The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

It’s the silence between words or notes in music that gives them meaning – if we just string words together without breaks, it’s just noise. Steve uses this fascinating analogy to ask you a question, “Are you making music or noise when you talk to customers?” He tells you why you need to STFU when you’re having a discussion.

 

In this episode, Steve discusses:

• The power of silence

• Story from Steve’s early business when he learned how long 60 seconds really feel

• Analogy of words or notes in music to tell that words are meaningless without silence

• Encouragement to roleplay STFU with people around you

• Asking a question and then staying silent is more important than the question itself

 

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

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Have you ever met a potential client who mentioned budget constraints? What were your assumptions about them? Did you assume that they won't be able to afford your services? Tim and Derek are here to tell you that making assumptions about clients can cost you good projects and clients. They discuss handling budget-conscious clients by taking the time to listen and understand their needs.

 

In this episode, they discuss:

• Dealing with potential clients who say they are budget-conscious

• Story about a budget-conscious client who had a high-budget

• Clients who say they are budget-conscious may not actually mean cheap

• Listening to clients and understanding their needs instead of making assumptions

• Being clear and direct when communicating with clients

 

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Tom sits down with Dominic Rubino —  business coach and host of ‘Profit Tool Belt’ and ‘Cabinet Maker Profit System’ podcast — to discuss strategic planning for contractors. Dominic shares his approach to keeping strategic planning simple by asking the right questions and also shares practical tips for mapping out the coming year in a straightforward way.

 

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Welcome notes and Dominic’s intro

[01:41] - Dominic’s career journey

[04:17] - Ostrich farming business model

[06:16] - About Dominic’s podcasts

[07:47] - Importance of systems and processes in business

[10:19] - How some contractors complicate systems

[11:28] - Dominic's definition of strategic planning

[12:31] - Advice on making $1M a year

[16:47] - Key questions to figure out your strategic plan

[20:36] - Strategy vs. tactic

[25:14] - How to execute your plans

[26:04] - Challenges people don't see on social media

[30:05] - Domino’s approach to coaching

[32:31] - Importance of strategic planning

[33:59] - Changing the attitude towards career in trades

[38:55] - Best way to connect to Dominic

 

Resources:

== Dominic Rubino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicrubino/ 

 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? Starting your day with gratitude is one of the most powerful habits not only for your personal life but also for the success of your business! Tim and Derek are here to tell you why you should practice gratitude and how it will improve your business. 

 

In this episode, they discuss:

• How practicing gratitude serves you and the people around you

• How Tim and Derek express gratitude

• Tips for adding gratitude practice to your daily morning routine

• Tim’s and Derek’s experience of practicing gratitude daily

• What rich people think of when they wake up in the morning

 

Resources:

== Now get Shin-Fu Sales Training + Foundations courses together for just $499. Visit http://thecontractorfight.com/turkey to claim this limited-time bundle! 

 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Today, Tom discusses a recent contractor fail that was reported in ABC 7 Chicago news. He shares the story of a homeowner unhappy with work done by her contractor, and takes a look at the key fails of the project and shares fixes for both contractors and clients on how to prevent similar failures from occurring in the future.

 

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro

[00:20] - The situation

[01:19] - Contractor Fail: Scribbled estimate

[02:14] - Contractor Fix: Have clear documentation

[06:46] - Homeowner Fail: No proper contract

[07:51] - Homeowner Fix: No project without a valid contract

[08:37] - Don't itemize the job

[10:00] - Economy of scale

[11:21] - Run if no clear plan

[11:58] - Closing thoughts

 

Link to the original news story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5K_bFAAOBQ   

 

Resources:

== Now get Shin-Fu Sales Training + Foundations courses together for just $499. Visit http://thecontractorfight.com/turkey to claim this limited-time bundle!

 

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify