"There is no line that shouldn't be crossed with customers and employees." Listen as Neil Sundresh discusses the role of transparency and goodwill in acquiring and growing Glacier West Construction.

Maximize Your Revenue, Eliminate Chaos and Build a Well-Oiled Machine - [FREE Training for Contractors]

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• What Neil Sundresh learned from acquiring a construction business.
• The surprising importance of goodwill in the process of buying a business.
• Some of Neil's most educational mistakes.
• The first question he would ask a construction business owner who says they want to grow their business.
• What would Neil do differently if he could do it all over again.
• The counter-intuitive way Neil has successfully used transparency to grow relationships with clients and employees.
• Neil's experience in my 1:1 coaching program.

Click here to download the PDF Cheat Sheet - Nine Mistakes Killing Your Sales

"We're finally able to pay ourselves what we deserve."  

Click here to hear what Matt and Katyana did to get to a point in their business where they could say this.

Other resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Want to sell more work at higher margins? When you stop making a few of these most common selling mistakes, you might be surprised what will happen.

Maximize Your Revenue, Eliminate Chaos and Build a Well-Oiled Machine - [FREE Training for Contractors]

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

There are at least 9 mistakes I see contractors making that are killing their sales.  Here are a few:

#3. Lack of Strategy - Being unclear on the kind of work you want to do and not having a consistent system for generating leads is a recipe for a roller coaster, feast-or-famine business.

#4. Wasting Time - Most contractors are wasting time on unqualified leads AND putting too much unnecessary details in their estimates.  This sets off a domino effect because it handcuffs you to your computer, doing too much work for people who were probably never going to become customers.

#6. Talking About You - The more you talk about you, your company history, equipment, etc....the less your prospect cares.  You need to stop talking about things that put them to sleep, and start talking about things that make them want to take action.

Click the link below to download a one pager with all nine mistakes.

Click here to download the PDF Cheat Sheet - Nine Mistakes Killing Your Sales

"We're finally able to pay ourselves what we deserve."  

Click here to hear what Matt and Katyana did to get to a point in their business where they could say this.

Other resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Gerri Dominikos has grown her NYC construction business with strategies she learned from her corporate career.  Listen to learn how she did it.

Maximize Your Revenue, Eliminate Chaos and Build a Well-Oiled Machine - [FREE Training for Contractors]

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• What Gerri calls the "evolution of tradesman" and the skills gaps of new hires coming out of trade school.
• A customer service culture is more important than ever to avoid being a commodity.
• The big corporate strategies and tactics Gerri has used to systematize and grow her business.
• What it means to "learn how to hunt."
• Gerri's experience taking over a family business, and what you can learn from it.
• Why it is crucial to have the right mindset.
• How to say "No" strategically

Other resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

How you can connect with Gerri Dominikos:

Company website - www.airlogix.co

Email - Gerri@airlogix.co

Phone - (718)947-1311 x221

How Audree Grubesic built a successful modular home building business, and some tips for growing your construction business.

Maximize Your Revenue, Eliminate Chaos and Build a Well-Oiled Machine - [FREE Training for Contractors]

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• How Audree Grubesic made the transition from sales and marketing to construction business owner.
• The most common misconceptions about modular construction.
• What home builders need to know about modular and off site construction, and why you might want to consider this method.
• Audree's experience has a woman starting a business in what is considered to be a male dominated industry.
• The importance of setting expectations with your clients.
• Audree's advice for helping you grow your construction business.

Other resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

How you can connect with Audree Grubesic:

Connect Home Builders - www.connecthomebuilders.com

Audree's email - audree@connecthomebuilders.com

How have we failed 70% of the people working in the construction industry?  What are most contractors doing that is causing them to fail?

Maximize Your Revenue, Eliminate Chaos and Build a Well-Oiled Machine - [FREE Training for Contractors]

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• The REAL issues behind the skilled labor shortage.
• The disconnect between field labor leaders and management, and how the system is often designed to fail.
• The common mistakes you could be making when it comes to compensation.
• The difference between merit based increases and socialist increases...and which is better for high performing teams.
• What is the most overlooked group of people that has a huge impact on whether new employees are successful.
• Why are people really leaving your company?

Other resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

How to contact John Morris:

Associated Builders and Contractors National Website - www.abc.org

Ohio Valley Chapter of the ABC - www.ovabc.org

John's email address - john(at)ovabc.org

You say you don't want to compete on price, but the way you're selling makes you do just that.  Learn what you stop doing to avoid that.

Get my Contractor Sales Accelerator program free for 10 days

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• Why you're going about selling all wrong...unless you want to be a commodity.
• How to keep your spot as the incumbent service provider.
• How to unseat the incumbent contractor and take their spot.
• What should be in your three chapter book titled, "Why You Should Hire Us."
• How to present in such a way that it resonates with your prospect's brain.
• How to avoid becoming a commodity.
• Why you're always competing on price, and what you can do to get away from it.

How you can contact Jeff Echols

Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn

Jeff's website

Download the ebook Jeff mentioned in the podcast

Other valuable resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Ten activities construction business owners and leaders can engage in that are worth $1,000 per hour...or more.

Here's what you'll learn when you listen to this construction podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com:

Ten Activities Worth $1K Per Hour or More:

#1.  Selling new projects or contracts

If you can spend 8 hours estimating, selling and negotiating a new contract that will yield $8,000 in profit, that makes your time worth $1,000 per hour.

#2.  Upselling existing clients

There two questions, totaling five words you can ask that will give your revenue on every project a 1% - 2% boost.

#3. Building key relationships

If you want to generate more leads (which you should), don't start with advertising or social media.  Start by building your referral network.

#4. Planning your projects

Every decision on a project is going to be made at some point.  You can either decide in the heat of battle, when labor and equipment costs are racking up...or you can do it in advance.

Planning is simply making decisions in advance.

You can spend 4 hours planning your work and expect to save or avoid $5,000 - $10,000 in costs, making your time worth $1,250 - $2,500 per hour.

#5. Preparing and reviewing contracts.

Don't assume just because the contract is "boilerplate" or "standard" that it's OK.  You should review every contract and look at:

- Payment terms

- Insurance requirements

- Dispute resolution terms

- Reporting requirements

- Scope of work

- Contract documents

- Owner obligations

#6. Building systems 

Think of building systems as investing your time, and getting a return on time invested (ROTI).

For example: If you spend 10 hours creating a system or process that will save your company 100 hours per year, that is a good ROTI, which could make that time worth over $1,000 per hour.

#7. Hiring and Training

You could spend 3 days recruiting, interviewing and hiring for a key role (PM, superintendent, etc.) who will generate $10,000 profit per month.

That means the time spent hiring is worth $5,000 per year.

#8. Strategic Sourcing / Vendor Negotiation

I spent a couple of hours negotiating a better deal with a crushed stone supplier a few years ago.  The result?

I saved $500 per day...every day.

When negotiating, I recommend giving the vendor a price target, instead of asking for their best price.  Start the conversation with, "Will you take....?"

Other ideas include:

- Negotiating for free delivery service.

- Contact your insurance agent and get better rates.

- Call your credit card company and negotiate a lower interest rate.

- Negotiate a lower lease rate with your landlord in return for renewing the lease.

- Set up a commercial account with your parts supplier and negotiate a discount off retail.

- Buy fuel in bulk.

- Start with the suppliers you buy the most from and work your way down the list.

#9. Quality control 

To prevent rework, punchlist issues, warranty problems, and long term risks that result in litigation, perform your own quality control inspections.

Identify key points in your projects when work gets concealed or covered up, and inspect the work to verify compliance with the contract documents.

For example:

- Inspect building subgrade before foundations are installed.

- Pre-pour inspections before concrete slabs are poured.

- Framing and rough-in inspections before insulation and drywall goes in.

- Above ceiling inspections before ceiling tile installation.

- Water testing of windows and building envelope materials.

- Roofing inspections.

I have identified mistakes and potential risks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars during quality control inspections.

What if you could spend one hour doing quality control and find an issue that would have cost $1,000?  Would that be time well spent?

#10. Strategic planning

As a business owner, it is IMPERATIVE that you have a vision and direction for your business.  Investing the time in your business to develop your vision, then turn that into a strategic action plan will accelerate the growth of your business.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR - Maximize revenue, put financial stress and anxiety behind you and turn your business into a well-oiled machine.

Outsource your bookkeeping headaches:  Click here to learn more about the special package Apparatus Contractor Services put together for the CLE Nation.

Tsheets app for timesheets

Archisnapper app for jobsite inspections, checklists and reports

Is your company culture screwed up? Is it suffering from a "purpose deficiency?" Why should you care? Listen to this construction podcast episode with Kevin Monroe to find out.

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• What's going to happen if you aren't intentional with your company culture. (It's not good.)
• Does your company have the symptoms of a screwed up culture?
• Is your team displaying the symptoms of a purpose deficiency?
• Your company has values, whether you know it or not.  How do you uncover them?  
• Does servant leadership really work?
• Crucial lessons you can learn from a fighter pilot who spent seven years in a prisoner of war camp in Vietnam.

How you can contact Kevin Monroe

Kevin's website - www.kevindmonroe.com

The 28 Day Sprint - www.28daysprint.com

Other resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Jean Ferreira was born in Brazil, and decided to leave a career with Victoria's Secret to start a construction business.  Listen and learn from her amazing story.

Claim your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• Why Jean Ferreira decided to leave Victoria's Secret to start a construction company.
• How she went over two years without landing a project...and why that was a GOOD thing for her.
• Lessons she learned from Victoria's Secret that helped her construction business.
• Some secrets and tips that have helped her become the owner of a successful WBE, MBE and DBE certified business.

How to contact Jean Ferreira, CEO of Ferreira Holding Group:

LinkedIn

Email - jeanf1326@yahoo.com

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get the Revenue Maximizer and Contractor Sales Accelerator when you claim your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Offload Your Bookkeeping, Payroll and Back Office Headaches - Click here to request a free call with the Apparatus Contractor Services Team

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day. Here are some rituals and hacks you can use to beat overwhelm and get more work done.

Get more free productivity hacks with your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR - https://constructionbusinessaccelerator.com

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• How does discipline equal freedom?
• What is the antidote to anxiety?
• Daily rituals you can use to free up your brainpower and get more consistent results.
• Situational rituals you can use to stop screwing yourself up.
• Why you should set up weekly rituals for your business.
• Batching activities - why you should be doing it, and what it will do for you and your team.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Have questions?

Email Todd at todd(at)constructionleadingedge.com or call/text (859)667-2015.

There's a goldmine of opportunities to find customers, employees and subcontractors...and very few contractors know about it.

Grab your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• Three ways construction business owners and leaders can use LinkedIn to solve their problems and grow their business.
• The  most common misconceptions about LinkedIn.
• A strategy you can use to generate leads and even get people to contact you about doing business with them.
• Why you might want to take advantage of this approach...before others find out about it.

How to contact Ryan Lawson of Master Messaging:

Ryan's email: rlawson@mastermessaging.com

www.mastermessaging.com

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Builders and managers operate on different schedules, and when the two collide it causes problems with productivity, quality, and employee engagement.

Grab your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• What you may be doing to sabotage your crews' productivity and quality, without even knowing it.
• Why a 30 minute meeting can blow half a day.
• The concept of "attention residue" and how it shows up on construction sites.
• Why "batching" communication is such a good idea.
• The fundamental difference between the way builders and managers break up their days.
• What you can do (and stop doing) to make your crews more productive.
• Why flipping your organizational chart is such a good idea.
• Why you should give your people permission to NOT answer the phone.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

We're handcuffing our people by forcing them to use a process that hasn't changed in 100 years.  We need to address our process and productivity...not just find more people.

Grab your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• If we don't really have a skilled labor shortage, then what's the problem?
• The seven most dangerous words in the English language.
• What is "FIOSS" and how is it disrupting the residential framing industry?
• The difference between FIOSS and prefabrication.
• There's a fundamental problem with the way we build projects that incentivizes people to do the wrong thing.  What is it?
• Why you need to communicate with your field crews like they are machines.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

How you can contact Gerry McCaughey

Company website - www.entekra.com

Gerry's email - gerry(at)entekra.com

Described as a "badass she-wolf" in a family owned business, selling to the construction industry, Katie Roman has some great advice you should listen to.

Grab your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

What you’ll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• Why you're probably afraid of selling, and how to get over it.
• Tips for building relationships and selling in a tough environment.
• How to handle the challenges of a family owned construction business.
• What you need to get over in order to be successful.
• How to overcome the not-so-helpful stereotypes in the construction industry, especially for young women.
• Advice for women in construction, and one common mistake they should avoid.
• How to confront issues in a family business in a healthy way.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

The Advance 2018 – Click here for details on this live mastermind event for construction business owners.

Free Strategy Call – Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

How to contact Katie Roman:

Aries Building Systems - www.ariesbuildings.com

Phone - (703)820-2900

Tired of chaos in your business or on your project?  Here's how to eliminate it...

Grab your free 10 day trial of The CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

What you'll learn in this construction podcast episode:

• Laminar flow vs. turbulent flow, and what does that have to do with a construction business.
• Biggest mistakes people make when setting up systems.
• Why "information brokering" is a big part of your job.
• How the 80/20 principle can be applied to chaos elimination.
• How deep do you need to go before you start picking solutions?  It's further than you think.
• Why "operating in a vacuum" is a mistake.
• What is "shared consciousness" and how to make it happen.
• A few things to watch out for when eliminating chaos.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Get your free 10 day trial of The Construction Business Accelerator

Free video series: Secrets of Successful Contractors

The Advance 2018 - Click here for details on this live mastermind event for construction business owners.

Free Strategy Call - Own a construction business? Click here to schedule your free strategy session with Todd Dawalt.

Don't be a hammer in search of a nail. Andy Rosic of The Home Depot and Todd Dawalt chat about the pitfalls of a solution obsessed mindset. 

In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast you'll learn: 

• Key problem solving methods for business owners. 
• How to switch from selling solutions, to adapting to solving customer's unique problems. 
• How to cut down on waste in project management.  
• The importance of software and technology in the construction industry. 
• Industry insights from working with contractors. 

How to get in touch with Andy Rosic: 

Andy's email: andy_rosic@homedepot.com 

Andy's website: www.andyrosic.com    

Resources mentioned in the podcast:  

Secrets of successful contractors video series.  

The Construction Business Accelerator: Boost Revenue 27%, Put Financial Stress Behind You and Turn Your Business Into a Well-Oiled Profitable Machine. 

 Schedule Your Construction Business Breakthrough Session. 

This episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast is a conversation with Todd Staley of IWR North America. He shares some essential inside knowledge on augmenting business strategy and company culture.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How to grow your business by shrinking your client base.
• How to use reporting to track productivity.
• How to win in labor management.
• How to grow leaders by cultivating a dynamic company culture.
• How to create and market new service lines.
• How to sell to general contractors.

How to get in touch with Todd Staley: 

IWR's website: www.iwr-na.com

Todd's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toddstaley/

Todd's email: tstaley@iwrna.com 

Resources mentioned in this podcast: 

The Construction Business Accelerator: Boost Revenue 27%, Put Financial Stress Behind You and Turn Your Business Into a Well-Oiled Profitable Machine. 

Schedule Your Construction Business Breakthrough Session. 

Struggling to run your family business? Need help creating accountability within your firm? Listen and learn from business coaches Todd Dawalt and Dominic Rubino as they share essential construction industry advice.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to navigate the delicate dance of running a family business
• How to set up systems to provide accountability
• Profit leaks: what they are and how to identify them
• Advice on how to create more time for your business
• How to approach succession planning

How to contact Dominic Rubino:

Dominic’s website: Cabinet Maker Profit System.com

Dominic’s email: dr@cabinetmakerprofitsystem.com

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

The Cabinet Maker Profit System Podcast

Profit Leaks Print Out

The Finance and Forecast Meeting Print Out

The Construction Business Accelerator: Boost Revenue 27%, Put Financial Stress Behind You and Turn Your Business Into a Well-Oiled Profitable Machine. 

Schedule Your Construction Business Breakthrough Session. 

A strong and positive mindset is the most important characteristic of an outstanding leader. Learn how to de-bug your belief system by identifying and conquering the limiting beliefs that are sabotaging your success. 

A preview of what you'll learn in this episode: 

Limiting beliefs 1 - 5 

1. Obstacle focus vs. Objective focus : An obstacle focus will limit you to obsessing over the obstacles to achievement rather than the objective you are working towards.
2. Scarcity mentality: People stuck in a scarcity mentality believe that everything is a zero sum game. They believe that selling means taking and struggle with paranoia.
3.  Success as a destination: "When I accomplish ______ all my problems will be gone." Success is in the process. Believing that success is a destination is a recipe for disappointment.
4.  Achievement vs. appreciation: An achievement centered mindset brews frustration. Choosing appreciation over achievement frees up mental space wasted on frustration and replaces it with gratitude and focus.
5. The escape route mentality: Spending time working on a "Plan B" or finding a way out of your current project drains you of energy that should be channeled towards project execution.

Listen for the full rundown of the 37 limiting beliefs!

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Schedule Your Construction Business Breakthrough Session 

The Construction Business Accelerator: Boost Revenue 27%, Put Financial Stress Behind You and Turn Your Business Into a Well-Oiled Profitable Machine 

What does a sticky situation with an emergency generator have to do with Donald Trump? Anchoring. An important negotiation tactic and a fundamental human tendency to place outsized importance on the first piece of information presented, anchoring can work in your favor or work against you. Listen to learn how to plant the anchor firmly on your side of the negotiating table.  

What you'll learn in this episode:  

• What the anchoring effect is. 
• The science behind how the anchoring effect works. 
• How to create an anchor price, time estimate, etc.
• Understanding the zone of possible agreement (ZOPA). 
• Negotiating from your anchor. 
• Diffusing a counter anchor.  

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

The Construction Business Accelerator: Boost Revenue 27%, Put Financial Stress Behind You and Turn Your Business Into a Well-Oiled Profitable Machine. 

Schedule Your Construction Business Breakthrough Session. 

[FREE COURSE] Create A Construction Project Schedule With MS Project...In Less Than One Hour. 

Mitch Kenney has cracked the code on pay per click advertising and SEO optimisation. He started with a small plumbing operation which he quickly grew after perfecting these online marketing techniques. Now he runs his own marketing firm and plumbing and HVAC businesses. Listen to learn more about how you too can grow your business through online advertising. 

What you're going to learn in this podcast: 

1. Getting the phone to ring through internet marketing 

2. The art of SEO optimisation 

3. The importance of reviews 

4. Pay per click advertising: keywords, budgeting, calls to action, and landing sites.

5. Tips on sales and "following the money" 

6. The importance of good service and good hires 

7. Tips on how to move from a "scarcity mindset" to an "abundance mindset" 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

How to contact Mitch Kenney: 

Email: mk@pipesmedia.com   

Website: www.pipesmedia.com  

Apparatus Contractor Services  

The Construction Business Accelerator

Some of the things on your to do list have disproportionate effects on your mental state, productivity and business.  They are "Lead Dominos."

Click here to see how the Construction Business Accelerator can help you turn your business into a well-oiled machine.

This construction podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com is going to help you identify your lead dominos, so you can operate at a high level every day, and get more of the right work accomplished.

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• What is a "lead domino," and how understanding the principle will help you.
• How to identify the lead dominos in your personal life, projects and business.
• The lead dominos I incorporate into my morning routine.
• One surprising lead domino that seems to have nothing to do with work, but actually affects everything.
• A lead domino that the US Army incorporates into their Master Resilience Training program that may surprise you.
• The lead domino that most construction business owners need to focus on to drive their business to the next level.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

Fishbone Diagram template [PDF] Download

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

Episode 31: The Unimportance of Practically Everything

The Food Plan that will help you lose 10 lbs in a month and solve the "energy roller coaster."

Free Course: How to Create a Construction Schedule Using Microsoft Project

Free Video Series: The Secrets of Successful Contractors

The Construction Business Accelerator: Boost Revenue 27%, Put Financial Stress Behind You and Turn Your Business Into a Well-Oiled Profitable Machine.

"You're not that smart.  Your job is to find the right formula and turn the crank."  Dr. Wu.

[FREE WEBINAR] Boost Your Revenue 27% Next Month - Click Here to Register (Hurry...spots are limited)

This construction podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com is about a philosophy I learned from one of my college professors, Dr. Wu.

That philosophy ("Find the right formula. Turn the crank.") worked for engineering problems, and it works for construction business owners and leaders too.  If you want better, more consistent results in something, you need to take Dr. Wu's advice.

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• How your time could be worth $1,000 per hour or more.
• The benefits of finding a formula that someone else already figured out.
• The formula successful contractors use to schedule their projects and deliver them on time. 

[FREE COURSE] How to Create a Construction Schedule With MS Project

• Why your cash flow problems aren't really problems, and what you can do to improve your cash flow situation.
• The root problems you need to attack if you want to improve cash flow.
• Two tips that will improve your crew productivity.

CREW PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTER & THE CASH FLOW SOLUTION - Get them free when you join the CBA Mastermind Group

• You can learn the secrets successful contractors use to grow their business without hiring more people or finding more customers.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

[FREE COURSE] How to Create a Construction Schedule with MS Project - Click here to get your free copy (supplies are limited).

Join an exclusive group of construction business owners, and get the CREW PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTER and THE CASH FLOW SOLUTION for free. Click here to learn more about the CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR Mastermind Group.

[FREE WEBINAR] Boost Your Revenue 27% Next Month...Without Chasing Down New Employees or Customers (For construction business owners only - limited spots available)

This episode of the Construction Leading Edge podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com addresses this problem:

The typical approach to construction safety ignores the well-known science of human motivation...and could actually make some people LESS LIKELY to work safely.

Topics covered in this construction podcast:

• The psychology that is ignored by the typical approach to safety enforcement and discipine.
• Wrong Belief #1: "It's my job to think for you and keep you safe."
• Wrong Belief #2: "I have to motivate you to work safely."
• Wrong Belief #3: "I have to tell you how to work safely and control you."
• The two biggest motivators, that are well-known by motivation and psychology experts, but ignored by many construction safety programs.
• Why safety should not be a priority.
• Five strategies you can use to tap into the psychology of human motivation and help your team work more safely.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Instant Influence: How to Get Anyone to Do Anything--Fast by Michael Pantalon

Join the Construction Business Accelerator Mastermind Group - Become part of an exclusive group of construction business owners and get the support and answers you need for your business.

Free Microsoft Project Scheduling Course - Learn how to create your own construction schedules in MS Project...for FREE.  

Construction Business Owners - Schedule a Free Business Breakthrough Coaching Session

Aaron Fairchild grew a homebuilding business in a recession and funded it like a software company.  How did he do it? 

This episode of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com is an interview with Aaron Fairchild, CEO of Green Canopy Homes.

Here's what you'll get from this construction podcast:

• Why money is a means to an end.
• How Aaron got into development to grow his homebuilding business, and some of the mistakes he made.
• The interesting approach he used to fund his business during the recession.
• The business case for "green" or sustainable construction.
• What you need to think about before using the latest innovative product or material on your project.
• What "founder's issues" are, and why business owners should care.
• The connection between growing your business and letting go of control.
• Why you can't scale your business without trust.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Green Canopy's website - www.greencanopy.com

Green Canopy's "Purposeful Growth" Video

Secrets of Successful Contractors - A Free Video Series for Construction Business Owners

Want to Eliminate Chaos, Boost Revenue 27% and Streamline Your Business? Click Here to Schedule Your Free Business Breakthrough Session

Biggest employment mistakes contractors make. A defense you can use for an OSHA citation. Payment dispute tips. Employee or independent contractor?

Episode #74 of The Construction Leading Edge construction podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com is an interview...really more of a master class with construction attorney Philip Siegel.

1. What is the unforeseeable employee misconduct defense in response to an OSHA citation? 
2. Why drug testing?  
3. How to avoid payment disputes and get paid faster.
4. Medical marijuana - What you may not be aware of.
5. What you need to know if you work in a state with legalized marijuana
6. Independent contractor or employee? How to stay out of trouble.
7. Top 3 employment mistakes contractors make
8. One thing every contractor should do this week to avoid trouble with a federal agency that is ramping up activity right now.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Secrets Strategies of Successful Contractors: Free Videos for Construction Business Owners

Schedule your free Business Breakthrough Coaching Call

How to contact Philip Siegel

Phone: 404-469-9197

E-mail: pjs@hpsslaw.com

Website: www.hpsslaw.com

Symptoms vs. problems. How to identify the underlying problems causing low productivity, and solve them for good. How do the big successful contractors do it?

Episode #73 of The Construction Leading Edge podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com will show you a process you can use to get at the underlying problems to the symptoms you're dealing with, and solve them.

Here's the process outlined in this construction podcast:

1. Identify the symptom or issue you're dealing with.

2. Ask, "What could be causing that symptom or issue?"  Make a list of Level 1 potential causes.

3. For each of those causes/issues, list the underlying problems that could be behind them (Level 2, Level 3, etc.)

4. Keep asking, "What could be causing that?" until you get to the basic underlying problem.

5. Design a system, process or plan that will solve the basic underlying problem.

Let's look at the example of Low Crew Productivity:

Level 1 Potential Cause: Lack of Material

Level 2 Causes behind the lack of material:

1. Material wasn't ordered on time.
2. Material was damaged during double handling.
3. Material was delivered to the wrong place.
4. Somebody forgot to pick up material from shop or supply house.
5. Material was lost.

Solutions to the Level 2 Causes behind the lack of material:

1. Develop a material procurement schedule to ensure material is ordered and delivered at the right time.
2. Have a jobsite logistics plan to pre-plan where material will be offloaded so it doesn't have to be moved.
3. See #2.
4. Have a daily planning process. Stock commonly used materials at the jobsite or shop. Hire a runner to pick up materials.
5. Establish one person and one place where all deliveries go to avoid deliveries being lost.

Level 1 Potential Cause: Crew efficiency and production

Level 2 Causes behind low crew efficiency and production:

1. Cell phone usage.
2. Too much time in meetings.
3. Spending time picking up materials.
4. Time spent fueling trucks and equipment.
5. Gathering tools and supplies at the shop in the morning.
6. Time lost driving to and from lunch.
7. Lack of goals.  They don't know what winning looks like.
8. Lack of planning.
9. Insufficient tools or poor tools.
10. Work area is not ready when they get there.
11. Work may be getting done but it's not reported to the office.
12. Crew waits for instructions from the boss.

Solutions to the Level 2 Causes behind low crew efficiency and production:

Listen to the podcast to hear about the systems, processes and solutions you can use.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Secrets Strategies of Successful Contractors: Free Videos for Construction Business Owners

Schedule your free Business Breakthrough Coaching Call

"Estimating has nothing to do with selling." Mindset issues successful contractors must overcome. The critical financial factors you need to focus on.

Free help to eliminate chaos in your business

This construction podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com is an interview with Brian King, founder, owner and president of A M King, a $100 million design build construction firm.

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast:

• The wrong mindsets you need to overcome to be successful as a construction business owner.
• Why Brian says, "Estimating has nothing to do with sales."
• The critical few financial areas of the business you need to understand.
• Advice for you if you're starting a construction business.
• Why starting a subcontracting business might be a smart move.
• If you're just starting your career, or about to get out of school, Brian has some great "unsolicited career advice" you should listen to.

Resources and links mentioned in this construction podcast:

AM King Group's webiste - www.amkinggroup.com

Brian King's blog - www.briantking.com

Join the Construction Leading Edge Nation - www.constructionleadingedge.com/nation

Resources for Construction Business Owners

Strategies the Most Successful Contractors Use to Improve Cash Flow, Delegate Better and Get More Done in Less Time

Schedule Your Free Business Breakthrough Coaching Call

Keys to growing a business to $20 million. The importance of having a business coach. Empowering people and "making their dreams come true."

This construction podcast episode from www.constructionleadingedge.com is an interview with Andy Boyd, President of Integrated Protection Services (www.integratedprotection.com), and when you listen, here's what you'll learn...

Topics covered in this construction podcast episode:

• What you need to focus on and watch out for at different stages of business growth.
• Is tension and conflict healthy inside an organization?
• How do you delegate decisions effectively? (Leaves vs. branches)
• The questions Andy would ask if you said you wanted to grow your business.
• Strategy for attacking the aging workforce/skilled labor shortage problem.
• How empowering people and setting up Business Unit Leaders have been keys to success.
• The importance of having a business coach when Andy started out.

Want to boost revenue 25% - 50% and turn your company into a well-oiled machine?  Click here for some free help.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

Integrated Protection Services - www.integratedprotection.com

Andy Boyd's email - aboyd@integratedprotection.com

Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal

Predictable Success - Getting Your Organization on the Growth Track & Keeping It There

Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable

Hacks and Secrets for Construction Business Owners

Tips for making your next big hire. Attacking the skilled labor shortage problem. Misconceptions about women in the trades. Misconceptions about millennials in construction.  

Episode #70 of The Construction Leading Edge podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com is a conversation with Human Resources expert Luiza Mills, VP of Human Resources for a large electrical contractor in New England.

Topics you'll learn about in this construction podcast:

• Advice for making your next big hire.
• Unique strategies for solving the skilled labor shortage.
• Common misconceptions about women in the trades, and what we can co about it.
• How lean manufacturing methods can help the skilled labor shortage.
• What it means to have "internal customers."
• How do you keep millennials from leaving your company?

How you can get in touch with Luiza Mills:

Luiza's email: lmills(at)iesc1.com

Interstate Electrical Services website: www.iesc1.com

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

25 Point Construction Business Checkup

Hacks and Secrets for Construction Business Owners

How Construction Project Leaders Can Put "Empowered Execution" to Work for Them.

Why do architects and engineers leave out so many details?  What can you do if there is conflict between contractors and designers?  How do you solve this age old problem?

This episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast is a conversation with Spencer Fullerton, who has the unique experience of being a consulting engineer and a construction superintendent.

Topics you'll hear about in this construction podcast episode:

• Why design details can get missed, or left out intentionally.
• Who actually does a lot of the detailed design?
• Why is there often animosity between contractors and designers?
• Two statements you can make that will build trust.
• The problem with specifying execution details, and why specifying end results is better.
• Strategies you can use to make your interactions with designers smoother.
• The problem with the old RFI process.
• Advice you should heed if you're starting your career in design or construction.

Resources you might be interested in:

Construction Business Owner Hacks - Click here to learn some powerful strategies used by successful construction business owners.

Inspire Your Team to See the Vision & Do Great Work - Learn how the principle of "Empowered Execution" can help you.

How to contact Spencer - spencerfullerton10(at)gmail.com

Friends are for weekends. The difference between doing the work and running a business. How to make the transition from the field to the office.

These are a few of the lessons that Roy Garner, owner of Eco Construction Services shares on this construction podcast episode.

Here's what else you'll learn from this construction podcast:

- What you need to know if you're in commercial work and considering residential, or vice versa.

- The mindset changes you need to make to be a business owner.

- Some surprises that you should prepare for if you're going out on your own.

- How Roy made the transition from working in the field every day, to running work from the office.

- What being a member of the Construction Business Accelerator program has done for Roy and his business.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast:

The Construction Business Accelerator program

The E-Myth Contractor: Why Most Contractors' Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

How to contact Roy Garner:

Eco Construction Services website - www.ecoconstructionservices.com

Roy's email address - roy(at)ecoconstructionservices.com

Eco Construction Services Facebook page

Get control of your cash flow - Maximize revenue - Sell better to sell more - Maximize personal productivity - Increase crew productivity...

These are a few of the Top 10 Things you can do if you own or manage a construction business, to make this the best year ever.

Here are the Top 10 Ways to Make This the Best Year Ever:

#1. Get control of your cash flow

- Poor cash flow is not a problem...it's a symptom of other problems.

A few strategies to improve your cash flow include...

- Reduce "opportunity cost."

- Figure out "invoicing gymnastics" to speed up payments

- Eliminate "ticket starvation" to make sure you get paid for 100% of the work you do.

#2. Maximize revenue

- Your business is a revenue generating machine that turns days into dollars.

A few strategies that will help you maximize revenue include...

- Identify your key revenue producing activities

- Figure out who your key revenue producing employees are

- Eliminate, Automate and Delegate

- Operate with a "Right to Left" mentality 

#3. Sell better...to sell more

- Understand the psychology of selling.

- Learn how to talk to customers about THEM...and not YOU.

- Get over your mindset issues related to selling

- Put systems in place

Go listen to Episode 38 and Episode 61 for more on selling.

#4. Maximize personal productivity

- Only do what only you can do.

- Outsource, delegate, automate, and eliminate

#5. Increase crew productivity

- Over invest in planning your work

- Understand how to motivate your people

- Create systems and processes to help them operate at peak efficiency.

- Help them make you more money

#6. Recruit and hire to build your business

- Determine the right time to hire.

- Create a job description.

- Find qualified candidates.

- Know how to interview them and find out the right information.

- Figure out a compensation package.

- Training and on-boarding process so they succeed.

#7. Harness the power of effective delegation

- You need to build leaders to grow your business.

- Stop being a micro-manager...just stop it!

- Get past the mindset issues preventing you from delegating.

- Learn how to be "end result" focused, instead of "how to" focused.

#8. Master the art of handling conflict

- Unresolved conflict is a productivity killer, causes lots of good people to go work elsewhere, and is a leading cause of business failure.

#9. Sharpen your planning skills

- Lincoln said, "Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I'll spend the first 4 hours sharpening the axe."

- Get better at planning for strategic business decisions, hiring, safety, revenue, profit, staffing...everything.

- Planning is solving problems in the future, before they happen.

#10. Learn how to build systems

- A business consists of a lot of repetitive tasks that need a consistent process in order to get consistent results.

- Many business activities are about the transfer of information, and you need to build consistent systems for doing so.

- Systems for time tracking, change orders, sales, training, and invoicing, are all key to building your business.

The Good News:

First - These are all skills that you can learn.

Second - The Construction Business Accelerator is designed to help you with all of them.

Click here to learn how the Construction Business Accelerator can help you make THIS YEAR...

Your BEST YEAR EVER.

Failure is a figment of your imagination. Resistance is a force that's trying desperately to keep things the same.

Welcome to The Construction Leading Edge podcast from www.constructionleadingedge.com.  The construction podcast for construction business owners and leaders.

What you'll learn about in this construction podcast episode:

• Why failure is a figment of your imagination.
• How you should think about failure
• What "Resistance" is, and its sole mission.
• An impossible construction project from a few thousand years ago.
• What you should expect Resistance to sound like when you try to accomplish something significant in your life or business.

Resources mentioned in this construction podcast episode:

PROJECT LEADER BOOT CAMP - For superintendents, project managers and project leaders who want to get to the next level.

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS ACCELERATOR  - If you want to grow or start a construction business, I want to help you.

COACHING PROGRAM - If you want accelerated results, individual accountability and a customized plan to solve the specific challenges in your business...

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE 30 MINUTE STRATEGY CALL