Learn how to build killer SOPs for your painting business at our free web class on February 12th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SOPS2025

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:

• BTA Coach Ian tells the story of the near-fatal car accident he survived in 2008 and how the event changed his life.
• Hear the life lessons Ian took away from the experience, and what they taught him about resilience and faith.
• Gain perspective on the challenges you’re facing in business and life, and understand how having faith can help you push through adversity.

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.

Learn how to build killer SOPs for your painting business at our free web class on February 12th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SOPS2025

Grab your free "goodie bag" of financial management templates here: https://trybta.com/DL196 

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP196 

If you’ve made it this far in business, I probably don’t need to tell you that need to budget, track your overhead, and do job costing.

The problem is: nobody ever shows you HOW.

A few weeks back, we co-hosted a webinar with our friend Bob Gauvreau from Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory to teach 7-figure contractors everything they need to know about managing their finances. We talked about budgeting, job costing, avoiding cash crunches and more.

And today, we’re replaying it here on the podcast so more contractors can benefit from the insights.

This is a must-listen for anyone whose New Year’s Resolution is to get better at financial management.

Episode Highlights:

• Understand the least painful way to track your budgets, job costing, and  overhead—without wasting hours with mind-numbing numbers.
• Get insight into the top 5 cash flow problems to watch out for. Many of these are new in 2024 — but avoiding them is simple once you know what to look for.
• Learn how to take the guesswork out of your financial decision-making, including your financial benchmarks for your specific industry.

00:00-Intro
02:34-About the session
03:47-About our free templates (link in description)
05:24-Why talk cash flow and budgeting?
06:50-About Benji & Bob
08:05-Purpose, Outcomes & Agenda
10:59-Why is staying on top of your numbers so hard?
13:41-Common challenges with financial management
21:41-3 Core Systems of Financial Management
36:23-Industry Benchmarks - Profit Margins
41:20-Margins as you evolve
46:21-Signs you should be worried about your cash flow
51:04-Five Cash Flow Destroyers
59:33-How to implement change
01:07:18-Q&A

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build killer SOPs for your painting business at our free web class on February 12th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SOPS2025

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP195

How are you using AI and automation in your business? Maybe you use ChatGPT for idea generation or have some automated reminders going out through your bookkeeping software or CRM.

If so, that’s great. But the reality is there is a lot more you could be doing. And it doesn't all require in-depth programming knowledge or tech skills.

Today’s conversation is with Tersh Blissett. He’s an AI and automations expert for trades and construction, Host of the Service Business Mastery Podcast, owner of two HVAC companies, and founder of Trade Automation Pros. 

We discuss the five types of automations all contractors need and three of the most clever ways he’s seeing AI deployed in the trades today. 

If you’re tired of monotonous and repetitive tasks but aren’t sure where to start with automations, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights:

• Get intel from Tersh Blissett, AI and automations expert for trades and construction, Host of the Service Business Mastery Podcast, owner of two HVAC companies, and founder of Trade Automation Pros. 

• Learn the five types of automations every contractor needs to optimize their operations.

• Get tips on how to get started with AI and automations, including three of Tersh’s favorite AI use cases in the contracting space.

00:00-Intro  
01:16-Defining automations  
02:04-Background on Tersh's passion for AI and automation  
06:42-About Tersh  
11:55-Five automations every contractor needs  
12:23-Automated appointment scheduling and reminders  
19:36-Streamlined customer support ticket handling  
24:10-Automated lead management  
25:23-Social media content curation and posting  
30:54-Automated onboarding for new clients  
40:49-Three clever ways contractors can use AI in their business  
54:10-Advice for the not so tech-savvy contractor  
56:52-Connect with Tersh

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build killer SOPs for your painting business at our free web class on February 12th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SOPS2025

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP194 

Get your copy of Greg McKeown's new Essentialism Planner here: https://gregmckeown.com/books/the-essentialism-planner/ 

Do you know what you want this year? Or next year? Or in five years?

In this distracted world we’re living in, it can be pretty hard to drown out the noise, algorithms and influencers and figure out what it is that you want. And how to go get it.

Our guest on the show today is Greg McKeown, author of one of the most beloved books in the small business world: Essentialism: the Disciplined Pursuit of Less. He’s here to teach us how to define and achieve what’s truly most important to you by narrowing your focus and aligning your actions with the highest priority—the most essential—goals in business and life.

Late last year, Greg released a new workbook to help readers work through the concepts of an essentialist lifestyle, and we’re lucky enough to get a preview into what the process looks like on the show.

Episode highlights:

• Learn how to apply the concepts of Greg McKeown's book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less to your business and life.

• Get tips from Benji and Greg on how to figure out what it is you actually want in life, and how to go after it with laser focus.

• Gain a new perspective on your 2025 strategic plan and vision, just in time to go out and crush your goals.

00:00-Intro

01:44-Essentialism: A 2024 Update

04:19-About the Essentialism Planner

07:43-How to discern the "trivial many" from the "vital few"

30:39-How to figure out what you actually want

55:25-The power of a graceful no

01:01:40-The importance of rest, play, and escape

01:10:40-Advice for contractors as they enter 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build killer SOPs for your painting business at our free web class on February 12th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SOPS2025

Stop telling yourself the lies in this episode and start telling yourself the 7 TRUTHS in this free download instead: https://trybta.com/DL193

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here:  https://trybta.com/PCEP193 

For the first episode of 2025, Benji is speaking from the heart.

Today, he's calling out seven lies to stop telling yourself in 2025. And, really, seven lies we all need to stop telling ourselves.

We hope this episode helps you break unhealthy thought patterns. About your business. About your family. And most importantly, about yourself.

New year, new you. And new us, too. 

Episode Highlights:
- Understand whether seven unhealthy thought patterns are impacting your business and life, and how to let them go as you enter the new year.
- Reflect on the limiting beliefs that held you back in the past, and start to shift your thinking as you move into the future.

00:00-Intro
02:09-It’s “just a [insert industry] business”
04:32-Another business/industry would have been easier
08:39-It HAS to be hard
10:39-I need to be good at everything.
11:45-I’m not worthy of the abundance my business is creating
14:32-A+ Talent doesn't want to work for my business
16:32-I’m behind; everyone else is so far ahead

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to build killer SOPs for your painting business at our free web class on February 12th. Spaces are limited, so save your spot now: https://trybta.com/CE-SOPS2025

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP192 

Have you ever wondered how the masters of big business scale up to nine-figures and beyond?

Today’s guest is Adam E. Coffey, author of 3 bestsellers: The Private Equity Playbook, The Exit Strategy Playbook, and Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion. After 10 years as an executive at General Electric, he was hired as the president of three private equity-backed service companies where he completed 58 acquisitions and facilitated billions of dollars in successful exits. 

In this episode, we pick his brain about how small-to-medium sized contractors like you can apply the concepts of The Private Equity Playbook to their business systems and operations. And trust us, there is a ton to be learned from our conversation.

Episode highlights:
- Get a breakdown of the concepts in Adam E.Coffey’s bestselling books, The Private Equity Playbook, The Exit Strategy Playbook, and Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion.
- Learn the three stages of business growth on the road to a billion, and what tactics and areas of focus are most important at each point in the journey.
- Understand how to apply the mindset and tactics used in the world of private equity to your own strategic plan.

00:00-Intro
01:23-About Adam Coffey
06:22-Stage 1 : $0 to $1MM
16:26-Stage 2: $1 M to $10MM
32:17-Stage 3: $10MM to $100MM
42:40-Four Powerful Organic Levers to Bend Your Growth Curve Upward
50:27-The 2 Most Essential Business Skills for Growth
53:39-Connect With Adam

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to hire for profit growth with this free download: https://trybta.com/DLEP191 

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP191 

Learn more about Greg and Simple Numbers here: https://www.simplenumberscri.com/ 

We're gonna make an educated guess and say you didn’t get into business because you love accounting.

So when it comes to financial management—budgeting, forecasting, and tracking the right metrics for success—you’d be forgiven for getting a little lost in the jargon and differing opinions on the “right” way to do things.

Our guest on the show today is Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!

Greg's approach to financial controls and profitability is refreshingly simple and easy to understand. He distills the confusing world of accounting into incredibly simple metrics and lays out the core areas of business you need to focus on.

If you’re looking for a simple explanation of which numbers you should care about and how to optimize them for business growth, consider this episode your starting point.

Episode highlights:

• Understand why gross margin is your TRUE top line and why revenue is one of the most meaningless metrics to care about in business, according to Greg Crabtree, author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!

• Hear Greg’s thoughts on why your income tax paid is actually one of the best KPIs to optimize

• Learn the only two ways to boost labor productivity and get out of the profitability black hole between $1MM and $5MM

00:00-Intro

01:52-Why are finances so hard to understand?

14:49-About the Four Keys

21:30-How should people use and think about the Four Keys?

28:44-Owner's Salary

36:56-Profit

50:52-Labor Productivity

1:02:23-Habits and mindsets

 

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab a free summary of Joey's book, Never Lose an Employee Again, here: https://trybta.com/DLEP190 

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP190  

Learn more about Joey and his work here: https://joeycoleman.com/ 

It sucks to lose good people. 

Especially when it feels like you did everything you could to keep them, short of a 7-figure salary and 6 months vacation. 🤦

But, according to my guest today, world-renowned speaker, consultant, and bestselling author of Never Lose an Employee Again Joey Coleman, there’s probably a lot of crucial onboarding steps you’re missing with your new team members.

Today’s conversation is about more than employee retention. We’re diving into the world of employee experience, and how getting it right can save you tons of time, money and headaches by lowering turnover and building a killer culture.

Episode highlights:
- Get an inside look at Joey Coleman’s framework for building killer employee experiences, as outlined in his bestselling book Never Lose an Employee Again.
- Learn about the importance of the first 100 days of an employee’s time with your company, and how to optimize their experience for long-term retention.
- Get tips on designing organizations that allow high performers to grow into careers, rather than feel like they’re in a “dead end job.”

00:00-Intro
01:29-The true cost of turnover
04:45-Why people quit after just a few months
13:51-Why proper onboarding is essential (even though it's a lot of work)
21:25-The goal of an onboarding system: The 4 R's
32:57-How to optimize the first day on the job
43:24-The importance of the First 100 Days
47:23-How to create career paths that keep A-players around
58:42-Connect with Joey

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab your copy of our IMPLEMENT framework here: https://trybta.com/DLEP189

 

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/PCEP189  

 

The end of the year is approaching, and that means it’s “hope season” for a lot of contractors.

 

Your implementation goals are big. You’ve got tech stack upgrades, brand refreshes, and shiny new internal processes on the brain.

 

But, let’s be real:

 

If you look back at past years—and all the projects you had planned—how many of them did you actually get across the finish line?

 

The graveyard of good ideas not implemented for most entrepreneurs is vast.

 

So how do you break the cycle and actually get sh*t done in 2025?

 

This episode is a 9-part roadmap that will help you sharpen your implementation skills and turn your great ideas into fully implemented systems.

 

Episode highlights:
- Learn Benji’s nine part framework for successfully implementing projects—from tech stack upgrades to business systems to SOPs.
- Understand why implementation is so difficult, and how to sharpen your skills as a business owner to get more done in 2025.
- Get fired up and ready to crush your implementation goals next year.

 

00:00-Intro
02:15-Pick The Right Things To Implement
04:33-Define Your Outcomes
06:34-Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
07:34-Make Foolproof Project Plans
09:04-Delegate, Don’t Dump
12:29-Find Your Milestones and Celebrate Them
13:29-Don't Forget the Change Management Part
15:57-Audit (is what we implemented working?)
17:12-Give People Breaks

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connect time tracking to your job costing with this free white paper from busybusy: https://trybta.com/DLEP188 

 

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here:  https://trybta.com/PCEP188 

 

Have you ever wondered whether getting your field staff to track their time is worthwhile?

 

Sure, it’d be great to hold them accountable. But you can already hear their grumbles and groans about having to add another thing to their to-do list.

 

The thing is, in other businesses (think accounting, law, marketing agencies), time tracking is standard practice. The whole goal in those industries is to make as much time billable to the client as possible. So why is it different in the trades?

 

Our guest on the show today is Isaac Barlow. He’s the Founder of busybusy. The industry-leading time-tracking app for construction and trades. 

 

Today’s conversation is about leveraging time-tracking technology to increase productivity and profitability without hurting your company culture.

 

• Episode highlights:
• Learn how time tracking can be used to create a performance culture built on business intelligence.
• Understand why field staff often resist adopting modern tech and how to change their attitudes and get them on board with time tracking.
• Find out how to create a modern data-obsessed organization in an old school industry.

 

00:00-Intro
01:48-The story behind busybusy
08:42-Why contractors need to be more time obsessed
16:42-The benefits of busybusy and other time tracking apps
22:08-How to deal with pushback from the team
28:56-Business Intelligence: helpful or hurtful to culture?
31:57-Gamification: does it work?
34:04-3 tips to get your team thinking more like owners
38:19-Downloadable handout and busybusy promotion
39:08-Business intelligence: what is it and how do you use it?
44:46-Too much data vs. too little data: what is the balance?
46:36-How to become data-obsessed (even if you're not wired that way)
49:13-Connect with Isaac and learn more about busybusy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.