Skid Steer Nation

Ryan Deemer
  • 4.9 (46)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join the Skid Steer Nation podcast to discover how excavation and land service business owners are finding innovative solutions to grow their businesses. Our in-depth interviews provide valuable tips on everything from customer acquisition, sales and marketing, to employee recruitment and management, all while being entertained by our dynamic host. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to take your business to the next level!

  1. 2D AGO

    Jack Eso: The $4M Move Most Contractors Are Afraid to Make

    He went from renting a skid steer on weekends to landing $4 million in work in 60 days.But the real shift wasn’t equipment — it was systems.And the biggest lesson? Stop racing to the bottom on price. Jack Eso of RoseBrooke Site Development breaks down how he scaled from a side hustle to a 10-man operation doing site work, utilities, concrete, and full residential packages in North Carolina. This episode isn’t about hype — it’s about margins, structure, and building a company that doesn’t fall apart when you step away. If you’re tired of guessing at numbers, chasing every job, and feeling buried in your own business… this one hits home. Takeaways: ✅ 50% Gross Profit Rule (Residential): Jack stopped chasing the “going rate” and built his pricing around what his business actually needs — not what competitors charge. ✅ $300K–$350K Revenue Per Employee: He tracks revenue per team member to know exactly when it makes sense to hire. ✅ Automated Sales Follow-Up: Email, voicemail drops, and video walkthroughs of estimates increased professionalism — and conversions. ✅ Outsourced Estimating = Time Freedom: Hiring a commercial estimating firm helped him land $4M in projects without becoming the bottleneck. ✅ Say No Early: Fiberglass pools? Done. If it doesn’t fit the system, it’s not worth the lesson. Why It Matters: If you're running crews, bidding bigger jobs, or trying to stop undercharging — this episode shows how to build real structure without losing control. Links: ➡️ Visit Rosebrooke Site Development’s website – Follow his Jack Eso’s excavation journey.https://rosebrookelh.com/ ➡️ Shop Attachments at Skid Steer Nation: ⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠ – “Build your business with the right attachments.” ➡️ Marketing Help at Throttled Up: ⁠https://www.getthrottledup.com⁠ – “Marketing built for contractors.”

    1h 3m

  2. FEB 18

    Jeremy Whitson: Why Too Much Work Nearly Broke His Excavation Business

    He walked away from a VP position with 208 employees.Bought one excavator. No real plan.Then learned the hard way that “booked out” doesn’t mean profitable. Jeremy Whitson left a 21-year career in the automotive industry to build Whitson Farms Excavation from scratch. What he didn’t expect? That cash flow—not equipment—would be the real battle. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down commercial work, stormwater systems, estimating discipline, and why too much work nearly wrecked his company. This one is about growth pressure, schedule chaos, retention checks, and building a team the right way. Takeaways: ✅ Too Much Work Is Worse Than Not Enough – Overbooking commercial projects nearly cost him his reputation when rain delays stacked jobs on top of each other. ✅ Commercial = Cash Flow Discipline – 45–90 day pay cycles and 5–10% retention mean subs are often funding the project. ✅ Bid Like You’ll Win Every Job – Don’t throw numbers out hoping to land one. If you bid it, plan to execute it. ✅ Know Your Daily Break-Even – Insurance, fuel, moving equipment, bidding time—it all counts. ✅ Focus on What You’re Great At – He stopped doing septic installs himself and partnered instead. Efficiency beats ego. Why It Matters: If you’re running excavation, utilities, or site work, this episode will sharpen how you think about growth, estimating, and protecting your reputation in commercial projects. Links: ➡️ Connect with Jeremy Whitson – Follow his excavation journey. https://www.facebook.com/wfexcavationco ➡️ Shop Attachments at Skid Steer Nation: https://www.skidsteernation.com – “Build your business with the right attachments.” ➡️ Marketing Help at Throttled Up: https://www.getthrottledup.com – “Marketing built for blue-collar contractors.”

    1h 37m

  3. FEB 4

    Sheldon Gould: What 25+ Years in a Small-Market Contracting Business Really Teaches You

    Running a contracting business in a small town isn’t glamorous—and Sheldon Gould doesn’t pretend it is. With over 25 years in lawn care, snow removal, land leveling, and property maintenance, Sheldon shares what it actually takes to survive when competition is tight, prices keep climbing, and growth feels slow. This episode is for contractors who are still showing up every day and wondering how to build a business that lasts.  Takeaways: ✅ Longevity beats hype: Why staying profitable and trusted for decades matters more than fast growth ✅ Small towns come with real limits: He breaks down what competition, undercutting, and pricing pressure look like when your market is under 1,000 people ✅ Growth doesn’t mean more machines: Sometimes one attachment or service tweak beats buying a whole new fleet ✅ Why “local recognition” works better than big marketing numbers: How a few hundred local followers outperform thousands of random views. ✅ Calculated risk vs. blind risk: Expanding only after demand shows up—not before—can keep you alive long enough to grow. Why It Matters: If you’re grinding in a small market, feeling stuck, or wondering why growth feels harder than it should—this episode proves you’re not broken, and neither is your business. Links: ➡️ Check out Sheldon Gould’s S&N Custom Lawn Care Facebook Page:⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/sheldon.gould.9 ➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://getthrottledup.com/

    59 min

  4. JAN 28

    Nate Morello: Why “More Equipment” Isn’t the Same as a Better Business

    Most excavation and heavy civil contractors don’t fail because of bad work—they fail because of poor cash flow, bad equipment decisions, and overcomplicated growth. In this episode, Nate Morello breaks down how he’s built a lean excavation business by focusing on payment schedules, job rhythm, and technology that replaces labor instead of adding overhead. If you’re running municipal, commercial, or excavation work and feel like the business is starting to control you, this episode will hit close to home. Key Takeaways: ✅ Cash flow beats contract size: Nate explains why payment schedules, retainage, and holdbacks matter more than landing “big” municipal jobs. ✅ Technology should replace labor, not add stress: Grade control, rotators, and attachments only work if they fit your operation—not because someone else has them. ✅ Don’t buy gear for ego: Nate breaks down how screener buckets, rotators, and attachments paid off only because they matched his workflow. ✅ Rhythm over perfection: Over-perfecting jobs kills momentum—focus effort where the customer actually sees value. ✅ Time is the real cost: Renting, hauling, waiting, and delays quietly eat profit faster than most operators realize. Why It Matters: If you’re trying to grow without losing control—or wondering why the work feels harder even though you’re “busy”—this episode shows how experienced operators think long-term. Links: ➡️ Check out Nate Morello’s MC Build Facebook Page:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/mcbuildnh ➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠⁠⁠ https://getthrottledup.com/

    1h 27m

  5. JAN 21

    Richard Piendak: The Exit Strategy Most Contractors Never Prepare For

    Richard Piendak didn’t just survive five decades in paving—he built, scaled, sold, and then kept working anyway. In this episode, Richard breaks down the hard-earned lessons most contractors only learn the expensive way: when to grow, when to slow down, and why simplicity beats size. If you’re trying to build a business that actually lasts—and doesn’t burn you out—this episode will hit home. Takeaways: ✅ Scale exposes cracks – Growth doesn’t fix problems; it magnifies them. Bad systems and weak leadership show up fast when you add people. ✅ Employees make or break the business – Richard explains how treating crews like family (and testing skills, not resumes) built loyalty and consistency. ✅ Debt isn’t the enemy—bad decisions are – He shares how avoiding smart debt early slowed growth, and what he’d do differently today. ✅ Build to sell, even if you never do – Clean books, solid processes, and real leadership are what made his exit possible. ✅ Be a warrior, not a worrier – One mindset shift that carried him through recessions, oil embargoes, and 20% interest rates. Why It Matters: This episode is a masterclass for excavation, paving, and hardscape owners who want long-term stability—not just more jobs and more headaches. Links: ➡️ Check out Richard’s Paving Inc Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KingofPaving ➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠⁠⁠https://getthrottledup.com/

    1h 21m

  6. JAN 14

    Caley Stecker: The Quote Is the Quote — Stop Guessing & Start Getting Paid

    You’ve probably underbid a job, got halfway through, and realized you’re working for free. Caley Stecker from C & C Land Management (Holden, Missouri) lays out exactly how he stopped doing that — and why most contractors stay stuck because they’re scared to price like a real business. This episode isn’t a “feel-good” story. It’s a straight-up playbook on pricing, scope control, customer expectations, and running your schedule without chaos owning you. Takeaways: ✅ If you’re not a little nervous about your price, you’re probably too cheap. Caley explains why contractors leave money on the table trying to “stay competitive.” ✅ Hourly work punishes you for getting good. He breaks down why day-rate pricing protects your profit even when you get faster and more efficient. ✅ Your quote should include what you won’t do. Caley started adding “not included” items (seed, straw, sod, etc.) after getting burned by customers assuming extras. ✅ Add clauses for reality (rock, soil conditions, water table, etc.). He even built a “suitable soil conditions” clause so the job stops until a real conversation happens. ✅ Stop calling yourself a “small business.” Caley explains how the words you use shape how customers treat you — and how you treat yourself.Why it Matters: Because in excavation and land work, profit disappears fast when you guess pricing, stay vague on scope, or let scheduling chaos run your week. Links: ➡️ Check out and follow C & C Land Maintenance LLC’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086860041430 ➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠⁠https://getthrottledup.com/

    1h 16m

  7. JAN 8

    Affordable GPS Machine Control for Contractors? Real Costs, Setup, and What’s Changing in 2026

    To kick off 2026, Ryan Deemer shows up in a different way — as the guest on the Blue Collar Business Podcast. And they jump right into a question a lot of contractors have been asking for years: is GPS machine control finally affordable… or is it still just for the big outfits? They talk real numbers, simple setup, and why this kind of tech can help you move dirt faster, cut down rework, and keep your best guys from wanting to leave. Takeaways: ✅ The number that got everyone’s attention: GPS machine control for around $13,000 — not $60K+. ✅ Most contractors don’t need the “top tier” systems: Ryan says only a small percentage actually need full 3D modeling setups. ✅ This tech can help you retain good operators: once a guy gets used to working with tools like this, he doesn’t want to go back to the old way — even for more pay.  ✅ Fast install + simple use matters more than fancy features: Sy admits he’s usually scared to touch his own equipment screens… but this system felt simple enough to use without stressing about messing it up. Why it Matters: Because the second GPS becomes affordable and simple for everyday contractors, it changes hiring, production, and how competitive you stay moving forward. Links: ➡️ Subscribe to the Blue Collar Business Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast ➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠⁠⁠ ➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠⁠https://getthrottledup.com/

    1h 27m

  8. 12/31/2025

    Mike Johnson: The Contractor Mindset Shift That Stops Stress From Following You Home

    As we head into a new year, this episode hits on something most contractors feel but rarely say out loud. Mike Johnson runs a snow removal crew, a hardscape operation, and a growing team—but the real shift came when he realized success didn’t matter if he carried stress everywhere he went. Mike breaks down how he reclaimed peace, rebuilt trust in his team, and stopped letting work steal from his home life. Takeaways: ✅ If you can’t shut your brain off at night, you don’t have a work problem—you have a peace problem.  ✅ Letting go of control isn’t a mindset—it’s a hiring move.  ✅ One mistake can cost a contract… but how you handle it can win loyalty forever. ✅ Social media doesn’t reward perfect… it rewards real.  ✅ Marketing isn’t about making the phone ring—it’s about who’s calling.  Why it Matters : If you’re stepping into the new year determined to build a better business and a better life, this episode gives you a grounded place to start. Links: ➡️ Visit & Follow Mike’s Facebook Page (Pro Snow Removal): https://www.facebook.com/GoProSnow ➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠⁠ ➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠⁠https://getthrottledup.com/

    1h 7m
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4.9
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

Join the Skid Steer Nation podcast to discover how excavation and land service business owners are finding innovative solutions to grow their businesses. Our in-depth interviews provide valuable tips on everything from customer acquisition, sales and marketing, to employee recruitment and management, all while being entertained by our dynamic host. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to take your business to the next level!

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Deemer
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ryan Deemer
  • Show Website
    Skid Steer Nation

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