Episode Details

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: 

• Instagram @shawnvandyke
• Instagram @profitfirstcontractor
• Instagram @builttobuildacademy
• Website
• YouTube
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin

Resources & People Mentioned:

• Built to Build Academy
• Profit First for Contractors by Shawn Van Dyke
• Ted Talks
• The Science Behind TED’s 18-Minute Rule
• Start with No by Jim Camp
• Never Split the Differen