Articles by Russ Stephens

2 min read

When Systems Work But Your Team Doesn't Follow Them

At our Annual Retreat last year, one of our top builders pulled me aside at the bar in Mexico. A few tequilas in, he started venting about something that ...
2 min read

Why Builders Struggle to Hit and Hold Their Margins

If you're running a residential building company and your net profit isn't where it needs to be, the cause almost always traces back to one of two ...
2 min read

How Policy Works in a Professional Building Company

Here’s something I see constantly in residential building companies. The owner sets a rule. A policy. Something clear and documented. And then somewhere ...
2 min read

The Hidden Cost of a Festive Shutdown For Building Companies

I received an email from a builder announcing they were shutting down for an entire month over the Christmas holidays.

How to Stop Abdicating and Start Leading in Your Building Company

When you’re running a building company, it can feel like you’re doing everything at once. There’s barely time to onboard new staff, let alone manage your ...
3 min read

How to Stop Working 60 Hours a Week and Build a Business That Runs Without You

Most builders didn’t get into business to work longer hours for less freedom. And yet, that’s exactly where many end up… buried under 60-hour weeks, ...
3 min read

How to Create Urgency and Close More High-Margin Contracts

If you’re finding it harder than ever to move prospects from interest to action, you’re not alone. Many builders are generating leads, but turning those ...
2 min read

How to Stop the “Got a Minute?” Trap

Every business owner knows the feeling. You sit down to tackle something important, and right on cue someone taps you on the shoulder: “Got a minute?”
3 min read

Why the Hardest Working Builders Still Feel Stuck (and How to Fix It)

Most builders aren’t struggling because they’re lazy or unmotivated. They’re struggling because they’re focused on the wrong things. The average builder ...
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