271. How To Land $100K+ Projects Without Bidding Against Competitors - John Malanchuk

To learn more about Breakthrough Academy, click here: https://trybta.com/EP271 Get a copy of John’s slide deck here: https://trybta.com/DL271 If you’re relying on leads coming in… you’re already behind.In this episode, Breakthrough Academy Member John Malanchuk breaks down a proven approach to business development for contractors; one that goes beyond marketing and sales, and focuses on building real relationships that generate consistent, high-value work.Drawing from nearly 20 years in the commercial painting space and five years in the Breakthrough Academy contractor coaching program, John shares exactly how he:Builds long-term relationships with decision-makers (not just bids against competitors)Lands $100K+ projects through simple, repeatable outreachUses networking, presentations, and follow-ups to create predictable revenueTurns one meeting into multiple project opportunitiesStructures his CRM and pipeline to stay organized and consistentThis isn’t theory—it’s a boots-on-the-ground system you can start using immediately, whether you're in commercial or residential contracting. Key Takeaways:Business development is proactive relationship building, not reactive sellingThe goal is to get in before projects go to bid and become the trusted go-toConsistency beats intensity—just a few hours per week can transform your pipelineYour network is your biggest asset—leverage suppliers, GCs, and existing contactsFollow-up is everything (and most contractors fail here)00:00-Intro03:10-Target Diverse Commercial Verticals 11:40-Residential Business Development Strategies 16:36-Effective Practical Networking Tactics 20:28-Key Success Tracking Metrics 23:30-Avoiding Common Followup Mistakes 28:19-Real World Project Examples 38:46-Implementing CRM Pipeline Systems