All Episodes

290 episodes

EP10: Emotions Behind The Buying Decision

45 min

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP10 Emotions Behind The Buying Decision There is so much more behind the person buying from a contractor than just fulfilling a need. Pain and Pleasure is a real testimony and the fundamental foundation of the emotions behind the buying decision. Most of the time people are making decisions to either avoid pain or gain pleasure. Most contractors go from craftsman to business person and along the journey, somehow, someway, figure out how to sell their services without getting any schooling, training or coaching on sales. So unless the contractor has a naturally High Emotional Intelligence, they overlook the emotions that prospects have at the time of decisions. Finding genuine, authentic connections with your prospects during a sales meeting can connect you emotionally with your clients. Things like the affinity for the same sports team or hobbies, etc. This can also happen over the phone. Finding connections and building rapport is like having a SUPERPOWER. A tactical power move during a sales meeting is to “Love Their Property”. An example would be, “Wow, you have a wonderful property, you must be so proud.” Being authentic is paramount. Don’t use these superpowers to be a shady contractor. Tapping into the emotions of your prospect in person is a whole lot easier than on the phone, but believe it or not, with some coaching, practice, and role-playing, you can tap into this superpower over the phone on a sales call! Understanding “How” people buy and the reasons “Why” people buy can have a massive impact! Once you understand the reasons and emotions behind the buyer’s motivation, you are literally deeper in the pocket of the decision-maker than 95% of all contractors. Look for EMOTIONAL CLUES and Keywords. Pick up on words like embarrassed, excited, special, feelings, upset, mad, desperate, desire, need, want, funeral, fun, laughing, inheritance, loss, memory, family loss, in memory of, collectibles, traveling, and many many more! Brad discusses some Critical Criteria To The Buying Decision. He says “people make decisions based on their emotions and then they use logic to justify their decision”. This is the reason some people have “Buyer’s Remorse” after they buy something expensive! Contrary to what most contractors believe, money is more often than not, not the most important element in the buying decision. Frequently, budget comes in at number three on the list of reasons why people buy. Clients want to know the contractor understands their needs and if the contractor is even capable of delivering what they want. Clients want to trust the contractor and then money will fall in line. Buying decisions don’t always fall in this order, but these are the criteria that line up more than contractors realize. Hammer & Grind Profit Club – Link for more information www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub) Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner (http://www.instagram.com/teamhandy) Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett (http://www.instagram.com/theponddigger) Website – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

emotional buying decisionspain and pleasure principlebuilding rapport

EP9: Communicating With Your Clients

35 min

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 9 Communicating With Your Clients 1. Ask – Focus on using Calibrated Questions. Questions that begin with, How, and What. How long have you been thinking about tackling this project? How can I help you? What are the most important things you want me to know about this project? When you ask a series of well-designed calibrated questions you get your clients to actually put themselves in your shoes and see things from your perspective so they begin to pour out the critical information you need. Asking questions that begin with Why could actually get your clients into a defensive posture. A why question in many cases can be confrontational. Brad explains why we lean away from the Why questions! Asking questions that begin with How and What offers your clients a way to really convey the meat and potatoes of what is on their mind. This line of questioning is paramount to effective communications. 2. Listen – After you ASK an important calibrated question, it is so important that you become quiet, and listen. Too many contractors get into a rhythm of running their mouths during a conversation with a client or prospect. Offer silence in your communications so your prospect can actually respond without interruption. More importantly, become laser-focused on becoming an active listener. It is common for people to “check out” when they finish talking. Don’t check out, listen. When you have a list of questions you want to cover on a call with a client, it is easy to get caught up in thinking about the next question you want to cover when you should actually be listening. This is where you need to be careful and pay close attention to the conversation. 3. Affirm – The final piece of the puzzle for effectively communicating with your clients is affirming you have heard what they are saying. Clients what to be heard. Your clients want you to listen to them. Using mirroring and labels during the conversation is a positive way to affirm you are actively listening to the client during the call. A wonderful way to offer affirmation that you listened to the client is with a recap of the conversation at the end of the call. Taking notes during a communication call is paramount to capture all the details of the call. During a recap, you can use buzzwords the client used during the call while you repeat the most important things about the call. Repeating the client’s buzzwords during the communication is a powerful way to prove to the client you actually listened. Hammer & Grind Profit Club – Link for more information www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub) Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner (http://www.instagram.com/teamhandy) Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett (http://www.instagram.com/theponddigger) Website – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Calibrated QuestionsActive ListeningClient Communication

EP8: Systematizing Your Business

54 min

Hammer and Grind Podcast EP 8 Systematizing Your Construction Business Brad dives into his passion for the implementation and design of systems, especially from the technology standpoint. Brad is magnetized to the process of systematizing because of his DNA. When Running a solo contracting operation, it would seem as if the need for systems is not necessary since you do all the work yourself and have all of your efficiencies dialed in, locked and loaded. As soon as you add an apprentice to your workforce everything changes. What you maybe didn’t realize is the fact that you actually have a system for where you keep your screwdrivers! Now you have to share your system with employees from where you keep your screwdrivers with your apprentices all the way to how you sell projects as you train your sales team when you decide to scale your business. The Systems Theory was thrust onto the scene in the 1940’s where Systematizing Businesses and creating the ultimate efficiencies to run your business, especially in manufacturing, became an American obsession. Considering the internet, smart phones, and apps are still incredibly young in the overall scheme of things, the use of technology to streamline and systematize our contracting businesses is still in its infancy and is exciting as the new possibilities are anything you can imagine. The one thing Brad and Eric agree on 100% when it comes to Systematizing Your Contracting Business is SALES. They have systematized their sales process and management of discovery calls with The Profit Sales System. Listen closely as they share their proven sales system that has given each of them the freedoms and profits to explore other areas of passion in their lives. Hammer & Grind Profit Club – Link for more information www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub) Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner (http://www.instagram.com/teamhandy) Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett (http://www.instagram.com/theponddigger) Website – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

systems theorybusiness scalingsales process

EP6: Transitioning from Craftsman to Businessman

53 min

Transitioning from Craftsman to Businessman Why would you want to transition from a Craftsman to Businessman? The true beginning of this transition is when the Craftsman is working for someone and the moment strikes you that you can do better on your own. You feel underappreciated at work, the boss is a jackass, and your, “I can do better”, turns to side jobs on the weekends, and after work until you take a leap of faith to go into business for yourself. That is the beginning of the transition. Discussion speaks of the Natural Born Entrepreneur vs. the craftsman that actually decides to turn businessman. While Eric is the Classic, Craftsman to Businessman story, you can imagine, Brad is the polar opposite jumping into Business and becoming a Craftsman on his journey. The back and forth becomes interesting as their perspectives collide. The transition can be incredibly difficult going from craftsman to businessman as you can find yourself caught in the trap of working harder, hiring more people, and actually making less money, having less time with more risk. Eric and Brad agree that the one thing they would change if they could go back in time is Hiring a Coach or Mentor to help in the transition. Egos and ignorance typically get in the way. The debate hits as The Solo Craftsman operation is not truly a business if you can’t walk away from the business and sell it. One man shows have only created a job for themselves. Book Recommendation is The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael E. Gerber. When you begin to really think like a businessman as you decide to scale your business the need for systems and SOP’s (standard operating procedures) become paramount. When working with your team you need to transition from a Task Machine Delegator to Delegating Outcomes. We Deep Dive into this! Without a team, running a solo operation, you become vulnerable to losing everything if you take on a serious injury or need to take extended time away from your craft or business for an extended period of time. Discussion of how Hiring “A” Players is paramount vs. how hiring B Players will hold you back from ultimately growing. The dream becomes the business that runs itself and allows you to flow between Businessman and Craftsman as you desire, when you desire and where you desire. HOMEWORK – What did you take away from this podcast? We want to hear your feedback on this topic! Hit us up on Instagram and Facebook to carry on this discussion! Hammer & Grind Profit Club – Link for more information www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub) Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner (http://www.instagram.com/teamhandy) Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett (http://www.instagram.com/theponddigger) Website – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

craftsman to businessman transitionside jobshiring A players

EP5: Is Perfection Your Blessing Or Curse?

43 min

Is Perfection Your Blessing or Curse? The podcast discussion begins with the reveal of Hammer and Grind’s private contractor, business community, called The Profit Club. While Eric believes striving for perfection is a Blessing and a Curse, Brad plays the Devil’s Advocate and says the need to achieve perfectionism is a curse, but striving for perfection is a good thing. Eric and Brad agree, what is perfect for one person is not always perfect for another. The podcast jumps to Comparing top end Chefs, like Gordon Ramsey and Bobby Flay in their pursuit of perfection in a meal, to how contractors deliver their products and services to clients. Storytime with Triplett tells of a time when Eric got his feelings hurt after he built what he felt was the perfect waterfall for a client. Eric explains his client hated what he believed was a perfect waterfall and how he turned the problem into an opportunity. Since perfection is in the eye of the beholder, as a contractor, it is important to have a clear understanding of your clients expectations. GETMO – Good Enough To Move On Brad talks about GETMO and how he leans into the philosophy in areas of his business and life because he admits he is a “Recovering Perfectionist.” Hindsight is 20/20 and Making Adjustments to Reach Perfection The discussion goes to the topic of software companies releasing their products and services knowing they could and should make improvements, but they release anyway and make adjustments in their products and services with the feedback given to them from their customers. HOMEWORK – Evaluate a couple areas in your life when you could have gone harder towards perfection and when you went too far! In Business Development, Jobsite Experiences and possibly in a Relationship with family or friends. Hammer & Grind Profit Club – Link for more informationwww.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub) Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner (http://www.instagram.com/teamhandy) Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett (http://www.instagram.com/theponddigger) Website – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

PerfectionismGETMOContractor Business

EP4: Does The Perfect Contractor Business Group Exist?

43 min

Does The Perfect Contractor Business Group Exist? Hammer and Grind describe all the different groups they belong to currently as well as the ones they have participated in over the years. True stories unravel about the ins and outs, personal experiences, and even a lawsuit scare because of a disagreement in a group. Important Note - Brad and Eric started their Bromance when they met in a contractor group on Facebook. Eric describes how he wrote down all the pros and cons of a product he used in his contracting business to create and patent a new innovation in the pond construction industry. After discussing the pros and cons of all the different groups they have participated in, Brad and Eric narrow it down to three core principles they believe the Perfect Contractor Business Community needs as a foundation. A Place to gather with Fellow Contractors, each on a “Journey to Self-Mastery” in both business & life. In this Community, you will find Inspiration, Ideas, Accountability, Friendships, People that will Challenge you. A place you can HAMMER out and bounce ideas off like-minded people in the GRIND. A Place to learn, study & PRACTICE - How to Market to, Sell and Ultimately Communicate with your prospects creating the greatest possible experience for both you and your clients. Hammer and Grind reveal their dedication and commitment to building and maintaining the Perfect Contractor Business Community. Hammer & Grind Profit Club – Link for more information www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/theprofitclub) Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.facebook.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast (http://www.instagram.com/hammerandgrindpodcast) Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner (http://www.instagram.com/teamhandy) Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett (http://www.instagram.com/theponddigger) Website – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Facebook groupscontractor communitiesself-mastery

EP3: Are You Built For The Grind?

27 min

Are You Built For The Grind? Eric Says, “He is BUILT for the Grind and Brad is BUILT for the Hammer.” What exactly is the Grind? At the basics it about doing the things you don’t exactly want to do, day in and day out and pushing your limitations to tick the needle forward in achieving your goals. Is the Grind teachable? It’s a debate as Brad believes not everyone is inherently built for the grind, while Eric believes that everyone is capable of the Grind but they have to tap into it. A person can be surrounded by teachers but until the student is ready to learn, nothing happens. It’s all relative to the desire or need to learn. When the student wants it bad enough, the teacher will appear. If you are in love with your trade and your business, finding your Grind and facing adversity is easier to handle. The Grind comes down to determination, grit and discipline, essentially doing the things that others can’t do or won’t do, day in and day out. Having a natural competitive spirit in sports and other aspects of your life can be a sign at an early age that you are indeed built for the grind. Brad describes the ultimate test of self-mastery is when you are competing with yourself to be a better version of yourself as he speaks about competitive shooting and training to be faster and more accurate by a hundredth of a second. Believe it or not, Eric goes speechless as Brad describes – “Winning is the easy part, no one likes to lose, however, loosing is when you have the greatest opportunity to learn the most.” When you Grind all day and still lose, that’s when you have the opportunity to build character. Whenever you’re at your lowest point, something has to give, something has to break, and that’s when you grow. You figure out a way to get better, get training, join a contractor community, or hire a coach to help you, find a breakthrough. If you’ve always won and you never faced adversity, you would never get better. Embrace Adversity. The obstacle is the way. A book Brad highly recommends on the topic of The Grind is called “Grit” by Angela Duckworth. Hammer & Grind Profit Club Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast Tik Tok - Hammerandgrindpodcast Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric TriplettWebsite – www.hammerandgrind.com (http://www.hammerandgrind.com/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

GritAdversitySelf-mastery

EP2: The Journey to Self-Mastery

34 min

The Journey to Self-Mastery Brad and Eric realize for the first time on this podcast they both stand on the foundation of the CANI philosophy in their personal development. CANI or Constant And Never-ending Improvement. Both Brad and Eric on different sides of the country were introduced to the CANI philosophy, by Tony Robbins, over 20 years ago. Brad Hammers home the idea, “never finish improving on yourself”, by asking himself after the completion of every project he does this simple question. How could I have done this project Better, Faster, Cheaper? Improve efficiency, Save Money, A better experience for both the contractor and the homeowner. The discussion turns to how some people have this naturally in their DNA and others have to work harder at it to consciously get after it! From Brad’s military experience, his Journey to Self-Mastery propelled him into his contracting business. Hammer and Grind both agree that when they reach the finish line in their life they don’t want to leave anything on the table. Self Mastery in Contracting, leadership, estimating, sells, delegating, understanding numbers becomes their Digging into the CANI philosophy, Kaizen methodology, Lean manufacturing, self-awareness, surrounding yourself with a good contractor community, and reading top-quality books are the big takeaways from the Podcast. It’s never too late to “get after it” and ramp up your Journey to Self-Mastery! Facebook – Hammerandgrindpodcast Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast Instagram - @teamhandy - Brad Huebner Instagram - @theponddigger – Eric Triplett Website – www.hammerandgrind.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

CANI philosophyTony RobbinsKaizen methodology

EP1: What is Hammer & Grind?

10 min

Hammer & Grind Podcast – Episode 1 What is Hammer & Grind? Meet Brad Huebner, The Hammer, and Eric Triplett, The Grind - Hosts of Hammer and Grind, The Podcast Built by Contractors for Contractors. Real Contractors, True Stories, Real Solutions. Learn How these two dynamic contractor personalities originally met. Would you believe Eric & Brad have never met in person at the time of this recording? They made a connection in a contractor mastermind group and realized it was a must they launch. Hammer & Grind with the purpose of sharing their constant and never-ending journey to self-mastery. Brad claims Hammer & Grind was part of his genius master plan. You’ll quickly realize that Brad and Eric don’t really like each other much of the time. Proof that Opposites Attract, You won’t find a “dynamic” quite like what you will find between Brad and Eric. The Journey to Self-Mastery is filled with successes and failures. Learn, benefit, and grow from the stories, interviews, and experiences featured on the Hammer & Grind Podcast. With the goal of creating a community of like-minded contractors to provide valuable knowledge and experiences to help each other be successful in their business, Brad and Eric have outlined a solid lineup of content. Business can run you through the wringer! If your business is running you ragged, stick around for actionable steps to gain control. If in your mind, you’ve sold your business 567,000 times you’re not alone. Take a deep breath and press the play button. While this duo does not claim to be experts in any one area of business, one thing is for certain, they are dedicated to their network of contractors as they navigate through the journey to self-mastery. How to Connect Instagram - @hammerandgrindpodcast Facebook – hammerandgrindpodcast Website – www.hammerandgrind.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Brad HuebnerEric Triplettcontractor mastermind group