The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

Todd Dawalt

Are you a construction business owner looking to maximize revenue, eliminate chaos and turn your business into a well-oiled, profitable machine? Learn more at: http://www.constructionleadingedge.com/ Welcome to the Construction Leading Edge Podcast! Hi, my name is Todd Dawalt, and I want to help you grow your business the RIGHT way. On this podcast, I’ll share tactics and strategies for systematizing your business, so you can make more money and win back your time. Business owners, managers, project executives, project managers, and field leaders will all benefit from the interviews, resources, tools, and tips we have in store. Be sure to give us a follow, so you never miss an episode! read less

Eclipsing Financial Targets by Saying "No" and Focusing on the People | Mikhail Gannage | E281
Yesterday
Eclipsing Financial Targets by Saying "No" and Focusing on the People | Mikhail Gannage | E281
EPISODE 281: Learning to say no to the people or things that don't serve you or your business gives you room to say yes to those that do. And we've invited someone who just skyrocketed his construction business by saying no and focusing on the people. In this week's episode, I sit down with Mikhail Gannage, president of Gannage Design  & Construction. Mikhail went from being a long-time robotics engineer to running their family-owned construction business. According to Mikhail, by being selective in what projects he and his team take on, they have seen tremendous business growth - something they haven’t seen in years. So he's here to share the main root cause of his company’s profit bleeding and the systems and changes he implemented that grew his construction business from 2% to a whopping 15% net profit. He also talks about the connection between an accountability chart and a good handoff to profitability, the benefits of being in a mastermind group of construction business owners, and why working less makes him a better leader. Tune in now to learn more!   Key Takeaways: From robotics engineering to construction business owner (01:06) Best advice for those taking over a family business (04:42) Business problems Mikhail was dealing with (09:59) The main root cause of profit bleeding and its ripple effects (13:08) Most impactful systems and changes that grew his business (23:32) Dealing with one big hairy audacious goal (29:49) On accountability chart, good handoff and profitability (35:36) A peek into his construction business’s numbers (42:07) Benefits of being in a mastermind group (49:15) Why do construction business owners isolate themselves? (53:35) Why working less means doing more? (56:32) The biggest question to ask when starting a business (58:36) One final piece of advice (1:01:39)   Additional Resources: - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE   Connect with Mikhail Gannage: - Follow Gannage Design & Construction on Instagram HERE - Reach out to Mikhail at mikhail@gannageconstruction.com - Visit Gannage Design & Construction  website for more info 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!
The Habits of Success: 3 Things You Need to Do Daily to Set You up for Success | E280
14-03-2023
The Habits of Success: 3 Things You Need to Do Daily to Set You up for Success | E280
EPISODE 280: Success isn't determined by your age, gender, location, or any of those similar factors; it is the formation of habits that will. In this week's episode, I've invited Leyah Valgardson, Director of Customer Success here at Construction Leading Edge, to unpack the three core habits of success that successful construction business owners do. Leyah and I also talk about what really is success and happiness, how to build those habits of success as a construction business owner, creating accountability with like-minded people, and more. Let’s dive in!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What is a habit? (01:28) Success and happiness defined (04:10) Follow an effective morning routine (14:50) The power of gratitude (27:14) What is mindset, and how important is it? (29:29) Managing your inner critic (39:30) Prepare, plan, and execute (51:18) On execution being so hard (56:51) Strategies to create accountability (1:00:06) Episode wrap-up (1:05:58)   Additional Resources: - Listen to "The Hidden Dangers of Procrastination & How to Conquer It" episode HERE - Listen to the "5 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Manage That Nobody Warned You About" episode HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Visit Construction Leading Edge for more HERE   Books Mentioned: - The 5 AM Club by Robin S. Sharma - The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday - The 10x Rule by Grant Cardone -- 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!
Housing Crisis Opportunities & How a Venture Capital Firm Looks at the Construction Industry | E279
06-03-2023
Housing Crisis Opportunities & How a Venture Capital Firm Looks at the Construction Industry | E279
EPISODE 279:  Why would venture capital firms put their money in the construction industry, especially nowadays? In this week's episode, I've invited David Bloom of Signia Venture Partners to talk about a venture capitalist view of the construction industry as a whole. Signia is a venture capital firm founded in 2012. David and his partners invest in entrepreneurs applying new technologies to old industries. Today, he's here to discuss why venture capital firms invest in the construction industry, their views on the housing shortage and the ripple effects, what type of companies they invest in, guidelines when investing in companies, and more. Tune in now to learn more!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Venture capitalist’s perspective on the construction industry (01:30) What is a venture capital firm? (03:44) Why invest in the construction industry? (05:52) Symptoms of the current housing crisis and the ripple effects (08:03) How venture capital firms view the housing shortage (15:10) David and his firm's portfolio of companies and what they're solving (18:05) What are the red flags to look for in a leader when investing? (22:34) On transitioning successfully from being a startup to CEO of an ongoing business (25:18) Key takeaways from Cetera's $2B venture funding failure (32:17) What are the things that outsiders don't know about the construction industry? (43:56)   Additional Resources: - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE   Connect with David Bloom: - Reach out to David by emailing him at David@signiavc.com - Check out his articles on Substack HERE - Follow him on LinkedIn 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!
Are You a Visionary? The Top 10 Challenges For a Visionary & Myths They Believe | E278
27-02-2023
Are You a Visionary? The Top 10 Challenges For a Visionary & Myths They Believe | E278
EPISODE 278: How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as a visionary leader? But what does it mean to be one? Does being a visionary guarantee success along the way? In this week's episode, I've invited Monish Khadye, a construction business owner and our very own Systematized Your Construction Business (SYCB) facilitator and coach. Monish is also a visionary, and today he talks about some of the challenges, misconceptions, and myths that a visionary has to deal with every day.  Join us as we discover how a visionary's mind works, some practical tips, and how a visionary should overcome challenges to achieve his visions and create a thriving environment in his organization. Tune in now!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What do visionaries bring to the organization? (03:24) What do inconsistencies look like for a visionary? (12:03) The organization whiplash explained (13:36) Visionaries lack clear direction (19:20) Why are visionaries reluctant to let things go? (23:17) Visionaries have underdeveloped leaders and managers (24:30) The genius with a thousand helpers (26:32) Visionaries get a sense of value from people being dependent on them (32:32) Resistance to following standardized processes (37:56) Visionaries get easily bored (39:32) On having no patience for details (43:32) Misconceptions and myths about being a visionary (44:39) Breaking down what a visionary should be doing in their business? (54:36) What happens when visionaries fully embrace their role? (1:06:15) Additional Resources: - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE   Books Mentioned: - Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters - Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman - Good to Great by Jim Collins -- 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!
5 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Manage That Nobody Warned You About | E277
20-02-2023
5 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Manage That Nobody Warned You About | E277
EPISODE 277: We all want to be successful entrepreneurs. But most of the time, what drives us up to the pinnacle of success is not what we've learned from school.  In this week's episode, I reveal the five most important things that successful entrepreneurs manage that nobody warned us about. And I wish I had known these earlier when I started my career. When you're able to manage these five things properly, you become not only the best leader for your construction business but also the best version of yourself.  But there's also a quick way for you to manage all of these (without the guessing game), and I'll share that, too, in the podcast. So let's jump in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) You need to manage your fears (01:24) Manage your inner critic (08:07) What happens when you don't manage your inner critic? (17:22) Manage your mental energy (19:25) One thing that's killing your mental energy (21:21) Manage your emotional state (22:56) Manage your strengths, not your weaknesses (27:14)   Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team 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!
The Hidden Dangers of Procrastination & How to Conquer It | E276
13-02-2023
The Hidden Dangers of Procrastination & How to Conquer It | E276
EPISODE 276: Have you been putting things off lately? Do you thrive working on last-minute situations? There are serious hidden dangers that come with procrastination which most of us tend to ignore. In this week's episode, I've invited Leyah Valgardson, Construction Leading Edge Director of Customer Success. Leyah and I sit down to talk about the six different types of procrastinators, according to psychologists.  We also discuss the hidden cold-hard truth about procrastination, the strategies to overcome procrastination based on each type, and how procrastination affects the quality of your life. So if you want to know what type of procrastinator you happen to be and how to defeat it so you can become a better construction business owner, and a human being, in general, tune in now to this week's episode. Let's jump in!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Procrastinator #1 - The Worrier (04:21) Procrastinator #2 - The Perfectionist (08:32) Procrastinator #3 - The Overdoer (14:17) Procrastinator #4 - The Crisis-Maker (19:57) The Strengths Finder test explained (25:03) Procrastinator #5 - The Dreamer (26:19) Procrastinator #6 - The Defier (31:42) How does procrastination show up for us (35:45) Failure is a myth (39:54) Some cold-hard truth about procrastination (41:00) What happens if you continue to procrastinate (45:19) Procrastination affects the quality of your life (52:08) How to overcome procrastination (1:01:31) The fastest way to stop procrastinating (1:12:42) Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team 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!
Stewardship, Creating Terminal Value & Increasing Profit 60% with Michael Moore | E275
06-02-2023
Stewardship, Creating Terminal Value & Increasing Profit 60% with Michael Moore | E275
EPISODE 275: We all know how systems and processes could make or break your construction business. But what's holding you back from taking those dramatic changes that could increase your business profitability? In this week's episode, I've invited Michael Moore, owner and President of Waterton Construction Group. Waterton Construction is a hardscape site work improvement company based in north Texas.  Michael is here to share with us the systems and processes he used to increase his company's revenue by 30% and profitability by 60% year over year. He also talks about the effects of creating positive pressure for himself, the concept of stewardship, how it affects how Michael runs his business, and the systems and processes he had put in place to grow his business to eight figures working only twenty hours a week. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Michael Moore (05:40) Best habits that Michael picked up while working for a production builder (10:20) What led Michael to reach out for a business coach? (15:24) Most impactful systems and changes that moved the needle (25:55) The moment when Michael realized what his doing was working (38:22) What the business looks like now? (42:07) How his business growth impacted his personal life (46:37) On putting positive pressure on you (53:40) The most valuable part of being in a construction CEO group (1:02:51) What does stewardship in a business mean? (1:06:11) Mindset shifts that are crucial to his success (1:08:45) Episode wrap-up (1:15:05)   Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE   Connect with Michael: -  Find Michael on LinkedIn HERE - Check out Waterton Construction Group 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!
Scaling to $200 Million: How Torrey Hawkins Did It | E274
31-01-2023
Scaling to $200 Million: How Torrey Hawkins Did It | E274
EPISODE 274: What makes a construction business successful? Is it cementing a failproof system OR finding the right people that get things done?  Torrey Hawkins, President of Angler Construction, LLC, drops some value bombs on how he managed to scale his construction business to $200 million in revenue per year. In this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Torrey to talk about... - the biggest challenges that Torrey has faced in growing a business to $200 million per year - the systems and processes that catapulted his business to success - some advice on how to lead your construction team through tough times - what his day looks like as someone who has grown a business to such size and scale - and a whole lot more! If you're a visionary looking to scale your construction business while getting out of the day-to-day details, you'll get a lot of practical advice from this episode. Let's jump right in!   Key Takeaways: Meet Torrey Hawkins (01:06) How Torrey started his construction business (05:37) What does the business look like now? (07:16) Biggest challenges during the growth (13:08) How to level up as a construction business leader (18:03) Recruiting and hiring top-quality talent (20:15) On systems and processes that scaled the business (23:24) What it's like to be a visionary (30:29) How Torrey spends his time as a 9-figure construction business owner (36:50) Keeping your team moving forward during a crisis (38:14) On sharing the vision and getting the team on board with it (43:18) The burning-the-ship mentality (50:25) Managing the double-edged sword of being a visionary (53:23) Episode wrap-up (58:08)   Additional Resources: - Join the Move the Needle 28-Day Challenge HERE - Register for The ADVANCE Live Meetup | March 30-31, 2023 | Austin, TX HERE - Schedule a Breakthrough Session with our team HERE - Listen to my 2015 interview with Torrey HERE - Connect with Torrey HERE - Check out Angler Construction 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!
Discipline, Systems, and 75% Annual Revenue Growth with Andy Kolp | E272
27-12-2022
Discipline, Systems, and 75% Annual Revenue Growth with Andy Kolp | E272
EPISODE 272: What is the secret formula to growing a business? What should a construction business owner have to lead a successful company?  There's really no secret formula, but our guest for today, Andy Kolp of Epic Building Company, did take his "steady" remodeling company to new success in its 14th year. After implementing new systems into his business process and shifting his mindset, he saw changes and wished he had done them sooner. From having one employee, Andy now has five employees on his payroll. His company has surprisingly gone up to 75% in annual revenue. And he isn't slowing down anytime soon as he's looking at a 100% revenue growth for next year. What did he do to achieve all of these incredible milestones? Tune in to this week's episode to find out more. Let's get started!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Andy Kolp (02:36) Discipline and weight loss success (04:51) How important is mental toughness? (18:55) Working in vs working on your business (26:04) What does stagnant mean from a business perspective? (32:13) The mindset growth (38:10) Most impactful systems that brought success (43:34) What business looks like now? (56:13) On pre-construction services and agreement (58:36) What led to Andy’s mindset shift? (1:04:14) Last few questions (1:10:44)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here  - Learn how to recession-proof your business here  - Work with our team to systematize your business here   - Visit our website here - Check out Andy’s construction company 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!
Why Every Construction Business Owner Needs a Virtual Assistant | E271
19-12-2022
Why Every Construction Business Owner Needs a Virtual Assistant | E271
EPISODE 271: Are you tired of doing never-ending, less urgent administrative work? As we all know, small business owners wear a lot of hats - bookkeeping, responding to emails, and posting on social media, to name a few. These tasks not only take a lot of time but also keep you from doing things that matter. And that's what we'll talk about in this week's episode. I sat down with two construction business owners - Kevin Franklin and Nathan Spearing - who found a great solution to their never-ending to-do list and after-hours work. Stay tuned and discover the benefits of hiring a Belay virtual assistant and the wonders it can do for your construction business.  Let's get started!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Kevin Franklin (03:40) The problems before signing up with Belay (04:12) Lessons from Michael Hyatt’s Your World-Class Assistant book (06:25) Misconceptions about working with virtual assistants (VA) (07:11) Main tasks of a VA that have been most impactful (08:19) Why hire a virtual assistant from Belay? (13:08) Hacks in training a virtual assistant (16:00) Meet Nathan Spearing (19:49) Nathan’s pivotal moment (23:15) Life after hiring a virtual assistant with Belay (36:12) Nathan's Life on Target podcast (46:07)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here  - Learn how to recession-proof your business here  - Work with our team to systematize your business here   - Visit our website here - Hire a virtual assistant through Belay here - Connect with Kevin Franklin here - Connect with Nathan Spearing here - Listen to Nathan’s Life on Target podcast 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!
How to Avoid Lawsuits Over Construction Defects & Reducing Risk with Attorney Marc Gravely | E270
12-12-2022
How to Avoid Lawsuits Over Construction Defects & Reducing Risk with Attorney Marc Gravely | E270
EPISODE 270: The only time contractors get involved and talk with an attorney is when something goes wrong. Do you agree? To prove that claim, we have Attorney Marc Gravely on the podcast today, whose work is on representing owners exclusively in construction disputes with general contractors, architects, and engineers. Atty. Gravely is here to share with us the common construction defects in building that lead to litigations, how to avoid or reduce the risk, insurance and contracts, and everything in between. So, make sure to tune in on this one and get yourself informed so you won’t have to deal with any litigations. Let's get started! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Atty. Marc Gravely (04:25) What do lawyers think about contractors? (05:36) Most common construction defects in buildings that lead to litigation (09:57) How to reduce the risk of construction defects (15:14) The missing process (18:15) Most common mistakes contractors make (22:05) GMP, time, and material contracts (25:04) How can a contractor protect themselves (26:39) How contractors should respond to issues (32:22) Mistakes to avoid that people make worse (38:30) The truth about a business that some find unconventional (43:07) Failures that set him up for later success (44:16) Marc's Reframing America's Infrastructure book (46:18)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here  - Learn how to recession-proof your business here  - Work with our team to systematize your business here   - Visit our website here   Connect with Marc - Grab a copy of his book here - Follow Marc on LinkedIn here - Visit Marc’s website 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!
First Principles, Taking Ego Out of Ideas and Solving Big Problems with Paolo Tiramani, Boxabl CEO & Founder | E269
05-12-2022
First Principles, Taking Ego Out of Ideas and Solving Big Problems with Paolo Tiramani, Boxabl CEO & Founder | E269
EPISODE 269: Joining me in this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast is Boxabl CEO and Founder Paolo Tiramani. He's here to sit down and talk with me on how Boxabl solves housing problems - one of the pressing issues we have in the U.S. and globally. Boxabl is a housing construction technology based in Las Vegas that revolutionizes global housing. With its innovative foldable house product, it has the potential to solve skyrocketing housing costs and homelessness around the world. If you want to know what it takes to build a company that solves big problems and how Paolo shares that big vision with his team, make sure to tune in to find out more.   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Paolo's career prior Boxabl (01:08) What is Boxabl? (05:32) First principles explained (10:55) “Not all things need fixing” (24:30) How do you find the right questions to ask? (31:24) On global housing problems (35:29) How to share a big vision with your team (41:18) Business beliefs that others think are unconventional (46:39) Episode wrap-up (52:59)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here  - Learn how to recession-proof your business here  - Work with our team to systematize your business here   - Visit our website here   Check out Boxabl - Visit Boxabl’s website here - Follow Boxabl on Instagram here - Subscribe to Boxabl on YouTube here - Do you want to join their team? Shoot them an email at hiring@boxabl.com   -- 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!
Jett Set Farmhouse’s Noell and Daniel Jett On Adversity, Perseverance, and Success | E268
28-11-2022
Jett Set Farmhouse’s Noell and Daniel Jett On Adversity, Perseverance, and Success | E268
EPISODE 268: When you grow up fighting battle after battle, it's easier to throw in the towel and accept things the way they are.  But that wasn’t the case for our guests today. Joining us in this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge are Daniel and Noell Jett - DIY home builders and creators behind the widely followed Jett Set Farmhouse and book authors of Create Your Dream Home on a Budget. This power couple overcame their own battles, persevered, and built a successful life - inspiring millions of people to make their dream houses even on a tight budget. And they're here to share with us… - the adversities they had to go through and how they overcame those - how they persevered in building their dream home even on a limited budget - and chock full of helpful tips for all of you brave enough to take on house projects. If you want to know more about handling adversities, perseverance, success, and working together as a homebuilder couple, make sure to tune in to this week's episode. You don't want to miss out on this one!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Noell's childhood story (01:19) The connection between success and perseverance (04:34) Building their dream home together (08:04) How do Instagram collaborations work? (16:20) Building your own home vs. hiring a builder(18:04) What is broken within the construction industry? (22:42) Tips for married couples who work together (25:38) How to address disagreements as a couple (28:28) How to avoid decision fatigue? (30:33) On believing something that others find unconventional (35:54) What's the purpose of social media? (36:47) Noell and Daniel's book launch (42:27)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here  - Learn how to recession-proof your business here  - Work with our team to systematize your business here   - Visit our website here   Connect with Daniel and Noell - Follow them on Instagram here - Visit their website here - Grab a copy of their book 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!
How to Get Your Team Engaged and On Board with New Processes  | E267
21-11-2022
How to Get Your Team Engaged and On Board with New Processes | E267
EPISODE 267: Did you know that only 15% of employees are engaged while the rest of the 85% isn't?  According to a recent Gallup State of the Global Workplace Study, low employee engagement caused companies $450 - $500 billion per year. Think about that. Now, are your people engaged enough? Or do you do all the planning and implementation by yourself?  How do you get people to come out of their way to engage? We'll talk about that in today's episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast.  And joining me today is Leyah Valgardson, Director of Customer Success here at Construction Leading Edge. Tune in now as Leyah, and I talk about… - Why people don't want to engage? - Is money enough to get them motivated and engaged? - How to boost employee engagement? - And a whole lot more If you want to skyrocket your employee engagement and get your company closer to your vision, make sure to listen in. You don't want to miss this one!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Why are people disengaged at work? (02:32) What are employees looking for that will improve their engagement? (10:13) How do you get your team on board with your company's vision? (16:13) How to get people to embrace new processes? (24:30) Feedback when teams respond to new processes (29:18) Things that surprise people (33:03) How important is compensation to motivation? (38:20) Practical tips to improve employee engagement (40:22) Episode wrap-up (43:54)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here  - Learn how to recession-proof your business here  - Work with our team to systematize your business here   - Visit our website 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!
3 Secrets to Eliminating Subcontractor Chaos | E266
14-11-2022
3 Secrets to Eliminating Subcontractor Chaos | E266
EPISODE 266: Your construction business’ success also depends on your trade partners (as I’d like to call them) or subcontractors.  Most of the time, when subcontractors mess up production, the general contractors’ (GC) initial response is to replace them.  Little did they know, though, that in doing so, they’re not just addressing the root cause of the problem, but they’re creating another issue that leads to another one, and so on. And that’s what we want to avoid. So, in this week’s episode, we’ll talk about three secrets on how to eliminate subcontractor chaos without finding new subs OR, worst, doing all the work yourselves. In addition, we’ll also touch base on some construction myths and thinking traps that contribute to this industry’s chaos and how to crush them instead. And when you finally understand these secrets, you can become the general contractor of choice in your market. If that sounds like the direction you’d want your company to take on, make sure to tune in to today’s episode. Let’s get started!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What are the problems with trade partners/subcontractors? (01:53) Is there really a skilled labor shortage? (03:13) Most common places people are losing time (05:06) Technology as a hurdle to productivity (12:16) You may be part of the productivity problem (13:23) Use the five why’s method (14:50) The underlying problem - JETS trap (17:06) How to eliminate all the chaos? (29:31) Quick recap (30:35)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business 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!
Why All Business Problems are People Problems with Eric Anderton | E265
07-11-2022
Why All Business Problems are People Problems with Eric Anderton | E265
EPISODE 265: When you think of it, all business problems are people problems. And in the chaotic construction world where systematization is not a norm, it’s safe to say that people problem remains the biggest main challenge, and it’s not the tools, projects, and whatnot. And to help us understand more about people problem, we have Eric Anderton on the podcast today. Eric is a leading construction leadership and strategic consultant, author, and keynote speaker behind Construction Genius, with over 25 years of experience in public speaking. And he’s here to sit down and talk about… - Why every business problem is a people problem? - How do you repel the wrong people and attract and retain your rockstar employees? - A guide on how leaders should help build their team’s confidence  - The 3 Fs in conducting an effective team meeting - Plus so much more If your construction business is struggling with endless problems, it’s time to get down to its root cause before it worsens. So, make sure to listen to today’s episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast and learn how. You don’t want to miss this one! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) People problem as the biggest challenge (02:38) Symptoms if you have a people problem (04:02) How to repel the wrong people? (07:48) Best retention strategies (10:42) When a newcomer leapfrogs long-time employees (16:26) How does a leader build his team’s confidence? (19:46) Steps in making team meetings functional, fast, and fun (32:17) The truth about retirement (41:59) Episode wrap-up (44:28) Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here    Connect with Eric - Grab a copy of his book Construction Genius here - Check out his podcast here - Visit his website here - Find Eric on LinkedIn 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!
How to Set Up a Company That Earns 8 Figures WITHOUT You | E264
24-10-2022
How to Set Up a Company That Earns 8 Figures WITHOUT You | E264
EPISODE 264: What happens if you step away from your business for a week or a month? Would it thrive, survive or fail?  Is it even possible to run a business without you yet making eight sales figures?  Yes, it's possible! Someone cracked the code, and that's what you are about to learn today. We have Marc-André La Barre of Lib. as our guest for today, and he'll let us in on his secrets on what makes his design and construction service company runs like a well-oiled machine with little to no involvement from him. (His company just made $14M in sales on commercial services last year.) In today's episode, Marc and I will dive deeper into ... - His company's core values and how those translate to success - How to design a business that runs without you? - The mindset shifts needed  - and a whole lot more If you're a visionary who thrives in new business ideas and wants to create a business that runs without you, then you shouldn't miss out on this. Let's get started!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Marc (01:02) How did it all started? (01:56) From residential to commercial services (10:38) What is Lib and what are its core values? (16:38) How do Lib's values show up for its staff and clients? (19:44) Marc's interpretation of E-myth (23:31) How to design a business that runs without you? (27:08) On trusting your staff and making mistakes (39:38) Why share equity in your business? (43:31) Mindset shifts needed for success (45:36) Episode wrap-up (59:18)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here  - Books mentioned in this episode: The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters Traction by Gino Wickman Power to the Edge by David S. Alberts and Richard E. Hayes The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss   Connect with Marc: - Visit Lib’s company website here - Or email them at  info@lib.space   -- 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!
Time-Tracking Hacks Every Construction Company Should Know | E263
17-10-2022
Time-Tracking Hacks Every Construction Company Should Know | E263
EPISODE 263: Are you spending your weekends on timesheets and payroll? If that's how your weekend looks, you have a big problem going on with your business. And that's what we'll solve for you in this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast. We've invited James Jessop, Ben Ercanbrack, and Isaac Barlow to talk about how they've finally won back their time and increased their revenue using the Busybusy app. Busybusy is an easy-to-use construction time-tracking app with features like digital employee clock in and out, photo upload for project documentation, equipment visibility, accurate job costing, and much more. As a project manager twenty years ago, I know how complex projects are, and I've learned that business management is way more important than the actual ability to build. And if you don't strengthen the business management side of things, then you won't have anything to build. The numbers are out there to prove that.  One of them shows that 70% of construction companies fail within seven years. And one of the major roadblocks in a construction business is the employee timesheet. Overpayment, unverified timestamps, over breaks, and unclear task documentation - do these sound familiar to you? So, if you’re in that same boat, make sure to tune in to today's episode as we unpack the benefits of using Busybusy and how it would impact your company and clients. Let’s get started!   Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) What challenges lead James Jessop to sign up for BusyBusy? (03:55) On overpaying employees and incorrect timesheets (07:52) Benefits of using BusyBusy (10:48) Ben Ercanbrack on how challenging collecting time is (26:45) On Busybusy’s accurate job costing feature (30:20) Isaac Marlow on measuring results and better performance (33:23) What does winning look like? (37:28) What’s the norm in a construction business? (39:53) How did BusyBusy get started? (44:14) What problems does BusyBusy solve for contractors? (48:12) The future of BusyBusy (56:59) Episode wrap-up (1:05:08)   Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here  - Win back your time using Busybusy 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!
The $11 Million Sales Strategy w/ Josh Dembicki & Matt Lewis | E262
10-10-2022
The $11 Million Sales Strategy w/ Josh Dembicki & Matt Lewis | E262
EPISODE 262: Are people making decisions about their homes based on logic or emotions? How does emotional buying help you grow your business?  In today’s episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, Josh Dembicki, President and Co-Founder of Colorado Siding Repair, and Matt Lewis, COO of Hover, sit down with me to talk about how Hover encourages emotional connection with the customers and how it has hugely impacted the overall business growth of Colorado Siding Repair. Hover is an app that allows homeowners to take photos of their homes and turn them into accurate measurements, better project estimates, and collaborative 3D models for better visualization. With Hover’s state-of-the-art features, Colorado Siding Repair was able to change the trajectory of its business with an impressive $11M in sales this year and a better 50% closing rate. But it’s not the tech that got them to where they are right now. It’s all about making an emotional connection with homeowners and letting them buy through emotions. With that being said, make sure to tune in to today’s episode as we discuss more of that and the amazing features of Hover that you and your team could take advantage of. Let’s get started! -- Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Josh of Colorado Siding Repair (00:19) What is Hover? (01:53)  Are people making decisions on logic or emotions? (08:11) How is Hover impacting the estimating process (11:32) Best part of Hover during the operation process (15:31) Meet Matt of Hover (20:29) How did Hover start as a company? (24:08) Hover features for custom builders (25:49) Misconceptions and myths that contractors have (28:27) Hover's new direct ordering tool (35:43) What’s the best part about Hover? (39:01) Episode wrap-up (41:34) -- Additional Resources: - FREE online training workshop: Get Out of Your Construction Business: How to Make it Run Without You here - Learn how to recession-proof your business here - Work with our team to systematize your business here  - Build better projects using the Raken app here - Visit our website here -- Find Colorado Siding Repair - Visit Colorado Siding Repair’s website here - Connect with Josh Dembicki here   Find Hover - Check the Hover app here - Connect with Matt Lewis 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!!