The LeanScaper Podcast

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveWhy do so many business owners achieve everything they set out to build… yet still feel a quiet emptiness underneath it all? In this conversation, Benji sits down with Philip McKernan to explore why success often feels misaligned, why old wounds silently shape our ambition, and what it takes to shift from proving yourself to actually living in alignment. This episode is a grounded, honest look at the emotional and psychological patterns entrepreneurs rarely talk about—but deeply feel. In this episode: • Why success doesn’t guarantee fulfillment • How trauma shapes ambition and leadership • The “I’ll show you” fuel that eventually burns out • The three mountains and the cost of staying on the wrong one • How to start reconnecting with work that feels true  Timestamps 00:00 Opening and setup 01:26 Why emotional alignment matters more than achievement 04:16 How trauma quietly drives many entrepreneurs 07:38 The danger of building a life to prove someone wrong 11:14 Understanding ego in a healthier, more honest way 14:26 The myth of “escape velocity” and waiting to feel free 18:53 What it takes to step into the next mountain 27:38 Simple first steps to reconnect with purpose

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveIn this episode of the LeanScaper Podcast, Benji sits down with Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping, to break down what actually drives revenue growth in a landscape business. Justin shares his journey from being thrust into the CEO role at 25 years old to scaling K&D from ~$1.5M to over $20M in annual revenue. Together, they unpack the boring but powerful principles that create predictable growth—things like standardized sales processes, labor hour management, focusing on what you’re already great at, and spending more time with your A-players. If you’re tired of chasing shiny objects and want to build a real revenue engine that scales, this conversation is for you.  00:00 – Intro & welcome 01:20 – Justin’s family business story & sudden move into the CEO role 04:00 – Learning leadership the hard way at 25 07:00 – Casting a big vision before you believe it 10:20 – Unhealthy beliefs landscapers have about revenue growth 13:30 – The “boring” systems that actually scale revenue 18:45 – Why standardized sales processes reduce stress 22:30 – Doing more of what your company is already great at 26:45 – Labor hour management as the master KPI 31:00 – How to improve estimated vs. actual labor hours 36:00 – Spending more time with A-players 40:00 – Final rapid-fire insights & closing thoughts

Register for LeanScaper's Revenue Intensive here: https://leanscaper.com/events/revenue-intensiveWhat if the biggest growth driver for your landscaping business isn’t ads, equipment, or even skill—but partnerships? In this episode of The LeanScaper Podcast, Kevin Scott reveals how 90% of revenue comes from partnerships with architects, builders, vendors, realtors, municipalities, and even customers. Expect to learn: -Why you should never email proposals again -How nagging a single architect turned into $90M of work -Why a deep bench of local partners and friends can you help you weather a challenging market Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & Studio Bloopers 😂 1:58 – Why partnerships drive 90% of revenue 3:19 – What young landscapers get wrong 8:55 – The partnership funnel (charcuterie boards & donuts 🍩) 11:22 – Why partnerships matter more than ever in today’s economy 13:46 – Finish strong or blow the whole project 16:25 – Stop emailing proposals—always present them live 24:35 – The $90M lesson: persistence pays off 39:43 – Community as the glue of business longevity 44:19 – Kevin’s new role as LeanScaper advisor & final advice 

Join Meaghan Likes, a financial educator and entrepreneur who empowers home-service companies to achieve double-digit profits, as she unpacks the power of effective budgeting. She reveals why most landscapers shy away from budgets and how to view them as a tool for designing your ideal business. Meaghan stresses the importance of analyzing last year’s P&L, understanding gross profit, and identifying your core financial numbers for success. Get ready to turn your budgeting process into a strategic, money-saving adventure!

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