The LeanScaper Podcast

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveThe old marketing funnel is broken (or at the very least has some holes in it). In this episode of The LeanScaper Podcast, Benji sits down with Marc Levesque of Webrunner Media to break down why contractors keep wasting money on leads, how to actually generate AND capture demand, and the exact steps to fix your “leaky funnel” before you pour more money into ads.Timestamps:0:00 – Why the old marketing funnel is broken5:05 – Lead magnets, nurturing, and why it doesn’t work anymore9:50 – The #1 mistake contractors make in marketing14:18 – Why you need to think like a media company17:43 – Stop wasting your content (do this instead)23:20 – Paying for eyeballs works (here’s why)27:26 – How to audit your own company38:41 – The “10K contractor who wants $100K jobs” story42:52 – Why most campaigns fail (leaky buckets)49:51 – The two biggest wastes in contractor marketing

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveIn this episode, Benji sits down with serial entrepreneur and podcaster Dwayne Kerrigan, who has owned 35+ businesses across 14 industries. From road building to landscaping to restaurants, Dwayne shares the 5 fundamental business skill sets that span industries.You’ll hear: Why vision is a muscle anyone can build The 20-minute “think time” writing exercise that forces breakthroughs The shocking truth about culture: you get what you tolerate Why sales scripts are the ultimate freedom—not a crutch⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: 35+ businesses before 4006:59 – The power of singular focus vs. juggling businesses12:51 – Vision is a muscle, not just a gift16:23 – The power of better questions22:40 – The brutal 20-minute think-time exercise27:29 – Culture = you get what you tolerate41:12 – Sales is table stakes—find the pain point57:57 – Becoming data-driven: P&Ls and finance days01:01:51 – Advice to 21-year-old me

In this engaging discussion, Mike Lysecki, an operator and efficiency expert at LeanScaper, reveals the truth behind profitability in landscaping and contracting. He explains why traditional profit metrics can mislead owners and introduces throughput as the key to understanding business efficiency. Discover the importance of the labor efficiency ratio and how different services like mowing and hardscaping compare in terms of profitability. Mike also outlines practical steps to improve throughput and boost overall productivity, urging a shift in how we measure success.

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveIn this episode, Benji Carlson sits down with Brian Kaskavalciyan of The Wealthy Contractor to uncover why so many landscapers and contractors struggle with scarcity thinking—and what it really takes to build wealth in business. Brian shares powerful mindset shifts, personal stories, and practical tools that help entrepreneurs overcome fear, reprogram limiting beliefs, and finally give themselves permission to win. Expect to learn:1. Why fear is the #1 reason contractors undercharge. 2. How most business owners accidentally have more faith in failure than success. 3. Why every contractor who delivers quality work deserves to be profitable (and wealthy). If you’re ready to stop playing small and start creating abundance in your business, this is a must-watch. ⏱ Timestamps:00:36 – The fear-driven pricing trap 05:18 – Why competition is an illusion 06:43 – How to create opportunities out of thin air 09:29 – Mindset vs. skillset (why 90% is mindset) 15:08 – Stop asking “how” and ask this instead 22:37 – Why most people have faith in failure 25:45 – Reprogramming your subconscious stories 30:06 – Why mindset is like going to the gym 42:36 – Money only amplifies who you are 46:47 – How to stop moving the goalposts 53:06 – The truth: You deserve to make a profit 👉 Subscribe for more insights on building wealth and freedom in your landscaping business. 👉 Learn more at thewealthycontractor.com

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveHiring in the trades is broken. Too many contractors “post and pray,” hoping the right people show up. In this episode, Benji sits down with Naomi Pitt and Josianne Gaudette from CrewHR to break down what real recruitment looks like in 2025—from building pipelines, referral programs, employer branding, and even using AI without losing the human touch. If you’re struggling to attract and keep top talent, this episode is packed with tactical advice and powerful mindset shifts. Timestamps: 00:50 – Why contractors fall into “post and pray” hiring 03:06 – The biggest mindset shift in recruiting 04:40 – Recruitment is a sales funnel 10:33 – Beyond job boards: new sourcing channels 14:36 – Referral programs that actually work 20:09 – The “Ideal Candidate Profile” (ICP) explained 25:20 – Gen Z and the rebranding of the trades 32:39 – Why remote work is overrated 35:10 – Mapping career paths visually 39:06 – Employer brand 101: more than logos 44:39 – AI in hiring: efficiency vs empathy 50:34 – Why small companies actually have the advantage 52:20 – CrewHR’s mission + what’s next 

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveMarketing is the lifeblood of every small business — yet most entrepreneurs waste thousands chasing shiny objects, outsourcing to the wrong people, or tracking the wrong numbers. In this conversation with best-selling author Allan Dib (The 1-Page Marketing Plan, Lean Marketing), we unpack how to eliminate waste, focus on what matters, and build a marketing engine that works. 👉 Subscribe for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@leanscaper 👉 Grab Allan’s free resources: leanmarketing.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:19 – Why outsourcing marketing fails 04:52 – Marketing is like a marriage 09:18 – Defining marketing waste 13:41 – The cost of shiny object syndrome 17:49 – Advertising as pollution vs. gardens as goodwill 25:35 – Why vanity metrics don’t pay the bills (CAC & LTV) 32:57 – Why tradespeople lose leads 36:10 – The handwritten note hack that doubles show-ups 44:36 – Why 2025 is “2008 for personal branding” 47:42 – The 3 rules for waste-free marketing 

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensive Learn More About Our Accelerator Programs: https://leanscaper.com/programs In this episode of the LeanScaper Podcast, Benji Carlson sits down with Mark Bradley to break down the five stages of scaling a landscaping business—from startup hustle to legacy enterprise. Mark shares raw stories, painful lessons, and powerful frameworks that every entrepreneur needs to hear. Whether you’re stuck at $500K, fighting to get past $3M, or steering a $20M company, this roadmap will help you scale with clarity, systems, and sanity. Timestamps: 00:45 – Why scaling is harder than people think02:00 – Entrepreneurship = personal development04:03 – The fear of not knowing what’s next08:10 – The Starter Zone ($0–500K): hustle & accidental profit12:36 – Mark’s story: hiring at Home Depot & early struggle22:23 – The Grow Zone ($500K–$3M): the hardest stage30:21 – When your business feels like a plane going down38:56 – Scaling ($3M–$10M): grit stops working46:10 – Hire your mentors & specialists56:54 – Dreamer vs. visionary: the CEO shift1:02:53 – Enterprise & legacy: culture, coaching, and succession1:12:31 – Final advice to Mark’s younger self 

In this conversation, Isaac Barlow, founder of BusyBusy and a trailblazer in jobsite intelligence, dives into the transformative power of accurate data in the trades. He explains why time tracking is vital but often elusive, while emphasizing the cultural shift needed for data-first companies. Isaac shares insights on mitigating bad data, coaching strategies for crew leaders, and how transparency fosters trust and attracts top talent. Best of all, he reveals how data-driven innovation will determine the industry's future success.

Barry Hartman, founder of 505-Junk and leadership coach, shares transformative insights on building a robust leadership team. He emphasizes starting the process sooner than expected to prevent burnout. Hartman explains how to design roles that foster ownership, while noting the importance of culture over credentials in blue-collar leadership. He discusses strategic hiring and when to prioritize internal leaders versus external candidates, ultimately helping businesses thrive without relying solely on the founder.

In this discussion, Asad Zaman, CEO of Sales Talent Agency, shares his wealth of experience in sales hiring, emphasizing the challenges of finding the right talent. He reveals that only 1 in 10 salespeople truly excel, and highlights common pitfalls founders face, like underestimating hiring complexity and structuring improper compensation. Asad advocates for starting small with lead generation and carefully building a talent pool through headhunting. His insights offer a crucial playbook for businesses looking to scale effectively.