The Construction Leading Edge Podcast Todd Dawalt

EPISODE 337: Does everything have to go through you? Are you becoming the bottleneck?
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by construction business owner and long-time client turned guest coach Max Christiansen. 
Max is the founder and sales director at Tru Builders–a family-owned home remodeling company based in Arizona. Today, he shares his journey from working in corporate America to building his own construction company.
He talks about why effective delegation, accountability chart, and letting go are crucial for business growth and personal freedom. Plus, the benefits of systematizing your construction business, the importance of a morning routine and networking, and much more.
Let’s dive in!
 
Key Takeaways:
Introduction (00:00)
Meet Max Christiansen (02:31)
From corporate America to entrepreneurship (08:46)
Construction business challenges and frustrations (17:34)
The real value of delegation and strategically letting go (26:14)
Most impactful business changes for Max and his team (29:34)
Results after implementing systems and processes (39:40)
Key factors when implementing systems (44:39)
Importance of having a morning routine and a CEO time (46:10)
The CEO Alliance group, goals, and hiring (54:42)
Rapid-fire questions (1:05:05)
Episode wrap-up (1:12:08)
 
Additional Resources:
- Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business 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!

EPISODE 336: Are you working 50-60 hours a week on your construction business? What happens if you suddenly can’t come to work? Is your business designed to run without you?
Here’s the staggering truth: Only 15% of CEOs have a business continuity plan in case they are incapacitated, pass away, or a key employee leaves the company. Why do only 15% of CEOs have such a plan?
In this week’s episode, Monish and I discuss the critical topic of business continuity. We talk about the ripple effects of a business owner’s absence, why most of them avoid continuity planning, how to make your construction business resilient, and what it means to have a business continuity plan.
Whether you’re securing your family’s and business’s future or just planning to take some time off, this episode is packed with invaluable insights that you don’t want to miss.
Let’s get started!
 
Key Takeaways:
Introduction (00:00)
Real-life stories on how important business continuity is (01:49)
How to do a quick business continuity audit (06:16)
What happens when your key employee leaves? (17:22)
Ripple effects of a business owner’s absence (24:13)
Why most business owners don’t have a continuity plan (29:20)
Strategies to make your business resilient (33:56)
The freedom of a business running independently (38:59)
Practical steps to create a business continuity plan (44:31)
Effects of having a continuity plan in place (52:28)
 
Additional Resources:
- Download the Legacy Planning Checklist HERE
- Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business 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!

EPISODE 335: What would happen to your family after you’re gone? 
Estate planning may not be as fun as booking a trip but without it, it’s like throwing away everything you’ve worked so hard for. Yet, research shows that fewer than 50% of Americans have a will or any form of estate plan. 
Who gets what? How do your loved ones access your assets? What about your ongoing projects? How can your construction business continue operating in your absence?
Joining me in this week’s episode is Jon Braddock. Jon is an estate planning expert and he’s here to share his experiences and insights on the often overlooked necessities of estate planning.
Jon and I talk about some of the common myths, misconceptions, and mistakes of estate planning that small business owners must avoid.
Whether you’re concerned about organizing your asset information, documenting crucial business processes, or simply unsure where to start crafting your will, this conversation provides you the knowledge and motivation to take action now.
Let’s dive in!
 
Key Takeaways:
Introduction (00:00)
Meet Jon and his works at Estate Planning Nightmares (02:33)
Real-life examples of estate planning nightmares (07:20)
Ripple effects of poor or non-existent estate planning (12:46)
Common misconceptions people have about estate planning (14:48)
Importance of creating a solid estate plan (19:27)
What small business owners need to realize (27:08)
Why business continuity planning for small businesses matters (33:54)
The power of documented processes and systems (39:19)
First few steps in estate planning (46:16)
Episode wrap-up (53:06)
 
Additional Resources:
- Download the Legacy Planning Checklist HERE
- Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE
- Download your FREE strategic planning guide HERE
- Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE
- Grab a copy of Jon’s book, Click Here When I Die 
--
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!
 

EPISODE 334: Have you ever wondered how controlling your entire construction process could drastically transform your projects and profits? This week, our guest exemplifies just that, achieving an astounding 1,126% business growth in just four years. 
Joining us is Chris Tatge, co-owner of DC Materials—a complete framing material provider for large multifamily and commercial construction projects and an Inc. Magazine honoree. 
In this episode, Chris shares how he transformed his business model to control both labor and materials, thereby enhancing its efficiency and project management.
He also discusses the challenges and lessons that came with this pivotal shift, the importance of the pre-construction phase, and much more.
Ready to grow your construction business?
Let’s dive in!
 
Key Takeaways:
Introduction (00:00)
Meet Chris Tatge (03:07)
From labor-only to turnkey contractor (05:51)
Optimizing designs for framing explained (13:03)
Turnkey contracting vs. traditional approach (14:38)
Leadership transition from the field to CEO (18:18)
Staffing strategies and stepping up (28:29)
How important is the pre-construction phase (33:20)
Leading a design team (39:56)
Future goals for DC Materials (43:42)
Final questions (44:37)
Episode wrap-up (51:56)
 
Additional Resources:
- Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business 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!

EPISODE 333: Are you struggling with getting your team on board with new processes? Are you dealing with most of the problems at work?
In this episode, we’ll discuss the common mistakes construction business owners make when implementing new processes and how these mistakes often lead to team resistance rather than compliance. 
We’ll explain everything you need to know about the Made My Day Difficult (MMDD) List approach, how to use it to motivate your team to solve problems independently and follow processes, and its transformative benefits to your team and construction business.
Are you ready to improve your team dynamics and improve your system?
Let’s get started!
 
Key Takeaways:
Introduction (00:00)
The old way of dealing with team resistance (02:02)
Why your team don’t embrace your process (05:34)
The MMDD List approach (11:18)
Practical tips on applying the MMDD list (26:26)
Ripple effects of using the MMDD list (28:35)
5-minute call to action (30:19)
 
Additional Resources:
- Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business 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!

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!