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

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

“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

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

 

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

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

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.

Why Most Coaches Fail Builders Like You

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

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

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

 

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

 

Why Hiring Smarter People Forces You to Be a Better Leader

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

 

Are Your Staff Raising the Bar? Why Hiring Smarter People Forces You to Be a Better Leader

One of the biggest mistakes I see builders make when growing their businesses? They hire people they can manage instead of people who can make the business better.

They bring on employees who follow orders, not ones who challenge the process. They hire for control instead of growth. And as a result? Their business stays stuck—because they’re still at the center of every decision.

The Truth About Hiring: Smart People Don’t Need to Be Told What to Do

Steve Jobs famously said, “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”

And yet, so many builders do the exact opposite. They bring on employees and then refuse to step back. They micromanage, nitpick, and resist new ideas—because they’re afraid of losing control.

But the truth is, hiring better people doesn’t mean losing control. It means raising the bar.

Why You Should Hire People Who Are Better Than You

The best builders I know don’t just hire people to take things off their plate. They hire people who can do things better than they can.

✅ A great project manager will spot inefficiencies in your builds that you’ve been blind to.
✅ A strong operations lead will refine your systems, so your business runs smoother.
✅ A sharp estimator will increase your profit margins in ways you never considered.

When you surround yourself with people who challenge you, your business evolves faster. You’re no longer the smartest person in the room—and that’s a good thing.

Hiring Smarter People Forces You to Be a Better Leader

Here’s what happens when you build a team that’s better than you in certain areas:

🔹 You stop micromanaging and start leading. When you have a team you trust, you can focus on strategy instead of daily problem-solving.

🔹 Your business stops depending on you for every little thing. If you have to be involved in every decision, you don’t have a business—you have a job.

🔹 You create a culture of innovation, not just execution. Smart employees don’t just do the work. They improve it. They innovate. They help you scale.

So Ask Yourself: Is Your Team Raising the Bar?

  • Are your employees pushing your business forward—or just waiting for directions?
  • Are you surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to grow as a leader?
  • Are you hiring to maintain the status quo, or to build something better?

Because at the end of the day, your business will only grow as much as you allow it to.

If you’re tired of feeling like the only one who truly owns the success of your business, it’s time to rethink who you’re bringing in. The best teams don’t need to be managed. They need to be led.

🔥 What’s one role in your business that you need to upgrade? Drop it in the comments.

 

The Secret to Get Anyone to Do Anything

Posted on by Rodric Lenhart

The Secret to Getting Anyone to Do Anything You Want

Imagine being able to hand off a task and know it will get done right—without micromanaging, double-checking, or fixing mistakes. For builders, this can feel like a dream. But the truth is, when you know how to communicate exactly what you need, you can get anyone to do anything… (steps 3 and 4 are the most often missed and cause the most problems).

Are You Really Giving Your Team What They Need to Succeed?

In the construction world, time is money. If you’re constantly redoing work or fixing mistakes, chances are something got lost in communication. Many builders assume their team or even subs “just know” how to get the job done, but without clear guidance, things can quickly go off track.

Does this sound familiar?

Picture this: you’re on a tight deadline and hand off an important task to a team member, assuming they’ll handle it just fine. A few days later, you check in and discover it’s either incomplete or not at all what you expected.

Frustrating, right?

Unfortunately, this situation is all too common for builders who don’t take a few extra steps when delegating tasks.

Delegation isn’t just about passing along work. It’s about setting up your team to succeed by explaining the “what,” “why,” and “how” of each task. When done right, good delegation can save you time, avoid costly mistakes, and keep projects running smoothly.

So I created the 7-Step Process for Effective Task Delegation. It’s designed to make sure your team has everything they need to complete tasks the right way the first time. With just a few simple tweaks, you can turn over jobs confidently, knowing they’ll get done correctly.

Want to stop the endless back-and-forth and see your projects move forward with less stress? Download the free guide: 7 Steps for Effective Task Delegation HERE It’s when we forget the basics that things start to go off the rails…keep this doc handy as a quick reminder…and never have to double back again.

Always in your corner,

Rodric 

 

 

Don’t spend another week trapped in the grind.

let’s build the business—and life—you’ve been dreaming of.

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