Why Most Trades Businesses Hit a Wall (and What to Do About It)

Recently, I joined James Faulkner on The SiteVisit Podcast to talk about helping construction and trades professionals build businesses that don’t just survive, but actually work.

We covered a lot of ground, but if I had to sum it up in one sentence: Being great at your trade doesn’t mean you know how to run a business – and that’s where most owners hit the wall.

(Even though we talked specifically about trades-based businesses, everything we discussed applies to other types of businesses as well.)

Being Great at Your Trade Is Just the Starting Point

As I shared with James, this all goes back to The E-Myth – a book I recommend to every business owner I meet. Just because you’re a great electrician, plumber, or cabinet maker doesn’t mean you’re equipped to run a business doing that work.

Most people get started with a truck and a helper.

Before long, they’ve got three or four trucks, more employees, and a whole lot more complexity.

Eventually, they hit a wall.

Stress is through the roof, the systems aren’t scaling, and they ask themselves, “When did I last feel in control?”

That’s when they realize they need help.

If you’re in that situation, James and I discussed some ideas that can help.

Culture Isn’t the Cherry on Top – It’s the Foundation

If you don’t actively shape the culture, it becomes a byproduct of decisions made on the fly: hiring your friend’s mom to do the books, bringing on relatives with no real job description, or avoiding tough conversations with staff.

Great culture starts with clarity.

Define the roles, build the systems, and lead by example.

Systems Run the Business, People Run the Systems, You Lead the People

One of the key frameworks I teach clients is the “three-legged stool”:

• Systems run the business
• People run the systems
• You lead the people
  

Without systems, everything rises and falls on who showed up that day.

And as your company grows, the complexity multiplies. (Literally – if you go from 3 employees to 10, the number of “handshakes” or communication pathways goes from 3 to 45.)

If you’re relying on coffee chats and gut feel to manage that kind of complexity, it’s going to break.

Delegation Is Not Abdication

Here’s something that comes up with almost every business owner I coach: the difference between delegation and abdication.

Delegation means giving someone responsibility, training them, and providing a clear definition of success.

Abdication is “tossing” a task to someone without support, coaching, or expectations – and then being frustrated when it doesn’t get done right.

One of the best gifts I ever received was from a virtual assistant who created an SOP for a task I showed her once. She learned the process better by writing it out, and now I can give that SOP to anyone. That’s delegation done right.

Recruiting Isn’t a Side Job – It’s a Core Function

Most business owners will bend over backward to land a customer – but do almost nothing when it comes to hiring.

If you’re not actively recruiting, building a bench, and creating a system for talent, your business is unbalanced.

I tell clients to always know who the top three to five people are in town who aren’t working for you… yet.

Whether it’s through networking, Upwork recruiters, or informal chats, always be drafting.

Don’t wait until someone quits to start hiring.

All Business Coaching Is Personal Coaching in Disguise

We also dug into mental health – especially in construction.

Here’s the truth: many business owners are grinding out 70+ hour weeks, missing their kids’ games, and convincing themselves it’s just part of the job.

But here’s the question I ask: What’s the price you’re paying?

One client of mine didn’t realize how much he was sacrificing until his wife said, “Your business is your mistress. If you don’t do something, I will.”

That was the moment everything changed for him.

And I get it – personally. In 2011, I attempted suicide. I’ve seen the dark side of burnout and isolation. That experience is what inspired my TEDx talk on the cultural taboos of mental health.

The truth is, the mindset piece is what holds most business owners back. It’s not tools, or strategies, or know-how – it’s the belief that asking for help means failure.

In reality, asking for help is the beginning of growth.

Leadership Means Having Crucial Conversations

Finally, we talked about leadership. My definition?

The best leaders are those most willing and most capable of having crucial conversations.

Whether it’s asking for accountability, giving feedback, or expressing a vision – these conversations shape your culture, your systems, and your outcomes.

If you avoid them, you delay your growth. If you master them, everything gets easier.

Want to hear the full conversation?

Enjoyed this recap? Hear the full conversation on The SiteVisit Podcast

And if you’re a business business owner who’s great at your craft but struggling to grow – let’s talk. Click here to book a complimentary 15-minute call: Book Time with John