I was sitting at the breakfast table at the end of the fall season at 5:30 in the morning, hands on my face and…

my wife asks “what is wrong?”

My reply:  I am the busiest broke contractor and I am tired.  We have had a busy summer and fall season with up to 11 guys in the field.

On the outside looking in we were successful, multiple trucks in the area and everyone knew who we were.

But this was my week:

  • I was up by 5:30 am everyday on the computer writing estimates and checking bank balances
  • Making sure all the guys were busy and had something to do everyday
  • Running around dropping off stock and putting out “fires”
  • Looking at Jobs, meeting with customers, tending to jobsites
  • Daily wondering why jobs are not getting done on time.
  • Wondering where all these promised checks were. They must be in the mail
  • Checking bank balance, making sure I can make payroll (barely)
  • Paint Store balance starting to climb
  • Wondering why my guys aren’t getting jobs done on time
  • Sleepless nights
  • Payroll is met, but once again I didn’t get paid
  • Saturday painting all day to catch up wondering why all my guys are not here (Oh yes, they got paid)
  • Sunday, paperwork and worrying.

 

Now let’s do it all over again the next week…

Is this you…       Can you relate?

Insanity:  “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

 

I was there, I was tired and I needed it to CHANGE.

What did I do?

  1. Embrace Change and step outside my comfort zone.
  2. Use technology as your friend (I hated technology)
  3. Evaluate every employee in respect to: (in no specific order)
    1. Evaluate their work ethics
    2. Evaluate their production
    3. Evaluate their company / Team attitude
    4. Evaluate their willingness to accept change
  4. I had to change my attitude
  5. Revaluate my customers and who I wanted to work for and with.

 

The time was never right to change anything but as I looked back, my business was a house of cards waiting for any slight breeze till it came crashing down.

 

 

What I did to Change course:

  • Ask for Help: Seek out an experienced mentor who has walked the walk and can guide you thru these obstacles and assist in setting a new course.
  • Revaluate everything.
  • Part ways with employees who are not 110% on board with change, no matter how long they have been with you and or related to you.  You and your other employees will be happy when this happens.
  • Accept Technology and new programs that are available.  This was frustrating for me at first as I pushed technology away from me. But after a short time you will be amazed at the time saved and the increased productivity from your crew or crews.
  • Give your employees responsibility to make decisions
  • Don’t build a company.  Build a TEAM.  Respect your employees, get to know them and they will feel appreciated.

 

It was a about one year ago that I decided I needed change and a new direction.  This came with some reluctance, but I can report as of today business is:

  • Increased 68%
  • 8 men in the field producing
  • Team members have paid vacations
  • I do not work more than 40 hours a week
  • I sleep well
  • Money in the bank with a reserve
  • Accountant told me to take an extra bonus
  • And I get to take my dogs for a walk everyday at 4 pm

 

Is it time for a change for you?

Getting access to all of the DYB Systems, and the members only group for just $37, is a whole lot less expensive than learning these lessons on your own.

GET ACCESS HERE!

 

 

 

About the Author

As many of you know, my journey has been one of grit, grace, and transformation. At 19, I was a high school dropout, single father, and struggling paint contractor in Michigan. I later moved to Florida, where I faced both personal and professional hardships. With nothing left to lose, I turned to prayer—and was blessed with a relentless hunger to learn. I devoured books, attended seminars, and discovered better ways to streamline and grow my business—even through the Great Recession (and yes, I did hit the wife lottery along the way!). In 2014, I published How To Double Your Business and later sold the painting business, launching a new chapter: coaching others to grow their businesses. For the past 10 years, I’ve dedicated myself to helping business owners scale through the DYB System, while also drawing from frameworks like EOS, Scaling Up, and The Four Disciplines of Execution. Yet something was still missing—something more adaptive, integrated, and complete. Then I found Pinnacle. After months of research and interviews with other Guides, I joined Pinnacle. Their tools and strategies have exceeded every expectation. Now, as a Pinnacle Business Guide, I help leadership teams implement a custom-tailored operating system that draws from the best in the industry—but flexes with your unique business. It’s a dynamic, proven approach to achieve clarity, momentum, and lasting growth. I’m no longer taking on any more 1:1 coaching clients… Instead, I now specialize in working with visionary business owners who are ready to get their leadership teams aligned—around a clear vision, a focused strategy, and an actionable execution plan. With the tools and process I now have as a Pinnacle Business Guide, I help turn alignment into momentum, and momentum into results. If your business is growing—but your leadership team isn’t fully rowing in the same direction—let’s talk.

Don Goddard - December 20, 2015

Great post, Ron! It’s all in how you look at your business. If you look at it as a job, it will be a job. If you look at it as a business, it will be a business.

I’m guilty of everything you mentioned above. But I’m working on changing all of that.

    Ron Ramsden - December 21, 2015

    Don, thanks for your reply, Nothing will happen over night but the little changes along the way make a big difference in the long run. From employee time management, project management then to increasing our social media presence made a huge impact. Keep moving forward and you will see great results.

Gabe Ewing - December 21, 2015

Great read Ron! I and so many other contractors can relate to this. Identifing the issue is step one…. action is necessary for step 2!

    Ron Ramsden - December 21, 2015

    Thanks for the comment. It took me awhile to realize I had to make change and so glad I did. My life and business life has change to the positive when I started with small changes and with the small change came big change.

Mike Pope - December 27, 2015

Awesome post. This really hits it for me. I do not like technology, but I need to accept the fact that it’s here and it can help me.

3 Goals To Finish 2016 Strong… | DYB Coach - September 24, 2016

[…] debt Free, If you read one of my earlier blog posts it was about being the busiest broke contractor.  I was frustrated as money came in and went out even faster.  Budgets, small goals, and keeping […]

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