I’m always on the lookout for insights and strategies that can help green industry professionals like myself take our businesses to the next level. That’s why I was thrilled to have Jadon Wise, the Operations Leader at Arbor Care Lawn & Pest, back on the show to share his experience attending the Dave Ramsey EntreLeadership Master Series.

Jadon is no stranger to the podcast—this was his third time joining me, and it’s clear he’s someone deeply committed to continuous learning and growth, both personally and professionally. When he told me he had the opportunity to attend the prestigious EntreLeadership event, I knew we had to get him on the show to unpack all the valuable lessons he took away.

What struck me most about Jadon’s experience was the sheer intensity of the 5-day program. From in-depth sessions on time management and core values to thought-provoking discussions on tackling uncomfortable conversations and making better decisions, the Ramsey team left no stone unturned...

I'm always eager to learn from successful business owners in the green industry. In our latest episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andy Mulder, the owner of Mulder Outdoors, a thriving landscaping company in Indiana. Andy's story is one of perseverance, strategic thinking, and a relentless drive to build something great. Over the course of our conversation, he shared insights that any entrepreneur can learn from. One of the key takeaways was Andy's approach to building his new facility. Rather than trying to manage the entire construction project himself, he made the conscious decision to hire a general contractor. As he explained, his priority needs to be running the core landscaping business - not getting bogged down in the details of building a new shop. This resonated with me, as I've seen firsthand how easy it is for business owners to get distracted by shiny new projects, only to see their main revenue streams suffer as a result. Andy recognized that his time and en...

In a recent episode of Kid Contractor podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with my good friend John Pajak, the numbers guru behind the Profits with Pajak podcast.

John and I covered a lot of ground when it comes to truly understanding your business numbers. It's a topic that gets thrown around a lot, but as John pointed out, "knowing your numbers" means so much more than just pricing your services. It's about tracking key performance indicators, understanding your cost of customer acquisition, and projecting the lifetime value of each client.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was the importance of not cutting corners, even on the small stuff. I shared a recent experience where I trimmed the "fat" on a couple of minor line items for a large project, only to end up losing money on those very items due to callbacks and unexpected costs. John reinforced that every dollar matters, and you have to be willing to build in that buffer to account for the unknowns.

Another valuable less...

In our latest episode, I found myself reflecting on a vivid dream I had recently, and the powerful lessons it holds for anyone facing challenges in their business or personal life. The dream began with a monstrous, terrifying creature chasing me. In that moment of fear and adrenaline, I made the decision to turn and run straight at the creature, rather than flee. To my surprise, as we were about to collide, the creature simply vanished into thin air. This dream got me thinking about the principle of facing your fears head-on, rather than avoiding them. So often in life, we're tempted to put off difficult tasks, shy away from confrontation, or let our anxieties paralyze us. But as I shared on the podcast, that's usually the worst thing we can do. Whether it's a tough conversation with a client, a daunting new project, or any other obstacle, the best approach is often to square your shoulders, take a deep breath, and charge straight into it. More often than not, the thing we're dreading ...

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Doug Ryan, a 21-year-old landscaping contractor who has grown his company to an impressive $700,000 in revenue in just a few short years. Doug's story is one of grit, hustle, and a relentless drive to succeed. At such a young age, he's already navigating the complexities of managing a growing team, juggling commercial and residential clients, and tackling the financial challenges that come with rapid expansion. As I listened to Doug share his experiences, I couldn't help but be inspired by his passion and determination. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of having a solid financial plan in place, especially as a business scales. Doug acknowledged that he's had to learn some tough lessons when it comes to managing cash flow, overtime costs, and equipment financing. It's a common struggle for many entrepreneurs, but Doug's willingness to be transparent about his journ...

In our latest episode, we dive deep into the importance of clear communication and managing expectations - both with our team and our clients. One of the key takeaways I emphasized is that "unmet expectations are premeditated resentment." It's so easy for resentment to build up silently when we assume our team or clients will perform a certain way, without explicitly communicating those expectations. This can lead to frustration, strained relationships, and ultimately, lost business. Brittany and I discussed specific examples, like when we assumed a client would understand certain project details were included, only to have them get upset later on. We realized the importance of over-communicating every single expectation, no matter how obvious it may seem. Whether it's the color of stone, the timeline for completion, or even something as simple as sweeping the sidewalk at the end of the day - it all needs to be spelled out. Another area we focused on was optimizing our contracts and sa...

As my wife Brittany and I continue to navigate the ups and downs of running a successful contracting business, I find myself constantly seeking out wisdom and inspiration from other entrepreneurs who have been in our shoes. In our latest episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, I had the chance to share some of the most thought-provoking soundbites I've come across recently - insights that have really struck a chord and helped shape our mindset and approach. One quote that has stuck with me is from Elon Musk, who described starting a company as "staring into the abyss and eating glass." That sentiment really captures the rollercoaster of emotions we've experienced - the exhilarating highs of landing a big project or seeing our team excel, but also the constant stress of facing potential failure and having to tackle the most difficult, unpleasant problems in the business. Musk's words reminded me of the importance of having a high pain tolerance and feeling truly compelled to do this work...

In a recent Kid Contractor podcast episode, we discussed some of the challenges that come with being self-employed. One thing we touched on was a instagram post by @chriswillx on Instagram outlining 10 reasons why working for yourself can really suck sometimes. I wanted to highlight a few of those reasons here to give you all a taste of what we covered.

The first reason is that as the business owner, you're the only one holding yourself accountable. There's no boss looking over your shoulder making sure things get done. It's all on you to stay motivated and push through, which can get exhausting.

Another is that there's never really an "off" switch - there's always more work to be done. It's hard to fully detach from the business, even when you're trying to take time off.

Attaching your self-worth to the success of the business is dangerous too. When things aren't going well financially, it can really take a toll on your mental health and confidence.

Creating your own motivation al...

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, hosts Caleb sat down with two entrepreneurs, Alex and Jacob of the Turf Wars Podcast, to discuss what motivates them in their businesses. In particular, Caleb asked Jacob what gives him hope and gets him fired up. Jacob talked about how his faith gives him hope and motivates him to be a good steward of his business, rather than just chasing big contracts and flashy equipment. Meanwhile, Alex discussed how building something with his name on it, and doing things honestly, motivates him to be a good role model for his daughter and ensure that his business can survive even if something were to happen to him.

This conversation highlights an important aspect of entrepreneurship that is often overlooked: the importance of staying true to one's values and building a business that is sustainable in the long run. It can be tempting to chase after big contracts or flashy equipment, but if this is done at the expense of one's integrity or long-t...

Brett is the owner of Eikenbary Landscape. His journey to entrepreneurship is one that is familiar to many. The desire to pursue one's passion, to find fulfillment in one's work, and to make a difference in the world are all powerful motivators that can drive people to take risks and pursue their dreams.

Brett had been working at a good company, with a steady job and good benefits, but he wasn't getting fulfilled. He had always been passionate about lawn and landscape, and slowly started to learn more about hardscapes as well. After discussing it with his wife Chase, they finally decided to take the leap and start their own business. The decision to start a business is never an easy one. It requires careful planning, a solid strategy, and a lot of hard work. Brett and Chase knew that if they were going to do it, they wanted to do it right. They spent a lot of time thinking about the branding and vision of their business, and when they finally set a launch date, they went for it.

But ...