Contractor Evolution

Breakthrough Academy
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Breakthrough Academy presents Contractor Evolution. In this show we unpack the systems, tactics, and skills you need to take your fast-growing contracting business to the next level. If you’re here to learn what it takes to scale up, work less, and increase profitability, you’ve come to the right place. Stay tuned to learn what separates the new breed of contractor from the old school, and welcome to your ultimate guide to the business of contracting.

  1. 2 HRS AGO

    241. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) 101 For Contractors - Phil Risher

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25 Take our 5 minute quiz and get your free personalized Contractor Growth Scorecard today: https://trybta.com/DL241 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP241 In a world where everyone turns to AI to ask questions, how do you make sure YOU show up as the answer? In today’s episode, Phil Risher reveals the secret to getting ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) to promote your business to potential customers in every related search. --- There’s no question that AI is changing the way people ask questions online. So, how do you make sure YOU show up as the answer? In today’s episode, we’re revealing the secret to getting ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) to promote your business to potential customers in every related search. Contractor Marketing expert Phil Risher is a long-time SEO strategist that has been on the front lines as AI has changed the game for contractors and home service businesses.  Our conversation covers: The difference between SEO, GEO and AEO and where you should invest your marketing efforts right nowHow Large Language Models actually decide which brands to recommend 4 personalized videos you can make in the next 10 minutes that will increase your conversion rate by 20%. This is a mandatory listen for contractors in every industry. 00:00-Intro 02:07-About Phil and Phlash Consulting 05:29-How is AI disrupting customer search? SEO vs. GEO vs. AEO 12:49-Is SEO still worth doing? 16:10-Becoming a content authority 29:21-How important is a "face of the brand?" 32:41-4 personalized videos for your drip sequence 38:44-Use cases for AI chat bots & automation for speed to lead 41:45-Use cases for self service tools 46:14-How to stay up-to-date on AI without getting overwhelmed 49:58-Connect with Phil

    52 min

  2. OCT 8

    240. Do Free Vacations Close More Deals? John Dwyer’s CRAZY Strategy - John "JD" Dwyer

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25 Take our 5 minute quiz and get your free personalized Contractor Growth Scorecard today: https://trybta.com/DL240 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP240 What if you offered a potential customer a free vacation if they hired you by the end of the week? Would it increase your closing rate? Today’s guest John Dwyer (JD, for short) swear by this strategy and in this episode, he’s gonna tell you why. --- What if you offered a potential customer a free vacation if they hired you by the end of the week? Gimmicky? Maybe. But according to today’s guest, it works. John Dwyer, or “JD” for short, has built an entire business around incentive-based marketing. In other words, rather than resorting to price discounting to get more work, what if you looked for a value add incentive instead? Sometimes that’s something small, like a Happy Meal toy. Sometimes it’s a free trip to Disneyland. In this episode, JD breaks down what he thinks are the 5 elements of a successful direct response campaign, including what he calls the WOW factor incentive. This guy’s got some seriously out of the box ideas, so buckle up. Episode Highlights: - Learn how John “JD” Dwyer has used incentive-based marketing to generate over $15 billion in extra sales for businesses across multiple industries. - Understand what the “WOW Factor” is and how it might fit into your marketing strategy. - Get inspired to find creative alternatives the next time you’re thinking of price discounting to get more sales. Get in touch with JD at john@theinstituteofwow.com Learn more about the Institute of Wow vacations Incentive - https://vacationsincentive.com/ 00:00-Intro 01:32-About JD and the Institute of Wow 07:52-What exactly is direct response marketing? 11:01-5 components of direct response marketing 22:41-About the Wow Factor vacation incentive 39:26-How to be the "UN" authority 41:52-Quick hits: best and worse of JD's career 53:00-Wrap up

    55 min

  3. OCT 1

    239. Do Virtual Quotes REALLY Close More Jobs? (Contractor Sales Tips) - James Hatfield

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25 Take our 5 minute quiz and get a personalized Contractor Growth Plan here: https://trybta.com/DL239 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP239 The modern buyer doesn’t want to wait. They expect instant answers, real-time communication, and a seamless experience from first click to final payment. Today, Liveswitch CRO James Hatfield is on the show to talk about how create a seamless and speedy experience for customers using virtual --quoting. -- Here’s a hard reality: The modern buyer doesn’t want to wait. They expect instant answers, real-time communication, and a seamless experience from first click to final payment. But most trades businesses struggle to make that a reality for their customers. Today, I’m joined by James Hatfield, CRO at LiveSwitch, to unpack a faster, smarter way to sell—without losing the human connection. We’ll cover how expectations have shifted, where contractors are still falling short, and how to blend speed with authenticity in every step of the sales journey. If you want to win the “race to the face” and elevate your customer experience, this one’s for you. 00:00 - Intro 02:03 - History of Liveswitch 04:15 - Balancing race to face vs. personalization 07:46 - What does the modern buyer expect from a sales process? 11:02 - What does the virtual quoting experience look like for customers? 16:37 - Benefits of tech-enabled sales 24:19 - Creating a tech-enabled review/referral process 27:04 - Claiming the property with QR codes 32:16 - Does EVERY customer really prefer tech-enabled sales? 34:20 - Other tech to add to your stack 39:08 - Final thoughts and wrap up

    43 min

  4. SEP 24

    238. Is Going Viral Worth It? The Vancouver Carpenter Story - Ben Degros

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25  Take our 5 minute quiz and get a personalized Contractor Growth Plan here: https://trybta.com/DL238 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP238  Ben Degros has built an audience on two YouTube channels: one on skateboards and one on drywall. Guess which one has more subs? In this episode, Ben breaks down his process for creating content for his drywall channel, which has amassed over 700K subscribers over the years. --- Today’s guest is living proof that you don’t need fancy gear or a media team to build a killer online brand—just some drywall dust and a camera. Ben Degros is a carpenter, drywaller, and the creator of Vancouver Carpenter, a YouTube channel that’s grown to over 700,000 subscribers with simple, value-packed videos shot right on job sites. The content? Just drywall videos. And people love it. But here’s the twist: Before drywall, Ben was a full-time skater, even running a skateboarding YouTube channel. Now, he’s blended his trades skills with content creation to build massive reach while still running a small contracting operation. Since Ben is a Vancouver local, we recorded this one in studio and dug into how contractors can build brand, trust, and community—all with a phone and a few smart tactics. If you’re considering leaning into video content, there are some great insights for you here. Episode Highlights: Learn how a larger-scale trades content creator brings videos to life from idea to results.Understand the challenges of balancing content creation with daily operations, especially when you don’t have a media production team behind you.Get some tips from Ben on how to incorporate content creation into your marketing, whether you’re committed to the process or just getting your feet wet. 00:00-Intro 01:24-Intro & Origin 03:04-Why contracting content works 12:00-Building an audience 31:28-Process of creating ideas: what works? 36:03-Ben's "how to bend drywall" video 41:07-Quick tips & wrap-up

    50 min

  5. SEP 17

    237. The #1 Mistake Contractors Make With Coaching (Costly!) - Brendon Toyne

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25 Take our 5 minute quiz and get a personalized Contractor Growth Plan here: https://trybta.com/DL237 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP237 When we started Breakthrough Academy 10 years ago, business coaching for contractors wasn’t particularly common. Most of the contractors we talked to had never considered coaching and really didn’t know what it was. Today, business coaching has skyrocketed in popularity, and as a result there are a TON of choices out there for contractors. So…if you’re considering coaching… HOW do you make a decision? Today, we’re joined by Brendon Toyne, our Head of Sales at BTA who’s personally talked to thousands of contractors during their decision-making process. In this episode, we explore what to consider before signing on with a coach, but we also talk more broadly about how to make smart business decisions when it comes to working with key vendors that will propel your business forward.  Episode Highlights: Hear about the rise of business coaching for contractors and why there is now so much choice out there for those seeking coaching or consulting solutions.Understand the difference between coaching, consulting, online communities and other solutions.Get Brendon’s tips on making the right choice about coaching solutions, based on his experience guiding thousands of contractors through the decision making process. 00:00-Intro 02:44-What's changed in the contractor coaching space since you started at BTA? 09:35-Different types of coaching solutions 20:41-What to consider when choosing a contractor coaching program 43:32-How to make an informed decision on coaching (or anything) 46:31-Contractor coaching red flags 50:25-Wrap-up and next steps

    55 min

  6. SEP 10

    236. Matt Risinger’s $10MM Time Blocking System REVEALED - Matt Risinger & Danny Kerr

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25 Grab your productivity resource bundle here: https://trybta.com/DL236 Take our 5 minute quiz and get a personalized Contractor Growth Plan here: https://trybta.com/QF236 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP236 There’s 168 hours in every week. That’s true for everyone. So why do some people stall out while others build empires? Some might say it’s about time management. But that’s only half the story. Managing your time means deciding WHEN to get your work done. But just because you’re crushing tasks, doesn’t mean you’re crushing the RIGHT tasks. That’s why you need to shift your focus to priority management.  This is a skill Matt Risinger had to master as he scaled Risinger Build and The Build Show into the goliaths they are today. Which is why Danny co-hosted a webinar with him a while back to teach contractors how to conquer their calendar, block interruptions and get the RIGHT sh*t done. Today, we're releasing it as a bonus episode so you can benefit from the insights. Episode Highlights: Learn how $10MM+ contractors accomplish more by doing less (using the 4 keys of priority management).Get simple tactics for placing guard rails on your time. PLUS tips for getting your clients, staff, and subs to understand how these new boundaries will benefit them.Understand how to recognize the 4 horsemen of overwhelm (and why common time management hacks don’t work). If you feel like you are always reacting to everyone else’s requests — this is for you. 00:00 - Intro 03:54 - About Matt and Danny 09:45 - Purpose & Outcomes 13:27 - Step 1: Define Your Why 20:05 - Step 2: Strategic Planning 33:00 - Step 3: Priority Management 41:41 - Step 4: Time Management 51:13 - Recap 54:35 - Next Steps 01:07:34 - Q&A

    1h 26m

  7. SEP 3

    235. Contractors: Stop Solving the WRONG Problems - Mike Andes

    On October 21, join our free web class and discover the proven six-step system top contractors use to build rock-solid teams, increase margins, and reclaim evenings and weekends with their families. Reserve your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-CGM-OC25 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP235 Let’s be honest: It’s kinda hard to prioritize when everything is on fire. With so many problems to solve and systems to build, how do you figure out what to focus on? Today, landscaper, content creator and author of Total Business Turnaround Mike Andes is here to answer that question. Mike built his business, Augusta Lawn Care into a national brand with 180 franchises. He also created CoPilot CRM, a software platform designed to help home service businesses streamline their operations. In this episode, Mike lays out the four areas of business you need to get dialed based on which phase of growth you’re in: - Lead Gen - Labor - Leadership and - Liquidity His roadmap will help you focus on the most important systems for YOUR business. And give you a plan to put your fires out one at a time. 00:00-Intro 01:11-Intro & Why Franchising Matters 04:19-Common Misconceptions About Readiness to Scale 09:31-The 4 L’s 10:50-Phase 1: Lead Gen 16:43-Phase 2: Labor 29:45-Phase 3: Leadership 40:57-Phase Four: Liquidity 53:22-Wrap up and how to connect with Mike

    55 min

  8. AUG 27

    234. 3 Ways to Control Profit and STOP Confusing Your Finances - Spencer Sheinin

    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP234 Check out Spencer's benchmarking tool here: https://fixyourprofit.com/signup/bta Confused by your financials? You’re not alone. Most contractors struggle to make sense of their numbers, and it costs them big. In this episode of Contractor Evolution, we sit down with Spencer Sheinin, bestselling author of Entreprenumbers and CEO of Shift Financial, who’s on a mission to empower contractors by turning complex financial data into simple, actionable insights. Spencer used to be a contractor himself, so he gets the challenges you face. That’s why this conversation hits different. It’s not just about spreadsheets and profit margins, it’s about taking control of your business through real financial empowerment. 🔍 In this episode, we break down: How to make your numbers tell a story using visual toolsHow to spot red flags in your P&L before it’s too lateWhat your bookkeeper should really be doing for youThe three financial levers that drive profitability in contracting businesses 📘 Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just getting serious about your growth, this episode will help you stop fearing your financials and start using them to win. 🔗 Check out Spencer’s book Entreprenumbers here: https://entreprenumbers.com/ 👇 Drop a comment if you've ever felt overwhelmed by your P&L—and let us know your #1 takeaway from this episode! 00:00-Intro 01:55-About Spencer and Shift Financial 09:33-Define: Financial Empowerment 10:35-Three levers of profitability 14:32-How to determine which lever to pull (with visuals) 21:01-How to build your first proper budget 25:26-How to select your strategic financial team 38:24-Essential software and tools for financial management 40:25-How to maintain clean financial data 46:05-One thing listeners can go do right now to get comfortable with numbers 47:59-Free benchmarking tool

    53 min
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4.9
out of 5
63 Ratings

About

Breakthrough Academy presents Contractor Evolution. In this show we unpack the systems, tactics, and skills you need to take your fast-growing contracting business to the next level. If you’re here to learn what it takes to scale up, work less, and increase profitability, you’ve come to the right place. Stay tuned to learn what separates the new breed of contractor from the old school, and welcome to your ultimate guide to the business of contracting.

Information

  • Creator
    Breakthrough Academy
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    241
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025
  • Show Website
    Contractor Evolution

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