War Heroes and Home Builders and Naps…

 


Winston Churchill Took Naps During WWII—And You Should Too

Winston Churchill had a lot on his plate.
A global war. Bombs raining down on London. The pressure of leading a nation through one of the darkest chapters in human history.

And yet… every afternoon, like clockwork, Churchill would disappear for a nap.

Not because he was weak.
Not because he didn’t care.
But because he knew something most builders forget:

Great leadership requires energy. And energy requires recovery.


The Power of Strategic Rest

Churchill wasn’t being indulgent—he was being strategic.

He worked late into the night, often dictating speeches and planning military strategy until 2 or 3 a.m. But to stay sharp and make high-stakes decisions, he prioritized midday rest.

And the results speak for themselves.


Builders Are Fighting Their Own Wars

Today’s battlefield looks a little different.

If you’re a custom home builder, you may not be defending a nation—but you’re still fighting fires:

  • Subcontractors not showing up
  • Clients making last-minute design changes
  • Permits delayed, jobs stalled
  • Endless paperwork, scheduling, and “just one more thing”

For many builders, it feels like the only solution is to work more.

More hours. More effort. More stress.

But here’s the truth: grinding harder is not the path to clarity.
It’s the fast track to burnout.


You’re Not Lazy. You’re Running on Empty.

Too many high-performing builders equate rest with weakness.

But the opposite is true.

When you never slow down, your decision-making gets cloudy. You miss red flags. You overreact. Your team doesn’t get your best—and neither do your clients.

Eventually, your body will force you to rest—through exhaustion, frustration, or even collapse.


Churchill Didn’t Grind—He Led

Leadership isn’t about doing it all.

It’s about knowing what only you can do—and having the clarity, energy, and margin to do it well.

That starts by reclaiming your time, building a business that supports your life (not consumes it), and making intentional leadership decisions.

And that’s where I come in.


Ready to Step Out of the Chaos?

If you’re stuck in the weeds, burned out, or feel like you’re the bottleneck in your own business—it’s time for a reset.

Let’s map out a better way forward, one that gives you back your energy, your time, and your leadership edge.

👉 Click here to book your 20 Min Blueprint Call

You don’t need another tactic.
You need a moment to pause, breathe, and look at the full picture.

Just like Churchill.


 

Summer’s Silent Killer: What Top Builders Know (That Most Don’t)

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein


1932:

In 1932, while the world was drowning in the Great Depression, a man named Charles Merrill saw something others didn’t.

Most businesses were scaling back. Laying off. Retreating.
But Merrill—the co-founder of Merrill Lynch—was quietly positioning himself for a surge.

He studied what consumers would want once the dust settled.
He began investing in safe, middle-class products—like grocery store chains.
By the time the economy recovered, Merrill was a household name… and rich beyond belief.

While others were licking their wounds, he was playing long-term offense.


The Parallel Today:

Every summer, the same thing happens in construction:

  • Phones slow down
  • Clients hit pause
  • Teams shift into autopilot

And most builders tell themselves, “It’s just the season.”

But top builders don’t think this way:
Summer is the setup season. The planning you do now determines how fast you scale in the fall.


Here’s What the Best Builders Are Doing Right Now:

1. Locking In Fall/Winter Pipeline
They’re not “hoping” for leads post-Labor Day—they’re working the magnet side of the $20M Triangle …becoming a sea of one, segmenting their lead pipeline, organizing golf and lunches with realtors and developers, lining up specs,  clarifying their offer positioning and more…

📈 A Harvard Business Review study found that companies who proactively plan during off-seasons grow 37% faster during peak cycles than those who don’t.

2. Auditing and Adjusting the Team
They’re not waiting until things blow up—they’re fine-tuning meetings, reviewing roles, and letting underperformers go.

✅ A Gallup poll revealed that companies who conduct mid-year team recalibrations see a 20% improvement in productivity over 6 months.

3. Building the Owner, Not Just the Business
They’re taking time off—but it’s intentional. Reading. Thinking. Refining vision.
You can’t lead a million-dollar team with a burned-out brain.


Here’s What Most Builders Are Doing:

  • Skipping meetings
  • Chasing small fires
  • Reacting instead of planning
  • Saying “We’ll figure it out later”

But when later comes…and it’s usually too late.


The Point:

The damage doesn’t happen in the summer.
The consequences just show up in the fall.


Your Move:

You’ve got two choices:

  1. Coast through summer like most builders…
  2. Or use it like Merrill did: to quietly prepare for a growth explosion.

Want help mapping out the next 90 days so you don’t fall behind?

👉 Let’s hop on a 20 Min Blueprint Call—we’ll walk through exactly where you are, what’s holding you back, and what to fix first.

Always in your corner,
Rodric

 

Your First 3 SOPs: What to Systemize Before You Scale

 


Your First 3 SOPs: What to Systemize Before You Scale

TLDR: Don’t build a bigger business on a broken foundation. You may say “duh” to some of these things… but if any of them are EVER missed…something could be better… this quick guide will help you take full control.


Most builders think scaling starts with better marketing or more leads.
But here’s the truth:
More jobs will break your business if it’s held together by memory, sticky notes, and 6 a.m. texts.

Before you worry about getting more, let’s get your business ready to handle more.
Here are the first three SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) every custom home builder should lock in before they scale.


SOP #1: The Job Start Checklist

Why It Matters:

The chaos you deal with at the end of a project?
It usually started in the first 72 hours.

When every job starts differently, you’re relying on memory instead of systems. That leads to confusion for your team, frustration for your clients, and rework that cuts directly into your margins.

What To Include:

  • Pre-construction meeting with project manager, client, and/or superintendent
  • Permit confirmed and posted
  • Dumpster, porta-john, temp power installed
  • Site secured (fencing, signage, locks if needed)
  • Materials staged or delivery dates locked in
  • Full job folder set up (plans, budget, contact info)
  • Job start email sent to client with expectations and communication cadence

⚙️ How to Implement It:

  1. Use a simple Google Doc or template in your project management software.
  2. Assign ownership — usually your PM or lead super.
  3. Review the list during your internal job kickoff meeting.
  4. Require a photo checklist to be completed and uploaded to the job file.

Pro tip: Have your PM take a 3-minute video walking the site at Day 1. It becomes your baseline reference in case of damage, sub disputes, or delays.


SOP #2: Weekly Job Update Protocol

Why It Matters:

Clients don’t ghost you when they’re happy — they ghost you when they’re stressed and feel out of the loop.

One of the biggest stressors for high-end clients is a lack of communication. And most builders overpromise, under-communicate, and hope the client doesn’t ask too many questions. That’s a recipe for micromanagement and bad reviews.

What To Include:

A templated weekly update sent to each client with:

  • Summary of this week’s progress (bullet points, not paragraphs)
  • Updated job photos (before Friday so they can show their friends over the weekend)
  • Any delays or material issues
  • What selections or approvals are still needed
  • What’s coming next week
  • Open questions or change orders pending
  • Updated completion date (or confirmation that it’s still on track)

⚙️ How to Implement It:

  1. Use a shared template in Google Docs, Notion, Buildertrend, CoConstruct, or even email.
  2. Set a non-negotiable deadline: “All job updates go out by Friday at 2 PM.”
  3. Add a recurring calendar reminder for your PMs.
  4. Review a few of them yourself to ensure quality tone and professionalism.

Pro tip: Keep a “communication log” on each job. If a client ever says, “You never told me that,” you have a clean record.


SOP #3: The Change Order Process

Why It Matters:

The average custom home has 25–50 changes from the original scope.

Most builders handle these like this:

  • Client asks for something
  • You say, “Yeah, we can do that.”
  • You forget to document it
  • Weeks later, your team installs it, but nobody billed for it
  • Profit margin? Gone.

A good change order system does two things:

  1. It keeps you profitable
  2. It protects the relationship

What To Include:

  • Client request format (email, portal, or official request form)
  • 48–72 hour turnaround time for pricing
  • Documented scope of change
  • Cost & time impact clearly laid out
  • Client approval (digital signature or signed PDF)
  • Work doesn’t proceed until it’s approved
  • CO tracked against original budget

⚙️ How to Implement It:

  1. Create a standardized form (Google Form, Typeform, or inside your PM software).
  2. Train your team to never agree to a change on the spot. Instead, say:

    “We’d be happy to explore that. Let me get a change order started and we’ll send you pricing.”

  3. Batch COs and review them every week in your internal team meeting.
  4. Use unique CO numbers (e.g., CO-001, CO-002) to keep clean records.

Pro tip: Build a CO tracker spreadsheet. At any point, you should be able to tell:

  • How many changes have been requested
  • How many were approved
  • Total net gain/loss from changes

Extra Pro Tip: Start tracking CO’s for TIME today… if you don’t know why this is important… just ask. 


The Real ROI of SOPs:

These 3 systems alone can:

  • Save you 5–10 hours/week
  • Reduce project overruns
  • Increase profit margin by 5–15%
  • Lower your stress and client drama

But more importantly…
They give you options.
You can delegate, grow, or even exit one day — because your business doesn’t just live in your head anymore.


Next Steps:

This is just one part of the 3 Laws and 9 Levers of the $20M Builder Triangle – want to watch the whole training that was previously reserved for my private clients?

👉 [Watch The Training]

Always in your corner,

Rodric

The $20M Builder Triangle: How Custom Home Builders Scale Without Losing Their Time, Team, or Sanity

Why Most Custom Home Builders Get Stuck at $4–8 Million

If you’re a custom home builder doing $3–10 million in annual revenue, you’ve already proven you can build. You’ve got a reputation. A team. Jobs in motion.

But let’s be honest — it still feels heavier than it should.

Margins are inconsistent.
You’re still answering too many client calls.
Your team solves problems… but also creates new ones.
You’ve got systems, but they only work if you personally enforce them.

That’s not a business — that’s a bottleneck.

And the truth is, you’re not stuck because of your product. You’re stuck because of your structure.


The 3 Invisible Ceilings in Every Custom Building Business

Every builder I’ve worked with — from $4M to $40M+ in annual revenue — hits the same friction at some point.

And it always shows up in one of three places:

  1. Marketing that doesn’t differentiate

  2. A team that relies too much on you

  3. Systems that sound good but aren’t actually used in the field

That’s why I created a framework I call the $20M Builder Triangle — and it’s the foundation of every successful builder coaching program I run.


The $20M Builder Triangle Framework

The triangle is built on three core pillars. If even one of them is weak, your growth stalls.


🧲 The Magnet: Marketing & Positioning

This pillar is all about how you attract and convert premium clients.

Non-negotiables:

  • A niche that makes you a Sea of One — not one of many

  • Consistent lead flow (referrals, yes — but also paid and organic)

  • A sales process that turns the first call into a deposit, without leaks

If you’re still competing on price or quoting against three other builders, this pillar needs work.


⚙️ The Machine: Team & Structure

This is where most builders feel the squeeze — even if revenue is climbing.

Non-negotiables:

  • A clear org chart with defined roles

  • A-player hiring that uses tools like the Kolbe Index

  • Weekly leadership rhythms that create alignment and accountability

You don’t just need warm bodies — you need the right people in the right seats, with a culture of ownership.


🛠 The Method: Systems & Execution

You can’t scale chaos. Period.

Non-negotiables:

  • A true project management rhythm

  • Job costing and forecasting that make sense

  • A tech stack that’s actually used (not just installed)

This is about building a business that runs without you, not because of you.


How John D. Rockefeller Used This Model 100 Years Ago

John D. Rockefeller didn’t build Standard Oil by working harder than everyone else.

He started like most of us — doing it all. But once the business gained momentum, he shifted toward systems, structure, and scale.

He built a business that ran on rhythm — not on his reactive energy.

Sound familiar?


Want to Know Where You’re Red, Yellow, or Green?

Here’s the quick test I use with every builder client:

For each of the three pillars — Marketing, Team, and Systems — ask yourself:

  • 🟢 Green: Is it dialed in and scalable without me?

  • 🟡 Yellow: Is it okay, but founder-reliant?

  • 🔴 Red: Is it a mess, broken, or non-existent?

If you’ve got even one red… that’s your ceiling.


What to Do Next (Without Guessing)

This week I ran a private training for my builder clients that breaks down this exact framework in more detail — including all 9 non-negotiables, and how to green-light them one by one.

If you want the replay, just email me with the subject line “$20M” and I’ll send it to you.

Or, if you want to assess where your business is at right now, take the Builder Assessment — it’s free and takes less than 5 minutes.

This is how custom home builders scale to $20M+ — without losing their family, freedom, or fire.

Stop Guessing Why Your Building Business Feels Stuck

Stop Guessing Why Your Building Business Feels Stuck
And start fixing it—in just 20 minutes.

Most custom home builders I talk to think they have a sales, marketing, or team problem.

So, they hustle harder. Spend more on SEO (and other things that waste money).

Hire (and fire) faster.

But the business still feels heavy. The stress doesn’t go away. The profits don’t climb. The free time? Non-existent.

Here’s why:

👉 Every building business has ONE core constraint at a time.

Until you find it—and fix it—you’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Maybe you think you need more leads.
But what if your real issue is pricing and positioning, or that you’re saying yes to the wrong clients?

Maybe you’re blaming your team.
But it’s actually a lack of systems forcing you to babysit every job site.

Or you’re convinced marketing is the problem—
When in reality, your margins are too thin to scale safely.

Reality? —You’ll never see it on your own.
You’re too deep in sawdust and selections to notice what’s really holding you back.

That’s exactly why I offer the Free 20-Minute Builder’s Blueprint Call.

It’s not a sales pitch.
It’s a fast, tactical conversation where we pinpoint your biggest bottleneck—the one thing suffocating your growth, stealing your time, and capping your profits.

I’ve helped builders stuck at $2M break through to $10M+ by solving this exact problem.

And it always starts with seeing what you can’t see alone.

I’ve opened a few slots this week for sharp builders who are tired of guessing—and ready to get unstuck.

👉 [Book Your Free 20-Minute Blueprint Call Here]

No fluff. No wasted time. Just clarity, direction, and the next steps to finally breathe again in your business.

Find your constraint. Fix it. Scale on your terms.

Talk soon,
Rodric Lenhart

P.S. These spots don’t stay open long. If you’re serious about getting your time, sanity, and profits back—grab your call now before they’re gone.

 

 

 

 

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PPS – I help custom homebuilders doing at least $3M a year scale while reclaiming their time, sanity and profits. 

We talk about time a lot around here. Because when we can get your time back, all other metrics go up – profits, build quality, client satisfaction, family dynamic, relationships, health, and more… 

I’ve built, bought, sold, and developed $100M worth of projects in the last 20 years – and at the same time visited 65 countries on 6 continents. It’s possible. I’ve lived it. And you can too. 

So if you have all the free time you’ve ever dreamed of and your business runs like a well oiled machine – I probably won’t have much for you here. You can unsubscribe below – no harm, no foul. 

But if you want to escape the adult daycare that is your day-to-day and build an empire… you’re in the right place.

Why Most Coaches Fail Builders Like You

Why Most Coaches Fail Builders Like You

Most business coaches miss the mark when working with builders.

They show up with spreadsheets, strategies, and systems—thinking that more structure is the answer. But here’s the truth: Your business isn’t failing because of a lack of spreadsheets.

It’s failing because you, the owner, are overwhelmed, overworked, and overcommitted.

When you’re constantly putting out fires, handling client changes, chasing subs, and answering calls at all hours, you don’t need another “growth plan.”

You need your time back.

That’s where I do things differently.

I don’t start with the business. I start with you.

  • How do we pull you out of the day-to-day so your business can run without you in the trenches?
  • How do we shift your role from operator to true owner?
  • How do we get you back your time, so you can scale without adding stress?

Because when you—the owner—have clarity, control, and space to think, everything else falls into place.

The team runs smoother. Projects get delivered on time. Profits increase. And suddenly, you’re not working 80-hour weeks just to keep up.

Most coaches won’t tell you this because they don’t get it.

But I do… if you’re tired of being the bottleneck in your own business….I can help.

Grab a Free 20 Min Builders Blueprint Call Here

 

Always in your corner,

Rodric (No Fluff) Lenhart

#CustomHomeBuilders #BuildersFreedomBlueprint #BusinessGrowth #TimeFreedom #ScaleYourBusiness

If Your Business Stops When You Step Away, Read This

 


Your Business Is a System—But Is It Working for You?

There’s a quote I love from Thinking in Systems (if you haven’t read it, do it):

“An important function of almost every system is to ensure its own perpetuation.”

In other words—your business is doing exactly what it was built to do.

And that’s either a good thing… or a big problem.

Because whether you realize it or not, your business is already a system. The real question is:

What kind of system have you built?

For most custom home builders, the system they’ve created:
❌ Keeps them stuck in the day-to-day
❌ Makes them the bottleneck in every decision
❌ Falls apart the second they step away

And that’s why so many builders hit a wall.

They’re doing good work, they’ve got a team, revenue is up…

But it still all runs through them.

That’s not a business. That’s a job with overhead.

The Fix? A Business That Runs Without You

If your business stops moving the second you step away, that’s a sign you need better systems—not more hours in the day.

The right systems don’t just keep things running. They allow you to:
✅ Step back without the wheels coming off
✅ Scale up without stealing more of your time
✅ Build a team that handles the details so you can focus on growth

That’s the goal. That’s the Builders Freedom Blueprint.

Your Business Is Costing You More Than You Think

Every day your business runs like this—where you’re the bottleneck—you lose time, money, and sanity.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’re tired of running in circles, let’s spend 20 minutes together mapping out a game plan to fix it.

No fluff. No wasted time. Just a clear path forward to make your business run for you—not because of you.

👉 [Book Your Builders Blueprint Call Here]

Your business should grow without running you into the ground.

Let’s make that happen.

To building the right systems,
Rodric (No More Weeds) Lenhart


 

Stuck at $3M? Here’s Why…

Stuck at $3M? Here’s Why (And How to Break Through)

Every custom home builder wants to scale their business, make more money, and get their time back. But I see the same pattern over and over—builders hit $3M a year, and suddenly… they stall.

** Note – $3M is the average I see nationwide – I have clients doing $40M with the same challenges.

No matter how hard they work, how many jobs they take on, or how many late nights they pull, they can’t seem to break through to that next level.

And here’s why: They didn’t build the right systems to start.

Now, they’re trapped.
🔹 Too busy keeping the machine running.
🔹 No time to step back and fix what’s broken.
🔹 Stuck doing the work instead of running the business.

💡 Until you reclaim your time, nothing else changes.

Why This Happens: The “Success Trap”

The problem isn’t lack of effort. The problem is lack of infrastructure.

Many builders hit $3M in revenue through brute force—working harder, taking on more jobs, and personally making every key decision. This works at first, but at some point, the weight of the business becomes too much to carry.

In psychology, this is called the Dunning-Kruger Effect—when early success makes us overestimate our ability to scale. We assume that because we built a $3M business through hustle, we can keep growing it the same way.

But what got you here won’t get you there.

Historical Proof: The Ford Assembly Line

Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry by working harder—he did it by working smarter.

Before the assembly line, cars were hand-built, one at a time. It worked, but it wasn’t scalable. Ford realized that he needed a system, not just more labor. By creating a repeatable, structured process, he was able to 10x production, lower costs, and dominate the market.

The same principle applies to your business.

At $3M, your business is still largely custom-built—every project, every decision, every problem-solving moment runs through YOU. That’s not scalable.

To break past that threshold, you need to build your own assembly line.

The Hidden Cost of Staying Stuck

Research backs this up—according to a McKinsey & Company study, companies that fail to implement structured systems waste up to 30% of their revenue on inefficiencies.

For a builder doing $3M a year, that’s $900,000 in lost profit—not because they aren’t working hard enough, but because they aren’t working smart enough.

How to Break Through the $3M Ceiling

If you’re stuck, here’s where to focus:

Systemize Repetitive Work: If a task is done more than once, it should have a clear process that doesn’t rely on you.

Track Labor Costs Accurately: If you’re not costing labor to each job correctly, you’re bleeding money without realizing it.

Delegate Like a CEO: If every decision still funnels through you, you’re not running a business—you’re running a high-paying, high-stress job.

Protect Your Time: Your biggest job isn’t swinging a hammer—it’s building a company that runs without you.

Your Next Level Isn’t About Working Harder—It’s About Running Smarter

Most builders tell themselves, “I just need to push harder,” but that’s a lie.

The ones who scale past $3M (and do it while reclaiming their time, sanity, and profits) stop running the business like a job and start running it like an actual company.

The question is—are you ready to take that step? If you made it to these words… you’re already one of the few who do versus the many who talk.

Book a Free 20 Min Blueprint Call HERE

Always in your corner,

Rodric

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Photo Cred: My 32 Deuce Coupe outside a diner in Tennessee. 

The Real Source of ALL of Your Business Problems

Let’s cut to the chase—most of the problems in your business aren’t actually business problems.

They’re personal problems… just dressed up in a fancy suit and tie.

Entrepreneurs love to blame the market, the clients, or their team. But if you really dig deep, you’ll see that the biggest challenges in your business are just reflections of what’s happening inside you.

Here’s What That Looks Like in Real Life:

🚫 Struggling with delegation? → It’s not a staff problem—it’s a control issue and a lack of trust.

🚫 Clients constantly pushing boundaries? → It’s not a customer problem—it’s a lack of clear expectations and weak leadership.

🚫 Your team isn’t stepping up? → It’s not a hiring problem—it’s a leadership gap that starts with you.

💡 Your business will only grow as much as you do.


The Silent Killer of Business Growth

Most entrepreneurs hit a ceiling not because of external challenges, but because of internal ones.

It’s easier to blame employees than to admit that you haven’t given them the tools to succeed.

It’s easier to blame customers than to admit that you never set strong boundaries.

It’s easier to blame the economy than to admit that you’ve been coasting on outdated strategies.

But here’s the thing: Blame keeps you stuck. Responsibility moves you forward.


The Entrepreneurs Who Win Do This Differently

The top entrepreneurs—the ones who scale, reclaim their time, and actually enjoy their business—don’t waste time pointing fingers.

Instead, they look in the mirror and ask:

👉 Where am I the bottleneck? 👉 What habits, fears, or blind spots are keeping me stuck? 👉 What do I need to change about ME to get different results?

This isn’t about beating yourself up. It’s about taking ownership—because the second you do that, you also take control of the solution.


How to Start Fixing the Root Problem

Instead of looking at surface-level business problems, start asking deeper questions:

Instead of: “Why won’t my team take initiative?” ➡️ Ask: “Have I given them the authority, clarity, and trust to step up?”

Instead of: “Why do clients keep walking all over me?” ➡️ Ask: “Did I set strong boundaries and enforce them early?”

Instead of: “Why do I never have enough time?” ➡️ Ask: “Am I prioritizing the right things, or just staying busy?”

Your business is a direct reflection of your leadership.


The Question You Need to Ask Yourself Today

Are you ready to stop blaming external problems and start fixing what’s actually holding you back?

The moment you do, everything changes.

🔥 What’s one area of your business that you KNOW is actually a YOU problem? Drop a comment below—I read every response.

They Swore Trains Over 30mph Would Kill You….(and what it means for your business).

🚂💨

In the early days of steam-powered trains, scientists swore that if a train went faster than 30 mph, the human body would explode. No joke. They genuinely believed this.

And they were completely wrong.

The only reason we moved past that limitation was because some brave people decided to test it. And guess what? They didn’t explode.

But here’s the thing—most of us are still clinging to our own version of the 30-mph myth.

👉 “If I step back from my business, everything will fall apart.”
👉 “I have to be involved in everything, or it won’t be done right.”
👉 “Freedom, profit, and peace of mind at the same time? Not possible.”

What if you’re just wrong?

What if the only reason your life feels hard, chaotic, or out of balance is because you’re holding onto a belief that’s keeping you stuck?

I see this all the time with builders—hustling, grinding, believing that this is just how it is. But the ones who challenge that? The ones who ask, “What if this isn’t true?” Those are the ones who reclaim their time, their freedom, and their lives.

If you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them.

So my challenge to you today: What’s one belief about your business or life that’s keeping you stuck? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear it.

To your freedom,
Rodric

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#MindsetShift #BusinessFreedom #CustomHomeBuilder #BuildersBlueprint #Entrepreneur