Hammer & Grind : Built For Contractors

Many entrepreneurs begin their journey as jack-of-all-trades, driven to capture as many opportunities as possible. At first, this method might seem like a good idea, but it often leads to a lack of focus, slowing down growth. The challenge of managing numerous tools for various tasks can lead to financial strain and operational chaos.In this episode, Brad interviews Jacob Lawson, owner of Extraordinary Flooring and author of Make It Extraordinary: 27 Life-Changing Lessons to Help You Elevate Beyond the Ordinary. They discuss:Jacob's journey from the oil field to the flooring businessThe importance of rebranding and finding your nicheLessons learned from 20 years in businessThe significance of work ethic and determinationMentoring employees to reach their highest potentialThe value of knowing your numbers in business and personal financeEmbracing the concept of "extraordinary" in all aspects of lifeMentioned:Book: Make It ExtraordinaryWebsite: https://www.extraordinaryflooring.com/ Social Media:       Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081582263184Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/extraordinaryflooring1/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-lawson-762a0120b/Links to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

These days, blue-collar jobs are often overlooked and undervalued, but they can be very profitable and satisfying careers. If you want to be successful in the blue-collar trades, you need to have a clear picture of what you want your life to be like and work hard to make that picture come true.In this episode, Brad and Ken, an entrepreneur and author of Blue Collar Cash talked about:Ken's journey from ditch digger to successful business owner.The importance of mindset in achieving success and planning your life.How can we anticipate life events rather than react to them?Creating a visual representation of your goals and dreams.The significance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within your team.Clearing negative emotions to make room for positive growth and success.Mentioned:Ken's website:Kenrusk.comKen's Instagram account:https://www.instagram.com/kenruskofficial/?hl=enComfort Peace and Freedom Foundation:veteransuccess.orgBook Recommendations:Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for LifeThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective PeopleLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

In today's digital world, making the most of social proof is important to build a strong and trustworthy business image. People can boost their credibility, gain trust from their audience, and eventually make their business successful by being open to being vulnerable, keeping a professional online presence, and using social proofing techniques.In this episode, Brad talks about:How social proofing is seeking evidence of credibility onlineImportance of optimizing social media profiles for business successImpact of personal behavior on business perceptionRecommendations for optimizing personal and business profilesStrategies for showcasing team members on the websiteHow clients engage in social proofing to assess integrity and characterImportance of aligning online presence with target audienceHow personal image reflects on business reputationLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Business owners avoid putting down processes because they think it will take too much time and work. They may also be afraid that putting new processes in place will make workers unhappy and mess up how things are done now.In this episode, Brad and Cary talk about:Challenges faced by small business owners in understanding financial statementsImportance of weekly dashboards and strategic planningFrustration points for business owners in implementing changesThe role of processes and systems in business managementThe concept of talent optimization and attracting A playersThe influence of language and narratives on leadership and employee engagementMentioned:Website: https://strategicbusinessadvisors.org Social Media:       Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CFOconsultingLAInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/cfoconsultingllc54/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryprejean/Book: OPTIMIZE! - Read the executive summary here. Previous Media Samples: Bullet Wealth with Scott MarekPersonal Finance Cat with Handie KunenLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

It's not enough to just do good work to get jobs. Quality work may get the phone to ring, but what really makes sales happen is addressing the clients' emotional worries and meeting their needs.In this episode, Brad talks about:The Yes Staircase concept explainedImportance of addressing client concerns and expectations in salesDebunking common misconceptions in sales (quality, price, time)Importance of emotional selling over product knowledgeUsing calibrated questions to uncover client needsLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

No matter what size or type, every business needs to hire an accountant. One of the best things about hiring an accountant is that they can help you figure out tricky financial issues. Accountants know how to help businesses make smart financial choices, make the most of their tax strategies, and make sure they follow the rules. Businesses in fields with specific financial needs and difficulties can benefit a lot from this kind of knowledge.In this podcast, Erin from Level Accounting and Advisory and Brad talk about:Importance of setting up the right entity structure from the startCommon mistakes to avoid in bookkeeping, accounting, and payrollThe difference between generalist and specialist accountantsWhen to transition from DIY accounting to hiring a professionalHandling tax notices and the importance of timely responseThe significance of tax planning and financial planning throughout the yearTips on outsourcing payroll and bookkeeping servicesWarning about the risks of misclassifying contractors as employeesThe impact of running a business illegally based on payroll requirementsMentioned:Erin's websiteErin's Instagram AccountErin's LinkedIn AccountErin's Facebook AccountErin's Threads AccountLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Uncertainty is a normal part of life, and everyone needs to learn how to deal with it to reach their goals. People can find new chances and possibilities they might not have thought of before if they are open to uncertainty. It forces them to leave their comfort zone and take chances that can help them grow and be successful.In this podcast, Andrea and Brad talk about:Andrea's background in corporate roles and transition to coaching entrepreneursThe concept of the "messy middle" in business growthOvercoming fear of change and embracing uncertaintyThe importance of increasing risk tolerance to think like a CEOStrategies for scaling with simplicity and confidenceBook recommendation: "The Big Leap" by Gay HendricksMentioned:Andrea's websiteAndrea's Instagram AccountAndrea's LinkedIn AccountAndrea's Facebook AccountAndrea's PodcastShe thinks big bookLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Solving problems in the business world is an important part of growth and innovation in any field. This idea has been shown to work in the gardening business by Weston Zimmerman and his team at Synced Up. Weston went from working as a 16-year-old for a landscaping company to now being the CEO of a software business. This shows how important it is to find and solve problems that affect the whole industry.In this episode, Brad and Weston talked about:Importance of knowing numbers and pricing jobs profitably in the landscaping industryChallenges faced by contractors in managing overhead expensesThe significance of job costing in tracking project profitabilityStrategies for negotiating on scope rather than price in salesTransitioning from a craftsman to a businessman in the contracting industryBenefits of using templates and production rates in estimating jobsImpact of budgeting and financial understanding on business growthImportance of quick quote turnaround time in winning jobsThe role of confidence and serving the customer in successful sales strategiesMentioned: SynkedUP's freebie tools SynkedUP's demo Event in Dayton OH (Use sign-up code PROFIT for $100 off)Weston's LinkedIn accountLinks to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Everyone who works as a contractor has to deal with scope creep. It means that the scope of a project is slowly changed or added to, usually without proper approval or paperwork. This can make things more expensive, take longer, and create frustration for both the contractor and the client.In this episode, Brad talks about:Factors leading to scope creepDetailed scope of work in estimates.Identifying red flags in client communication.Charging fees for change orders.Direct communication with clients about additional work.Padding estimates for unforeseen circumstances.Links to Resources:Get the blueprint to create financial freedom & more free time before burnout or bankruptcy happens.A complete Done-With-You Program - Join the Profit Club Join the Free Facebook Group - The Contractor Profit BlueprintGet Paid for Estimates - Free Sales GuidePlan Your Profits - Profit JournalHelp us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!