Contractor Evolution | Is Blue-Collar Work Making a Comeback?
For the past few decades, we’ve been steering kids towards university and away from the trades, but why?
The average North American college grad is underskilled and in debt, especially compared to their blue-collar friends who skipped the college experience and got on the job site.
Today, I’m talking with Ken Rusk, a lifelong contractor and author of Blue-Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life. He’s got some insights on the benefits of choosing a blue-collar career and shares some fascinating statistics that kids are definitely not learning in school.
Learn from Ken how to paint a bright picture of a future in trades and construction and use that narrative to recruit the young talent you need.
So…is blue-collar work making a comeback?
Tune in to find out.
To access Ken’s path to a successful life course click here: https://courses.kenrusk.com/a/2147833006/FaqKwmD9
To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/BSN164
Episodes
Contractor Evolution | 3 Ways to Control Profit and STOP Confusing Your Finances
Increasing profitability can seem intimidating, but there’s really only three ways to do it: 💰Increase sales 📈Increase your gross margin 📉Decrease your expenses In today’s episode, Spencer Sheinin breaks financial management down into basic, easy to understand principles so you can stop staring blankly at your books and START making smart decisions with clarity.
Contractor Evolution | STOP Losing Money to Poor PM: No-Frills Project Management Tips (Contractor Roundtable)
Which SOPs should you focus on for your project managers? Nailing your sales to production handoff is a great place to start. Getting this workflow right means happier teams, happier clients and higher profits. Check out the full contractor roundtable we co-hosted with Charley Burtwistle from Buildertrend for more project management tips, industry-specific SOPs and systems and questions from contractors just like you.
Contractor Evolution | Contractors: Stop Solving the WRONG Problems With Mike Andes
The fastest way to lose the trust of your team? Hide things from them. According to Mike Andes, open book management aligns your team around the business goals, whether you’re thriving or barely surviving. Have you ever tried opening your books up to your team?
Contractor Evolution | No More Excuses: Stay Consistent When Goals Go Sideways
When things go sideways, your goals are off track and you’re feeling overwhelmed, returning to your why can save the day. Having a clear vision of the big picture prevents you from turning bumps in the road into mountains. Even if you have to slow down or backtrack, you can rest assured you are still heading in the right direction. Shout out to Mandy Gill for sharing her expertise on goal setting, resilience and habit building on the show!
Contractor Evolution | How to Fire an Employee Without the Drama
Episode 92
Whether it's an underperforming crew member or a project manager who can't seem to get along with anyone, it's crucial to know when to let go of employees who are no longer a good fit. Personal values conflicts, performance problem or behavioral issues are completely valid reasons to consider terminating an employee. Understanding when to fire someone is not an easy skill to develop, but it essential to maintaining a positive company culture and overall business success.
Contractor Evolution | Why Most Contractor Marketing Fails (And How To Fix It)
Episode 91
What's the secret to endless 5 star reviews and unprompted referrals? It's not keeping promises. It's giving surprises. To truly delight, you have to create a surprise effect and exceed customer expectations. This leads to enhanced customer satisfaction and improves customer experience all around. This small shift can build brand loyalty and close more deals, all while turning your customers into raving fans.
Contractor Evolution | 4 Essential Business Systems Every Contractor Should Master
Episode 90
Whether you call it back costing, job costing or, as we do, financial management 101, understanding your costs on a job can truly change the game for you and your contracting business. Most contractors think they have a pricing problem, but often it's a matter of cost tracking and measurement* Understanding the financial health of your business is key, and project costs are a crucial component. Get started tracking system implementation to see serious growth.
Contractor Evolution | This $10MM Accountability System Has Crews CRUSHING Their Goals
Episode 89
How many crews should your production manager be able to run at one time? According to Danny: three is good, four is great, five means you found one of the most skilled PMs in the job market. Check out the full webinar for more great accountability insights and questions from contractors like you.
Contractor Evolution | Why Most Entrepreneurs Stay Broke - Garrett Gunderson
Episode 88
Ever feel guilty for chasing money? Here’s a mindset shift: you’re not just making money. You’re creating VALUE. Listen as Garrett Gunderson, bestselling author of Killing Sacred Cows, explains the importance of recognizing your relationship and idea capital above your financial capital.
Contractor Evolution | From Reactive to Streamlined: Cory's Business Automation Journey
Episode 87
You’re not a tradesman anymore. You’re a business owner. According to Cory Byron, this mindset shift makes all the difference. Stop thinking like an electrician, plumber, landscaper, carpenter, whatever it might be. And start thinking like an entrepreneur, a business owner and a leader. Your team will thank you.
Contractor Evolution | How To Lead WITHOUT Ego (Keith Mercurio's Advice
Episode 86
Just because you’re a leader, doesn’t mean you have to have the best idea, be the first to speak or have all the answers. Next time someone comes to you with a question, ask them what THEY think they should do before jumping in. It’ll go a long way towards building their confidence and reducing their reliance on you as the knower of all things.
Contractor Evolution | How to Pick the Right Software For Your Contracting Business
Episode 85
Prioritize which tech problems to solve by asking your team four questions: 1) What’s your biggest pain point in your role? 2) What takes up the most of your manual time? 3) Can you show me the paper or Excel processes you’re currently using? 4) If you could wave a magic wand and fix any problem, what would it be? These open ended questions will make sure you solve the RIGHT problems in your business and not just the ones you THINK are important
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