Builders Makers Doers: The Resilience Behind American Business

Andy Bassett and Elliot Bassett
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Management

Builders Makers Doers: The Resilience Behind American Businesses shines a spotlight on the trades and the people who power them. You’ll walk away from each episode with ideas and strategies to build a business that’s here to stay. We are here to tell real stories from the small businesses of America. Whether it’s through our hosts or through conversations with business owners like you, we are here to talk about overcoming obstacles, creating remarkable projects, and building companies designed to last. From navigating labor challenges and market shifts to leading teams and innovating with new tools, these are the real stories of resilience in action. Hosts Elliot Bassett and Andy Bassett guide the discussion, bringing curiosity and practical insight to uncover what makes these businesses thrive. If you’re a builder, maker, or doer – you’ll find strategies, inspiration, and hard-won lessons to help you protect what you’ve built and create a lasting legacy.

  1. Jun 2

    S1E24 | The Real Construction Labor Problem Nobody Wants to Fix feat. Bo Jones

    Most business owners already know hiring is difficult. What fewer people realize is how deep the skilled labor pipeline problem actually goes. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Andy and Elliot Bassett sit down with Bo Jones — Founder and CEO of Tru-Built Construction and founder of CareerPathway.com — to talk about the future of the trades, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and why students are disconnected from real career opportunities long before graduation. Bo shares how Tru-Built Construction grew from small remodeling jobs during college into large commercial and multifamily projects, what surviving the 2008 housing crash taught him, and why he built CareerPathway.com after seeing firsthand how broken the workforce connection gap had become. This episode covers: Why the skilled trades labor shortage keeps getting worseThe reality of entrepreneurship during economic downturnsWhy students are struggling to find career directionHow AI may shift interest back toward blue-collar industriesWhat construction companies are facing with labor and permitting todayGuest Information: Bo Jones Founder / CEO, Tru-Built Construction and CareerPathway.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-jones/ Websites: https://tru-built.net/ https://www.careerpathway.com/ ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers for more conversations with operators, builders, and business owners. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ellerbrock-norris/  Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book  Connect with the Hosts: Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu/  Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu/  🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/  Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:01 How Tru-Built Construction Started 00:02 From College Side Jobs to Commercial Construction 00:04 Becoming an Entrepreneur by Accident 00:06 Surviving the 2008 Housing Crash 00:07 Why the Trades Labor Shortage Is Getting Worse 00:10 The Reality of Business Ownership 00:14 Why CareerPathway.com Was Created 00:17 Building a Career Discovery Platform 00:20 Connecting Students With Real Opportunities 00:24 AI and the Future of Skilled Trades 00:27 Growing CareerPathway.com Across the Country 00:32 Construction Growth, Housing, and Permitting 00:36 Why the Trades Are Losing Young People We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency.

    39 min

  2. May 19

    S1E23 | Why Profit Has to Come First in a Trades Business with Mike Michalowicz

    Most business owners were taught the same formula: Revenue minus expenses equals profit. Mike Michalowicz believes that formula is one of the biggest reasons entrepreneurs stay stuck financially. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Andy Bassett and Elliot Bassett sit down with Mike Michalowicz to talk about profit protection, owner psychology, operational discipline, and why so many businesses work hard without actually building financial resiliency. This conversation matters because a lot of trades businesses are generating revenue while still operating too close to the edge. Mike explains why profit cannot be treated as whatever is left over, and how taking profit first forces owners to confront pricing problems, overspending, weak marketing, and operational inefficiencies before they become bigger risks. In this episode: Why “Revenue - Expenses = Profit” creates behavioral problems for ownersHow Profit First exposes what is actually broken inside a businessWhy ordinary trades businesses often have the biggest opportunity to stand outWhat ambitious employees are really looking for from leadershipHow customer experience can outperform expensive marketing Guest: Mike Michalowicz Co-Founder, Entrepreneur https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemichalowicz/ https://mikemichalowicz.com/ ▶ Subscribe for more conversations with builders, makers, and doers solving real business problems in construction, manufacturing, and the skilled trades. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 — Why So Many Entrepreneurs Stay Financially Stuck 02:35 — The Problem With the Traditional Profit Formula 04:05 — Profit First Exposes What’s Actually Broken 07:30 — Can Profit First Still Support Growth? 10:40 — Why Employees Do Not Care About Your Revenue Goal 16:35 — Open Books and Quarterly Profit Distributions 18:30 — The Truth About Ambitious Employees 22:00 — The HVAC Company That Replaced Ads With Experience 24:00 — Why Ordinary Businesses Have the Biggest Opportunity We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency.

    28 min

  3. May 13

    S1E22 | Why Aaron Gunderson Is Buying Trades Businesses Instead of Tech Companies

    Most trades businesses are still built around a few key people. The owner knows everything. The foreman keeps jobs moving. The systems live in someone’s head. And eventually growth starts creating pressure instead of freedom. That’s a big reason Aaron Gunderson started buying trades businesses. Aaron is the CEO of Bison, a company that acquires and operates businesses across landscaping, roofing, irrigation, and other trades-related industries. In this conversation, he breaks down what actually makes a trades company valuable, why keeping good people matters more than perfect systems, and where many operators quietly get stuck as they grow. This episode matters because a lot of trades businesses are running into the same challenges: Scaling without structure. Keeping key employees. Building systems while still running jobs every day. Trying to grow without losing what made the business work in the first place. In this episode, you’ll learn: What Aaron Gunderson looks for when evaluating trades businesses for acquisition Why key employees are often more valuable than equipment or assets How growing companies create opportunities that keep strong people from leaving Why many trades companies struggle with systems, marketing, and operational structure Practical ways AI is already helping operators improve efficiency and decision-making If you own, lead, or are trying to grow a construction, landscaping, roofing, or specialty trades business, this conversation will feel practical, familiar, and immediately relevant. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers for more conversations with operators, builders, and business owners. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why Aaron Gunderson buys businesses 02:10 – From rental properties to acquisitions 05:00 – Why Bison focused on trades companies 08:15 – What makes a trades business valuable 11:00 – How acquisitions are evaluated 14:05 – The challenge of keeping key people 19:10 – Biggest problems in the trades today 21:25 – Why employees leave to start competitors 26:00 – Marketing and AI for trades businesses 29:15 – Using AI to improve operations 31:00 – Building companies that scale long term 34:10 – Leadership, communication, and growth We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency.

    39 min

  4. May 5

    S1E21 | How Stahla Scaled an Overlooked Niche with Sales, Systems, and Focus feat. Grant Stahla

    Some businesses look simple from the outside. Then you hear what it actually takes to build one. Grant Stahla built Stahla Services in a niche most people would overlook: premium mobile restroom trailers, shower trailers, and temporary site support.  But the real story is not about trailers.  It is about capital pressure, sales discipline, hiring the right people, managing seasonality, using vendors well, and building a business that can keep growing without losing what makes it work. In this episode, Andy and Elliot sit down with Grant to talk through the lessons behind more than a decade of building, struggling, adjusting, and scaling. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why a narrow niche can become a serious growth advantage - How Stahla went from brand-first marketing to a real sales system - Why the right leadership hire can expose the gap you did not know you had - How creative contracting helps manage seasonality and protect overhead - Why AI should strengthen the business without damaging the customer experience If you own, lead, or help run a trades business, this episode will hit home. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts     • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn     https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book     https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett     CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris     https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett     President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris     https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 - Welcome to Builders, Makers, Doers     01:20 - What Stahla Services does today     03:35 - Serving job sites nationwide     04:35 - Starting the business in college     07:35 - Finding opportunity in an overlooked niche     10:25 - Early challenges and capital pressure     13:15 - The sales system they were missing     16:25 - Hiring the leader they needed     22:20 - Why people became the biggest win     26:15 - Building culture with a remote team     30:20 - Why vendors matter more than owners think     31:55 - Creative contracting and seasonal growth     33:35 - What Grant is building next     35:30 - AI infrastructure without AI slop     40:00 - Staying focused on what customers value We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency.

    44 min

  5. Apr 27

    S1E20 | Why Trades Owners Should Treat Recruiting Like a Risk Strategy

    Most trades owners know people are hard to find. But the bigger issue is what happens when recruiting stays reactive. Wrong hires create turnover. Turnover hurts culture. Culture problems hit safety, continuity, growth, and long-term business value. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Andy Bassett and Elliot Bassett talk about why recruiting is not just an HR task. It is one of the most important systems inside a resilient trades business. They break down what they have seen with clients, what they have experienced inside Ellerbrock-Norris, and why the strongest companies are always building a pipeline of the right people before the need becomes urgent. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why people are the foundation of a resilient business - How reactive recruiting creates hidden costs across the company - Why the wrong person in the wrong seat can damage culture fast - How recruiting impacts safety, continuity, key personnel planning, and exit readiness - Why employer positioning matters just as much as client positioning If you own, lead, or help run a trades business, this episode will hit home. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 – Recruiting as business resiliency 03:40 – Why recruiting needs a system 07:20 – The best leaders always recruit 10:45 – The real cost of bad hires 12:50 – Moving beyond reactive hiring 15:40 – Wrong person, wrong seat 17:10 – How hiring impacts business risk 19:40 – Defining the ideal employee 22:40 – Marketing to talent, not just clients 26:10 – Turning culture into a recruiting advantage 28:05 – Why pre-hire systems matter 31:05 – A real trades company recruiting journey  We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency.

    36 min

  6. Apr 22

    S1E19 | Are You Building a Resilient Business or Just Buying Insurance?

    Most trades owners think insurance is the safety net. It is not. Insurance can help you survive a bad event. It does not make your business resilient.  In this solo episode, Andy and Elliot break down the difference between being insured and actually building a business that can take a hit, keep running, protect profit, and hold its value over time. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why insurance should be treated as catastrophic protection, not the whole strategy ✅ How one injury can quietly impact safety, retention, workflow, and future profit ✅ Why shopping the market is usually the wrong move when costs rise ✅ How weak continuity planning can kill a business even when the insurance works ✅ Why de-risking your company can directly increase business value If you own, lead, or help run a trades business, this episode will hit home. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts: Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 The core question 00:30 Resilient vs. insured 03:00 Why owners default to price 07:05 Insurance helps you survive 10:15 Why shopping the market fails 14:20 When one injury hits everything 17:50 Key people and retention risk 23:25 Hidden costs owners miss 26:15 Insurance worked, business failed 28:45 De-risking increases business value 31:30 How to start building resilience  We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency.

    36 min

  7. Apr 13

    S1E18 | How Smart Contractors Use Risk Management to Protect Profit and Reduce Stress

    Most contractors still think about risk management as a cost. A policy. A renewal. A box to check. That is the wrong lens. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Andy and Elliot replay a webinar focused on a better way to think about risk management in a trades business. Not as an insurance conversation, but as a business strategy that protects profit, reduces stress, and helps owners build a stronger company over time. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why risk management should be treated as a profit strategy, not just an insurance decision ✅ How one issue can quietly hit payroll, operations, insurance costs, and margin at the same time ✅ Why safety, benefits, and business continuity decisions have a much bigger financial impact than most owners realize ✅ How customer concentration, leadership blind spots, and poor transition planning create risk that insurance alone cannot solve ✅ What Andy and Elliot mean when they talk about building a more resilient business If you own, lead, or help run a trades business, this episode will give you a sharper lens on risk, profit, and long-term business value. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Builders, Makers, Doers 02:00 – Risk management should protect profit 06:50 – The real resiliency problem 09:45 – Why insurance is not enough 12:15 – How risk hits multiple expenses 19:20 – The 10 impact areas of risk 26:05 – How EMOD impacts profit 29:35 – Health insurance cost control 33:10 – Customer concentration and continuity risk 35:30 – Exit planning and business transition 40:05 – Hidden leadership blind spots 42:30 – Prioritize, evaluate, implement

    48 min

  8. Apr 6

    S1E17 | How He Built a Successful Concrete Company While Working a Day Job feat. Dalton Daeges

    Most people talk about starting a business like it begins with a polished plan. A lot of times, it does not. It starts with a problem. A market gap. A few people willing to bet on an idea. And a founder figuring it out in real time. That is what makes this conversation with Dalton Daeges so relevant. Dalton did not come from the concrete world with some perfect roadmap. He was looking at business acquisition opportunities, trying to understand where the real opportunity was, and ended up building Concrete Delivered from the ground up after recognizing a gap in the Omaha market. What followed was everything most people never see from the outside: The financing conversations. The rough business plan. The barrier to entry. The people challenges. The scheduling chaos. The reinvestment decisions. And the pressure of building something real while still working a day job. Andy and Elliot sit down with Dalton to talk through what it actually looks like to build a trades business when the timing is not perfect, the resources are limited, and the risk is real. They unpack the role of partnerships, why more capital matters, how leadership changes when you are not physically there every day, and why some of the smartest growth decisions are the ones that make a business more resilient, not just bigger. They also get into one of the biggest realities owners run into once a business starts moving: Starting the business is one challenge. Keeping people aligned is another. Building something that can operate and grow without breaking every week is something else entirely. If you are trying to build a trades business, buy one, scale one, or just make better decisions with less guesswork, this episode will hit home. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Builders, Makers, Doers 03:35 – The idea that led to Concrete Delivered 07:00 – Building the business plan from scratch 11:05 – Running the company with a day job 15:15 – Why none of the owners took a salary 17:10 – Buying a second business to stabilize growth 21:30 – The hardest part: people and operations 27:40 – The woodburn boiler story 31:30 – The bigger vision beyond one company 37:15 – The buy-or-build threat from a larger company 41:20 – Dalton’s best advice for future owners 44:15 – Final thoughts

    45 min
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About

Builders Makers Doers: The Resilience Behind American Businesses shines a spotlight on the trades and the people who power them. You’ll walk away from each episode with ideas and strategies to build a business that’s here to stay. We are here to tell real stories from the small businesses of America. Whether it’s through our hosts or through conversations with business owners like you, we are here to talk about overcoming obstacles, creating remarkable projects, and building companies designed to last. From navigating labor challenges and market shifts to leading teams and innovating with new tools, these are the real stories of resilience in action. Hosts Elliot Bassett and Andy Bassett guide the discussion, bringing curiosity and practical insight to uncover what makes these businesses thrive. If you’re a builder, maker, or doer – you’ll find strategies, inspiration, and hard-won lessons to help you protect what you’ve built and create a lasting legacy.

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