Brad Leavitt Podcast

They have an established footing in both exceptional value custom homes and large-scale renovation. The team is comprised of experienced, hard-working, and conscientious people who enjoy sharing their craft with each other.

Whether you’re looking to design a traditional lake home, a modern farmhouse, or a cozy cottage á la Cape Cod, Mark D. Williams Custom Homes will gladly work with either an architect of your choice, or conceptualize and create with you ourselves. Regardless of the scope of your project, they work closely with clients to ensure the home meets your lifestyle and provides the most quality and value for the clients investment.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Connect with Mark Williams:

• Website - http://www.mdwilliamshomes.com
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/markdwilliams_customhomes/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MarkDWilliamsCustomHomesInc/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-williams-968a3420/
• Houzz - https://www.facebook.com/MarkDWilliamsCustomHomesInc/ 

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Listen in as Austin does a deep dive into his work as a financial planner who caters primarily to small business owners. He speaks on the harsh realities of managing a startup and common mistakes that owners fall into when structuring their businesses.

He also offers some basic yet powerful advice to parents looking to raise financially intelligent kids, including need-to-know information on Roth IRAs, credit scores, and money management.

Finally, Austin talks about what clients can expect when they partner with Backbone Planning Partners, as well as his motivation for starting his podcast, Tycoons of Small Biz.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed: 

• [03:30] The importance of financial planning and Austin’s greatest financial advice
• [07:58] Having conversations with your kids about financial responsibility
• [14:10] What to know about Roth IRAs
• [22:01] Improving your credit score
• [29:09] How business owners should communicate with employees about finances
• [44:56] How Backbone Planning Partners helps small business owners
• [52:59] Backbone’s fee structure
• [56:06] Why Austin started the Tycoons of Small Biz podcast
• [01:02:39] What Austin does for fun

Connect with Guest:

• Website - https://www.backboneplanning.com/
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinpetersoncfp/
• Podcast - https://tycoonsofsmallbiz.com/

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Austin:

• The most basic information I can give to anybody is: “Live on 80% of what you make.”
• I think it’s important that parents are open with their kids about how personal finance works.
• Employees need to know that they’re following a leader that they can count on, and if you don’t look confident on a day-to-day basis, then they start to worry themselves.
• Everybody thinks that every business owner is an overnight success; but, what they don’t realize is that there were ten years (or maybe even more) of them grinding and barely having enough to take care of their families before, finally, there was breathing room and then momentum.
• You want to market to the business that you want, and not the business that you have today.
• We believe that the backbone of the American economy is the small business owner.

Listen in as Joseph and Adam discuss the keys to a productive business partnership and how the two friends were able to home in on their roles in the company over time.

They also talk about the benefits of promoting honesty, transparency, and open communication not only between the firm and its clients, but also between the leadership team and those they lead within the firm itself.

Finally, our guests speak on the many challenges that the past two years have presented and how they are currently navigating a market on the brink of recession.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed:

• Joseph and Adam’s secret to a great business partnership
• Conflict resolution
• The value of having empathy for the client
• The biggest conflict that Joseph and Adam aim to resolve in 2022
• The evolution of the company
• The importance of being as transparent as possible with contracts
• Why have regular phone calls with clients
• How Joseph and Adam eventually found the roles best suited for them
• Cultivating a culture of honesty and transparency among all staff
• Dealing with turnover and hiring in today’s turbulent economy
• Why today’s market is unsustainable, and how it can be fixed
• What Joseph and Adam do for fun
• What’s upcoming for Ghiloni Custom Builders

Connect with Cardinal Crest Design Build:

• Website - https://www.cardinalcresthomes.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cardinalcrestkc/
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/cardinalcrest/cardinal-crest-homes-renders/
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-builders/cardinal-crest-homes-pfvwus-pf~1099660923?
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Cardinalcresthomes

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Joseph and Adam:

• Conflict resolution is in every part of business in general, and it’s okay. Conflict is actually good. ~Joseph
• There’s no way to get good at conflict resolution without doing a ton of it. ~Joseph
• Dealing with conflict comes down to quality and continuous communication. [...] It goes back to cultivating a good relationship with your clients, being open and honest with your clients, and admitting fault when it’s necessary. ~Adam
• There are builders with a wealth of knowledge and have amazing systems and processes. They need to share those systems and those processes with clients. ~Adam
• I refer to my employees as my “colleagues” because we, as business owners, can learn so much from our colleagues. You learn your weaknesses very, very quickly from them if you create a culture and an environment where they’re comfortable voicing their opinions. ~Adam

Listen in as Vince and Gino discuss the unique dynamics of doing business as a family, including alongside Gino’s mom and Vice President of the company, Maryjane Ghiloni.

They also explain the ins-and-outs of Builder 20 Clubs and how to join one, as well as how their strong focus on growing the homebuilding community influences the Ghiloni company culture.

Vince and Gino speak on how the younger Ghiloni is preparing to take the reins of the business, and how they have successfully utilized social media to thrive in today’s market, to the point where 60% of Ghiloni’s sales now come from Instagram alone.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed:

• [03:24] About the 20 Clubs for builders
• [07:16] How the Clubs have changed over the years
• [11:17] What to expect at a Builder 20 meeting
• [14:39] How to find and join a Builder 20 group
• [20:16] What led Gino to join the business later on
• [28:03] Preparing to hand off the business to the next generation
• [38:07] Cultivating company culture
• [41:15] How Vince and Gino differentiate their roles in the company
• [46:22] How social media has developed the business
• [52:21] Addressing the labor shortage issue
• [53:47] Deciding which tasks to subcontract
• [56:40] Setting expectations with clients
• [58:14] What Vince and Gino do for fun
• [01:01:38] What’s upcoming for Ghiloni Custom Builders

Connect with Guest:

• Website - https://www.ghiloni-custom-builders.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ghiloni_custom_builders/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Ghilonicustombuilders/
• TikTok - @ghiloni_custom_builders
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/professionals/design-build-firms/ghiloni-custom-builders-inc-pfvwus-pf~377556360

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes:

• The culture of this company comes down to how we handle what we call “gray issues”: If it’s a gray issue, we take care of it. As fair as we can be with our clients is as fair as we can be for ourselves and for our subs.
• Maybe our business, almost to a fault, is too much like a family in some cases.
• The most important thing we have to do is set expectations for what we’re going to get. That’s tough: We think we got our point across and the client gets everything, but then you get a question out of left field after you get started.

Founded in 2015, Pinhero specializes in the F&B and hospitality space. Since its founding, Pinhero has completed over 500 projects in the retail, restaurant, and office industry.

Sunny’s infectious personality and drive have been huge contributors to his successful bounceback from losing it all in 2008 to building an award-winning commercial construction company in 2021.

Listen in as Sunny shares what it truly means to take ownership of your business. He explains how being forced to start over after the 2008 crash taught him the value of playing the long game in the world of construction, the keys to building a $100 million company, how to educate clients in order to minimize difficult conversations, and how to create a training system for your team that scales.

Topics Discussed:

• [04:48] Starting over after the 2008 crash
• [10:31] Building a business of any size
• [18:27] Being a great leader for your team
• [21:06] Staying cutting edge as a business while sticking to timeless principles
• [23:44] How Sunny was able to rapidly scale his company in his early 20s
• [28:12] How Pinhero has evolved since 2008
• [27:45] The challenges of working in commercial construction in 2022
• [41:48] Getting rid of “head trash” and dealing with difficult conversations with clients
• [47:00] Tools that Sunny uses to train his team
• [56:22] Sunny’s business outside California
• [58:58] Expanding your influencer network
• [01:01:34] What Sunny likes to do for fun

Connect with Sunny Pinhero:

• Website - https://pinhero.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnypinhero/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pinheroconstruction/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pinheroconstruction/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-YAOd64uv0HPuvb2GnXbg
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PinheroCon

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Sunny:

• If we’re going to grow our company—if we want to make more money—we have to produce more.
• It doesn’t matter what size company you want to build; if you put your team in place, you can build to any size. And you manage the company—the company doesn’t manage you.
• I’m a fan of selling a client once and then earning the right to keep building products for them.

A builder since his youth, Garrett recalls many summers spent on job sites alongside his uncle, and ultimately leaving college after a single semester to work in construction full-time.

Our conversation largely revolves around Garrett’s inspiring road to sobriety. It was after turning his life around that he was able to build a thriving construction business amid the pandemic. He desires to be an inspiration to others going along this same path by telling the stories of men and women just like himself on his podcast, Skilled & Sober.

Garrett also shares the process of trial and error he had to go through to scale his business from doing renovations exclusively to designing and building homes in Central Maine.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed:

• [08:53] The moment Garrett’s Instagram presence really took off
• [10:59] How Garrett got into construction
• [14:50] Garret’s journey to sobriety
• [24:38] About the Skilled & Sober podcast
• [28:17] Garrett’s advice to those struggling with issues of self-worth
• [35:08] How silent meditation changed Garrett’s life
• [39:15] How the company has evolved since Garrett chose sobriety
• [43:29] A cycle of hiring and firing amid COVID
• [50:21] From renovation to homebuilding
• [53:53] Learning the financial side of business
• [58:55] Adjusting to changing material costs
• [01:03:00] Vetting clients
• [1:10:20] What’s upcoming for G.W. WoodWorks

Connect with Garrett Davis:

• Website - https://www.gwdaviscompany.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelifeofbub/?hl=en

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Garrett:

• There are underlying factors for everyone that struggles with mental illness, depress, and drug addiction: There’s stuff that we’re burying inside. There’s stuff that we’re not letting out.
• Sobriety has taught me acceptance.
• Trial and error has made my contracts better and better over the years.

Born in L.A. to a schizophrenic mother and abandoned by his bipolar father at the age of 13, Festus found himself in the foster care system and lived at eight different foster homes until he discovered his passion for medicine.

He refused to take the advice of his foster parents who encouraged him to pursue a more “realistic” career and, through sheer willpower, Festus was eventually accepted into college at UC Riverside. He was later given a full ride scholarship to attend medical school at UCLA, where he decided to become an anesthesiologist. Finally, he was accepted to the residency program in UT Southwestern in Dallas.

Listen in as Festus reflects on those trials and offers his strategies for career success to those who may be feeling overwhelmed as they enter the job market.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed:

• [05:39] Festus’s background as a foster kid
• [13:15] How Festus’s tough upbringing bolstered his resilience today
• [17:04] Why Festus pursued pre-med
• [24:12] About the Guardian Scholars Program
• [27:54] Festus’s advice to his younger self
• [28:58] Why Festus chose anesthesiology
• [36:43] The importance of bedside manner
• [42:51] The typical day-in-the-life of an anesthesiologist
• [48:32] Festus’s future career plans
• [53:23] Deciding which med school to enroll in
• [57:30] What Festus does for fun
• [58:52] Festus’s sisters plans for the future
• [01:01:32] Festus’s advice to those experiencing career burnout

Connect with Festus Ohan:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/strivemd/?hl=en
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fesohan/

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Festus:

• Try to find as many resources as you can, whether it’s for your studies or whatever your aspirations are. Try to find a mentor on the path that you’re exploring to help you find your way.

With the belief that “a rising tide raises all ships”, Brad kicks off the conversation explaining why he wholeheartedly believes in sharing so-called trade secrets via his social media and podcast, making it a point to educate clients and trade partners to uplift the industry as a whole.

Zach then speaks on becoming a better leader and creating a great company culture by setting expectations with your employees and developing the right systems and processes for your business. He also reveals how he has been able to cultivate his authentic online brand.

Finally, Zach explains why he decided to let all of his employees go at the end of 2021 in order to manage his two businesses by himself, and how he currently defines his scope of work for the projects he takes on today.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed:

• [03:32] Educating clients and trade partners
• [13:53] Defining career “success” and building an authentic brand
• [21:16] Why Zach started his social media
• [26:26] Being creative with your content
• [30:44] Working with The Build Show
• [36:39] How Zach schedules his content for his various social media
• [42:36] Developing the right systems and processes for your business
• [46:25] Creating a great company culture
• [53:25] Letting everyone go and managing a one-man company as of the start of 2022
• [01:04:43] How Zach delegates tasks today
• [1:12:55] Zach’s ideal client
• [1:17:11] What Zach is most excited about

Connect with Zachary Dettmore:

• Website: https://www.dettmore.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dettmore101/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/Dettmore101
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dettmore101
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dettmorehomeimprovements
• Tumblr - https://dettmorehomeimprovements.tumblr.com/
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/dettmore/dettmore-home-improvements?lt=hl

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Zachary:

• I’m a harsh critic of myself and there’s really not much that I’m afraid to share about my personal struggle, and when people see that I’m struggling, they realize that we’re all in this together.
• You’re only going to see the value of my work in a decade, when compared to my competitor.

Schannon started growing her brand in May of 2020 and, by November of the same year, That Tile Chick grew from having zero followers on Instagram to over 20,000.

Listen in as Schannon and Chris discuss how they entered the tile industry and how the pair came to form the That Tile Chick brand. They also share the keys to their success on social media and how they have been able to thrive in business as a couple.

Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Events:

• Learn More/Register for Contractor Coalition Summit November 06-09 https://www.eventcreate.com/e/contractorcoalitionsummit

Topics Discussed:

• [03:30] The backstory of “That Tile Chick”
• [07:07] Schannon and Chris’s background and why they got into tile
• [16:59] Common issues in the tile industry
• [22:51] Houston’s cutthroat market
• [24:26] Shannon and Chris’s decision to start a tile company
• [28:11] Pre-qualifying your clients
• [39:20] Delegating tasks as the business scales
• [41:51] Establishing the That Tile Chick brand
• [46:37] The value of being a “real person” on social media if you want to build a following
• [51:37] How social media marketing changed Schannon and Chris’s business
• [58:34] Managing a business as a couple
• [1:04:28] What Schannon and Chris are most excited about

Connect with That Tile Chick:

• Website - https://www.thattilechick.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ThatTileChick/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheTileChick
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ThatTileChick
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thattilechick?lang=en

Connect with Brad Leavitt

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Schannon and Chris:

• I think Houston is very cutthroat. Even in the highest-end neighborhoods, to be a contractor here, you really need to know how to market. You need to be able to sell your value, communicate with the client on why, and be able to educate them in certain ways so they have a base understanding of what you’re talking about. ~Schannon
• Before wasting your time going out to a job site, you need to start pre-qualifying your clients. ~Chris