Blue-collar grit. White-collar systems. A path to freedom, presence, and legacy.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Mike Abramowitz, co-founder of Better Than Rich, to unpack what it truly means to move from constant hustle into a Time Rich life.

Mike shares his personal journey growing up in the trades, watching relentless work ethic come at the cost of presence, relationships, and emotional health - and how he chose to break that generational cycle. Together, they explore how business systems, emotional intelligence, nervous system regulation, and intentional leadership are inseparable when building something that lasts.

This conversation is for trades owners and operators who are tired of firefighting, want their time back, and are ready to build a business that fuels family, freedom, and legacy - not burnout.

What if your business could support your life instead of consuming it?

🔍 WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

• How trades leaders move from survival mode into predictable, scalable businesses
• The hidden cost of hustle culture on family, health, and legacy
• Emotional intelligence as a leadership skill, not a “soft” add-on
• The Time Rich Six Framework for buying back time and building systems
• Why implementation beats ideas, and how immersive “war rooms” accelerate growth

0:00 Intro

2:25 Growing Up in the Trades

5:16 Out of the Grind and into Creating a Predictable Business

13:12 Generational Legacy: Reparenting, Healing & Emotional Maturity

15:20 Buy Back Freedom for Inner Work and Emotional Health

21:41 Simple Emotional Intelligence Frameworks

24:42 Nervous System, Boredom & Creativity

30:36 The Time Rich Six Framework Explained

39:29 Why Immersion Beats Coaching

47:27 Books and Next Steps You Can Take

⭐RESOURCES The Time Rich Six Framework by Mike Abramowitz:

• Founder Lifestyle

1. Boundaries
2. Communication Guidelines

• Business Predictability

1. Systems
2. Playbooks
3. Team
4. Tech

🎁Complimentary Offer:

Mike will Build 4 Systems. 30 minutes. No Pitch.

Book your Call Today:

https://betterthanrich.com/gsd/

📚Books Recommended in this Episode:

• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
• Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
• The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

Mike Abramowitz is the co-founder of Better Than Rich, where he helps high-earning home service and trades business owners buy back their time, scale predictably, and lead with intention.

Drawing from his upbringing in the trades and decades of experience building systems-driven companies, Mike developed the Time Rich Six Framework, which blends business systems, AI-powered operations, and leadership boundaries to help owners grow past $5M without burnout.

Through immersive installs and proven playbooks, Mike has helped hundreds of businesses reclaim tens of thousands of hours - allowing owners to build profitable companies while staying present for family, health, and life.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeabramowitz1/ Website: https://betterthanrich.com/ Offer: https://betterthanrich.com/gsd/

💡 THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Like this video to help more trades leaders find it
• Comment with your biggest takeaway or challenge
• Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, systems, and legacy
• Share this episode with a fellow business owner who needs their time back
• Join The Craft & Calling Community for deeper conversations and resources

#CraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #TimeRich #SystemsThinking #BusinessSystems #LegacyBuilding #TradesBusiness #EmotionalIntelligence #BlueCollarLeadership #FounderLife #BusinessFreedom #HomeServices #ContractorLife #LeadershipDevelopment

You don’t need a studio. You just need your phone and your story.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Reuben Rock, one of the most trusted digital marketing voices in the home-services world, to talk about the shift every contractor, cleaner, and trades owner needs to prepare for, and why it starts with simple selfie-style videos shot on your phone.

Reuben breaks down why authentic, real-location videos outperform polished agency ads, how field technicians can become your best content engine, and why 2026 will be a turning point for marketing in the trades. He also shares the exact systems he used to scale home-service companies using iPhone ads, YouTube placements, and Google’s full ad ecosystem.

If you’re a trades leader who wants more leads, more clarity, and a marketing engine that feels human, you’ll take notes on this one.

🔍 WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

• Why selfie-style iPhone videos outperform highly produced ads
• How documenting jobs can give you unlimited marketing content
• Why most home-service companies will fall behind by 2026
• How YouTube + Google Ads can scale a trades business fast
• What creators in the trades are doing differently, and why it works

0:00 Intro

2:24 Youtube Ads being Reuben's secret weapon

5:25 How to start creating simple ads with your iphone selfie-style

10:37 Google Business Profile and documenting jobs

14:05 Elevator Pitch and How Trades Teams Can Document Work for Unlimited Content

17:56 Answer Engine Optimization for the trades and your business content

23:23 From yellow pages to Google Ads program: staying ahead of the game

26:34 How companies began to service trades businesses

30:54 How to get started on creating video content

37:38 Creating a 5 star experience for your customer

45:50 Referral partners and how to get them

https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

👤 GUEST BIO: REUBEN ROCK

Reuben Rock is a nationally recognized digital marketing expert and one of the leading Google Ads strategists in the home services industry. Praised by industry leaders: “probably the best Google Ads guy in the world right now,” according to Kasim Aslam. Reuben has spent more than 20 years running high-ROI campaigns for local service companies, national franchises, and Fortune 100 brands. Known for his integrated approach across search, video, and display, he now leads BookCleaningJobs.com, where he helps cleaning and home service businesses scale quickly using proven paid media systems and performance-driven strategy.

🔗 CONNECT WITH REUBEN ROCK

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reubenrock/ Company Website: https://gosearchparty.com/ Personal Website: https://reubenrock.com/ Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BookCleaningJobs

💡 THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Like the video
• Comment your biggest takeaway
• Subscribe for weekly episodes
• Join The Craft & Calling Newsletter
• Apply to be a guest on the show
• Share this episode with another trades leader

#CraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #HomeServiceBusiness #ConstructionBusiness #LegacyLeadership #HomeServicesMarketing #OperationsSystems #ContractorBusiness #BuildYourLegacy #ResultsMarketing #DigitalMarketingForContractors #ServiceBusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #ScaleYourBusiness

Legacy leadership starts with who you hire, how you develop them, and the mission you reinforce every day.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Sean Madole, a third-generation trades leader who has carried his family’s construction business forward since the 1970s. Together they dig into what actually scales a trades company: values-based hiring, culture-driven retention, systems that compound, and leadership that evolves as the business grows.

Sean shares what he has learned across decades: how to inspire teams, how to build a company people want to work for, how to use CRMs to grow value, and why the future of the trades belongs to leaders who can evolve.

• Hiring for mindset instead of desperation
• What actually keeps trades talent (and why it’s not just pay)
• How to build mission, culture, and daily leadership rhythms
• Systems that increase valuation and long-term stability
• Who leaders must become to build a business that lasts

0:00 Intro

1:02 Sean’s 3rd-generation story & company origins

2:40 Why developing people is the foundation of growth

5:18 Labor shortages & Retention strategies that actually work

14:17 Social media’s impact on culture & retention

16:14 Why CRMs and systems matter more than ever

23:22 Financial tools & processes that support scaling

27:16 Who leaders must become to build a legacy

⚒️JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY

https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

Sean Madole is a third-generation owner and president of Madole Construction, serving Nevada and Northern California since the 1970s. With 40+ years across three generations in the trades, Sean specializes in team development, operations, systems, and scaling high-trust construction teams.

🔗CONNECT WITH SEAN

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-madole-9a95475b/

Website: http://MadoleConstruction.com

💡THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Subscribe for weekly episodes
• Join The Craft & Calling Community
• Apply to be a guest (builders + owners welcome)
• Sign up for our free newsletter
• Follow us on TikTok & Instagram for daily clips

#TradesBusiness #ConstructionLeadership #CraftAndCalling #TeamCulture #LegacyLeadership #BlueCollarBusiness #HomeServicesGrowth #TradesPodcast

Bravery in the trades isn’t just about the work-it’s about showing up, telling your story, and owning your voice.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Todd Weyandt, marketing leader and host of the award-winning Bridging the Gap podcast, to explore the truth about personal branding in the trades - and why courage, storytelling, and authenticity matter more now than ever.

Todd breaks down how every business owner, operator, and trades professional already has a personal brand… the question is whether you’re shaping it intentionally or letting others define it for you. From reframing failure as innovation to building trust through vulnerability, this conversation is a blueprint for becoming a leader people actually want to follow.

• Why every trades professional already has a personal brand
• The difference between humility and hiding
• How to reframe failure as a superpower
• Why people connect with people, not companies
• How storytelling builds culture, trust, and legacy

⏱️ CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

1:20 Misconceptions in the construction industry

5:42 Why failure makes you better

13:38 Generational pressure + Millennials: "we don't know how to fail well"

17:00 Owning your personal brand

22:07 Leadership, legacy, and humanizing your company

29:01 Changing the story of construction

🛠️JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY

https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

👤 GUEST BIO: TODD WEYANDT

Todd Weyandt is a marketing leader and host of the award-winning Bridging the Gap Podcast, known for transforming complex construction and technology topics into clear, engaging insights. With over 15 years of experience, he helps teams connect strategy with real-world outcomes through storytelling and innovation.

🔗CONNECT WITH TODD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddweyandt/

Website: https://asti.com/

Podcast: https://bridgingthegappod.com/

💡THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Like the video
• Comment your biggest takeaway
• Subscribe for more episodes
• Join the newsletter
• Listen to the audio version on all major podcast platforms

#CraftAndCalling #ToddWeyandt #ConstructionPodcast #TradesLeadership #PersonalBranding #BridgingTheGap #ConstructionInnovation #AuthenticLeadership #BuildYourLegacy

Freedom comes when you stop running your business by memory and start running it by systems.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Courtney Boomer, systems expert and co-owner of multiple trades-based businesses, to talk about what it really takes to scale sustainably.

Courtney shares how she helped her husband’s coatings business go from chaos to a fully booked calendar - using CRMs, customer journey mapping, and streamlined communication. Together, they unpack the mindset shift from “doing it all” to building a legacy that runs smoothly without you.

If you’ve ever felt buried in calls, emails, and disorganization, this conversation will help you simplify, systematize, and scale - without losing your personal touch.

• How to implement systems that free up your time
• The role of CRMs like Housecall Pro, Jobber, and Drip Jobs in trades success
• Mapping your customer journey for better communication
• When to hire a bookkeeper or virtual assistant
• How marketing, operations, and culture work together to build a legacy

0:00 Intro

1:17 Courtney’s path from corporate burnout to entrepreneurship

3:15 Implementing CRMs: where to start and what tools to use

7:08 Bare Bones: Automating follow-ups and reminders for customer satisfaction

11:44 Customer journey and customer experience

14:10 Admin support and how to make marketing decisions based on real data

17:32 Clear schedules that are ideal for the team and clients

19:30 Creating a healthy company culture in small trades teams

22:20 How storytelling and authenticity build loyal customers

26:15 Courtney’s top three things every small business should do today

Courtney Boomer is the Founder and Director of ScaleUp with Courtney, where she helps entrepreneurs and small teams regain control over their businesses by implementing scalable, efficient systems.

With four kids five and under and a portfolio of businesses to manage, Courtney understands the importance of optimizing every minute. Over the past several years, she has worked with companies like Your Garage Floor Guys, scaling them by 50%+ year-over-year through smart automations and process optimization.

At ScaleUp CRM, she specializes in helping small teams streamline their operations, implement custom CRMs, and maximize potential using tools like ClickUp, Zapier, and more. Whether you need a systems audit, CRM build, or workflow optimization, Courtney’s mission is to help you work smarter, not harder.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyboomer/

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scaleup-with-courtney/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scaleupwithcourtney/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/court_boomer/

💡THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Subscribe to The Craft & Calling for more conversations with trades leaders
• Join our newsletter for exclusive tools and event invites
• Apply to be a guest if you’re building legacy in the trades
• Watch more episodes on our YouTube channel

#CraftAndCalling #TradesBusiness #SmallBusinessSystems #CRMforContractors #TradesLeadership #WomenInTrades #LegacyLeadership #HomeServicesMarketing #ConstructionPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #OperationalExcellence

Communication can build or break your business - let’s talk about building it stronger.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Ron Nussbaum, Founder and CEO of BuilderComs and host of the Construction Champions Podcast. A former U.S. Marine turned construction entrepreneur, Ron is on a mission to eliminate chaos in the construction industry through better communication, leadership, and systems.

Together, they unpack why communication breakdowns cost construction companies millions, how to build SOPs around trust and transparency, and why truth, not fear, creates the best customers. Ron also shares how veterans’ discipline, clear handoffs, and customer empathy can transform job sites into high-performing teams. If you’ve ever struggled with dropped handoffs, client misalignment, or frustrated crews, this episode is your blueprint for change.

🔍WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

• The #1 communication breakdown costing construction companies time, trust, and profit
• How to create smooth handoffs between sales and production that build customer confidence
• Why honesty and transparency are more powerful than perfect performance
• The role of leadership, systems, and emotional intelligence in building better teams
• How BuilderComs is changing the game for construction businesses through messaging-first technology

0:00 Intro

2:55 Why Communication is Construction’s Biggest Problem

6:04 Chaos Without Systems: Where Breakdowns Begin

9:32 Two Points Where Companies Drop the Ball Most

14:07 The Power of a Proper Handoff Between Sales & Production

20:49 Transferring Trust: How to Bridge Sales to Delivery

22:46 Emotional Connection and the Human Side of Construction

28:52 Truth Over Fear: Why Real Talk Wins the Right Clients

34:33 Eliminating Callbacks: The 10x–100x–1000x Cost Rule

39:42 Truth as a Brand Strategy and Leadership Practice

⭐RESOURCES

The 11 star experience talk by Airbnb Founder Brain Chesky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMvM3g0_ebA

⚒️JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY

https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

Founder of BuilderComs

U.S.M.C. Veteran

Host of the Construction Champions Podcast

BuilderComs is transforming the construction industry by addressing its most significant challenge: communication. We offer customizable systems and software designed to streamline project management, enhance client relationships, and eliminate inefficiencies.

Ron Nussbaum is the founder and CEO of BuilderComs, the messaging-first project management platform built specifically for construction teams. A former U.S. Marine turned entrepreneur, Ron is on a mission to end chaos in the construction industry by helping builders communicate better and build faster. He’s passionate about leadership, legacy, and creating tools that actually serve the people in the field.

🔗 CONNECT WITH RON

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-nussbaum/

Website: https://www.buildercoms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theronnussbaum/?hl=en

💡THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Watch Next: → [Previous Episode - Why Grit, Gratitude, and Faith Define Great Entrepreneurs: https://youtu.be/HVpn4zr-UpE
• Question for You: What’s one communication system you’re ready to fix in your business this week?

#CraftAndCalling #ConstructionLeadership #BuilderComs #RonNussbaum #CommunicationInConstruction #ConstructionChampions #TradesLeadership #BuildingLegacy #ConstructionBusiness #SystemsAndProcesses #LeadershipPodcast #Craftsmanship #BusinessGrowth #ChristeneMarie #EntrepreneurshipInTrades

Lead with Faith, Build with Systems.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Chad Gill, founder and owner of Laminin Coaching & VAs for Construction, to explore the mindset, failures, and faith that shape resilient leadership. They discuss deeper into how faith, structure, and servant leadership intersect in the trades. From building systems that free people, not trap them, to redefining success through impact, Chad shares how aligning values and operations creates lasting legacy. Through humor, humility, and practical wisdom, Chad shares how embracing failure, leading with gratitude, and grounding in faith can transform how we build companies and legacies.

• Building perseverance through personal and professional hardship
• How to use gratitude to break arrogance and stay teachable
• The real relationship between failure and success
• Faith, family, and the role of values in business leadership
• The power of community, coaching, and accountability
• How entrepreneurs can avoid isolation and ego-driven burnout

0:00 Intro

1:16 Chad's Background, Upbringing, and his time in VMI

8:00 “At least they can’t eat me”: Lessons in perspective from his dad

9:57 Defining perseverance and grit in leadership and business

14:40 The concept of the “Failabration” and why we should celebrate mistakes

17:00 The loneliness of leadership and the importance of vulnerability

19:49 What failure teaches leaders about coaching and empathy

25:38 Gratitude as the antidote to arrogance and burnout

30:12 Faith, Family, and getting good with God

37:11 Putting words and action into our core values

47:18 Coaching and Systems

51:20 6 Kinds of work: doing work you love

⚒️JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

President/Founder Laminin Coaching & VAs for Construction.

Chad Gill is a former contractor with 23+ years of hands-on experience in the construction industry. Now, as the founder Laminin Coaching & VAs for Construction, Chad helps leaders and their teams become AI-enhanced. By focusing on practical applications, he empowers organizations to leverage AI for better decision-making, improved workflows, and measurable results.

Chad is passionate about showing leaders that AI isn’t about complexity or futuristic technology-it’s about small, everyday actions that add up to huge impact.

🔗CONNECT WITH CHAD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-gill-99042a37/

Website: https://www.vas4construction.com/

💡THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Join The Craft & Calling Community – meaningful connection for trades leaders
• Subscribe for more episodes on craftsmanship, leadership, and legacy
• Join the Newsletter – stories, insights, and tools from leaders in the trades
• Think you’re a fit? Apply to be a guest on the show

#TheCraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #FaithInBusiness #GritAndGrace #LegacyBuilding #ConstructionLeadership #SmallBusinessGrowth #LeadershipPodcast #Craftsmanship #BlueCollarBusiness #GratitudeInLeadership #EntrepreneurStories #FailForward #PurposeDrivenWork

Because you can’t build legacy if you’re running your business blindfolded.

In this episode of The Craft & Calling, host Christene Marie sits down with Charles Leikauf, a seasoned CFO and financial educator who’s helped business owners scale sustainably by understanding the story behind their numbers.

Charles breaks down the difference between accountants, bookkeepers, and CFOs, and reveals why most trades businesses struggle not because of their work ethic, but because they’re driving blind when it comes to their finances.

Whether you’re still running payroll in envelopes or ready to scale beyond $5 million, this conversation will help you build financial clarity, not just revenue.

🔍WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

• Where small trades and service companies should start with financial systems
• The role of humility and delegation in building teams that scale
• How to align marketing, operations, and finance for long-term profitability
• The mindset shift from “working harder” to “working smarter” with data

0:00 Intro

1:44 Charles’s background and the $2 billion business turnaround

3:27 Why most small businesses operate “blindfolded”

7:10 How to start with QuickBooks and get your books right

12:45 When marketing costs more than your margin

15:20 Finance meets marketing: aligning cost per lead and profit

21:30 From owner to operator: how to hire and delegate

25:14 Humility, hiring, and learning to let go

29:17 Freedom, family, and building a business that lets you live

⚒️JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY https://thecraftandcalling.com/linktr/

👤 GUEST BIO: CHARLES LEIKAUF

Founder at Profit Surge Group

Fractional CFO at Ecommerce Profit Group

Charles Leikauf is a corporate finance executive turned accidental fractional CFO. After restructuring a $2 billion business and serving as CFO for another, he made the leap out of the corporate world to build a business on his own terms. Today, he leverages his deep financial expertise to help companies thrive as their trusted fractional CFO. Beyond client work, Charles also mentors accountants and bookkeepers, teaching them how to build their own path to time, location, and financial freedom-just as he did. 🔗CONNECT WITH CHARLES LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleikauf/ Website: https://profitsurgegroup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlesleikauf/ 💡THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

• Join the Craft & Calling Newsletter for more insights on leadership and craftsmanship
• Apply to Be a Guest on the show if you’re building something meaningful in the trades
• Subscribe to Craft & Calling on YouTube and follow us on TikTok for daily reels

#CraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #FractionalCFO #BusinessGrowth #FinancialClarity #EntrepreneurMindset #TradesBusiness #BlueCollarLeadership #ProfitOverRevenue #LeadershipDevelopment