The Successful Contractor

My name is Jeff and I’m obsessed with remodeling.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Isn’t it funny to make your own schedule and then become overwhelmed with too much to do??

Charge enough for your time.

Plan for time off.

Plan for setbacks and unforeseen time killers.

You know what to do, don’t let yourself or your clients convince you out of it!

[Dickie Bush 🚢 @dickiebush]

Tactical ways I use AI every day:

1. Morning brain dump journaling on what’s top of mind.

2. Giving it my goals & my current project list to help me prioritize.

3. Break down complex tasks into extremely small action steps.

4. Asking it all 1-off questions that have defined answers (rather than Google).

[Nick Huber @sweatystartup]

I've been serious about personal development and getting better at business for 15+ years.

But not just reading and thinking about business...

I've put the concepts to work.

I sold my first business for 7 figures and built a real estate portfolio worth $100 million+.

I've now started several other successful companies.

Here are a few of my top takeaways:

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

File this one under:
Fun but not profitable. It happens.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Do the boring business better. Print money. Sustain and repeat.

[Nick Huber @sweatystartup]

For several years, I judged college entrepreneurship pitch competitions where students took turns giving five-minute presentations on their new business ideas.

I’ve since stopped doing this because it pisses me off, and they stopped inviting me back.

Like pretty much everyone else these days, the college kids who enter these competitions think entrepreneurship means totally re-inventing the wheel and flipping a business model on its head.

They have little to no experience, but they proudly announce that they’re going to change an entire market or a consumer's behavior and get them to buy and do things they have never done before.

It doesn’t make any sense!

“Hold on,” I’d tell them.

“We have industries that are working and thriving right now. We have companies that are providing this product or service RIGHT NOW that are making phenomenal money and you want to change everything about the way they are doing business? Why?”

The replies were cringeworthy, but every single student and most of my fellow judges still looked at me like I had 3 heads when I called out the students for this thinking.

Most had been trained and manipulated to think they needed large moats and innovation or disruption to succeed.

Who the hell is this guy? They thought when I spoke.

Why would we do something boring and simple like copying others who are already winning the game today?

So they ignored me or pushed back. “That’s not what this whole thing is about, Nick!” one student said.

"Okay, so what is this about?” I responded.

“It’s about inventing something totally new and disruptive. It's about changing the world” he shot back.

“No it isn’t!” I couldn’t help myself here.

"Entrepreneurship is about making money. It doesn’t matter how new and disruptive your idea or plan is. All that matters is providing value to a customer, making money, and building a sustainable company. Success in business is not rocket science."

Needless to say, my answer didn’t go over very well.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

https://t.co/vkduJEeDgg

[Will Schryver @Will_Schryver]

Biggest valuation headwind I see with HVAC, Plumbing, & Electrical business owners?

The ability to hire and delegate.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

@elonmusk @realDonaldTrump @DOGE DOGE is a giant data stealing grift. You’ve set back public services for decades, enriched yourself and stolen untold amounts of personal data. Now you’re asking for praise for it. Get fucked.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

https://t.co/OKa8zprbXR

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

You'll make more money which will empower you to open up your schedule which will empower you to estimate even better and the flywheel will spiral you up!

Craft your bids with the same obsession you craft your work.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Everyone knows the old saying, "you make your money when you buy."

Now every contractor needs to consistently tell themselves, "you make your money when you bid."

Don't put your bidding and estimating on the back burner. Prioritize it.

[Logan Rankin @loganjrankin]

Curious how we complete 100% of maintenance requests in 48 hours (and 90% in 24)?

6,000+ units.
28 cities.
2 states.

Our system in 10 quick steps:

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

@roblabonne Yeah that's incredible, benefit of having a young family tree.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

@WilsonCompanies Hiring that first crew and still working in the field is the first level of hell.

Hiring a second crew, keeping everyone busy, and putting out fires in the field is the next level.

Three crews, getting out of the field but still handling all the sales is the final boss.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Welp, construction in my area is hot AND my crypto portfolio is absolutely ripping.

Life's good

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Don't put your bidding / estimating on the back burner.

Prioritize it.

You'll make more money which will empower you to open up your schedule which will empower you to estimate even better and the flywheel will spiral you up!

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Everyone knows the old saying, "you make your money when you buy."

Every contractor needs to consistently tell themselves, "you make your money when you bid."

YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY WHEN YOU BID.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

Working toward the zero punch list principle = finishing projects on time.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

@GrulkeLamonte lol no.

Employed carpenters are more like 25-45 depending on experience and skill.

Self employed carpenters are 45-85.

[The Successful Contractor @T_S_Contractor]

I’m excited for the internet to begin healing post - election.

It’ll start with shit slinging then we can move on.