The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

Have you felt the loneliness of a leader? Although leaders are surrounded by people, they may still feel alone due to the multitude of responsibilities they have to maintain the business. To get through this week, Tom encourages you to keep going with your gut when you know something is right and not back down.   In this episode, we talk about…  Examples where the leader is often standing alone or feeling alone. Sometimes, as a leader, you have to make decisions that are not popular with your team Listening to your gut when something feels right and then sticking to it   Resources: If you enjoy the podcast please consider leaving us a rating and share the show with a fellow contractor: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-contractor-fight-with-tom-reber/id964304361   Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realtomreber    == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground == Get your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book == Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: http://thecontractorfight.com/facebook == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber Instagram: http://thecontractorfight.com/ig Live Unafraid Swag: http://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid     The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Gathering and sharing information with your clients is a vital part of the contracting world, but you need to consider how much information you should gather and share to best serve them and yourself!    Tim and Greg discuss gathering information from the clients, knowing what information to provide them with, and not being afraid of saying "it depends" on certain circumstances.   In this episode, we talk about…  Knowing when you're giving too much information to the clients Identifying who you talk to and how much information they need  Confidently saying the word, "it depends" to the client when you don't want to provide too much information Paying attention to the clients' hints on how they want to receive information   Resources:    Greg Dempsey, GC with Stonehill Builders - https://stonehillbuilders.com/    Tim Cutroni, Pond Builder with New England Aquatic Landscapes - https://iloveponds.com/    Download The Contractor’s Guide to Spotting a Cheap Prospect BEFORE They Waste Your Time and never hear “we need to think about it” again! https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap/    == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground    == Order your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book    == Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook    == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber  Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig  Live Unafraid Swag: https://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid    The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Dan talks about the importance of being true to yourself when operating your business and reminds you to take an objective look at yourself and your business and to be honest about what needs to be improved and what changes you can make.   In this episode, we talk about…  Setting yourself up for success with the way your business is structured Encouragement to objectively assess yourself and your business and being honest about improvements that can be made. Areas where people struggle with their business:  Lack of clarity with the business plan,   Uncertainty about the ideal client and the ideal project, And issues with the sales process   Resources:  == Check out Contractor Sales Pros on Facebook. The place to ask questions and share strategies and best practices to help each other get better as salespeople in the construction industry: https://thecontractorfight.com/salespro    == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground    == Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook    == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media ==   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber    Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig    Live Unafraid Swag: https://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid    The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid. 

In response to questions from Carl and Christopher, Tom and Dan discuss the reasonable closing rate from a salesperson and strategies for employee conflict resolution. In this episode, we talk about…   Question 1: What is an acceptable closing rate from your salesperson? The closing rate depends on things like:  Lead source, Great marketing that speaks to your ideal clients,  Your website, etc. You can expect at least a 90% close rate when you go out on-site — if you factor in marketing and pre-qualification using Shin-Fu. *You should hover around 50% when it comes to lead sources Question 2: I used to avoid employee conflicts, hoping that they would resolve themselves, but that didn't work too well. I want to address the conflicts directly, but I'm not good at being a mediator. Do you have any advice on employee conflict resolution that would help me out? Don't allow the conflict to fester — the longer you wait to resolve it, the bigger it becomes Make no assumptions — so many of our issues and miscommunications with other people stem from assumptions we both make Resources:  Submit your questions to help@thecontractorfight.com with the subject “Podcast” and Tom and Dan will try to answer them on an upcoming show. Visit our sponsors of this episode, NiceJob. NiceJob is Reputation Marketing software that will help your business collect 2-3 times more reviews on Google, Facebook, and the platforms that matter. Don’t forget to use code “Fight” for $50 off the first month on new accounts!  https://www.TheContractorFight.com/nicejob  Are you stealing money from your family because you aren’t charging enough for your services? Discover what you SHOULD be charging. Download our 50% Gross Profit cheat sheet: https://thecontractorfight.com/50 == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground  == Order your free copy of Tom’s book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book  == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/  == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber  Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig  Live Unafraid Swag: https://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid  The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Tom is joined by the father-son duo, Steve Spinelli and Billy Spinelli of UniPro Painting, which has been serving in Northeast Ohio for over 26 years. Steve and Billy have been involved with the BATTLEGROUND group and other The Fight programs for a couple of years. The three discuss being successful in the commercial industry, Spinelli’s fascinating pre-qualifying process and using LinkedIn to grow the businesses.   In this episode, we talk about…  Lessons Steve and Billy learned from The Fight that was helpful in the commercial arena Being able to stand out among competitors through your communication skills Some of the challenges contractors face in the commercial world The importance of putting content consistently on social media About their pre-qual process — interviewing the clients to see if they are a good fit or not Putting your content on LinkedIn and using it to gain clientele LinkedIn being the wide-open frontier for contractors — the competition is so minimal on there Advice for contractors interested in getting on LinkedIn to build their brand and grow their business   Resources:  Steve and Billy's company -  UniPro Painting: https://unipropainting.com/    = Join us in BATTLEGROUND – Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground     = The profit you earn starts with the stories you tell.  Most contractors will never build their empire because they're telling the WRONG stories. Join us this September in Denver, and learn how to control your story and your profit. https://thecontractorfight.com/mhps    = Get your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship): https://thecontractorfight.com/book    = Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: http://thecontractorfight.com/facebook    = Grab the Gear: https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    = Find Us on Social Media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber  Instagram: http://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

Want to work less and make twice what you do now? Do you want to raise the prices for your services but are afraid to do so? Then tune in as Tom, Steve and Derek dispel the myths surrounding raising your prices and share what business coaches and consultants don't tell you about raising your prices.   In this episode, we talk about…  The reasons to raise your prices and why many people are afraid to do so Debunking the myths about raising your prices The factors that will enable you to increase your prices The situation when contractors have to justify the increase in price Raising your prices without playing the blame game Making your customers want you no matter how high your prices are Raising yourself to the level where the clients compare all the others to you   Resources: Need to level-up your sales game? Check out Contractor Sales Pros on Facebook: https://thecontractorfight.com/salespro    == Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==  Up your sales game! Find everything your contracting business needs to price, sell and produce for profit in one comprehensive program - BATTLEGROUND. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground  == Get your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book == Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: http://thecontractorfight.com/facebook == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber Instagram: http://thecontractorfight.com/ig Live Unafraid Swag: http://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid     The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Have you ever made an assumption that turned out to be incorrect? Assumptions are beliefs that are taken for granted, but they can seriously impede your sales efforts. Tom asks you to approach this week with the commitment of not making any assumptions.   In this episode, we talk about…  Selling with a blank slate in your mind Not making assumptions when conversing with someone Asking dumb questions to the potential customer Not pricing the job based on your assumption about the financial condition of the client   Resources:   If you enjoy the podcast please consider leaving us a rating and share the show with a fellow contractor: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-contractor-fight-with-tom-reber/id964304361   Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realtomreber    == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground == Get your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book == Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: http://thecontractorfight.com/facebook == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber Instagram: http://thecontractorfight.com/ig Live Unafraid Swag: http://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid     The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Do sales remind you of dating in any way? Sales is just like dating — they both begin with a chase, followed by meetings, leading to a final decision. Tim and Greg share a few lessons salespeople can learn from dating.   In this episode, we talk about…  Similarities between dating and sales Taking note of the flaws before making a decision — whether it is in sales or a relationship Creating an emotional bond — both of them need to feel connected Resources:    Greg Dempsey, GC with Stonehill Builders - https://stonehillbuilders.com/    Tim Cutroni, Pond Builder with New England Aquatic Landscapes - https://iloveponds.com/    Download The Contractor’s Guide to Spotting a Cheap Prospect BEFORE They Waste Your Time and never hear “we need to think about it” again! https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap/    == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground    == Order your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book    == Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook    == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber  Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig  Live Unafraid Swag: https://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid    The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Tom and Dan address the concern of a contractor about the 50% gross profit rule, who argues that 50% gross profit is ripping people off when it comes to home renovations. He claims while 50% gross profit may make sense on a smaller project — like a French door installation — it seems outrageous when doing renovations on a large scale.   In this episode, we talk about…   Understanding how money works in a business 50% gross profit is feasible, and that does not mean you are screwing your customers Selling shouldn't be based on your own budget or your own assumptions about the value. When you make more profit, you can: Provide a better experience to your customers Honor your warranties  Make a callback and not argue with the customer Hire better people Take care of your team, provide them with training, and provide them with a career path   Resources:  Submit your questions to help@thecontractorfight.com with the subject “Podcast” and Tom and Dan will try to answer them on an upcoming show.   Are you stealing money from your family because you aren’t charging enough for your services? Discover what you SHOULD be charging. Download our 50% Gross Profit cheat sheet: https://thecontractorfight.com/50   == Join us in BATTLEGROUND == Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground    == Order your free copy of Tom’s book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship) == https://thecontractorfight.com/book    == Grab the Gear == https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/    == Find Us on Social Media == YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber  Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig  Live Unafraid Swag: https://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid    The Contractor Fight is the ultimate resource for becoming an uncommon contractor! Pick a fight with mediocrity. Live Unafraid.

Tom talks to Jordan Smith of MT Copeland. Jordan is the head of education at MT Copeland. Their conversation centers on the need in the contractor world for trained labor and the advantages of online learning in the construction industry, which benefits both employees and the company.   In this episode, we talk about…  Need for trained labor in the contractor world  Information about MT Copeland and why it was named that Courses they provide at MT Copeland and the length of their courses DiSC model — (D)ominance, (i)nfluence, (S)teadiness, and (C)onscientiousness) Jordan’s role as Head of Education at the company Social media marketing Training apprentices to do an efficient and effective job Resources:    = MT Copeland: hhttps://thecontractorfight.com/mt   = Join us in BATTLEGROUND - Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground    = Get your free copy of Tom's book Winning the Contractor Fight (Just pay to ship): https://thecontractorfight.com/book    = Connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: http://thecontractorfight.com/facebook  = Grab the Gear: https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/  = Find Us on Social Media:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber  Instagram: http://thecontractorfight.com/ig  Live Unafraid Swag: http://thecontractorfight.com/unafraid