Glorified Carpenter

Meet Russ Barstow. Remember the name—because you’ll definitely remember the story. I don’t use the term “self-made” loosely. Very few people earn that label in my book, and Russ is one of them. Russ spent years searching for purpose. He found it in the mountains, through hiking. Construction, at first, was simply a way to make a living—to subsidize that purpose. But like most of us, it only takes a couple of meaningful projects and a few incredible clients to pull you all the way in. Changing people’s lives through the homes we build is a drug in itself. What I love most about this story is that Barstow is a true husband-and-wife team. Russ and Sue set boundaries between work and life. They set goals together—years out. They check in with each other. Their personal finish line aligns with their clients’ finish line. No shortcuts. No favorites. Because without their personal happiness and success, there is no Barstow. And without that, there is no construction. I love Russ and Sue’s priorities and their approach to life and business.
I hope you enjoy their story as much as I did. Learn more about Ep. 28 Guest: @barstowconstruction www.barstowconstruction.com Project size: * Customs: $2.5-5,000,000 * Renovations range: $100,000 to $500,000 * Additions approaching 1,000,000 depending on the home. Projects per year. 3 to 6 including new construction some commercial end renovations/ additions. Yearly revenue - $600-850,000 best estimate. Depends on the year for sure. Employees - Just Sue and Russ and a long term site cleanup guy who is awesome. 🎥 YouTube Series: #RoadTrip
Video Series —walking sites and talking shop— EARLY 2026
 Find my YouTube channel: @heresjohnnyh *link is in bio Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW @apple @spotify @youtube Sponsors: www.durationmillwork.com  @durationmouldingandmillwork  www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com @hdpocketdoors Local Sponsor: www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs! @HireSmooth

Black Boots Builders is a hidden gem in Pittsburgh, PA. I’m grateful I had the chance to spend three days with David—meeting him, his crew, and walking his job sites. He didn’t disappoint. His story, his execution, his team, and even Pittsburgh itself—I loved all of it. Dave has an incredible story, and we dig into how it all started, focusing on the small moments that had the biggest impact on his growth, timelines, and execution. He’s built some amazing projects, but the most impressive thing he’s built is his team—and he’d agree. Black Boots is a near 50/50 mix of management and hands-on carpentry, and it’s the perfect recipe for the highly technical projects they’re bringing to life. This is Dave’s story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🎥 YouTube Series: #RoadTrip
Video from the weekend—walking sites and talking shop—drops for the holidays.
Find my YouTube channel: @heresjohnnyh Project size: $500K - $20Million + Project per year: 4-6 projects per year Yearly Revenue: $8million to $10million Employees: 12 Learn more about Ep. 26 Guest: @blackbootsbuilders Blackbootbuilds.com Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW @apple @spotify @youtube Sponsors: www.durationmillwork.com  @durationmouldingandmillwork  www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com @hdpocketdoors Local Sponsor: www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs! @HireSmooth

Stan Romanek is the kind of contractor you’d want running your own home renovation or addition — someone who values the craft, enjoys being in the mix every day with his bags on, and leads by example with his two-man crew. Stan’s true to his word and consistently overdelivers. We get into how he stays so dialed in on his numbers for fixed-price work and schedule durations — especially since most of his projects involve homeowners living in the house during construction. He’s also been smart about keeping his scopes tight and his crew size manageable. And here’s the kicker — Stan paid off his house last year. That kind of discipline, drive, and focus is rare in this business. Hope you enjoy this conversation with Stan Romanek! Project size: varies between $3k- $400,000. Projects per year: 20-30 Revenue between 750-950 Employees: 2 Learn more about Ep. 26 Guest: @levelhomeimprovement Levelhomeimprovements.com Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW @apple @spotify @youtube Sponsors: www.durationmillwork.com  @durationmouldingandmillwork  www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com @hdpocketdoors Local Sponsor: www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs! @HireSmooth

Episode 25 — Rick Mills | Jackson Andrews Building + Design
Rick Mills out of Virginia is the perfect blend of building science and on-site execution. We share a similar path into the industry, and in this episode we dive into his early exposure to the trades—how money, experience, and growth shaped the journey. Rick’s held down the Superintendent / Project Manager role for more than 16 years and recently stepped into a Senior PM position. We get into the Do’s and Don’ts of running projects as a Super, what it takes to level up after 23 years in the industry (and 12 with the same company), and how to stay sharp while taking on new responsibilities. An incredible guy backed by an incredible company—Jackson Andrews Building + Design—turning out some seriously cool projects. 🎧 Hope you enjoy this conversation. Project Size: Jobs ranging from 300k up to 15mil+ Projects per Year: 5-7 (but some are multi-year) Company Size: 15 employees Learn more about Ep. 25 Guest: @rick.jacksonandrewsbuilding Jacksonandrewsbuilding.com Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW @apple @spotify @youtube Sponsors: www.durationmillwork.com  @durationmouldingandmillwork  www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com @hdpocketdoors Local Sponsor: www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs! @HireSmooth

The great and powerful Spencer Lewis joins the pod this week! Spencer cut his teeth running insane trim packages solo—the kind of work most can’t sustain, but he’s built a career on it. He’s grown on his own terms, never sacrificing his means or methods. What I love most about Spencer is his ethos. His pursuit of execution has always been for himself and his own standards—not for followers or clients. Few truly understand what it takes to pull off the level of trim and millwork packages he delivers. Like any perfectionist, he keeps pushing regardless of who’s watching. That authenticity carries into his IG and YouTube channels. They weren’t created for likes—they’re platforms to spread knowledge. And in doing so, Spencer has become a trusted voice in the carpentry world, sharing tips, tricks, and insights into how he executes at such a high level. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned vet, Spencer is a resource every carpenter can learn from. It was awesome catching up and talking shop with him—I think you’ll enjoy this one. Project (Home) size: $2-4 million Projects per year: 6-12 Company Size: 3 team member including owner. Learn more about Ep. 24 Guest: @insider_carpentry insidercarpentry.com https://youtube.com/@insidercarpentry?si=fszRivpIEKHDADqT Listen • Subscribe • REVIEW @apple @spotify Sponsors: www.durationmillwork.com  @durationmouldingandmillwork  www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com @hdpocketdoors Local Sponsor: www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs! @HireSmooth David West Photography @bornimagery www.bornimagery.com