To get your free Hiring Resource Bundle, click here: https://trybta.com/DL267

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP267

Most contractors post a job ad, get zero qualified applicants, and wonder why they can't find good people. The problem isn't the labor market — it's your hiring system.

In this roundtable, Matt Risinger (founder of The Build Show Network), Jacob Toler ($2.8M contractor running a 35% gross profit), and BTA coach Matt Balfe break down exactly how top contractors recruit, hire, and retain A-players — even when no one's applying.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your job postings aren't attracting qualified candidates (and what to do instead)
• Hiring systems that build your bench so you're always staffed for busy season
• Creative recruitment strategies the best contractors use to find A-players
• The difference between hiring out of desperation vs. hiring from a position of strength

Whether you're a general contractor, remodeler, or specialty trade, if you're struggling to find good employees for your construction business, this conversation is your blueprint.

00:00-Intro & speaker backgrounds

08:21-Identifying hiring pain points & root causes

09:58-Candidate screening & interview process

30:08-Out-of-the-box recruiting & social media tactics

43:18-Leveraging AI and automation in recruitment

48:37-Key hiring lessons: ability over reactivity

01:14:53-Q&A: references & quality growth

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP266

Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL266

Can you actually run a contracting business with your spouse…

…and still like each other at the end of the day?

Caleb Auman (host of the Kid Contractor Podcast) and his wife Brittany have been through bankruptcy, business failure, and the kind of fights that almost ended everything. In this episode, they share the hard-won rules for how they rebuilt — together — and turned their marriage into their biggest competitive advantage.

If you and your partner are building a business side by side (or thinking about it), this one's for you.

🔥 What You'll Learn in This Episode

By the end of this conversation, you'll know how to:

• Navigate the real tension between being business partners and life partners
• Define clear roles so you stop stepping on each other's toes
• Fight productively — without letting business stress destroy your relationship
• Rebuild trust and alignment after a major failure (including bankruptcy)
• Parent effectively while running a demanding contracting business
• Set boundaries between "work mode" and "marriage mode"
• Turn your partnership into a system that makes your business stronger

Check out The Kid Contractor Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8UxQJ9VFnDk4B2f7vMZzJLoWikTD_08k

00:00-Intro

03:37-Defining Missions and Shared Why

06:46-Navigating Bankruptcy and Partnership Roles

18:42-Dividing Spouse-Run Business Role

27:08-Self-Realization, Humility, and Leadership

40:07-Tools for Healthy Communication

50:17-Parenting and Instilling Values

59:28-Final Thoughts on Life Perspective

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP265

Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL265

Your biggest expense is labor. If you aren’t tracking it accurately, your job costing is a lie. In this episode, Derrik Shakespear (CRO of AlignOps) reveals why most contractors bleed profit through inaccurate time tracking—and how to fix it without micromanaging your crew.

If you’re still using paper timesheets or trusting the "honor system," you’re likely losing thousands in unbilled hours and slip-ups every single year.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

• Stop "managing blind" and get accurate data on your biggest expense (Labor)
• Compare Estimates vs. Actuals to see which jobs actually made money
• Implement digital time tracking without your crew feeling "Big Brothered"
• Spot the "Silent Killers" in your workflow that paper timesheets hide
• Use construction time tracking data to bid more accurately next time
• Turn time data into a competitive advantage for safety and liability
• Move from "guessing" productivity to measuring it like a manufacturer

00:00-Intro

02:24-The importance of time tracking in construction

08:59-Productivity comparisons: Manufacturing vs. construction

14:26-Essential components of a healthy time tracking system

20:14-Frequency and best practices for reviewing project data

26:02-Strategies and pitfalls for owner adoption of technology

31:47-Incentivizing field crews and gamification

34:43-The future of AI in the construction industry

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP264



Stop obsessing over lead generation and start building a real marketing machine.

In this episode, Matt Jones (Founder of Tradie Web Guys & Host of The Site Shed) lays out the future of contractor marketing - from strategy and systems to for contractors and smarter, higher-quality leads.

If you’re a contractor who feels like you’re spending more on ads but not seeing profit, this conversation will change how you think about marketing forever.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

• Build a real marketing strategy (not just random tactics or “more leads”)
• Define the right success markers so you know if your marketing is actually working
• Use customer lifetime value to make smarter marketing decisions
• Increase conversions without just pumping more cash into ads
• Position yourself as the go-to expert in your market
• Use 58 ai marketing tools to boost SEO, follow-up, and customer support
• Take the first practical AI step as a contractor today

00:00-Intro

03:35-Defining a Marketing Strategy

07:58-The Truth About Generating Leads

10:10-Defining the Ideal Customer and Screening Process

13:07-Focusing on Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)

25:18-Achieving Consistent Growth and Predictability

30:53-Balancing Lead Generation and Branding

42:37-Implementing a Paid Priority Program for High-Ticket Services

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP263

Make training your next hire a breeze by grabbing a copy of our training checklist template: https://trybta.com/DL263

High employee turnover is killing profitability in the trades. And unfortunately, there is no quick fix.



In this episode of Contractor Evolution, we sit down with Mike Matalone, author of Hire. Train. Retain., to break down exactly why you’re losing your best people and how to stop the bleeding.

Managing employee retention isn't just about paying more; it requires building robust systems at every stage of the employee lifecycle. Mike reveals the secrets to unlocking 40-60% more productivity from your current team by tapping into their "discretionary effort."

If construction hiring and retention are constantly giving you headaches, this episode gives you the blueprint to build a culture that keeps top talent engaged for the long haul. You'll learn the difference between hiring for roles versus people, the three onboarding steps that make new hires stick, and why career paths often matter more to your crew than their paycheck.

Check out Mike’s book here: https://www.amazon.ca/Hire-Train-Retain-People-Things/dp/0578551438

00:00-Intro

03:34-Why New Hires Leave in the First 90 Days

06:42-The XP3 Talent System and People Systems

11:17-Shifting from Management to Coaching and Creating Careers

14:19-Role Clarity and Defining Success in Hiring

21:17-The Importance of Personality, Skill, and Core Values in Hiring

35:24-Training and Onboarding Objectives: Creating an Amazing Experience

50:17-Retention Strategies and Interviewing for Fit

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP262

To download the exact accountability resources Blake used to turn a 30% Net Profit, click here: https://trybta.com/DL262

Most contractors believe you have to choose: be the "nice guy" and lose money, or be the "tough boss" and lose your team. Blake Butry, owner of Churchill USA, proves that is a myth.

Since joining Breakthrough Academy in 2022, Blake has doubled his revenue while hitting an incredible 30.8% net profit. Even more impressive? He did it by building a culture centered on "emotional generosity."

In this episode, we break down exactly how he balances strict financial accountability with genuine care for his team, and how you can apply this "fair but firm" approach to your own contracting business.

In this episode, we cover:

• Insights into productive (and profitable) leadership strategies, emphasizing the balance between emotional generosity and structural fairness.
• The significance of articulating emotions, seeking counseling, and establishing healthy stress management practices
• How investing in team members' growth and maintaining a balance between work and personal life can lead to long-term success and a positive work environment.

00:00-Intro

01:57-Background on Blake Butry and Churchill USA

04:23-The Evolution of Leadership and Team Building

07:48-Operating with Structural Fairness and Emotional Generosity

10:33-The Influence of Clear Roles and Boundaries on the Team

14:48-The Duality of Structure and Trust in Leadership

27:23-Balancing Fairness and Generosity in Compensation

44:57-Self-Leadership, Stress, and Anxiety Management

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP261

Grab your free Project Management Resource Bundle here: https://trybta.com/DL261

In this episode of Contractor Evolution, we’re releasing a talk Danny did at Build Show Live. In just 60 minutes, he breaks down the exact project management system he’s seen hundreds of contractors use to cut waste, increase profit and leave both their teams and customers happy.

Danny walks through:

- The four principles of good project management

- How to properly structure a project manager role and hold them accountable through -effective goal setting and review rhythms

- Foolproof templates for a project communication plan and status update

00:00-Intro

01:01-Four Principles of Project Management and Danny's Background

04:04-Red Flags and The Four Systems to Discuss

07:36-Employment Agreements, KPIs and Goal Setting & Review (GSR)

20:33-Project Communication Plan and Status Updates

29:49-Proper Use of Software and Hiring Project Managers

37:58-Growth Seen in Breakthrough Academy Businesses and The Contractor Growth Method

42:19-Takeaways, Implementation and Audience Questions

Join us March 4 for a free web class with Matt Risinger on attracting reliable staff during a skilled labor shortage. Register now: https://trybta.com/HIMR26

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP260

Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL260

Going into business with a partner is one of the most exciting decisions you can make, but knowing how to resolve cofounder conflict is critical if you want that business to survive.

In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Dr. Matt Jones (founder of Cofounder Clarity) joins us to break down why business partnerships fail and, more importantly, how to fix them. We dive deep into the psychology of entrepreneurship and the unique challenges that come with shared leadership.

If you’ve ever struggled to see eye-to-eye with your business partner, or you feel like you're speaking different languages, this episode is your roadmap to a healthier, more functional relationship.

In this episode, we cover:

• The critical questions you MUST ask before starting a business with someone
• The 3 "languages" cofounders speak (and why mismatches cause endless arguments)
• How to have conflict conversations that actually resolve issues
• Strategies to anticipate partnership hurdles before they destroy the business

Check out Cofounder Clarity to learn more about Dr. Matthew’s work: https://cofounderclarity.com/

00:00-Intro

01:20-How the Guest Got Into Co-founder Relationships and Conflict Management

04:51-Biggest Blind Spots When Selecting a Partner

11:08-Big Questions to Ask Before Going into Business Together

12:17-Managing Decision-Making and Management Structure Conflict

17:32-Deeper Dynamics Fuelling Conflicts in Businesses

22:58-Navigating Conflicts Properly

40:52-Handling Conflict in Unique Partnership Situations