The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

It’s all about working on your business, not in your business. That’s the only way to make your business better! Tom’s guest today is Frank Borque, a consultant and coach to contractors all over the world. Frank has been a contractor for many years, building a business to over 100 employees only to watch it crumble with the financial crisis of 2008. At that point, he had to rebuild his company to be more efficient, cutting off anyone and anything that wasn’t essential. Since then, he has sold the business and currently consults in order to give back to the contracting community. He will be co-hosting the Home Service Super Summit with over 30,000 contractors!   In this episode, we talk about… 30,000-foot flyover of Frank’s life and career Frank’s shifting moment that changed the course of his business How to know when it’s time to hire someone and who to hire Be completely real and transparent with your clients and employees Fixing the shortage in the hiring industry right now Walking around like you have all the answers helps no one A crucial piece of information that will help you grow your business Recognize your and your team’s unique abilities Diving into the Home Service Super Summit   Links to resources: Crucial Conversations 1-800-GotJunk E-Myth Get your ticket to the Home Service Super Summit on June, 11th, and learn how to scale your home service business with over 30,000 other contractors from all over the world! Connect with Frank on his website: frankbourque.com  Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night The $100k Contractor is designed to get you to at least $100k a year in personal income. It’s time we quit stealing from our families and get that time back! The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

Having your home remodeled is not a cheap venture, so the worst thing you can do is rush it and choose the wrong contractor. Tom’s guest today is Jean Brownhill. Jean runs a rapidly expanding business from New York City. After a classic terrible experience with a general contractor, she decided to start her own business that serves as a network for only the best general contractors that are all committed to being the best in their field. It is her mission to ensure that homeowners find the right contractor and contractors find the right projects. Time is money, so stop throwing it away!   In this episode, we talk about… What led Jean to starting her business in 2011 The unique structure of Jean’s business and why it’s different Customer service expands beyond the homeowner side Common mistakes made by the homeowners and contractors Most common feedback that can help contractors Biggest problems that stand between Jean and growing her business Take that first step towards turning a dream into a business Building community during a pandemic lockdown   Links to resources: HomeAdvisor The Today Show Find the best projects for your contracting company: https://sweeten.com/ Check out Jean’s company on Instagram! Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night The $100k Contractor is designed to get you to at least $100k a year in personal income. It’s time we quit stealing from our families and get that time back! The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

Everything in life starts with the right mindset, and everything will fall into place after that. That same principle applies to owning a business. Tom’s guest today is Shiloh Churchill. Shiloh owns and operates a landscaping business in Boulder, Colorado. He was able to take his business from under $100k in the first year to over $1M in the second year at the age of only 16. Shiloh has found success for multiple reasons, but behind all of those is his mindset of staying intentional with everything that he does. If you run your business by chance then it will fail. The mind is a fertile ground so be careful what you are planting in it!   In this episode, we talk about… Shiloh’s journey to get into the landscaping business Number challenges that come with starting your own business Mischarging problems that experienced contractors make all the time Different challenges presented with running a business at such a young age Stay intentional when developing your company culture You need employees that can fill in for you Invest leftover dollars in your marketing whenever you can   Links to resources: QuickBooks                                                                                          Angie’s List Shiloh’s website: Mountainskylandscapingllc.com Shiloh’s number: 720-951-0365 Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night The $100k Contractor is designed to get you to at least $100k a year in personal income. It’s time we quit stealing from our families and get that time back! The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99  

There is nothing more important to the health of any business in this country than knowing the numbers. Tom’s guest today is Vicki Suiter, a woman who simplifies the complexities of finance for contractors and business owners around the country. Vicki was a banker for 7 years and finally realized that she couldn’t work 70 hours every week for someone else’s dream. You can learn all about how managing your margins can save your contracting business in her book, The Profit Bleed. When you understand that all of your numbers translate directly to what happens on your job sites, you can set your goals and manage your jobs to a particular margin. Don’t go into this thing blind, especially now, because it will chew you up and spit you out. Learn your numbers!   In this episode, we talk about… Impressions that Vicki had when she entered the contracting world What does it actually mean to know your numbers? Diving into the motivations behind The Profit Bleed The best way to bring respect back to the trades Where to start when creating a budget for your business People do not understand how much they have to markup to make a profit Marketing and business development are not the places to cut costs Find out your break-even percentage to figure out your desired overhead Tactical low-hanging fruit for contractors who are struggling right now If you are going to have a business, it should serve you Take pride in being a great employer and your employees will remain loyal   Links to resources: QuickBooks Vicki’s website: https://suiterbusinessbuilders.com/ Get Vicki’s book for free at theprofitbleed.com/free! Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night The $100k Contractor is designed to get you to at least $100k a year in personal income. It’s time we quit stealing from our families and get that time back! The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99  

Everything has been thrown up in the air like we’ve never seen before and it seems like the tendency is for everyone to run around like chickens with their heads cut off. You just don’t have to look at it that way. Abraham Lincoln said, “If I have 6 hours to cut down a tree, I’m going to spend 4 hours sharpening the ax.” Now is the time to sharpen the ax. Wherever there is crisis, there is also opportunity. Tom’s guest today is Todd Dawalt, a man who specializes in finding those opportunities. Todd is an executive business coach and brings a ton of great content for the construction industry on his podcast, Construction Leading Edge. He knows all about the different opportunities that are presented during times of crisis and how to jump on those opportunities. If you don’t think you are going to survive this thing, then close shop, but if you plan on being in business after this, look for the opportunity. Just make the decision! Stay tuned for Todd’s 2-word question that has made him hundreds of thousands of dollars!   In this episode, we talk about… Finding the opportunity amid the sea of crisis Sharpen the ax by hoarding the profit that you have in your backlog The phase of the project that can help you keep a lot of the profit Find the customer’s motivations so you can give them the best experience possible Todd’s 2-word question that has made him hundreds of thousands of dollars Problems that contractors run into that lead to profit leads Just make a decision about the future of your business   Links to resources: Never Split The Difference Lithco Contracting Rock the Recession Check out Todd on LinkedIn or at his website: http://constructionleadingedge.com/ Construction Leading Edge TV YouTube Check out EP156 of Todd’s podcast for the 8 profit bleeds that are killing contractors! Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night $100k Contractor The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast Text CONTRACTOR FIGHT to 877-807-1740 to get more connected and help you build a better business Want some fight swag to wear? Share this episode on Instagram or Facebook with #JoinTheFight and our team will pick one winner each week to recognize your help in spreading the fight message!   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

Right now, contractors need their customers more than ever. Times are changing and there is no denying that. Tough times are ahead and the best avenue to get through to the other end is your past customers. Today, Tom and Brian Kaskavalciyan are back with a double-double, both recording for their respective podcasts. That’s 2 for 1, people! Brian’s company, gFour Marketing Group, helps contractors get reviews, referrals, and repeat business after a job is completed. Remember, a satisfied customer is a liability, but a raving fan will drive your business for years to come!   In this episode, we talk about… The 30,000-foot view of what Brian does and who he helps When things change, you’re going to need your customers to get through it Those who are committed to building their brands are doing just fine Why you need to be raising your prices right now Keeping the right mindset is the most important thing right now Whatever we focus on we will get more of How to get more reviews and more referrals Think about the long-term value that your customers are worth   Links to resources: Perry’s Steakhouse Grub Hub To get your free copy of The Seven Secrets: https://www.thewealthycontractor.com/?r_done=1 If you are interested in relationship-marketing, check out gFour Marketing Group Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night $100k Contractor The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast Text CONTRACTOR FIGHT to 877-807-1740 to get more connected and help you build a better business   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

Sales are oxygen for the life of a business, and just because the world has stopped moving doesn’t mean that your business can stop breathing. Tom’s guest today, David Chism, knows all about how to bring in that oxygen. David has spent years helping contractors with their marketing, and it such unprecedented times like these, contractors need more help than ever. You need to ask yourself three questions. Where are you at right now? Where do you want to get to? How are you going to get there? Remember, you don’t have to do it alone!   In this episode, we talk about… 30,000-foot fly-by of David’s business and who he helps Some of the most common marketing mistakes made by contractors Tracking plays an important role in achieving your goals Marketing changes when you start getting into the big numbers Protecting your brand when marketing by committee Understand that marketing does not have the immediate gratification of contracting   Links to resources: Check out David’s services on his website: Adavidcreation.com Text David: 301-401-7890 Reach out to David via email: david@adavidcreation.com Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night $100k Contractor The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast Text CONTRACTOR FIGHT to 877-807-1740 to get more connected and help you build a better business   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

Right now, you can choose to let the current state of the world, a divorce, financial problems, or a million other excuses stop you from moving forward. If that doesn’t work for you, then you can grab your life by its collar and make it work for you. The choice is yours. Tom has Jeremiah Campbell in the house today, metaphorically, of course, to discuss how becoming present and self-aware trump all when it comes to achieving your goal. Jeremiah has been a masonry contractor since he was 18 years old, building his company through the ebbs and flows of the economy since 2007 to $5 million this past year. From a young age, he was in and out of rehab centers for drug and alcohol addictions, and it was actually a 12-step meeting that led him to masonry in the first place. Jeremiah’s message is simple: look in the mirror and take control of your own destiny!   In this episode, we talk about… The 30,000-foot view of Jeremiah’s life and how he built his life Jeremiah’s pinnacle moment that changed the course of his life Ego comes from below as well as above You show up the same way for everything that you do When you make enough money, your defense is better Anything you can make serves you if you choose to remember it differently Success is directly related to how willing you are to be uncomfortable The importance of hiring a great sales coach Figure out your greatest definition of success Handling the different stresses that come with a global pandemic How could this be the best thing that’s ever happened to you? The best leaders are polarizing and aren’t afraid to piss some people off   Links to resources: The Four Agreements Extreme Ownership The Power of Now Drop The Rocks Check out Jeremiah’s message on Instagram  or his podcast: https://www.destinedtobepodcast.com/ Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night $100k Contractor The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast Text CONTRACTOR FIGHT to 877-807-1740 to get more connected and help you build a better business   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

Dave Sullivan is the host of The Roofer Show which is a kick ass podcast helping contractors in the roofing industry. Even if you’re not a roofer, he’s got great guests and they dig a lot into the numbers, sales, operations, and more. Dave and I talk about some of the mindsets that are going to be crucial to you making it through the challenges that are going on right now with Coronavirus and the economy.   Links to resources: The Roofer Show Schedule A Contractor Sales Academy Demo Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night $100k Contractor The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast Text CONTRACTOR FIGHT to 877-807-1740 to get more connected and help you build a better business   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99

In this episode, Tom shoots the shit with Mike Klotz. Mike is a long-time member of The Contractor Fight and has been a part of our programs for quite a while and is doing some really good stuff. Since he’s joined the fight, he’s recaptured a ton of his time, doubled his personal income, and is barely running around anymore while making a ton of more money. Tom and Mike really dig into Mike’s take on how to be more successful in your business and in particular your sales process.   Links to resources: Order Your Fight Planner The Contractor Fight Facebook Group The Contractor Fight Night $100k Contractor The Bridge The Contractor Fight TV The Contractor Sales Academy Podcast Text CONTRACTOR FIGHT to 877-807-1740 to get more connected and help you build a better business   Want to stop sucking the life out of your contracting business? Join the Contractor Sales Academy and take command of your entire sales process! CSA is a game changer for your business.   Read more at http://strongpreneur.libsyn.com/#vyWRWfcf0VRHIKyQ.99