The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!!

EPISODE 261: When we talk about a recession, we're not just talking about a broad economic downturn. We're talking about any big shock to a company's system, which you are guaranteed to experience. Here are 10 tips to make your business more recession-proof. Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Apply to Work with Our Team to Systematize Your Construction Business: www.constructionleadingedge.com/apply Get Out of Your Business: Make it Run Without You This Year - www.constructionleadingedge.com/getout Recession Proof Your Business [Webinar Replay]: www.constructionleadingedge.com/recession

EPISODE 260: Entrepreneurs act a certain way and achieve results because of what they believe. There are 3 things entrepreneurs believe, that technicians do not. Listen to find out what they are, and see which ones you believe. What you'll take away from this construction podcast episode: The thinking traps every technician falls into. Examples of the JETS thinking trap. When does an entrepreneur set up their financial systems? Why an entrepreneur wants to be replaceable. Common mistakes the technician makes when hiring. How Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A thought about hiring. Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Get Out of Your Business: Make it Run Without You This Year: Free online training workshop - www.constructionleadingedge.com/getout Apply to Work with Our Team to Systematize Your Construction Business: www.constructionleadingedge.com/apply Raken - Get the data you need to build better projects with an app your field crews will actually use - https://www.rakenapp.com Belay Solutions: To learn more about all the ways BELAY can help your construction business and claim an exclusive offer just for our listeners, text the word EDGE to 55123 today.

EPISODE 259: Is your business headed for a tipping point? Are you personally approaching a tipping point? Over the next few minutes you're going to go through our 12 point assessment to help you find out. What you'll take away from this construction podcast episode: What does it look like when you hit a tipping point in your business? A 12 point assessment to determine if you or your business is approaching a tipping point. How Starving Horse Syndrome shows up. Symptoms that your team could be in a red line condition. Some examples of stress-induced health issues I've discussed with construction business owners recently. What the stress of your business could actually be doing to your family. Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Get Out of Your Business: Make it Run Without You This Year: Free online training workshop - www.constructionleadingedge.com/getout Apply to Work with Our Team to Systematize Your Construction Business: www.constructionleadingedge.com/apply Raken - Get the data you need to build better projects with an app your field crews will actually use - https://www.rakenapp.com Hover - Accurate measurements, collaborative design tools, and dependable estimates are all ways HOVER helps you serve your customers better and improve your operations to grow your business. https://hover.to/

EPISODE 258: Why do 80% of construction businesses have zero terminal value? How are they designed to fail? What are some lessons from IBM and old iPhones? What can you do to avoid spending 30 years building something you can't let go of? What you'll take away from this construction podcast episode: Why 80% of construction businesses will never sell. An example of a very profitable construction business that was designed to fail. How a business can be like a hostage situation. A few indicators that your business is a victim of planned obsolescense. How your business will be valued when you try to sell it. 3 reasons IBM was successful. What "right to left thinking" looks like for big picture strategic planning. 6 mistakes to avoid so you don't spend the next few decades building something that's unintentionally designed to fail. Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Get Out of Your Business: Make it Run Without You This Year: Free online training workshop - www.constructionleadingedge.com/getout Apply to Work with Our Team to Systematize Your Construction Business: www.constructionleadingedge.com/apply Raken - Get the data you need to build better projects with an app your field crews will actually use - https://www.rakenapp.com Hover - Accurate measurements, collaborative design tools, and dependable estimates are all ways HOVER helps you serve your customers better and improve your operations to grow your business. https://hover.to/

EPISODE 257: What you'll take away from this construction podcast episode: Is it possible to run a construction business that doesn't consume your life? Is it possible to own a business and work less than 40 hours a week? You may be surprised at how many hours Monish Khadye is working on his business now. Why he hated his business in May 2021. The mindset change you need to be prepared for if you want to change your business. The before and after pictures of his business. How he changed his mind about growing his business. The most impactful systems that gave him the most bang for the buck. Some of the unexpected side effects of systematizing his business. Why he has joined our team as a coach to help others systematize their business too. Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode: Get Out of Your Business: Make it Run Without You This Year: Free online training workshop - www.constructionleadingedge.com/getout Apply to Work with Our Team to Systematize Your Construction Business: www.constructionleadingedge.com/apply Raken - Get the data you need to build better projects with an app your field crews will actually use - https://www.rakenapp.com Hover - Accurate measurements, collaborative design tools, and dependable estimates are all ways HOVER helps you serve your customers better and improve your operations to grow your business. https://hover.to/