What 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 publishing

Travis 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/3td8Pdo
Instagram https://bit.ly/3HmCR3m
LinkedIn https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq

🔗 CONNECT WITH TRAVIS:
Facebook https://bit.ly/4w3k5s6
Instagram https://bit.ly/4pAYCVb
Youtube https://bit.ly/4gvO07r
TikTok https://bit.ly/4gSGCTV

✉️ CONTACT:
Email adam@buildauthority.co
Website adammcchesney.com
Book 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.

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