The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber

In this episode, hosts Derek Johnson and Tim Controni dive deep into the hard truths about personal responsibility and growth in the contracting business. They challenge listeners to reflect on why many continue repeating the same struggles without making real changes, even after joining coaching groups like Battleground. Derek and Tim share their personal experiences of hitting "rock bottom" and how finding the right community helped them change the trajectory of their lives and businesses. The key message? You have to choose your hard — the hard of staying stuck, or the hard of growing and thriving.

In this episode, Derek and Tim discuss:

• Why contractors often stay stuck in a cycle of frustration despite having access to solutions
• The illusion that joining a coaching group alone will solve your problems
• The real reasons behind failure to implement what you learn
• Personal rock-bottom moments and how they led to breakthrough growth
• How passion for your trade can keep you moving even through tough times
• The importance of choosing to face the pain of growth rather than the pain of regret
• How participating fully in coaching groups like Battleground can change your business and life
• The concept of "choose your pain" and how to leverage discomfort to fuel your success

Resources:

💸 LEADS ON DEMAND

It’s time to OWN YOUR PIPELINE and become a master at MARKETING your contracting business. Stop the guesswork and get The Marketing System for Contractors today.

https://thecontractorfight.com/marketing

=================================

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

==================================

💰 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/

🎥 Explore over 1,400 free videos on Contractor Fight TV:

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

💬 Join over 18,000 contractors in the free Facebook group:

https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook

== Rate the Podcast ==

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

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

In this episode, Tom sits down with Taylor, a general contractor from Casa Grande, Arizona, who’s on a mission to become an absentee owner of his business. With impressive growth projections and a plan to eliminate debt by the end of the year, Taylor opens up about the struggles that come with being the bottleneck in his company. Together, Tom and Taylor dive deep into the importance of systems, scorecards, leadership, and the mindset shifts needed to build a business that can run without you.

In this episode, they discuss:

• [00:24] – Taylor’s background, current business structure, and revenue growth
• [01:33] – Tracking sales and profitability in Q1 and forecasting for 2025
• [04:14] – Understanding gross profit and net profit goals
• [05:30] – Identifying the biggest bottleneck in Taylor's business—himself
• [07:59] – The role of trust and letting go in leadership
• [11:18] – System issues vs. people issues: how to create and refine internal processes
• [17:02] – Training and development: empowering your team to own their roles
• [22:53] – Weekly "rally point" meetings and their impact on efficiency and profit
• [25:57] – The power of using scorecards to track performance and make data-driven decisions
• [34:59] – Leading with vulnerability and communicating your vision to the team
• [39:19] – Creating a culture of accountability and ownership
• [43:32] – How financial stress influences control issues and the path to becoming debt-free
• [47:44] – The math behind paying off $200k in debt by adding a few high-margin projects
• [51:00] – Shifting roles within the team: evaluating sales capacity and strategy
• [58:08] – Rallying the team around a shared financial goal
• [01:02:32] – Taylor's timeline to move and manage the business remotely
• [01:05:33] – Residential vs. commercial focus: letting data guide future strategy
• [01:09:05] – Final thoughts on staying focused, taking action, and empowering the team

Resources: 

=================================

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

==================================

💰 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/

🎥 Explore over 1,400 free videos on Contractor Fight TV:

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

💬 Join over 18,000 contractors in the free Facebook group:

https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook

== Rate the Podcast ==

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

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Technology is evolving fast, and in this episode, Derek and Tim dive deep into how AI and tools like Plaud are transforming the way contractors handle sales, communication, and organization. Derek shares his firsthand experience with Plaud, a voice recording device that captures and organizes client conversations, and how it’s helping him become more efficient and professional in every step of the sales process.

In this episode, Tim and Derek discuss

• How falling behind on tech like AI can impact your contracting business
• Derek’s game-changing experience using Plaud to record and transcribe sales calls
• Why accurate notes are crucial for Shinfu and mini-fu sales calls
• The benefits of storing notes in a CRM for future reference and marketing
• How using tools like Plaud and ChatGPT streamlines communication, follow-up, and professionalism
• Real examples of using AI tools to better understand client needs and close more deals
• The power of visual assignment selling and sending tailored project photos during sales calls
• Creating digital checklists and punch lists that improve team communication and job tracking
• Embracing tech to stay ahead in the industry and better serve clients

Links from the episode: 

• Plaud: https://www.plaud.ai/

Resources: 

💸 LEADS ON DEMAND

It’s time to OWN YOUR PIPELINE and become a master at MARKETING your contracting business. Stop the guesswork and get The Marketing System for Contractors today.

https://thecontractorfight.com/marketing

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 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/

🎧 Get on the podcast!

https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

📘 Grab a free copy of Tom’s book, Winning the Contractor Fight (just pay shipping and handling)

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In this episode, Tom reveals the true MVP of your website—the pricing page. He breaks down why this often-overlooked section can make or break your business, and how using it correctly can help you pre-qualify leads, build trust, and eliminate tire kickers. If you want better, more serious prospects and fewer wasted appointments, you need to stop hiding behind vague pricing excuses and start educating your market.

In this episode, Tom discusses:

• [00:13] – Why the pricing page is the most important page on your website
• [00:52] – How transparency builds trust and filters quality leads
• [01:20] – The problem with “contact us for pricing” and how it drives prospects away
• [01:59] – Common excuses contractors make for avoiding pricing pages
• [02:25] – How to frame your pricing to educate and build credibility
• [02:41] – Real-life example: SimplifyPainting.com and the SEO power of pricing blogs
• [03:24] – Using calculators, blogs, and pricing ranges to collect leads and educate
• [04:23] – How detailed pricing blogs helped Tom dominate Google search results
• [06:01] – Story of a client who guessed the price thanks to Tom’s pricing transparency
• [06:34] – How prospects were nearly ready to buy before the first appointment
• [06:57] – Frustration consumers face when they can’t find pricing info
• [07:31] – The real results of implementing a pricing page
• [08:13] – How to present pricing ranges effectively to avoid scope confusion
• [08:26] – Why this strategy reduces wasted time and boosts lead quality
• [09:21] – How sending pricing info before appointments can save time and weed out unqualified leads
• [10:11] – The mindset shift: Be the educator, not the contractor hiding behind vague answers
• [10:54] – Learn more about the Leads on Demand course to attract high-quality prospects

Resources:

💸 LEADS ON DEMAND

It’s time to OWN YOUR PIPELINE and become a master at MARKETING your contracting business. Stop the guesswork and get The Marketing System for Contractors today.

https://thecontractorfight.com/marketing

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 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...

In this episode, Tim and Derek dive into the power of training, practice, and patience when it comes to mastering the sales process. They share real-world experiences from their own sales calls, highlighting how training builds confidence, enables better communication, and leads to more successful outcomes. If you're a contractor who wants to win more jobs without feeling pushy or uncertain, this episode is packed with practical insights you can use right away.

In this episode Tim and Derek discuss:

• How consistent training and role-playing builds autopilot-level confidence during sales calls
• Why it’s crucial to truly listen and let the customer talk before offering solutions
• The importance of offering preliminary estimates over the phone to qualify leads
• How to handle consultation fees based on the customer's buying signals
• Why asking the right questions can uncover hidden opportunities to save both you and your client money
• The value of patience and how waiting can lead to better solutions and higher trust
• How consistent follow-up and nurturing your pipeline can turn old leads into ready-to-buy customers
• The long-term benefits of investing in your sales training and communication skills

Resources:

💸 LEADS ON DEMAND

It’s time to OWN YOUR PIPELINE and become a master at MARKETING your contracting business. Stop the guesswork and get The Marketing System for Contractors today.

https://thecontractorfight.com/marketing

⚔️ WAR ROOM

Ready to scale your business to $5,000,000 or more? No theory. No fluff. Pure action. Join nine other battle-tested contracting companies from across the country to tackle your biggest challenges head-on.

https://thecontractorfight.com/war-room

🧰 CONTRACTOR BUSINESS SCHOOL

If you’re serious about building a profitable, structured contracting business without the chaos, this is your shot. Get the tools, insights, and mentorship you need to level up—on YOUR time, at YOUR pace.

https://contractorbusinessschool.com/

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grab our NEW course to grow your business

5 Steps to 5 Stars: How to Charge Premium Prices and Never Run Out of Leads

https://thecontractorfight.com/5-stars/

🛡️ Join us in BATTLEGROUND

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program. Three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info visit:

https://thecontractorfight.com/battleground

💰 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/

🎧 Get on the podcast!

https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

📘 Grab a free copy of Tom’s book, Winning the Contractor Fight (just pay shipping and handling)

https://thecontractorfight.com/book/

🎥 Explore over 1,400 free videos on Contractor Fight...