Podcast
Builders of Authority
Hosted by Adam McChesney · EN
Builders of Authority is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs looking to level up their game in all facets. With a focus on personal branding and growing your business, host Adam McChesney, brings on high level entrepreneurs who have experience growing companies through branding. You will learn tactics and strategies, not theories, from guests on the podcast while understanding what you need to do in order to reach new levels of success.
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What It Really Takes to Scale a General Contracting Company with Bryson Kinkade
1w ago00:40:16Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to scale a general contracting business from a solo operation into a full-service machine that dominates the market? In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, Adam McChesney sits down with Bryson Kinkade, owner of Kinler Services, to unpack his journey from Army infantryman to leading a growing, full-service restoration company. Bryson shares how Kinler Services helps property owners recover from storm, fire, wind, and hail damage while handling everything from concrete and roofing to complete restoration projects.Bryson shares how he transitioned from doing it all himself to building the team and systems needed for sustainable growth. In this conversation, Adam and Bryson discuss:• Mastering the insurance landscape as a market differentiator• Navigating insurance claims to better serve clients• Transitioning from solo operator to team-led scaling• Managing remote partnerships and production teams• Key lessons from five years of business growth• Acting as a liaison for homeowners vs. adjusters• Strategies for expansion and hiring in-house crews• The resilient mindset needed to never give upBryson also opens up about the challenges he faced while building his company and explains how mastering the nuances of insurance claims transformed his service model, creating trust and authority in a competitive field.🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM: Facebook https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq🔗 CONNECT WITH BRYSON: Website https://bit.ly/4vEpuoCFacebook https://bit.ly/4w9DmZ3LinkedIn https://bit.ly/4fgCx9u✉️ CONTACT:Email adam@buildauthority.coWebsite adammcchesney.comBook a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/About me:I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing.I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.Built for the contractors the market keeps overlooking.#BuildersOfAuthority #ContractorMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #brandbuilding #BrysonKinKade #KinlerServices
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Be Your Brand: The Authenticity Strategy for Contractors with Travis Collins
2w ago00:52:35Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to turn years of hands-on experience into a content brand with nearly two million followers?In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, Adam McChesney sits down with Travis Collins, better known online as Tools by Design, to discuss his journey from finish carpenter and custom automotive shop manager to full-time content creator.Travis shares how Tools by Design started with content about renovating a 1941 home and eventually grew into a trusted source for tool news, reviews, remodeling projects, and practical advice.In this conversation, Adam and Travis discuss:• Why authenticity matters more than perfectly polished content• How consistency helped Travis build a loyal online audience• The personal investment and risk required to grow a content brand• How he chooses brand partnerships without losing credibility• The pressure of balancing contracts, creativity, and audience trust• Why imperfections and personality stand out in an AI-driven world• How delegation can help entrepreneurs focus on their highest-value work• Why creators and business owners need to stop overthinking and start publishingTravis also opens up about the criticism he faced when professionals did not initially take content creation seriously and explains how playing the long game ultimately created opportunities with some of the biggest brands in the tool industry.🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM: Facebook https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq🔗 CONNECT WITH TRAVIS: Facebook https://bit.ly/4w3k5s6Instagram https://bit.ly/4pAYCVbYoutube https://bit.ly/4gvO07rTikTok https://bit.ly/4gSGCTV✉️ CONTACT:Email adam@buildauthority.coWebsite adammcchesney.comBook a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/About me:I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing.I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.Built for the contractors the market keeps overlooking.#BuildersOfAuthority #ContractorMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #brandbuilding
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One Week Away Exposed the Biggest Problem in My Business
3w ago00:26:21Tap to summarizeIs your business actually growing if you can’t step away from it? In this episode, I’m getting real about the "Entrepreneurial Paradox": we build businesses for freedom, yet most of us struggle to truly disconnect and enjoy that freedom when it counts.I share the unfiltered story of a recent family trip to Disney that turned into a work nightmare, contrasted with how a subsequent trip to Mexico became a genuine turning point. If you’re constantly checking Slack, drowning in emails, or feeling like the only person who can solve your business's problems, this is for you. We break down how to stop creating self-imposed chaos, why entrepreneur burnout prevention isn’t a luxury but a requirement, and the tactical steps you need to take to finally master the art of stepping away.In this video, you'll learn:- The "Vacation Trap": How your own habits and lack of planning keep you tethered to work during your time off.- Delegation Secrets: How to stop being a "solopreneur" and start acting like a CEO by empowering your team.- Strategic Boundaries: Practical ways to set expectations with your team and clients so your vacation remains a vacation.- The Science of Recovery: Why taking time away is actually the fastest way to accelerate your work-life balance for entrepreneurs and long-term performance.If you are ready to reclaim your time, build a system that runs without you, and avoid the burnout cycle, this conversation is your roadmap.✉️ CONTACT:Email adam@buildauthority.coWebsite adammcchesney.comBook a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/About me:I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing.I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.Built for the contractors the market keeps overlooking.#BuildersOfAuthority #ContractorMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #brandbuilding #CEOlifestyle
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Scaling Your Family Business: A Foundation for Growth with Mark Steiniger
4w ago00:49:40Tap to summarizeMark Steiniger, CFO and partner at Keil Excavating, discusses his transition from public accounting to leading his family's heavy civil contracting business. He provides insights into the complexities of inter-family business transitions, the strategic reasoning behind diversifying into commercial plumbing to derisk from earthwork volatility, and the importance of earning respect from long-term employees. This episode serves as a practical guide for business owners considering succession planning and those looking to grow through acquisition rather than starting from scratch.🔗 CONNECT WITH MARK: Facebook https://bit.ly/3QVtuCKInstagram https://bit.ly/4vNnmeYLinkedIn https://bit.ly/448xDGwWebsite https://bit.ly/4xZZGFx
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Building a Legacy: Kira Andersen’s $3M Mission Against Pancreatic Cancer
Jul 200:38:01Tap to summarizeKira Andersen’s life took a drastic turn when her husband, Kyle, was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer shortly after the birth of their third child. Refusing to accept a grim prognosis, Kira leveraged her background in medical and pharmaceutical sales to advocate for experimental treatments, securing "compassionate use" for a promising inhibitor. This intervention, now known as the "Kyle Anderson Regimen," granted their family an extra year of life together and is now saving other stage four patients. Today, Kira honors his memory by hosting the "Yes We Can" podcast and continuing a relentless mission to raise the final $1 million of a $3 million goal for targeted research at Siteman Cancer Center.🔗 CONNECT KIRA:DONATE: https://bit.ly/4oXPARLFacebook: https://bit.ly/4eTfwcjInstagram: https://bit.ly/4vJ7fPqLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4eZzT7TWebsite: https://bit.ly/4xZRKnXYoutube: https://bit.ly/4wlog22
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From Army Ranger to 120 Houses: The Real Cost of Scaling Fast with Jimmy Vreeland
Jun 2500:37:51Tap to summarizeJimmy Vreeland is a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and full time real estate investor with a portfolio built through discipline, private money, and some hard lessons learned the expensive way.In this episode Jimmy walks through his journey from buying his first houses while deployed overseas to scaling to 120 properties and hitting a wall that forced him to rethink everything. He covers the four pillars of real estate wealth, who the ideal investor profile actually looks like, and why personal transformation is always at the center of business growth.Whether you're just getting into real estate or already scaling and feeling the cracks, Jimmy's story will give you both perspective and a practical framework to keep moving forward.🔗 Connect with Jimmy:https://ibuystl.com/Facebook: https://bit.ly/4oNeRh6Instagram: https://bit.ly/43ZX2SCLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4g19o4b
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You're Not Starting Over. You're Starting From Experience
Jun 1800:33:43Tap to summarizeAshley Burkeen is a serial entrepreneur with 12 years in general contracting, a regional Master Networks franchise, short-term rentals, a holistic skincare line, and a book to her name. In this episode she gets real about what it actually takes to build across multiple industries without losing yourself in the process.From networking and personal branding to failure, delegation, and self-awareness, Ashley brings a refreshingly honest perspective on entrepreneurship that goes way beyond hustle culture.If you're building something and feeling like you have to fit a mold that was never made for you, this one's worth your full attention.🔗 Connect with Ashleah:Facebook: https://bit.ly/4uTYZuMInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abauthentically/Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@authenticallyab
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Why Most Contractors Fail (And How to Break the Cycle) with Brandon Fuchs
Jun 1100:33:10Tap to summarizeBrandon Fuchs brings over 20 years of construction experience and $100 million in managed projects to this conversation. As the founder of the Elite Builder Society, he's on a mission to cut the contractor failure rate by tackling the root cause: fear and a lack of business fundamentals.In this episode we cover why so many skilled contractors stay stuck, how AI is transforming the front end of construction businesses, and what a real sales framework looks like when you lead with authority and confidence.Whether you're just starting out or trying to scale past a ceiling you can't explain, Brandon's perspective will challenge how you think about your business and yourself.🔗 Connect with Brandon:https://ebsworks.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561208851660Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach/
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How This HVAC Owner Built a 5-Star Business From Scratch (With Zero Customers) | Jeremy Wolf
Jun 400:40:40Tap to summarizeMost people use a pandemic as an excuse to wait. Jeremy Wolf used it to launch. In March 2020, with the world shutting down, he started Stay Cool Climate Control from scratch and turned it into one of the most recognized HVAC brands in St. Louis.In this episode, Jeremy breaks down how he built a standout brand in a crowded market, made the shift from technician to business owner, and learned to trust a team so the business could grow without him. If you own a service business or work in the trades, this one is worth your time.Book a FREE marketing audit for your business: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/Apply to be a guest on the podcast:https://buildauthority.com/learning-hub/contractor-marketing-podcast/
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From Solo Contractor to $20M Goal: How to Scale a Deck Business in 2026
May 2800:32:18Tap to summarizeMost contractors stay stuck swinging a hammer for 90 hours a week because they never make the jump from operator to owner. Trant, a third-generation carpenter based in Nottingham, New Hampshire, almost did. Then his wife told him they were having a kid, and everything changed.In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, host Adam McChesney sits down with Trant to break down exactly how he went from solo contractor to building a custom deck and outdoor living company on track to hit $20M in annual revenue, and why niching down to decks (instead of being a master of all trades) was the single biggest unlock.What we cover:– Why niching down to decks streamlined his estimating, SOPs, and office operations– The mindset shift from contractor to business owner — and the audiobooks and mentors that drove it– How becoming a dad forced him to build a company that could run without him on every job site– The marketing stack that built the brand: vehicle wraps, Google Ads, Google Business Profile, and targeted neighborhood mailers– Why hiring a virtual assistant was one of the highest-ROI moves he made– His 5-year plan: $20M in revenue and a dedicated outdoor living design center– How to delegate the tasks outside your expertise so you can focus on growth🔗 CONNECT: Facebook https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email adam@buildauthority.coWebsite adammcchesney.com
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