Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business

Empowering Construction Teams and Solving Problems Faster

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch and former painting company owner turned tech innovator. James brings his real-world experience from the ladder to the leadership boardroom to tackle one of the biggest issues in the construction industry: communication breakdowns.

He introduces a powerful, no-training-required video platform designed specifically for construction crews, contractors, and service providers. Think Nextel walkie-talkies, but with live video. Whether it’s a busted pipe, a scheduling delay, or the need to capture field progress in real-time, James’ solution helps teams stay connected and accountable without unnecessary trips to the job site.

Plus, hear James’ passion project that’s giving thousands of incarcerated individuals a second chance through entrepreneurship, and the mindset shift every construction leader should make to scale faster and breathe easier.

Takeaways

  • [02:00] From the ladder to the boardroom: James’ journey from power washing to tech executive.
  • [03:00] The communication breakthrough that replaces wasted trips.
  • [06:30] Why third-party video beats Zoom, email, or chat for job site problem-solving.
  • [08:30] How a QR code and cell phone can eliminate repeat site visits and missed details.
  • [12:30] The behavior shift that helps crews document better and protect their work.
  • [15:00] How video creates a training library and captures tribal knowledge before it walks out the door.
  • [17:30] James’ second-chance entrepreneurship program that’s transforming lives.
  • [20:00] Why building a business should include making yourself redundant.
  • [24:00] James’ mission to modernize everyday trades businesses and show others how.
  • [27:00] The power of LinkedIn and giving your idea a real shot at becoming something big.

Connect With James:

Website: https://www.liveswitch.com/contact

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hatfield/

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