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.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From Solo Contractor to $20M Goal: How to Scale a Deck Business in 2026
5d ago00:32:18Tap 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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How to Quit Your W2 and Build a Business That Runs Without You (2026)
2w ago00:41:36Tap to summarizeQuitting a stable paycheck to build something of your own is the hardest decision most future business owners ever make. In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, host Adam McChesney sits down with Michael Schieffer, a former commercial loan officer who spent 10 years inside the banking world before walking away in April 2023 to build three businesses of his own.Today Michael runs a real estate flipping operation (16+ flips and counting), an Exit Factor franchise that helps business owners increase valuation and step out of the operator seat, and a Two Maids cleaning franchise in St. Charles that he runs as an owner, not an operator. That distinction is the entire point of this conversation.What we cover:– Why "golden handcuffs" keep so many high earners stuck in jobs they've outgrown– What 10 years of writing commercial loans taught Michael about why businesses fail– The owner vs. operator framework — and how to structure a business so it doesn't depend on you– How Michael completed 16+ real estate flips while still holding down a W2– Why "time freedom" became the real driver behind leaving banking– The 80/20 content rule for building authority without becoming a full-time creator– How to position your business for a higher exit valuation 5+ years before you sellIf you've been sitting at a desk wondering if it's time to make the jump, or you're already running a business and trying to step out of the day-to-day, this episode lays out the mindset and the mechanics.🔗 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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How I Redesigned My Workspace to Do More in Less Time
3w ago00:20:18Tap to summarizeAfter years of adding complexity, multiple agencies, multiple locations, a lawsuit — I'm done overcomplicating things.In this video I'm walking you through my new office setup at Adventure Unknown, why I made the move, and the exact way I've structured my environment to do better work in less time.I'll walk you through:👉 Why I traded a 10-minute commute for a 30-minute one — and why it was still the right move👉 How I structured one space to handle daily work, YouTube, and podcasting without reinventing my setup every day👉 Why batching content changed everything for my output👉 The case for simplifying your business before adding anything newIf you're a business owner who feels like your days are running you instead of the other way around, this one might hit home.🔗 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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How This Contractor Built a Personal Brand That Sells for Him (400K Followers)
4w ago00:46:11Tap to summarizeMost contractors think social media is a waste of time. John McDonald proved them wrong, with 400K followers on Facebook, 315K on Instagram, and a multi-million dollar business that grows because of his personal brand, not in spite of it.Adam McChesney sits down with John McDonald, founder of Fab Tech Solutions, to break down how a Navy vet who started with $4,000 in the bank built a massive personal brand and a thriving business — without ever chasing viral trends or following a content playbook.What we cover:- How John went from the Navy to running a multi-million dollar machinery business- Why his content about a barndominium and a pond exploded — and what contractors can learn from it- How a personal brand acts as a silent sales rep that builds trust for years before a follower becomes a client- The "fire yourself" framework — how to delegate so your business can scale without you- Why being great at a trade doesn't mean you should own the business- The content habit every contractor should build before worrying about algorithmsIf you're a contractor who thinks personal branding isn't for you — John McDonald's story will change your mind.🔗 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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How to Scale a Painting Business Past $1M in 2026 (Without Being on Every Job Site)
Apr 3000:37:10Tap to summarizeIf your painting business can't run without you, you don't have a business. You have a job.Adam McChesney sits down with Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, to break down exactly how painting contractors go from overwhelmed owner-operators to running a scalable business with a real leadership team and hitting $1M+ in revenue without being on every job site.Chris has coached painting contractors across North America since 2018, released 250 straight weeks of podcast episodes, and built a firm with 8 advisors. He knows exactly where contractors get stuck — and how to fix it.What we cover:- How to systematize your painting business so it runs without you- The leadership team every contractor needs to break past $1M- Why a 50% gross profit margin is the benchmark — and how to hit it- Sales and estimating strategies that close more jobs faster- The coaching framework that pays for itself within 90 days- How to transition from residential repaints into commercial work🔗 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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The Serial Entrepreneur’s Playbook: From Junk Removal to AI Voice Agents
Apr 2300:33:43Tap to summarizeIf your home service business is struggling with labor shortages, high turnover, or leads that go cold before your team can follow up, this episode is for you.Adam McChesney sits down with serial entrepreneur Chris Huddleston to break down how AI voice agents are replacing underperforming sales reps, cutting labor costs, and closing more jobs for home service businesses in 2026 and beyond.Chris has built and scaled companies across the warranty, junk removal, and home services industries since 2006 — and he shares exactly what separates contractors who scale from those who stay stuck.What we cover:- How AI voice agents are solving the labor shortage in home service businesses- Why most contractor sales teams lose leads in the first 5 minutes (and how to fix it)- Leadership frameworks that build teams that don't depend on the owner- How to navigate slow seasons without losing momentum- The mindset shift every contractor needs to go from $2M to $5M+🔗 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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How to Franchise Your Business and Multiply Your Success with Dr. Tom DuFore
Apr 1600:35:47Tap to summarizeDo you want to turn a successful local business into a national brand through franchising? In this episode, we break down the real-world process of "multiplying success" with Dr. Tom DuFore—from identifying if a business is "franchiseable" to navigating the long-term sales cycles required to scale. This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when a founder decides to move from a visionary role into a coaching and training role to lead a franchise system. We talk about:* The Three Pillars of Franchising: Using other people's capital (Money), local ownership (Management), and faster expansion (Multiply).* The "Franchiseability" Checklist: Why a profitable prototype, national customer base, and a "teacher’s heart" are non-negotiable.* The Franchise Blueprint: A deep dive into the 3-step strategy of structuring fees, documenting manuals, and launching to market.* Success vs. Struggle: Why consistent marketing for 200+ days is the key to closing franchise sales, and why starting and stopping ad campaigns leads to failure.* The Founder's Role: Why the first 20 franchisees are actually buying into the founder, not just the brand.If you’re a business owner, contractor, or entrepreneur looking for a "confidence elixir" to grow while maintaining local quality, this episode will hit.🔗 CONNECT: Facebook https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq✉️ CONTACT:Email adam@buildauthority.coWebsite adammcchesney.comAbout 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.
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He Had Everything Most People Want: And Gave It All Up for Something Better
Apr 900:40:31Tap to summarizeWhat does it actually take to walk away from a high-paying job… hit rock bottom… and rebuild multiple successful businesses?In this episode, we break down the real entrepreneurial journey of Marburger—from selling cars at 18 to building multiple income streams across real estate, automotive, martial arts, and investments.This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when everything falls apart—and what it takes to come back stronger.We talk about:• Leaving a stable career to prioritize freedom• The reality of loss, failure, and rebuilding from zero• The mindset shift that changed everything• How EOS helped scale his business the right way• Why personal branding is driving 80% of his leads todayIf you’re a business owner, contractor, or entrepreneur trying to grow while navigating real life, this episode will hit.🔗 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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How We Built a Two Million Dollar Agency With a Remote Team Across 7 Countries
Apr 200:33:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, I sat down with our COO, Alejandra Donaire, to talk about what actually goes into building and scaling a digital marketing agency behind the scenes.We recorded this from Nicaragua, and this conversation is a real look at what most people don’t see, the systems, the pressure, the leadership, and the day-to-day execution it takes to grow a business the right way.Alejandra shares her path from architecture to marketing, how she stepped into the COO role early on, and what it really means to take ideas and turn them into something that actually works inside a company.We also break down how we’ve implemented EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), the difference between a visionary and an integrator, and why operations are the backbone of any business that wants to scale.If you’re an entrepreneur, agency owner, or contractor trying to grow, this will give you a much clearer picture of what it actually takes behind the scenes.
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The Mindset Shift That Took Him From Failing in High School to Running a Business
Mar 2601:00:13Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Builders of Authority podcast, I sit down with Colin McNeil, owner of the McNeil Insurance Group, for a deep and personal conversation about growth, accountability, and the realities of entrepreneurship. We take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on our shared history playing sports in St. Louis and attending high school together.Colin opens up about a defining period during his sophomore year when he faced academic ineligibility and a significant identity crisis. He credits a high-stakes meeting with his dean, Mr. Walsh, as the turning point that provided him with a roadmap to get his life back on track: a lesson in resilience that continues to fuel his business today.
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