Success Unleashed: Beyond The Jobsite

Hosted by Gerritt Bake

Business Management

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Latest episode

Sep 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Being a contractor is hard. Dealing with clients, employees, billing, managing jobs, and making money consume your every waking hour. Which leaves you no time for what matters most: your family. Success Unleashed was created to give you the frameworks and tools you need to be successful not just on the job site...but in your personal life as well. Gerritt dives into his wealth of experience helping contractors build seven figure businesses that support the personal life they want. His direct approach cuts through the BS of life and help you get results. So if you're ready to make that change and take that tool belt off for good...then strap on your seat belt and listen in.

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September 22, 202652 min

The Marketing Strategy That Took This Handyman Business to 7 Figures

What if not knowing how to do the actual work was an advantage? In this episode, I sit down with Tim Leary, founder of Handy's Handyman Services. Tim didn't grow up in the trades and he'll be the first one to tell you he isn't the guy you want swinging the hammer. But that's exactly what makes his approach to building a home service business so interesting. Tim and his dad started Handy's in 2024 almost by accident. Then his dad suffered a serious back injury and suddenly Tim had no choice but to figure out how to turn what they had started into a real business. We get into how he built systems around work he couldn't personally perform, why they invested heavily in branding early, and the simple marketing strategy they used to become recognizable in their market. Tim breaks down the actual playbook too: Google reviews, Facebook groups, yard signs, door hangers, referral partners, branded vans, and most importantly, doing it consistently. If you're a contractor who thinks you need another complicated marketing strategy, listen to this one. Sometimes the answer isn't doing more things. It's doing the simple things over and over until your market can't ignore you.What's in this episode: 00:00 Why Tim left a successful real estate career 04:30 Finding an opportunity in the handyman industry 08:45 The moment his dad's injury changed everything 13:15 Building a business around skills Tim didn't have 17:00 Systems, SOPs, and getting the business off his shoulders 21:00 Hiring employees before having consistent work 25:30 Building a brand people actually remember 31:15 Turning attention into a real marketing funnel 35:00 The neighborhood marketing strategy that started working 40:45 Tim's marketing playbook for contractors under $1M 44:00 Growing to nine employees and six vans 49:30 Scaling beyond Utah and building the next growth engine 52:45 What Tim would do with $1,000 if he had to start over Has running your business become too complicated and stressful?Build Pro gives contractors the systems to stop winging it and build a business that doesn’t depend on them in every decision.Watch these next:📹 I Achieved Work Home Balance with These 5 Simple Changes https://youtu.be/9yRaqwEe1fw📹 Construction Contractor makes millions |Turned $300K into $14M https://youtu.be/tYJYR3PkNN8📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Family Time? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk📹 Building a $35 Million Garage Door Contracting Business (Strategies shared) https://youtu.be/NPyeKq8mS3c📹 Struggling with Low-Performing Team? What You’re Missing as a Leader https://youtu.be/KQ0qcLg_kwIApply for Blueprint: https://www.buildpro.io/Contact & Social Media:Build Pro: https://www.buildpro.io/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@buildprocommunity_______________________Build Pro is a coaching and operating system for contractors doing $500K–$5M. We install the people, process, and profit systems that get your business running smoothly and without you having to be trapped inside of it.

September 15, 202638 min

How to Scale a Construction Business Past $1 Million

Getting past seven figures is a huge milestone, but it doesn't mean business suddenly gets easier. In this episode, I sit back down with Dan of Panden Construction to talk about what happens after you hit that first big milestone and realize the problems don't disappear. They just change. Dan has made a massive transition since the last time we had him on the show. We get into how he's built a culture that can grow with the company, why accountability starts with the owner, and how he transitioned from basements and remodels into custom homes. We also break down one of the craziest challenges his team has taken on: building a Parade of Homes house in just 92 days. Dan shares what that experience taught him about planning, belief, and the relationship between quality, speed, and cost. If you're somewhere between $1 million and $5 million and wondering why it still feels like you're fighting every day, pay attention to this one. That stage of business is hard, but there is another side if you're willing to keep pushing. What's in this episode: 00:00 Why hitting seven figures doesn't make business easier 02:45 From flipping houses to building Panden Construction 06:45 Building a team around character and culture 11:40 Why your company culture has to evolve as you grow 15:00 Why accountability starts with the owner 18:00 Personal development means nothing without action 22:20 Making the jump from remodels to custom homes 25:15 Taking on the Parade of Homes with only months to build 28:30 Building a quality home in just 92 days 32:15 Why $1M–$5M can be the hardest stage of business 35:45 If Dan started over, he'd go after bigger opportunities Has running your business become too complicated and stressful? Build Pro gives contractors the systems to stop winging it and build a business that doesn’t depend on them in every decision.Watch these next:📹 I Achieved Work Home Balance with These 5 Simple Changes https://youtu.be/9yRaqwEe1fw📹 Construction Contractor makes millions |Turned $300K into $14M https://youtu.be/tYJYR3PkNN8📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Family Time? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk📹 Building a $35 Million Garage Door Contracting Business (Strategies shared) https://youtu.be/NPyeKq8mS3c📹 Struggling with Low-Performing Team? What You’re Missing as a Leader https://youtu.be/KQ0qcLg_kwIApply for Blueprint: https://www.buildpro.io/Contact & Social Media:Build Pro: https://www.buildpro.io/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@buildprocommunity_______________________Build Pro is a coaching and operating system for contractors doing $500K–$5M. We install the people, process, and profit systems that get your business running smoothly and without you having to be trapped inside of it.

August 2, 202635 min

From Zero to $35M: The Brutal Truth About Scaling

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: In this episode, I sit down with Jeff Dumas, who’s built a $35 million concrete company over the last 22 years and his story is nothing like what most people expect. Jeff didn’t come from construction, didn’t have a roadmap, and didn’t have a safety net. He got thrown into it, figured it out, got punched in the face during the 2008 crash, and rebuilt into what it is today. We talk about arrogance, hard lessons, why taking action beats having a perfect plan, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. If you’re a contractor trying to grow and wondering what it actually looks like at a high level, this one’s going to challenge how you think. What’s in this episode: 00:00 How Jeff built a $35M concrete business over 22 years 02:05 Starting at 16 years old with zero construction background 05:30 Why hard work early on changed everything 09:40 Getting forced into starting his own business with no plan 13:45 The reality of starting with nothing and figuring it out 17:50 Scaling to $2M in the first 3 years 20:10 The 2008 crash and losing major customers overnight 23:40 Ego, arrogance, and the lessons that almost killed the business 26:10 Why getting outside your bubble changes everything 28:30 The turning point that created real growth after 2017 30:45 Advice for contractors: hunger, sales, and customer focus 33:00 Starting over with $1,000 and how he’d rebuild today Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

May 5, 20268 min

Stop Babysitting Your Employees

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: If your employees act like toddlers, it’s probably not their fault. In this episode, I explain why most contractors accidentally create dependent teams, and how clarity, standards, scorecards, and ownership transform average employees into leaders. What’s in this episode: 00:00 Why your employees act helpless 02:00 The electrician who burned through 7 project managers 05:20 Treating employees like children creates children 08:40 Role clarity and standards change everything 12:10 Scorecards and accountability 15:00 One owner per outcome Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

April 28, 20269 min

You’re Not in Business to Make Money

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: You’ve been lied to. You’re not in business to make money, you’re in business to keep money. I walk through the biggest profit leaks I see in contracting: rework, estimating errors, material waste, labor inefficiency, and poor billing. This episode is about protecting margins, not chasing revenue. What’s in this episode: 00:00 Why more revenue feels like less money 02:20 Where profit actually disappears 05:10 Rework, estimating, and material waste 09:10 Labor efficiency and schedule drift 12:00 Cash flow vs real profit 15:30 Deposits, milestones, and job costing Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

April 21, 202610 min

Why Contractors Stay Exhausted at 7 Figures

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: If you feel exhausted, reactive, and constantly putting out fires, you’re paying what I call the Chaos Tax. In this episode, I explain where chaos hides inside seven-figure businesses, scheduling, estimating, materials, change orders, and lack of clarity. Here's how to finally take control with real systems. What’s in this episode: 00:00 What the Chaos Tax really costs you 02:23 Why most 7-figure contractors suffer more chaos 06:10 Scheduling mistakes and material chaos 09:40 Change orders and quality control failures 12:30 Why hustle culture is lying to you 15:10 How planning and systems eliminate chaos Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

April 7, 20269 min

Cheap Bids Are Killing Contractors

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: Most contractors are living in an illusion, thinking cheap bids and change orders will save them. They won’t. In this episode, I break down why rework destroys margins, how inaccurate estimating kills profit, and why knowing your breakeven number is non-negotiable. What’s in this episode: 00:00 The illusion of making money 02:40 Why being the cheapest is dangerous 05:10 Rework eats your margins 08:20 Understanding breakeven costs 11:30 Profit-first estimating 14:40 Change order discipline Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

March 30, 202611 min

The 7-Figure Lie Contractors Believe

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: In this episode, I break down why hitting seven figures doesn’t make life easier for most contractors — it actually exposes every crack in your business. More jobs, more people, more problems. I walk you through why revenue doesn’t solve chaos, how decision fatigue kills momentum, and what you actually need to implement if you don’t want seven figures to eat you alive. What’s in this episode: 00:00 Why seven figures feels like a bigger dumpster fire 02:10 Revenue exposes problems instead of fixing them 04:48 The contractor doing $5M at 3% profit 07:30 Hustle doesn’t scale past your calendar 09:40 People, process, and plan breakdown 11:00 Structure is the shortcut to sustainable growth Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

March 30, 20268 min

The Only Way Out of Contractor Burnout

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: The contractors who win aren’t the hardest workers, they’re the most structured. In this final episode, I show you how systems, scorecards, role clarity, and ownership give you your time back and allow real scale. What’s in this episode: 00:00 Why systems beat hustle 02:30 Creating roles and expectations 05:10 Scorecards and accountability 08:20 Moving decisions off your plate 11:00 Building a business that runs without you Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

March 30, 20269 min

Why Most Contractors Don’t Know Their Breakeven

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip Summary: If you don’t know your breakeven, margins, and job costs, you’re guessing, not running a business. I walk through the exact numbers every contractor must understand to stay profitable and avoid working for free. What’s in this episode: 00:00 Why dollars in don’t equal dollars kept 02:10 Understanding breakeven 05:20 Labor, materials, and overhead 08:40 Vendor terms and cash flow 11:30 Job costing in real time Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.