Builder Stories

“In late 2007, the market started going wonky, and homes were sitting unsold. We were holding a property, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re in trouble.’” In this episode of Builder Stories, Paul Kocharhook recalls the turning point that reshaped his approach to construction. As the 2007 housing market started to collapse, Paul felt the pressure as homes sat longer on the market and prices began to drop. Then, a surprising opportunity came his way: an invitation to join the American Lung Association’s Master Home Environmentalist program. Through this eight-week course, Paul learned about toxins, allergies, and the potential health impacts of construction materials. This new perspective transformed his approach to remodeling. Instead of just focusing on energy efficiency, Paul went a step further—selecting wool carpets, no-VOC paints, and other health-conscious materials for his project. This wasn’t mainstream back then, and the community noticed. People were talking, excited by the innovative approach. And in a market where homes lingered for months, Paul’s home sold in just seven days. Here’s the question: Are you willing to go the extra mile to truly stand out, even in a tough market? #BuilderStories #HealthyHomes #MarketDifferentiation #ConstructionInnovation

“I charged them $500,000 for the job, but it cost me $850,000 to produce. That was my first $350,000 loss.” In this episode of Builder Stories, guest James Miller shares a raw and humbling account of his business hitting rock bottom. After losing over half a million dollars on two jobs, James found himself buried in debt, taking out quickie loans, and facing daily payments. Things got worse when his right-hand guy, who was on salary, took seven weeks off, costing the business an additional $300,000. James describes the moment when his wife, a spreadsheet whiz, laid out just how deep a hole they were in. The weight of it hit him hard—head hung, depressed, and defeated. But after two days of feeling the weight, he turned to sheer dogged determination to pull himself out. As James puts it, "Courage and stupidity look a lot alike. I’ll let you decide which it was." Here’s the question: When everything goes south, do you have the determination to keep fighting? #BuilderStories #Entrepreneurship #OvercomingFailure #Determination #BusinessLessons

“There are guys out there doing ten million dollars in work, but they’re not bringing in as much profit as we are. Why would you do that much work for so little money?” In this episode of Builder Stories, Nick Sammons highlights a key lesson in the construction industry: It’s not just about how much work you do, it’s about knowing your numbers and holding the line on your worth. Too often, contractors are quick to offer discounts or drop their prices just to land a job. But Nick stresses the importance of understanding your value and being confident in your pricing. Instead of caving when a customer asks for a discount, Nick suggests offering to adjust the scope or change something to meet their budget—without undercutting your worth. It’s all about being strategic, not just chasing volume for the sake of it. Here’s the question: Are you ready to stand firm on your pricing and value, or are you leaving money on the table? #BuilderStories #KnowYourWorth #ProfitOverVolume #BusinessGrowth #SmartPricing

“Every moment is a marketing moment.” In this episode of Builder Stories, Nick Sammons shares how video has become a game-changer throughout every step of his business. From the moment a potential client fills out a form on the website, Nick is using video to make that personal connection. Right away, he sends a video of himself—smiling, excited, and explaining the next steps. Clients are seeing his face and getting a feel for his energy before they’ve even spoken on the phone. But it doesn’t stop there. Nick’s team captures every stage of the project on video, following the advice of Tom Reber: every moment is a marketing moment. Whether it’s behind-the-scenes shots or polished project profiles, video is the key to creating content that connects and engages. Here’s the question: Are you using every opportunity to turn your process into a marketing moment? #BuilderStories #VideoMarketing #ClientConnection #EveryMomentCounts

“I injured myself installing a tile backsplash, and that’s when it hit me: I can’t do this alone.” In this episode of Builder Stories, Nick Sammons recalls the moment that changed his approach to business. After spending an entire day standing on his toes over a countertop, he thought he had broken his foot. That injury sparked a realization: if he was going to build something bigger, he couldn’t do it by himself. Nick took a loss on that job but made a pivotal move—he hired subcontractors to help. And that’s when he realized the power of bringing in help to scale his business. Here’s the question: Are you ready to stop doing it all alone and start building a team to help you grow? #BuilderStories #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #TeamBuilding #ScalingBusiness

“I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad during furlough and thought, ‘I need to get into sales or start a business.’” In this episode of Builder Stories, Nick Sammons shares how a book and a global pandemic completely changed the trajectory of his life. After reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Nick decided to challenge himself by jumping into sales—specifically door-to-door roofing sales, right in the middle of COVID. He quickly realized he had the skills to sell, manage, and lead. But when he discovered unethical practices at the roofing company, he knew it was time to move on. With just $2,000 left in the bank, Nick took a leap of faith. He told his wife he was going to start his own business. Her response? “Why don’t you get a real job?”—a totally valid concern at the time. Now, she couldn’t be more grateful they took the plunge. Nick dove in headfirst, and that’s how his journey as a business owner truly began. Here’s the question: Are you ready to bet on yourself, even when others might not see the vision yet? #BuilderStories #Entrepreneurship #BetOnYourself #LeapOfFaith

Now that we're a couple of years in, I spent $200 on mics, $11 on a phone stand, and $10 a month on CapCut for editing—and that’s all it takes." In this episode of Builder Stories, Nick Sammons breaks down the simplicity of creating quality content for his business. With just a few budget-friendly tools, he’s been able to drastically improve his videos without breaking the bank. For Nick, it’s all about making smart, one-time investments (like better mics) and using affordable tools like CapCut to add that extra polish to his content. It’s a reminder that you don’t need to spend thousands to make a big impact. With a little creativity and a few smart choices, you can produce professional-looking content for next to nothing. So, here’s the question: What’s stopping you from leveling up your content with just a small investment? #BuilderStories #ContentCreation #BusinessGrowth #DIYMarketing

"I started my business with the idea that I would grow this thing to make an income most people dream of. But by the end of that first year, I was working long hours, injured, and thinking, 'People don’t go into business to work harder for way less money.'" In this episode of Builder Stories, Nick Sammons opens up about the harsh reality many new business owners face. He had big dreams when he started his contracting business, but soon found himself overworked, underpaid, and frustrated. That’s when Nick turned to YouTube, searching for advice on how to run a contracting business, and came across Tom Reber from The Contractor Fight. Tom’s no-nonsense approach hit Nick like a wake-up call. It was straight talk—track your numbers, and if you’re not making real money, what’s the point? The tough-love style reminded Nick of his high school football coach, telling it like it is and pushing him to be better. It was the push he needed to stop running his business on autopilot and start taking control of its future. Here’s the question: Are you ready to stop working harder for less and start taking charge of your business? #BuilderStories #TheContractorFight #BusinessGrowth #WakeUpCall

“Three simple words: Trust and release.” In this episode of Builder Stories, Stephen Carlson shares the secret to breaking free from the daily grind and scaling your business: trust your people and release them to do their job. Once you’ve put the right systems and processes in place and trained your team, it’s time to step back and let them own it. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in a never-ending Groundhog Day. Stephen urges builders not to be intimidated by the idea of systematizing. It doesn’t mean you need 200 SOPs by next week—just start small. Document what you know now, and each step forward will put you ahead of the game. Here’s a big takeaway: Sometimes, the biggest limitation is our own mindset. If you think you’ll never grow, you’re the one holding yourself back. So, the real question is: Are you ready to trust your team and release control so your business can grow? #BuilderStories #TrustAndRelease #SystemsAndProcesses #Leadership #GrowthMindset #EntrepreneurMindset #MindsetMatters #BusinessGrowth #TrustYourTeam #Construction

“I took the last $2,000 we had in our bank account and told my wife, ‘I’m going to start a business.’” In this episode of Builder Stories, guest Nick Sammons shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to building his own business. It all started when he was just 14, working summers at a wrought iron door and window company where his mom was employed. Spending long hours cleaning, prepping, and eventually installing heavy doors, Nick learned the value of hard work early on. His path wasn’t a straight line—after studying kinesiology at the University of Tennessee, he applied to physical therapy schools, but nothing seemed to click. So, he went back to the job he knew, installing doors. But when he hit a ceiling there, Nick started searching for more. He moved on to a bath fitting company and quickly worked his way up to production manager, even though he felt unqualified. Then, COVID hit. Supply chains collapsed, and Nick was furloughed. During this downtime, he read Rich Dad Poor Dad and had a realization: he was tired of relying on someone else for a paycheck. He wanted to take control of his future, but he wasn’t sure where to start. He decided to dive into sales, thinking it would be the perfect challenge, and even started door-knocking in the middle of the pandemic. When unethical practices at his sales job forced him to leave, Nick had a choice to make. He knew how to do the work, manage it, and sell it. So, with just $2,000 left, he told his wife he was starting his own business. Her initial response? “Why don’t you get a real job?” But Nick didn’t back down. He took the leap, and today, his wife is grateful he did. Here’s the question: Are you ready to bet everything on yourself, even when the odds seem stacked against you? #BuilderStories #Entrepreneurship #BetOnYourself #NeverSettle