Contractor Evolution

Breakthrough Academy
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Contractor Evolution

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. 5 DAYS AGO

    204. Open Book Management: The Employee Perspective - Ryan Markewich, Jacob Markewich, Rik Van Espen & Zac Neufield

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP204  Openness and transparency are values MANY of us espouse. But how open and honest are you really? Does your crew understand budget hours vs. actual hours? How about the projected gross profit on the project they just started? How about last year's net profit? In today’s episode, we’re talking to Creative Roots Landscaping founder Ryan Markewich along with three of his team members: Jacob Markewich, Rik Van Espen and Zac Neufeld. They run their landscaping business, Creative Roots, completely open book. Every person on the team is taught and shown every metric the business tracks and knows how every dollar is made. This conversation is all about the employee perspective on open book management. What it does for the culture they work in, their feelings about work and its effect on performance. Episode Highlights: Learn how open book management works in practice, using friend of the show Ryan Markewich’s highly successful Creative Roots Landscaping as a case study.Get the perspective of three team members—what openness and transparency does for their culture, sense of purpose and performance.Hear how Ryan’s strategy has resulted in high retention rates, exceptional talent, and a work environment that has people lining up at the door to be a part of. 00:00-Intro 01:36-About Open Book in Creative Roots 05:57-What drew the team to Creative Roots? 09:03-What impact does open book management have on the culture? 19:48-Best part of open book management 37:13-Is it true that young people don't wanna work in the trades? 45:56-Advice to business owner wanting to try open book management

    48 min

  2. 12 MAR

    203. Can Contractors Work With Offshore Talent? - Rob Levin

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP203 Learn more about WorkBetterNow here: https://www.workbetternow.com/ Are you using Virtual Assistants and other forms of offshore talent yet? Because you probably should be. Many of the roles in your business can’t be done remotely, sure.  But could your office manager effectively administrate from Mexico City? Could you delegate all the lower-level stuff to an executive assistant based in Medellin? The answer is: maybe. Our guest on the show today is Rob Levin. He is the co-founder of Work Better Now and the author of the forthcoming book: The New Talent Playbook. Today’s conversation is a pragmatic road map to how you might install super-talented offshore hires into your company. At the end of the day, what's right for your business is up to you, but we want you to fully understand the scale of talent options that are out there. Episode Highlights: Learn about the breadth of options available to you when it comes to offshore and nearshore talent.Hear Work Better Now co-founder Rob Levin’s take on some of the most common arguments AGAINST offshore talent.Get ideas for which of the roles on your org chart make good candidates for offshore hiring (hint: there are more than you think). 00:00-Intro 01:41-About The New Talent Playbook 03:41-What is up with the current labor market? 09:00-Where is the labor market headed? 11:33-In the blue-collar context: what roles can be done offshore/nearshore? 23:35-Strengths and weaknesses of offshore talent 24:58-Common concerns about offshore talent: #1: Missing context 28:07-Common concern #2: Language barriers 34:22-Common concern #3: Cybersecurity 36:26-Cost of offshore vs. local 39:27-Idea of divisional assistants 44:02 - How AI empowers VAs and offshore talent 49:48-Recap 52:04-Connect with Rob

    54 min
  3. 202. How Much Should Contractors Charge? - Ellen Rohr

    5 MAR

    202. How Much Should Contractors Charge? - Ellen Rohr

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 Grab a copy of Ellen's pricing tool here: https://trybta.com/DL202  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP202  Today, we’re welcoming industry legend Ellen Rohr to the show. We couldn’t be more excited. She’s built and sold two companies. Written a slew of unbelievably helpful books including Where Did the Money Go? and How Much Should I Charge? She’s the founder and owner of Zoom Drain which now has over 50 locations. This episode is all about pricing. AKA how much you should charge and why.  Episode Highlights: 00:00-Intro 01:57-About the 2011 book: How Much Should I Charge? 08:45-Why pricing as a passion? 12:36-How most contractors decide what to charge 17:21-The importance of value 21:34-How to figure out what you should charge 29:05-Importance of billable hours 34:22-The best position to be in the market 39:19-How to know when your price is too high 44:27-How to train your sales team to "own their price" 53:39-Pricing analysis and updates in an inflationary environment. 58:01-Fun Hypothetical Question See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 2m
  4. 201 - Be Coachable: Advice For New Breakthrough Academy Members

    26 FEB

    201 - Be Coachable: Advice For New Breakthrough Academy Members

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 Get your free guide to being COACHABLE here: https://trybta.com/DL201  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP201 Today’s episode has a very specific purpose. We’ve gathered four of our world-class business coaches to give advice to contractors who are just beginning to systemize their business with Breakthrough Academy. If you chose this episode, you are either: Through conversations with Coach Harold, Coach Ashley, Coach Brayden and Coach Shane, you’ll learn: Episode Highlights: 00:00-Intro02:16-Why do most people start BTA?04:16-Successful Members vs. those who struggle07:53-New Member red flags09:59-The first six months: what to expect11:36-Mindset tips for faster results12:36-How to implement faster and be more coachable14:45-Importance of the BTA community19:50-How coaches help struggling Members21:23-How to become data-driven23:50-Coaching pet peeves26:01-The first year: what to expect29:22-Best part of being a BTA coach See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  5. 200. Celebrating 200 Episodes: Benji Reacts to His Favorite Moments - Benji Carlson

    19 FEB

    200. Celebrating 200 Episodes: Benji Reacts to His Favorite Moments - Benji Carlson

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP200  Today is a very special day for the team here at Contractor Evolution. Today, we’re releasing our 200th episode. We've spoken to some incredible guests, and that has helped us build a following of the coolest listeners in the world. So... if you've been on the show or just listen to it, we want to express profound gratitude to you. To say we are humbled and proud would be to say nothing at all. For this milestone episode, we're going back through some of Benji's favorite episodes and talking through the lessons we took away from the conversations. Episode Highlights: 00:00-Intro01:40-How To Create A Vivid Vision For Your Company - Cameron Herold10:16-Which Fire Should I Put Out Next? - Mike Michalowicz14:26-Is Blue-Collar Work Making a Comeback? - Ken Rusk20:47-What’s Your Business REALLY Worth? - John Warrilow26:45-Thinking Lean: Eliminate Waste Through Continuous Improvement - Paul Akers31:14-Mark Bradley: From 0 To 50MM + Founding LMN - Mark Bradley34:58-SOP's: Why Your Business Is A Mess & What To Do About It - Tom Hughes41:45-How To Buy Back Your Time - Dan Martell 50:15-Matt Risinger on Hiring - Matt Risinger56:02-Negotiation Tactics for Contractors - Chris Voss01:01:56-Is Wrapping Your Vehicles Worth It? - Dan Antonelli See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 7m
  6. 199. Five Languages of Appreciation: Contractor Edition - Dr. Paul White

    12 FEB

    199. Five Languages of Appreciation: Contractor Edition - Dr. Paul White

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP199  Use code TRADE2025 to get $10 off a copy of the Motivated By Appreciation Inventory for Trades here: https://shop.appreciationatwork.com/collections/mba-inventory (limit one code per email, good through March 15, 2025). Ever wonder why your staff feel “under-appreciated?” Like—you tell them they’re doing a good job, you take them for lunch every now and then, and you pay them fairly. And yet there’s always someone who feels like you don’t value their contributions. Our guest today, Dr. Paul White, has some possible answers.  He coauthored The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace alongside Gary Chapman, the man who coined the five love languages many of us are familiar with. The idea is simple: not everyone experiences appreciation the same way. Some like verbal praise, some find meaning in gifts, others need quality time with their manager or team. This conversation is about how to recognize the best way to appreciate your team, and the tangible impact appreciation can have on your business. Episode Highlights: 00:00-Intro 01:13-About Dr. Paul 03:01-Appreciation in the trades 08:12-Is blue-collar work underappreciated? 12:43-The psychology of appreciation? 16:03-Misconceptions about appreciation at work 17:52-The 5 Languages of Appreciation 18:21-Words of Affirmation 25:00-Quality Time 31:22-Acts of Service 35:21-Gifts 39:07-Physical Touch 41:09-Tools & assessments for appreciation at work 43:32-How to install appreciation across your organization See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    47 min
  7. 198. How SOPs Changed the Game For Matt Risinger - Matt Risinger

    5 FEB

    198. How SOPs Changed the Game For Matt Risinger - Matt Risinger

    On April 8, we're hosting a free web class with Matt Risinger to teach you how to manage your finances like a 7-figure contractor. Register here: https://trybta.com/CE-FIN2025 Get your free SOP starter kit here: https://trybta.com/DL198  To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP198   Ever wonder why some contractors scale smoothly to 7-figures and beyond while others constantly get stuck in an operational hellhole? Clients constantly badgering you… Crews relying on you to answer every single question… Margins so depressing they could make a grown man cry… The good news is, there’s a relatively simple tool that can help you solve most of your operational challenges.  SOPs (standard operating procedures). A while back, I co-hosted a comprehensive SOP web class with the one and only Matt Risinger, CEO of Risinger Build and founder of the Build Show Network. We covered everything you need to know about SOPs, based on Breakthrough Academy’s work with over 1500 contractors and Matt Risinger’s own experience scaling two massive companies. Today, we’re releasing that class as a podcast episode so more contractors can benefit from Matt’s insights. Episode Highlights: 00:00-Intro02:13-About the web class06:50-What part of your operations frustrates you the most?15:11-SOP Red Flags25:52-Where to start with SOPs35:34-How to build SOPs50:04-Change management58:54-Why SOPs fail01:00:49-The evolution of the entrepreneur01:02:09-Implement SOPs faster with the Contractor Growth Method01:04:53-Q&A See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 26m
  8. 197. Keeping Faith During Tragic Times: Coach Ian’s Story - Ian Ouwerkerk

    29 JAN

    197. Keeping Faith During Tragic Times: Coach Ian’s Story - Ian Ouwerkerk

    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here:  https://trybta.com/EP197 When times get tough, tragedy strikes or things take a turn for the worst, how do you keep faith that everything will turn out ok? Today, that’s what our very own Breakthrough Academy coach Ian Ouwerkerk is joining me to discuss. On August 29th, 2008 on their way to a wedding, Ian, his mum and his dad were T-boned by a car going 70 miles an hour. The accident left Ian with a severed carotid artery plus 11 ribs and both his collar bones broken. And the list of injuries goes on.  He died and came back multiple times through this harrowing event. Today, he’s generously opening up about his accident, miraculous recovery and the life lessons he learned from the tragic experience. We talk about how to cultivate resilience, perspective, and faith in life’s most challenging seasons. Episode Highlights: 00:00-Intro 01:31-About Coach Ian 08:17-Ian's accident and out of body experience 17:58-The injuries Ian had to overcome 28:27-What got Ian through the recovery process 30:32-Getting back on his feet 39:05-Enduring more bad news 49:07-Core lessons and takeaways from that difficult period 50:56-It's all about faith 01:06:57-The power of impacting others through entrepreneurship See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 13m
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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
    204
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025
  • Show Website
    Contractor Evolution

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