Hammer & Grind : Built For Contractors

Most builders are obsessed with getting more leads. More calls. More estimates. More “opportunities.” But here’s the hard truth: more leads don’t automatically build a better business. If you’re tired of running estimates for people who were never a good fit to begin with, this episode will help you rethink what growth should really look like.

In this episode, Brad and Rick talk about:

• The evolution from lead generation to client acquisition
• Importance of establishing trust and authority in the market
• Differentiating between home builders and remodelers
• Strategies for attracting high-quality leads
• The significance of nurturing leads over time
• Understanding the sales cycle and conversion rates
• The role of effective marketing and operational readiness

Mentioned:

Website: BuilderLeadConverter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuilderLeadConverter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builderleadconverter/ame

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickstorlie

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by iGUIDE — the smarter way to capture, measure, and market your projects.

With accurate floor plans, immersive 3D tours, and detailed property data, iGUIDE helps contractors and real estate professionals showcase their work with confidence and precision.

Learn more at hammerandgrind.com/iguide

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many decisions have you already made today? In the contracting world, it never stops — hiring, scheduling, change orders, client questions, pricing adjustments. By the end of the day, your brain feels fried. And that mental exhaustion? It’s not weakness, it’s decision fatigue.

In this episode, Brad talks about:

• Understanding why we make poor decisions later in the day.
• Definition of Decision Fatigue and its impact on contractors
• Mental depletion from constant problem-solving and lack of structure.
• Underpricing jobs, avoiding hard conversations, and impulsive purchases.
• Financial, leadership, and personal costs associated with decision fatigue.
• Standardizing processes, creating decision windows, and empowering your team to make decisions.
• Moving from being the problem-solver to a leader who delegates effectively

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by iGUIDE — the smarter way to capture, measure, and market your projects.

With accurate floor plans, immersive 3D tours, and detailed property data, iGUIDE helps contractors and real estate professionals showcase their work with confidence and precision.

Learn more at hammerandgrind.com/iguide

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's simple to become distracted by what other people are doing, particularly in competitive fields like building and remodeling. Flashy marketing, new advertisements, and cheaper prices can quickly grab your attention. If you’ve ever felt distracted by what the “other guy” is charging or promoting, this conversation will help you refocus on what truly matters.

In this episode, Brad and Kyle talked about:

• Kyle's journey from working for a remodeling company to becoming a business coach.
• The significance of focusing on the positives and avoiding the trap of negativity.
• The importance of incremental growth and the "1% rule" in achieving long-term success.
• How to set realistic expectations when working with a coach and the value of vulnerability in business.
• The power of community and surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals for support and growth.

Mentioned:

Website: https://remodelersontherise.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/remodelersontherise/

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/remodelerscommunity/rname

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/remodelersontherise/

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the real reason your projects are behind, over budget, and full of tension isn’t a labor shortage, but a leadership and planning problem?

In this episode, Brad and Mark Story talk about:

• Discussion on the shortage of tradespeople for large projects, particularly data centers and semiconductor plants.
• Mark explains how CCS helps project teams with planning, scheduling, and coaching to improve project outcomes.
• Importance of visual tools for effective communication among trades and project teams.
• Emphasizing the need for collaboration and respect for tradespeople to enhance productivity and project success.

Mentioned:

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-story

You can email: [email protected]

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Profit isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet. It’s what keeps your business alive. Everything feels rushed, tense, and reactive without it. When profit is missing, even good businesses end up in survival mode, constantly scrambling just to keep up.

In this episode, Brad talks about:

• The importance of profit in business and why it’s often misunderstood.
• Common misconceptions about making money and the mindset of contractors.
• How financial stress impacts decision-making and business operations.
• The significance of knowing your numbers and pricing your services correctly.
• Practical takeaways for improving profitability, including raising prices and only taking profitable work.
• Introduction of a quiz to assess your business's financial health and identify profit leaks.

Mentioned:

Take the profit quiz at hammerandgrind.com/profitquiz, or text #QUIZ to 812-405-4610 to get the link.

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running a business today means doing everything at once—clients, admin, follow-ups, and an endless to-do list. It’s exhausting. The truth is, the businesses that win aren’t the ones doing more; they’re the ones willing to change how they operate.

In this episode, Brad talks about:

• Definition of a virtual assistant
• Signs you need a VA
• Key responsibilities for a VA
• Tasks your VA can handle
• The value of hiring experts from other countries
• How to find and hire a VA
• Resources for getting started

Mentioned:

Learn more about hiring a VA: hammerandgrind.com/VA

Download the checklist and start the process today: hammerandgrind.com/VAchecklist

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every business has its beginnings, and Nicolas Breedlove's began in a little bedroom at his parents' home. Nicolas demonstrates that great businesses don't need big beginnings by sharing the true tale of starting his playground firm from scratch. The connections he made along the road were more important than where he began. It serves as a reminder that trust, consistency, and treating coworkers fairly are the foundations of growth.

In this episode, Brad and Nicolas talk about:

• Nicolas Breedlove from PlaygroundEquipment.com shares insights into the commercial playground equipment industry.
• Discussion on manufacturing, supplying, designing, and installing playgrounds across the U.S.
• How the company handles maintenance and the importance of trained installers.
• Nicolas's background in horticulture and the evolution of his business model.
• Insights on hiring, company culture, and lessons learned from past experiences.
• Nicolas shares books he's currently reading, including insights on software and entrepreneurship.

Mentioned:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-breedlove/

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re still running your business the same way you did five years ago, you’re already behind. Learn how contractors can use technology to save time, reduce chaos, and stop being the bottleneck in their own business. No hype, just real tools and systems that actually make day-to-day work easier and more profitable.

In this episode, Brad talks about:

• Importance of documentation and note-taking tools
• Recommended devices
• Audio recording essentials
• Video recording options
• Editing software
• 3D scanning technology
• Utilizing AI for business efficiency
• Project management and CRM tools
• Importance of job site photo management

Link to Resources:

Grab your FREE document and text #Tech to 812-405-4610

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, contractors were told the same thing: do good work and the jobs will keep coming. But in today’s market, that advice is outdated and in 2026, it’s costing a lot of businesses real opportunities.

In this episode, Brad talks about:

• Why simply doing good work is no longer enough to attract clients.
• Understanding branding beyond logos and how it shapes client expectations.
• Why video content is essential for building trust and pre-selling your services.
• How to communicate effectively and differentiate yourself from competitors.

Link to Resources:

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Help us get the word out to other contractors by leaving us a review or sharing our podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The majority of entrepreneurs do not face financial difficulties due to their poor mathematical skills. Their beliefs about it force them to struggle. Your "money personality" drives how you handle finances, charge for your work, and think about money. It may be more positive or negative to your company than you realize.

In this episode, Brad and Leanne talk about:

• Introduction to Leanne and her work with service-based businesses
• The concept of "money personalities" and their impact on financial decisions
• Five psychological instincts affecting business owners
• The importance of financial boundaries and strategic investments
• Leanne's "Two Number Method" for managing cash flow

Mentioned:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneozainesmith/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profitwithleanne/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leanne.ozainesmith/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@profitwithleanne

Website: https://profitwithleanne.replit.app/

Link to Resources:

Download Leanne's guide at gift.profitwithleanne.com

This episode is sponsored by NEXT Insurance — the smart, simple insurance designed for contractors and small business owners.

Protect your business with fast, affordable coverage you can set up in minutes.

Learn more at NEXTinsurance.com/hammer

Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint

https://thecontractorprofitblueprint.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.