Contractor Evolution

Jaksot

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  292. How To Build A Company Brain With NotebookLM - Grant Fuellenbach 30.09.2026 44min

  Get a copy of our AI Guide For Contractors and learn the 4 highest leverage AI workflows for trades businesses: https://trybta.com/DL292Get Grant’s free Claude skills for your business here: https://skillmatch.zite.so/Most contractors are drowning in AI options.New tools every week. New features buried inside the tools you already pay for. No clear answer on which ones are worth your time.Grant Fuellenbach implements project management systems for contracting companies at GoFirst Consulting, and he uses AI to do it faster. He also hosts the Beyond the Bid podcast.So we asked him a simple question: what should a contractor actually be using right now?His answer was three tools, and two of them are free.Grant walks us through NotebookLM (he calls it the underserved GOAT), Prompt Cowboy, and Claude Cowork. Then he actually walks through the work, with examples: a company brain built from SOPs and training videos, an estimate pulled together from a photo and a few measurements, and an SEO audit that runs on a schedule without him touching it.If you have ever lost a night to an AI rabbit hole and come out with nothing, start here.Find Grant on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantfuellenbach or reach him at [email protected] learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP29200:00-Intro01:49-AI in Contracting & Workflows10:01-NotebookLM & Second Brain21:59-Prompt Cowboy & Efficiency25:50-Claude Co-Work & Automations31:23-Demo of NotebookLM38:45-Final Recommendations
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  291. How To Implement AI Without Losing Your Mind [For Contractors] - Tyler Folkman 23.09.2026 59min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP291 Get a copy of our AI Guide For Contractors and learn the 4 highest leverage AI workflows for trades businesses: https://trybta.com/DL291Tyler Folkman has been working in the AI space for nearly twenty years.You read that right. While most of us were just getting used to having a website, Tyler was working on next level technology.Today, he’s the Chief AI Officer at JobNimbus. He helps provide roofers with the tech they need to make operations quicker, easier and more profitable.Here’s why we wanted him on the show:Many of you are starting to incorporate AI into your business.The result is that we end up wasting a ton of time going down rabbit holes that lead nowhere, maybe even putting our information at risk along the way.Today, Tyler is walking us through a clear roadmap to using AI to build systems once, properly, so you can power your business with good processes and accurate data.And if you’re not a roofer, don’t worry.Everything we discuss today is relevant to any business owner in the trades.Subscribe to Tyler’s AI newsletter here: https://www.tylerfolkman.ai/ 00:00-Intro04:08-Contractor AI Adoption13:30-Practical Workflows & Estimating22:16-CRM AI Integrations30:08-Managing Data Security Risks40:25-Staying Current with AI 49:22-Future of AI in Contracting
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  290. What Happens When You Sell To Private Equity? - Tyler Goodhue 16.09.2026 1t 3min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP290 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL290 There's a lot of noise about selling to private equity in the trades right now. Some of you may even be considering this as your exit strategy.But how much do you REALLY understand what’s involved in arguably one of the biggest decisions of your life?Our guest today Tyler Goodhue has been involved in the acquisition of over 200 businesses, primarily in the trades, and he's here to discuss the part nobody talks about publicly.What actually creates value, what quietly destroys it, and how to avoid settling for a bad deal.Today, he’s walking us through what actually happens when you decide to sell to private equity. The whole process: the good, the bad and the ugly.00:00-Intro02:27-Why Private Equity Loves Trades08:04-P.E. Acquisition Strategy11:58-Factors Driving Company Valuation24:57-Evaluating Owner Reliance Risks38:20-Common Seller Misconceptions46:07-Key Contract Deal Terms53:48-Planning an Optimal Sale
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  289. How To Dominate AI Search Results (For Home Services) - Phil Risher 09.09.2026 49min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP289 Get a free contractor Lead Source Attribution template and example here: https://trybta.com/DL289 While contractors and construction business owners are busy scrambling to get our websites ready for AI search, Phil Risher is asking a much bigger question: Will your website even matter in 3 years?Phil is a digital marketing specialist who works exclusively with contractors. He's been watching in real time as AI search puts an end to everything we thought we knew about modern marketing.Traffic is dwindling. SEO is changing. And websites... well, they might be dying.Instead, Phil says AI agents will dominate contractor digital marketing strategies in just a few years.In today's episode, Phil shares his predictions, what they mean for the construction industry, and what you need to start building today to survive the next decade.00:00-Intro02:03-Recent AI Shifts 03:41-Changing Website Traffic 07:32-Measuring Marketing Success 12:43-Gathering Customer Data 24:25-Building Trusted Brands 31:38-Evolving Ad Landscape 34:56-Selecting Right Agencies
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  288. The REAL Impact Of AI in Construction [And How To Prepare] - DJ Carroll 02.09.2026 56min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP288 When ChatGPT released in 2022, we all knew the start of a new era in tech was coming. But we couldn't possibly comprehend just how much our industry was about to change.Although robotics are a few years away from replacing field labor, pretty much every other area of a contracting business has been totally disrupted.Today, I've brought on DJ Carroll, a former contractor known for scaling home service companies through disciplined AI and automation, to share his opinions on where the industry is now, where it's headed, and the skills and concepts we HAVE to understand if we want our businesses to survive what he calls the next industrial revolution.This is not a philosophical conversation. DJ gives some real, actionable advice any contractor can implement in the next week.–Learn more about DJ Carroll: https://carroll.media/about/ 00:00-Intro04:12-Hype Versus Reality 08:28-AI Adoption & Memory Capacity 19:43-Marketing Use Cases 28:32-Building AI Ads34:50-Adopting Voice Services 40:17-Creating Company SOPs 45:23-Upcoming AI Advancements
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  287. How To Run Projects Like a $34M Contractor - Caleb George, Scott Kelley, Jordan Coolidge 26.08.2026 1t 18min

  To get the Project Management resource bundle, click here: https://trybta.com/DL287 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP287 Caleb George produces $34M in projects with just three project managers.Scott Kelley’s team can run a million dollar project without asking him a single question.What do these two builders have in common? Exceptional project management systems.In this roundtable discussion, I sat down with Caleb George of Chris George Custom Homes, Scott Kelley of Evolution Design Build, and Jordan Coolidge from Buildertrend to break down the difference between projects that run profitably without owner involvement and projects that require constant firefighting to cross the finish line.–Caleb and Scott are Breakthrough Academy Members who have worked with their coaches and contractor community group to achieve exceptional results. To learn more about becoming a Breakthrough Academy Member, click here: https://trybta.com/EP287 Check out Buildertrend: https://buildertrend.com/ Learn more about Chris George Custom Homes: https://www.chrisgeorgecustomhomes.com/Learn more about Evolution Design Build: https://evobuildgroup.com/00:00-Intro07:37-Biggest Contractor Issues 09:59-Broken Process Signs 15:38-Defining PM Roles 26:18-Implementing Balanced Accountability 35:49-Optimizing Project Communication 57:51-Streamlining Planning Capacity 1:12:11-Advice for Contractors
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  286. $7M Playbook: Build A Profitable Landscaping Company - Riley Rivers 19.08.2026 1t 1min

  To learn more about becoming a Member, click here: https://trybta.com/EP286 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL286 At just 30 years old, Riley Rivers owns a $7M dollar landscaping business, pulling in $120K in profit every month.Multiple divisions.Massive contracts.Complex operations.And he does it all in less than 40 hours a week.In this episode, I'm talking to Riley to find out how he built his company, including the key decisions he made as he scaled.If you're ready to step out of the day-to-day and become a real CEO, Riley's story is a must listen.—Riley is a Breakthrough Academy Member who has worked with his coach and contractor community to build a business he loves running. To learn more about becoming a Member, click here: https://trybta.com/EP286 Learn more about Rivers Landscaping: https://www.riverslandscapingmt.com/Episode highlights:Learn which systems enabled Riley to more than double his revenue without sacrificing profitability.Get insight into Riley’s hiring strategies when it comes to adding high-impact leaders into his organization.Discover how Riley built his team culture… by letting his team build his culture. Find out how he stepped back and let his people establish the company’s core values and the tactics used to live them out.00:00-Intro01:55-Journey to $3 Million 07:12-Evolution of Roles 09:41-Strategy for Growth 11:49-Identifying Core Gaps 21:01-Org Structure Strategy 30:18-Cultivating Company Culture 40:22-Leadership and Management
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  285. The Formula For Consistent Cash Flow In 7-Figure Contracting Businesses - Bob Gauvreau 12.08.2026 57min

  Grab a copy of Bob's Top 10 Tax Tips For Self-Employed Contractors: https://trybta.com/DL285 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP285 Ever run out of money despite making millions of dollars?This is the situation Bob Gauvreau has seen hundreds of contractors fall into.Revenue is up, profit may even be up.But they run out of cash unexpectedly and when they get hit with an unexpected bill or expense……they crumple. In today’s episode, Bob walks us through a foolproof system for managing your cash flow so financial stress becomes a thing of the past.Episode Highlights:Learn why your P&L might be lying to you, and which metrics actually matter when it comes to the health of your businessUnderstand where cash gets “stuck” and how to avoid accidentally spending the cash you need to pay the bills.Discover the foolproof system for managing your cash flow and forecasting potential issues 90 days in advance (no more being jump-scared by your bank balance)Get in touch with Bob: https://gauvreaucpa.ca/ 00:00-Intro02:18-Cash Flow vs Profit 08:32-Tight Cash Impact 15:36-Optimizing Cash Inflows 23:04-Accounts Receivable Systems 29:38-Managing Cash Outflows 43:57-Owner Compensation Rhythm 47:24-Financial Process Organization
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  284. How Hiring ONE PERSON Doubled This Contractor's Business - Joel Retherford 05.08.2026 43min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP284Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL284Joel Retherford made an extra $1.6 MILLION in the first four months of this year. How? By hiring for one simple role. In today’s episode, I’m talking to Joel to understand:How hiring a project manager helped him produce an entire year’s worth of revenue, in 4 monthsThe hiring process he used to find a rockstar capable of driving all that valueAnd why so many contractors completely botch their project management, and how to stop killing your profit as you grow.If you’re struggling to scale and want to stop bottlenecking your operations, this episode is for you.00:00-Intro01:25-Overcoming Personal Operational Bottlenecks 09:20-Hiring An External Candidate 12:19-Managing Internal Staff Friction 21:02-Presenting A United Front 26:44-Unlocking Strategic Owner Advantages 31:19-Timing The Project Manager 36:41-Structuring Tangible ROI Goals
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  283. How This Contractor Made $200K From Change Orders - Eric Olson 29.07.2026 50min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP283 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL283 Eric Olson found a way to squeeze an extra 200 thousand dollars of profit out of work he was already doing.His secret weapon? Change orders.In today’s episode, Eric is going to talk us through:- The exact strategy he used to 4X his profits on all change orders- Why getting this wrong can leave you with angry clients, a frustrated team and zero dollars in the bank- And how to get your team stoked about maximizing profit at all levels of the organization.Eric Olson is a Breakthrough Academy Member and Owner of Olson Defendorf Custom Homes in Texas. He has worked Breakthrough Academy coaches and community members over the years to create bulletproof systems in his business that have significantly improved his profit, cash flow and personal life.Learn more about Olson Defendorf Custom Homes: https://www.odcustomhomes.com/00:00-Intro06:17-Incentivizing Project Managers 12:18-Pricing Logic16:55-Profit Sharing Expansion 24:06-Collection Process Timing 28:48-Tracking Change Orders 34:14-Schedule Management Updates 40:58-Systems Optimization Change
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  282. She Sold 600 Homes In A Year. Here's How $100M Contractors Scale. - Charlene Barrett 22.07.2026 49min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP282 Ready to build smarter? Meet Breakthrough Academy at Build Show Live in San Antonio, Sept 10–12. Use code BTA26 for 25% off. Click the link to register: https://www.buildshowlive.com/Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL282 Most contractors struggle to build four to ten homes a year. Today’s guest, Charlene Barrett sold six hundred. That's hundreds of millions in sales.Today we're going to go through: - What contractors get wrong about scaling from 1 to 10 million,- How to use referrals and reviews to supercharge sales,- And how to deliver world-class services that customers love, at scale.Charlene is a Breakthrough Academy coach and former Director of Sales and Marketing for a top North American builder, where she worked for over 12 years.She is a true expert in customer experience and sales, so don’t miss this episode if this is something you’re interested in improving.00:00-Intro04:59-Service vs experience 06:25-Creating wow moments 11:57-Negative customer experiences 15:00-Systemizing customer experience 23:02-Driving five-star reviews 32:55-Generating customer referrals 40:37-Insights on coaching
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  281. Systems (Literally) Saved This 8-Figure Spray Foam Business - Curt Janzen & Kevin Boschee 15.07.2026 36min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP281 Ready to build smarter? Meet Breakthrough Academy at Build Show Live in San Antonio, Sept 10–12. Use code BTA26 for 25% off. Click the link to register: https://www.buildshowlive.com/Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL281 When most contractors think about disaster planning, they picture insurance policies, backup equipment, and emergency contacts.But what if the real question is this:Would your team know what to do if you weren't there?BTA Members Curt Janzen and Kevin Boschee from Beyond Foam got an answer to that question when they found themselves in the worst case scenario:Their shop burned down. While they were on a business trip. Hundreds of miles away.In a matter of hours, their team had to make decisions, communicate with customers, protect equipment, coordinate next steps, and keep the business moving forward—all without waiting for the owners to swoop in and save the day.The result wasn't luck.It was the outcome of years spent building a business that didn't depend on them for every decision.00:00-Intro02:03-Operational Impact of a Fire09:27-Initial Team Response13:08-Enabling Structural Systems 18:45-Supporting Team Emotionally 24:21-Insurance Process Lessons 30:08-Overall Key Takeaways
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  280. Why Your Leadership Skills Are Killing Your Growth (And What to Do Instead) - Dr. J.J. Peterson 08.07.2026 57min

  Ready to build smarter? Meet Breakthrough Academy at Build Show Live in San Antonio, Sept 10–12. Use code BTA26 for 25% off. Click the link to register: https://www.buildshowlive.com/To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP280 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL280 Most contractors become leaders by accident.You start a business because you're great at your trade. Then suddenly you're managing crews, handling conflict, giving feedback, and trying to keep good people from walking out the door.And if you're like most owners, nobody ever taught you how to do any of it.That's why this week's Contractor Evolution episode with leadership expert and former Head of Storybrand Dr. J.J. Peterson is worth your time.In this conversation, Dr. J.J. breaks down a simple approach to leadership that helps you:- Keep your best people longer- Reduce costly mistakes and miscommunication- Build a team you can actually trust- Create a culture people want to be part ofThe best part?You don't need to become some hard-nosed manager or abandon the "nice guy" you've always been.Strong leadership isn't about being tougher. It's about creating clarity, accountability, and trust.00:00-Intro04:41-Guide Versus Hero11:28-Formulaic Collective Communication22:20-Badass Softy Philosophy30:45-Empathy and Authority40:45-Three Leadership Pillars49:53-Modern Leadership Era
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  279. The Only AI Guide You'll Ever Need As A Contractor - Rob Cupello 01.07.2026 58min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP279Download Rob’s AI Opportunity Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL279AI is exposing everything that's broken in your contracting business……before it fixes anything.Everyone's racing to adopt AI right now. But here's what nobody's saying: if your workflows are messy, AI doesn't clean them up. It accelerates the chaos. This episode is your filter; a practical, no-hype walkthrough of where AI for contractors actually fits, where it makes things worse, and how to know if your business is even ready.If you're running a contracting company and feeling the pressure to "do something with AI" before you fall behind, this is the episode to listen to first.In This Episode:🤖 The AI Trap: What contractors are believing about AI that's dead wrong, and why owners are wasting money on tools they don't need🔍 The Real Problem: Why AI exposes hidden workflow chaos before it saves you a minute, and where contractors have the most mess✅ The AI Readiness Test: The 3 things that need to be clear before you even look at a tool, and the signs your company isn't ready🎯 The Opportunity Filter:  A simple scorecard for evaluating AI ideas (so you stop confusing "cool" with "valuable")🏗️ Where AI Actually Fits: Sales follow-up, SOPs, job handoffs, client communication — and where it should stay far away👤 Human Review: What AI should never decide by itself and how to stop your team from treating AI like the final answer👥 Team Adoption: Why your crew will ignore new tools (it's not the tech — it's the conversation you haven't had)🛠️ Build Your First AI Workflow: If you're a $3M contracting business, here's exactly where to start this week00:00-Intro05:06-Decision-Making Hierarchy 08:26-Effective Workflow Documentation 14:59-Privacy and Security 20:13-Custom Business Models 25:16-High-Impact Contractor Cases 35:31-Internal Team Adoption 43:01-Future Contracting Trends 54:51-Starting with Friction
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  278. He Analyzed Over 4,000 Sales: Here’s What Kills Revenue - Ryan Fenn 24.06.2026 1t 6min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP278 Get a copy of Ryan’s Lead Follow Up Formula (The Revenue Engine) here: https://trybta.com/DL278Most contractors assume the sale is dead after two ignored messages. The data says otherwise, and the money you're leaving on the table is staggering.Ryan Fenn, founder of CHIIRP, has analyzed massive volumes of real customer conversations to find out what actually gets replies, what kills deals, and what the best follow-up systems do differently. In this episode, we break it all down into the three elements that matter most: words, cadence, and channel.You'll learn: Why the words most contractors use in follow-up are silently killing deals — and what to say instead The data-backed timing and cadence that turns cold quotes into signed contracts Which channel (text, phone, email, video) actually converts — and when to use each one A simple dead quote reactivation system to bring stalled deals back to life Where AI is genuinely helping follow-up right now — and where it's hurtingIf you've ever wondered why your quotes go cold or how long you should really keep following up, this one's for you.00:00-Intro10:44-Follow-up in contracting 14:30-Effective sales language 29:57-Ideal follow-up cadence 44:13-Choosing communication channels 52:01-Risks of AI voice 56:05-Increasing lead conversion 
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  277. How To Plan And Structure Your SOPs To Delegate Literally Anything - Moustafa Moursy 17.06.2026 58min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP277 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL277 Your crew isn't lazy. Your processes are broken. In this episode of Contractor Evolution, process strategist Moustafa Moursy breaks down why most business systems collect dust, and introduces the OPTIMIZE Framework: a step-by-step method for building SOPs that your team actually uses, so you can stop running every decision through yourself.If you've ever written a process doc that nobody followed, this episode will show you exactly where you went wrong (and how to fix it).In this episode:Why "people problems" are almost always process problems in disguiseWhat you need to define BEFORE touching any software or templatesThe OPTIMIZE Framework: Observe → Picture → Tailor → Implement → Memorialize → Zoom/EvolveThe real balance between owner direction and team input when designing processesHow to know when a process is ready to roll out (instead of endlessly perfecting it)What separates a process that gets followed from one that gets ignored (the triangle)How great processes give your team independence, not just more controlCheck out Moustafa’s TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SemHh0n19LA 00:00-Intro02:21-Successful vs. Failed Processes07:21-Defining the Optimize Framework 10:14-Step 1: Observe 15:43-Step 2: Picture 21:58-Step 3: Tailor34:18-Step 4: Implement 45:54-Step 5: Evolve
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  276. Micromanaging Is Costing You THOUSANDS - Matt Risinger 10.06.2026 51min

  Register for Matt and Danny’s team accountability web class: https://trybta.com/DL276 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP276 If you're the only person on every jobsite who can catch a mistake, you don't have a team; you have a daycare. In this episode, Matt Risinger (from The Build Show) maps the exact path from babysitter to system-builder, so your business runs without you hovering over every decision.Most contractors don't even realize they're micromanaging. They just know they're exhausted, their PMs won't make a call without them, and nothing gets caught until they personally show up. This episode breaks down why smart owners get trapped as the answer guy, what it's costing them in profit and sanity, and the step-by-step framework to build a team that thinks, decides, and polices standards on its own.You'll learn:How to spot the line between managing and micromanaging, and why crossing it is a silent profit killerThe real cost of being the only person who catches mistakes (hint: it shows up in your margins, your turnover, and your ceiling)How to set non-negotiable standards your team can self-audit before you ever see the workThe exact roles and decisions a PM must own before you can truly step backA simple accountability meeting structure you can use to get real value out of every meetingHow to train independent thinking into your people without killing their ownership when they get it wrongWhat has to be true culturally before your team starts policing standards themselves00:00-Intro02:18-The Path to Effective Delegation10:22-Building Loyalty & Accountability with Subcontractors16:59-Communication & Standards for On-Site Teams25:19-Defining Roles & Learning from Mistakes31:55-Structuring Effective Accountability Meetings36:50-Training for Independence & Mentorship48:28-Philosophy on Leading & Treating People
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  275. Stop Scrambling for Payroll: The 90-Day Cash Flow System for Contractors - Danny Kerr 03.06.2026 1t

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP275 Download your free Cash Flow Resource Bundle here: https://trybta.com/DL275 You're winning jobs, billing strong — and still sweating payroll every two weeks. Cash timing slips. Payroll doesn't. Here's how to fix it.In this episode, Danny Kerr breaks down the exact cash flow management system BTA has used with 1,900+ contractors to stop the financial panic and start projecting 90 days ahead, so you can make growth decisions with intention, not desperation.What you'll learn:The 5 cash flow killers quietly draining your roofing contractor business (weak deposits, slow collections, and more)How to build a simple weekly cash flow system — so you know what you can spend before you hire, buy, or marketHow to project your cash position 90 days out and spot payroll pressure before it hitsThe financial benchmarks $10MM contractors actually useHow to stop playing financial roulette and build real confidence in your numbersWhether you're at $1M or pushing $10M, cash flow management isn't optional — it's the difference between scaling and gambling.00:00-Intro09:32-Developing Annual Budgets19:20-Effective Job Costing23:48-Industry Profit Benchmarks28:04-Strategic Cash Flow32:28-Avoiding Cash Flow Destroyers41:22-Using Cash Flow Projections53:43-Expense and Overhead Q&A
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  274. He Grew a Gutter Company to $6.5M Using This Mindset - Jason Alcott 27.05.2026 36min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here:https://trybta.com/EP274 We’re actively working with ~600 contractors, and a LOT of them are struggling — and it's not the economy. Breakthrough Academy coach Jason Alcott reveals the hidden mindset trap keeping contractors stuck, and the one framework that changes everything.Most contractors are measuring their success the wrong way. They're locked in "the gap,” constantly chasing an ideal that keeps moving, instead of looking back at how far they've actually come. In this episode, Jason Alcott (BTA coach and former contractor who scaled Weatherguard Gutters to $6.5M with 25 staff) breaks down Dan Sullivan's Gap and the Gain framework and why fixing your mindset is the prerequisite to every system, every strategy, and every team decision you'll make this year.In this episode:Why 70% of the contractors Jason works with are having a rough year— and what's really behind itThe "Gap vs. Gain" framework that stops the overwhelm spiralHow your mindset as an owner trickles down and silently kills team moraleWhy tactics fail when mindset isn't addressed firstHow to set 90-day goals your team actually cares about (leading vs. lagging indicators)Gratitude as a stress management tool — and why it's more powerful than you thinkAbout Jason Alcott: Jason is a Breakthrough Academy coach and former BTA member who scaled a gutter contracting business to $6.5M before joining the coaching side. He currently coaches 25+ contractor businesses and is actively helping them navigate one of the toughest business climates in recent memory.00:00-Intro06:22-Why do we ignore mindset?10:44-Gap versus Gain15:29-Shifting your headspace27:27-Setting activity goals29:35-Implementing the Gain mindset
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  273. He Worked 90 Hours In A Week. Here’s What Happened - Chris Bailey 20.05.2026 53min

  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP273 Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL273 Have you ever pulled a 60-hour work week and felt like you got nothing done? Productivity researcher Chris Bailey ran a radical experiment—working 90 hours one week, 20 the next—just to see what would happen to his output. The results challenge everything contractors believe about grinding longer to get ahead.In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Chris Bailey (author of Intentional) breaks down what his 90-hour vs 20-hour productivity experiment revealed about how work smarter not harder actually works. If you're running a contracting business and burning 60+ hours a week in the trenches, this conversation will show you why more hours ≠ more results—and give you practical methods for how to get more done in less time without sacrificing your margin or your mental health.What you'll learn: The surprising results of Chris Bailey's 90-hour productivity experiment Why working longer hours actually destroys your output (and the data that proves it)How to transition from "warrior" mode to "system-builder" mode in your businessSimple, research-backed methods for intentional productivity The real cost of contractor burnout—and how to prevent it Why the most productive contractors work fewer hours, not moreWhether you're stuck in the trenches or building systems to scale, this episode will change how you think about time, energy, and what it actually takes to grow a profitable contracting business.00:00-Intro02:12-Addiction to Distractions 03:55-Impact of Tech on Focus 09:51-Lessons from Boredom Experiment17:08-The Power of Wandering in Leadership20:00-Busyness Versus Productivity 28:17-Training Brain Presence 31:51-Sleep and Productivity Myths