brad leavitt

Explore " brad leavitt" with insightful episodes like "Trust your gut with Tom Gallagher", "Lindsey Borchard of Lindsey Brooke Design", "Tips & Strategies from Construction Business Coach Shawn Van Dyke", "Johnny Hourihan of Vintage Builders" and "Randy Coffin of Coffin & Trout Fine Jewelers" from podcasts like ""Brad Leavitt Podcast", "Brad Leavitt Podcast", "Brad Leavitt Podcast", "Brad Leavitt Podcast" and "Brad Leavitt Podcast"" and more!

Episodes (30)

Trust your gut with Tom Gallagher

Listen in as Tom discusses the importance of trusting your gut, using simple systems, and documenting your progress.

Tom, began his construction career 32 years ago, in the field placing concrete and working as a carpenter. Since then he has worked on many types of projects including; hotels, office buildings, high rise residential, single family residential, parking structures, industrial and high-tech facilities. Tom graduated from Washington State University in 1990 and has a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management with a minor in business.

Topics Discussed:

2:50 Starting a business during the 2008 building crisis
6:36 Quality, Craft, Integrity
10:50 Comercial projects
15:01 Hiring new talent and trusting your gut
20:40 Selling point for new clients is our systems
25:05 Going from commercial to residential (Documenting)
34:50 Building report with Neighbors
39:20 Excel & Word
46:48 Work / Life Balance
52:09 Projections on the economy

Sponsors:

Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/
Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove: Schedule an appointment at subzero-wolf.com/Scottsdale or 480.921.0900

Connect with Tom Gallagher:

Website - https://gallagherco.net/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gallaghercollc/

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

enJanuary 01, 2023

aft construction podcast

Lindsey Borchard of Lindsey Brooke Design

Today Brad speaks with California-based interior designer Lindsey Borchard of Lindsey Brooke Design. With a background as an artist, Lindsey has a penchant for thinking out of the box, making sure each and every project is uniquely bespoke to her clients’ specific vision. Lindsey mixes “earthy textures with bold textiles” and curates “vintage finds with contemporary elements,” pulling all her “inspiration from the beautiful California landscapes she has called home all her life.”

Lindsey also hosts Design Camp, a four-day retreat offering training, support, and opportunities to network with other professionals in the design community.

Lindsey shares how she learned to build and manage an interior design business; the traits that make a builder or architect worth partnering with; best practices for establishing a budget and renegotiating around changes, limitations, and setbacks; what led her to start her four-day retreat, Design Camp, and her tips for those looking to start an interior design business today.

Sponsored by:

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove: Find your nearest showroom and schedule an appointment by visiting www.subzero-wolf.com/showroom

Topics Discussed:

05:32 - Mentality of abundance opposed to mentality of scarcity
09:13 - Equal passion for business and interior design
10:25 - Respect for woman in the industry
13:11 - How builders can be better
24:03 - Managing budgets
28:12 - Challenges on warranty and product procurement
31:21 - Logistics of products
39:21 - Design Camp
51:27 - What Lindsey would do differently if she started Lindsey Brooke Design today
55:30 - Educating clients on design
01:03:21 - New and upcoming for Lindsey Borchard

Connect with Guest:

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Resources & People Mentioned:

Key Quotes by Lindsey:

When you are confident in your design, your company, and what your values are, you’re going to have a better business and a better experience for yourself, your clients, and everybody else involved, whether that’s the painter, the builder, or the architect.
Builders and architects who have open minds and open hearts and listen to us, considering themselves as part of this one team as opposed to two separate companies—these are the builders and architects that I love working with.
I have to establish a budget upfront. I do not want to start designing without knowing my budget.
I always tell my contractors: “If there’s a problem, do not go to the client first. You have to come to me, because I will not go to a client with a problem unless I have a solution ready.”
Open communication is a must in any relationship, whether personal or professional.

enJanuary 03, 2021

Tips & Strategies from Construction Business Coach Shawn Van Dyke

Shawn Van Dyke is a construction business coach, an international keynote speaker, and author of two books: Profit First for Contractors and The Paperwork Punch List.

Most contractors are not profitable, which makes them feel uncertain about what they need to grow their construction businesses. Shawn believes that construction business owners should be as good at business as they are at their craft. That’s why, after 20+ years of owning and operating multiple construction businesses, Shawn became a construction business coach. He now works with construction business owners, executives, and managers all over the world and shows them how to stop losing profits and wasting time.

Shawn helps contractors get their lives back. He is the founder of the Built to Build Academy, which creates confident construction business owners through on-demand training and coaching programs so you can make more money, stop worrying, and get your life back.

Shawn shares a lot of insight on how to hire, build a company culture, how much time to spend on marketing, what best practices to keep in mind when spreading your message, lump sum versus cost-plus, and establishing trust with your clients.

Topics Discussed:

05:43 Gaining confidence as a coach and public speaker
11:10 Mastering sales
15:52 Balancing empathy towards customers with the needs of the business
19:18 The power of “no”
22:39 Guiding your clients through the decision-making process
28:24 Answering the three questions of the “delight trifecta” to save thousands of dollars
34:26 The number one mistake contractors make when running their business
37:16 Hiring “above the line”
40:33 Identifying what you hate doing in the business to know who to hire
43:17 Understanding “transparency” and how to achieve it with your customers
48:39 Lump sum versus cost-plus
56:04 When to use cost-plus pricing, especially with supply chain issues amid COVID-19
1:01:11 The right way to think about profit first
1:06:53 The value in having systems
1:10:46 Intentional marketing using social media
1:15:40 The importance of sticking to your core message in your marketing efforts

Connect with Guest:

Resources & People Mentioned:

Key Quotes by Shawn:

As a business owner, you’re there to make an emotional connection with people first, because if they don’t buy into what you’re doing on an emotional level, it doesn’t matter how good the information is.
Your business starts with sales.
“Yes” is a lie; “maybe” is worthless; “no” is a decision. Get to the “no” as quickly as possible. Invite your clients to tell you “no” from the get-go.
You never, ever, ever, ever want to surprise the client; but you want to delight them constantly.
The biggest mistake I see with business owners is them thinking that they have to be the one who figures everything out and waiting too long to bring in an expert.
Transparency is not trust.
I would rather try to sell my value upfront and then perform a great project than to justify it afterwards.
You can only price what you know.
You can only spend 100% of your income on your business
Money—profit—is a measure of effectiveness. The more effective you are with your customers, employees, and community, the more money you’re going to make. The more money that you make, the more you can do great things with it.
Systems provide truth: Our systems are either working, or they’re not.
Word of marketing sucks if you don’t control the words people are saying.

enDecember 13, 2020

Johnny Hourihan of Vintage Builders

Johnny Hourihan is the co-owner of Vintage Builders, the co-host of The Modern Craftsman Podcast, and one of the four brand ambassadors for Fine HomeBuilding Magazine by The Taunton Press.

What are those things we wish we had known when we started in business? What are things we’re doing now that we would have fast-tracked had we known their importance from the beginning? For instance, when is the right time to hire for certain roles, or how much should certain staff members be paid? We discuss questions like these and other specifics that all business owners should know and understand in order to have a thriving company.

Listen in as Johnny discusses how to deal with the drastic lead times companies face today as a result of COVID-19, dealing with team members and clients as people instead of as procedures, and managing your finances as you hire and scale up your business.

Topics Discussed:

04:21 How Johnny built his construction company
18:29 How having a strong brand allows you to have more effective loss leaders
26:11 The importance of looking at all the financial considerations when hiring
29:27 Justifying your price to a prospective customer
32:40 Which part of the business does Johnny focus on the most now, three years in?
43:12 Hiring the right people and retraining them as the business grow
57:59 Treating your team and clients like your family
1:09:07 Knowing when you have enough of a cushion to take a financial risk
1:17:01 Building your credit and risk tolerance
1:24:15 Promoting the trade to the next generation

Connect with Guest:

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Resources & People Mentioned:

Key Quotes from Episode:

Know your numbers, track your numbers, and evaluate them as you bring employees into the mix. Do those numbers still work after you’ve begun to hire?
Only the top 10% of our industry gets repeat business.
Finding the right hires is like finding the right clients. It’s not just about checking off the boxes. Find the little things, the idiosyncrasies, that reveal each person’s character.
Adhering to the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law with regards to your processes only gives you a false sense of security as a business owner.
We’re not in the business of finding problems. We’re in the business of finding solutions.
Before leaving any conversation with any client, ask them questions to make sure you’re both on the same page.

enNovember 29, 2020

Randy Coffin of Coffin & Trout Fine Jewelers

Randy Coffin is the President of Coffin & Trout Fine Jewelers. Randy has worked in the industry of jewelry design and craftsmanship for many years. He started out as a bench jeweler in 1975. He was inspired to start his jewelry career from an early exposure to fine arts, and an interest in using his God-given talents to design and create amazing works of art. Randy and his business partner David Trout met in 1979. They had an instant connection as they noticed similarities in each other’s beliefs on what jewelry could be.

In our conversation today, we get into construction, customer service, and a myriad of other tips on running a jewelry business.

Listen in as Randy discusses how to build a strong reputation in the jewelry industry, what he looks for in a diamond, working and nurturing trust with suppliers and customers, his passion for colored gemstones, and how he takes a client’s vision from idea to reality.

Topics Discussed:

04:06 How to become an expert in grading a diamond
08:14 What it means to “sell jewelry on consignment”
10:28 Building a strong reputation to gain the trust of suppliers in the jewelry industry
12:17 What Randy looks for in a diamond
18:54 Natural versus lab-created diamonds
22:34 Building a jeweler’s supply chain
25:52 How Randy developed a trustworthy reputation in the business
29:04 How Randy evaluates potential suppliers
36:12 Creating long-term relationships with your customers
37:41 Going above and beyond as a business owner
40:41 Randy’s process from meeting the customer to delivering the final product
50:17 How Randy keeps his staff happy
53:52 Working with prestige companies like Rolex to acquire custom pieces for clients
56:43 Randy on his passion for charity
59:09 Randy talks about a few unique pieces he brought in

Connect with Coffin & Trout Fine Jewelers:

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Resources Mentioned:

Key Quotes by Randy:

It’s not always the most expensive diamond that stands out.
I don’t have any problems with lab-created diamonds; but I’d just say, “Buyer beware.”
Be consistent and follow the practices that you would want others to follow. Go above and beyond.
One of the value-adds for me and my business, and one of the things that I’ve enjoyed more than anything else, is that whole customer relations thing. I’ve met more people than I can tell you that I’d either gone to dinner with, in many cases traveled with, or gone to their homes in another state, or fly-fished with. I’ve made more friends in my business than outside my business by far.

Brad Leavitt Podcast

enNovember 22, 2020

rolex

jewelry

coffin and trout fine jewelers

brad leavitt

aft construction

Amy Margolin of M&M Lighting

Amy Margolin is the third-generation co-owner of M&M Lighting. She joined her family business in 2013 after graduating with an English degree from Columbia University working as a manager for an international clothing retailer in Austin, Texas. She was also a food photographer for Zagat, a national restaurant review guide, and spent time as a freelance celebrity stylist at red carpet events in Los Angeles.

Combining her background in writing with her innate sense of style and relentless work ethic, Amy is working hard to bring M&M Lighting—a company with 56 employees that specializes in residential and commercial lighting—into the social media age, and overturn the adage that the third generation ruins family businesses.

We dive into the value of social media as far as how it helped her in building her business and how it has grown her client base as well. She talks about how you can successfully integrate your social media into your business while building a network with architects and designers at the same time.

Listen in as Amy discusses how she uses social media to build her company’s brand, her Instagram content and engagement strategies, the challenges and rewards of working in a family business, and working with lighting architects and designers in an industry that is always evolving.

Topics Discussed:

05:21 How Amy is able to effectively use social media to establish M&M’s brand
08:48 Why Amy began to do more video home tours
12:41 Amy’s experience with TikTok
15:12 Building a following on Instagram
17:57 How much time Amy spends on social media
20:39 Getting better engagement on social media
23:18 Amy’s content strategy on Instagram
24:41 How using social media impacted Amy’s business
27:39 How having a large audience keeps Amy accountable
32:26 Justifying higher prices for your products or services online
35:34 How social media has benefitted M&M’s relationships with stakeholders
39:33 Amy’s experience working on her own projects
42:31 Amy’s favorite architectural style
43:50 How Amy’s eye for design evolved over the years
45:28 Becoming a stylist for celebrities
43:50 How Amy’s eye for design evolved over the years
48:14 Moving from California back to Texas
49:20 What Amy learned about the lighting industry since joining M&M
50:51 Lighting architects and other partners that Amy works with
54:03 Staying current in an ever-evolving industry
56:00 How COVID-19 affected M&M
58:47 What Amy is looking forward to in the near future

Connect with Amy Margolin & M&M Lighting:

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Resources & People Mentioned:

Key Quotes by Amy:

If you want to stay on top with the content you put out and the engagement you get on social media, follow the algorithm.
It’s “social media” for a reason: You have to be social.
If you’re not communicating with your people and the customers at every stage of the process, you’ll run into problems you’ll later regret.

enNovember 15, 2020

Jason Black of Artisan Signature Homes

Jason Black is the owner and president of Artisan Signature Homes. He had a successful career prior to construction, but his passion for homes eventually led him to start his first company, Stonecroft Homes, in 2002 while still working full-time. This was the beginning of his journey in building custom homes. Jason has worked on a number of projects with his wife, Gretchen—a talented designer in her own right.

Jason does a deep dive into building a brand and scaling your business through social media, particularly through Instagram. He dismisses common misconceptions such as supposedly needing a huge number of followers and a long-term content strategy to build an audience and stand out. We also go into much of the behind-the-scenes of managing a construction firm, with a focus on budgeting and putting together the right crew for each project.

Listen in as Jason discusses how he sets expectations with his clients, why he almost always declines requests to bring in unfamiliar subcontractors, and how to build a powerful brand for your design or construction business on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:

04:19 - Jason on his spec and build-to-suit homes
08:47 - Choosing projects to serve as loss leaders
11:29 - Working with other designers
13:58 - Creating a budget and knowing how to adapt it as the project progresses
30:28 - Working with a business partner
32:28 - The typical timeframe for a custom home project
36:30 - Saying “no” to certain customers requests (i.e. unproven subcontractors)
41:18 - How Jason chooses his crew members
46:20 - How Jason manages his Instagram account
48:26 - Jason’s content strategy on Instagram
54:14 - How social media has benefitted Artisan Signature Homes
59:11 - What Artisan Signature has planned for the near future

Connect with Guest:

Connect with AFT Construction Podcast Host Brad Leavitt

Key Quotes from Interview:

I don’t chase the dollar. I always sacrifice the dollar for good design, maybe to a flaw. But that’s what I enjoy doing, so that’s what I’m going to keep on doing.
The trajectory any custom home project takes all boils down to those expectations and communications with the client.
Having a business partner is like having a sounding board to keep your ideas in check.
I prefer to stick to what’s tried-and-true with both the people I work with and the system we use. Anytime I fall out of my process, it never has a happy ending.
It’s taken me a long time to understand that not every customer is the right customer for me. So, it’s sometimes better to say “no” than to take a customer that I know is going to be a pain in the ass to work with.
When looking for subcontractors, we want a solid company that’s been in business for a long time that has a service crew that’s going to respond in a timely fashion.
Post what’s true to you. Post the best content that you can produce and share that. I don’t have a stock of 50 images. I usually don’t know what my next post is. Just choose a great photo for the day, keep posting consistently, and engage with your followers. Don’t overthink it.
The biggest thing with social media is to just put yourself out there. You don’t have to have 50,000 followers. There’s micro-influencers that have a couple hundred or a couple thousand followers. You’re still influencing people. You’ve just got to start. You never know where that opportunity will come from.

enNovember 08, 2020

Construction Instruction with Mark LaLiberte

Mark LaLiberte is the co-founder and president of Construction Instruction. He has dedicated over 30 years to the building industry. Through his lectures, site assistance, Building Better Homes video series and his mobile App, he provides builders, architects and manufacturers with an in-depth look at the current and future state of housing. His work has earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), where he developed the highly acclaimed Houses that Work lecture series. The HTW Series has been delivered for over 16 years by the Ci team in 100’s of North American cities.

He works with various manufacturers to assist in developing products and services for the next phase of efficient homes. Mark is the co-creator of the Ci App and animation studio, which developed the number one mobile App in the construction industry and builds realistic state of the art contextual animations on building science concepts and technical installation practices.

He is also President of Sales Instruction Inc., helping to bridge sales and marketing efforts to our industry. Working with leading industry suppliers and manufacturers, his sales training company creates a common language to drive sales and increase productivity for sales teams.

His passion for educating lies in knowing how vital the building industry is. Building healthy, safe, durable and efficient homes has an effect on the buyer, the builder, the economy and the planet.

Listen in as Mark discusses why he believes builders should adopt a path of continuous improvement, waterproofing best practices, and why you shouldn’t ever need to factor in leaks when pricing your services.

Topics Discussed:

06:46 The biggest mistakes builders are making right now
11:12 Creating a solid training program for your tradesmen
15:17 Appreciate your tradesman
18:17 Set proper expectations to encourage excellence
27:14 Tried-and-true methods for waterproofing homes
33:29 Working with stucco contractors whose standards are different from yours
36:02 How to properly flash a window
41:24 Tools to secure exterior walls
45:56 The importance of capillary breaks
51:36 Why Mark created the Houses that Work lecture series
54:55 Why Mark started Construction Instruction and how to work with him

Connect with Mark LaLiberte:

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

Resources & People Mentioned:

Key Quotes from Episode:

It can’t just be about price. Craftsmanship and workmanship comes from the heart. What I leave is a legacy; not just “slap it on, get it done”.
The tradesmen like doing work carefully and professionally. They just need to be appreciated for it.
Set your standards, your process, and your educational expectations. Drive those to be exceptional, and you’ll get better performance.
Whenever you take on a new project, tell yourself: “I have one chance to do this well, and I’m going to do it right this time.” When you always set that standard for yourself, one day it becomes a habit.
COVID-19 has raised our awareness about the importance of the indoor environment. Houses should be our safe haven.
Continually learn and invest in your marketplace and invest in learning. Train people. Listen, learn, watch, and question. Hold people accountable for good workmanship. If we do that, we’re going to have this amazing industry, and deliver phenomenal product that will last for generations and be healthy and safe. I think that’s a fair expectation.

Brad Leavitt Podcast

enNovember 01, 2020

continuous improvement

Transitioning from MLB to Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy with Willie Bloomquist

Willie Bloomquist is a former MLB player, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Throughout his career in baseball, Willie played for the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, and Arizona Diamondbacks, and has played every position aside from catcher and pitcher. After retiring from professional sports in 2016, Willie explored his other passions through the avenues of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. His passion for nature led to his founding Elite Outdoor Adventures, a company which “allows you to spend one-on-one time with a professional athlete or celebrity participating in a pastime that you both enjoy.”

Listen in as Willie discusses his journey as a professional athlete and why he decided to turn to entrepreneurship following his retirement from MLB. He also shares his love for the outdoors and the business that resulted from that passion. Finally, Willie talks charity and outreach and why philanthropy has become a huge priority in his life.

Topics Discussed:

04:53 Lessons learned throughout Willie’s sporting career
07:27 Growing skills while playing multiple positions on the field
11:15 Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable in business
13:38 Why Willie made the switch from football to baseball
16:10 Knowing what to prioritize in life
18:51 Navigating social media as a public figure
25:52 Willie’s perspective on failure
27:50 Budgeting and other financial considerations as a professional athlete
31:23 Willie’s philanthropic efforts at Phoenix Children's Hospital
36:01 Why acts of charity are priceless
38:38 Transitioning from professional athlete to entrepreneur
40:10 Willie on his venture, Elite Outdoor Adventures
45:40 Training and motivating your employees
50:32 How Willie balanced family life and a high-profile sports career
54:10 What sets the Arizona Diamondbacks apart

Connect with Willie Bloomquist:

Resources & People Mentioned:

Key Quotes from Episode

If I’m not going to be good enough, that’s fine; but I’m not going to leave it to chance just because I didn’t work hard enough to give myself every opportunity. Hard work doesn’t guarantee you success, but without it, you don’t have a chance.
Failure only sharpens us to become better the next time around.
The way it makes you feel when you help somebody out, unsolicited, makes you feel pretty dang good inside.
Generosity proceeds prosperity.
We judge other people on their actions and we judge ourselves on our intensions.
Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.

enOctober 25, 2020

Ashley Stark Kenner of Stark Carpet

Ashley Stark Kenner is the Creative Director at Stark Carpet in New York, a company founded by her grandparents, Arthur and Nadia Stark, in 1938. Stark Carpet has been synonymous with the world’s finest floor coverings since its inception and has been the go-to resource for top interior decorators for decades. Ashley is also the Sr. Vice President of Design, bringing her fashion-forward vision to the company while maintaining the classic Stark aesthetic. Her unique style and eye for the eclectic are present in her vision for the company.

Listen in as Ashley discusses how she balances her high-octane career at Stark Carpet with creating content for social media, reaching 1 million Instagram followers, all while being a mother to her three kids. She also talks about where she gets her inspiration for her product line and how social media has allowed her to collaborate with other designers at a greater scale since she began in her career. Finally, she shares the process of taking a product from idea to reality.

Topics Discussed