What's Really Holding Your Business Back?

In this episode, Caleb and Brittany introduce a series of interviews with leading professionals who have successfully navigated the challenges of reaching and surpassing major revenue milestones.

The central message is that mindset is often the first key to business growth. The right mindset pushes owners to seek better systems, experienced mentors, stronger pricing strategies, and new ways of leading their teams.

Caleb believes mindset must come first, while Brittany emphasizes that understanding your financial numbers is equally important. Services such as Cycle CPA can help business owners make sure increased revenue leads to real profit, rather than simply producing impressive gross revenue numbers.

The Owner Can Become the Bottleneck

Business owners often limit their own growth by refusing to delegate, holding on to too many responsibilities, or failing to create dependable systems.

Strong Systems Support Growth

Software such as LMN for estimating and CompanyCam for jobsite documentation can help reduce poor communication, inaccurate time tracking, and other costly inefficiencies.

Growth Creates New Leadership Challenges

As a company grows, clear policies and Standard Operating Procedures become increasingly important.

Caleb and Brittany share a disagreement involving reimbursement for an employee's custom hard hat. The situation demonstrated why growing businesses must move away from emotional, case-by-case decisions and toward consistent policies outlined in an employee handbook.

The Million-Dollar Myth

Brittany recalls hearing from local contractors that it was nearly impossible to remain profitable after reaching $1 million in annual revenue.

A conversation with Mark Bradley helped change that perspective. He explained that growth can remain both sustainable and profitable when the company has the right team, processes, systems, and pricing in place.

Ultimately, Caleb and Brittany emphasize that working on yourself is just as important as working on your business. The questions you are afraid to ask may be the same questions preventing your company from reaching the next level.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

Why We Almost Quit Together in the Trades and Why We Never Will.

Caleb and Brittany recount their recent experience in Williams, Arizona, where they initially intended to end the conference series due to logistical and financial challenges. However, after witnessing the profound emotional impact on attendees and the strong sense of community it fostered, they decided to continue the tradition. The discussion highlights key themes of vulnerability, spiritual perseverance, and open communication, featuring insights from speakers like Marty Grunder and Casey from Marriage 365.

Key Takeaways:

• Schedule regular realignment meetings with your spouse to discuss your weekly plans and ensure your personal and professional goals are in sync.
• Practice the knee-to-knee apology method by looking your partner in the eye and expressing sincere regret for specific actions and how those actions affected them.
• Adopt the mindset that marriage is a summitless peak, understanding that it requires constant effort and there is always more room for growth.
• Find a community of like-minded peers in your industry to create a safe space for discussing business challenges and finding mutual support.
• Develop a bias to act by taking immediate ownership and initiative whenever you encounter a problem that needs to be solved.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

This episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast features Andy Wilson, a former law enforcement officer who transitioned into the green industry after surviving aggressive throat cancer. Wilson shares his journey of overcoming ten surgeries and the loss of his voice to build a thriving lawn care business with 140 recurring clients. The discussion highlights essential business strategies such as client retention, route density, and the importance of accurate job documentation through tools like Company Cam. Wilson emphasizes that a successful brand is built on personal reliability and maintaining impeccable records to ensure a business is scalable and sellable.

Key Takeaways:

• Commit to getting back up every time you face a setback and keep pushing forward until you land your one good punch in business or life.
• Focus on retaining your current clients as it is five times cheaper than onboarding new ones and leads to much higher profit margins.
• Build a brand based on your personal character and the experience you provide rather than just focusing on a logo.
• Increase your profitability by prioritizing route density to maximize the amount of money you earn per hour while minimizing travel time.
• Learn to say no to the wrong opportunities so that you can protect your time and focus on the clients who truly fit your ideal business model.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

Caleb shares personal insights on managing a high-revenue construction and landscaping business while navigating the daily pressures of entrepreneurship. The discussion covers the reality of business risks, from high-stakes equipment transport to the uncertainties of working with new contractors. Throughout the podcast, he advocates for strategic delegation, urging business owners to move away from manual labor to focus on growth and leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Implement financial tracking tools to gain clarity on your business's true profitability and revenue per hour.
• Document every stage of a project with photos to prevent communication breakdowns and ensure you get paid for your work.
• Practice effective delegation by removing yourself from field tasks so you can focus on high-level growth and opportunity.
• Focus on logistics and preparation before every job to ensure your team has everything they need to be efficient and successful.
• Confront difficult conversations and ask the hard questions that are necessary to move your professional and personal life forward.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

On this episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, Caleb reflects on the decision to continue his Together in the Trades events after a successful weekend in Arizona. Auman also explores a series of philosophical quotes from entrepreneur Naval Ravikant, focusing on themes like escaping competition through authenticity and the value of meaningful work. Throughout the episode, Caleb shares personal anecdotes about balancing labor with leadership and the importance of professional development in the green industry. The podcast concludes with a look toward future growth and upcoming training opportunities at the Hardscape Academy.

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on being authentic in your business and service to escape the pressure of competing solely on price or standard offerings.
• Act on new ideas and inspiration immediately because that creative energy is perishable and fades quickly over time.
• Delegate routine tasks and busy work to others so you can focus on high-impact activities like building client relationships and scaling your company.
• Implement clear documentation and photo-sharing systems on every job site to eliminate miscommunication and resolve disputes with facts rather than guesses.
• Prioritize your personal growth and mindset to ensure you are becoming happier as you age, as that is the ultimate test of success.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

Today Caleb emphasizes that company leaders are often the primary bottleneck to growth, particularly when they fail to delegate or implement standardized operating procedures. Auman highlights how operational waste can become hidden as a firm expands, stressing the financial importance of improving efficiency in daily tasks like site loadouts. To combat these issues, he advocates for high levels of due diligence, including thorough site visits and the use of digital documentation tools like Company Cam. The discussion also touches on the necessity of learning from costly mistakes and establishing a unified "company way" to ensure consistency across multiple crews.

Key Takeaways:

• Track and eliminate small daily inefficiencies to prevent them from scaling into major financial losses as your business grows.
• Perform visual site checks at least one week before a project begins to ensure other trades are ready and avoid costly delays.
• Identify where you are the bottleneck by sharing critical information like schedules so your team can operate independently.
• Require that all project details be recorded and transcribed rather than relying on verbal phone conversations to prevent expensive misunderstandings.
• Create a blanket company standard for every task so that quality remains consistent regardless of which team member is performing the work.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

Caleb explores the idea of business as a divine calling rather than a mere means of personal gain. Drawing from a conversation with a colleague and insights from industry peers, Auman argues that entrepreneurship is a gift intended to serve others and provide meaningful work for employees. He details the importance of implementing structured systems, specifically mentioning Leanscaper, to transition from a chaotic manual workload to an organized managerial role. By viewing their talents as God-given responsibilities, contractors are encouraged to move beyond "hope" and instead set intentional goals to grow their organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• View your business or daily work as a divine calling intended to serve others and provide dignity through employment.
• Implement clear operating systems and documentation to move from working excessive hours to having true control over your life and business.
• Transition to a servant leadership mindset by providing your team with clear incentives, responsibilities, and the tools they need to succeed.
• Replace vague hopes with intentionality by setting specific, measurable goals for revenue and growth.
• Commit to fully utilizing your natural talents and gifts to avoid the sin of wasting the potential you have been given.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

Caleb interviews Cooper Leary, a Canadian entrepreneur who manages a multimillion-dollar landscape supply and construction business. Leary discusses his transition from a business student to a successful industry leader, highlighting his unique dual-model company that handles both retail supply and large-scale design-build projects. A major focus of the conversation is Leary's strategy for operational efficiency, including the use of AI and lean staffing to maintain high revenue with fewer employees. He emphasizes the importance of professional development and coaching to overcome business plateaus and reach an enterprise level. Furthermore, Leary underscores that customer obsession and investing in high-quality leadership are the primary drivers of his company's growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Commit to being customer obsessed by providing high transparency and a world-class experience that exceeds typical industry standards.
• Transition from an owner-operator mindset to an enterprise level by implementing robust systems that allow the business to scale and function efficiently without your constant oversight.
• Prioritize delegation and trust by hiring competent people who are better than you at their specific roles, freeing you to focus on high-level growth and strategy.
• Cultivate a culture of lifelong learning and grit to ensure your team remains adaptable to new technologies and resilient through the mental and physical demands of the work.
• Protect your personal time and well-being through disciplined morning routines and intentional scheduling that allows business success to support your family and health.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

Caleb emphasizes the necessity of shifting from a manual laborer to a strategic leader by stepping away from field work to focus on building a robust sales pipeline. Auman details practical methods for maintaining growth, such as consistent client outreach, leveraging CRM technology, and utilizing specialized tools like Company Cam and Cycle CPA. He argues that true business expansion requires disciplined communication and the courage to delegate tasks to a well-trained crew.

Key Takeaways:

• Make a habit of calling ten past clients, vendors, or friends every day to maintain a consistent flow of leads and work.
• Transition from being a field operator to a business leader by intentionally stepping away from daily labor to focus on growth and strategy.
• Use visual documentation tools to provide your team with clear instructions and project details so they can succeed without your constant supervision.
• Communicate your long-term business vision to your crew so they understand that your time spent selling work directly secures their jobs and future opportunities.
• Build a robust sales pipeline so you can stop lowering your prices out of desperation and start selecting only high-value projects with healthy profit margins.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

This episode highlights a major milestone where the company is beginning to function independently, allowing Caleb to transition from day-to-day fires to long-term growth and content creation. The Aumans explore the nuances of leadership training, emphasizing the need to foster loyalty and initiative within their "new guard" of employees. They also provide a candid look into the challenges of a husband-wife partnership, debating different management styles and the mental load of entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways:

• Delegate daily tasks so that your business can eventually run without your constant direct supervision.
• Eliminate yourself as a bottleneck by providing your team with clear written plans and documented instructions.
• Build a stronger team culture by actively listening to and addressing the individual needs of your staff members.
• Test the leadership potential of newer employees by giving them responsibility for smaller projects to build their confidence.
• Prioritize hiring people who take pride in their work and show a genuine desire to perform a good job.

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/