Many entrepreneurs build a successful business only to realize one day they’re stuck asking: What’s next?

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin welcomes back Greg Hayne, Owner of the Hayne Coaching Group and creator of the What’s Next program. Greg works with business owners, especially in construction and roofing, who have achieved financial success but are struggling to find purpose, fulfillment, and clarity about the next stage of life.

From battling burnout to redefining success, Greg shares practical tools entrepreneurs can use to plan for a future beyond the business. Whether you’re nearing retirement, considering selling, or simply feeling restless despite your achievements, this conversation will help you start thinking about what comes after.

Key Takeaways

• [01:12] How Greg discovered that even successful entrepreneurs struggle with “what’s next?”
• [02:43] The provocative questions that made business owners realize they were stuck.
• [03:54] Why financial success doesn’t guarantee fulfillment or happiness.
• [05:23] The “golf and grandchildren plan” and why it rarely works long-term.
• [08:50] A map and six tools Greg uses to help entrepreneurs navigate their next stage.
• [09:49] Why stimulating the right brain unlocks creativity and clarity.
• [13:06] The importance of designing a life you don’t need a vacation from.
• [16:50] How writing, biking, and clarity breaks fuel Greg’s own transitions.
• [22:33] Why fear of change is often rooted in not having a clear vision.
• [25:26] The myth of the “limited pie” and how to expand possibilities for yourself and others.

Connect With Greg:

Website: https://www.haynecoachinggroup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghayne/

Support Titans of the Trades:

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The roofing industry is changing fast and the companies that thrive will be the ones that adapt.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Melvyn Scofield, better known as Your Iowa Roofing Guy. From his years in manufacturing with IKO to educating with the Maintenance Academy, Melvyn has a no-nonsense approach to teaching property managers, roofers, and homeowners what it takes to build trust and prepare for the future of roofing.

We dig into why education is the ultimate differentiator, how technology and AI are shaping roofing, and what it takes to motivate the next generation to pick up the torch. If you want to future-proof your roofing company, or any construction business, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Key Takeaways

• [01:27] How the nickname Your Iowa Roofing Guy was born from one customer conversation.
• [03:27] Melvyn’s transition from manufacturing with IKO into roofing sales and contracting.
• [05:28] Why educating property managers builds long-term trust and better budgets.
• [07:22] How roofing cost guides help prevent customers from being misled.
• [09:58] The power of video education for both customers and training your own team.
• [11:51] Are young workers really “lazy,” or is it a generational misconception?
• [14:51] The role of robotics and AI in the future of roofing (and why they won’t replace humans).
• [19:18] Why too many contractors hope to hire “seasoned” workers instead of training new ones.
• [23:44] Finding that one motivated young worker and making them an example for the team.
• [27:16] Why parents, not schools, are the key to making the trades cool again.

Connect With Melvyn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvynscofield/

Support Titans of the Trades:

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Finding top sales talent in construction feels impossible. The best salespeople are already crushing quotas. They’re not on job boards.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin talks with Ryan Hogan, Co-Founder and CEO of Talent Harbor. Ryan shares how his journey from Navy service to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures shaped his innovative approach to sales recruiting.

You’ll learn why traditional headhunters don’t work, how “recruiting as a service” changes the game, and why culture fit always wins. Whether you’re hiring estimators, roofing sales reps, or high-performing closers, this episode will help you rethink your strategy.

Key Takeaways

• [01:26] From Navy service to entrepreneurship: The lessons Ryan carried into business.
• [03:39] The rise (and pivot) of Hunt a Killer into a $48M subscription business.
• [06:59] Why traditional recruiting fees don’t work for small to mid-sized contractors.
• [08:19] What most owners get wrong about hiring salespeople.
• [10:57] Why the best salespeople are never on job boards like Indeed.
• [14:28] Average time-to-hire and why recruiting as a service changes the math.
• [16:22] Building the right compensation plan for roofing and construction sales roles.
• [20:48] Culture fit vs. sales skills: Which matters more when hiring?
• [22:39] Why competitive backgrounds (sports, games, etc.) predict sales success.
• [25:16] The deal-breaker: Why Talent Harbor won’t recruit without processes in place.

Connect With Ryan Hogan:

Website: https://talentharbor.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanehogan/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Are you tired of being stuck in the field, juggling sales calls, project management, and even picking up some tools when no one else shows up? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Branden Sewell, Owner of Seal Pro Painting and host of the Off the Ladder Podcast.

Branden never started as a painter, yet built a thriving painting business by learning how to run the company. He shares the mindset shifts, hiring strategies, and leadership lessons that helped him move from owner-operator to true business owner.

If you’re in construction or the trades and want to grow your company without burning out, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you finally “get off the ladder.”

Key Takeaways with Timestamps

• [03:02] Why not knowing how to paint actually helped Branden grow Seal Pro Painting faster.
• [05:22] The biggest mindset shift every owner-operator must make to scale.
• [06:05] Myths construction leaders tell themselves that keep them stuck in the field.
• [08:19] Why there isn’t a labor shortage and what’s really going on with hiring in the trades.
• [10:01] What construction can learn from Chick-fil-A about building a strong workforce.
• [12:53] The first step to finally getting off the ladder and into the CEO seat.
• [14:55] Why subbing out work created bigger problems and how Branden transitioned to hiring employees.
• [19:23] Building culture and values into your hiring and onboarding process.
• [21:47] A hard leadership lesson: when being “too kind” holds your team back.
• [25:04] What to expect from the Get Off the Ladder Podcast and how it can help your business grow.

Connect With Branden:

Website: https://www.sealpropainting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandensewell/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Denise Grothouse, Founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing and a seasoned entrepreneur who built a multimillion-dollar brand in the trades before launching her agency. Denise knows how contractors think, because she’s been one.

She shares real-world marketing strategies tailored to construction businesses, including how to leverage social media, earned media, and even AI, without getting overwhelmed. Learn why vulnerability is your secret weapon, how to niche your services for better results, and the one checklist every employer needs to build a magnetic employer brand.

Whether you’re a home remodeler or service contractor, this episode will help you understand what real marketing ROI looks like.

Episode Takeaways

• [01:09] Denise’s origin story: From building furniture to building brands.
• [03:17] Why contractors need to be more vulnerable with marketing.
• [06:07] The power of customer retention and follow-up.
• [08:08] How to personalize lead response automation and stand out.
• [09:01] What is earned media and why it builds trust (and SEO!).
• [11:47] Instagram and Myspace stories that led to real PR wins.
• [14:22] The benefits of niching and why bathroom remodels are booming.
• [18:26] Stop commoditizing marketing. It’s insurance, not an expense.
• [22:31] Your people are your brand: why employer branding matters.
• [25:45] How to get Denise’s employee brand-building checklist (free).

Connect With Denise

Website: https://perfectsixmarketing.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grothouse/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin welcomes Mike Abramowitz, Co-Founder of Better Than Rich and creator of the Time-Rich Six framework. Mike grew up watching his dad, a lifelong plumber, grind it out six days a week, and knew there had to be a better way. Now, Mike helps contractors and owner-operators build scalable systems so they can stop working in the business and start working on it.

Discover how Mike replaced himself in his own business, built a team of onshore and offshore talent, and created predictable revenue systems that allowed him to step away when his family needed him most.

This isn’t theory. It’s practical advice contractors can implement today.

Episode Takeaways

• [01:09] Mike’s backstory, from direct sales to family life and growing up with a tradesman father.
• [03:18] The turning point: hiring a business coach and moving from operator to owner.
• [05:41] Running a $100K week remotely. Proof that systems work.
• [07:48] How Mike realized his dad’s way wasn’t the only way.
• [10:35] Using offshore virtual assistants to buy back 12–15 hours a week.
• [13:12] Why systems fail: Hiring a doer when you need an expert.
• [16:24] A real-world contractor example of mapping a customer follow-up process.
• [22:24] The Time-Rich Six explained and how each layer supports freedom.
• [27:07] The hard truth: crisis forces change. Why you should act before it’s too late.
• [33:58] Free GSD sessions. How contractors can build systems with Mike’s help.

Connect With Mike:

Website: https://betterthanrich.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeabramowitz1/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

How much knowledge is walking out your door every year?

In this Titans of the Trades episode, Ryan Englin sits down with Manja Horner, Founder and CEO of Boost, to tackle one of the most urgent problems in construction: capturing tribal knowledge before it disappears.

Manja explains how decades of tips, tricks, and hard‑earned craft insights often vanish when veteran workers retire. She shares a framework to capture, organize, and pass on that knowledge, so your company’s “secret sauce” lives on for the next generation.

If you’re a construction leader worried about losing key people or struggling to train new hires, this conversation is packed with actionable steps and inspiring ideas.

Key Takeaways

• [02:03] Why 30–40% of the skilled trades workforce is retiring soon.
• [03:26] A true story of a master craftsperson walking out the door and everything lost.
• [05:50] The mindset shift leaders need to take ownership of training.
• [08:50] What counts as tribal knowledge (and it’s more than you think).
• [10:01] Why training is a skill and not everyone knows how to do it.
• [17:24] How to capture insights from field crews who don’t sit at desks.
• [22:33] Turning hours of interviews into a usable, searchable library.
• [30:51] A sneak peek into Boost’s AI-powered internal knowledge search.

Connect With Manja:

Website: https://www.boostld.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manja-horner/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

What happens when a private equity buyer enters the picture, but you’re not ready to let go? In this powerful episode, Ryan Englin welcomes Jeremiah Webb, a blue collar business expert with a background that spans HVAC, financial services, and manufacturer-side leadership.

Jeremiah shares hard truths and game-changing strategies for trades business owners caught in the chaos of growth, succession, and staying motivated.

You’ll learn how to:

• Reclaim your motivation after selling your business.
• Build employee leadership that frees you from daily chaos.
• Align family dynamics with legacy business goals.
• Use problems as fuel, not roadblocks.
• Stay fulfilled in life after success.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed in your construction or service business or you’re preparing for a big transition this episode is your new manual.

10 Must-Hear Takeaways:

1. [00:41] Jeremiah’s “bad day for 10 minutes” mindset. Why emotional resilience drives long-term growth.
2. [04:08] Business as a generational gift. How family-owned construction businesses change communities.
3. [06:04] What happens when PE buyers change the deal post-sale. And how to protect your values.
4. [07:44] Motivation post-sale. What really keeps founders engaged after the check clears.
5. [08:54] Becoming the “cool uncle” your next-gen leaders need. Why kids resist legacy and how to get through to them.
6. [11:37] The art of fulfillment post-success. Why cocktails and beaches aren’t enough.
7. [14:56] Solve problems… Get more problems. How to see business growth as a cycle, not a finish line.
8. [21:28] The “crossed wires” problem in management. Why most systems create frustration and blame.
9. [27:06] Leadership levels that transform team culture. From stepping in to stepping away.
10. [36:11] Can’t let go of control? The root cause might be your past self. A psychological unlock for owners who sabotage scale.

Connect With Jeremiah:

Website: https://shoponfire.com/about/jeremiah-webb/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiahwebb/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.