update 04:19-About the Essentialism Planner 07:43-How to discern the "trivial many" from the "vital few" 30:39-How to figure out what you actually want 55:25-The power of a graceful no 01:01:40-The importance of rest, play, and escape 01:10:40-Advice for contractors as they enter 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stop telling yourself the lies in this episode and start telling yourself the 7 TRUTHS in this free download instead: https://trybta.com/DL193 Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here:  https://trybta.com/PCEP193  For the first episode of 2025, Benji is speaking from the heart. Today, he's calling out seven lies to stop telling yourself in 2025. And, really, seven lies we all need to stop telling ourselves. We hope this episode helps you break unhealthy thought patterns. About your business. About your family. And most importantly, about yourself. New year, new you. And new us, too.  Episode Highlights:- Understand whether seven unhealthy thought patterns are impacting your business and life, and how to let them go as you enter the new year.- Reflect on the limiting beliefs that held you back in the past, and start to shift your thinking as you move into the future. 00:00-Intro02:09-It’s “just a [insert industry] business”04:32-Another business/industry would have been easier08:39-It HAS to be hard10:39-I need to be good at everything.11:45-I’m not worthy of the abundance my business is creating14:32-A+ Talent doesn't want to work for my business16:32-I’m behind; everyone else is so far aheadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP192  Have you ever wondered how the masters of big business scale up to nine-figures and beyond? Today’s guest is Adam E. Coffey, author of 3 bestsellers: The Private Equity Playbook, The Exit Strategy Playbook, and Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion. After 10 years as an executive at General Electric, he was hired as the president of three private equity-backed service companies where he completed 58 acquisitions and facilitated billions of dollars in successful exits.  In this episode, we pick his brain about how small-to-medium sized contractors like you can apply the concepts of The Private Equity Playbook to their business systems and operations. And trust us, there is a ton to be learned from our conversation. Episode highlights:- Get a breakdown of the concepts in Adam E.Coffey’s bestselling books, The Private Equity Playbook, The Exit Strategy Playbook, and Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion.- Learn the three stages of business growth on the road to a billion, and what tactics and areas of focus are most important at each point in the journey.- Understand how to apply the mindset and tactics used in the world of private equity to your own strategic plan. 00:00-Intro01:23-About Adam Coffey06:22-Stage 1 : $0 to $1MM16:26-Stage 2: $1 M to $10MM32:17-Stage 3: $10MM to $100MM42:40-Four Powerful Organic Levers to Bend Your Growth Curve Upward50:27-The 2 Most Essential Business Skills for Growth53:39-Connect With AdamSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025 Learn how to hire for profit growth with this free download: https://trybta.com/DLEP191  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP191  Learn more about Greg and Simple Numbers here: https://www.simplenumberscri.com/  We're gonna make an educated guess and say you didn’t get into business because you love accounting. So when it comes to financial management—budgeting, forecasting, and tracking the right metrics for success—you’d be forgiven for getting a little lost in the jargon and differing opinions on the “right” way to do things. Our guest on the show today is Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! Greg's approach to financial controls and profitability is refreshingly simple and easy to understand. He distills the confusing world of accounting into incredibly simple metrics and lays out the core areas of business you need to focus on. If you’re looking for a simple explanation of which numbers you should care about and how to optimize them for business growth, consider this episode your starting point. Episode highlights: Understand why gross margin is your TRUE top line and why revenue is one of the most meaningless metrics to care about in business, according to Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! Hear Greg’s thoughts on why your income tax paid is actually one of the best KPIs to optimize Learn the only two ways to boost labor productivity and get out of the profitability black hole between $1MM and $5MM 00:00-Intro 01:52-Why are finances so hard to understand? 14:49-About the Four Keys 21:30-How should people use and think about the Four Keys? 28:44-Owner's Salary 36:56-Profit 50:52-Labor Productivity 1:02:23-Habits and mindsets      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025 Grab a free summary of Joey's book, Never Lose an Employee Again, here: https://trybta.com/DLEP190  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP190   Learn more about Joey and his work here: https://joeycoleman.com/  It sucks to lose good people.  Especially when it feels like you did everything you could to keep them, short of a 7-figure salary and 6 months vacation. 🤦 But, according to my guest today, world-renowned speaker, consultant, and bestselling author of Never Lose an Employee Again Joey Coleman, there’s probably a lot of crucial onboarding steps you’re missing with your new team members. Today’s conversation is about more than employee retention. We’re diving into the world of employee experience, and how getting it right can save you tons of time, money and headaches by lowering turnover and building a killer culture. Episode highlights:- Get an inside look at Joey Coleman’s framework for building killer employee experiences, as outlined in his bestselling book Never Lose an Employee Again.- Learn about the importance of the first 100 days of an employee’s time with your company, and how to optimize their experience for long-term retention.- Get tips on designing organizations that allow high performers to grow into careers, rather than feel like they’re in a “dead end job.” 00:00-Intro01:29-The true cost of turnover04:45-Why people quit after just a few months13:51-Why proper onboarding is essential (even though it's a lot of work)21:25-The goal of an onboarding system: The 4 R's32:57-How to optimize the first day on the job43:24-The importance of the First 100 Days47:23-How to create career paths that keep A-players around58:42-Connect with JoeySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025   Grab your copy of our IMPLEMENT framework here: https://trybta.com/DLEP189   To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP189     The end of the year is approaching, and that means it’s “hope season” for a lot of contractors.   Your implementation goals are big. You’ve got tech stack upgrades, brand refreshes, and shiny new internal processes on the brain.   But, let’s be real:   If you look back at past years—and all the projects you had planned—how many of them did you actually get across the finish line?   The graveyard of good ideas not implemented for most entrepreneurs is vast.   So how do you break the cycle and actually get sh*t done in 2025?   This episode is a 9-part roadmap that will help you sharpen your implementation skills and turn your great ideas into fully implemented systems.   Episode highlights:- Learn Benji’s nine part framework for successfully implementing projects—from tech stack upgrades to business systems to SOPs.- Understand why implementation is so difficult, and how to sharpen your skills as a business owner to get more done in 2025.- Get fired up and ready to crush your implementation goals next year.   00:00-Intro02:15-Pick The Right Things To Implement04:33-Define Your Outcomes06:34-Don’t Reinvent the Wheel07:34-Make Foolproof Project Plans09:04-Delegate, Don’t Dump12:29-Find Your Milestones and Celebrate Them13:29-Don't Forget the Change Management Part15:57-Audit (is what we implemented working?)17:12-Give People BreaksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build a killer annual strategic plan for your contracting business at our free web class on January 20th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SP2025   Connect time tracking to your job costing with this free white paper from busybusy: https://trybta.com/DLEP188    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here:  https://trybta.com/PCEP188    Have you ever wondered whether getting your field staff to track their time is worthwhile?   Sure, it’d be great to hold them accountable. But you can already hear their grumbles and groans about having to add another thing to their to-do list.   The thing is, in other businesses (think accounting, law, marketing agencies), time tracking is standard practice. The whole goal in those industries is to make as much time billable to the client as possible. So why is it different in the trades?   Our guest on the show today is Isaac Barlow. He’s the Founder of busybusy. The industry-leading time-tracking app for construction and trades.    Today’s conversation is about leveraging time-tracking technology to increase productivity and profitability without hurting your company culture.   Episode highlights: Learn how time tracking can be used to create a performance culture built on business intelligence. Understand why field staff often resist adopting modern tech and how to change their attitudes and get them on board with time tracking. Find out how to create a modern data-obsessed organization in an old school industry.   00:00-Intro01:48-The story behind busybusy08:42-Why contractors need to be more time obsessed16:42-The benefits of busybusy and other time tracking apps22:08-How to deal with pushback from the team28:56-Business Intelligence: helpful or hurtful to culture?31:57-Gamification: does it work?34:04-3 tips to get your team thinking more like owners38:19-Downloadable handout and busybusy promotion39:08-Business intelligence: what is it and how do you use it?44:46-Too much data vs. too little data: what is the balance?46:36-How to become data-obsessed (even if you're not wired that way)49:13-Connect with Isaac and learn more about busybusySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP187   Get a copy of Profit First for Contractors here: https://www.amazon.ca/Profit-First-Contractors-Construction-Money-Making-ebook/dp/B07L38J49P   Did you know that the vast majority of construction and trades businesses net less than 5% profit a year?   In case you were wondering—that’s not good.   Our guest on the show today is Shawn Van Dyke, author of Profit First for Contractors and The Paperwork Punch List.   In this episode, we break down the Profit First for Contractors (or PFC) cash management model, including a prescribed framework for implementing PFC in your business right away.   If you change the way you manage your finances, you’ll also change the way you think about money flowing in and out of your accounts. And in turn, you’ll make better decisions that benefit you and your business.   Episode highlights: Unpack how the profit-first approach Shawn Van Dyke outlines in Profit First for Contractors produces a powerful and positive psychological change to the way you see money flowing into and out of your business. Learn the four most common profit-destroying mistakes that Shawn sees owners make all too often. Find out which five bank accounts you need to set up right away.   00:00-Intro 01:35-About Profit First for Contractors 10:31-Why is minimal profitability so common in construction and trades? 15:49-Brief synopsis of the PFC Model 21:05-Five bank accounts you need to set up 31:36-What's the value of the five bank accounts? 47:07-4 mistakes that kill profitability 01:05:08-Connect with Shawn  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab your free copy of the Max Priorities Pyramid and start sorting your priorities today: https://trybta.com/DLEP186   To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP186   How good are you at prioritization in your business?   It’s ok. You can be honest.   The truth is that prioritization seems straightforward, but in reality it’s much more complex than it appears, especially in the context of a business like yours - which is inherently dynamic, ever-changing, and unpredictable.    Issues come out of nowhere. Circumstances change. People quit. Clients cancel. Unexpected weather roles through.   How are you supposed to get anything done when you’re constantly putting out fires?   Our guests today have some practical strategies that can help.   Harry Max is the author of Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions. And Wes Bright is his partner at Peak Priorities. They consult with some of the biggest companies in tech, and today, they're going to level up our priority management toolbox in a major way.   Episode highlights: - Learn what makes prioritization so hard and what systems and tools you can use to get better at it.- Understand the frameworks Harry Max recommends in his book, Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions.- Get practical prioritization tips from two consultants who work with the biggest companies in tech including Apple, Google and Microsoft.   00:00-Intro 01:48-About the book - Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions 03:56-Why "prioritize" is the most important verb 09:32 - Why we all suck at prioritizing 14:22-About the "false sense of urgency" 22:58-The impact of a clear vision on prioritization 31:24-The DEGAP Framework 42:40-Sorting methods for prioritization 47:45-Ideal rhythms for reviewing goals and progress 52:27-What to delegate vs. what to keep 58:54-Evolving our prioritization systems as we grow 01:03:22-Where can people connect with you?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP185     How did Plus Construction owner and Breakthrough Academy Member Charlie Bethell go from endless callbacks, cash crunches and frustration to selling and building 500 decks a year?   Systemizing and optimizing. And a lot of it.   Today, Charlie’s on the show to talk about his digital marketing strategies, which bring in 60% of the businesses annual leads, and the massive changes he made to his sales-to-production handoff.   In other words, we’re diving into the secrets of a high-volume contractor.   Episode highlights:- Learn the strategies and tactics Charlie Bethell uses to get 60% of his leads from digital marketing initiatives.- Find out which implementation items Charlie used to vastly improve his sales-to-production handoff, resulting in higher customer satisfaction, better team morale and more profitable jobs.- Hear how Charlie hit his BHAG five years early and what he learned in the process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab your free copy of the Four Numbers Exercise to help you 10x your wealth attraction: https://trybta.com/DLEP184    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP184    Learn more about Brian here: https://www.thewealthycontractor.com/    Running a highly profitable contracting business has two sides of the coin.   You need the profitability skill sets: budgeting, job costing, pricing strategies, accounting best practices, and so on.   We’ve discussed these plenty on the show.   The other thing you need is the “profitability mindset.”    This has very little to do with spreadsheets and bookkeeping and everything to do with your attitude towards money, your belief and self-worth, and your ability to practice what our guest on the show today calls wealth attraction.   Brian Kaskavalciyan, aka The Wealthy Contractor, is back on the show for the second time to talk about how to clarify your why, get control of your mind and develop the sense of deserving that so many contractors are missing.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP183    To get the your copy of the Freedom From Fear eBook, click here: https://sparkingsuccess.net/fgfff/     Here’s a question you’ve probably pondered before.   Do your technicians, laborers, and field staff excel at customer service?   Do they know how to build rapport? De-escalate an angry customer? Can they upsell and bring in more revenue for the company?   The fact is, whether you like it or not, your reputation, and the success of your business, depends on the people you have out on the front lines.   Our guest on the show today is Mark Matteson. He’s a personal development speaker and author of 6 books, including his best-seller Freedom From Fear.   Before the big stages, though, Mark spent the first half of his career in the field as an HVAC tech and salesperson. He translated those formative years into a customer service excellence curriculum he teaches to many of the biggest HVAC companies on the continent.    And today he’s going to teach us how to get our whole team aligned around providing exceptional customer service at every stage of the buyer journey. Episode Highlights: Hear from Mark Matteson, HVAC tech and sales rep turned personal development speaker and best-selling author of Freedom From Fear, about the importance of embedding customer service excellence into every part of your business. Get a walkthrough of the customer service excellence curriculum Mark teaches to many of the biggest HVAC companies in North America. Learn how to recognize and let go of the fears holding you back in business and in life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get a downloadable copy of Matt Risinger's Team Building Tactics here: https://trybta.com/DLEP182    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP182    Ever wonder how an industry titan recruits and retains top talent?   Before creating his 1.1 million subscriber YouTube channel dedicated to building science, Matt Risinger worked as a recruiter for a national builder, where he learned the tactics and skills he would use to assemble his incredible teams at both Risingerbuild and The Build Show.    And today, he’s back on the show to teach you how to do it, too.    We talk about how to get great applicants in the door, tips for behavioral interviewing, the right questions to ask (and which ones to NOT), how to retain talent for the long haul, and how to know when and why to let someone go.   This is a Masterclass in human resources for construction and trades with one of the most trusted names in the industry.   Episode Highlights:- Learn the tactics and skills Matt Risinger used to build the exceptional teams that allowed RisingerBuild and The Build Show to grow into the industry titans they are today.- Hear about Matt’s experience working as a recruiter for a national builder earlier in his career and how the experience shaped his current recruitment practices.- Get Matt’s take on how to know when it’s time to let someone go, and how to approach the conversation professionally.        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP181    To learn more about Duct Tape Marketing, click here: https://ducttapemarketing.com/   If you’ve ever cut your marketing budget when times were tough, this one’s for you.   When you find yourself in the middle of a downturn, leadflow turning to a trickle, customer decision-making slowing to a crawl…something's gotta give.    And if your marketing budget is just an expense you pay because you think you should, it’s a pretty easy decision. Cut the deadweight.   But according to today’s guest John Jantsch, that might be the wrong approach.   John is the author of Duct Tape Marketing, The Ultimate Marketing Machine, The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, and more.   And today, we’re talking about how to adapt your marketing strategy for economic headwinds. The market around you may be slowing down, but that doesn’t mean your business—or your marketing—has to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP180   Grab a free copy of QuickBooks' Top 5 Profit Leaks for Contractors download here: https://www.btacademy.com/ce/download/ep180/     Grab your free Breakthrough Academy budgeting tool here: https://trybta.com/68v    Have you ever wanted to better understand how to use QuickBooks effectively but haven’t had the time to really dive into it?   Most contractors are probably in the same boat.   Our anecdotal guess is that north of 85% of our Members use QuickBooks as their bookkeeping software. But there is so much the platform can do, it’s hard to know if you’re using it “right.” Or to its full potential.   So… we thought it would be cool to have someone from QuickBooks come on and teach us how to get the most out of it.   Nate Flake is the Senior Partner Development Manager at Intuit (the makers of Quickbooks) and he also hosts their Constructing Growth Podcast. Today, we’re going to unpack 10 crucial QuickBooks mistakes contractors often make and how to avoid them moving forward.     538d9f21ce1440514fe7d46194e8e85cbc8da07eSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get your free guide to Chris Voss' Top Negotiation Tips for Contractors here: https://trybta.com/DLEP179   To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP179   Check out Chris Voss' new documentary, Tactical Empathy, here: https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Empathy-Chris-Voss/dp/B0D83LHHZT    Today’s episode frickin’ rocks.   The one and only Chris Voss, world-renowned FBI negotiator and author of Never Split the Difference, is on the show to talk all things negotiation.   We cover the mindset, the skills, and the systems you need to be a better negotiator in your contracting business.    Whether you’re defending your price to a haggling client, driving a hard bargain with a supplier, or negotiating a comp package with a key employee, implementing the tips in this episode will help you get better results.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP178    Get Allan Dib's new book, Lean Marketing, here: https://leanmarketing.com/books/leanmarketing    “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted. The trouble is I don't know which half.”   Ever heard that saying?   That classic quote from John Wanamaker dates back over a hundred years ago. And, sadly, even with all the new technology, tracking mechanisms and data at our fingertips, it’s still kinda true. At least it is for many contractors.   Our guest today is Allan Dib, author of The 1-Page Marketing Plan and, as of this year, a brand new book called Lean Marketing.   The idea is pretty simple. Marketing creates A LOT of waste that provides zero value to you or your customer.   So, today we’re going to talk about Allan’s 9 Lean Marketing principles that will help you get more leads, more profit, with LESS MARKETING.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP177 Get a complimentary SEO audit from Choquer Creative here: https://cal.com/brycechoquer/seo-audit  Did you get your website built because you knew you needed one? Or did you have it thoughtfully designed and optimized to get you leads? The truth is that 9/10 of your competition's websites are poorly designed and under-optimized. And if your website just exists to check a box on your marketing to-do list, yours probably is too. Our guest today, Bryce Choquer, is the founder of Choquer Creative, a web design and SEO Agency that specializes in building websites for trades and construction companies. In this episode, he breaks down the framework he uses to get contractors more leads from their websites.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get access to Benji and Mike's favorite mindfulness practices here: https://trybta.com/PCDLEP176 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP176  Did you know the average employee loses 600 hours a year due to distractions? That’s a lot of untapped potential. And a lot of anxious people. Our guest on the show today is Mike Lee, a best-selling author and globally recognized keynote speaker whose entire body of work is dedicated to helping leaders find focus, block out distractions, and get more done with a calmer mind. Mike and I talk about how to be more present in the way you work, live and lead. From separating yourself from the constant notifications, algorithms and open tabs to dealing with the anxiety that comes with owning a business, leading people and being a human in 2024. If you want to be more focused, more present and more mindful, this one’s for you. Get Mike's book, New Rules for the Future of Leadership here: https://mindshiftlabs.com/new-rules-for-the-future-of-leadership/ Episode highlights:- Learn about the real cost distractions have to our businesses and our personal lives.- Get tips on practicing focus, mindfulness and presence from best-selling author and globally recognized keynote speaker Mike Lee.- Find out what working with athletes like Steph Curry taught Mike about the power of mindset in achieving success on the court and in business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP175   To learn more about Ryan and Brush Strokes, click here: https://brushstrokesga.com/   Today’s episode is your daily dose of inspiration.    Ryan Gill, Breakthrough Academy Member and owner of Brush Strokes Quality Painting in Georgia, has quite the story. He’s battled addiction, struggled with his mental health, and been on the brink of bankruptcy three times.   And today, he runs a thriving painting company with a mission to give back.   Through an unconventional hiring strategy, Ryan gives second chances to ex-inmates and individuals in addiction recovery programs while maintaining the highest standard of quality and world-class customer service.   His story powerfully reminds us of the bigger role our businesses play in making the world a better place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.