

The Construction Leading Edge Podcast
Todd Dawalt
This podcast is dedicated to helping construction business owners eliminate chaos, maximize profit, and reclaim their freedom.
Designed for leaders who are ready to step out of the daily grind and take control of their business, The Construction Leading Edge Podcast delivers actionable strategies on systematization, time management, increasing profitability, and business growth. Whether it's stopping profit bleeds, building high-performing teams, or creating systems that allow your business to run without you, each episode will leave you with practical tools to unlock more profit, freedom, and impact.
Join Todd Dawalt every week for solo episodes packed with insights and guest interviews featuring industry experts who've mastered the art of building self-sustaining businesses. If you're ready to stop wearing so many hats and start leading your business like a visionary CEO, this podcast is for you.
Designed for leaders who are ready to step out of the daily grind and take control of their business, The Construction Leading Edge Podcast delivers actionable strategies on systematization, time management, increasing profitability, and business growth. Whether it's stopping profit bleeds, building high-performing teams, or creating systems that allow your business to run without you, each episode will leave you with practical tools to unlock more profit, freedom, and impact.
Join Todd Dawalt every week for solo episodes packed with insights and guest interviews featuring industry experts who've mastered the art of building self-sustaining businesses. If you're ready to stop wearing so many hats and start leading your business like a visionary CEO, this podcast is for you.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 19, 2024 • 36min
How to Get Out of Estimating: A 5 Step Process | E349
EPISODE 349: Are you tired of being chained to your desk, doing estimates, and feeling like your business can't run without you? It's time to ditch the estimator hat once and for all and start putting on your CEO hat! In this week's episode, I'll reveal a five-step process to help you construction business owners transition out of your estimating roles. We'll discuss why transitioning from free estimates to paid pre-construction services is crucial, how this shift can turn your construction business into a profit center, and common mistakes you should avoid. If you're a custom builder, remodeler, general contractor, or trade contractor who wants to get out of estimating and instead work on your business, this episode is packed with value to help you drive your business forward. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Why do you want to get out of estimating (03:19) Step #1: Solve your head trash (05:26) Step #2: Stop giving out free estimates (13:43) Step #3: Nail the handoff (19:04) Step #4: Design the role of an estimator (24:43) Step #5: Answer the WWIT question (28:24) Final tips (30:49) Additional Resources: - Join our FREE Get Paid for Estimates Masterclass HERE - Download the Get Out of Estimating Playbook HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" -- 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!

Aug 12, 2024 • 1h 1min
This is How to Break Free from the Owner's Trap in Your Construction Business | E348
In this engaging discussion, Travis Balcom, owner of TAB Construction LLC, shares his transformative journey from being the bottleneck in his custom home-building business to implementing empowering systems. He reveals how he felt overwhelmed and burnt out during his wife's pregnancy, prompting a shift in his approach. Travis emphasizes the importance of delegation, clear communication, and establishing defined roles within the team. Listeners will learn about effective planning and the benefits of transitioning from reactive to proactive management in construction.

Aug 5, 2024 • 1h 9min
Growth Tactics For Your Family-Owned Construction Business with Ashlee & Alexis of MDT Inc. | E347
EPISODE 347: Running a construction business is tough. It even gets challenging when you're doing it with your family. However, these two sisters found a way around to turn chaos into order. In this week's episode, I sit down with sisters Ashlee Mejia and Alexis Izquierdo of MDT Inc., a contracting firm based in Southern California and students of our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) Program. They share their journey of transitioning from remodeling to larger-scale projects, using Instagram for marketing, and the crucial role of pre-construction planning. We also dive into the challenges of working with family, their strategies for overcoming these, the impactful changes they've made to their business, and more. Tune in now to learn how you can transform your family-owned construction business into a success! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Ashlee and Alexis from MDT Inc. (02:52) How they got into the construction industry (04:13) From corporate to entrepreneurship (09:34) Common Instagram marketing mistakes (15:28) Effective social media marketing strategies (17:40) Symptoms of lack of business structure (24:26) Dealing with profit bleeds and free estimates (26:51) Challenges in implementing systems and processes (29:25) Benefits of pre-construction planning (30:57) Most impactful changes made in the business (37:22) How MDT Inc. looks now (42:43) Advice for those who are working ON their business (50:14) Life after systematizing their construction business (53:23) Rapid fire questions answered (1:00:58) Final advice (1:03:24) Keep up with Ashlee and Alexis (1:06:06) Additional Resources: - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Check out MDT Inc. - Follow MDT Inc. on Instagram HERE - Visit their website HERE for more information -- 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!

Jul 29, 2024 • 1h 9min
How Technology Can Efficiently Scale Your Construction Business | E346
EPISODE 346: Are you tired of the chaos in your construction business? Do you wake up at night worrying about project management and cash flow? Today's guest might have the solution you need. Meet Eric Fortenberry, the founder and CEO of JobTread, an all-in-one construction project management software for builders and contractors. Today, Eric shares his journey from transforming a chaotic construction company into an organized, scalable operation using systematization and technology. Learn how to implement real-time cost management, use templates to streamline operations, get your team on board with new technology, and more Ready to take control of your business and turn it into a well-oiled machine? Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) From software to construction (02:05) How Eric Fortenberry started JobTread (06:36) What happens when you don't manage your cash flow effectively (13:09) Stop digging yourself out of a hole (16:39) Acknowledge and take action (21:30) Challenges construction companies are dealing with (24:28) Is your business designed to succeed or fail? (30:05) The importance of financial planning (32:10) How to get your team on board with new technology (38:25) Ways to leverage JobTread for efficiency (46:04) Surprising construction trends (53:05) Unconventional business belief (58:59) Keep up with Eric (1:03:25) Episode wrap-up (1:06:15) Additional Resources: - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Keep up with Eric Fortenberry - Connect with Eric on LinkedIn HERE - Check Out JobTread on YouTube HERE - Visit JobTread HERE to schedule a demo -- 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!

Jul 22, 2024 • 56min
Build a Brand: Why It's As Crucial as Your Systems and Processes | E345
EPISODE 345: What makes a construction company attractive to customers? In this week's episode, we're joined by Anthony Perera, a serial entrepreneur who has successfully built and sold multiple businesses, including a popular mud racing magazine and a multi-state HVAC company. Today, Anthony shares his journey from his first venture at 19 to his current role in the private equity firm Exuma Capital Partners. He offers valuable brand-building insights and explains why it's as crucial as your systems and processes for scaling a business. Tune in now to discover the secrets behind Anthony's success and learn how you can apply them to your business. Let's jump right into it! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) From a mud racer to a magazine publisher (03:13) What does it mean to build a brand first? (05:40) How to build an attractive construction brand (07:53) From 2 employees to 1,000 employees (10:53) Documenting processes, tracking, & holding your team accountable (15:05) How to properly hire and train your people (24:13) Keys to building a sellable business (31:25) Top tips when acquiring a business (36:13) How to get people to buy into a new process (39:18) Anthony's private equity firm–Exuma Capital Partners (40:15) Should you start a business from scratch or acquire an existing one? (45:11) Rapid-fire questions with Anthony (47:08) Episode wrap-up (53:16) Additional Resources: - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Keep up with Anthony - Connect with him on LinkedIn HERE Book Mentioned - Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman -- 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!

Jul 15, 2024 • 1h 10min
Insider Tips: How to Keep Your Client Pipeline Full Year-Round | E344
EPISODE 344: Do you ever wish your construction business could run smoother, attract better clients, and be more profitable? Join us for a special roundtable discussion with the Construction Leading Edge coaches, Leyah Hostetter, Monish Khadye, and yours truly. Today, we share insider tips that have helped hundreds of construction business owners transform their operations and personal lives. We'll discuss the power of customer journey mapping and how setting clear client expectations can make your business stand out from the competition. Plus, we'll reveal strategies, tools, productivity hacks, and morning routines to help you uncover hidden profits, streamline your process, and truly bring out the best CEO in you. If you're serious about taking your construction business to the next level, this episode is jampacked with insights from those who've made it. Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The importance of customer experience journey mapping (04:42) How to align your team with the financial side of the business (08:43) #1 tool to effectively delegate complicated tasks (13:50) Productivity hacks and mourning routines for success (16:44) Coaching tactics that have a significant impact on clients (26:25) Biggest limiting beliefs that are holding entrepreneurs back (42:56) How business owners can help their team embrace growth (48:06) Tips when tailoring your coaching styles (53:57) Episode wrap-up (1:03:47) Additional Resources: - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Books Mentioned: - The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy - 10x is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy - Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy -- 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!

Jul 8, 2024 • 1h 22min
Why Neglecting Pre-Construction is the Biggest Mistake You Can Make with Mikhail Gannage | E343
EPISODE 343: What's the most important part of a construction project? Is it pre-construction or the building phase? If you answered the building phase, it's time to reexamine your system and start prioritizing your pre-construction process. This week's guest has a lot to share about this topic. Join me as I interview my good friend and owner of Gannage Design & Construction, Mikhail Gannage. In today's episode, Mikhail and I talk about his remarkable transition from hands-on work to a process-driven approach. Inspired by his background in industrial robotics, he shares how meticulous pre-construction planning is the secret to success. He reveals the strategies and tools that impacted his construction business, the limiting beliefs that hold people back, what it's like to own a company rather than run one, and more. Let's jump right in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Mikhail Gannage (03:26) Commercial vs. residential projects (08:46) Lessons from a Top Gun instructor & pilot (11:16) Limiting beliefs that hold people back (15:20) Finding the "who" and the monkey bar analogy (21:26) Challenges that Mikhail faced in his business (27:43) Impactful strategies and tools (34:07) Getting your estimation down to a process (39:31) The most important part of a construction project (46:23) From running a construction company to owning one (1:00:00) The CEO Alliance, setting goals and rapid-fire questions (1:08:34) Additional Resources: - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE - Or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Keep up with Mikhail - Check out Gannage Design & Construction HERE - Follow them on Facebook and Instagram - Got some questions? Email Mikhail at mikhail@gannageconstruction.com -- 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!

Jul 1, 2024 • 1h 11min
From Fear to Success: A 20-Year Veteran Builder's Proven Success Formula with Mark Williams | E342
EPISODE 342: Imagine starting a custom home building business with no safety net, fully embracing the fear of failure, and emerging victorious. Not many can do that, but this week's guest did exactly that. Meet Mark Williams. Mark is the founder of Mark D Williams Custom Homes and host of The Curious Builder podcast. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Mark reveals how overcoming fear is a stepping stone for success. Today, he shares practical ways to be "steady at the helm" no matter what, how to find and work with your ideal client, the importance of setting clear expectations and boundaries with clients, and more. Curious to learn how to turn failure into success? Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Mark Williams (02:22) Importance of removing the safety net and overcoming fear (06:05) Practical ways to maintain steady at the helm (08:56) How to find and work with your ideal client (14:59) Advice on turning away prospective clients who aren't the right fit (23:04) On setting clear expectations and boundaries with clients (31:14) Biggest business lessons Mark learned from his father (37:22) Common mistakes builders make and how to avoid them (39:55) Mark's Curious Builder Podcast and its impact on his business (48:18) Rapid fire questions answered (1:03:13) Episode wrap-up (1:05:20) Additional Resources: - Secure Your Family and Business's Future HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Keep up with Mark - Follow Mark on Instagram Here - Check out Mark D Williams Custom Homes Here - Listen to The Curious Builder Podcast 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!

Jun 24, 2024 • 1h 12min
Achieve Absolute Freedom with This Transformative Principle | E341
EPISODE 341: Many of those who find the right "whos" for their business have seen significant increases in success. However, most entrepreneurs are crippled by the mentality that hiring more people is an expense. Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy, authors of Who Not How, beg to disagree. Join me in this riveting discussion with our very own Construction Leading Edge coaches, Leyah Hostetter and Monish Khadye, as we break down to you the Who Not How philosophy. Today, we'll unpack the four areas of freedom: time, money, relationships, and purpose, and how effective delegation can help you unlock all four. We'll discuss the pitfalls of the "How" mindset and its impact on business growth, strategies for finding and empowering the right people, and the role of transformational relationships in personal and professional success. Ready to level up your construction business? Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) The Who Not How philosophy (01:29) Four areas of freedom (03:30) Real-life application of the who, not how concept (08:23) The opportunity cost of not delegating (22:23) The truth about investing in people (31:30) Focusing on who articulates your vision (33:38) The how mindset causes you to be a bottleneck (44:25) What does embracing the Who Not How philosophy look like? (51:07) Final thoughts and takeaways (1:03:50) Additional Resources: - Secure Your Family and Business's Future HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" -- 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!

Jun 17, 2024 • 1h 11min
The Hidden Dangers of Neglecting Estate & Succession Planning with Attorneys Dusty and Jennifer King | E340
EPISODE 340: Is your business prepared for the unexpected? Many small business owners don't have a plan for business continuity in case of death or disability. They never thought that by neglecting this crucial aspect of their business, they risk depriving their families and employees of a secure future. In this week's episode, we've invited experienced estate planning attorneys Dusty and Jennifer King. They reveal the most critical mistakes business owners often make and the consequences of not having an estate plan. Learn more about the basics of estate planning, the importance of proper documentation, common misconceptions about estate planning, and much more. Whether you're just starting out or have been running your construction business for years, this episode is packed with knowledge on protecting your business and ensuring its continuity. Don't leave your business's future to chance. Tune in now! Key Takeaways: Introduction (00:00) Meet Dusty and Jennifer King (01:08) Common mistakes in estate planning (01:50) Consequences of not having an estate plan (04:32) Impact of probate on business operations (07:16) Licensing issues upon the owner's death (10:47) Misconceptions about estate planning (17:26) The basics of estate planning (26:12) Operational considerations for business succession (33:33) Importance of proper documentation (42:25) Real-life case study (52:58) How to find a good estate planning attorney (1:04:06) Additional Resources: - Secure Your Family and Business's Future HERE - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE or send a text message to 877-755-2410 with the word "APPLY" Keep up with Dusty and Jennifer King - Visit their website for more information HERE - Follow King & King PLC on Facebook - Need advice? Contact them at 251-501-6100 / 731-664-6864 -- 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!


