To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP265

Take our five minute quiz and get a custom Contractor Growth Scorecard: https://trybta.com/DL265

Your biggest expense is labor. If you aren’t tracking it accurately, your job costing is a lie. In this episode, Derrik Shakespear (CRO of AlignOps) reveals why most contractors bleed profit through inaccurate time tracking—and how to fix it without micromanaging your crew.

If you’re still using paper timesheets or trusting the "honor system," you’re likely losing thousands in unbilled hours and slip-ups every single year.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

• Stop "managing blind" and get accurate data on your biggest expense (Labor)
• Compare Estimates vs. Actuals to see which jobs actually made money
• Implement digital time tracking without your crew feeling "Big Brothered"
• Spot the "Silent Killers" in your workflow that paper timesheets hide
• Use construction time tracking data to bid more accurately next time
• Turn time data into a competitive advantage for safety and liability
• Move from "guessing" productivity to measuring it like a manufacturer

00:00-Intro

02:24-The importance of time tracking in construction

08:59-Productivity comparisons: Manufacturing vs. construction

14:26-Essential components of a healthy time tracking system

20:14-Frequency and best practices for reviewing project data

26:02-Strategies and pitfalls for owner adoption of technology

31:47-Incentivizing field crews and gamification

34:43-The future of AI in the construction industry

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP264



Stop obsessing over lead generation and start building a real marketing machine.

In this episode, Matt Jones (Founder of Tradie Web Guys & Host of The Site Shed) lays out the future of contractor marketing - from strategy and systems to for contractors and smarter, higher-quality leads.

If you’re a contractor who feels like you’re spending more on ads but not seeing profit, this conversation will change how you think about marketing forever.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

• Build a real marketing strategy (not just random tactics or “more leads”)
• Define the right success markers so you know if your marketing is actually working
• Use customer lifetime value to make smarter marketing decisions
• Increase conversions without just pumping more cash into ads
• Position yourself as the go-to expert in your market
• Use 58 ai marketing tools to boost SEO, follow-up, and customer support
• Take the first practical AI step as a contractor today

00:00-Intro

03:35-Defining a Marketing Strategy

07:58-The Truth About Generating Leads

10:10-Defining the Ideal Customer and Screening Process

13:07-Focusing on Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)

25:18-Achieving Consistent Growth and Predictability

30:53-Balancing Lead Generation and Branding

42:37-Implementing a Paid Priority Program for High-Ticket Services

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP263

Make training your next hire a breeze by grabbing a copy of our training checklist template: https://trybta.com/DL263

High employee turnover is killing profitability in the trades. And unfortunately, there is no quick fix.



In this episode of Contractor Evolution, we sit down with Mike Matalone, author of Hire. Train. Retain., to break down exactly why you’re losing your best people and how to stop the bleeding.

Managing employee retention isn't just about paying more; it requires building robust systems at every stage of the employee lifecycle. Mike reveals the secrets to unlocking 40-60% more productivity from your current team by tapping into their "discretionary effort."

If construction hiring and retention are constantly giving you headaches, this episode gives you the blueprint to build a culture that keeps top talent engaged for the long haul. You'll learn the difference between hiring for roles versus people, the three onboarding steps that make new hires stick, and why career paths often matter more to your crew than their paycheck.

Check out Mike’s book here: https://www.amazon.ca/Hire-Train-Retain-People-Things/dp/0578551438

00:00-Intro

03:34-Why New Hires Leave in the First 90 Days

06:42-The XP3 Talent System and People Systems

11:17-Shifting from Management to Coaching and Creating Careers

14:19-Role Clarity and Defining Success in Hiring

21:17-The Importance of Personality, Skill, and Core Values in Hiring

35:24-Training and Onboarding Objectives: Creating an Amazing Experience

50:17-Retention Strategies and Interviewing for Fit