Episode 09: Winning Jobs by Just Answering the Phone - Jake Iskierka of 10K Construction

Descripción

In this episode of The Reasonable Contractor podcast, host Ryan Templin interviews Jake Iskierka, President of 10K Construction in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Jake recounts his journey from HVAC trade school at Hennepin Tech to co-founding a full-service general contracting company during COVID. He shares insights on customer service philosophy, insurance industry changes, building company culture, and why the competition makes it easy to win by simply answering the phone. Key discussions include the Randy Shaver Foundation partnership, navigating Minnesota's insurance regulation changes, and advice for the next generation considering trades. TAKEAWAYS: * Never telling customers "no" builds loyalty—even for problems outside your wheelhouse, tap your network to solve it. * Answering the phone fast wins jobs; most competitors don't even call back when homeowners reach out to 6-7 companies. * Minnesota insurance policies are changing significantly—deductibles shifting from flat rates to percentage of home value, and roofs over 10 years may only get actual cash value instead of full replacement cost. * Profit matters more than revenue; you can sell $10M at 10% profit or $5M at higher margins and come out ahead. * A real person answering phones beats AI automation—customers need the "warm and fuzzies" from that first contact. * White glove service and turnkey processes keep quality consistent as the company grows. * Building a business isn't easy—it takes long nights, family sacrifice, and learning from mistakes. * Owner-operators in skilled trades (electricians, HVAC, plumbers, concrete, masonry) can make hundreds of thousands per year. * 10K Construction supports team members who want to eventually start their own companies—they see themselves as a stepping stone. SOUND BITES: * "Our competition really makes it easy sometimes to win because they don't even show up." * "No one else will care as much as you." * "We're a customer first company." * "Why not you? What do you want to be when you grow up? Well, why not you?" * "There's a shit ton of money to be made in construction." (Ryan) CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction and Jake's Background 01:17 – From HVAC Trade School to Construction 02:10 – What 10K Construction Does 02:42 – The "Never Say No" Philosophy 04:09 – Randy Shaver Foundation Partnership 06:13 – How the Partnership Came Together 09:04 – Winning Jobs by Answering the Phone 11:23 – Building the 10K Team and Culture 12:14 – Why Real People Beat AI for Customer Contact 13:47 – Minnesota Insurance Changes Explained 17:55 – Understanding Your Coverage vs. Premium 19:52 – Business Goals and Hiring Plans 21:43 – Growing at the Right Pace 23:27 – Profit vs. Revenue Mindset 25:20 – Work-Life Balance in Construction 28:11 – Challenges: Learning Your Way Isn't the Only Way 30:40 – Hiring for 2026: Two Project Managers 31:53 – Advice for the Next Generation 35:08 – Opportunities in the Trades 35:40 – Wrap-up Keywords/Tags: 10K Construction, general contractor, insurance restoration, Coon Rapids, Twin Cities contractor, Randy Shaver Foundation, customer service, hiring, trades careers, Minnesota insurance, exterior remodeling, hail damage, insurance claims, construction business, skilled trades

Episode 10: 50 Jobs at a Time - Scott Corbin on Scaling Corbin's LLC

In this episode of The Reasonable Contractor podcast, host Ryan Templin interviews Scott Corbin, owner of Corbin's LLC, a multi-trade contracting company running 40-50 jobs simultaneously. Scott shares his raw journey from substance abuse and starting with nothing to building a family of companies including excavation, painting/drywall, and tree services. He discusses the brutal reality of his first year bringing in $280K but walking away with only $70K, why he views his role as "firefighter and babysitter," and the mindset shifts required to scale. Key discussions include building a family culture, learning through expensive mistakes, and why finding your purpose before chasing money is essential. ---------------------------------------- TAKEAWAYS * Working 17-hour days and bringing in $280K meant nothing when profit after taxes was only $70K - revenue is vanity, profit is sanity * "Find the reason before you make the money" - if money is your source of happiness, you'll never have enough * The apostrophe in "Corbin's LLC" is intentional: everyone in the company is family and has a voice * Five big jobs per year make the real money; the team keeps the lights on the rest of the time * Losing money on a complex project (zip-up drainage system) was paid training - refusing to do it again would waste that investment * Surround yourself with people doing what you want to do; you become who you spend time with * The 18-22 age group is showing up hungry and ready to work; the 25-35 range is the hardest to find quality help * Reaching out for help is the biggest lesson in business - making something on something beats zero on nothing * Legacy matters more than cashing out - Minnesota Rusco's collapse shows what happens when you lose control of your vision * College isn't wrong, trades aren't wrong - it depends on whether you want a 9-to-5 or to build something with no ceiling ---------------------------------------- SOUND BITES * "Find the reason before you make the money. Because if that's the reason why you're happy, there will be no end to the happiness. You will never be happy." * "There's always better on making something on something than zero on nothing." * "I started with nothing. Absolutely nothing. I woke up in Minnesota in a treatment center going, how did I get here? That's when I started." * "Pick up that shovel. Sweep the shop. If I could go back to doing stuff like that, I would pick it every day of the week." ---------------------------------------- CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction and Scale of Corbin's LLC 01:30 — Early Years: Custom Woodworking at 15 03:30 — College, Substances, and Hitting Bottom 05:30 — Treatment and Starting Over with Nothing 07:00 — The $10,000 Challenge from His Wife 09:00 — Working 17-Hour Days: $280K Revenue, $70K Profit 12:00 — Building the Corbin's Family Culture 15:00 — Expanding: Excavation, Painting, Tree Service 18:00 — "Firefighter and Babysitter" - The Owner's Role 21:00 — The Zip-Up System: Paying for Training Through Mistakes 25:00 — Relationships Over Revenue: How Big Jobs Get Won 28:00 — Montana Log Home Project 30:00 — Minnesota Rusco Collapse: Legacy and Cashing Out 35:00 — Find the Reason Before You Make the Money 38:00 — Advice for the Trades: Who Should Join 42:00 — The 18-22 Year Olds Are Showing Up Hungry 45:00 — Moral Shift in America and Encouragement 48:00 — AI Tools and CRM Integration (Otter AI) 50:00 — Wrap-Up ---------------------------------------- KEYWORDS/TAGS Corbin's LLC, general contractor, residential remodeling, Minnesota contractor, scaling a contracting business, contractor mindset, substance abuse recovery, family business culture, trades career, contractor podcast, Twin Cities contractor, legacy business, contractor advice

10 de ene de 202652 min

Episode 09: Winning Jobs by Just Answering the Phone - Jake Iskierka of 10K Construction

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