The Contractor Fight with Tom Reber – Details, episodes & analysis

Tim and Derek discuss a common pitfall in the contracting world: "Ostrich Management." If you’ve ever avoided addressing a tough conversation or postponed a crucial task, you might be guilty of this mindset. But don’t worry—Tim and Derek are here to help you break free from this cycle and take control of your business.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The concept of "ostrich management" as a tendency to avoid uncomfortable situations in hopes they'll resolve on their own. They explain why this approach often harms contractors' businesses and personal lives.
• From meeting deadlines to managing finances, Tim and Derek share real-life stories about how ignoring responsibilities can lead to bigger problems. They emphasize how taking action on things like IRA funding and managing 1099s can secure a better financial future.
• The “mirror method,” a self-reflective practice for identifying personal issues and areas for growth. This powerful technique encourages contractors to take accountability by facing the person in the mirror.
• The "Ohio Method"—Only Handle It Once—to help contractors manage paperwork and tasks more effectively. This approach reduces clutter and increases productivity by dealing with items immediately rather than putting them off.

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review!

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

In this episode, Tom and Derek discuss highlights and key takeaways from the recent Mile High Profit Summit (MHPS) 2024. They delve into the community’s strength, gratitude, and the importance of actionable tactics learned at the summit. Together, they recount unforgettable sessions from prominent speakers like Tommy Mello, Marcus Sheridan, and special guest Linda Alvarado. For contractors aiming to take their businesses to the next level, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable strategies.

• 00:00 – Intro: Recap of MHPS 2024, community impact.
• 00:25 – Discussing the importance of action and applying learnings.
• 01:06 – Derek on MHPS’s supportive, welcoming environment.
• 03:19 – Tom reflects on MHPS’s final event and future plans.
• 05:02 – First-time attendees feel embraced by the community.
• 07:07 – Derek shares successful sales strategies, including "Shin-Fu" session.
• 12:57 – Highlights from Tommy Mello and Marcus Sheridan’s impactful advice.
• 17:07 – Introduction of the War Room program for scaling businesses.
• 28:43 – Tom presents the Impact Award to Uncle Roy.
• 32:35 – Tom and Derek discuss gratitude’s impact on relationships and branding.
• 36:20 – Recap of actionable strategies for contractors.
• 40:35 – Final thoughts on MHPS, expressing gratitude and encouragement.

💰 50% Gross Profit Worksheet

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== Join BATTLEGROUND ==

Your go-to program for contractor success, with focus areas in Leadership, Communication, and Numbers.

Learn More

== Get the Gear ==

Check out The Contractor Fight gear here: Gear Store

== Connect on Social Media ==

YouTube: Tom Reber’s Channel

Instagram: Follow Us

== Rate the Podcast ==

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Mentioned in this episode:

Be on the Contractor Intervention! - https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

Neil Kristianson, the CEO of The Contractor Fight, sits down for a round-table discussion with BATTLEGROUND coaches Aaron Harshaw and Tim Cutroni to discuss what’s happening in the contracting industry right now. They discuss the tough challenges contractors are facing in 2024, from dry spells in sales to the shifting market dynamics and how to stay strong in a competitive market. They also share the current state of their businesses and give practical advice for contractors looking to navigate this tricky year.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro

[00:41] - Aaron’s bio and his contracting business

[01:20] - Tim’s bio and the current state of his business

[04:00] - Aaron’s experience of a sales dry spell from Q1 to Q2

[05:50] - The mindset shift needed to stay positive in tough times

[07:12] - Mindset differences in contractors within BATTLEGROUND vs. outside it 

[09:57] - How Aaron overcame the dry spell in his business

[11:48] - Advice for struggling contractors

[13:40] - Stories of recent wins from BATTLEGROUND members

[17:44] - Aaron, Tim, and Neil’s plan for 2025

[22:29] - Wrap-up

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify 

Mentioned in this episode:

Be on the Contractor Intervention! - https://thecontractorfight.com/intervention

Many times, prospects really want to use your service, but they hesitate to make the deal because they lack trust and think somebody is going to take advantage of them. This lack of trust makes it hard to convince them to go ahead. That’s why, to help them say yes,  you need to show them you’re trustworthy so they can feel comfortable in making the deal. 

Tim and Derek are here to teach you how to gain that trust. They discuss the importance of making the client feel important in order to gain their trust.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Gaining your client’s trust to have an honest conversation about their needs and budget

• How to sense when the trust has been gained in a conversation

• Examples of questions that can be asked to build trust 

• How Tim and Derek built trust with their clients

• Making the clients feel important by listening to them and understanding their needs

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Are you struggling to close leads? Are you unable to convert prospects into customers? It’s because there’s a trust issue — and sales are about trust! Trust is one of the biggest factors that holds contractors back from converting leads into sales. Tom is here to help you build trust with the prospects you’re talking to and reduce the number of sales objections you’re going to get. Because when you increase trust, it will minimize all the issues and, in turn, increase your sales

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro – Ways to increase trust and convert more leads

[02:19] - Create value through free educational content

[05:47] - Communicate immediately to build trust

[07:08] - Understand and connect to the client’s motive

[08:35] - Closing remarks

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

What is the most dangerous thing in your life? Other people? Accidents? Past trauma? Today, Steve tells you that you may be the most dangerous thing in your life. He shares how you may be your biggest villain by not adapting and staying stuck in unhealthy patterns, but you're also the best hope for yourself and your salvation — if you want to live the life you want, you have to take action to improve yourself.

In this episode, Steve discusses:

• Example of how you are your own worst enemy

• Your choices can either destroy you or elevate you

• Breaking the cycle of poor business practices

• Choosing between the pain of staying the same or taking action and making changes

• Taking action daily and investing in things that will give you a big return in the future

• The difference between successful and unsuccessful people

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Have you ever experienced a situation where important documents sit on your desk for far too long without any action being taken? Why does this happen? Is it a personal problem, or is it a procedure problem?

Tim shares with Derek the story of a thank you letter he received from a client months ago that got buried under other tasks on his desk because of oversight. They discuss how it becomes easy for things to slip through the cracks, the root cause of the oversight – personal and procedure problems – and how it impacts your business.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Story of thank you letter Tim received from a client but hadn't responded to it

• People problem and procedure problem and how they impact your business

• Importance of accountability and prioritization

• Importance of having procedures in place to avoid mistakes

• How to properly handle mistakes caused by oversight

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

Knowing your number is essential for any contractor who wants to stay profitable, but it may be intimidating for many who don’t know how to do it properly. Tom is here to make it much more manageable and less daunting for you. He shares three important things you can do to make knowing your numbers much easier.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Importance of knowing your numbers

[01:37] - Keeping your financials up to date

[02:15] - How to manage your finances: QuickBooks

[03:32] - Hire a bookkeeper

[04:18] - Have regular money meetings

[06:32] - Set and track KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

[07:08] - Important KPIs to track

[08:57] - Job costing every project

[10:25] - Wrap-up

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

As the new year unfolds, it brings with it a fresh start, a chance to reflect on the past and make new goals, and new commitments for yourself and your business. Today, Tim and Derek talk about new year commitment. They want you to start the new year strong by committing to your business goals, creating a better lifestyle for yourself and your team, and staying consistent with your goals. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• Staying focused and committed to your business goals in the new year

• Advice for people who are having a rough time with their business

• Setting clear goals and mapping out your vision for the new year

• Scheduling your calendar for how you will spend your time during the slower months

• Making sure to stick to your schedule through consistency — even when unmotivated

• Use slower periods for self-improvement and learning new skills 

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify

How was 2023 for you? Did you achieve your goals? Was it great? Or was it rough? Whatever your experience was in 2023, you definitely want to make 2024 the best business year yet. Today, Tom guides you through how you can win bigger in 2024. He shares three questions that you can ask yourself to make 2024 the best business year you've ever had in your life.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro - How to win bigger in 2024

[00:35] - Questions to ask to be successful in 2024 

[00:44] - What needs to happen

[02:45] - What got in the way of your goal in 2023

[04:28] - What will you do differently in 2024

[05:15] - Wrap-up

Resources:

💰 You didn’t become a contractor to struggle financially. Download our worksheet and start calculating a 50% gross profit on every job. It’s time to get your shit together! https://thecontractorfight.com/50/ 

💸 Grab your copy of our FREE Contractors Guide to Spotting Cheap Prospects here: https://thecontractorfight.com/cheap 

== Join us in BATTLEGROUND ==

Everything your contracting business needs in one comprehensive program with three main focus areas: Leadership, Communication, and Numbers. For more info, check out: https://TheContractorFight.com/Battleground 

== Get your questions answered and connect with other contractors building stronger businesses in The Contractor Fight: https://thecontractorfight.com/facebook 

== Grab the Gear ==

https://gear.thecontractorfight.com/ 

== Find Us on Social Media ==

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TomReber 

Instagram: https://thecontractorfight.com/ig 

== Rate the Podcast ==

Help your fellow contractors find the podcast! Please leave a rating/review! 

Apple Podcasts  

Spotify