Before You Change ANYTHING — Be Honest About What Needs to Change
Am I overthinking?? Whenever I feel stuck, or entering a new phase of my business, either uncertainties or a new challenge, these are the exact questions I ask myself: - Am I happy with where my business/life is right now? - What’s actually working: financially, operationally, personally? - What’s not working: stress, cash flow, structure, balance? - And the big one: If I keep doing what I’m doing… - Will I get the results I want? How about you guys ?You Didn’t Buy Freedom. You Bought Responsibility
A lot of people think starting a business means they’ll finally have freedom. Their own schedule. No boss. No rules. But here’s the reality check: If you stop working, the money stops. If you miss a call, the customer walks. If you push a job back, you have to make it up later. You didn’t escape the 9 to 5. You just traded one boss for twenty. What have you all done to stay flexible ?Built a $1M Contracting Business in 4 Years
I have only been contracting for 7+ years now, but from the beginning I did not want to end of like the majority of the businesses I saw. Out of shape, back hurting, always complaining about work. Just the unapologetic rough side of contracting. I thought, this couldn't be the solution. So I started from the beginning putting myself in rooms with people who do better than me in every aspect of my life. Family, health, business, finances you name it. I was the smallest guy in every room and it squashed every ounce of pride I had in myself, but in a healthy, I want to grow sense. What I learned shocked me, this wasn't a business issue, it's about the urgent need for a blue-collar leader. - We need more contractors who are trained to lead. - More tradespeople who know their worth. - More builders willing to pass the torch. The skilled trades don’t have a labor shortage.We have a leadership gap. If you hyper focus on leadership qualities, your business will blow up as a side effect. Thats why I'm so proud to be in this community of leaders. Can't wait to learn from you all in this new venture I'm in. Read our story. Learn how we unlocked the secret to scale. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnour/2024/11/27/urgent-need-for-blue-collar-revival-shift-mindsets-invest-in-skills/?I don’t really share this much —
I just passed the 100 contractors mark that I’ve been able to help through @buildnational. Now, a few of you have seen how I built a $1 million revenue electrical business in my first 4 years. And it had nothing to do with working harder. It’s actually the opposite. It came from securing long-term relationships/contracts, repeat/bulk work with service agreements attached. And the key to it all was understanding MY NUMBERS so I could stay competitive and still close the year at 42% NET profit. We’ve been featured in Forbes and, together, broken down stigmas around construction that keep contractors stuck. All of this—while traveling the U.S. sharing our story. At the end of the day, I just want to make sure you have everything you need to take full advantage of contracting. If you want to have a conversation or just connect, I’m here to serve.The Hardest Thing in Entrepreneurship? Looking in the Mirror.
Hands down, The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in business… was look in the mirror and ask myself: ➡️ Where am I actually going? ➡️ And am I the person to get us there? We talk a lot about growth, but most people can’t define what success even looks like for themselves. This is when so many get caught up in business, rather than on the business. Is it freedom? Is it hitting 350k, 500k, 1M in revenue? Is it peace of mind and time with your kids? And don’t forget: Your business can’t grow if the person leading it refuses to. What are you working towards ? Half way through 2025, keep it up.What Flying Taught Me About Business
One of my favorite things to do any day I get 1–2 hours free, is head to the airport in Danbury, CT and fly. Sometimes it’s a lesson. Sometimes it’s just being up out there just to think. But what surprised me is how much flying taught me about business. To get a plane in the air, you need 3 things: Speed – You have to build enough runway momentum Lift – Once you hit the right speed, you rise Momentum – After you’re up, you have to keep steady energy to stay in the air The Funny thing is business is the same. You can’t fly without direction either. That’s where the GPS analogy comes in. I created this graphic to help remind myself of what's needed when im about to start a new venture in business, or if imm feeling stuck, lost or going nowhere. What do you do when your stuck?Contracts with customers vs Contracts with yourself
You’d never start a job without a contract, estimate or anything in writing, right? So why are you trying to build a business… run a team… or chase your goals… without a contract with yourself? It's so funny how business taught me so many different life lessons and how they all play a part. So I created this breakdown for myself whenever I want a new goal, or ones starting their own business. Do you all think business plans are valuable ?
Maintenance or Design & Build? Or Both?
Hello Jobber community! My name is Levi, I am a Canadian 20 year old home service business owner. secind year of business. I am at a big crossroads here, I do not know if I should commit fully to maintenance (lawn care, clean ups, guaranteed recurring revenue) or Landscape / Hardscape design and build (Sod, patios, decks, fences, retaining walls, longer timeline, better margins, etc..)? Currently we are doing both but it is proving to be an absolute nightmare to manage. Both sides of my business seem so different, recurring small jobs with many clients versus large projects with one client. Currently Landscape ? Hardscape is the majority of our topline, but it is very nice to have that recurring revenue from the lawncare. Plus I do not see a way to stop my mow list without effecting my reputation. I also see a very realistic reality in which the lawncare list overtakes the landscaping. Lawncare seems much easier to scale and automate. Without a doubt we will continue to do spring, fall cleanups and snow removal as we make too much revenue in those couple months, this makes me lean more towards maintenance as those go hand in hand. I just do not know what to do, any suggestions?Contractors can build anything, but what about yourself?
Most contractors are masters of technical skill. We know the code. We know the tools. Even I know how to troubleshoot a issue in minutes. But here’s what I’ve learned: The business doesn’t grow unless you do. The plan only works if the person leading it has clarity. This graphic changed the way I approach leadership, not just as a contractor, but as a builder of people and systems.Did You Know the Oldest Business in the World Is a Contracting Company?
“Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years?” Take a minute to think about it .... Now let me hear it please. Before we begin, I'll be giving a little history lesson, so if this isn't for you. I won't take offense... Guess what, if you have a vision, if you have a plan, you are already ahead of the curve. If you dont .... Then you are not alone ! Most of the time, the answer is… “I just want to make it through this week.” Or, “If I can survive the year, I’ll be good.” You are doing everything you need to stay alive and I solute you. But thinking like that holds us all back. It keeps us stuck in survival mode, making the joy of contacting a threat. Always reacting, never building or planning for the future. So we did the research. Turns out the oldest company in the world, not just in trades, but in any industry, happens to be a contracting company. Kongo Gumi. Japan. Founded in 578 AD. For over 1,400 years. Let that sink in. In the U.S., it’s DF Pray, since 1830. Still building today. Here’s the point: If it’s been done — it’s possible. The question is: Are you building something that can last?
