Hammer & Grind : Built For Contractors

Sometimes contractors are their own worst enemy without even realizing it. Be sure to listen to what your customer really wants and don’t sell past the yes!  In this episode, we talk about… 3 Things that cost you the sale: 1 - Self-Promotion: Let go of the need to prove you’re an expert.  2 - Tech Talk: Not every customer wants technical details about your service or product. Answer the...

If you’re ready for your business to dominate, it’s crucial to understand the steps to make your dream a reality. Listen to the breakdown of the Profit Funnel so you can take your business to the next level! In this episode, we talk about… What it means to dominate the competition without crushing them The value of cooperating competition Why key performance indicators (KPIs) matter Understanding...

Today’s subject is something that affects every contractor eventually, and sometimes multiple times over their career. Listen to learn what The Crazy Cycle is and how to protect yourself from getting trapped in it. In this episode, we talk about… The Crazy Cycle - when your business runs you, and you can’t see that it’s happening. Why The Crazy Cycle affects different people in different ways. Exa...

Did you know that 96% of contractors will fail within their first ten years of business? That statistic is shocking! Listen in for some of the reasons many contractors tend to fail so that you can avoid their fate. In this episode, we talk about… How construction and contracting businesses actually have the highest failure rate of any other business. Marketing: The guys actually agree that this is...

Every action you take - or don’t take - moves the figurative needle of your business forward or backwards. Which direction is your needle moving? In this episode, we talk about… A great book that’s inspiring today’s show (see the links below) How things that are easy to do are even easier not to do (but you should do them anyway). Why you need to continuously recalibrate your business plan so you...

Have you fully grabbed sales by the reins? Just like losing weight, it requires a lifestyle change and several months of effort to reap the benefits. But the transformation you’ll feel is worth it! In this episode, we talk about… That you need to learn and recognize that you need some help with sales to start your transformation. Whether or not to charge for estimates and the importance of weeding...

The guys are joined by a special guest today - Caleb Larkin from ApplicantPro is here to talk about hiring! In this episode, we talk about… Why lots of people are struggling with hiring right now, and the factors we can’t control versus factors we can control. How more applicants are passing by job opportunities these days. Some of the most difficult positions to find qualified candidates for in c...

Don’t get caught in the trap of thinking that being a business owner means you need to be a doormat in order to please everyone. Listen up for a big mindset shift you need to make! In this episode, we talk about… Why you might be tempted to give every person that calls you an estimate - but you shouldn’t waste your time until you’ve pre-qualified people. How money can tempt you to begin taking on...

So many people doubt themselves or feel like they don’t belong where they are. This is called imposter syndrome, and it’s all in your head! In this episode, we talk about… How must of us think we’re not as good as we are, when chances are, other people don’t think that about us. Why a small amount of self-doubt is helpful for humility and growth, but too much can be detrimental. How to leverage se...

If it’s your business, why not run it the way you want to? You have to remember the reason you started your business in the first place and tailor your business to meet those goals and expectations. In this episode, we talk about… The difference between providing excellent service for your customers - on your terms - versus being too much of a people-pleaser and letting your customers take advanta...

If it’s your business, it’s your fault! If things aren’t going the way you want them to, you need to accept that and take responsibility rather than point the finger at your employees. In this episode, we talk about… Reasons why your employee’s shortcomings come back to you. A couple of books you should read about leadership. Why you can’t have the victim mentality. A few exceptions to the rule wh...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP17 Are 7 Touches Still Important? The basic marketing principle of 7 touches is; it takes seven marketing impressions or touches, to get a prospect engaged with you to purchase. This could be a sighting of your branded vehicle, a visit to your website, some social proofing on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, the phone call, word of mouth, a yard sign and the list goes on...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP16 Are You Checking Your Vitals? The single most important KPI (Key Performance Indicator) to the success of your business - is Job Costing! That being the case, why is it that the mass majority of construction companies ignore this vital number? Possibly because a great majority of contractors come up in the construction business as a craftsman and become business owner...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 15 Not My Client! What comes to mind, when you hear a contractor immediately label a prospect that doesn’t use their product or services as “Not My Client”? Do you want to give that contractor a high five and share similar stories of how not every prospect is your client and some of these people need to wake the eff up and kick rocks!? OR Do you wonder how the prospect...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP14 Your Feelings Don’t Matter! Why is it that so many entrepreneurs are soft? Thin skinned? Sensitive? Weak?   When you become a business owner, an entrepreneur and truly embark on a journey to self-mastery, you need to put your feelings on the shelf!   Do you want a football coach that speaks softly and politely to you during practice? After you get your ass k...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 13 This One Thing Is Costing You Thousands! This podcast will save you thousands and thousands of dollars if you pay attention and take action on the challenge presented at the end of the download! Brad kicks off the podcast sharing a story about how he lost a couple of thousand dollars in the blink of an eye, bidding against himself! Stop negotiating with yourself befo...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 12 Your Branding Sucks! Learn a little history lesson right off the bat about branding in this podcast as Eric shares a little Ranch Life, Cowboy story. Find out where the idea of branding actually came from and when it all began. While branding is not marketing, and marketing is not branding, they do go hand in hand to complement and support each other in sharing a com...

To Charge Or Not To Charge For Estimates? This topic is borderline controversial. A lot of contractors feel like running out to provide a client with a FREE ESTIMATE is simply a cost of doing business, while other contractors want to be paid for their time and expertise. Let’s dig into this topic. There are prospects that literally plan on collecting multiple FREE ESTIMATES, running several contra...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP10 Emotions Behind The Buying Decision There is so much more behind the person buying from a contractor than just fulfilling a need. Pain and Pleasure is a real testimony and the fundamental foundation of the emotions behind the buying decision. Most of the time people are making decisions to either avoid pain or gain pleasure. Most contractors go from craftsman to busin...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 9 Communicating With Your Clients 1. Ask – Focus on using Calibrated Questions. Questions that begin with, How, and What. How long have you been thinking about tackling this project? How can I help you? What are the most important things you want me to know about this project?   When you ask a series of well-designed calibrated questions you get your clients to act...

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 8 Systematizing Your Construction Business Brad dives into his passion for the implementation and design of systems, especially from the technology standpoint. Brad is magnetized to the process of systematizing because of his DNA. When Running a solo contracting operation, it would seem as if the need for systems is not necessary since you do all the work yourself and h...

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Transitioning from Craftsman to Businessman Why would you want to transition from a Craftsman to Businessman? The true beginning of this transition is when the Craftsman is working for someone and the moment strikes you that you can do better on your own. You feel underappreciated at work, the boss is a jackass, and your, “I can do better”, turns to side jobs on the weekends, and after work until...

Is Perfection Your Blessing or Curse? The podcast discussion begins with the reveal of Hammer and Grind’s private contractor, business community, called The Profit Club.   While Eric believes striving for perfection is a Blessing and a Curse, Brad plays the Devil’s Advocate and says the need to achieve perfectionism is a curse, but striving for perfection is a good thing. Eric and Brad agree,...

Does The Perfect Contractor Business Group Exist? Hammer and Grind describe all the different groups they belong to currently as well as the ones they have participated in over the years. True stories unravel about the ins and outs, personal experiences, and even a lawsuit scare because of a disagreement in a group. Important Note - Brad and Eric started their Bromance when they met in a contracto...