Contractor Evolution

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP21 In trades the terms ‘project management’ and ‘project manager’ have become somewhat watered-down. The unfortunate truth is that in our industry most project managers are actually just professional firefighters. That isn’t to say our PM’s are doing their absolute best, but what they're missing are the fundamentals that make the science of project management what it is in other industries. If you look at manufacturing, automotive, or oil and gas you'll see their PM's are following a set of guiding principles and best practices that allow them to complete projects of unimaginable scope and still come in on time and on budget. So this gap is something that our guest on the show today, Paul Atherton, helps address within the companies he coaches for Breakthrough Academy. Prior to becoming a BTA coach 5 years ago Paul was a professional engineer and project manager for a decade. He has project managed super large construction projects in various countries around the world. Since joining Breakthrough Academy Paul has worked with over a hundred contractors helping them achieve significant growth and success and one of the cornerstones of his coaching philosophy is the implementation of world-class project management systems. In this episode Paul shares some highly applicable insights including: 2 examples of what great project management looks like 3 Questions to ask a P.M. that allow you to determine their level of control over a project 5 Systems you can implement with your team that will allow you to hit or beat project deadlines The 3 personality traits to look for that make a great project manager Common mistakes contractors make when they hire and onboard project managers How to leverage a great project management system to set yourself apart from your competition If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP20 Here’s a common scenario: Two contractors have worked equally hard over 20 years in their businesses.  At the end of the 20 years, one sells off their assets for $200K, while the other sells their business for $10M.  What’s the difference? Planning. If you want to build a business of tremendous value that can thrive without you and allow you to cash out and move on, then Kevin Shaw, our guest on this episode of Contractor Evolution, has some invaluable insights to get you there. Kevin is the President and Managing Director of Canada Corporate Finance Baker Tilly, which specializes in mergers and acquisitions.  Kevin has been involved in hundreds of business deals over the years. With all his experience, he gives us the 7 core areas he’s looking at when he values a business for sale. Unfortunately, these 7 areas can’t be built into your business overnight. Most take years to develop and integrate into your company, so it pays to understand them well in advance. If you have a vision for your business that involves you ‘Cashing Out’ one day, this episode is a must listen. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP19 Have you ever been frustrated by the fact that your team JUST DOESN’T GET IT? It’s so clear to you what needs to happen within your organization - what problems need to be solved, what priorities should be front of mind, where the effort of your organization needs to be, but most if not all of this is totally lost on your employees. Owners frequently overestimate how clearly they are communicating the standards that they have in their mind to the people who need to hear it most. This is why themes are such a powerful leadership tool for contractors to know about. Themes are a super process-driven way to make sure your team's action is aligned with that vision that's so crystal clear in your head. This is why we're really excited to have Ashley Ennis on this episode of Contractor Evolution. Ashley has previously run a highly successful window cleaning franchise system spanning seven states and provinces with 45 franchisees. Since then Ashley has spent the last four years as a business coach for Breakthrough Academy actively training and coaching 40 contracting home service companies and achieving the controlled growth that they want and they need.  She uses themes with her Breakthrough Academy members to over-communicate business priorities and make sure that what needs to get done does. In this episode we dive into a bunch of really cool stuff including: How it’s possible to transform your team’s weakest point into its strength Why the most effective teams are not the ones that do the most The reason it can be dangerous to be the ‘ideas guy’, especially if you are the leader How to ‘layer’ themes in the right order so their results compound What common mistakes owners often make when they implement their first theme If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP18 When it comes to taxes you’re going to have to pay them whether you want to or not. However spending the time upfront to establish a solid tax strategy could save you up to 40% AND lead to a much bigger investment portfolio long term. It’s key to know your strategy BEFORE you even start your fiscal year so put an hour into this episode now and reap the benefits for the rest of your life. We bring in Ben Dixon, an accountant and tax strategist who has worked with a number of contractors on setting up a strategy that has them winning into retirement. In this episode you’ll learn: Why contractors get flagged for audits and how to avoid them How much you should pay yourself as an owner What to look for when you’re hiring an accountant - especially if you want them to advise you Equipment and land - know when to buy vs lease, and know what the bank wants to see When to know you are ready for a holding company (and no it’s not based on a financial figure) Why contractors that meet with their accountant only once a year often lose out on big financial opportunities If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP17 To download the Career Meeting prep docs discussed in the episode go to https://trybta.com/PCDLEP17 How do you build loyalty in high performers? It’s not pizza night, go karting or laser tag. Another myth is that you need to pay them more. While those things help, they aren’t keeping ambitious, driven, and hardworking people on your team. By nature, the best performers are those that have built in self-improvement loops. They have an inner drive to learn and grow. That’s exactly what makes them great. So you need to make it VERY clear to them that you have a business and an environment that supports their goals and their desire to move up in the world. This is the entire purpose of the Career Development Meeting. You take the time to explore where your best players are aspiring to go, and then it’s your job to try to line that up with the direction your business is going. These meetings done properly take time and effort but they pay you back in dividends, especially when you consider the cost of losing your best players to the competition or their own ambitions. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP16 How are you managing personalities on your team? Or are you? We’ve invited Dr. Ken Keis onto the show to discuss his methods for assessing personality, and how you can leverage your team’s innate ability to thrive by leveraging their personality styles in a scientific way. Dr. Ken Keis is the CEO of the Consulting Resource Group and developed the PSI (Personality Style Indicator) test, which is widely regarded as one of the most accurate personality tests in the world. His research has spanned decades and he regularly consults with companies to enhance the performance of their teams by simply putting the existing employees in the right roles. Dr. Ken Keis work has significantly impacted a number of the Breakthrough Academy members businesses so it was time that we brought him onto the show to openly share his wisdom with us. You can find Dr. Ken Keis by contacting the Consulting Resource Group at https://crgleader.com/ If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCPE15 Every business owner deals with a number of pain points on their journey to success. Whether that's recruitment challenges, stress and time management, or revenue and sales (to name just a few). Learning to navigate them alone can be tough (if not impossible). Being able to reach out to others in the industry and learn from their successes (and failures) enables you to navigate those humps. In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Benji and I have compiled 10 of the most frequently asked questions from contracting entrepreneurs and are stoked to share with you our experiences. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP14 Financials – the one word that can have even the most seasoned contracting leader running for the hills. But, sorry to break this to you, mastering a budget is a bedrock skill for your entire career as a business owner. Business owners who have a strong and solid financial plan (and a well thought-through budget) are able to be more decisive and end up with financial freedom. Well, can't you just hand it over to your bookkeeper or accountant, and be done with it? Afraid not...if you want to grow and succeed long-term. It's really not as scary (or dry/yawn-inducing/grey hair encouraging) as it may seem. So, where do you start? BTA's Igor Trninic to the rescue * cue superman music * In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Igor (our numbers whizz) breaks down what a solid financial plan looks like and the steps to get there. Basically, if you have Grade 8 math and you don't mind screwing up the first few times, you're already ahead of the game. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you'd like to apply for Breakthrough Academy click here:https://trybta.com/PCEP13 Have you ever wondered what makes an elite contractor in your space ‘elite’? Or, to put it differently, have you ever wondered what keeps the chuck in the trucks stuck? Why, when two business leaders, with similar companies, in a similar space, with amazing services, does one succeed and the other, get caught in the growth plateau? The answer may surprise you (and no, it isn't luck). James Dale, Breakthrough Academy’s director of training and development, has a voracious appetite for helping entrepreneurs reach their utmost potential. Having worked with 100s of contracting entrepreneurs during his career, he has witnessed first-hand what it is that truly differentiates the elite contractor. James sits down with BTA's Benji and Igor to talk about the 3 common traits of elite contractors, and, conversely, the 3 destructive habits that hold contractors back from success. His insights will truly open your eyes. You’ll feel like your windshield has finally been cleaned. If you are are growing, but working like a dog to make it all happen, take our 10 day, Evolved Contractor Challenge to free yourself - http://www.btacademy.com/evolvedcontractorchallengeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Groth, CEO of Sales Transformation Group, specializes in boosting sales for contractors. He dives into three impactful shifts that can transform sales teams from mediocre to elite. Learn the art of pre-qualifying leads effectively and the power of consultative selling for genuine connections. Groth emphasizes the importance of valuing your time and refining sales processes. Discover why it's crucial for business leaders to step back from the sales grind and encourage their teams to excel in closing rates.