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Contractor Evolution

Contractor Evolution

Written by: Breakthrough Academy
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Breakthrough Academy presents Contractor Evolution.

In this show we unpack the systems, tactics, and skills you need to take your fast-growing contracting business to the next level.

If you’re here to learn what it takes to scale up, work less, and increase profitability, you’ve come to the right place.

Stay tuned to learn what separates the new breed of contractor from the old school, and welcome to your ultimate guide to the business of contracting.

Copyright 2025
Art Economics Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 289. How To Dominate AI Search Results (For Home Services) - Phil Risher
    Sep 9 2026

    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP289


    Get a free contractor Lead Source Attribution template and example here: https://trybta.com/DL289


    While contractors and construction business owners are busy scrambling to get our websites ready for AI search, Phil Risher is asking a much bigger question: Will your website even matter in 3 years?


    Phil is a digital marketing specialist who works exclusively with contractors.


    He's been watching in real time as AI search puts an end to everything we thought we knew about modern marketing.


    Traffic is dwindling. SEO is changing. And websites... well, they might be dying.


    Instead, Phil says AI agents will dominate contractor digital marketing strategies in just a few years.


    In today's episode, Phil shares his predictions, what they mean for the construction industry, and what you need to start building today to survive the next decade.


    00:00-Intro

    02:03-Recent AI Shifts

    03:41-Changing Website Traffic

    07:32-Measuring Marketing Success

    12:43-Gathering Customer Data

    24:25-Building Trusted Brands

    31:38-Evolving Ad Landscape

    34:56-Selecting Right Agencies

    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • 288. The REAL Impact Of AI in Construction [And How To Prepare] - DJ Carroll
    Sep 2 2026

    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP288


    When ChatGPT released in 2022, we all knew the start of a new era in tech was coming.


    But we couldn't possibly comprehend just how much our industry was about to change.


    Although robotics are a few years away from replacing field labor, pretty much every other area of a contracting business has been totally disrupted.


    Today, I've brought on DJ Carroll, a former contractor known for scaling home service companies through disciplined AI and automation, to share his opinions on where the industry is now, where it's headed, and the skills and concepts we HAVE to understand if we want our businesses to survive what he calls the next industrial revolution.


    This is not a philosophical conversation. DJ gives some real, actionable advice any contractor can implement in the next week.

    Learn more about DJ Carroll: https://carroll.media/about/


    00:00-Intro

    04:12-Hype Versus Reality

    08:28-AI Adoption & Memory Capacity

    19:43-Marketing Use Cases

    28:32-Building AI Ads

    34:50-Adopting Voice Services

    40:17-Creating Company SOPs

    45:23-Upcoming AI Advancements

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    56 mins
  • 287. How To Run Projects Like a $34M Contractor - Caleb George, Scott Kelley, Jordan Coolidge
    Aug 26 2026

    To get the Project Management resource bundle, click here: https://trybta.com/DL287


    To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP287


    Caleb George produces $34M in projects with just three project managers.


    Scott Kelley’s team can run a million dollar project without asking him a single question.


    What do these two builders have in common? Exceptional project management systems.


    In this roundtable discussion, I sat down with Caleb George of Chris George Custom Homes, Scott Kelley of Evolution Design Build, and Jordan Coolidge from Buildertrend to break down the difference between projects that run profitably without owner involvement and projects that require constant firefighting to cross the finish line.


    Caleb and Scott are Breakthrough Academy Members who have worked with their coaches and contractor community group to achieve exceptional results. To learn more about becoming a Breakthrough Academy Member, click here: https://trybta.com/EP287


    Check out Buildertrend: https://buildertrend.com/


    Learn more about Chris George Custom Homes: https://www.chrisgeorgecustomhomes.com/


    Learn more about Evolution Design Build: https://evobuildgroup.com/


    00:00-Intro

    07:37-Biggest Contractor Issues

    09:59-Broken Process Signs

    15:38-Defining PM Roles

    26:18-Implementing Balanced Accountability

    35:49-Optimizing Project Communication

    57:51-Streamlining Planning Capacity

    1:12:11-Advice for Contractors

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 18 mins
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