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.
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Scaling Your Family Business: A Foundation for Growth with Mark Steiniger
1w 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
2w ago00:38:01Tap 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
3w ago00:37:51Tap 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
4w ago00:33:43Tap 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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How to Quit Your W2 and Build a Business That Runs Without You (2026)
May 2100:41:36Tap 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
May 1400:20:18Tap 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)
May 700:46:11Tap 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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