Podcasts about remodeling

Cathy and Todd discuss Why Heated Rivalry Matters, digging into why this hockey romance has become such a cultural lightning rod and emotional touchstone. They talk about Rachel Reid's novel and the TV adaptation, but mostly they focus on what's really happening alongside the sex scenes: two very different expressions of masculinity learning how to coexist without hierarchy, punishment, or performance. The conversation moves from the slow-burn relationship between Shane and Ilya to why so many women, queer viewers, and romance fans trust this story and feel oddly comforted by it. They explore how the show models emotional safety, real repair, and power that doesn't turn into harm, and why that feels rare right now. It's a mix of pop culture, psychology, and cultural reckoning about intimacy, vulnerability, and what people are longing for in relationships today. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

Leading Into 2026: Executive Pastor Insights Momentum is real. So is the pressure. This free report draws from the largest dedicated survey of Executive Pastors ever, revealing what leaders are actually facing as they prepare for 2026. Why staff health is the #1 pressure point Where churches feel hopeful — and stretched thin What worked in 2025 and is worth repeating Clear decision filters for the year ahead Download the Full Report Free PDF • Built for Executive Pastors • Instant access Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're continuing our special series responding to insights from the National Executive Pastor Survey with an executive pastor from a prevailing church. Today we're joined by Eric Garza, Executive Pastor at Cross Church. Cross Church is one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, with 12 campuses across South Texas, serving both English- and Spanish-speaking congregations. In this conversation, Eric helps unpack the number-one fear expressed by executive pastors in the survey: running out of space and not knowing what to do next. Is your church growing but feeling physically constrained? Are facilities, kids' space, or parking holding you back from what God may want to do next? Eric offers practical, hard-earned wisdom from leading through rapid multisite expansion. Facilities don't just limit space—they shape momentum. // At Cross Church, growth has come through both campus planting and mergers or acquisitions of existing churches. In both cases, facilities either enable momentum or quietly choke it. Sustainable space must support all aspects of ministry—not just a worship room. Parking, kids' environments, lobbies, restrooms, storage, and office space all play a role. A building that works on paper can quickly fail if it can't support the full weekend experience. Don't rush into permanence. // One of Eric's strongest recommendations is to resist the pressure to own a building too early. Several Cross campuses began in leased spaces, which reduced operational burden and allowed the church to test viability without long-term risk. Leasing removes concerns like insurance, major maintenance, and long-term liability, freeing leaders to focus on ministry. If a campus stalls or misses the mark, leaders can pivot without being locked into a costly asset. Location matters more than you think. // Some facility lessons are learned the hard way. Eric humorously—but seriously—warns against launching next to railroad tracks or industrial zones. Visiting a facility during a Sunday morning timeframe is essential. Noise, safety, curb appeal, and accessibility all influence guest experience. Cross has launched campuses in libraries and event centers, learning to adapt acoustics and layouts while prioritizing safety and hospitality. Capital campaigns need margin. // Eric is candid about capital campaigns. Churches often believe in faith for a number that rarely materializes at full scale, especially since capital giving sits above normal tithes. Meanwhile, construction costs almost always rise. Cross learned the hard way that campaign timelines and construction timelines rarely align. Building 10–15% margin into every campaign accounts for inflation, surprises, and delays. If surplus remains, it becomes a testimony of generosity rather than a crisis averted. Remodeling vs. rebuilding requires sober math. // Acquiring an existing building can be a gift—or a trap. Before knocking down walls, Eric urges leaders to get third-party inspections and cost estimates. Some remodels quietly approach the cost of new construction while delivering less functionality. Evaluate whether a building should serve as a long-term campus, a ministry center, or even collateral for future development. Sometimes the wisest move is not to hold services there at all. Define a clear facility standard. // Over time, Cross Church developed a consistent “Cross standard” across campuses—shared color palettes, stage layouts, kids' safety ratios, and ministry flow. While floor plans differ, the experience feels familiar. This standard helps teams evaluate remodels quickly and ensures families know what to expect. It also clarifies where compromise is acceptable and where it's not. When space is tight, simplify strategically. // Not every constraint requires construction. Cross has increased capacity by adding services, adjusting service times, and consolidating kids' age groups when space is limited. Combining grades temporarily doesn't dilute quality—it preserves momentum. Eric defines excellence not as “having the best,” but “doing the best with what you have.” Obstacles are reframed as opportunities to steward growth faithfully. Communicate the season clearly. // Your people can endure inconvenience when they understand the why. Leaders don't need to share every detail, but they should frame facility strain as evidence of impact, not failure. Clear vision keeps people focused on mission rather than discomfort. To learn more about Cross Church, visit crosschurchonline.com or follow @crosschurchrgv on social media. You can also connect with Eric directly on social media at @ericpgarza. Watch the full episode below: Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com/unseminary and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you have decided to tune in. We are in the middle of, in the in the midst of, is maybe a better way to say, these special set of podcasts where we’re responding to what you said in the National Executive Pastor Survey, which turned out to be the largest dedicated or direct executive pastor survey that we’re aware of ever, which is kind of cool. And hundreds of people were you know, logged in and told, gave us a sense of where ministry is at. And what we’ve been doing is spending time with an executive pastor from a prevailing church, and frankly, people I like, to get their ah thoughts on kind of what was surfaced. Rich Birch — And today we’ve got a big one. This is a significant issue. In fact, it was the single biggest fear that was expressed. We asked a question around, what’s your kind of biggest fear for this year? And nearly one in five executive pastors expressed fear about this. And what is that fear? It’s the whole issue of our facilities, space, capital projects, that sort of thing. Many churches are running out of kids space, parking, seating, lobby capacity. Rich Birch — You know, we’re all worried about in inflation of construction costs. If you got a building quoted on five years ago, you’re going to want to get it quoted on again, you know, renovation, building, all of this stuff. And, you know, we’re excited to have ah today a return guest, Eric Garza with us. He is from a fantastic church, Cross Church, which is located in Texas. It’s one of the fastest growing churches of ah in the country, and they have 12 campuses, if I’m counting correctly. So Eric has thought about facilities and so excited to have you back on the show, Eric. Thanks for being here.Eric Garza — Rich, thanks for having me back. Good to have an opportunity to have a great conversation about a big topic for a lot of pastors and executives across the country. Yeah.Rich Birch — Well, you’re going to solve all our problems for us today, Eric. So.Eric Garza — It’s just some nuggets of what I’ve learned and experienced. But if I can make your life and your world a little bit better, awesome.Rich Birch — That’s great. That’s good. Kind of tell us a little bit about Cross again, kind of set the context, you know, give us a bit of sense of the the church.Eric Garza — Yeah, so we’re in deep south Texas. Most of our campuses are within a half hour north of the US-Mexico border. So right at the bottom of the tip of Texas. 30 years going on 31 years as a ministry. In the last eight years, we went from one site ah to now seven locations, physical locations and 12 campuses.Eric Garza — We’re a bilingual ministry, which means we do we have English campuses and we have Spanish campuses. And we recently, last year in 2025, launched our first campus outside of our region in San Antonio, Texas. Rich Birch — Love it.Eric Garza — And you can imagine a lot of ah victories and a lot of challenges, ah you know leaving your space, your comfort area, the region where you’ve been, for 30 years and then heading out and venturing off into what we believe God called us to do in in Central Texas.Eric Garza — So ah just phenomenal growth. We’ve seen God’s hand up on our ministry and it’s come with, ah like I said, a lot of wins and a lot of challenges we’ve had to navigate. And being a a predominantly Hispanic ministry that reaches both English congregants and Spanish congregants, dealing with cultural, political issues in our region of the country ah has just been a whirlwind. But as anybody could imagine, it’s been a big learning season for us for expansion. You know, I know we’re talking about facilities going from one side to multisite and all of that that entails operationally, logistically, financially. So I wouldn’t say we know it all. We certainly don’t if we’re always learning. But man, if if we can just impart any wisdom, we’re we’re all for that.Rich Birch — Love it. Well, I would say I actually re-looked at a lot of these fears. And the overall tone, if you were to kind of summarize the the conversation that people seem to be expressing is like, there’s this sense from a lot of executive pastors, listen, our ministry could grow, but our space, frankly, is holding us back. And we’re not entirely sure what the path forward is. It’s like, we we see the physical space issues, but I’m not sure where to go from here. So I’d love to jump right in. Eric Garza — Sure.Rich Birch — How have you, as you’ve looked at your seven physical locations, 12 campuses, how do you evaluate facility limitations? And are they the things that are actually restricting growth or does the issue lie somewhere else? How do you, how are you discerning that when you look at, you know, this, this whole issue?Eric Garza — Yeah, a lot of our of our growth has come from us planting campuses, but some of our growth has come from, I guess, what the corporate world calls mergers and acquisitions, where we’ve merged or really acquired other ministries who either had an existing facility that we took over. Or where we partnered with them through the acquisition and launched a campus in a new building or a new facility.Eric Garza — So some of the things that we’ve done is, there’s a whole process, right, that that it’s entailed with going multisite. And one of those big key indicators of whether the campus or the church plant is going to succeed is whether they have a sustainable facility that can house all aspects of the ministry. And sometimes that can be difficult to find.Eric Garza — For example, you don’t just want meeting space to have services, right? You need maybe an office space, you need childcare space, you need a meeting space, you need lobby, restrooms, you need adequate parking. And all of those factors come into play when you’re looking to find the right spaces. So for us, We’ve just been blessed that ah either we’ve have you know gone through the capital campaigns, we’ve gone through the funding, the you know internal funding to build new facilities, or the acquisition that we’ve ah done over the last couple of years already had an existing facility, which is a plus. Because instead of building, we just went into a remodel phase to bring that building up to what we would call our Cross-standard to house our campus and facility. And so I mean it’s It’s a holistic approach. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah.Eric Garza — You look at parking, kids space. What you don’t want to do and what what we’ve run into in the past, is it’s okay to to launch with limited space, but if you’re launching and you already have a couple of hundred people that are gathered, you’re going to want to find a space that’s going to give you ample room to have one or two services without having to crunch yourself in the short term. And it’s going to, in in in a larger sense, going to really facilitate some challenge and some angst and frustrations early on. And you want to minimize as much of that, especially when you’re when you’re launching and you’re setting out to start a new campus or a new church.Rich Birch — Yeah, so that’s one of those kind of pinch points would be too small, right? Like I’m assuming you’ve ended up in facilities where it’s like, okay, this is this just frankly is too small. Eric Garza — It’s not going to work. Rich Birch — And so we’ve got to, it’s not going to work. We’re going have to start with three services and that, you know, or something like that. Or we’ll start with two and we’ll be pinched too quickly. Are there any other kind of tripwires that you’ve run into that are like, oh, like it might be great on these five things, but this, these, if it’s not these two or three, if these aren’t right, we were not going in there. Are there any other things to get to, as you said, a sustainable facility? Are there any kind of big no-nos that you’ve bumped into, or maybe you wish you knew before? Yeah. Tell me about that.Eric Garza — Yeah, a couple of things. Number one is don’t ah start a church next to the railroad tracks. That may sound a little funny.Rich Birch — No, tell me more.Eric Garza — You never know that during your Sunday morning message at your 10 o’clock service, roughly about 10:40 a.m., this train… Rich Birch — Oh, gosh. Eric Garza — …who’s two or three blocks away is going to come blaring out ah and just completely disrupt your sound and and your service and your message for a few minutes. So it may sound comical, but ah yeah, definitely don’t do that. Right.Rich Birch — No, that’s very good.Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — That’s well, and even going and seeing, that’s a great takeaway because even going and seeing the facility during a Sunday morning, like, cause you wouldn’t know that if you’re there to just Tuesday afternoon or something, you would have no sense of that. Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — But, but cause it might be a train, but there’s, I could see lots of things where.Eric Garza — Trains are not confined to Monday through Friday.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.Eric Garza — They’re there every day as they need. And so you just you just never know. That has to happen a couple of times, and it’s incredibly frustrating. Rich Birch — Yeah. That’s interesting. That’s good.Eric Garza — And so you play it off the middle of the service, but man, it can it can mess it could mess with some stuff. The second thing I would say is is this when looking for a facility. There’s obviously some innate some internal perhaps pressure or self-imposed pressure as a pastor or an executive to want to get into a permanent facility right away.Eric Garza — One of the things that helped us early on with with a couple of our campuses is we actually rented. And here’s the benefit of renting or leasing, even for a year or two, as you grow that site is number one, you’re not worried about insurance, right? You’re not worried about lawsuits. You’re not worried about maintenance or you’re paying for that, right? But there’s a lot that you minimize when it comes to overloading your mind and your brain about what you have to handle.Rich Birch — Yep. Eric Garza — Alright. And so you pay a fee, but the building’s clean when you come in. And right after you set, you know, you tear down your equipment for the service in your kids area, you don’t have to worry about that because you’re leasing a space. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Eric Garza — And so if you can minimize, like I said, as much of the overload of operations and facilities on the front end, that’s that’s a great a great thing. And most spaces, right, what we did early on is if we had an event center where we would rent the main auditorium uh we would use conference rooms or or multi-purpose room for child care. We would safe proof them, right – all of our protocols in place. But that’s what we would do early on, and it would give us a chance to test and gather some data. Rich Birch — That’s so good.Eric Garza — Is this going to work long term? Right. Number one, we don’t believe we missed God. But if after a couple of years, this isn’t going anywhere. Well, thank God we didn’t buy a building… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …because now we’re you know up a creek without a paddle, as they say. And so leasing is not is not an entirely bad idea on the early outset.Rich Birch — No, that’s great.Eric Garza — But definitely the neighborhood that you’re in, right beside the town that you’re in, you want to be in a centrally as centrally as you can, centrally located as you can, and and not next to a railroad track or any industry or warehouses where there’s going to be trucks, just for safety concerns, for the curbside appeal. And so that’s why public libraries or where we had actually launched started campuses was at a public library – acoustic set because we couldn’t be so loud. So all of those facility concerns are are really things you want to keep in mind.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. I love the idea of the rental on the front end. What a great way to, it’s good use of capital. It’s a good, you know, it it gives you a chance to test… Eric Garza — Yeah. Rich Birch — …even if you stay for a couple of years, that’s, you know, that’s fantastic. So you’ve been through multiple, you know, capital campaigns, this whole process of like, we’ve got to raise money and then get a facility renovated or, you know, you know, expanded or whatever. Rich Birch — What, what do you wish you would have known before all that? Well, are there a couple like things that either, you know, you stumbled upon, you stubbed your toe or you wish, man, I wish somebody would have told me this. Are there any things that stand out to you?Eric Garza — Number, I think the first one is this. You have an you have a number in your mind, and you of course you believe God for it. It…Rich Birch — And it’s lower. It’s going to come in lower every time.Eric Garza — …it is. Every single, unless God does a miracle, which he is more than able to do… Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Garza — …it’s going to come in lower. And so I think have have high anticipation but realistic expectations… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …because most capital campaigns are campaigns that are above normal giving.Rich Birch — Yeah. Okay. Yep.Eric Garza — Right. And so at least for us, it’s above normal giving. Rich Birch — Yep.Eric Garza — We encourage and we get people to give towards a specific capital campaign, which is for a specific campus or a specific project or or what have you. But you have this number in mind and then if you can tend to early on. It’s not coming in yet. Or maybe you’ve done it for a year or give a specific timeline.Rich Birch — I see. Okay. Yep.Eric Garza — And you can get quickly discouraged, especially with capital campaigns where you’re like, we’re halfway through this thing and not even half has come in yet, or of what we thought would come in. And so it’s easier to get discouraged. But that was a big thing is that number in your mind, it’s going to be lower. And that’s not a bad thing. Right. That’s not a bad thing.Eric Garza — People are giving to a capital campaign above giving of their normal giving, sacrificially, they’re giving by faith. They’re giving with expectation. But at the same time, for those of us on the inside, right, those of us who are managing the resources and what have you, it’s it’s about having a realistic expectation that we have the faith that God can do it. But we’re all going to budget ourselves knowing that if there’s a high probability, not impossible, there’s a high probability that the number we had in mind, is not going to be what comes in for the capital campaign.Rich Birch — Let’s talk about that there. So there’s an interesting, um so I’ve seen that for sure in churches. There’s an interesting kind of tension that pulls in two different directions. One, you can have exactly what you’re talking about, which is, you know, we thought we would go in, we we were hoping we would raise X and we raised something less than that. Eric Garza — Yeah. Rich Birch — But then the other part of it is we were hoping the project was going to cost X and it costs X plus, you know, it’s costing us more than, than we anticipated. How do you manage that tension? How have you been able to kind of navigate that? That’s a, that’s a tough tension.Eric Garza — Yeah, the longevity of the capital campaign is gonna is not always going to be exactly match, it’s not going, rather, to exactly match what the building construction cost was at the beginning. Prices fluctuate and prices change.Eric Garza — And so let’s say you have let’s use so a rough even number, a million dollar capital campaign for your church organization. And the construction is going to cost, I don’t know, $900,000, $950,000. Well, a million dollars should cover it. But by the time a million dollars or shortly or short of that comes in, well, your budget is now at 1.2 or 1.3. Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — It’s fluctuated. And so the what’s congruent at the beginning can be really a little bit financially off by the time that can…In other words, the timelines of the capital campaign and your building projects sometimes don’t align perfectly. And we’ve run into that too, where we’ve had to take from our operating budget a little bit, or we’ve had to really emphasize a certain amount during the campaign, because that’s what needs to come in. We’ve you know met with with key givers and donors of the church. And those are challenges that you navigate ah during the capital campaign process. Rich Birch — Sure. Eric Garza — And and like I said earlier, it’s it’s challenging because, well, let me backtrack and say this.Eric Garza — This is why on the front end, you should add margin into your capital campaign… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Eric Garza — …which we didn’t do that, perhaps the first go around. But certainly the later ah seasons, we added margin in our capital campaigns to account for any fluctuation in construction costs. And if there was ever in a surplus, well, we would tell the church it’s because of your giving and because of your support and generosity that we had more than enough come in. Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — And so now we’re going to use those funds for X or they’re going to go back to the general fund or or whatever whatever the case. But I think that the key that would be to incorporate some 10 to 15% margin in your capital campaign on the outset to account for anything that might happen 12, 15, 18 months down the road.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s really good. That’s good. You maybe just saved somebody a lot of headache two years from now… Eric Garza — Yeah. Rich Birch — …because of that part of the conversation. I want to go back to something you talked about earlier. You’ve had multiple buildings that you’ve acquired or you’ve merged with, and you were talking about remodeling and there’s like, that can be a blessing and a curse. Like it can be amazing. Like, wow, this is great. And…Eric Garza — You never know what you’re going to find.Rich Birch — …you know, you open up, you open up a wall and who knows what’s behind that wall. And, you know, there’s all that. And you talked about bringing it up to the Cross standard. Talk me through what how have you decided what that is? What is the Cross standard? And how do you what are the common things that you find, Oh, we’ve got to make this change. And how have you kind of defined that as you think about projects like that?Eric Garza — Yeah, so over the last few years, we’ve pretty much honed in on, I guess, the vibe and the look of what we want our campuses to to feel and look like.Rich Birch — Okay.Eric Garza — They may be different ah floor plans because some of them we built, some of them we acquired, properties we took over. But as far as color schemes, we do our very best to match wall colors, sanctuary colors. We use the same stage equipment, both branding and layout as best as possible across all of our sanctuary auditoriums, our stages. Eric Garza — Our kids spaces, ah we have an internal ratio of how many teachers or volunteers per infants, per toddlers, for school-age children we want. And so that determines our spacing. And so sometimes we’ve got to knock some walls down or build some walls in to accommodate for for what, like I said, our standard of ministry, both in appeal, but also in care for for our congregants and for our families.Eric Garza — And so when we remodel, you’re right, there’s some things that once you knock down a wall, you’re not going to know until you knock it down. And that’s where that, you know, that margin comes in. But for the most part, right, we’ve had we do inspections, we get we get third party opinions on the building, on the cost estimates, and like we would encourage anybody to do, right.Eric Garza — But that’s our Cross standard is the look, the feel, the equipment, the wall colors, you know is there enough space for our our guests, connect area, our next steps area for first impressions. Does every ministry have adequate space to store their items – all of those factors come into play in deciding how we’re going to remodel a facility. Eric Garza — And I’ll say the second thing is this is why before you break or before you knock down a wall, get an inspector or or get some people either in your church or in the construction industry or somebody that you know in in your community. Because sometimes when you have a building, your initial thought is to remodel. That may not always be the most financial financially wise decision. And here’s why. Because you may not know all that you’re going to encounter, you may in the long run end up spending just as much as if you had built a brand new facility with the exact floor plan you want.Eric Garza — And so that’s where you’re evaluating and deciding, is it more feasible to remodel this building for X amount of dollars? Or are we within 5% to 10% budget margin, where we might just say it’s it’s in the best interest of the church perhaps to use either this facility as collateral for our next building or a brand new building, or is it better to use it a multisite building, excuse me, multi-purpose building, and we end up building a new facility…Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — …for the church or for the campus. And so those cost estimates are going to help you make the best, most informed decision of where you’re going to steward the resources financially in either remodeling or in building a site.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. One of my favorite churches, Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina, they they had a building that was given to them and they did, they weren’t entirely sure what to kind of, it was in a part of town, they weren’t necessarily sure they wanted to launch a campus and just they had a campus closer and all that. And they ended up using it turned it into a really a student center and it’s a fantastic ministry building and it’s active, you know, five, six days a week.Rich Birch — Now they don’t do Sunday morning services there, but they do all kinds of other stuff, which is fantastic. Like is a great, you know…Eric Garza — And we’ve seen that too. Yeah. They use for leadership meetings, for small chapel receptions… Rich Birch — Yeah. Eric Garza — …or gatherings or next gen events, youth, young adults, even renting it out to the community as a means to supply income to the church…Rich Birch — Yep. Yep. On a daycare or something.Eric Garza — …to like, you know aligned organizations, of course, whatever your church policy is. But yeah, sometimes the best use of that building is not for church services.Rich Birch — Have you, have you run into facilities that you’ve evaluated and then decided, no like this is going to cost way too much to renovate and we’re, so we won’t go forward with it. Have you run into that after evaluation?Eric Garza — Well, not entirely, but I’ll say this…recent… Rich Birch — I know that risk is there for sure.Eric Garza — Yeah, there is risk. There is risk. And the risk assessment is different when you’re leasing a space or remodel… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …and when you’re when you’re obviously building your own facility, as far as and including the costs associated with that. One of our campuses recently, and I mean in the last 24 months, before we moved into our new building was leasing a space and we were given the option to remodel the space we were leasing. Because though it was suitable for what we needed for the ministry, for Sunday services and and all the other ministries, parts of it were not really conducive to growth for the congregation and for the ministry.Eric Garza — So we did contemplate remodeling. I think I think what kept us from doing that number one is whatever you remodel for the landlord the landlord is going up keeping. And so the return on that investment would be short term and not long term, We were already in the midst of building our building but we were growing at a rapid rate, and so we were eight, twelve months out from from being in our building and the campus was growing, and so we needed a short-term solution. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — So we did think, Well, we’ll spend X amount of dollars to remodel our site where we’re leasing before we get into the new building. But we found out that shifting our service times and and doing different different strategies ended up alleviating in the short term the constraints we had to give us a time to get into our new building, which is now more than enough space for us to grow for for years and years to come.Rich Birch — Right. That’s cool. Yeah. Cause I’ve said as a, I feel like I’ve been in a ton of conversations with XPs where, you know, they’re talking about this issue and you know, there’s like a building that they’re, maybe it’s another church that’s come to them and they’re having a conversation and they’re, I would say their mindset is like, I’m not sure we should do this. Like this is, they’re like, this other church came to us and statistically, actually the most likely for these mergers to succeed are when the joining church comes to the lead church. Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — So they would come to your church and be like, Hey, we’re interested. So it actually happens a fair amount. And I’ve, I feel like I’ve talked, tried to talk so many executive pastors into like, man, it’s gotta be a really bad building. If particularly if it’s like has debt or has no debt or very little debt on it, it’s gotta be a very bad building to not want to take it. Cause it’s like, you know, you can, you can take, invest, you know, a moderate amount of money. You don’t need to dump a ton into it and get something great. And like you said, as long as you’re above board with everybody, you know, five years from now, if it doesn’t work, you could take that asset, sell it and move on and use those resources somewhere else.Eric Garza — And that’s very good because when you talk about acquiring a ministry, especially if it has a low balance on their mortgage or or they don’t have much to pay off the building, and if you’re in a position to pay that off within the first year of acquiring the ministry… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …think of a collateral and the equity that your organization now has because of that new facility that’s in your portfolio.Rich Birch — 100%.Eric Garza — And I know it sounds very business-minded, but when you’re looking to expand into the future, even at another site in your church ministry organization, you now have more collateral, more resources to leverage for a better financial position in the future when you do want to actually build a building. Eric Garza — And the second thing is this, if you’re acquiring a ministry that already has an existing building, in most cases, it’s already built out for church purposes. So that’s very helpful. So at that point, you may be putting in a smaller amount and just… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …you know, refurbishing it, painting the walls, putting some new equipment, some new screens, maybe be changing out the flooring a little bit, or some of the fixtures in different spaces… Rich Birch — There’s technology or whatever, yep. Eric Garza — …because it’s already built out for a church. And so that’s the benefit of going or acquiring in a ministry if you’re going that route that already has an existing facility.Rich Birch — Yeah, we had, ah we were running, our budget was about $8 million dollars and we were, we had a church come to us and they were, they had really, they had had a tough season and the summer before we ended up merging with them or they joined us really, they had multiple Sundays where they had two people show up on Sunday. They had the person that was preaching and the guy that was opening the door, like it was, it had really atrophied down.Rich Birch — And I remember in one of those conversations, they had had a bit of a roof problem. The facility was worth just probably south of 2 million. It was like ah a great facility, but they had a roof problem. And I remember one of the the elders leader person, he said, you know, we we got a quote on the roof and it’s it’s going to cost maybe about $15,000 to fix. Do you think you guys will be able to fix that? And they had no debt and were going to give us their building. Rich Birch — Well, like I humbly had to say like, like, yeah, we’ll we’ll be okay. Like, it’s gonna it’s gonna be fine. Like, you know, I what I didn’t want to say is like, I feel like our youth guys have like wasted $15,000 this year. Like, you know, like it’s like we can, you know, the exchange just on paper. And again, that’s not why you go into those conversations. Eric Garza — Of course.Rich Birch — But a part of that is, particularly in our seats as executive pastors, that’s a part of what we have to wrestle through and think about those things. So let’s get back to the renovation thing. A lot of what churches were talking about is like, pressure of like, man, I just, our physical facilities are, are holding us back. Rich Birch — Any other thoughts around, you know, changes you’ve made to increase capacity or, um you know, things that maybe are like some low hanging fruit or creative solutions that have that, that maybe we’re not thinking about, but as a leader who’s been through this, you know, you’ve been, you’ve wrestled through that, that we, we could, you know, benefit from.Eric Garza — Yeah, absolutely. A couple of things. You can please everybody, right? Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Garza — And so I think one of the ministry pressures well, we want to please the next gen. We also want to please the child care. We also want to please the elders of the church. And we also want to please the younger families of the church and young professionals. And when you’re when you’re in a facility that wasn’t originally built according to your specs, it’s going to be difficult to do that.Eric Garza — And so you have to focus, as we have, on the most critical areas, sanctuary and child care. If you don’t have child care, it’s going to be a barrier to growth because families or parents are not going to have the comfort level they need to come to your church on a regular basis and to be a part of the community. And so for us, when we’ve remodeled, the first things we look at are sanctuary and then the kid space. Do we have enough adequate kids space?Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — Some of the solutions when we’ve been limited in space is is launching multiple services to we have a smaller sanctuary or a smaller space, we’ll offer more service opportunities. Or when it comes to our kids ministry, we’ve evaluated with our kids directors and our our kids department of how can we best merge age groups to maximize the space that we have. So if you have right an ideal facility where you have you know your child your child care divided by grade level or age level, sometimes you have the amenity to do that and many times you don’t. And so what we’ve done is instead of having first grade on their own, maybe we’ll put you know kindergarten and first grade level kids together.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Eric Garza — We’ll put second and third together, fourth and fifth together as a way to consolidate because we don’t have the space that we prefer to have, at least in this season. And so for us, sometimes you’re not watering down in essence, the content, the quality, but you are consolidating in the short term or even medium term… Rich Birch — Right. Eric Garza — …if you will, if that’s even a term, to make adequate space for the constraints that you may have. Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — And so you have 600 members and you only have 200-seat sanctuary, 250. Well, that’s an opportunity for three services. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — Is that is that is that Is that a strain? Well, it can be if you see it from core perspective versus a perspective of, Man, we’re so large and we have the space. You know, one of our core values at our church is excellence. And we’ve defined excellence as not having the best, but doing the best with what you have.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s good.Eric Garza — So we may not have a thousand seat auditorium for this growing congregation, but what we do have, we’re going utilize it and steward it to our best ability. So if that means two or three services, well, God give us the strength and the people to manage and to lead and to execute three strong services every weekend, or every Sunday, in order to meet the need of the congregation that we have.Eric Garza — And and I think one of the biggest things, Rich, is also communicating this. It’s keeping them current, right. You’re not going to go into all the details per se, unless that’s your preference and that’s your senior pastor’s prerogative. But to share with them the overarching theme of, hey, here’s where we’re at as a ministry. Here’s our facility. And here’s what we’re going to do to continue to offer as best a ministry as we can, while at the same time being cognizant of the challenges that we’re facing.Eric Garza — We said this to our staff and to our church many times, is we don’t look at obstacles as negatives. We look at obstacles as opportunities. Okay.Rich Birch — That’s so true.Eric Garza — If this is what we have, how can we be as excellent as possible with what we have? If that means going to a third service, well, then we’re going to give it a shot because what we don’t want to do is allow facility constraints to translate into diminished capacity or into a diminishing congregation and I’m talking about numerically. Because the diminishing congregation numerically also means a diminishing budget and revenue financially because you have less givers in the seats. And that’s those are some of the challenges that you got navigate so we don’t see it as obstacles. We don’t see obstacles necessarily as a challenge we see that’s an opportunity of okay how can we navigate around this mountain if you will to continue to provide as excellent a ministry as we can.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that. I love your example of the kids age size rooms. Because I think you’ve you’re articulating a tension that whenever we’re, particularly for launching we talked a lot about this, like renovating other spaces and new campuses and all that, where I think really is germane to our job as executive pastor to to manage this tension of we want it feel, you know, the language you used was Cross standard. It’s absolutely has got to be Cross standard, but there will be areas where we’re going to have to compromise. Like that is just true. And a part of what we have to do, we have to use our leadership and our discernment and, you know, get the right players in the room and have the conversation. And, you know, somebody using your example, somebody kids’ ministry to be like, no, we can’t combine them together. That’ll be terrible. And it’s like, we’re going to be fine. Like, we’ll figure it out, you know. Eric Garza — Yeah [inaudible].Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s going to be okay. We’ll we’ll help that navigate. And that’s one example, but there’s a ton of those that can come up in these, you know, in these renovations for sure.Eric Garza — Yeah, absolutely.Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Garza — and And people are always going to have opinions. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Garza — But I’ll say this from experience. And I mean, no ill intent towards anybody in your congregation or your ministry.Rich Birch — No.Eric Garza — Most of the people that are criticizing are the people that aren’t giving anyway. And so I’m not saying ignore them by any means. They’re part of your part of your ecosystem. They’re part of your church, they’re part of your flock.Rich Birch — Yep. That’s very true.Eric Garza — But it’s always with a grain of salt because the people that are really bought into your ministry are going to walk through those opportunities alongside you, ah hopefully with the best attitude that they possibly can muster up because this too shall pass.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Garza — Right.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Garza — If you’ve gone out in faith to plant or to grow or to expand your congregation, this is a temporary season. It’s not a permanent season. You won’t always be at three or four services, right? Or multiple services.Eric Garza — At some point, if God is in this and you really believe He is, and I believe He is for many organizations and ministries, the timing will be right when you have a facility that can house what you need, or that can provide the amenities and space that you need. And so for parents, for givers, for guests, it is just letting them know as best you can, even subtly through announcements or even messages and say, hey, we’re in a season of growth and expansion. Growth doesn’t always look you know perfect. And so we have seasons where we’re going to navigate some some challenges and opportunities as best we can to get us to an end goal.Eric Garza — This is a means to an end. What we’re going through is a means to get us to where we want to go as a ministry. And as long as you keep it at the forefront, tying it into the vision of the house, you’re going to see that in a large sense, you’re going to have people rally behind that idea and unfocused, if you will, from the constraints of their of the facility to the broader appeal of what God is doing in the ministry.Rich Birch — Yeah, that is so good. Friends, you should go back and re-listen to what Eric just said there. That is some wise advice. And obviously from somebody that’s been in the trenches a lot, that’s been my experience as well. The people, the complainers, I’m reading through the book of Job right now. And I’m like, man, his friends are just like, this guy needs better friends.Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — And that that reminded me of the people you’re talking about. Like…Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — You know, there’s these people who are just, you know, sniping from the cheap seats and they’re not really engaged in the mission where, man, those people that are right on in the middle of it, they’re like, let’s go, let’s lean in.Rich Birch — And man, that’s the kind of person, I’m hoping as I transition into older age that I’m that person, you know, because we have a number of those people at our church that I look at that are like, these are incredible saints who have seen so much change. And who I’m sure lots of things annoy them, but they’re fired up for the mission. They’re excited in our case to reach unchurched people, to see people who far from Jesus connected.Eric Garza — If you’re not changing, you’re not making progress, right? Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. And the fact you the fact that your ministry is facing opportunities or obstacles rather disguised as opportunities is proof positive you’re going somewhere. Rich Birch — Yeah.Eric Garza — You’re not a stagnant ministry. You’re not a you’re not a lazy ministry, right? You’re not apathetic. You’re really out in the field of vision that God has given you or to your senior leadership. And so it’s proof positive, right? And so take that as an badge of honor in some way to say, we must be doing something right.Rich Birch — So good. Well, Eric, just as we’re coming to kind of land, this has been a great conversation, hopefully been helpful for you, friends, as you’ve have been listening in. But as we kind of come to land today’s conversation, what’s a question or two that that you’re kicking around for this year at at Cross as you’re thinking about 2026? Where’s your head at? What are the things you’re wondering? It doesn’t have to be about this, could be anything.Eric Garza — Yeah, well, ah thanks for letting me speak into that, Rich. I think for me as an executive and looking at our ministry, you know, looking at the previous 30 years and looking at the next decade, if you will, of where God is going to take our ministry, being one of America’s fastest growing churches, being the largest bilingual Hispanic-led ministry in the country. We’ve, you know, like I’ve said in a previous episode with you, we haven’t had any precedent for us in our context. And so we’ve navigated a lot of uncharted waters and learned from both wins and losses and different opportunities and struggles to get us to where we’re at now. Eric Garza — I think one of the biggest questions facing the church at large in 2026 is how the church is going to respond to the ever increasingly fast-paced changes that we’re seeing on the political front, on the cultural front. I’m not saying that the church has to be a political response. The church has to be, has to provide a biblical response to what we’re seeing.Rich Birch — Yep. Eric Garza — And with the fast paced nature of culture and society and trends, I don’t believe it’s the church’s responsibility to respond to every trend or to everything, but certainly the overarching elements of our current culture and political dynamic where there is a biblical either mandate or precedent for it, that the church would speak it into that and provide biblical perspective… Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Garza — …and and and wisdom for how people should think about certain topics that have a biblical or moral prerogative. And so navigating that as an organization, because as a growing church and being such a large ministry, if you can imagine the opinions. We have people in our church who are conservative and who some who are not. We have people who belong to one political party over another. We’re in multiple communities. And so different communities have different demographics, different cultural contexts, different policy initiatives. There’s a lot going on.Eric Garza — And as a church ministry, especially as that we’re multisite, one of the biggest questions I’m asking myself and our team is how do we, number one, stay biblically founded, right? And unwavering in what the biblical standard is.Eric Garza — Number two is how do we address the different things and different occurrences in different communities that we’re in? If we were just one site and one community, well, then we would just be I guess you could say in our own little space and our own little focus. But we have multisites, so we have multi-focus, if you will, at how we continue to provide as excellent a ministry as possible… Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Garza — …keeping Jesus at the forefront, above the fray, and at the same time, giving a biblical perspective so that people have the right biblical worldview for how to walk out their journey of faith their relationship with Christ, but at the same time, how to respond to what’s happening in our world. I think for many times, for for many years, really for decades, the church has abdicated its biblical responsibility, if you will, to speak into things, not from a political perspective, but from a biblical perspective.Eric Garza — And because that abdication of responsibility we’ve seen a lot of things that have happened. Thankfully, in recent seasons, in recent years, we’ve seen a a shift where faith is now at the forefront. And so though I have that question, my biggest, I guess you could say prerogative is to leverage that people are focused more on faith, that people are open to faith now more so in our country, that people are focused more on this person of Jesus and is to leverage that as an opportunity to really hone in and speak into people’s hearts and minds and into the different communities that we’re in so that they have the right biblical perspective, the biblical worldview to carry out what God has enabled them or called them to do.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. I love I love what you’re saying there. And you know I know had a friend say, you know if you’re, you know, we we all are serving in a context. We serve in a particular time, in a particular cultural context, and God’s called us to lead in that context. And if you’re not feeling the pull from, you know, multiple sides, multiple polarities, you’re like, well, everybody here agrees with me then it means you’re not actually reaching your community, you know. And the fact that you’re feeling that tension means, okay, like there’s there’s people from a wide variety of, and it can be all different political is one, but there’s lots of different ways to think of that.Eric Garza — Yeah.Rich Birch — And yeah, that’s that’s so true. I really appreciate this. Well, Eric, you’re you’re a blessing to us. I thank you so much for for giving us time today and helping us think about these things as we kick off into 2026. If where do we want to send people if they want to track with you or with the church?Rich Birch — How do we how do we want to get people connected to Cross?Eric Garza — Yeah, well, Rich, thanks for the opportunity. And it’s what a blessing for us and for me personally to be able to just share some thoughts. And if it helps anybody, well, praise God for that. I think if you want to follow the church, we’re crosschurchonline.com or crosschurchrgv on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, all of, you know, most of the social media platforms.Eric Garza — If you want to connect with me, I’d be happy to connect with you at Eric, E-R-I-C-P Garza on any of social media platforms. It’d be a h privilege for me to help you guys and to share some thoughts and even answer questions. I’d be more than happy to do that. If I can serve your ministries in any way, by all means, feel free to reach out to me on any of the social media platforms.Rich Birch — Nice. Thanks so much, Eric. Really appreciate being here today, sir. Thank you. Eric Garza — Thank you, man. God bless. Appreciate it.

Eric McDonald built CHP Paint Co.'s culture on a simple principle: you can't out-produce bad culture. After experiencing severe burnout in 2021, he made drastic changes—4-day work weeks, comprehensive benefits, employee recognition programs, and a two-week December shutdown. The results? Productivity increased, profitability soared, and December's "planned loss" became the strategic investment that transformed his entire year. Eric shares how to budget for culture and why bottom-line thinking beats chasing top-line revenue every time.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Red Key Solutions

HOSTS: Pam Pybas, licensed contractor, ASHI certified home inspector and owner of Inspect It Like a Girl and special guest Todd Sandridge with Superior FoundationTOPIC(S) DISCUSSED: Pam and Todd talk about what to know before remodeling and welcome Liz Gill to talk about her recent remodeling experience.EMAIL: fixit101@mpbonline.org. If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please consider contributing to MPB: https://donate.mpbfoundation.org/mspb/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

The hottest home trends for 2026 are coming into focus, and they could have a major impact on resale value. This week on Real Estate Today, we break down what's driving tomorrow's design decisions and how homeowners can remodel with resale in mind. From trending colors and finishes to smart updates that appeal to buyers, real estate and design experts share practical advice to help homes stand out in a competitive market. We also explore insights from the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate 2026 Design Trends Moving Real Estate report, along with the "HGTV effect" and how buyer expectations shaped by television can clash with real-life home tours. Plus, in our Hot or Not segment, we examine black window frames and matte black hardware. Guests include Ginger Wilcox, president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate; Emily Kantz, color marketing manager for Sherwin-Williams; and Jennifer Bien, director of interior design at DAHLIN Architecture. 

In this episode of Remodelers On The Rise, Kyle reflects on twelve standout podcast episodes from 2025 — one from each month — and shares the key takeaways and insights that stuck with him. From leadership and branding to marketing, delegation, and client experience, this year-in-review episode is packed with practical reminders to help you move quickly... but not rush, as you grow your business in 2026. ----- Want to keep in touch with past clients and prospects without the hassle of writing content yourself? That's exactly what Remodelers AutoPilot does — each month you get a done-for-you email newsletter and social media posts, ready to send. ----- Explore the vast array of tools, training courses, a podcast, and a supportive community of over 2,000 remodelers. Visit Remodelersontherise.com today and take your remodeling business to new heights! ----- Takeaways Business is all about solving problems. Your clients are your most valuable marketing asset. Move quickly, don't rush. Branding matters more than you think. Clients connect with stories. Investing in team growth leads to higher retention rates. Trust people, even if they haven't proven their trustworthiness yet. Advertising is the price you pay for not being remarkable. We need to learn to delegate to avoid burnout. Emotional safety is crucial in relationships. ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Year in Review 03:44 Branding and Storytelling in Remodeling 06:09 Employee Engagement and Team Motivation 09:04 Strengthening Company Culture 11:59 Building Trust Through Branding 12:57 Time Management for Remodelers 13:53 Transforming Marketing Strategies 15:20 Leadership and Team Management 17:17 Lessons from Entrepreneurship 18:14 Enhancing Client Satisfaction 20:08 Aging in Place Strategies 21:06 Sales Conversations and Storytelling 22:33 Balancing Business and Marriage

Start 2026 strong by focusing on what matters most: developing yourself and your key leaders. Brian Nolan shares his personal development goal of completing a Half Ironman and explains why setting challenging goals creates the foundation for developing others. Using the field supervisor role as an example, he breaks down the three critical areas any key leader must master—emotional intelligence, financial management, and systems—to effectively develop their teams and drive business results.Today's Podcast is brought to you by The Sherwin-Williams Company 

Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

What if your inner world were a home? In this episode of Tami Talks: Unscripted Healing, Tami uses the metaphor of moving to explore emotional healing, inner child work, intentional rebuilding, and letting go of the energy of 2025. Together, we walk through the rooms of your life — relationships, nourishment, intimacy, and the parts of yourself you've kept hidden — to help you decide what to keep, what to release, and what to rebuild. This episode is for anyone in a season of transition, shedding old patterns, or preparing to step into a new chapter with more clarity, safety, and self-trust. Your keys are ready. It's time to move in. ✨ Work With Me - The Nourished Woman Within A 4-month integrative healing experience combining nutrition, movement, nervous system support, inner child work, and spiritual nourishment.

What makes mid-century furniture so great? And which pieces might you want to hunt down for your house? Whether you are looking for high quality comfort or something to your mid-century cool factor, your dream mid-century furniture piece is out there…no matter your budget. In Today's Episode You'll Learn:All about some classic MCM pieces. Where to find originals and licenced reproductions. How to get the right vibe with modern designs. Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2223 Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course,  Ready to Remodel.

We decided to re-run an old “Pop Culturing” Podcast in honor of the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. We will be creating 4 new Zen Pop Episodes based off of 4 other Rob Reiner films for the month of January. When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet in Chicago just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years of chance encounters in New York City. The film raises the question “Can men and women ever just be friends?” and advances many ideas about relationships that became household concepts, such as “high-maintenance” and the “transitional person”. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

To be able to make art from antlers takes a lot of talent. Nick Jeffries is an avid hunter, family guy, outdoorsman, shed hunter, and loves to build antlers into custom Chandeliers. As I'm at his shop to pick up one of his works of art, I decided to do a podcast with him to get to know him more. He shares his experience serving in the Marine Corps Infantry, along with what got him into this passion, from starting as a hobby, and turning it into a business. We share some fun hunting stories, and much more. If you are interested in an antler chandelier for yourself, get in contact with him. Instagram: @custom.antler.designshttps://customantlerdesigns.com/Or call or text directly: 509-990-2706

Cathy and Todd discuss Love Actually as part of their “Christmas movies that might not actually be Christmas movies” month. Released in November 2003 and written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film uses its London-at-Christmas setting, stacked ensemble cast, and interwoven stories of romantic, familial, awkward, and heartbreaking love to reflect a long-held worldview: messy humans and basic decency still matter. Cathy and Todd go through their categories, debate the storylines, and unpack why its message that “love is all around” became an annual ritual for so many—and what lands differently when we watch it now.. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise, Kyle Hunt sits down with Abe Degnan, second-generation owner of Degnan Design Build Remodel, to share the story of building a remodeling business designed to last. Abe reflects on growing up on job sites, joining his father's company, and helping shape an early design build approach through intentional learning, documented processes, and steady leadership. They dig into lessons Abe has learned over 25 years in business, including hiring with purpose, pricing with confidence, investing in systems, and making the shift from working in the business to leading a team. Abe also shares thoughtful insights on company culture, peer groups, and building a life outside of work, offering encouragement for remodelers who want long term growth without burning out. ----- Today's episode is sponsored by Builder Funnel! Click here to learn more about how Builder Funnel helps remodelers and home builders grow through strategic digital marketing. ----- Takeaways Abe Degnan is a second-generation remodeler who joined his father's business. Investing in learning and joining peer groups has been crucial for growth. Hiring the right people is essential for maintaining company culture. Abe's broken leg led to a shift in focus towards office work and management. Understanding pricing and financials is key to business success. High-quality photography is vital for effective marketing. A clear sales process is necessary for consistent success. Establishing a design center enhances client engagement. Balancing family life and business is a continuous challenge. Documenting company values and processes helps differentiate from competitors. ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 03:00 Abe Degnan's Journey in Remodeling 06:10 Transitioning from Sole Proprietorship to S Corp 09:00 The Evolution of Design-Build Approach 11:54 Investing in Learning and Company Culture 15:04 Hiring Practices and Employee Retention 17:59 Overcoming Challenges in Business Growth 21:00 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Business 23:38 Pricing Strategies and Financial Management 27:10 Marketing and Sales Process Insights 29:53 Establishing a Design Center and Client Engagement 33:02 Balancing Family Life and Business 35:57 Final Thoughts and Advice for Remodelers

A year of experiments revealed a simple truth: design businesses grow faster when they trade constant posting for consistent systems. We open our playbook and revisit the strategies that delivered real results—using social more strategically, running an email newsletter that actually brings referrals, and treating PR as a core engine rather than a nice-to-have. Along the way, we unpack what we learned from KBIS so you can talk trends with clients even if you skipped the show floor, and we share a step-by-step plan for staying visible when inquiries slow.One highlight you'll love: a designer from our academy set a bold goal and landed Architectural Digest by following a clear PR routine—tight stories, strong images, and calm, timely follow-up. That story anchors a bigger shift we're seeing across search. As AI-driven platforms source answers from trusted outlets, media placements now do double duty: they win client confidence and help search engines understand and elevate your expertise. We connect the dots between E-E-A-T signals, local visibility, and how a single placement can ripple through your website, newsletter, and proposals.If you've felt stretched thin by social, we lay out a low-burn approach: fewer channels, batched content, and posts aligned to real business goals. For slower markets, we map a 90-day “momentum sprint” that refreshes your site, activates past clients, and turns one helpful email per send into booked consultations. We also touch on our reintroduction—who we are, what we teach, and how we support designers and remodelers with marketing that respects your time and protects your energy.If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a colleague who needs a calmer plan, and leave a quick review to help more design pros find the show. Then tell us: which 2025 episode was your favorite and what should we dig into next?If you would like to get the links and show notes for this episode, click on the link below:​www.designerdiscussions.com/episodes/episode-156-What-worked-this-year-in-2025Transform your marketing with Designer Discussions Academy. In weekly face-to-face sessions, we equip busy business owners with cutting-edge PR strategies, marketing insights, and time-saving tools to not just work in your business, but on your business. Join us to outshine competitors and elevate your business.Join us for our weekly live sessions and workshops: https://www.designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/pages/academyDesigner Discussions is an educational interior design podcast on marketing, PR and related business topics. We also provide in-depth, actionable products in the Marketing Studio including time-saving templates and guides to help design professionals grow their businesses. Download our FREE Client Avatar Guide https://designerdiscussionsmarketing.studio/store. Designer Discussions is a partnership of three experts: Jason Lockhart, CEO of KABMS; Maria Martin, founder of DesignAppy; and Mirjam Lippuner, founder of Get Ink DIY

HR compliance isn't just paperwork—it's what stands between your business and costly mistakes that can derail growth. In this conversation, Lisa DeMaria from Utopia Solutions breaks down the five most common HR misconceptions in trades businesses, from misclassifying workers to why your office manager can't do it all and the multi-state compliance traps that catch expanding companies off guard. This conversation gives you the roadmap to get HR right before problems show up at your door—protecting your business while creating the kind of culture that keeps great people around.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Boolean Automation

Cathy and Todd talk about The Family Stone and why it works so well as “a Christmas movie that isn't really a Christmas movie”. They explore how it's a story about family systems, grief, belonging, and what happens when someone new steps into a familiar and often fragile emotional ecosystem. They get into the best family movies, the most uncomfortable scenes, each character's role, birth order patterns, sibling energy, and the tension Meredith brings into the house. They also look at why this messy and tender story is still such a holiday staple twenty years later. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

Your words matter more than you think. In this episode, Terry and Gerald explore the powerful influence our words carry in everyday life. Drawing from James 3 and real-life experiences, they discuss how a single word can either discourage or build up, wound or heal. This conversation challenges us to be intentional with what we say in our marriages, families, churches, and workplaces, and to see encouragement as a calling. If you want to speak life in a world full of tension and negativity, this episode will encourage and equip you to do just that.   We are grateful for the support of today's sponsors — Mattress Firm and Born Again Roofing & Remodeling. Thank you for partnering with us!   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant https://www.truthfortodayministries.org   SPONSOR LINKS https://www.bornagainroofing.com https://www.mattressfirm.com/en-us/stores/ms/richland/966311/    

Summary In this episode of the Summit podcast, Bob Turner hosts Mark and Michelle Bunker, who share their journey of building Bunker Building and Remodeling. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of working together as a couple in the construction business, the importance of communication, and the evolution of their definition of success. The Bunkers emphasize the significance of finding community and support, as well as the necessity of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Their candid conversation offers valuable insights for couples navigating the complexities of business and marriage. Takeaways Mark never intended to start a business; it happened out of necessity. The transition from individual work to partnership was challenging but necessary. Communication is key in both business and personal relationships. Setting boundaries between work and home life is crucial for a healthy relationship. Success is not just about revenue; it's about personal fulfillment and happiness. Finding a supportive community can make a significant difference in business. Couples need to give 100% to each other in both marriage and business. It's important to learn from past mistakes and grow together. The Bunkers emphasize the importance of humor and positivity in tough situations. Investing in coaching and support can lead to personal and professional growth.   KeywordsBunker Building, Remodeling, Business Partnership, Communication, Success, Couples in Business, Work-Life Balance, Coaching, Community Support, Marriage  

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to the Money Pit! With only two weeks left until Christmas, we know this is a busy time of year, but we're here to help you keep your home in tip-top shape and get you through the finish line of the holidays. Whether you are doing or dreaming of projects, we make DIY doable! - 5 Common Remodeling Mistakes: We share the top five most common remodeling mistakes homeowners make, so you can be prepared for your next project. - Safe and Efficient Space Heaters: We discuss how to choose a safe and efficient space heater by understanding the difference between radiant heaters and convection heaters. - Live Christmas Trees: If you're heading out to buy a live Christmas tree, we provide tips on how to ensure the tree is fresh. - The Age of Your Home: Leslie's Last Word offers tricks for figuring out the age of your home by checking plumbing fixtures or recognizing old wiring and pipe types.   Q & A: - Linda from Washington wanted to cover her outdated Formica kitchen countertops with a new product. We recommend using a product kit like Lux Rock or Marble Dream from Daich Coatings, noting that she should lightly sand the Formica surface beforehand to ensure the coating adheres well. - Jeremy from Pennsylvania was dealing with a small leak and musty smell in the corner of his finished basement with a block foundation. We suggest that the problem is caused by exterior drainage, advising him to extend his downspout and fix any grading issues to relieve water pressure. - Taylor in Michigan reported that her doors were sticking, specifically toward the top, due to swelling. We advise checking the hinges for loose screws and using chalk or dark lipstick on the door edges to identify the exact sticking point before attempting minor adjustments to realign the door in the jam. - Robin was dealing with mold growth coming out of the jets of her jacuzzi tub. We suggest filling the tub with hot water and either bleach (if not on septic) or an environmentally safe dish soap like Simple Green to sanitize the pipes. - Carolyn in Pennsylvania had a lingering musty odor in her kitchen's lazy Susan cabinet after mold grew inside. We recommend looking for mold spread behind the kickboard or trim, thoroughly cleaning all affected areas with bleach and water, and painting the interior if the odor persists.   ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We'd love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Gary and Jamie as they talk about the cost of remodeling. Why is it so expensive to remodel, things you can do to cut back on cost and so much more!

ReferencesGuerra, DJ.2025. Unpublished LecturesHepatology.2023 Apr 17;77(5):1654–1669Comprehensive Gut Microbiota2022, Pages 201-219Dylan, B. 1964. My Back Pages. Byrdshttps://music.youtube.com/watch?v=OADlrLHfYW4&si=Q63xZIE_33GXVYv4

Sydney Bates and Molly Nolan pull back the curtain on annual planning season, sharing key themes and lessons learned from the 20+ client site visits completed in recent months. Whether you've already done your 2025 planning or you're just getting started, this check-in covers what's working—from contingency planning and sales management structure to leadership development, geographic expansion, and the growing wave of business acquisitions. Discover why the most successful companies are heading into 2025 with both optimism and strategic backup plans in place.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Painter Marketing ProsIf you want real growth in 2026, Painter Marketing Pros will show you how to unlock $50,000 to $250,000 plus in hidden revenue already inside your painting company. Get a custom 2026 Revenue Expansion Blueprint, guaranteed to uncover at least $50,000 in new revenue over the next 12 months, or they will pay you $1,000 for wasting your time. That's how confident they are in this blueprint.Visit https://grow.paintermarketingpros.com/blueprint-offer to secure your blueprint now. Space is limited.

Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

Christmas should be a season of peace, not pressure. In this message, Pastor Terry Fant walks through Luke 2 to show how the Prince of Peace came to calm our hearts, not overwhelm them. Slow down, breathe, and don't let Christmas steal the peace Jesus came to give.   A special thank-you to our sponsors—Bodry Automotive, Mattress Firm, Sawyer Custom Construction, and Born Again Roofing & Remodeling—for making this episode possible.   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant https://www.truthfortodayministries.org     SPONSOR LINKS www.bodryautomotive.com www.sawyercustomconstruction.com https://www.bornagainroofing.com https://www.mattressfirm.com/en-us/stores/ms/richland/966311/    

ReferencesMol Immunol. 2017 Apr 1;87:1–11Guerra, DJ 2025 Unpublished LecturesHayward/Pinder/Lodge/Thomas. 1967. Days of Future Passed. Moody Blues.https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l2x8IxcSnnBm21QUI3aKwu7Sz8thfM-1w&si=9tsIhVrSdLrMn7vG

ReferencesGuerra, DJ.2025 Unpublished LecturesHepatology.2023 Feb 9;78(3):878–895.Mozart, WA. Mass in C Minor, K, 427https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez0kqVShFEs&si=D1MUVoXZIbPxRyM4

ReferencesHepatology.2023 Feb 9;78(3):878–895.Mozart, WA. 1791. Ave Verum Corpus. K618https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-xMjO0d-pc&si=g1TpOohQQt9forf0Murray, J. 1874 Jolly Old St Nicholas. Instrumentalhttps://music.youtube.com/watch?v=eTHdEA5zh2Q&si=0v0ADs7LhtIu7zqd

ReferencesPharmacological Reviews.2011.NOV.64(1):166-87Hepatology.2023 Feb 9;78(3):878–895.Sci Rep. 2015 Sep 30;5:14692Bach, JS. 1734. Christmas Oratories BV 248.https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=98UjjwzJBFE&si=kd45twdzgpXtJuWL

Join Gary and Jamie as they explore what truly makes a home great for entertaining—from kitchens designed for effortless hosting to living rooms, bars, and guest spaces that keep everyone comfortable. They break down common frustrations, smart layout choices, storage hacks, and simple design strategies that make gatherings smoother, more stylish, and more enjoyable for both hosts and guests. This quick, insightful episode will help you create spaces that feel welcoming, functional, and ready for any occasion.

In today's episode of Truth for Today, Pastor Terry Fant sits down with David Dilmore, a man whose story reminds us that no matter where you start, you don't have to stay there. If you're feeling stuck, defeated, or unsure of how to move forward, this episode is a reminder of hope: Jesus can meet you right where you are, and He can take you somewhere new.   We are grateful for the support of today's sponsors—Bodry Automotive, Mattress Firm, Sawyer Custom Construction, and Born Again Roofing & Remodeling. Thank you for partnering with us!   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant https://www.truthfortodayministries.org     SPONSOR LINKS www.bodryautomotive.com www.sawyercustomconstruction.com https://www.bornagainroofing.com https://www.mattressfirm.com/en-us/stores/ms/richland/966311/  

Bill Drysdale, Principal of the Taysa Group, and Ross Hartmann, Founder of Kiingo AI, introduce NCG's new 6-month AI Accelerator Workshop designed specifically for trades businesses who want to gain a competitive edge through practical AI adoption. They explain why AI is a people and strategy challenge rather than a technical one, sharing how the program helps leaders develop clear implementation roadmaps, save time on administrative work, and amplify their team's capabilities without getting overwhelmed by complexity. With limited seats available starting in December, this peer-based workshop offers accountability, proven tools, and industry-specific applications that turn AI from buzzword into business advantage.Summit Members - Check your Summit Weekly or connect with your Coach to register!Today's Podcast is brought to you by Protiv

Are you living in that $2–4M purgatory? Busy, but not really breaking through? You're not alone. Most remodelers never make it to a stable $5M+ business, and it's almost never for lack of skill or effort. In this episode, Spencer unpacks the five core reasons remodeling companies fail to reach (or sustain) $5M in annual revenue. From underinvesting in marketing and selling free “me-too” estimates… to weak follow-up systems, fuzzy numbers, and owners who can't let go. Spencer walks through the patterns he's seen across hundreds of remodelers nationwide.

Cathy and Todd discuss Die Hard, the 1988 action classic that redefined the genre, covering everything from its Christmas Eve plot and iconic Nakatomi Plaza setting to the film's surprisingly heartfelt themes of family, reconciliation, and love. They discuss why so many (including Cathy) consider it a Christmas movie, break down the characters and casting surprises, highlight the film's legacy and genre-shaping influence, and share the behind-the-scenes stories that made Bruce Willis's hero an unexpected cultural icon. From Hans Gruber's unforgettable villainy to the film's “Die Hard in a ____” effect across decades of action films, it's a nostalgic and big-hearted look at why this movie endures and why so many of us return to it every holiday season. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

Romans 3 reminds us that no matter how hard we try, none of us can make ourselves right with God. We all miss the mark: even the “good” people. In this episode, Pastor Terry unpacks why our goodness can't save us, why we chase peace in all the wrong places, and how Jesus becomes our covering and our righteousness.   We're grateful for our friends at Born Again Roofing & Remodeling for sponsoring this episode! If you're in the Jackson area and need roofing or remodeling help, check them out at bornagainroofing.com.   Thank you for listening to the Truth for Today Podcast! For more content from Pastor Terry Fant, click the links below! www.youtube.com/@terryfant885 www.facebook.com/terry.fant.14 www.instagram.com/pastorterryfant https://www.truthfortodayministries.org  

Are you a home service business owner who feels overwhelmed by the pace of change in 2025? Do you worry that AI is moving faster than your team, your systems, and even your competitors? How do you keep up with the new rules of search, booking, content, and customer experience without burning cash or wasting time?  In this episode of The Better Than Rich Show, host Mike Abramowitz talks with Jennifer Bagley, CEO of CI Web Group and Co-Founder of JustStartAI.io.  Jen is known as one of the leading experts in agentic AI systems for contractors. She is passionate about helping small- and mid-sized home service owners future-proof their businesses, increase visibility, raise margins, and eliminate operational waste through AI-enabled systems that operate 24 hours a day. Her background in development, automation, and large-scale digital operations makes her uniquely qualified to explain the shifts happening in the industry and how owners can win today, not someday. If you want to understand the real path forward, Jen brings clarity, urgency, and practical steps you can apply right away.  Timestamps [00:00] Why AI matters for home service owners [01:20] Conversational AI vs agent vs multi agent vs agentic [04:30] How Jen builds a whole AI-driven content team [09:30] What agentic workflows look like in real life [12:00] Why trying to build your own network is risky [13:15] Why Jen invested millions to stay ahead [18:20] What owners should do right now [20:00] Inside Start AI and how to get free credits [23:00] How AI improves marketing efficiency [26:30] Building systems for booking and follow-up [33:45] Why WordPress is holding contractors back [37:40] The shift from Google to AI search [43:20] Running a lean and profitable business with AI [46:10] Remodeling your PNL with AI [51:00] What being better than rich means to Jen   Key Quotes "Consumer adoption accelerates when devices receive updates overnight. This allows users to experience improved features right away, leading to faster acceptance of new technology." "The speed of progress is crucial right now. Staying ahead in a rapidly changing market is key to success." "Content acts as your storefront; if it's outdated, you risk becoming invisible. Fresh and relevant content is essential for attracting customers in the digital age." "AI will not replace contractors, but those who use AI will surpass those who don't. Embracing AI can boost efficiency and innovation, giving forward-thinking contractors a significant advantage."  Key Takeaways Identify where clients are dropping off in the process and quickly eliminate any friction. Utilize AI-enabled vendors before attempting to build anything in-house. Increase daily content output to boost visibility, impressions, and the number of booked jobs. Prepare for AI agents that can schedule appointments on behalf of homeowners. Modernize booking tools to allow agents to schedule appointments smoothly. Transition to low-code platforms when appropriate. Use AI to analyze and remodel your profit and loss statements to enhance margins.  Links Mentioned Just Start AI: https://juststartai.io CI Web Group: https://ciwebgroup.comConnect with The Better Than RichWebsite - https://www.betterthanrich.com/Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/betterthanrich/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterthan_rich/Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/betterthan_richTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanrichYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3xXEb7rKBvkCOdtWd4tj2ALinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterthanrich

In this episode, we explore how navigating life living with Multiple Sclerosis and rebuilding a life we love after diagnosis is similar to a bathroom remodel. We'll look at the many parallels between a real life remodel in action and how we can similarly examine our own lives to find aspects that would greatly benefit from a thoughtful and deliberate remodel. We'll talk through the phases of a remodel - the Dream Design, Hiring the Right Construction Team, Diving into Demolition, Navigating the Unexpected, and finally, Reconstruction - Building the New. I hope this episode results in a future remodeling or renovation project of your own - either literal, figurative, or both! patreon.com/MSFlock

Want to Start or Grow a Successful Business? Schedule a FREE 13-Point Assessment with Clay Clark Today At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com   Join Clay Clark's Thrivetime Show Business Workshop!!! Learn Branding, Marketing, SEO, Sales, Workflow Design, Accounting & More. **Request Tickets & See Testimonials At: www.ThrivetimeShow.com  **Request Tickets Via Text At (918) 851-0102   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/ Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE: www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Cathy and Todd discuss the making of Toy Story, the 1995 film that changed animation forever. They explore the film's massive cultural impact and the introduction of emotionally complex heroes like Woody and Buzz, who grew up alongside their audience. They also look at the creative forces behind the movie, including John Lasseter's rise and fall and the way Pixar rebuilt its culture in the wake of industry reckonings. They dive into the random facts, hidden jokes, emotional details, and psychological layers that make the movie endlessly rewatchable, from Randy Newman's music to Sid's misunderstood chaos. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy's Substack Order Restoring our Girls Join Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week's sponsor(s): Avid Co DuPage County Area Decorating, Painting, Remodeling by Avid Co includes kitchens, basements, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, fire and flood restoration. David Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780 MenLiving – A virtual and in-person community of guys connecting deeply and living fully. No requirements, no creeds, no gurus, no judgements Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us Follow us on social media Instagram YouTube Facebook Buy and leave a review for Cathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable World Find everything ZPR on our Resources Page Guys- Complete a MenLiving Connect profile

Today, I want to dive into something incredibly important as we close out 2025, and more importantly, gear up for 2026. This is something that every single designer needs to understand if they want long-term stability, profitability, and relevance in this industry. So today, we're going to unpack a brand new analysis from NAHB that just dropped. And honestly, it confirms something I've been saying on this podcast for years.  Mentioned in this episode: Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/remodeling-surge-designers-cant-ignore 

In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise Kyle talks with husband and wife team Austin and Callie Cornell of MSC Enterprises They share how they run their remodeling business together balance family life improve their financial clarity and build smoother processes that support steady growth ----- Explore the vast array of tools, training courses, a podcast, and a supportive community of over 2,000 remodelers. Visit Remodelersontherise.com today and take your remodeling business to new heights! ----- Remodel Your Marriage, Life & Business Retreat – Feb 10-12, 2026 A three-day experience in Franklin TN designed for remodeling-business couples who want to strengthen their marriage, clarify their vision, and build a business that supports a thriving life together. Join Kyle and Sarah Hunt for meaningful conversations, practical sessions, and intentional time to reconnect and refocus for 2026. Sign up here! ----- Takeaways The importance of marriage in business partnerships. Transitioning business ownership requires open communication. Financial clarity is crucial for business growth. Hiring the right team members can alleviate stress. Understanding numbers leads to better decision-making. Having a dedicated office space enhances productivity. Saying no to projects that don't fit your business model is essential. Peer support groups can provide valuable insights. Flexibility in work allows for better family time. Continuous learning and adaptation are key to success. ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and History of Lee's Summit 04:06 Predictions for the Chiefs' Season 05:22 History and Overview of MSC Enterprises 07:34 Transitioning from Teaching to Working in the Business 11:55 Lessons Learned in Transitioning from One Generation to Another 15:35 Lessons in Understanding Financials and Charging Properly 19:33 The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers and Creating a Budget 25:51 The Impact of Leasing an Office Space 28:08 The Role of a Project Coordinator in Reducing Stress and Improving Accuracy 36:36 The Importance of Saying No and Focusing on What Works for Your Business 37:38 The Best Decision We've Ever Made 38:42 Finding Support and Encouragement 39:48 The Importance of Regular Meetings

Logan and Aaron unpack one of the most powerful but underused sales strategies in remodeling: assignment selling. Originally coined by Marcus Sheridan, this method bridges the gap between marketing and sales—by arming prospects with the right information before they ever get on a call. You'll learn how to apply this approach in your own sales process—whether it's sending project walkthroughs before a meeting, using content to pre-qualify leads, or walking clients through your website in real-time. If you've been creating great content but aren't sure how to use it to actually close deals, this episode will show you how.  What You'll Learn What assignment selling is (and isn't) Why content belongs in your sales process, not just your marketing How to reduce unqualified leads and shorten the sales cycle What kinds of content work best at different sales stages How to personalize resources based on each prospect The difference between automations vs one-on-one communication How to ask clients to consume content—without sounding pushy  Key Timestamps 00:00 – What is assignment selling (and why does it matter)? 03:00 – Mapping your sales process to identify content gaps 06:30 – The difference between marketing automation and sales enablement 12:30 – Why production quality matters in sales content 18:00 – Examples of content that actually move the sale forward 25:00 – What happens when a prospect doesn't do their assignment 32:00 – Using your website like a live sales deck 37:00 – Emotional buy-in vs logical overload 43:00 – How to map your process and assign content that supports it 48:00 – How CGN uses this strategy in their own sales calls

When employees don't see a clear path forward, they leave—it's that simple. Dave Scaturro, Vice President  & Director of Commercial Division at Alpine Painting shares how he & his team tackled this challenge by creating a comprehensive career ladder covering skills, safety, quality, culture, and leadership, then used feedback from his mastermind group of peer business owners to refine it over year and a half.  The result: a system that's transforming how his team thinks about growth and retention in the trades.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Hirebus

In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise Kyle Hunt sits down with Mark Dixon of Odd Fellows Contracting to unpack the stories and simple frameworks he uses to sell remodeling work without feeling salesy. Mark shares his four possible decisions script, his spaghetti dinner and tomato analogies for talking about price and bids, and how he uses feel felt found and psychological reciprocity to build trust. You will hear how a lifetime in remodeling and decades of sales training turned into a practical toolbox of one liners, questions, and stories you can swipe and adapt for your own sales process. ----- Ready to streamline your business and increase profits? Visit JobTreadto see how their all-in-one construction management software helps remodelers and builders simplify estimating, scheduling, job costing, and invoicing. Want to hear JobTread in action? Check out our upcoming January episode featuring stories from the JobTread Connect User Conference in Dallas. You'll hear directly from contractors who are using JobTread to boost profits, improve communication, and deliver a better client experience. ----- Explore the vast array of tools, training courses, a podcast, and a supportive community of over 2,000 remodelers. Visit Remodelersontherise.com today and take your remodeling business to new heights! ----- Takeaways Sales is a skill that requires continuous learning and practice. Storytelling is a powerful tool in sales to connect with clients. Understanding client needs is crucial for effective sales conversations. Empathy plays a significant role in building trust with clients. Using analogies, like making spaghetti, can clarify complex ideas. Having a toolbox of sales techniques helps in various situations. Addressing price objections with understanding can lead to better outcomes. Creating an upfront contract sets clear expectations for clients. The remodeling process often involves going backwards before moving forward. Professionalism in sales doesn't mean being overly formal; authenticity matters. ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mark Dixon and Odd Fellows Contracting 03:39 Mark's Journey in Remodeling and Personal Life 06:38 The Importance of Networking and Relationships in Business 09:28 Sales Strategies and Learning from Experience 12:43 The Role of Storytelling in Sales 15:50 Sales Tools: The Four Decisions and Upfront Contracts 18:40 Creative Sales Techniques: The Spaghetti Analogy 21:55 The Spaghetti Analogy: Understanding Client Needs 25:20 The Power of Storytelling in Sales 27:58 Comparing Remodeling Companies: The Tomato Analogy 32:06 Educated Homeowners: The Remodeling Landscape in 2025 34:43 Addressing Price Objections: Strategies for Success 40:49 Becoming a Professional Without Being Professional

Fresh off the 2025 Grand Summit Conference in Seattle, Molly sits down with Coach Eamon to debrief his first Summit experience with over 200 trades industry leaders. From Tiffani Bova's "Experience Mindset" keynote to the deeply resonant conversation on leadership and mental health with Rob Vallentine, they share observations on standout sessions, unexpected moments, and what makes this community so unique.Today's Podcast is brought to you by The Sherwin-Williams Company

Responding to an attendee who wants to share his experience at the Summit, Brian asks Ian and Randy what they liked about the event, and what they didn't. The crew shares their preferred details for installing windows in walls with continuous exterior insulation and opinions on insulating double-stud walls. We try to help a listener who is refinishing a basement that's been refinished before. Tune in to Episode 710 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:  The best of the 2025 FHB Summit  Installing windows in thick walls Strategies for finishing basements Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com.     ➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 710 ➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership ➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media:   Instagram • Facebook • TikTok • Pinterest • YouTube  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.

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