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

• How to Know If You’re Actually Ready to Start a Business with $0

  Starting a business at 40 with $0 in a crowded HVAC market sounds crazy… until you hear Tim Harrell’s story. From a near-death experience in the ICU to launching Giddy Up HVAC in Temple, Texas, Tim built everything on faith, integrity, and old-school word of mouth.If you’re a contractor, builder, or service business owner wondering if you’ve “missed your chance,” this episode of The Builder’s Edge is for you.What You’ll Learn / Episode HighlightsHow Tim built trust as “the new guy” in a skeptical HVAC market using honesty, photos, and education instead of hard sells.Why he refuses investors and private equity—even when money is on the table—and what it’s allowed him to protect.The ICU moment that completely reset his life, faith, and purpose (and how HVAC became his unexpected ministry).The simple, $0-cost moves he used to launch Giddy Up HVAC: maintenance visits, door hangers, Facebook, and the “Winner’s Circle” club.How his family (wife, in-laws, friends) became the backbone of the business—handling books, website, and support while he’s in the field.The mindset shift you need if you’re starting later in life and worried the “entrepreneurship train” has already left the station.Practical advice for any contractor or service pro who wants to build a legacy business on faith, service, and integrity—not just revenue.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Intro: From ICU to CEO & why this story matters01:01 – Building trust as the new HVAC guy in a crowded market03:30 – Honesty, photos & education: how Tim sells without “selling”05:12 – Giddy Up as a family operation & the realities of money and numbers07:30 – Faith, support systems, and keeping God at the center08:35 – Why Tim refuses investors & private equity offers10:30 – The toxic relationship, the cross, and the night that almost killed him13:20 – Finding HVAC, discovering his calling, and “ministry in the home”15:10 – Getting licensed, starting Giddy Up HVAC, and growing from $017:10 – $0-cost strategies: maintenance, Winner’s Circle, door hangers & Facebook18:45 – Starting at 40: Have you really missed your chance?20:04 – How to reach Tim Harrell & final words for late-start entrepreneurs

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• How to Build a Roofing Business That Actually Lasts

  He moved to a city where he knew no one, bought a roofing company that was already dead… and resurrected it. Twice.In this episode, you’ll learn how to build a profitable roofing business without being “the cheapest guy” on the bid sheet.Perfect for roofing contractors, home service business owners, and anyone tired of racing to the bottom on price.What You’ll Learn / HighlightsHow Chuck “accidentally” got into the roofing business after years as a truck driverThe crazy story of buying a shut-down roofing company and bringing it back to life (two times)Why chasing cheap clients almost guarantees burnout and failureHow he landed his first San Antonio roofing jobs using nothing but FacebookThe mindset shift that helped him say no to insurance fraud and underpriced workHow to choose (and keep) premium roofing clients who value quality over discountsDaily habits (3am wakeups, gym, 200+ miles walked) that keep his energy and focus highThe painful lesson of trying to “do it all” vs. partnering around your strengthsA simple exercise to figure out what you should stop doing in your businessChapters (Timestamps)00:00 – Intro & why his roofing story is so wild01:15 – How he “accidentally” got into the roofing business in 199804:38 – Moving states, opening branches, and the San Antonio opportunity08:22 – Buying a dead roofing company and starting over in a city with zero contacts11:50 – Living in the office, using Facebook, and landing the first few jobs16:40 – Why he refuses to be the cheapest roofer (and still wins the job)21:05 – Firing bad fit clients & shifting to a premium clientele25:33 – Saying no to insurance fraud and standing on ethics29:10 – How social media still drives most of his roofing leads32:45 – Keeping high energy: mindset, loss, and choosing positivity37:02 – 3am mornings, gym routine, and walking 200+ miles in a month41:30 – Shutting the company down, buying it back, and starting again45:18 – The #1 lesson: double down on your strengths, delegate your weaknesses49:05 – Practical advice for stuck business owners ready to scale52:10 – Where to find Chuck online & closing thoughts for builders and roofers

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• What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Home Inspection Business

  Entrepreneurship isn’t about more “hustle”—it’s about better systems, mindset, and marketing. In this episode, Certified Master Inspector and founder of I Am Home Inspections, Ian Mayer, shows exactly how he went from laid off to leading a team, with balance. What You’ll Learn / HighlightsThe day a layoff on Ventura Blvd became the launchpad for a home inspection businessWhy marketing (not technical skill) is your first-year full-time job—and how to treat it that wayThe mindset switch from doing the work to leading the vision (E-Myth & Rocket Fuel takeaways)Practical steps to hire, train, and spot-check quality without losing your standardsHow Ian protects work–life balance in a hustle-glorifying worldThe “education-first” strategy that makes clients trust you (and choose you)Using social media to drive bookings when ads aren’t the answerChapters (timestamps)00:00 Intro01:12 Laid Off → Leap to Self-Employment05:33 The Marketing Wake-Up Call10:25 Mindset Shifts: Operator vs. Owner15:48 Hiring, Training & Quality Control21:30 Beating Fear: Coaching, Books & Breakthroughs27:02 Work–Life Balance (and Parenting as a North Star)32:40 Redefining Success: From Mortgage Money to Vacations38:05 Setbacks: When the Phone Doesn’t Ring43:17 Education-First Differentiator49:10 Social Media Visibility Done Right55:22 The Builder’s Edge: Next Steps & Scorecard

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• What Nobody Tells You About Ending Violence Against Women

  If “success” is costing your soul, this is your reset. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we sit down with Darryl Dudley, founder of She’s My Daughter, to unpack purpose-driven leadership that protects women, strengthens communities, and kills burnout at the root. Leading with purpose starts here.What You’ll Learn / Highlights • The origin of She’s My Daughter and the mindset that actually reduces violence against women • “Honor as a leadership skill”: how men can model dignity at home, work, and in community • Practical first steps for dads and male mentors to protect, encourage, and reconnect • The programs: The Tea, Reconnect, Operation Job Readiness, and Club Free—what they do and why they work • From business to movement: Darryl’s music/entrepreneurship background and building systems that last • Gen Z activation & “reverse peer pressure”: changing what’s “cool” in male circles • Powerful transformation stories—and why small, consistent actions beat grand gesturesChapters (timestamps)00:00 Intro — Why The Builder’s Edge exists00:36 Meet Darryl Dudley & She’s My Daughter01:24 Origin story: from youth advocacy to a global mission02:10 The dignity gap in media & culture03:15 The mission in action: “Treat every woman like your own daughter”04:02 A father’s hope: sending his daughter across the country06:19 Modeling respect at home and in business07:11 How fathers shape daughters’ confidence09:54 Programs overview: The Tea, Reconnect, Operation Job Readiness, Club Free11:10 Building self-esteem to prevent exploitation12:34 Reconnect: helping fathers & incarcerated dads re-engage14:12 Trauma’s generational impact—and why it matters at work15:26 Darryl’s business & music background → movement leadership17:40 “All Be Free” clothing line: funding impact & teaching entrepreneurship19:18 Design contests: activating Gen Z for change20:07 Impact stories that still move us24:30 Confidence vs. predation: why voice matters27:38 Where men start: Chief Encouragement Officer & shared activities30:42 Vision: clubs in schools and reverse peer pressure35:24 Builder’s Edge challenge + call to action36:21 How to get involved & closing#ProtectWomen #MenAsAllies #PositiveMasculinity #Honor #Respect #Fatherhood #Mentorship #GirlsEmpowerment #WomenSafety #DomesticViolenceAwareness

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• Show Your Face, Build Your Business: Why Visibility Is Your Secret Weapon

  Too many skilled contractors are hidden in plain sight, working hard, doing great work, but wondering why the phone’s not ringing. In this episode of The Builder’s Edge, we’re unpacking a hard truth: if your face isn’t visible, neither is your business.Amon Medinger , founder of Home Healer Handyman Service, returns for a powerful conversation on visibility, authenticity, and the game-changing impact of showing up as yourself. From his first nervous Facebook Live to building a client base that feels like family, Amon shares how simple smartphone videos and genuine presence have skyrocketed his business, and why this isn't just a social media trend; it's the future of trust-building in the trades.We also dive into the "FACE Principle", a memorable framework for becoming the most trusted name in your neighborhood, without needing fancy gear or flawless content. Plus, Eamon shares how our new CRM, The Client Edge, is helping him scale without losing that personal touch.5 Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:Visibility creates credibility, clients want to see who they’re hiring.Short videos outperform static posts every time.Going live may be scary, but it breaks the “bot barrier” in today’s AI-driven world.Authentic content (even bloopers!) makes you more human, and more hireable.Managing content and client follow-up is easier than ever with the right tools."I'm not the Home Healer. I'm just His handyman." - Amon Medinger Challenge for Today: Start with one 10-second video. Introduce yourself. Post it. Then tag a friend in the trades and challenge them to do the same.Subscribe to The Builder’s Edge, share this episode with someone who needs to be seen, and start journaling about how you’ll put the FACE Principle into action this week.Learn more about Deanna Lucas through the following links:DND WebsiteFacebook GroupFacebookBuilders Visibility Blueprint

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