Kid Contractor Podcast with Caleb Auman

Latest Episodes:

E754. Ledges, Mud, and Treacherous Waters: Inside Harlan's Scariest Job (Part 2) Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

When Hurricane Helene wiped out roads and severed all communication across western North Carolina, contractor Harlan Jones raised $10,000 for fuel overnight, loaded up an excavator and Bobcats, and led a civilian convoy into ground zero before official disaster agencies even arrived.

Caleb interviews contractor Jones about his experiences scaling his business, Jones Property Management (JPM). Harlan reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, noting how transitioning to better equipment, implementing structured systems, and utilizing professional financial services like Cycle CPA helped stabilize his operations. He also shares a harrowing account of leading a volunteer crew to provide free disaster relief in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Finally, Jones discusses his evolving leadership philosophy, explaining that he now prioritizes profitability, employee well-being, and family balance over ego-driven expansion. Part 2of 2.

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E753. Double Down on the Gamble: Turning Seasonal Snow into a $100,000 Revenue Stream w/ Harlan Jones Part 1 Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

Most contractors view an unprecedented 11-inch blizzard in Tennessee as a reason to shut down—Harlon Jones took five minutes of parking lot practice in an unfamiliar skid steer and turned it into $45,000 in five days. In this episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, host Caleb Auman sits down with Harlon Jones, founder of Jones Property Management (JPM), to unpack how an impulsive gamble during an East Tennessee winter storm evolved into a lucrative six-figure seasonal revenue pillar. Armed with zero commercial snow removal experience, a brand-new Bobcat T76, and a single Facebook photo taken outside a friend's liquor store, Harlon transformed a quick favor into a non-stop, five-day emergency clearing blitz. Instead of treating the storm as a lucky one-off windfall, he aggressively doubled down: locking in zero-tolerance commercial accounts like outpatient surgery centers and corporate headquarters, staging entire semi-truck loads of ice melt in client garages, and pulling in over $100,000 in a single event to establish JPM as one of the region's premier snow operations. Part 1 of 2. Key Takeaways:

Treat sales as an unrelenting numbers game where consistent, high-volume prospecting always outperforms relying on luck or raw talent.
Never sell out of your own pocket by letting personal frugality distort the true commercial value of your services.
When unexpected market opportunities emerge, act decisively and double down with professional systems rather than treating windfall events as mere luck.
Actively target underserved, high-friction niche verticals to build predictable customer acquisition pipelines that bypass traditional competition.
Structure your operations and client management early so that business growth relies on scalable, repeatable processes instead of personal heroic effort.

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👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

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E752. Contractor Horror Stories | Rich Thiebaud (EVP of Sales @ LeanScaper) Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Running a landscape and construction business is unpredictable and chaotic. Rich Thiebaud joinds Caleb and together they emphasize that long-term success is built upon countless operational failures and hard-learned lessons. Thiebaud shares humorous job site anecdotes, including unexpected customer stress responses, bizarre equipment mishaps, and costly material errors. Ultimately, the conversation stresses the importance of implementing robust systems, clear procedures, and proper documentation to prevent avoidable business disasters.

Key Takeaways:

Establish documented procedures and operational systems to prevent recurring mistakes and maintain consistency across your team.
Communicate clear timelines and job expectations up front to minimize anxiety and avoid misunderstandings with clients.
Provide ongoing, practical training for team members to reduce workplace accidents and protect your equipment.
Treat failures and setbacks as valuable learning experiences that pave the way for long-term success.
Track your costs thoroughly and price your services accurately to ensure financial stability as you grow.

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📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

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💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

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🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E751. Contractor Horror Stories | AJ and Alicia Brentzel (BREX Enterprises) Oct 27, 2026

Show notes

Equipment disasters, cyber scams, and the chaos of growing a family-run construction business—what could possibly go wrong? AJ and Alicia Brentzel from BREX Enterprises join Caleb and Brittany in the brand-new CompanyCam Studio for a conversation packed with wild stories, hard-earned lessons, and plenty of laughs. From costly mistakes and unexpected setbacks to the personal pressures of building a business in the heavy civil construction and earthwork industries, nothing is off the table. It's a candid look at what happens when business and life throw you a curveball—and why the ability to adapt, push through adversity, and keep moving forward can make all the difference.

Key Takeaways:

Focus on controlling what you can influence, and do not allow unpredictable events outside your authority to dictate your emotional state or actions.
Establish standardized operating procedures and systems to bring clear structure, consistency, and scalability to your work and personal life.
Proactively communicate and define distinct roles with your team or partner to ensure seamless collaboration and prevent misunderstandings.
Directly verify any requested financial or administrative changes through a trusted secondary channel before transferring funds or updating sensitive information.
Stay the course during inevitable setbacks, recognizing that an isolated failure or difficult day does not mean a failed overall journey.

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📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E750. Contractor Horror Stories | John Pajak (Profits with Pajak) Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

John shares a nightmarish contractor horror story involving a disgruntled employee who maliciously damaged a client's vinyl siding. The discussion highlights the vital importance of avoiding desperate hires to protect a company's reputation and financial stability. Pajak also touches on unexpected field challenges, such as dealing with difficult onlookers and managing heavy manual labor like concrete pours.

Key Takeaways:

Know your business numbers and overhead recovery to ensure you price jobs accurately and remain profitable.
Avoid hiring out of desperation, as a rushed hiring decision can lead to severe financial, physical, and reputational damage.
Delegate or outsource routine tasks when your time can be better spent generating high-value revenue and growing your business.
Learn basic mechanical skills so you can troubleshoot minor equipment issues in the field and minimize downtime.
Prioritize job-site safety and protective gear when handling hazardous materials like wet concrete or lime to prevent severe injuries.

Connect with Auman Landscape

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E749. Contractor Horror Stories | Naylor Taliaferro (LCR Media) Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

Naylor Taliaferro details the trials and lessons of running a contracting business. During the October contractor horror stories series, Taliaferro shares a chaotic memory of his first major leaf removal job, which nearly caused him to quit due to a lack of preparation and equipment. He emphasizes that hope is not a plan, highlighting the importance of property walks, proper equipment setup, and clear customer communication. The conversation also touches on unexpected field encounters, such as dodging domestic drama and navigating holiday obstacles on job sites.

Key Takeaways:

Establish a concrete plan and secure the necessary equipment before tackling any major task rather than relying on hope or winging it.
Thoroughly inspect the full scope and hidden conditions of a commitment before agreeing to terms instead of estimating based on surface-level appearances.
Communicate openly and promptly when miscalculations occur by swallowing your pride, owning the mistake, and presenting clear options to move forward.
Plug into an active community of peers to share knowledge, gain encouragement, and avoid the isolation of navigating tough challenges alone.
Embrace and learn from mistakes early in your journey to refine your processes before scaling makes those errors far more costly.

Connect with Auman Landscape

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E748. Contractor Horror Stories | Paul Jamison (Green Industry Podcast) Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Entrepreneurship and contracting present numerous operational hurdles, as highlighted by green industry experts Caleb Auman and Paul Jamison. The discussion covers major professional challenges, including financial stress, unreliable customers, and the difficulties of managing organic materials like sod during extreme weather conditions. The guys also share personal disaster stories, ranging from surviving hurricanes to technical recording failures during high-profile interviews. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of proper business software, overcommunication, and cash-flow management to build a profitable enterprise.

Key Takeaways:

Switch to prepaid billing or upfront invoicing to secure healthy cash flow and eliminate payment disputes after work is completed.
Overcommunicate client responsibilities and define clear warranty limits on the front end so you are not held financially liable for variables outside your control.
Establish firm professional boundaries instead of allowing aggressive or intimidating clients to bully you into making costly concessions.
Price every project with healthy margins to ensure your business has the financial cushion necessary to absorb inevitable mistakes and unforeseen expenses.
Design your business scale around your ideal lifestyle and peace of mind rather than feeling obligated to expand headcount or operations beyond what fulfills you.

Connect with Auman Landscape

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

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🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E747. Contractor Horror Stories | Paul Capote (The Miami Landscaper) Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Wild field errors, equipment mishaps, and essential business lessons in the green industry are the focus of today's episode. Capote shares harrowing early-career experiences, including a nearly fatal chainsaw injury that severed a worker's main artery, a terrifying trailer detachment on I-95, and utility strikes caused by blind auger drilling. Throughout the conversation, Paul emphasizes the hard knocks of starting a business young without guidance, the necessity of proper safety gear (PPE) like tourniquets, and the importance of upgrading to reliable dump trucks to eliminate costly downtime.

Key Takeaways:

Verify and test hands-on competence before letting anyone operate hazardous machinery rather than simply taking their word for it.
Keep a professional tourniquet accessible and practice emergency drills with both hands so you are prepared to act decisively under high-stress conditions.
Always call 811 to locate buried utilities before digging to prevent dangerous strikes and costly liabilities.
Standardize equipment configurations and daily routines—such as matching trailer hitch sizes—to eliminate simple errors caused by hurry or distraction.
Track your operational numbers and job costing meticulously instead of relying on guesswork, ensuring you know exactly what is required each day to remain profitable and avoid debt.

Connect with Auman Landscape

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E746. Contractor Horror Stories | Harlan Jones (Jones Property Management) Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Get ready for some chaotic real-world incidents with Harlan Jones as he recounts as a new hire drinking a beer during a safety meeting, mistakenly landscaping the wrong property, and accidentally cutting down a neighbor's trees. Harlan also shares expensive operational blunders, including a disastrous truck purchase, an HVAC gas line mishap, and a severe saw accident that ruined a client's pool.

Key Takeaways:

Always verify property boundaries and project specifications before starting physical work to prevent costly liabilities and performing unauthorized labor.
Do not sacrifice reliability to pinch pennies on critical equipment, because maintaining worn-out assets frequently costs far more than investing in dependable tools upfront.
Resist impromptu scope creep and off-contract favors, which introduce severe operational risks without the profit margin required to absorb mistakes.
Consistently follow baseline safety precautions, such as chocking trailer wheels and setting parking brakes whenever loading machinery on an incline.
Take prompt ownership and communicate transparently when things go wrong, as acting with integrity preserves client trust even during expensive setbacks.

Connect with Auman Landscape

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/

🚜 Equip https://www.equipexposition.com/Use code: AUMAN

💰 John Pajakhttps://johnpajak.com

🧠 🎯 💡 FRWRD Coachinghttps://www.frwrdcoaching.com/

E745. Contractor Horror Stories | Brian Fullerton (Brian's Lawn Maintenance) Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Fullerton recounts a mortifying past mistake where he accidentally sent an inappropriate text message of himself to a group chat that included both his wife and a female client. Despite the initial panic and dread of potential severe consequences, the situation ultimately resolved when the client's husband jokingly confronted Fullerton about the incident. The conversation highlights the unpredictability of entrepreneurship while promoting community events such as the upcoming Lawntrapreneur Academy Live conference.

Key Takeaways:

Shift your primary focus from the technical mechanics of work to prioritizing the people and relationships that drive your true purpose.
Always verify recipient lists and group chats before sending any media or messages to prevent accidental communication blunders.
Master your financial numbers and utilize proper management tools to maintain long-term stability and business control.
Seek out physical proximity with experienced mentors and peers at live events to accelerate your growth through shared insights.
Keep unexpected setbacks and embarrassing moments in perspective, confronting them with humility and humor rather than letting panic take over.

Connect with Auman Landscape

📺 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AumanLandscape

🌐 All Links https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aumanlandscapellc/

👷 👷‍♂️ 👷‍♀️ The Hardsacpe Academy https://www.thehardscapeacademy.com/

👫 👩‍❤️‍👨 Together In The Trades https://www.togetherinthetrades.com/

Episode Sponsors

📸 CompanyCam – Get 50% off for 2 months https://companycam.com/auman

💰 Cycle CPA – Save $200 https://cyclecpa.com Use code: AUMAN

🛠 LMN Software – Save on onboarding https://golmn.com Use code: AUMAN

🚜⚙️🛠️ Steelwrist https://linktr.ee/AumanLandscape

🛠 Leanscaperhttps://leanscaper.com/