The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

Rocky Rhodes, co-owner of Dusty Rhodes Homes, brings nearly 60 years of experience in building a successful multi-generational construction business. He reveals the secrets to thriving in chaos, emphasizing the vital role of trust and defined roles within family-run businesses. Rocky shares lessons from the 2008 financial crisis that shaped his CEO mindset and discusses the transformative power of systems and processes. He also highlights the benefits of transitioning to paid estimates and offers insights on navigating market challenges while ensuring sustainable growth.

EPISODE 368: What if hiring the right people could solve most of your construction business problems? This week, Isaac Barlow, founder and former CEO of Busybusy, and Derrik Shakespear, chief revenue officer of Busybusy, reveal how construction business owners can attract and retain top talent. They unpack what makes an A-player thrive, why a flat culture can outperform traditional operational hierarchies, and practical methods to avoid bad hires. Packed with real-world examples and insights, this episode is a must-listen for construction leaders seeking to build their dream team that drives freedom, impact, and profitability. Ready to hire only the best? Tune in now! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Isaac Barlow and Derrik Shakespear (01:52) What is a flat culture? (08:01) The importance of extreme ownership (12:49) Why do owners hire people two levels below them? (17:47) What A-players look for in an organization (24:14) The value of tracking and rewarding employee performance (28:35) How to prevent bad hires (36:58) The six-word hiring framework (43:55) Episode wrap-up (46:44) Additional Resources: - Download our FREE Strategic Planning Guide HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Check out Busybusy and get your 14-day free trial HERE - Visit Tech Ridge for more information HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

Wes Palmisano, founder of WJ Palmisano Construction, scaled his company to $250M with innovative strategies and streamlined operations. He delves into the importance of pre-construction planning and how it minimizes chaos in projects. Wes advocates for a 'renegade mentality' to foster creativity and collaboration among teams. He also discusses building trust with trade partners and the critical need for adaptable systems in growing a successful construction business. Plus, he shares insights on the impact of literature on entrepreneurial thinking.

EPISODE 366: Want to scale your construction business without the chaos? Torrey Hawkins, President of Angler Construction, LLC, shares how he managed to scale his construction business to $200 million in annual revenue. In this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Torrey to talk about... the biggest challenges in growing a business to $200 million per year the systems and processes that propelled his business to success how to lead a construction team through uncertain times what his day looks like as a 9-figure business owner And a whole lot more! Whether you're looking to systematize your construction business or tackle the next phase of growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Don't miss Torrey's tips on team building, forecasting, and staying resilient through challenges. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Torrey Hawkins of Angler Construction (01:55) How Torrey started his construction business (03:03) What does the business look like now? (04:28) Biggest challenges during the growth (10:33) Transitioning from in-business to on-business leadership (15:28) Tips for recruiting and hiring top-quality talent (18:43) Importance of systems and processes for scalability (22:23) What does being a visionary leader mean? (29:27) How Torrey spends his time as a 9-figure business owner (35:48) Keeping your team moving forward during a crisis (37:12) Practical ways to share and implement a company vision (42:14) The burning-the-ship mentality (49:23) Managing the double-edged sword of being a visionary (52:22) Episode wrap-up (57:59) Additional Resources: - Download our FREE Strategic Planning Guide HERE - Schedule a FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Connect with Torrey HERE - Check out Angler Construction HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 365: Scaling your construction business isn't about working harder; it's about working smarter. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Leyah Hostetter, Director of Customer Success, and Monish Khadye, Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) coach, to unpack the transformative strategies from the best-selling book 10x Is Easier Than 2x. Today, you'll learn why setting massive goals simplifies execution and how focusing on 20% of your high-value activities can revolutionize your construction business. Here you'll discover: How to implement paid estimates Let go of low-value tasks Embrace an abundance mindset If you're ready to 10x your business without working longer hours, this episode is for you. Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) A brief background on the book (01:51) Why is 10x easier than 2x (03:18) Understanding the 10x vs. 2x framework (11:27) Eliminating the 80% to focus on the 20% (17:05) A real-world example of focusing on value (25:09) The mindset behind "how to 10x" (35:32) Owning your unique ability to create abundance (36:22) Adapting the gap vs. gain mentality (40:11) The power of practicing gratitude (44:14) How the victim mentality creates scarcity (48:25) You get to choose the story you tell yourself (55:49) How to implement what you've just learned (59:00) Episode wrap-up (1:06:58) Additional Resources: - Join our FREE Training on How to Get Paid For Estimates HERE - Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE - Hear our client success stories HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE Books Mentioned: - 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy - The Obstacle Is The New Way by Ryan Holiday -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 364: Does your construction business feel like chaos on steroids? Join us in this week's episode as we interview Cole West, the integrator at Matchless Concrete Construction, as he shares his journey from retail management to construction and how he embraced planning and clarity to transform operations. Learn how his company overcame inefficiencies caused by rapid growth, how they were able to save $40,000/month in rental costs, and how they empowered employees by simplifying job descriptions into actionable goals. Whether you're a seasoned contractor or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights that can elevate your construction business to new heights! Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Cole West (02:52) Difference between construction and corporate world (05:42) Attracting corporate talents to small business (07:35) The problem with rapid growing without systems (09:59) Ripple effects when there's chaos (15:23) Does construction have to be chaotic? (18:22) Importance of simplifying job descriptions (20:04) The CEO Schedule and Revenue Maximizer (27:07) What does the business look like now? (29:43) Cole's powerful scripted question (32:53) Biggest impact of having systems in place (37:16) Last piece of advice (43:26) What's next for Matchless Concrete? (48:11) Episode wrap-up (49:17) Additional Resources: - Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE - Watch our FREE online training: How to Finally Scale Your Construction Business by Unlocking the Secret Profit Phase of Every Project HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE Connect with Matchless Concrete Construction: - Visit Matchless Concrete Construction's website for more information HERE - Follow them on Facebook HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 363: Is your construction business relying too heavily on referrals? It's time to rethink your marketing strategy. In this week's episode, we're joined by Spencer Powell, founder of Builder Funnel, where we discuss in-depth on how to create a customer acquisition system that attracts the right customers consistently. Spencer reveals the risks of depending solely on word-of-mouth marketing, the power of targeted marketing, how to craft messaging that truly resonates with potential clients, and how to design a marketing strategy that converts. From defining a niche to measuring ROI, this episode is packed with actionable advice for builders looking to skyrocket their marketing strategies. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Spencer Powell from Builder Funnel (02:58) Why relying on referrals makes you vulnerable (04:17) Defining your ideal client (07:04) The importance of niching down and how to do it (11:54) Building a customer acquisition system (23:05) Crafting a message that resonates with your desired clients (27:54) Content marketing vs. paid advertisements (40:04) Maximizing lifetime customer value (53:05) How to track your marketing efforts (55:12) Keep up with Spencer (57:59) Additional Resources: - Watch episode 318 with Spencer HERE - Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE - Watch our FREE online training: How to Finally Scale Your Construction Business by Unlocking the Secret Profit Phase of Every Project HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE Connect with Spencer: - Grab a free copy of Spencer's book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint, by emailing him at spowell@builderfunnel.com with "Todd" in the subject line. - Visit Builder Funnel for more information HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 362: Has your construction business been doing great lately and now you're thinking about scaling up? Before you make any moves, you need to hear this. In this week's episode, we're joined by our Construction Leading Edge team, Leyah Hostetter and Monish Khadye, to dive into the common pitfalls of scaling a construction business. We break down why chaos is a choice, how the "Just Enough to Start" (JETS) trap can hurt your reputation and profits, and why the DIY approach simply doesn't work. Plus, we reveal why systems are essential even for small companies, the risks of building a business around people, and more. If you're a construction business owner looking to scale with a strong foundation, this episode is exactly what you need. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Pitfall of ramping up marketing without operational support (02:55) Why the "Just Enough to Start" (JETS) is a costly fallacy (10:09) The problem with a DIY approach to your business (24:08) Systems are essential even for small companies (30:35) Chaos as a self-correcting phenomenon (36:13) Why you shouldn't design your business around people (38:34) Episode wrap-up (47:08) Additional Resources: - Watch our FREE online training: How to Finally Scale Your Construction Business by Unlocking the Secret Profit Phase of Every Project HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 361: Do you feel trapped by the constant chaos of your construction business? In this week's episode, Leyah Hostetter, our Director of Customer Success, sits down with Kris Miller, President of KLM Construction, to explore the strategies that turned his business from a chaotic struggle into a well-oiled machine. Kris opens up about the impact of simple yet powerful communication hacks he implemented, like weekly client updates, and how a systematized handoff between pre-construction and construction transformed his business. He also shares how using accountability charts helped eliminate bottlenecks and allowed him to slowly step back from daily operations. If you're ready to break free from the construction overwork culture and work from 80 hours to 10 hours per week, all while making progress on your construction business, don't miss this episode! Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Kris Miller of KLM Construction (02:35) Bridging the pre-construction to construction gap (03:13) Kris's light bulb moment (05:21) How is SYCB different from other coaching programs (08:48) Importance of accountability charts and systematized handoffs (12:06) Kris's goal for a balanced work-life (14:17) Additional Resources: - Watch our FREE online training: How to Finally Scale Your Construction Business by Unlocking the Secret Profit Phase of Every Project HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Check out KLM Construction HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!

EPISODE 360: Is your construction business stuck operating on a zero-profit margin while you're tied to it 24/7? It's time to break the cycle, just like our guests did. Meet John and Shannon Springstead of John Springstead Construction–a father-and-daughter duo who completely overhauled their business. In this episode, John and Shannon share their experience with our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program, which helped them reduce chaos and move toward profitability. They share how SYCB empowered them to delegate responsibilities, set up clear communication channels, and take charge of their projects without constant oversight. You'll hear how they started charging for estimates after doing it for free for 15 years and how their "Nail the Handoff" system has brought peace and structure to their operations. Tune in to uncover the secrets to transforming your construction business into a self-managing powerhouse! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet John and Shannon Springstead (02:22) Initial struggles with zero-profit margins and lack of growth (03:53) How empowering employees results in effective delegation (07:28) Impact of Nail the Handoff meetings on team clarity (09:02) From 15 years of free estimates to charging for them (13:57) Benefits of delegating to the "super" in daily operations (20:01) What's next for John Springstead Construction? (24:01) Additional Resources: - Watch our FREE online training: How to Finally Scale Your Construction Business by Unlocking the Secret Profit Phase of Every Project HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Check out John Springstead Construction HERE -- The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time. Follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you never miss an episode!