Building Strong Teams: Work Ethic, Leadership - Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

Building Strong Teams: Work Ethic, Leadership - Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

Hiring is one of the hardest parts of building a business, especially in the trades. In this episode of Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, the crew sits down for a real conversation around hiring, leadership, work ethic, and what it actually takes to build strong teams in small business contracting. Kenton, Josh and Joel, on the Forge Alliance team dive into their personal experiences hiring in roofing, solar, and construction businesses under the $10M mark, where owners are often still directly involved in every interview, every hire, and every difficult people decision. The conversation explores everything from identifying teachable employees, building company culture, handling seasonal workers, and why mindset matters more than resumes. They also unpack the tension many contractors feel with younger generations entering the workforce, while challenging the common narrative that “young people just don’t want to work.” Instead, the episode focuses on leadership responsibility, mentorship, and the opportunity business owners have to shape young workers into future leaders through accountability, teamwork, and hard work. This episode is packed with honest stories from the jobsite, lessons learned through years of hiring mistakes and successes, and practical insight for contractors trying to build teams that actually last. If you’re a contractor, business owner, foreman, or someone responsible for building culture inside a growing company, this conversation will hit home. This is a real conversation for contractors, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and business owners who want to build better companies, stronger teams, and healthier cultures over the long term. No corporate scripts, no surface level business talk, just practical lessons, honest experiences, and perspectives forged through years of building businesses and leading people. Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith Produced by Seth Steward Productions Co produced by Kalen Wookey Website https://forgealliance.ca/ [https://forgealliance.ca/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance [https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797] X https://x.com/forge_ca [https://x.com/forge_ca] @Forge_CA

Why Most Contractors Struggle to Hire Great People - Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

Hiring people is easy. Hiring the right people is one of the hardest things a business owner will ever learn how to do. In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, the conversation goes deep into the realities of hiring, leadership, company culture, and the long term impact people have on a business. The crew unpacks the difference between simply filling a role versus intentionally building a team, and why understanding yourself as a leader is often more important than understanding the resume sitting across the table. The discussion explores how hiring changes as a company grows, from the early days of building a small tight knit crew, to scaling teams and attracting people who can complement weaknesses, strengthen culture, and help move a company forward long term. They talk openly about the lessons learned through failed hires, losing valuable employees, building trust, and the importance of aligning people with core values rather than just technical skill alone. A major focus throughout the episode is the idea that businesses are built around people, not just systems. Whether it’s hiring apprentices, office staff, experienced tradespeople, or future leaders, the conversation highlights how personality, teachability, humility, work ethic, and culture fit often matter more than what’s written on paper. The crew also dives into how company reputation, social media presence, networking, and internal referrals all play a massive role in attracting quality people in today’s market. There’s also an honest discussion around leadership growth itself. The episode touches on the reality that employees do not always stay forever, and how business owners need to learn to lead with an open hand while still creating environments people genuinely want to be part of. From mentorship and growth opportunities to creating clear expectations and defining company values, the conversation offers a grounded look into what building a strong team actually looks like behind the scenes. This is a real conversation for contractors, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and business owners who want to build better companies, stronger teams, and healthier cultures over the long term. No corporate scripts, no surface level business talk, just practical lessons, honest experiences, and perspectives forged through years of building businesses and leading people.   Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith Produced by Seth Steward Productions Co produced by Kalen Wookey Website https://forgealliance.ca/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797 X https://x.com/forge_ca@Forge_CA

Automation: Why Contractors Can’t Ignore AI with Tim Joyce - Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

What happens when entrepreneurs stop fearing AI and start learning how to use it properly? In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, Josh sits down with Tim Joyce of Nooma Logic to talk about the real world impact of AI and automation in business, especially for contractors, entrepreneurs, and growing teams. From streamlining repetitive admin work to improving customer communication and giving business owners their time back, this conversation dives into the opportunities, risks, and realities of adopting AI in today’s world. The discussion covers everything from automation workflows and CRM integration to security concerns, team onboarding, productivity, and why many businesses are already falling behind by ignoring these tools. Tim also shares insight from working with companies across industries, including large organizations and First Nations development groups, while Josh opens up about Ridgeline’s own journey implementing automation into day to day operations. This episode is not about replacing people. It’s about empowering teams, reducing friction, creating better systems, and allowing people to focus on the work they are actually good at. If you’re a contractor, entrepreneur, manager, or business owner curious about AI but unsure where to start, this is a grounded and practical conversation worth listening to. Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith Produced by Seth Steward Productions Co produced by Kalen Wookey Website https://forgealliance.ca/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797 X https://x.com/forge_ca@Forge_CA

Clarity: Finding Your Role with Kalen Blake - Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, Josh sits down with Kalen Blake, the creative behind Ridgeline’s media and a key driver of the company’s growth over the past year. Kalen shares his path from working multiple jobs at a young age, to building and scaling an e-commerce business, to running a brick-and-mortar operation that generated millions in revenue before the age of 21. From importing products across international markets to navigating the realities of ownership, this conversation breaks down what it actually takes to build something from nothing. At its core, this episode focuses on finding where you operate best and how that decision shapes everything. Josh and Kalen dig into the transition from entrepreneurship to stepping into a defined role within a team, and how clarity, structure, and the right environment can unlock a higher level of performance, creativity, and long-term growth without burnout. A major theme throughout is the role of social media in modern business. Not the polished, corporate version, but real, consistent, and human content that builds trust, drives leads, and connects you directly to your community. Kalen shares why business owners need to stop overthinking content and start showing up, even when it feels uncomfortable. This is a conversation about alignment, growth, and building something meaningful, whether you are leading from the front or creating behind the scenes. If you are a contractor, business owner, or someone trying to figure out your next move, this one will resonate. Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith Produced by Seth Steward Productions Co produced by Kalen Wookey Website https://forgealliance.ca/ [https://forgealliance.ca/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance [https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797] \X https://x.com/forge_ca [https://x.com/forge_ca] @Forge_CA

Crews: Hire Right, Train Better, and Build Strong Teams - Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, Kenton Friesen of Friesen Contracting and Josh Eisworth of Ridgeline Roofing and Solar sit down to unpack something every trades business struggles with but few truly dial in, training and recruiting. This is not a surface level conversation. It is a real and honest look at what it actually takes to build a team from the ground up, especially in an industry where formal training systems are almost nonexistent and most people are expected to figure it out on the job. They dig into the tension between productivity and development, the constant pull between getting the job done today and investing in someone who might make you ten times more efficient tomorrow. Josh shares recent experiences intentionally pulling new hires out of the normal crew environment to train them one on one, allowing them to fail, slow things down, and actually learn the trade. It is inefficient in the short term. Jobs take longer, mistakes cost money, and production dips. But the payoff is clear. Guys become capable, confident, and productive far faster than the traditional shadow and carry material approach. Kenton brings decades of experience into the conversation and reflects on what it means to train not just workers, but men. This goes beyond skill and into character, work ethic, and professionalism. Together, they explore why hiring experienced tradesmen often does not work the way you would expect, and why so many of the best long term team members are built from scratch. Culture, mindset, and attitude consistently outweigh experience, especially in a trade like roofing where standards vary widely from company to company. The conversation also moves into recruiting, because you cannot talk about training without talking about who you are bringing in. From the unpredictability of hiring to improving vetting systems and rethinking where to find the right people, they break down what it means to increase your odds in an industry known for high turnover. There is no perfect formula, and both Kenton and Josh admit they have been wrong many times when judging who would succeed and who would not. At its core, this episode is about playing the long game. It is about understanding that the fastest way to build a strong and reliable team often looks slower on the surface. It is about being willing to sacrifice short term output to multiply long term capacity. And it is about recognizing that the real win in this business is not just the roofs you install, but the people you build along the way. If you are a contractor trying to grow, dealing with turnover, or looking to build a stronger and more capable crew, this conversation will challenge how you think about training, recruiting, and leadership.   Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith Produced by Seth Steward Productions Co produced by Kalen Wookey Website https://forgealliance.ca/ [https://forgealliance.ca/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance [https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797] X https://x.com/forge_ca [https://x.com/forge_ca]     @Forge_CA       #podcast #podcasting #podcaster #podcastlife #newpodcast #youtubecreator #youtubepodcast #contentcreator #viralcontent #growonyoutube #youtubegrowth #youtubemarketing #videomarketing #contentstrategy #socialmediatips #digitalcreator #creatoreconomy #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #startup #businessmindset #businessgrowth #successmindset #successhabits #selfimprovement #selfgrowth #personaldevelopment #mindsetmatters #growthmindset #levelup #discipline #motivationdaily #inspirationdaily #hustlehard #workethic #stayfocused #ambition #goals #goalsetting #dreambig #takeaction #consistency #selfmastery #highperformance #peakperformance #mentality #resilience #mentalstrength #confidence #selfbelief