Builders of Authority

What does it really take to turn years of hands-on experience into a content brand with nearly two million followers?In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, Adam McChesney sits down with Travis Collins, better known online as Tools by Design, to discuss his journey from finish carpenter and custom automotive shop manager to full-time content creator.Travis shares how Tools by Design started with content about renovating a 1941 home and eventually grew into a trusted source for tool news, reviews, remodeling projects, and practical advice.In this conversation, Adam and Travis discuss:• Why authenticity matters more than perfectly polished content• How consistency helped Travis build a loyal online audience• The personal investment and risk required to grow a content brand• How he chooses brand partnerships without losing credibility• The pressure of balancing contracts, creativity, and audience trust• Why imperfections and personality stand out in an AI-driven world• How delegation can help entrepreneurs focus on their highest-value work• Why creators and business owners need to stop overthinking and start publishingTravis also opens up about the criticism he faced when professionals did not initially take content creation seriously and explains how playing the long game ultimately created opportunities with some of the biggest brands in the tool industry.🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq🔗 CONNECT WITH TRAVIS: Facebook  https://bit.ly/4w3k5s6Instagram  https://bit.ly/4pAYCVbYoutube  https://bit.ly/4gvO07rTikTok  https://bit.ly/4gSGCTV✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.comBook a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/About me:I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing.I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.Built for the contractors the market keeps overlooking.#BuildersOfAuthority #ContractorMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness  #brandbuilding

Is your business actually growing if you can’t step away from it? In this episode, I’m getting real about the "Entrepreneurial Paradox": we build businesses for freedom, yet most of us struggle to truly disconnect and enjoy that freedom when it counts.I share the unfiltered story of a recent family trip to Disney that turned into a work nightmare, contrasted with how a subsequent trip to Mexico became a genuine turning point. If you’re constantly checking Slack, drowning in emails, or feeling like the only person who can solve your business's problems, this is for you.  We break down how to stop creating self-imposed chaos, why entrepreneur burnout prevention isn’t a luxury but a requirement, and the tactical steps you need to take to finally master the art of stepping away.In this video, you'll learn:- The "Vacation Trap": How your own habits and lack of planning keep you tethered to work during your time off.- Delegation Secrets: How to stop being a "solopreneur" and start acting like a CEO by empowering your team.- Strategic Boundaries: Practical ways to set expectations with your team and clients so your vacation remains a vacation.- The Science of Recovery: Why taking time away is actually the fastest way to accelerate your work-life balance for entrepreneurs and long-term performance.If you are ready to reclaim your time, build a system that runs without you, and avoid the burnout cycle, this conversation is your roadmap.✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.comBook a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/About me:I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing.I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.Built for the contractors the market keeps overlooking.#BuildersOfAuthority #ContractorMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness  #brandbuilding  #CEOlifestyle

Mark Steiniger, CFO and partner at Keil Excavating, discusses his transition from public accounting to leading his family's heavy civil contracting business. He provides insights into the complexities of inter-family business transitions, the strategic reasoning behind diversifying into commercial plumbing to derisk from earthwork volatility, and the importance of earning respect from long-term employees. This episode serves as a practical guide for business owners considering succession planning and those looking to grow through acquisition rather than starting from scratch.🔗 CONNECT WITH MARK: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3QVtuCKInstagram  https://bit.ly/4vNnmeYLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/448xDGwWebsite  https://bit.ly/4xZZGFx

Kira Andersen’s life took a drastic turn when her husband, Kyle, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer shortly after the birth of their third child. Refusing to accept a grim prognosis, Kira leveraged her background in medical and pharmaceutical sales to advocate for experimental treatments, securing "compassionate use" for a promising inhibitor. This intervention, now known as the "Kyle Anderson Regimen," granted their family an extra year of life together and is now saving other stage four patients. Today, Kira honors his memory by hosting the "Yes We Can" podcast and continuing a relentless mission to raise the final $1 million of a $3 million goal for targeted research at Siteman Cancer Center.🔗 CONNECT KIRA:DONATE: https://bit.ly/4oXPARLFacebook: https://bit.ly/4eTfwcjInstagram: https://bit.ly/4vJ7fPqLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4eZzT7TWebsite: https://bit.ly/4xZRKnXYoutube: https://bit.ly/4wlog22

Jimmy Vreeland is a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and full time real estate investor with a portfolio built through discipline, private money, and some hard lessons learned the expensive way.In this episode Jimmy walks through his journey from buying his first houses while deployed overseas to scaling to 120 properties and hitting a wall that forced him to rethink everything. He covers the four pillars of real estate wealth, who the ideal investor profile actually looks like, and why personal transformation is always at the center of business growth.Whether you're just getting into real estate or already scaling and feeling the cracks, Jimmy's story will give you both perspective and a practical framework to keep moving forward.🔗 Connect with Jimmy:https://ibuystl.com/Facebook: https://bit.ly/4oNeRh6Instagram: https://bit.ly/43ZX2SCLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4g19o4b

Ashley Burkeen is a serial entrepreneur with 12 years in general contracting, a regional Master Networks franchise, short-term rentals, a holistic skincare line, and a book to her name. In this episode she gets real about what it actually takes to build across multiple industries without losing yourself in the process.From networking and personal branding to failure, delegation, and self-awareness, Ashley brings a refreshingly honest perspective on entrepreneurship that goes way beyond hustle culture.If you're building something and feeling like you have to fit a mold that was never made for you, this one's worth your full attention.🔗 Connect with Ashleah:Facebook: https://bit.ly/4uTYZuMInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abauthentically/Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@authenticallyab

Brandon Fuchs brings over 20 years of construction experience and $100 million in managed projects to this conversation. As the founder of the Elite Builder Society, he's on a mission to cut the contractor failure rate by tackling the root cause: fear and a lack of business fundamentals.In this episode we cover why so many skilled contractors stay stuck, how AI is transforming the front end of construction businesses, and what a real sales framework looks like when you lead with authority and confidence.Whether you're just starting out or trying to scale past a ceiling you can't explain, Brandon's perspective will challenge how you think about your business and yourself.🔗 Connect with Brandon:https://ebsworks.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561208851660Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach/

Most people use a pandemic as an excuse to wait. Jeremy Wolf used it to launch. In March 2020, with the world shutting down, he started Stay Cool Climate Control from scratch and turned it into one of the most recognized HVAC brands in St. Louis.In this episode, Jeremy breaks down how he built a standout brand in a crowded market, made the shift from technician to business owner, and learned to trust a team so the business could grow without him. If you own a service business or work in the trades, this one is worth your time.Book a FREE marketing audit for your business: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/Apply to be a guest on the podcast:https://buildauthority.com/learning-hub/contractor-marketing-podcast/

Most contractors stay stuck swinging a hammer for 90 hours a week because they never make the jump from operator to owner. Trant, a third-generation carpenter based in Nottingham, New Hampshire, almost did. Then his wife told him they were having a kid, and everything changed.In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, host Adam McChesney sits down with Trant to break down exactly how he went from solo contractor to building a custom deck and outdoor living company on track to hit $20M in annual revenue, and why niching down to decks (instead of being a master of all trades) was the single biggest unlock.What we cover:– Why niching down to decks streamlined his estimating, SOPs, and office operations– The mindset shift from contractor to business owner — and the audiobooks and mentors that drove it– How becoming a dad forced him to build a company that could run without him on every job site– The marketing stack that built the brand: vehicle wraps, Google Ads, Google Business Profile, and targeted neighborhood mailers– Why hiring a virtual assistant was one of the highest-ROI moves he made– His 5-year plan: $20M in revenue and a dedicated outdoor living design center– How to delegate the tasks outside your expertise so you can focus on growth🔗 CONNECT: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.com

Quitting a stable paycheck to build something of your own is the hardest decision most future business owners ever make. In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, host Adam McChesney sits down with Michael Schieffer, a former commercial loan officer who spent 10 years inside the banking world before walking away in April 2023 to build three businesses of his own.Today Michael runs a real estate flipping operation (16+ flips and counting), an Exit Factor franchise that helps business owners increase valuation and step out of the operator seat, and a Two Maids cleaning franchise in St. Charles that he runs as an owner, not an operator. That distinction is the entire point of this conversation.What we cover:– Why "golden handcuffs" keep so many high earners stuck in jobs they've outgrown– What 10 years of writing commercial loans taught Michael about why businesses fail– The owner vs. operator framework — and how to structure a business so it doesn't depend on you– How Michael completed 16+ real estate flips while still holding down a W2– Why "time freedom" became the real driver behind leaving banking– The 80/20 content rule for building authority without becoming a full-time creator– How to position your business for a higher exit valuation 5+ years before you sellIf you've been sitting at a desk wondering if it's time to make the jump, or you're already running a business and trying to step out of the day-to-day, this episode lays out the mindset and the mechanics.🔗 CONNECT: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.com

After years of adding complexity, multiple agencies, multiple locations, a lawsuit — I'm done overcomplicating things.In this video I'm walking you through my new office setup at Adventure Unknown, why I made the move, and the exact way I've structured my environment to do better work in less time.I'll walk you through:👉 Why I traded a 10-minute commute for a 30-minute one — and why it was still the right move👉 How I structured one space to handle daily work, YouTube, and podcasting without reinventing my setup every day👉 Why batching content changed everything for my output👉 The case for simplifying your business before adding anything newIf you're a business owner who feels like your days are running you instead of the other way around, this one might hit home.🔗 CONNECT: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.com

Most contractors think social media is a waste of time. John McDonald proved them wrong, with 400K followers on Facebook, 315K on Instagram, and a multi-million dollar business that grows because of his personal brand, not in spite of it.Adam McChesney sits down with John McDonald, founder of Fab Tech Solutions, to break down how a Navy vet who started with $4,000 in the bank built a massive personal brand and a thriving business — without ever chasing viral trends or following a content playbook.What we cover:- How John went from the Navy to running a multi-million dollar machinery business- Why his content about a barndominium and a pond exploded — and what contractors can learn from it- How a personal brand acts as a silent sales rep that builds trust for years before a follower becomes a client- The "fire yourself" framework — how to delegate so your business can scale without you- Why being great at a trade doesn't mean you should own the business- The content habit every contractor should build before worrying about algorithmsIf you're a contractor who thinks personal branding isn't for you — John McDonald's story will change your mind.🔗 CONNECT: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.com

If your painting business can't run without you, you don't have a business. You have a job.Adam McChesney sits down with Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, to break down exactly how painting contractors go from overwhelmed owner-operators to running a scalable business with a real leadership team and hitting $1M+ in revenue without being on every job site.Chris has coached painting contractors across North America since 2018, released 250 straight weeks of podcast episodes, and built a firm with 8 advisors. He knows exactly where contractors get stuck — and how to fix it.What we cover:- How to systematize your painting business so it runs without you- The leadership team every contractor needs to break past $1M- Why a 50% gross profit margin is the benchmark — and how to hit it- Sales and estimating strategies that close more jobs faster- The coaching framework that pays for itself within 90 days- How to transition from residential repaints into commercial work🔗 CONNECT: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.com