332 episodes

The Construction Leading Edge is a one stop shop for contracting professionals who want to be more effective entrepreneurs and leaders. Business owners, managers, project executives, project managers, and field leaders will all benefit from the interviews, resources, tools, and tips offered.

The Construction Leading Edge Podcast Todd Dawalt

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 13 Ratings

The Construction Leading Edge is a one stop shop for contracting professionals who want to be more effective entrepreneurs and leaders. Business owners, managers, project executives, project managers, and field leaders will all benefit from the interviews, resources, tools, and tips offered.

    Is This Deficiency Plaguing Your Business?

    Is This Deficiency Plaguing Your Business?

    EPISODE 332: Are you stuck in your construction business's day-to-day operations? Do you find yourself constantly bombarded by messages and phone calls from clients, trade partners, and your team? Are your projects taking way too long? 
    You may be suffering from a serious deficiency that’s costing many construction business owners millions of dollars!
    In this week’s episode, we’ll dive deep into the crucial yet often overlooked phase that’s causing chaos in your business operations: pre-construction.
    We’ll unpack common symptoms of a pre-construction deficiency, explore its side effects, and break down the secret to developing an effective pre-construction process. We'll also show you how mastering this phase can transform both your business and personal life.
    Join us in this riveting discussion!
    Let’s dive in!
     
    Key Takeaways:
    Introduction (00:00)
    The underlying problem (01:55)
    Common symptoms of a construction deficiency (03:38)
    Understanding the pre-construction deficiency (06:46)
    How the JETS trap affects your team and business (10:36)
    Nailing the handoff in five essential steps (12:22)
    Secret to developing an effective pre-construction process (16:07)
    Practical tips for a robust pre-construction process (20:06)
    Side effects of nailing the handoff (23:52)
    Reflective questions to ponder (30:03)
    Episode wrap-up (32:03)
     
    Additional Resources:
    - Join our FREE Get Paid For Estimates Masterclass HERE
    - Download your FREE strategic planning guide 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!

    • 38 min
    What Construction CEOs Actually Need: A Roundup of the Best Ideas From a CEO Alliance Meetup

    What Construction CEOs Actually Need: A Roundup of the Best Ideas From a CEO Alliance Meetup

    EPISODE 331: What sets successful construction business owners apart?
    Join me as I sit down with Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) coaches Monish Khadye and Leyah Hostetter. Today, we’ll dive deep into what transpired during our recent CEO Alliance Live Meetup in Del Mar, California.
    We'll unpack the biggest takeaways from the event, from mastering financial transparency to understanding the pivotal role of trust in creating a thriving construction business. 
    Additionally, we’ll share practical tips on applying these insights to your business so you can truly take on your CEO or visionary seat.
    Are you ready to elevate your leadership?
    Let’s dive in!
     
    Key Takeaways:
    Introduction (00:00)
    The CEO Alliance Live Meetup (01:46)
    CEOs get vulnerable on financial transparency (06:49)
    The three-step approach to reforming or building trust (11:29)
    Fourth crucial step when restoring trust (19:58)
    Why level up your pre-construction process (25:03)
    How to ensure business continuity (27:11)
    On CEOs having a solid integrator (31:03)
    Benefits of community among construction CEOs (34:37)
    What do construction CEOs have to say about the event? (42:09)
    Episode wrap-up (44:36)
     
    Additional Resources:
    - Download your FREE strategic planning guide HERE
    - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE
    - Join the FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass 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!

    • 49 min
    The CEO Mindset Shift: A Panel Discussion

    The CEO Mindset Shift: A Panel Discussion

    EPISODE 330: Do you feel stuck in your construction business's day-to-day operations? Do you dream of taking it to the next level but are unsure how? These experts might teach you a thing or two.
    Join us in this week’s panel discussion (and our first in-person episode) featuring Alex Gregg, Michael Moore, and Alex Thompson. 
    These accomplished construction business owners share their pivotal shift from running a busy business in a firefighter mode to leveraging key talents in their teams and eventually putting on their CEO hats. 
    Today, we discuss how to transition from an operator mindset to a CEO mindset, the importance of habits and routines, how to foster a culture of accountability and growth, the value of letting go, and more.
    Are you ready to transform yourself and grow your business?
    Let’s dive in!
     
    Key Takeaways:
    Introduction (00:00)
    Meet the panel of experts (04:55)
    Key shifts from thinking as an operator to CEO (06:31)
    Importance of habits and routines (13:08)
    The right-to-left thinking mindset (18:22)
    Creating a culture of accountability (19:46)
    How to ensure you’re continuously evolving as a CEO (34:11)
    The value of letting go for growth (37:42)
    How successful CEOs look at mistakes (46:29)
    Resources for construction CEOs (47:55)
     
    Additional Resources:
    - Download your FREE strategic planning guide HERE
    - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE
    - Join the FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE
    Books Mentioned:
    Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business
    Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
    10x Is Easier Than 2x
    The E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
    Organizational Physics: The Science of Growing a Business
    Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win
    Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t
    Think and Grow Rich
    The Gap and The Gain: The High Achiever’s Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
    Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
    The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, & Change the Way You Lead Forever
    Three Laws of Performance: Rewriting the Future of Your Organization and Your Life
    --
    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!
     

    • 53 min
    Executing a Successful Business Turnaround & Strategically Letting Go with Michael Moore

    Executing a Successful Business Turnaround & Strategically Letting Go with Michael Moore

    EPISODE 329: How can construction businesses thrive even during economic downturns? 
    Join us in this week’s podcast episode as Michael Moore, owner and president of Waterton Construction Group, shares his journey in navigating the challenges of growing a construction company and how systematization and strategic changes turned his company from six-figure losses to seven-figure profits.
    Today, Michael breaks down the impactful systems and processes he implemented, the selling the gap concept, how to master the art of letting go, and much more.
    Ready to systematize your construction business and get out of the chaos? 
    Tune in now to learn more.

     
    Key Takeaways:
    Introduction (00:00)
    Meet Michael Moore and his works at Waterton Construction (01:54)
    Adapting to the current economic indicators and market dynamics (03:35)
    Most impactful business changes & systems that Michael implemented (06:24)
    Transitioning to ERP accounting software, revenue maximizer, and forecasting tools (09:39)
    Discussing the selling the gap concept in pre-construction (21:13)
    What didn’t work out for Michael (27:28)
    The results and growth following systematic changes (30:53)
    Practical advice on mastering the art of letting go (32:33)
    What business and life have been for Michael after the changes (39:41)
    Advice to construction business owners (52:02)
    What it’s like being in the CEO Alliance (1:01:12)
    Episode wrap-up (1:07:08)
     
    Additional Resources:
    - Download your FREE strategic planning guide HERE
    - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE
    - Join the FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE
     
    Keep up with Michael
    - Listen to Episode 234: Hiring High-Level Talent, Growing Revenue & Keys to Selling HERE
    - Listen to Episode 275: Stewardship, Creating Terminal Value & Increasing Profit 60% HERE
    - Follow Michael on LinkedIn HERE
    - Visit Waterton Construction 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!
     

    • 1 hr 11 min
    How to Become Addicted to Your Business Without Dealing 24/7 Phone Calls with Alex Knapp

    How to Become Addicted to Your Business Without Dealing 24/7 Phone Calls with Alex Knapp

    EPISODE 328: Are you tired of constant phone interruptions while trying to spend quality time with your family? Construction business owners know this feeling all too well.
    In this week’s episode, Leyah Hostetter, our Director of Customer Success, interviews Alex Knapp, the owner of Minneapolis Decks, as he shares his journey from being bombarded with round-the-clock phone calls to becoming addicted to working on his business.
    Alex talks about his challenges while running his company and what led him to enroll in our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program. He also breaks down some of the systems and changes that transformed his business, how he gets everyone on his team on board with these changes (even the senior ones), and the profound effects of these changes on his employees, business, and personal life.
    Let’s dive in!
     
    Key Takeaways:
    Introduction (00:00)
    Meet Alex Knapp and how he started Minneapolis Decks (04:59)
    Challenges that Alex faced in his construction business (05:35)
    How to deal with a Pandora’s box (07:23)
    Getting everyone on board with the new processes (09:05)
    Most impactful part of the Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program (09:59)
    From confused to motivated employees (13:13)
    Episode wrap-up (14:21)
     
    Additional Resources:
    - Download your FREE strategic planning guide HERE
    - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE
    - Join the FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE
    Keep up with Alex and His Team:
    - Follow Minneapolis Decks on Instagram HERE
    - Check out Minneapolis Decks website 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!

    • 17 min
    Tracking Metrics, Casting Vision & Implementing Systems with Alex Gregg

    Tracking Metrics, Casting Vision & Implementing Systems with Alex Gregg

    EPISODE 327: Imagine leaving your teaching job and starting your dream business amidst an economic meltdown. It sounds daunting, right?
    This is how Alex Gregg, owner of Gregg Homebuilding, started his custom homebuilding company in Tennessee.
    From facing the uncertainty of the 2008 global financial crisis to transforming challenges into success stories, Alex shares his inspiring journey and the foundation that shaped his construction company.
    We talk about the most impactful systems that grew his custom homebuilding business (which recently generated $10M in revenue), highlighting the importance of tracking metrics, casting a clear vision, and implementing systems. 
    He also shares some of the challenges he encountered while implementing these changes, the mindset that got him through it, the ripple effects on his business and personal life, and more.
    Let’s dive in!
     
    Key Takeaways:
    Introduction (00:00)
    Alex’s transition from teaching to homebuilding (05:51)
    On handling business challenges and frustrations (10:10)
    3 most impactful systems that changed Alex’s construction business (18:11)
    On tracking metrics and its ripple effects (22:15)
    Why you should start charging for estimates (27:29)
    The role of accountability chart in any business (30:02)
    Effects of nailing the handoff and focusing on pre-construction (32:27)
    Life before and after implementing these systems (35:01)
    How casting a clear company vision and systems help in building great teams (40:58)
    Most significant challenges when implementing changes in business (48:09)
    The difference in mindset between building a project and putting systems in place (51:08)
    On being around with like-minded people and building relationships (56:10)
    Rapid-fire questions with Alex Gregg (1:04:28)
    Episode wrap-up (1:07:06)
     
    Additional Resources:
    - Download your FREE strategic planning guide HERE
    - Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE
    - Join the FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE
    Keep up with Alex Gregg
    - Visit Gregg Homebuilding for more information HERE
    - Follow Gregg Homebuilding on Instagram HERE
    - Listen to episode 299 with Alex Gregg 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!
     

    • 1 hr 10 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

Andrew Beanland ,

Opened my eyes

Hi Todd, I'm sitting here just in awe from listening to one of your podcasts. This was episode 13 where you shared your personal experiences and went so in depth about what you need to be a leader.
I just had to write this review because it really opened my eyes to what actually makes you lead and how the only way I can do that is to put other people's needs above your own, and to lead by creating an example, starting with yourself. I can't put it in words as well as you did and so I really can't thank you enough for changing my life, and for giving me a different outlook. Thanks again Todd and keep up the great content. I'm sure there are countless other people who haven't written a review but must feel the same way as I do about the valuable knowledge you give out. Big ups man!

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