The Builder’s Edge - Mastering the Business Side of Building

Tired of the 9–5 grind… but scared to start a business that turns into another job? In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, business strategist Jonah Cascio (founder of Employee Escape Plan) breaks down how to escape a soul-sucking job and build a business that gives you freedom, profit, and actual happiness. If you’re a contractor, builder, service business owner, or future entrepreneur who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what business model to choose—this is your roadmap. You’ll learn why “accidental entrepreneurship” fails, how to pick the right business that fits your values, and how to build a simple framework for leads, sales, and delivery. We also talk about the biggest mindset shift when going from employee to business owner, how to handle income ambiguity, and why most people burn out without systems. If you want more clients, better marketing, a clearer message, and a business that runs by design—not default—this conversation will change how you think about growth, branding, and scaling.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights


You’ll learn how to choose the right business so you’re not forcing a model that fights your personality and values, how to clarify your message so people instantly understand what you do, and how to use lead nurturing to warm prospects before a sales call (so you’re booking “8–10 temperature” buyers). 


We break down the four content types that build trust fast—connection, proof, teaching, and invitation—so your marketing becomes binge-worthy instead of salesy. 


You’ll also hear how to design time freedom with a “pre-loaded year,” plus the simple scaling truth: multiply what’s already working and keep it simple so your business doesn’t break when growth hits.

Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links:

DND Website

Facebook Group

Facebook

Builders Visibility Blueprint

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What if the hardest moment of your life is the moment God uses to activate your calling? In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, Deanna Lucas sits down with Victor Dawson, author of As You Go, to talk about faith, obedience, and evangelism in everyday life. After surviving emergency open-heart surgery with a 90% blockage in the “Widowmaker” artery, Victor heard God tell him to write a book… and he couldn’t ignore it.

This conversation is for Christian business owners, contractors, leaders, and builders who want to live out their faith beyond Sunday. If you’ve felt afraid to share the gospel, unsure what to say, or worried about rejection, Victor brings practical steps, real stories from around the world, and a simple mindset shift: your business is God’s business, and your workplace is your mission field. You’ll hear why most believers never share their faith, how to start natural conversations, and how God often brings the person to you. If you want boldness, clarity, and a faith-driven purpose in your work, this episode will light a fire.

You'll Hear:

→ The moment Victor heard God say, “Write a book called As You Go”

→ How a health crisis can redirect your calling, not cancel it

→ Why “as you go” evangelism is for every believer (not just pastors)

→ Simple ways to start faith conversations at work, restaurants, or travel

→ What to do when fear of rejection keeps you silent

→ A powerful story: 11 people received Christ in 20–30 minutes

→ Why discipleship is missing, and how to find your “Paul” mentor

→ How Victor’s book became a course + small group curriculum for churches

Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links:

DND Website

Facebook Group

Facebook

Builders Visibility Blueprint
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If you’re a contractor or service pro tired of competing on price, chasing low-quality leads, and feeling stuck in feast-or-famine… this episode will flip the way you think about growth. Veteran drywall repair specialist and business leader Daniel Osborne built a premium trades business by obsessing over craftsmanship, communication, and excellence—and by targeting the right client instead of trying to win everyone.

In this Builders Edge Podcast conversation, Daniel breaks down what it really takes to build a high-standard contracting business: charging what you’re worth, delivering a “hand them the keys” experience, and building a reputation so strong people call you for precision—not discounts. But this isn’t just business talk. Daniel shares his personal transformation through faith, leadership, and relationships, how he went from anger and fractured seasons to purpose and stability, and why “don’t talk about it—be about it” is the real blueprint for legacy.

If you want better clients, stronger referrals, higher profit, and a business that supports your life (not steals it), take notes—this episode is packed with real-world contractor mindset, pricing strategy, and leadership lessons.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights


How to charge premium prices without racing to the bottom


The difference between being hardheaded vs determined in business


Why the right client beats “more leads” every time


The “hunter vs farmer” mindset shift for relationship marketing


How to build a reputation for precision, communication, and timeliness


Lessons on faith, marriage, leadership, and personal growth that translate to business


How Daniel turned expertise into continuing education + passive income


A simple way to raise your standard and create better referrals

Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links:

DND Website

Facebook Group

Facebook

Builders Visibility Blueprint

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If you’ve been watching Airbnb / short-term rental videos that make success look instant, this episode will save you years (and expensive mistakes). Josh Hatter—CEO in the hospitality space and founder of Keys Collective—explains how he went from a corporate layoff to building real wealth by “playing Monopoly in real life,” scaling from short-term rentals into boutique hotels in Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA.

You’ll hear what most influencers skip: why STR is not a “light switch,” how long-term compounding actually works, how to evaluate deals when inflation and returns don’t match, and why banks increasingly look at STR like a business (not just a house).

Josh also shares the systems that keep everything from collapsing, the painful leadership lesson about giving away equity too early, and how he built Keys Collective as a nonprofit alternative to “course culture.” If you want cash flow, hospitality investing, and a real-world blueprint for scaling with purpose—this one’s for you.

2) What You’ll Learn / Highlights

Why STR success is not instant (and what “long term” really means)
The deal filter pros use: cash-on-cash return vs inflation reality check
How boutique hotels change the game (density, staffing, operations)
The systems principle: “If you don’t have systems, everything collapses”
The leadership lesson: incentivize great people—don’t rush equity
Why banks value STR based on income/business performance
How Keys Collective is built to mentor without becoming a “course business”

3) Chapters (timestamps)

00:00 Intro + “Monopoly in real life” + $30K → $10M story
01:46 The layoff that started it + first Vrbo attempt
06:15 How Covid shifted the strategy (mid-term stays)
07:21 Why boutique hotels were the next evolution
08:41 $800K renovation + 1852 historic property play
09:13 Hotel names + where they are (Charleston + Savannah)
16:12 Systems or collapse + “Buy Back Your Time” approach
19:54 The abundance mindset (from $1M → $10M thinking)
24:42 Deal analysis: cash-on-cash vs inflation example
25:51 Leadership lesson: giving away equity too early
30:15 Biggest misconception: STR isn’t a light switch
33:14 STR as a business + taxes + bank valuation shift
38:29 Keys Collective: mentoring from 1 property → VC scale
40:12 Building Keys as a 501(c)(3) + why it matters
47:21 Final takeaway: play Monopoly with purpose + strategy

#ShortTermRentals #AirbnbBusiness #RealEstateInvesting #BoutiqueHotel #PassiveIncome
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If you’re a contractor or builder wearing every hat in your business, this episode will feel like a wake-up call—in the best way. You didn’t start a contracting business to live inside email, scheduling, DMs, invoicing, recruiting, and admin… but that’s where most owners get trapped. In today’s Builder’s Edge episode, Philip Sessions (founder of Refine VA and host of Unfiltered Sessions) breaks down the leadership shift that helps contractors stop drowning in $10/hour tasks so you can finally operate in your $1,000/hour owner role.

You’ll learn why delegation isn’t “letting go,” it’s scaling with systems—and why communication is leadership when you’re managing a virtual assistant (VA) team. Philip shares the real reason owners hold onto the wrong tasks (hint: ego + unclear expectations), plus practical ways to delegate without losing control. If you want to grow your construction or home service company, free up your schedule, and build a team that executes, this is your step-by-step conversation to get started this week. 


The #1 mindset shift contractors need to scale with a VA


The first tasks to delegate (email, calendar, social, screening calls)


Why VAs aren’t “plug-and-play” and how to onboard correctly


How to communicate priorities, deadlines, and what “done” means


The hidden bottleneck: trying to do recruiting/screening yourself


Philip’s simple “delegation muscle” method you can use this week


Tools Philip uses daily: GoHighLevel + Asana

00:00 Intro: Stop drowning in $10/hr tasks01:15 Philip’s background (engineering → business)02:04 How he got into virtual assistants04:44 Reinventing yourself as an owner06:54 The first “real” delegation move (process + recruiting)10:38 Why owners hold onto the wrong tasks (ego)13:03 First tasks to hand off to a VA15:40 Communication tips for virtual teams17:55 Personal growth → business growth19:35 3 steps to start delegating this week21:31 Tools contractors should use (GoHighLevel, Asana)22:43 VA mistakes that kill results (expectations + onboarding)24:13 Philip’s personal edge25:17 Where to find Philip26:14 AI visibility scorecard mention + close

#ContractorBusiness #VirtualAssistant #Delegation #ConstructionBusiness #Leadership
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