If you’ve felt the rising tension around AI — excitement, uncertainty, maybe even a little fear — you’re not alone. In this week’s Contractor Evolution episode, Danny sits down with entrepreneur and AI strategist Kasim Aslam for one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve had on what the coming decade means for trades businesses.

Kasim has built and exited multimillion-dollar companies. He spends his time helping leaders understand AI before it steamrolls their industry. His core message for contractors? AI doesn’t eliminate the need for people. It increases the premium on humanity.

This episode isn’t about hype. It’s a practical look at what’s already happening in plumbing, HVAC, and service industries, how private equity is deploying AI today, and where small-to-mid-sized contractors can win while the landscape shifts.

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Why Contractors Should Pay Attention To The Rise of AI

According to Kasim, trades will be one of the last industries fully disrupted by AI, but disruption is coming. From remote-diagnostic plumbing models to rapid knowledge-capture systems that train AI on veteran expertise, the next 5-10 years will change how field work gets done.

But Kasim’s message is clear:

Contractors who double down on real human connection and adopt AI bottom-up — not top-down — will own the next decade.

Key Takeaways You Can Use Right Now

1. Stop chasing what scales. Focus on what can’t be automated.

AI will commoditize anything repeatable. The differentiators that survive?

• A real human answering the phone
  
  
• Remembering customer details
  
  
• Handwritten follow-ups
  
  
• Local presence, relationships, community involvement
  
  

These “non-scalable” actions will buy you time as AI continues to take over other industries that are less reliant on people.

2. AI is already transforming field work

Forward-thinking trades companies (ahem, private equity backed) are giving new technicians camera-equipped workflows while senior experts diagnose remotely.

This boosts productivity today and builds a knowledge library that becomes a competitive advantage tomorrow. While your business may not be ready for this change, you should start thinking about how this new way of doing things will impact you in 5-10 years.

3. Don’t implement AI from the top down. Let your people lead it.

Instead of declaring, “We’re automating this department,” invite your team to identify where AI genuinely helps them.

Give them incentives based on output, not hours, and let them surface the high-leverage use cases.

4. Excellence beats scale. Be the company everyone refuses to leave.

Private equity can outspend you, but they can’t out-care you.

Contractors who build a reputation for service, trust, and real human warmth will own the “upward trending leg of the K-shape economy.”

5. Free yourself for the work that matters — invest your five hours.

Kasim’s challenge is simple: Spend at least five hours a week working ON your business, not just IN it.

Those small, consistent improvements will transform your systems, culture, and valuation long before AI becomes your biggest threat.

Ready to Future-Proof Your Business?

If you want help building systems, empowering your team, and making smart decisions about AI, automation and human resources, book an implementation call with Breakthrough Academy. We’ll show you how these insights apply directly to your business and what to do next.

If you’ve ever felt behind—like you should be reading more books, adopting more software, or learning the next big thing—you’re not alone.

In this Contractor Evolution episode, Danny sits down with author, podcaster, and entrepreneur Pat Flynn to unpack a counterintuitive truth every growth-minded contractor needs to hear:

The key to scaling isn’t learning more. It’s learning less… but better.

Pat’s newest book, Lean Learning, breaks down a practical way to stop drowning in information, focus on what actually matters, and move your business forward with more clarity and less overwhelm. For contractors facing decision fatigue, endless recommendations, and constant pressure to “stay up to date,” this conversation hits home.

Below is a high-level summary and the takeaways you can start applying immediately.

The Big Idea

Most contractors assume that more information = more progress.

More podcasts. More books. More courses. More YouTube tutorials.

But as Pat points out, over-learning creates paralysis. You’re moving… but you’re not moving forward.

His framework replaces “just-in-case learning” (stockpiling info you might need someday) with just-in-time learning: acquiring only the knowledge required for the next immediate step in your business.

It’s simple, freeing, and wildly effective.

Key Takeaways You Can Apply This Week

1. Stop hoarding information; start filtering it.

With unlimited access to content, your job isn’t to consume everything—it’s to block out 95% of it.

Pat recommends choosing a single priority, learning only what’s needed for that, and shelving everything else for later (most of which you’ll never come back to… and won’t need).

2. Craft your “inspiration matrix.”

Pat breaks down four quadrants: passion pursuits, mandatory tasks, recreational outlets, and “junk sparks.”

Most contractors accidentally fill their plate with junk sparks. Random ideas that feel exciting but pull attention away from real priorities. A quick quadrant audit can give you back hours every week.

3. Learn by doing, not by preparing.

Instead of studying everything before taking action, master each step as it becomes relevant.

This is how Pat built his early online business—one tiny step, one tiny skill, at a time.

For contractors, this could mean launching the sales script before the perfect training manual exists, hiring before the onboarding system is fully built, or testing the new service before you create the full marketing plan.

4. Use voluntary forcing functions.

Deadlines create momentum. For example, committing to speak at an event forced Pat to finally master public speaking.

For contractors, this might look like:

• Locking in a go-live date for your new CRM
  
  
• Committing to a trade show to create a deadline for your new brand strategy
  
  
• Booking your leadership retreat to force strategic planning
  
  

The deadline pulls you forward.

5. Review whether to persist or pivot.

Contractors often stick with initiatives, even if they’ve long since lost their relevance to the “why” behind the business.

Pat recommends a recurring Stop-Start-Continue review to make sure your goals still align with your values—and that you’re not grinding away at something you no longer want.

Ready To Build a Business That Grows Without Chaos?

Pat’s framework is powerful—but implementing change inside a contracting company requires structure, accountability, and the right systems.

If you want support applying these principles inside your business, book a complimentary implementation call with Breakthrough Academy. We’ll show you where you’re stuck, what to prioritize next, and how to grow with clarity (not overwhelm).

If you’ve ever lost hours chasing missing info, soothing frustrated clients, or cleaning up an avoidable job-site mistake, you’re not alone. 

In one of our recent Contractor Evolution roundtables, Danny sat down with CompanyCam founder Luke Hansen and Breakthrough Academy Members Blake Butry and Adam Sylvester to unpack a silent profit killer plaguing nearly every contracting business:
poor communication.

From sales-to-production handoff failures to buried client requests to crews operating without context, the cost of miscommunication is massive. And the bigger your team gets, the bigger those cracks become.

This conversation isn’t about being “better at talking.” It’s about redesigning the flow of information so your people stay aligned, your clients stay confident, and your margins stay protected.

Why Communication Breakdown Is The Hidden Cash Flow Killer Nobody Talks About

Most contractors assume their biggest constraints are labor, capacity, or scheduling. But as Luke, Blake, and Adam point out, those issues are often symptoms—not causes.

Underneath them is usually some form of unclear, incomplete, or inconsistent communication.

A missed detail from sales becomes a production problem.

A forgotten client promise becomes a 1-star review.

A lack of expectation setting becomes crew frustration and turnover.

The good news? These problems are fixable—fast—once you install a few simple systems.

4 Communication Fixes That Immediately Improve Construction or Home Services Operations

1. Nail the Sales-To-Production Handoff

This was the unanimous “biggest leverage point” among the panel. When production teams start jobs missing key info, everyone pays for it: your crew, your client, and your bottom line.

Strong handoffs include:

• Clear job scope, materials, and measurements
  
  
• Client expectations captured verbatim
  
  
• Visual documentation (CompanyCam for the win)
  
  
• A 10–15 minute live handoff conversation (NOT just a CRM note)
  
  

When production knows exactly what they’re walking into, frustrations disappear and jobs finish cleaner, faster, and with fewer callbacks.

2. Structure Your Team Communication Rhythm

The highest-performing teams don’t “wing it.” They rely on simple, consistent meeting rhythms that keep everyone aligned.

Examples from the panel:

• Daily 10-minute huddle to review wins, schedule, and roadblocks
  
  
• Weekly GSR (Goal Setting & Review) for accountability and coaching
  
  
• Quarterly reviews to reset focus and recalibrate roles
  
  
• Quick-hit communication codes. For example, Blake’s team uses “L3” (AKA a 90-second ask)
  
  

Structure reduces stress and guesswork. Everyone always knows who to ask for what, when.

3. Use Visual Communication to Remove Ambiguity

CompanyCam’s real-time photos, annotations, and checklists were a recurring theme.

Why it matters:

• Crews know exactly what they’re walking into
  
  
• Clients see what was done, reducing disputes
  
  
• Managers can coach remotely
  
  
• Subtle promises made in sales don’t disappear
  
  

A picture might be worth a thousand words—but a marked-up picture is worth a thousand fewer headaches.

4. Build Roles Around Systems, Not People

To stop every decision from flowing through you, you need:

• A clear org chart
  
  
• Defined roles and outcomes
  
  
• Documented processes
  
  
• People trained to think, not just execute
  
  

Once your team knows how to make decisions without you, your business stops bottlenecking and starts scaling.

Ready to Build a Business That Doesn’t Run on Chaos?

Strong communication isn’t about talking more—it’s about designing your business so information moves cleanly without you in the middle.

If you want help installing these systems, aligning your team, and protecting your margin, book an implementation call with Breakthrough Academy. We’ll walk you through where communication is breaking down in your business and show you exactly how to fix it.

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Most owners think their biggest constraints are external: labor shortages, price pressure, admin overload. But Kedma argues that the mental “prisons” we build for ourselves are far more restrictive. 

And she speaks from experience. Kedma shares the harrowing story of escaping extreme childhood abuse by imagining herself as a superhero. An early lesson in the power of belief systems to shape our reality.

What you believe about yourself, your team, your business, and your potential either shrinks your possibilities or unlocks them.

Contractor Evolution Episode 248: 4 Key Takeaways

Your brain lies to you. Your intuition rarely does

 Kedma says the brain’s job is safety, not growth. When the stakes feel high, we default to logic—even when our intuition is waving a red flag. Learning to distinguish the two is a critical skill for leaders.

Change the “scene” you’re in (the LEAP framework)

Kedma teaches a simple way to shift out of unproductive situations:

• L – Location: Walk away, step out, change the environment.
  
  
• E – Emotions: Choose a new emotional response that’s still authentic.
  
  
• A – Actors: Add, remove, or demote people influencing the situation.
  
  
• P – Props: Get new tools, resources, or knowledge.
  This framework gives owners agency—and eliminates the victim mindset.
  
  

The role you play determines the results you get.

In your business, you’re either the Producer, Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, or Audience Member. Too many contractors are sitting in the crowd, watching their own life happen instead of directing it.

When you stay small, others pay the price.

This is Kedma’s biggest punch: your limiting beliefs don’t just cost you—they cost your team, your family, and everyone depending on your leadership. Growth is not optional if others rely on you.

Ready to Break Through Your Own Ceiling?

If this episode hit a little close to home, good. That’s where change starts.

Breakthrough Academy helps contractors build the systems, structure, and support to break free from the bottlenecks holding their business back—both operational and personal.

Book a complimentary implementation call to explore how we can help you step into the version of yourself your business actually needs.

If you’ve ever tried to build systems in your contracting business, you know it’s one of the most valuable things you can do, and also one of the hardest. Visionary owners often want their company to run smoothly without them, but getting there feels impossible.

In this episode of Contractor Evolution, Danny Kerr sits down with Systemology author David Jenyns to talk about his new book on a game-changing role: Systems Champion. It’s not an ops manager or a COO. It’s a team member dedicated to building systems culture, documenting best practices, and making process part of your company’s DNA.

Whether you’re a $1 million or $10 million contractor, this role can be the missing link between chaos and consistency.

Key takeaways

A Systems Champion builds systems culture

Their job is to capture what’s already working, make it repeatable, and keep systems front-and-center in your business. They work on three pillars: documentation, tools, and culture.

You don’t need a senior exec to fill the role

David suggests starting with a junior, curious, tech-savvy team member. Someone hungry to learn who has time to focus. “With AI and the right direction, they can become one of the most valuable people in your organization,” he explains.

Visionaries don’t need to “do” systems…but they MUST lead them. 

As Michael Gerber once told David, the owner can’t abdicate responsibility. You don’t have to write every SOP, but you do need to support, fund, and champion the process.

AI has changed the game

Tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini let your team document and improve processes ten times faster. The contractors who act now will have a huge first-mover advantage.

Start before it’s urgent

As David warns, “There’s a lag time between listening to this right now and getting your business to the level you want it to be—so you just have to start.”

If your goal is to step back from day-to-day firefighting and finally make your business run without you, identifying (and empowering) your Systems Champion might be the smartest move you make this year.

💡 Ready to systemize smarter?

Book a free implementation call with Breakthrough Academy to learn how to find and train the right person to own your systems—and free up your time to focus on growth.

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely game. Long hours, tough calls, and constant pressure make it easy to feel like you’re carrying the whole load alone. But what if the real accelerator for your business wasn’t another tool or strategy, but the people you surround yourself with?

That’s what Umbrella Property Services owner Ryan Lermitte discovered over his eight years as a Breakthrough Academy Member. He originally joined for the systems and coaching but stayed for something even more powerful: community.

Key Takeaways

1. Community Makes You Sharper

Ryan says that working alongside peers in the same industry has been a game-changer. When contractors openly share what’s working (and what isn’t) everyone grows faster. You skip months of trial and error because someone else already paved the way.

2. Real Connection Beats Networking

There’s a huge difference between handing out business cards and building authentic relationships. For Ryan, meaningful conversations happen when you’re fully present. Not checking your phone or chasing surface-level talk. That intentional presence builds trust and long-term friendships that spill over into better leadership at work and home.

3. Vulnerability Builds Strength

Community only works if you’re willing to be real. Ryan’s learned to drop the mask and talk about the messy stuff: team turnover, burnout, imposter syndrome. When leaders open up, others feel safe to do the same. It’s not about complaining; it’s about growing together through honesty.

4. Collaboration Beats Competition

Even when it comes to “competitors,” Ryan takes the opposite of the secret-sauce mentality. He shares systems, SOPs, and agreements freely because few people actually implement them, and the ones who do raise the bar for the whole industry. The result? Better contractors, happier clients, and a stronger trade overall.

5. The ROI Is You

At the end of the day, Ryan says the biggest return from BTA hasn’t just been revenue—it’s who he’s become. More self-aware. More grounded. More connected. 

“I’m a better human being today than I was in 2017,” he reflects. 

That personal growth pays dividends in every area of life.

When you stop trying to do it all alone and start investing in community, your business grows—but so do you.

If you’re ready to experience what a network of driven, values-aligned contractors can do for your company, book a complimentary discovery call with Breakthrough Academy. We’ll show you how to build the systems, coaching, and community that help you scale—and stay sane doing it.