Contractor Evolution

Ryan Lermitte, founder of Umbrella Property Services and a veteran member of Breakthrough Academy, shares his transformative eight-year journey in entrepreneurial community. He discusses the emotional ROI of genuine connections and how collaborating with competitors can elevate industry standards. Ryan emphasizes the importance of authenticity, addressing fears to build deeper relationships. He also highlights how community engagement fuels personal growth alongside business success, proving that entrepreneurship thrives in connection rather than isolation.

In this discussion, Greg Shove, founder of Section AI, a specialist in AI integration, shares transformative insights for contractors. He highlights the importance of treating AI as a thought partner rather than a tool, emphasizing practical applications like project cataloging and role-playing client meetings. Greg debunks fears about automation in hands-on trades and offers a roadmap for small businesses to leverage AI for efficiency and growth. He advises on building a 'company brain' and maintaining critical thinking as AI becomes part of company culture.

Discover the six essential systems that can transform contractors' businesses and alleviate burnout. Learn how financial controls and clearly defined roles can streamline operations. Dive into hiring strategies that focus on ideal candidate profiles and effective training programs. Explore methods for tracking sales forecasts and marketing ROI. Gain insights on prioritizing annual initiatives and improving time management through delegation. Discover how to achieve work-life balance while ensuring your business serves your personal goals.

Mark Sedgley, CEO of Granum and former head of LMN, Greenius, and SingleOps, shares his insights on leadership and industry growth. He discusses his transition from entrepreneur to CEO and the importance of equipping and empowering teams. Mark highlights the future of the green industry, emphasizing tech adoption and overcoming the fear of change. He also shares valuable change management practices for contractors and explains the reasoning behind the Granum rebranding.

Life-changing moments can reshape our perspectives. The host shares how embracing mantras like 'F*ck it' helped him overcome bullying and regain confidence. Transforming ‘I can’t’ into 'How can I?' sparked a solution-oriented mindset. Learning to relinquish control allowed his teams to thrive without his constant oversight. Finally, focusing on gratitude with 'It’ll be fine' helped him navigate stress during rapid growth. Each mantra reflects a powerful shift essential for resilience and success.

Phil Risher, a seasoned contractor marketing expert and SEO strategist, dives into the transformative world of AI and its impact on customer searches. He discusses the evolving landscape of SEO with a focus on Generative Search (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Phil emphasizes the importance of personalized content, suggesting easy ways to create engaging videos that boost conversion rates. Listeners also learn how to utilize transcripts from field conversations to create valuable blog content, along with leveraging organic posts for paid advertising.

Builders! Don’t leave 2026 to chance! Join our free strategic planning web class on November 18 to get ahead: learn how to spot cash flow crunches before they hit, identify who to hire before you need them, and lock it all into a proven annual plan used by 1,900+ contractors. Click the link to register now: https://trybta.com/CE-SPB-Nov25Take our 5 minute quiz and get your free personalized Contractor Growth Scorecard today: https://trybta.com/DL240To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP240 What if you offered a potential customer a free vacation if they hired you by the end of the week? Would it increase your closing rate? Today’s guest John Dwyer (JD, for short) swear by this strategy and in this episode, he’s gonna tell you why.---What if you offered a potential customer a free vacation if they hired you by the end of the week?Gimmicky? Maybe.But according to today’s guest, it works.John Dwyer, or “JD” for short, has built an entire business around incentive-based marketing. In other words, rather than resorting to price discounting to get more work, what if you looked for a value add incentive instead?Sometimes that’s something small, like a Happy Meal toy. Sometimes it’s a free trip to Disneyland.In this episode, JD breaks down what he thinks are the 5 elements of a successful direct response campaign, including what he calls the WOW factor incentive.This guy’s got some seriously out of the box ideas, so buckle up.Episode Highlights:- Learn how John “JD” Dwyer has used incentive-based marketing to generate over $15 billion in extra sales for businesses across multiple industries.- Understand what the “WOW Factor” is and how it might fit into your marketing strategy.- Get inspired to find creative alternatives the next time you’re thinking of price discounting to get more sales.Get in touch with JD at john@theinstituteofwow.comLearn more about the Institute of Wow vacations Incentive - https://vacationsincentive.com/00:00-Intro01:32-About JD and the Institute of Wow07:52-What exactly is direct response marketing?11:01-5 components of direct response marketing22:41-About the Wow Factor vacation incentive39:26-How to be the "UN" authority41:52-Quick hits: best and worse of JD's career53:00-Wrap up

James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch, dives deep into improving customer interactions through virtual quoting. He highlights the crucial need for speed in the sales process, suggesting that modern buyers expect instant communication. Hatfield shares insights on balancing technology with a human touch, warning about the pitfalls of over-automation. He reveals how live video can enhance operations and improve quoting experiences, emphasizing that not all jobs fit virtual estimates—small visual tasks are ideal. A must-listen for contractors looking to elevate their sales game!

Ben Degros, a carpenter and drywall expert, shares his journey from skateboarding to creating a successful YouTube channel focused on drywall, amassing over 700K subscribers. He discusses the surprising appeal of drywall content and the balance between filming and contracting work. Ben emphasizes the importance of starting simply, understanding audience needs through analytics, and the distinction between how-to videos and more viral content. His insights offer a refreshing perspective on building an online brand with practical, value-driven content.

Brendon Toyne, the Head of Sales at Breakthrough Academy, shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience working with contractors. He discusses the booming popularity of business coaching and how to navigate the myriad of options available. Key topics include the differences between coaching and consulting, the importance of commitment and mindset for success, and tips on choosing the right coach. Brendon emphasizes the need for personal readiness and a good cultural fit to ensure a productive coaching relationship.