In this interview Elliott Robbins from Robbins Renovation shares his story of how he started his own renovation company.

He talks about:

• How incorporating your business can add respect to your name.
• When he had to learn what he was worth and how to charge for it.
• The importance of setting priorities.
• The most important thing you must acquire in this business.
• Something precious we all have, and it's up to us how we use it.

...and much much more!

In this episode you get to sit down with a luxury custom home builder who not only grew up in this industry, but has 17 years of experience running his own business.

He has lots of experience with running a large crew as well. At times he has more than 20 employees to keep going.

He drops so many powerful words of advice... but what rings the loudest is the word to treat others the way you want to be treated.

Make sure you have a notepad handy for this episode. You're going to want one for sure!

#protractors - making a difference

Ethan Hickey of @maderakitchens has a background in the oil and gas sector. Which has helped relieve the financial burden of starting a contracting company. 

His passion for all things woodworking developed when he and his wife bought their first house and took on redoing it themselves from top to bottom. That was 9 years ago...

Now in a new town, new home, new 6,000 square foot cabinet shop, Madera Kitchens, Ethan and his business are still growing. It has been a journey for them but they still have room for improvement and still learning along the way.

Listen to his story and be inspired and learn a thing or two from his experiences.

Apps that Ethan uses:

• Timestation - helps with hours, payroll, has geo-tagging
• Freshbooks - for invoicing and time tracking
• Microsoft planner - calendar + planner

Recommended Book: The Great Game of Business

Today’s featured guest is Jason Pietruszka from @jjpconstruction, a retired musician turned contractor.

Jason learned how to run a business early on while he was young and still in the music industry. However, he quickly realized that his success will only be based on someone else's output. So he decided to start on his own.

It was very inspiring to talk to Jason about their business and processes. I’m sure it will be for you as well. Listen today and be INSPIRED!

Today's featured guest is Sam Shelton from @alaskabuilder

Today’s featured guest is Joe Edwards from @elite_concepts_usa

Joe is a soft spoken and a caring person. He is also a man of vision and confidence as well. One thing you will notice as you listen to his story, and it came out of some hardships he went through, is the importance of good legal contracts and sticking with them.

Also you'll learn:

• What he did at 10 years old to earn money.
• Why sharing the “secret sauce” actually helps out in business, not hinders it.
• The ONE thing you should ask yourself when you wake up in the morning.
• How you should view your business - from a legal perspective.
• The opinion you should have of people younger than you, or even less experienced than you.

There’s so many other great things he said in this interview, So, listen all the way to the end, and be INSPIRED!

Protractor Podcast was nominated to be a part of the Best Construction Podcast of 2018 contest. This contest is running right now. It would be so awesome if we won first place. The only way for that to happen is for you to go and vote for us. So, I’m going to ask you to do that. Please go to constructionjunkie.com and vote for us in the 2018 contest. Thank you so much!

Also, we just published a brand new article on the Protractor Blog by Janice Stitzer @cigconstruction and It’s called: “Why a Construction Business Coach Has Been Essential for Our Growth” Janice, tells about how they decided to hire a business coach, and talks about all the advantages of it. It’s a very good article, and I highly recommend it. Check it out today in the articles section at ProtractorPodcast.com  

Today's Protractor Tip from Brad Leavitt @aft_construction is all about the importance of getting Signatures. This is very important if you are wanting to build a REAL business, and not just a hobby.

Today’s featured guest is Joe Edwards from @elite_concepts_usa

Joe is a soft spoken and a caring person. He is also a man of vision and confidence as well. One thing you will notice as you listen to his story, and it came out of some hardships he went through, is the importance of good legal contracts and sticking with them.

Also you'll learn:

• What he did at 10 years old to earn money.
• Why sharing the “secret sauce” actually helps out in business, not hinders it.
• The ONE thing you should ask yourself when you wake up in the morning.
• How you should view your business - from a legal perspective.
• The opinion you should have of people younger than you, or even less experienced than you.

There’s so many other great things he said in this interview, So, listen all the way to the end, and be INSPIRED!

Protractor Podcast was nominated to be a part of the Best Construction Podcast of 2018 contest. This contest is running right now. It would be so awesome if we won first place. The only way for that to happen is for you to go and vote for us. So, I’m going to ask you to do that. Please go to constructionjunkie.com and vote for us in the 2018 contest. Thank you so much!

Also, we just published a brand new article on the Protractor Blog by Janice Stitzer @cigconstruction and It’s called: “Why a Construction Business Coach Has Been Essential for Our Growth” Janice, tells about how they decided to hire a business coach, and talks about all the advantages of it. It’s a very good article, and I highly recommend it. Check it out today in the articles section at ProtractorPodcast.com  

Today's Protractor Tip from Brad Leavitt @aft_construction is all about the importance of getting Signatures. This is very important if you are wanting to build a REAL business, and not just a hobby.

Today’s featured guest is Ian Cheadle from @DaytonHardwoodCo

He is actually in the process of launching his new brand name and logo this week! He has desired for a long time to narrow down and focus on a niche, and that’s exactly what he is doing. He has went from “doing it all” in construction, to specializing  in hardwood floors. At the time we recorded this interview he hadn’t fully decided what he was going to do with his brand name and everything, so you will hear as we discuss how he is working through all those decisions. It’s a very important journey that many of us as business owners can relate to. I know you’ll have a takeaway from today’s story.  So, listen all the way to the end. And be inspired!

Plus, We just published a brand new article on the Protractor Blog by Jonathan Walters. It’s all about Construction Intuition. He talks about how to use your intuition in your contracting business. One example he works through is the estimating process. You may use science and math to create an accurate estimate, but with time you will develop intuition as well. Your intuition coupled with science and math will help you create a much more realistic estimate and safeguard you from potential problems down the road. It’s a great read. Check it out today in the articles section at ProtractorPodcast.com

Also, if you have not yet got your copy of my book Contractor Marketing Simplified .. Then you can get a free copy here in the USA. This book will show you step by step how to establish your online presence in such a way that you are found by your ideal customers. If you would like to get a free copy of this book, just go to contractormarketingsimplified.com  Just help with the shipping and handling and we will send you your free copy right away!

Our #ProtractorTip from Brad Leavitt with @AFT_Construction is all about "Knowing Your Demo." He stresses the importance of knowing your demographic on social media and thinking through how you post for them. It's a great tip! Listen to it today and be inspired!

#Protractors - Making A Difference!

Today’s featured guest is Luke Mann from @rangelinehomes in the foothills of Denver Co. One thing you are going to notice as you listen to this story, is Luke’s passion for cleanliness and attention to detail. It’s one thing to have a contracting company, but it’s another thing to run it well. And that is what Luke’s story inspires us to do.

I know you’ll have a takeaway from today’s story.  So, listen all the way to the end. And be inspired!

We have a new author on our team who just came out with a brand blog post on protractorpodcast.com. His name is Lawrence Winterburn @gardenstructure , and he’s started a blog series called Sales 101. This first blog post in this series is all about How to find the right leads for your contracting company. It is a great read for both new contractors as well as those who’ve been in the trenches for a while now. Check it out today in the articles section at ProtractorPodcast.com

Today's #protractortip is from Brad Leavitt @aft_construction is all about [Good Photography] This tip is a "must listen" if you are serious about marketing your business effectively!

Also mentioned in today's show:

Matt Risinger @risingerbuild
Lou Olerio @oleriohomes
Shawn Van Dyke @shawnvandyke

Today's the Day! Seize the moment! Stay Focused! And go make a difference!

#Protractors - Making A Difference!

Today’s featured guest is Derek Nichelson from @redeemedconstruction ... Derek is a boutique home builder in Florida. He had kind of a rough time period in his life, and hence the name Redeemed Construction. He goes on to tell some of the insights he’s learned through the years. HIs is a very inspiring story. I know you’re going to have at least one takeaway from it today.  So, listen all the way to the end. And be inspired!

Announcements:

First of all, We had a great response to the Protractor Website Spring Promotion, and all 10 spots are now full. If you would like to get in on that the next time we launch, then go ahead and join the waiting list at protractormedia.com … it’s free to join, and we’ll give you a special offer before we launch publicly. Again, you can get signed up at protractormedia.com

Secondly, we have a new article on our blog by Jonathan Walters called “Fail Forward.” This is a very important concept for all business people, but especially applies to contractors. If you find yourself paralyzed by fear of failure, then you should take 5 minutes out of your day and read this article. It could totally change your perspective, and thus your life. Check it out in the articles section at ProtractorPodcast.com

The Protractor Tip by Brad Leavitt @aft_construction is all about showing love to your designers and architects. A very important tip!

Also mentioned in today's show is Morgan Molitor @construction2style and some tips she gave about social media marketing. 

There is so much packed in today's show. You're going to be INSPIRED!

#Protractors - Making A Difference!

[New Episode!] Today’s featured guest is Nate Seaborn from @NateSeabornConstruction ... He is a general contractor who is passionate about putting a strong emphasis on customer service, and making their clients happy. Today we get to listen to his story, hear some of his ups and downs, and how his business has evolved to where it is today. For some of you this story will give you the inspiration to keep going, or the motivation to get up and try. So, listen all the way to the end. And you’ll be inspired!

Today's Protractor tip is from Brad Leavitt @aft_construction ... He shares about the importance of good communication. And he gives some insights on how to make it a part of your contracting company. Very good Tips!

Also... Here at Protractor Media we have just launched our Spring website promotion. This spring we are taking on 10 new contractors to help with your website and online directory listings. At the time of this recording we have 6 already signed up. So, if you would like website help from someone who specifically knows the contracting industry and helps contractors with websites and online presence, then this is for you. Go to www.protractormedia.com to get in. Oh! And Please be aware that this spring promotion ends on April 22 or after 10 contractors sign up. So, if you want in, drop what you are doing and go get in right now! That’s at www.protractormedia.com

Secondly, we have a new author with a new blog post on our Protractor Blog. It’s Janice Stitzer from @cigconstruction, and her article is all about “Why Contractors Need to Deliver on the Customer Experience – Not Just a Quality Product” It’s a super important article for contractors, especially in this day and age. It would make a great read on your lunchbreak today, or this evening after you tuck your kids in bed. Check it out at www.ProtractorPodcast.com

Thanks so much for joining us today!

#Protractors - Making A Difference!

Today’s featured guest is Jobson Crisostomo from Affordable Handyman of Greenwhich. @ahofgreenwich

He came to the USA when he was 10 years old. He learned immediately that he could make a little money recycling cans. He saved up enough money to buy his first bicycle, and kept growing and learning. He learned carpentry from a high-end builder, and eventually started his own handyman company. Now, he is quite successful at it, and is making plans to open a second branch, and perhaps start a franchise. He stresses a few things throughout the show like the importance of keeping your word, coaching your team, and keeping yourself and your job clean. Listen to the end. You’ll be inspired!

Our Protractor Tip is from Brad Leavitt from @aft_construction. In this tip he tells how they are able to keep their jobsites sparkling clean.

Be sure to check out the new article on our blog by Jonathan Walters jwalters_build In this article he shares all about the Contract-ing part of Contracting. He starts off the article by giving a list of General Contract Requirements. Then, he goes into detail describing the different contract types. He even shows different numbers examples, to help you understand how this might work in your business. This is an awesome article that will be very helpful to you.  To read this article, simply go to www.protractorpodcast.com and tap the Articles link in the menu bar.

Thanks for your encouragement and support of this contractor podcast!

Let us know if you have any comments, or questions at connect@protractorpodcast.com

Thanks!

See you in the next episode of the Protractor Podcast!

#Protractors - Making A Difference!

Today’s featured guest is Brad Leavitt from @aft_construction He runs a high end boutique building firm in Phoenix AZ. Awhile back we asked him to go LIVE on our Instagram account. He did such a great job answering questions and giving insights.

Today’s featured guest is Bryant Isaacs with Target Combined Services. @targetcontracting
I met Bryant down in Florida at the Builder’s Show, and I was immediately impressed with his infectious smile, and his drive & determination. But what I didn’t know was the crazy story behind all this drive and determination, which has its roots all the way back when he was 16. His success certainly hasn’t came easily as you will hear throughout this interview. But even though he’s been through some hard times, one thing is for certain… he never gave up. Which is part of his advice, as well as the title of today’s show. So, listen all the way through! You'll be INSPIRED!

This week's Protractor Tip is from Brad Leavitt with AFT Construction. He talks about sticking with what you're good at, and not trying to be everything to everybody. He gives some great examples, and lots of insight. Be sure to check it out!

Announcements:

Check out the brand new article that just went live on our Protractor Blog. It’s written by Jonathan Walters, who is a project manager on one of the HGTV shows, and his blog post this week is all about the Top 5 Phone Numbers You Should Have on Speed Dial. This is a fun and informative read. Check it out… some of his suggestions may surprise you. To read this article, simply go to www.protractorpodcast.com and tap the Articles link in the menu bar.

Secondly, I want to let you know about my book: Contractor Marketing Simplified. If it’s your desire to build your online presence as a contractor, but don’t know how to do it, then this book is for you. Right now, I’m offering it for free in the USA. All I ask you to do is help with the shipping & handling. To get your free copy, just go to www.contractormarketingsimplified.com fill out the forms on that page, and we’ll get a copy sent out to you.

Some great quotes from today's show:

• Don’t give up!
• It doesn’t come easy.
• Keep everything organized. Organization will sell yourself on a job site.
• Make sure you go through the right learning steps before starting out.
• Use social media to the best of your abilities.
• Keep up with the times.

That's all for this week! Share, Comment, Like, Review! Thanks for your support! and see you next week!

Today’s featured guest is Darrin Marcure from @ezwindowanddoor. He specializes in high quality window and door installation, and On social media he calls himself an “Exterior Remodeling Lover.” Darrin is passionate about being a professional and Holding the profession to the highest standards. He is Trying his hardest to improve the image of this profession, and make a difference in the next generation. listen all the way through and You’ll be inspired.

Jamie Verdura from @verduraconstruction is our featured guest this week. He is passionate about building an all star team. You'll see what I mean as you listen through this episode.

Also, be sure and listen to the #ProtractorTip at the beginning of this show by Brad Leavitt @aft_construction. He talks about the most important assets in your business. (hint: it goes right along with this show's theme)

We'll be running our website promotion for 10 contractors very soon. So, if you don't want to miss out, then sign up for our waiting list at: www.protractormedia.com

Also, if you are interested in writing helpful "contractor content" for our blog, please send me an email at: connect@protractorpodcast.com

Thank you so much for listening!
Martin, your host

#Protractors - Making A Difference!

This is a very short episode simply to let you know that we are working on the new season and it will be coming to you before long. Thank you!

Martin