{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"#482 "My biggest Lessons and Mistakes from 26 Years in Design Remodeling"","description":"In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Jef Forward\u2014founder of Forward Design Build Remodel\u2014to unpack what it really looks like to build a remodeling business from the ground up\u2026 the hard way. Jef shares the unfiltered story of his first five years in business\u2014projects going months over schedule, losing money, taking on debt, and nearly reinforcing every negative stereotype about contractors. But instead of quitting, he used those failures as the foundation for what would become a 40+ person design-build firm. From digging out of financial holes (having just $0.16 for every $1 owed) to learning how to price correctly, hire the right people, and step into leadership, Jef walks through the exact inflection points that transformed his business. He also shares how joining a peer group, embracing sales training, and building a leadership team allowed him to finally step out of the day-to-day and start thinking about the long-term future of the company. If you\u2019re feeling stuck, underpaid, or overwhelmed in your remodeling business, this episode is a powerful reminder that the breakthrough often comes after the lowest point\u2014and that building the right systems, team, and mindset can completely change your trajectory. Key Takeaways Failure Early Can Be Your Greatest Advantage \u2192 Jef\u2019s first two projects lost money, ran late, and delivered poor client experiences. \u2192 Those early failures forced him to rethink everything\u2014and ultimately built a stronger foundation. You Can\u2019t Outwork a Broken Business Model \u2192 Working more hours didn\u2019t fix his problems\u2014it just prolonged them. \u2192 Real progress came from learning how to price correctly and understand financials. Know Your Numbers (Or They\u2019ll Control You) \u2192 Discovering he had only $0.16 for every $1 owed was a turning point. \u2192 Understanding financials like profit, WIP, and job costing changed everything. Hiring Isn\u2019t About Talent\u2014It\u2019s About Fit \u2192 Early hires were based on skill, not alignment, leading to poor team cohesion. \u2192 Building a strong culture became the foundation for long-term growth. Sales Is About Asking Better Questions, Not Pushing Harder \u2192 Jef initially resisted sales training due to fear of being \u201csalesy.\u201d \u2192 Learning how to guide conversations and uncover client needs transformed his close rate. Delegation Is the Gateway to Growth \u2192 Growth didn\u2019t happen until Jef stopped doing everything himself. \u2192 Hiring designers, estimators, and project teams allowed him to focus on leadership. Recessions Reward Decisive Leaders \u2192 During 2008, Jef made early, tough decisions that kept the business alive. \u2192 Lean operations actually made the company more profitable during that time. Your Role Must Evolve as the Business Grows \u2192 From carpenter \u2192 operator \u2192 leader \u2192 coach \u2192 Each stage requires different skills and mindset shifts. Transparency Builds Stronger Teams \u2192 Sharing personal struggles (like his wife\u2019s cancer diagnosis) created trust and unity. \u2192 Giving the team ownership and permission to fail led to one of their best years. The End Goal Isn\u2019t Just Growth\u2014It\u2019s Sustainability Without You \u2192 Jef is now focused on building leaders and planning his eventual exit. \u2192 Long-term success means the business can thrive without the owner. \ud83c\udfaf Timestamps 00:00 \u2014 Meet Jef Forward and his journey into design-build 04:45 \u2014 The brutal reality of his first five years in business 09:08 \u2014 Why failing early ended up being a long-term advantage 12:31 \u2014 The wake-up call: having only $0.16 for every $1 owed 14:56 \u2014 Climbing out of debt and learning to price correctly 19:23 \u2014 Early hiring mistakes and why culture matters more than talent 23:57 \u2014 Navigating the 2008 recession and making hard decisions early 27:32 \u2014 The 5 stages of a remodeling business (and where Jef is now) 29:24 \u2014 Overcoming resistance to sales training and building a sales team 37:04 \u2014 Building leaders and preparing the business to run without you ","author_name":"Contractor Growth Network","author_url":"http:\/\/contractormarketingtips.libsyn.com\/website","html":"