Too many builders are working harder every year without really knowing which jobs are making money and which ones are just eating time. This episode is about using your tax return and a few basic numbers to get clear on what's working, what's not, and where to tighten things up.

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Show Notes: 0:24 Know Your Numbers 5:30 What Work Costs 10:14 Start With Taxes 16:37 Which Jobs Pay 25:56 Spend Less First 33:00 Build From There

Video Version:https://youtu.be/MqUP2ZtGOAU

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Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

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Tyler breaks down the line between being helpful and giving away work you should be paid for. This one is about protecting your time, charging for the planning, and stopping the habit of solving the hardest part of the job for free.

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Show Notes: 0:33 Stop Giving It Away 8:02 Helpful vs Free 16:36 Your Brain Has Value 25:25 Draw the Line 32:26 Sell the Process

Video Version:https://youtu.be/n4BcvhRcZkw

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Tyler Grace

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Nick and Tyler look back on the early years of running their businesses and talk through the mistakes, blind spots, and lessons that shaped how they work today. From underpricing and freebies to confidence, process, and figuring things out without a playbook, this episode is a straight conversation about what starting out really looks like.

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Show Notes: 00:00 Looking Back at the Early Years 02:51 Freebies, Ghosting & Early Mistakes 06:17 First Jobs, Permits & Winging It 09:46 The Educational Tax 14:41 Getting Better Gets More Expensive 17:28 Honesty, Pricing & Client Optics 24:50 Ego, Confidence & Early Pushback 29:52 When Your Old Clients Stop Fitting 35:17 What Clients Actually Value 38:25 Why Most Builders Still Lack Process 46:03 The Playbook We Wish We Had 52:34 Why This Work Matters 57:08 Why the Newsletter Exists

Video Version:https://youtu.be/7q6ffiowVOQ

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Tyler Grace

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Tyler talks about messy lead flow, weak intake systems, and skipping steps in your process are quietly draining small construction businesses. This one is all about building a better funnel, protecting your time, and qualifying clients before they cost you money.

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Show Notes: 2:19 Protect Your Time 4:49 Your System Is the Problem 9:36 Every Step Needs a Gate 18:37 Stop Skipping Steps 27:54 Refine Your Funnel

Video Version:https://youtu.be/8ljXzyHLdek

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Tyler Grace

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Tyler recaps JLC Live and breaks down how builders can get a lot more out of trade shows by showing up with a plan. From vendor relationships and networking to partnerships, credibility, and content opportunities, this episode is all about turning a trade show into something that actually helps your business.

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ODL Website: https://www.odl.com

Show Notes: 00:00 Don't Waste the Show 02:24 Why JLC Works 05:39 A Compressed Opportunity 10:21 Go In With a Plan 14:00 The People Behind the Product 17:18 Why This Helps the Business 23:59 Meeting ODL in Person 40:34 Other Booths Worth Seeing 47:39 Follow Up Matters 52:17 Get in the Community

Video Version:https://youtu.be/b62-51VQfWI

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Tyler Grace

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Tyler breaks down why so many builders hit a point where the business is growing but life is not getting any easier. This episode is all about the systems behind a real company, from finances and lead generation to pre-con, production, and team structure.

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Show Notes: 00:00 Why the Business Still Feels Hard 02:31 Growth Without Systems 08:49 The Dangerous Middle 11:14 Treat the Cause, Not the Symptom 17:39 Builder vs Business Owner 18:45 The 5 Systems That Matter 25:06 Revenue vs Margin 29:31 Build the Systems First

Video Version:https://youtu.be/7ceKqGTmDEU

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Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Nick and Tyler get into why so much residential construction still relies on old habits instead of better systems. From Superior Walls and panelized assemblies to CLT, trusses, and prefab mechanicals, this episode is all about building smarter, reducing labor strain, and solving problems with process instead of brute force. Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up

Show Notes: 00:00 Rethinking How We Build 09:11 Smarter Framing Choices 21:50 Why Foundations Feel Backwards 32:37 Stop Building It the Hard Way 41:47 Beyond Stick Framing 48:50 Learning From the Misses 55:20 Efficiency Changes Everything

Video Version:https://youtu.be/gMomXL4_8JQ

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Tyler talks about why boundaries are one of the best things you can put in place for your business and your clients. From communication and change orders to timelines and lead intake, this episode is all about setting clear expectations early so the whole job runs smoother.

Show Notes: 00:00 Boundaries Without Sounding Like a Jerk 02:26 Set the Tone Early 04:47 Why Builders Avoid Boundaries 07:06 Let Clients Self-Qualify 10:52 Boundaries Are Just Your Process 14:03 Communication Expectations 15:58 Change Order Rules 19:28 Why You Need Stronger Pricing Boundaries 24:17 Boundaries From Lead to Closeout

Video Version:https://youtu.be/c8ixJeVpu-U

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Tyler breaks down why clients ghost builders and why the real issue usually isn't the lead, it's the process. He gets into clearer next steps, tighter follow-up, and how to stop leaving the door wide open for bad-fit clients to waste your time.

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Show Notes:

00:00 Lead, Don't Chase 04:15 Ghosting Is a Process Problem 08:12 Stop Persuading Bad Fits 12:45 You're Giving Away Too Much 16:11 Define the Next Step 19:56 Close the Loops 22:31 Build a Follow-Up SOP 27:46 Ghosting Is Feedback 32:20 Close the Door

Video Version:https://youtu.be/ixFKtpGdGJ8

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Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

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Motif Media

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There's been a lot of talk and a lot of questions about 45 White Oak, so Nick finally lays out what the project really is. They get into the strategy behind it, the pressure that comes with it, and why this build means more than just another house.

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Show Notes:

07:24 What Is 45 White Oak, and Why Build It This Way? 11:53 Are You Trying to Prove This Market Exists? 15:09 Is Selling It Harder Than You Expected? 19:50 Where Did the $12.25M Price Come From? 25:47 What Would You Change If You Built White Oak Again? 27:27 Could You Build It Faster a Second Time? 34:37 What Would You Do Differently in Design and Pre-Con? 39:25 Does a Project Like This Change What Trades Think Is Possible? 43:13 What Details Matter Most in This House? 47:07 What Are People Noticing When They Walk It? 50:45 How Has White Oak Changed the Way You Think About Building? 52:16 In 10 Years, What Role Will White Oak Play in Your Career?

Video Version:https://youtu.be/K_N3HMuX2Ic

Partners:

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Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

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Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media