Estimate Rocket Radio

Follow Estimate Rocket Radio
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

The Estimate Rocket Podcast brings you off-the-cuff conversations from experts to help you excel and grow your service industry business. Whether you just started your own business or are a veteran with a thriving team, this show will keep bringing you useful ideas, training, interviews, tools, and tips each week to help you grow.

Estimate Rocket


    • Aug 2, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 138 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Estimate Rocket Radio with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Estimate Rocket Radio

    Why "Guessing" How Much to Charge Never Works with Brandon Lewis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 55:13


    In this episode of Rocket Your Business For Trade Contractors, we welcome Brandon Lewis, founder of the Academy for Professional Painters and Contractors and publisher of Painters Weekly, to discuss the vital importance of production rates, charge rates, and pricing. Gain insights from Brandon's extensive experience in coaching service contractors to success. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a large team, this podcast offers valuable strategies to improve your business efficiency and profitability. Tune in for actionable advice and start rocketing your business today!

    Mastering Your Schedule at Peak Times with Jason Paris

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 50:36


    In this episode of Rocket Your Business For Trade Contractors, join us as we explore the entrepreneurial journey with Jason Paris, the brain behind Paris Painting and Partnership Developer at Aleph Holdings. Delving into the crucial aspects of growing a painting business, Jason shares invaluable insights on profit reinvestment, strategic decision-making for business expansion, schedule management during peak seasons, and the power of strategic partnerships. This conversation is packed with actionable advice and seasoned wisdom for trade contractors aiming to elevate their business, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to thrive in the competitive contracting landscape.

    All About the Numbers that Matter with Daniel Honan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 25:18


    Our apologies, this was a duplicate upload. Check out our latest episode with Jason Paris. On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we are joined by Daniel Honan of Bookkeeping For Painters about being prepared for the taxman, managing overhead, pricing, pricing, pricing and finally profitability. Learn how not to get surprised by the taxman and rock solid advice on Pricing for profits.Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/ccosJ0zhazo

    Adding Services to Your Company with Will Reyes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 38:29


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we are joined by Will Reyes of Battleborn Painting to talk about adding services to your company's repertoire of offerings. Learning what services will be profitable and aligned with your core skills is essential when considering adding something new on the menu for your customers. Will discusses how he added roofing coatings, gutters, and other services to his painting company, and he shares lessons he learned along the way to save you the pain of misaligned services and misdirected efforts. 

    Getting Your Marketing Back on Track with Brandon Pierpont

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 35:23


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we are joined by Brandon Pierpont of Painter Marketing Pros to talk about how trades businesses often go off track in their marketing, spending large amounts of money but getting very little in return. Brandon discusses simple steps businesses can take to get marketing back on track and pointed in the right direction. There is no easy button in marketing, but there are processes that can help ensure you're not spending your budget on empty promises. Learn more about Painter Marketing Pros here.

    Training as an Investment with Fred Kulik

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 25:09


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we are joined by the Customer Success lead at Estimate Rocket, Fred Kulik, who talks with us about the kind of investment that training ought to be in every company. It takes time, money, and intention to carve out time for the proper amount of training in a company, but that investment multiplies the efficiency and profitability of teams. If this is true, why don't more companies spend more time bringing their team members up to speed on methods and technology? We chat about the reasons many companies lose sight of the importance and power of proper training, and we discuss ways to get back on track!Click here to learn more about Estimate Rocket's User Conference: Accelerated Team Training!

    Building Winter Backlog with Jim McBrayer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 24:53


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we are joined by Jim McBrayer of McBrayer and Associates to discuss strategies for keeping the winter backlog full and flowing! We discuss ways to creatively plan for slow seasons, and we spend time analyzing sales processes that keep people engaged. "VBR" is a term you should know by the end of this podcast so you can get more business and keep solving customers' problems no matter what time of the year it is.

    The Every-Contractor's Guide to Estimating (Part 2)

    Play Episode Play 31 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 15:12


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors, Tom Droste of Estimate Rocket share a presentation in two parts on the fundamentals of proper estimating that every trade contractor should understand to stay efficient and profitable. In this part 2 of the presentation, Tom discusses sales strategies, pricing models, production rates, best practices, and more. This is part 2 of a 2-part series. If you haven't listened to part 1, you might want to go back an episode and get caught up!Check out the full video here.Get the Estimating Best Practices Checklist here.Get the What If Planning Tool here.

    The Every-Contractor's Guide to Estimating (Part 1)

    Play Episode Play 19 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 26:52


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors, Tom Droste of Estimate Rocket share a presentation in two parts on the fundamentals of proper estimating that every trade contractor should understand to stay efficient and profitable. Tom discusses production rates, accurate measurements, labor and material tracking, job costing, pricing, training new estimators, software applications, and more. This is part 1 of a 2-part series. Check out the full video here.Get the Estimating Best Practices Checklist here.Get the What If Planning Tool here.

    Delegating that Doesn't Blow up in Your Face with Corwin Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 31:31


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors, Corwin Smith of Culture To Cash joins us to talk about why business leaders find delegating so difficult, and why efforts to start delegating often wind up ineffective. If you can't let go of what you're not good at and learn to delegate, you inevitably limit your team's growth, and frustration will negatively impact bottom line revenue and company culture. Corwin discusses barriers to understanding the need for delegation, and practical ways leadership can start developing criteria to rate their readiness to delegate specific tasks to qualified employees.Learn more about Culture To Cash!

    Champion-Level Process for Sales and Job Management with Nick May and Stacia Newton

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 40:33


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors, we are joined by Nick May of Walls By Design and Stacia Newton of Paper Moon Painting. Nick and Stacia are champion sales and job management process creators and we discuss pro tips that empower efficiency and profitability in business, covering topics like client communication, sales funnels, work order distribution, virtual assistants, team coordination, sales seasonality...and more!Nick and Stacia will both be presenting at the  Accelerated Team Training Conference for Estimate Rocket software users  on January 18-19. Register here.Also, check out the link for Virtual Assistants  Nick May referred to in the podcast.

    Estimating and Job Management Tech with Nick Slavik and Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 55:40


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors, we re-share a conversation by Nick Slavik, host of Ask A Painter LIVE, and Tom Droste, Founder/CEO of Estimate Rocket. Nick and Tom's conversation originally aired on Ask A Painter LIVE and they covered topics ranging from job management technology and future economic challenges, to sales process,  customer service, and more. These two big brains sift through some of the hottest subjects being discussed in contractor circles, and they offer their perspective on how trade contractors can continue to improve efficiency and increase profitability in any economic environment. You can find Ask A Painter on Facebook and Instagram every week!

    Finding Bandwidth to Innovate and Elevate Your Industry with Tony Margani

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 31:32


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we chat with Tony Margani from Nubilis about the ability of trade contractors to innovate within their company while simultaneously elevating their trade with products and services that make the world a better place. Not everyone is able to create world-changing products while staying profitable in their business, but Tony suggests that passion for one's trade will lead to the discovery of adjacent passions and opportunities that allows one to expand into new interests that could have a more global impact. The product Tony's team created connects innovation to sustainability through controlling Tio2 by using 66% less Tio2 than traditional products. We chat about the progress Tony and his team has made in paint chemistry that pairs efficiency with eco-friendliness, and we discuss the bandwidth needed to balance innovation and elevation. See Tony's article in the December issue of In Paint magazine!Learn more about Nubilis here.

    The Be-Look-Attract Marketing Strategy with Logan Shinholser

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 38:57


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors we are joined by Logan Shinholser of the Contractor Growth Network to talk about what trade businesses can do to build a more cohesive and compelling marketing plan. Many companies want to jump straight to the "attraction" phase of marketing strategy, but Logan discusses reasons why service quality and powerful branding form the foundation for any successful marketing strategy. Getting the Be-Look-Attract sequence out-of-order can have disastrous consequences for your company and can waste a LOT of time and money. Learn how to give the right attention to the right phase of marketing and you'll super-charge your strategy!Learn more about the Contractor Growth Network here!

    strategy attract marketing strategies contractor growth network
    The ONE DOOR to Customer Service with David Lord

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 35:31


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors, David Lord from Nexa joins us to talk about how phone calls can be the most important step--and the first!--to a positive customer experience. We talk about why some businesses don't value call services, how affordable call companies have become, and how call services can help a company improve customer reviews. Every company learning to capture leads and create raving fans from the first interaction needs to listen and take notes!Learn more about Nexa call services at www.nexa.com

    Project Performance Reviews with Nick Slavik

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 27:26


    On this episode of Rocket Your Business, Nick Slavik from Ask A Painter joins us to talk about the types of project and performance reviews that reveal trends and improvement opportunities. Every project review is inevitably impacted by employee  performance, and Nick talks about how his company, Nick Slavik Painting and Restoration, schedules project performance AND personell performance reviews. We also talk about the 'above-the-line' and 'below-the-line' method of identifying work attitudes that impact performance and team culture. Check out Nick's Ask A Painter show!

    Complex but not Complicated with Splash

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2023 47:47


    We are celebrating the launch of our new podcast name and logo, Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors! New name, same great business growth education!On this episode of Rocket Your Business we are joined by Splash from Blue Collar Tribe to talk about how businesses can scale without alienating their employees, dipping in customer service, or losing profit margin. Complexity is a great thing, but when it gets complicated it's time for leadership to decide to slow down hyper-expansion or...the dreaded idea...scale down.

    Phone Answering for Pros with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 30:48


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio--soon to be Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors!--Tom Droste, CEO/Founder of Estimate Rocket, joins us to talk about the importance of professional phone answering services. How your company answers the phone--or doesn't!--can reveal a lot about your sales process efficiency and growth potential. This seemingly small part of sales and customer service is the foundation for everything that happens after that first call. Learn how other companies are planning their call answering to remain efficient AND effective. Download the free What If planning tool here!

    The Right Way to Grow with Nick May

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 56:18


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio (soon to be rebranded as Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors!) we are joined by Nick May of Walls By Design to talk about industry influence on every trade contractor to scale their business at all costs. But is this the right way to grow your company? Nick discusses ways business owners can target new growth without sacrificing the integrity of positive team culture, healthy profit margins, or ....time! Don't grow your business into a time and money prison. Keep your customers happy and grow sustainably without sacrificing quality by focus on the right criteria. Use this checklist to assess your level of project success and customer satisfaction!Did you start the project on time? Was the project completed without the owner being on-site painting? Was the project completed without any problems?Did the project end when you expected it in the hours that you expected it?Did you receive a sign off on the project before your team left?Did your customer hear about you from a referral?Did you get paid at the end of the project the same day you finished? Did you get a five-star review on Google? Did you do job costing?Did you achieve 50% gross profit or better?

    5 Years is the New 10 with Jason Paris

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 35:38


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Jason Paris of Paris Painting and Aleph Holdings joins us to talk about business growth and leveraging leadership skills to realize new expansion. Trade businesses can experience accelerated change in the current economy, and long-range goals that used to take 10 years to actualize can now often be reached in 5 years! We discuss why some business leaders bump their heads on skill ceilings where further growth requires new specialists with new skills. Being a generalist is great for starting a company, but it can be an impediment if specialists aren't brought it to advance the systems. You can't do everything on your own, but you can build the right team who can do everything you need to reach your goals!

    trade jason paris paris painting
    Getting Into Commercial with Scott Lollar

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 31:27


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Scott Lollar of Consulting 4 Contractors talks with us about how businesses can start taking on more commercial work to get bigger projects and to even out the peaks and valleys of cash flow. Thinking about getting into commercial but you're not sure of the steps you need to take to get your feet wet? Scott is a guide to the world of commercial for contractors in any growth stage. Check out this free self-assessment that will help you gauge your company's readiness to break into commercial work! Learn more about Consulting 4 Contractors.

    Pros and Cons of Sign-on-the-Spot with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 30:09


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio (soon to be Rocket Your Business for Trade Contractors!), we are joined by the CEO and Founder of Estimate Rocket, Tom Droste who shares ways a sign-on-the-spot option can help sales people close more sales. This may not be an option for every business, but if your company has the tools and opportunity for sign-on-the-spot offering, you'll want to explore it's application in your sales process. Tom discusses tools that power this option, as well as sales techniques that go hand-in-hand with the ability to close deals fast.

    Sales Process for Pros with David Reed

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 45:24


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, David Reed from Sales Transformation Group (STG) joins us to talk about the systems that the best professionals use to generate more leads and to train their team on sales processes that close more deals. We discuss generate more qualified leads, challenges contractors face the sales process, standards leaders need to set for their organization, and metrics owners/leaders be training on. Estimate Rocket is sponsoring the Transform Conference coming up soon, and we'd love to see you there! Learn more here.

    Bringing on an Operations Director with Zach Kenney

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 20:51


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we talk with Zach Kenney of ZK Painting to talk about how he hired an Operations Director at his company so he could get out of the business and work ON the business as the president. We discuss how business owners can know when it's the right time to hand operations over to someone else, and methods to hire and train that speed up the stabilizing process that soon follows. Zach reveals the ONE THING that contractors can do to help get your business to the next level of strategic growth. Learn more about ZK Finishing School!

    Team Meetings that Improve Accountability with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 25:53


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Tom Droste joins us to discuss how company team meetings can be structure in a way that supports great accountability without killing motivation. Are your team meetings viewed by your team as helpful, efficient, and empowering? It may take some time to get there, but your meetings can positively define your company culture! We chat about meeting type, meeting frequency,  content, follow-ups, and more.

    Hiring Sales Teams with Ryan Groth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 31:03


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Ryan Groth of Sales Transformation Group (STG) to talk about hiring and training sales teams. We discuss the type of company culture that is designed to attract and retain the best sales people, and incentives that keep everyone achieving their best and staying sharp.We are excited to be a part of STG's Transform Conference in September. We'd love to see you there. Check it out here!

    Increasing Profit During Challenging Times with Brandon Lewis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 41:25


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket radio we talk with Brandon Lewis of The Painters Academy about what contractors should be doing during challenging economic times that will not only save their business, but also bring them profitable growth. Hint: it does NOT involve lowering your prices! Brandon gives tips on how to find more leads, how to close more leads, how to make those leads more profitable, and most importantly...how to nurture the leads and clients you already have! If you want better business, Brandon Lewis can show you the way!Learn more about The Painters Academy and the soon to be announced Painting Profit Summit at paintersacademy.com.

    Getting to $5MM with Tom Reber and Neil Kristianson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2023 47:29


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Tom Reber and Neil Kristianson of The Contractor Fight to discuss how contractors in any trade can break through the barriers of making $5MM in revenue. We learn that the questions of "how can I get to $5MM" is often premature and could even be destructive if your business has not mastered the basics and become truly profitable already. We discuss ways that contractors can safely plan to scale their business by increasing net profit, improving customer service, building up high-performing teams, and doing less of the wrong things while doing more of the right things.Learn more about The Contractor Fight and the Mile High Profit Summit. We'd love to see you there!

    Getting Through the Slog with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 26:22


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Tom Droste--CEO of Estimate Rocket--joins us to talk about that stage in the life of a business that everyone dreads: The Slog. Every business journey reaches plateaus that are long and tiring to cross. These are times when growth is slow, work is tedious, and company goals still seem miles away even after big team pushes. What should businesses be doing to navigate these slogs and how can leaders keep their teams motivated? Tom's answer: paddle! Good planning can help avoid prolonged struggle, but there are keys to helping everyone stay positive while progress is continually made...one step at a time!

    slog droste estimate rocket
    Sales Planning and Course Correction with Brandon Lewis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 40:22


    Estimate Rocket is celebrating 100 podcasts! For June, we're replaying some of our top episodes from the last 100...in case you missed them.Here's #4.On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we talk with the always thought-provoking Brandon Lewis of the Painters Academy. Brandon helps his clients build sales and marketing systems that plug in the right numbers to set the right goals in planning. He doesn't pull any punches when he exposes weak strategies that cause contractors to waste their time! Brandon always shoots straight with people about the kind of consistency, hard work, and simple calculations that can set their business on the right track and get the kind of results that make business worthwhile. It's also a plus that he helps his clients understand the value of using a sales enablement system like Estimate Rocket to execute on big  yearly goals in sales and profit planning.Learn more about The Academy for Professional Painting Contractors at https://www.paintersacademy.com/.

    The Evolution of Commercial Painting with Mike Stanley and Aaron Moore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 24:22


    Estimate Rocket is celebrating 100 podcasts! For June, we're replaying some of our top episodes from the last 100...in case you missed them.Here's #3.On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we talk with Mike Stanley and Aaron Moore about the state of Commercial Painting and how commercial contractors are pushing the industry forward. Mike and Aaron discuss barriers to entering into commercial work, opportunities for contractors crossing over from the residential sector, and new growth potential in the current economic landscape.The CPIA Leadership Conference is almost here! If you're a commercial contractor you'll want to register asap. Estimate Rocket will be one of the proud sponsors of the event! To learn more visit TheCPIA.com

    Selling Wonder over Work with Torlando Hakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 40:22


    Estimate Rocket is celebrating 100 podcasts! For June, we're replaying some of our top episodes from the last 100...in case you missed them. Here's #2.On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Torlando "The Economist" Hakes and we discuss a point system that he developed to help contractors estimate accurately and quickly without waste. Torlando makes the case that too often contractors are charging by labor hours which signal to the customer the value of the project is in the time and work of painters instead of in the final product of a wonderful, beautiful home. Learn to sell wonder over work!Learn more about Torlando and get his point system here!

    Fearless Bidding and Job-Costing with Nick Slavik

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 25:17


    Estimate Rocket is celebrating 100 podcasts! For June, we're replaying some of our top episodes from the last 100...in case you missed them. Here's #1.On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Nick Slavik of Ask A Painter and Nick Slavik Painting and Restoration joins us to talk about new revelations about estimating and job costing that can help launch contractors into next-level growth. Owners and estimators are in need of quick and easy estimating that makes for a super-simple process for both customer and contractor that correctly assesses work, plans profitable margins, and delivers high quality. Nick discusses  new methods that can help get business owners out of the dreaded 96% of businesses that never get past $1M in revenue and have less than 10 employees.Find Ask A Painter at facebook.com/askapainter

    Adapting to Tech Change with Fred Kulik

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 21:09


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Fred Kulik, the head of Customer Success at ER, to talk about technology changes that every company must navigate, and best practices for fast team adoption and adaptation. As AI moves in to almost every sphere of business, it is becoming more and more imperative that teams learn to adopt and adapt efficiently. A lot of time and money is wasted on not being prepared. We talk about the best ways to carve out time and prepare for upcoming Change with minimal fear and stress.  Becoming a smart, tech-powered company is the only way to stay ahead of the competition and to stay on the evolving edge of operational efficiency.

    100th Episode: Managing Backlog, Numbers, Uncertainty, and Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 39:37


    Celebrate 100 episodes of Estimate Rocket Radio with us! On this episode we discuss insights gathered from 100 episodes of discussion on business management and growth. We look back on some of the most profound moments of podcasting and chat about the BIG FOUR themes that kept emerging: Backlog, Knowing Your Numbers, Managing Uncertainty, and Managing Chaos. Let us know what you want to hear in the future! We're always open to suggestions for new guests.

    "Okay to Grow" Using Advanced Project Management with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 24:32


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by CEO and Founder of Estimate Rocket, Tom Droste, to talk about a subject every good contractor wrestles with at some stage in their business growth--advanced project management. With more money and more people come more problems, but problem-solving tools and processes should also evolve to balanced out complex project management. Knowing it's "okay to grow" is the confidence that your backlog, technology, communication, documentation, and reporting is right where it needs to be to tackle the next challenge and move into the future. 

    ceo founders droste estimate rocket advanced project management
    Backlog that Powers Growth with Jim McBrayer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 26:38


    On this episdode of Estimate Rocket we are joined by Jim McBrayer of McBrayer and Associates to discuss the importance of backlog in business business. Jim says that backlog is the best predictor of the near future in profit and sales, and that backlog should be 70% of a company's annual volume! We chat about the differences between backlog and pipeline, and identify predictors that help you plan hiring and expansion more confidently into the future. Jim is an EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) expert and regularly helps business engineer more healthy backlogs with low risk and high return.Learn more about Jim McBrayer and McBrayer and Associates at mcbrayerandassociates.com.

    Communication Into Documentation with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 19:08


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we talk with Tom Droste about the necessity of good communication and documentation in growing companies. Tom gives insight into a process that makes documentation easier and a daily activity that doesn't become a mountain of "task debt" to be accomplished at the end of weeks and months. The first step to good documentation is saving your communication! Learn about the tools available to help you improve.

    Confidence to the Core with Manny Navarrete

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 33:58


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, we talk with Manny Navarrete of Priority Painting Services about the mind-body connection that influences  confidence, and can ultimately impact sales and management. New research in fat burning and weight loss may help contractors stay healthy, even for those on a very busy schedule that little time for the gym. We discuss ways business owners can increase their confidence in the sales process and personell management while improving health that ensures long-term energy and business success. Oh...and diets are off the table!Notes to Obesity Code.

    Scheduling Without Brain-Hurt with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 15:40


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Tom Droste, Founder and CEO of Estimate Rocket, to discuss the type of scheduling that doesn't cause neurological pain! How is it that scheduling is such a nightmare for contractors as they grow their business, and why does seem to haunt businesses at every new stage of growth? We chat about where scheduling actually starts in the life of a project, where it goes wrong, and a few keys to getting it right.

    Selling Wonder over Work with Torlando Hakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 33:05


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Torlando "The Economist" Hakes and we discuss a point system that he developed to help contractors estimate accurately and quickly without waste. Torlando makes the case that too often contractors are charging by labor hours which signal to the customer the value of the project is in the time and work of painters instead of in the final product of a wonderful, beautiful home. Learn to sell wonder over work!Learn more about Torlando and get his point system here!

    Fearless Bidding and Job-Costing with Nick Slavik

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 25:17


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Nick Slavik of Ask A Painter and Nick Slavik Painting and Restoration joins us to talk about new revelations about estimating and job costing that can help launch contractors into next-level growth. Owners and estimators are in need of quick and easy estimating that makes for a super-simple process for both customer and contractor that correctly assesses work, plans profitable margins, and delivers high quality. Nick discusses  new methods that can help get business owners out of the dreaded 96% of businesses that never get past $1M in revenue and have less than 10 employees.Find Ask A Painter at facebook.com/askapainter

    To-Do Checklists that Reduce Chaos with Tom Droste

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 20:18


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Tom Droste, founder and CEO of Estimate Rocket software, to discuss the benefits of to-do tasks and checklists for employees. Supervisors and employees have too much to keep in their heads at any given time, and the problem of retention is only amplified by complexity. Once details start slipping, projects run over in time or expenses, or suffer in quality of work. The chaos that mounts as a result of basic forgetfulness or lack of organization can overwhelm even the most competent production manager. So much chaos is master by simple lists. Learn more about Estimate Rocket's new To-Do task lists in it's job management software!

    Leading with Empathy AND Effectiveness with Splash

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 37:57


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio we are joined by Splash of The Blue Collar Tribe podcast to continue our series of talks about the type of leadership that is both empathetic AND effective for managing in the trades. The tightrope between "bud" and "boss" can often be difficult to walk, especially in light of popular leadership gurus that sometimes confuse niceness with goodness, but there is a way to treat your team like family while also holding people accountable to complete tasks and increase in skill level. Splash isn't here to "should" on you, but he does drop some truth bombs about leading with care and integrity that should become canon for effective management principles.Find Splash and his podcast, Blue Collar Tribe Podcast, on any podcast app, or here. 

    Team Training and Improvement with Lacie and Austin Ilsley

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 29:53


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, we are joined by Lacie and Austin Ilsley from Ai Painting Plus to talk about Team Training and Individual Improvement Plans that actually work. Lacie and Austin pride themselves in aligning their company goals to account for and include the individual goals of their employees--this is the only way to keep everyone moving in the same direction. We talk about performance reviews, individual improvement plans, and cognitive flow maps that help teams develop new skills together and form common goals to keep everyone on the same page.Learn more about Nolan Consulting Group and Situational Leadership!Check out the free Besting For Leaders and Besting For Teams.

    Communication That Gets Results with Tom Reber (Part 2)

    Play Episode Play 23 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 21:20


    In this second part of a two part episode series on Estimate Rocket Radio, we are joined by Tom Reber of The Contractor Fight to talk about the type of team communication that gets results. Tom says that the Mission of your company doesn't care how you feel, but managers do! If managers are to speak in a way that drives results, they need to show employees what's "in it for them" and they need to model the type of discipline they are requiring. Check out Part 1 to get caught up!To get Tom's book for free, go to TheContractorFight.com

    Communication That Gets Results with Tom Reber (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 24:37


    In this first part of a two part episode series on Estimate Rocket Radio, we are joined by Tom Reber of The Contractor Fight to talk about the type of team communication that gets results. Tom believes that everyone walks around with an invisible sign that reads, "Make me feel important." If managers are to speak in a way that drives results, they need to show employees what's "in it for them" and they need to model the type of discipline they are requiring. Part 2 will be posted next week!To get Tom's book for free, go to TheContractorFight.com

    Pre-qualification that Makes Money and Builds Fans with Jeff Wraley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 18:52


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket we are joined by Jeff Wraley of Groundwork to talk about a major pain-point of contractors that we don't talk enough about: pre-qualifying leads. Tire-kickers are the bane of every sales process, and reducing wasted time on dead-end leads can drastically increase your bottom line. Jeff talks with us about how a strong pre-qualification process can not only help bring in the right customers, but can also create a great foundation for more efficient project management and smooth customer relationships long after the sale.Learn more about Groundwork at hellogroundwork.com

    Escaping Contractor Prison with Jason Phillips

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 31:37


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio Jason Phillips of Phillips Home Improvements joins us to talk about Contractor Prison: how do contractors get in it, and how do contractors get out? Jason discusses the type of leadership development and team training that allows companies to create teams with systems that allow "average people to achieve extraordinary results." Jason is a trusted thought leader in the contractor community, and his ideas are starting to turn heads across industries and businesses grapple with the labor shortage and search for ways to create company culture that supercharges team effectiveness.  Learn more about Jason Phillips at jasonwphillips.bio

    Building the Perfect Sales Person with Ryan Groth and Jamie Schmidt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 40:34


    On this episode of Estimate Rocket Radio, Ryan Groth and Jamie Schmidt join us from STG—Sales Transformation Group—to talk about how sales teams develop and what they need to communicate effectively. A sales team needs sophisticated people that use sophisticated tools, and this is achieved when training is focused on developing right behaviors before the proper skills and tools. Ryan and Jamie talk about the type of coaching STG uses to create a culture of trust and growth for sales teams that often are missed in rapid business growth. Learn more about STG at salestransformationgroup.comLearn more about Estimate Rocket's new team communication tools here.

    Estimate Rocket Evolution for 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 22:25


    Join us for our annual recap of what is new and what's coming at Estimate Rocket! Learn about new power-up features, our evolving customer base, and resources available to help your team get better and your profits get bigger!Check out the full Estimate Rocket Evolution webinar on Thursday, January 19, 2 pm ET. Bring your questions and learn what's new that you may have missed!Register for Evolution here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8102684243069364055

    evolution register estimate rocket

    Claim Estimate Rocket Radio

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel