Before You Hire or Buy Software, Fix This First in Your Construction Business | E408

Sep 8, 2025

Most construction business owners struggle not from a lack of good staff, but from disorderly operations. The discussion highlights the critical mistakes made when trying to improve efficiency, particularly in the pre-construction phase. A three-step framework is introduced to tackle chaos and optimize margins. Listeners learn that hiring more people or purchasing software too soon may backfire. Assessing growth readiness is crucial for informed decisions, emphasizing the importance of structured processes to ensure sustainable success.

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INSIGHT

Sequence Causes Business Friction

Many owners try to fix chaos by hiring people or buying software first.
Todd DeWalt says the real issue is doing the right things in the wrong sequence.

ANECDOTE

Builder Nearly Built Custom Software

A $45M builder considered spending $100k to build custom software.
After working with Todd they realized software wasn't the problem; sequence was.

ADVICE

Process, Then Tools, Then People

Follow the three-step sequence: process, tools, people.
Design the process first, then build tools, then hire and train people to run it.

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🚀Is your construction business ready to scale? Take the FREE online assessment HERE

☎️Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE

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EPISODE 408: Most construction owners are bleeding profit and burning out, not because they lack good people, but because they're building their business in the wrong sequence.

In this episode of the Construction Leading Edge podcast, I'm breaking down the biggest mistake construction business owners make when trying to fix chaos. (Spoiler: it's not about hiring more people or buying the latest software.)

Instead, I'll walk you through a simple 3-step sequence that has helped hundreds of contractors eliminate chaos, grow profits, and finally build a business that runs without them.

Here's what you'll take away from this episode…

Why even your best hires can't solve your team's struggles
The secret profit phase most contractors ignore (and why it's costing them big)
How buying software too soon often backfires
The one question you should ask to stop answering the same problems over and over again
How pre-construction shapes your margins, schedule, and customer satisfaction

…and more!

If you're tired of firefighting every day and being the bottleneck in your own business, this episode will show you the path to freedom.

Let's dive in!

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Chaos stems from the wrong sequence (01:08)

The problem with most business coaches (03:58)

What a systematized construction business looks like (08:13)

The three-step sequence in systematizing a business (12:40)

How software or tech fails without a defined process (26:05)

Quick episode recap (27:59)

Take the first 5-minute step (30:32)

Additional Resources:

⚡Is your construction business ready to scale? Take the FREE online assessment HERE

⚡Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE

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⚡ 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.