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Hey there, welcome to Business Growth Made Simple, the podcast for contractors who want more free time, more profit, and a business that doesn’t suck the life out of them.

I’m Steve your host and today we’re talking about something that’s eating up way too many business owners: burnout.

Ever sat down at the end of a 12-hour day and thought, “Is all this even worth it?”

You’re not alone. I’ve been there. And I know a lot of other contractors who have too.

If you’ve ever: Felt totally fried

Started to resent the work you once loved

Snapped at your spouse or kids because you’re drained

Or even thought about chucking it all and applying at the local hardware store…

This episode is for you.

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. And no, you’re not weak.

You’re likely burned out. And today, we’re gonna fix that.

Let’s break this down into three areas.

# 1. 🔧 Your Business

You miss details—quotes go wrong, jobs get underbid.

Customers sense your stress—making them hesitant to trust you.

You start avoiding tasks that grow your business (like marketing or hiring).

You become reactive, not strategic—just putting out fires all day.

# 2. 🧠 Your Head & Health

Mental fog sets in—you stare at your phone, can’t focus.

You get sick more, sleep worse, and stress more.

You begin questioning your decisions and self-worth.

# 3. 🏡 Your Family

You bring work home—even if you try not to.

Your kids don’t get your best—they get what’s left.

Your spouse starts feeling like a coworker, not a partner. Burnout isn’t just a work thing—it’s a life thing.

Were going to give you some ways to avoid burnout so your business supports your life… not the other way around.

#budget #moneymindset #debtfree #debtsnowball #businessgrowthmadesimple #profitfirst #thepumpkinplan #fixthisnext

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Quick question before we dive in — have you ever felt like you’re working twice as hard for customers who barely pay you, cause nothing but stress, and leave you wondering if this whole business thing is even worth it?

Imagine this: you go out on a job you weren’t sure about. They’re already haggling you on the phone before you’ve even given them a price. They nickel-and-dime every estimate, they call you on your day off, and they never seem satisfied.
Every hour you spend on them is an hour you’re not spending with your ideal customers. That’s time lost, money lost, sanity lost.

And here’s the thing:
Time is your most valuable asset. Every bad customer you let in steals time you could use to grow the business, chase profitable projects, or even take a breather with your family.

Worst part?
Those customers rarely refer you to anyone good.
In fact, they usually send their buddy who’s just as difficult.
That’s why wrong customers don’t just cost you — they can actually multiply.

Here are some quick red flags so you can spot them early:
✅ They want everything “fast and cheap.”
✅ They question every little line in your estimate.
✅ They call after hours and expect an immediate response.
✅ They talk trash about their last contractor.
✅ They want you to do “extra” without paying extra.

That last one is a classic — they’ll say, “Hey, since you’re already here…” — and just like that, your afternoon disappears into an unpaid favor.

If someone is this difficult on the phone before you even show up?
That’s a giant warning sign.
Your gut is telling you this is going to be a pain — listen to it.

If you are struggling with this or any other business concept, book a complementary Business Growth Made Simple Discovery Call and let’s see how we can get you unstuck.

#budget #moneymindset #debtfree #debtsnowball #businessgrowthmadesimple #profitfirst #thepumpkinplan #fixthisnext

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Hey, let me ask you something.

Have you ever finished a busy month—jobs rolling in, crews staying busy, trucks running all week—and yet, you still felt broke?

You wonder, “Where the heck did all the money go?”

I’ve been there. And I’ve worked with dozens of guys just like you—hardworking, booked solid, and still struggling to make the numbers work.

Today, we’re talkin’ about a tool most contractors think they don’t need… but absolutely do.

It’s called budgeting—and I promise it’s not just for accountants or big corporations. It’s for guys like us who want to take control of their business and finally make some real money.

A budget is just a plan for your money. That’s it.

Not a restriction, not a punishment—it’s a tool that tells your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.

Here’s why it matters:

1. You stop guessing. No more flying blind. You know exactly how much you can spend on materials, labor, gas, insurance—before the month starts.

2. You stop bleeding cash. You see what’s draining you. Maybe you’re spending $1,200/month on tools but only budgeting $300. That tells you something.

3. You sleep better. No more hoping you have enough for payroll or taxes. You’ll know—because it’s all planned out.

When you don’t have a budget, here’s what can happen:

• You say yes to every job—even the ones that lose money
• You overspend on gear and underpay yourself
• You forget about taxes, then get crushed in April
• You hire people you can’t afford
• You price based on emotion—not numbers

Story from the field:

I worked with a handyman named Derek. He had a crew of three, steady work, but every month was chaos. No budget, no plan. He was always behind—robbing Peter to pay Paul.

When we set up a simple monthly budget—on a whiteboard, nothing fancy—he saw he was overpaying on dump fees, had a subscription he didn’t use, and wasn’t charging enough on small jobs.

Within 90 days, he dropped $1,400 in waste, raised rates 10%, and finally gave himself a paycheck he could count on.

You don’t need QuickBooks or a CPA to budget. Here’s a simple way to do it.

STEP 1: Figure out your fixed costs

These are the bills that hit every month, no matter what:

• Truck payments
• Insurance
• Phone/internet
• Office rent or storage
• Software subscriptions
• Salaries

Add ‘em up. That’s your monthly overhead.

STEP 2: Know your variable costs

These change based on the job:

• Materials
• Subs/labor
• Gas
• Dump fees
• Job site supplies

Estimate what these usually are as a percentage of revenue. Track them for a month or two.

STEP 3: Pay yourself and plan for taxes

Don’t forget:

• Owner’s pay (you need to eat!)
• Taxes (set aside 15–20%)

STEP 4: Use simple categories

Set monthly dollar limits for each:

• Materials
• Labor
• Fuel
• Tools
• Profit
• Owner’s pay
• Taxes
• Misc

STEP 5: Review weekly

Spend 5–10 minutes each week looking at where you are compared to the plan.

Let me tell you about Angel, a guy who runs a small electrical business.

For years, he was undercharging just to stay busy. He didn’t track his numbers. Didn’t budget. Was making $180K in sales but taking home less than $35K a year.

We set up a budget. Found out he was spending nearly $2,000/month at Home Depot without trackin

#budget #moneymindset #debtfree #debtsnowball #businessgrowthmadesimple #profitfirst #thepumpkinplan #fixthisnext