In this episode of the Developers Podcast, I’m back after almost a year and shifting the show into something new: documenting the real story of building Your Haven in real time.

I recap our first month of the year, what’s working, what’s not, and what I’m learning from the contractors we serve in outdoor living and landscaping. We talk about the Pro Trial offer that became a turning point for our business, the systems and leadership moves that helped us scale, and why design matters so much more than “pretty pictures” — it impacts expectations, estimating, and execution on every job site.

I also share some personal updates: marathon training, a big move to Las Vegas to be closer to family, and why I believe consistency and mindset are everything if you want to build something that lasts.

In this episode:

• Why I’m restarting the podcast and changing the format
• How the Pro Trial offer changed our growth
• January results: 30+ Pro Trials and 17 new Pro Members
• Why design is the foundation: expectations → estimating → execution
• The leadership structure we’re building (and how we think about scaling “pods”)
• Lessons from events, travel, and top contractors in the industry
• Personal updates: marathon, Vegas move, and the “infinite game” mindset

If you’re a landscape contractor, outdoor living builder, or you’re building a business and want real behind-the-scenes lessons, this podcast is for you.

Want to be on the show? DM me on Instagram or reach out through yourhavendesign.com.

This is a conversation with Josh Cerda of Immaculate Outdoor, who has 30 years of experience building immaculate outdoor spaces. He is truly one of the best landscape contractors I have ever met, and together, we have created some incredible projects.

This discussion revolves around a project we designed and that he is installing for over $300K, covering the entire process—from the initial meeting with the homeowner to signing the agreement and everything in between.

I have learned so much from Josh and his 30 years of experience, implementing his insights into my business to help homeowners and other contractors achieve greater success in their projects and businesses.

Follow our Instagram account @yourhavendesign where we will document this project in full

In this episode of Developers, we sit down with Troy Fulks, a true family man and accomplished entrepreneur with a story that exemplifies resilience, passion, and dedication. Troy’s journey began in Southern California with the founding of Aloha Landscaping, followed by a successful venture into the online shoe business with his wife in 1993. Now, as the co-owner of Texas Turf in Austin, Texas, he runs the number one turf installation company in the region alongside his three children.

Troy has refined the art of business growth while always prioritizing his family. With multiple successful business exits under his belt, Troy shares invaluable insights on the qualities needed for long-term success. He reveals the secrets behind Texas Turf’s massive growth—focusing on building through their customers and maintaining an exceptional level of service that has fueled their expansion. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with wisdom on balancing family, passion, and entrepreneurial ambition.

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In this episode of the Developers podcast, we sit down with Ihor Stepanov, founder of Art Village LLC, a company that has built 17 residential homes over the last four years, at his newest spec home - The Boho House. Ihor moved to the US in 2017 knowing zero english and created a beautiful life for himself and his family. He shares his experience and expertise in building spec homes while adjusting to the growing demand for custom homes in today's market. He reveals his unique approach to utilizing European materials and what it takes to succeed as a builder. This episode provides valuable insights for developers, builders, and real estate enthusiasts interested in spec homes, custom building, and navigating challenges in today's ever-changing market.

George and Jamie, the dynamic duo behind Afuera Outdoor Living, share their inspiring journey from struggling to make ends meet with a landscape maintenance business to becoming a leading design and build company in Reno, Nevada, landing million-dollar landscape projects. Their story is a testament to the power of relentless work ethic, self-belief, and the impact of betting on yourself.

In this episode, we delve into the essential aspects of running a successful landscape company, covering goal-setting, sales strategies, recruiting top talent, incentivizing teams, and the art of design. Don’t forget to follow Afuera Outdoor Living on Instagram, watch this episode on our YouTube channel, and subscribe for more insights from top developers!

This is an incredible conversation with Josh of Immaculate Outdoor, a true professional in the landscaping industry. Josh has been doing this for thirty years, the amount of mistakes that he’s made has got him to this point where he’s building a two million dollar design center that also holds his materials so that he can help take his landscaping game to the next level. This episode has millions of dollars of knowledge in it and I’m really excited to share this and see what else Josh creates. He is a prime example of what consistency and discipline can do to your life over a long period of time starting on the maintenance side of Landscaping to getting to the point where he doesn’t have to call homeowners, homeowners call him and he decides who he wants to work with while also having a $2 million landscape design and material facility. It’s incredibly inspiring, I hope you enjoy it. Share it with somebody you know and another landscaper who could learn from this. It’s motivating it’s inspiring thank you Josh.

Landscaping is Hard. This is a conversation with Nicolas Zumino, Founder of Garden Goat LLC. We discuss the hardships of starting a business in the landscaping industry, how he plans to reach his goals, strategies he is using to sell projects and where he wants to be in 10 years.

Follow Nicolas on instagram @gardengoatatx

Follow us at @yourhavendesign on all platforms.

Who we are and what to expect