In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser talks with Todd Dawalt, founder of Construction Leading Edge and host of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast. Together, they dive into the dangerous trap many contractors fall into, doing “just enough to start” (JETS)—and why that mentality holds businesses back from sustainable growth. Todd shares how building robust pre-construction systems, documenting processes, and creating real clarity in communication can make the difference between chaos and control on a jobsite.
Drawing from his years of coaching and consulting with construction companies, Todd walks through tactical strategies for increasing profitability and how simple documentation can solve major business problems. Whether you’re a one-man band or running a team of 100, this episode is packed with insights that will help you stop winging it and start winning.
The JETS Mentality is Holding You Back
Doing “just enough to start” creates costly mistakes and jobsite chaos.
Companies need to operate with a mindset of clarity, not improvisation.
Documented Systems Drive Profitability
Contractors often mistake “it’s in my head” for a system.
Writing things down can solve 80% of common construction business problems.
Pre-Construction is Where the Money Is Made
Profits are built (or lost) before the job even begins.
Pre-construction systems reduce change orders, stress, and delays.
Turn Chaos into Predictability
Without structure, your team will make up their own rules.
Checklists, job books, and templates create consistent results.
Leadership Isn’t About Hustle—It’s About Systems
Business owners need to graduate from “doer” to “leader.”
Building systems empowers your team and removes dependency on you.
“Chaos is expensive—clarity is profitable.”
“You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.”
“Documenting your process is the cheapest, fastest way to fix most of your problems.”
Start with one system. Pick one process you repeat often and document it.
Replace tribal knowledge. Get everything out of your head and onto paper.
Build a job book. Give your team a standard package of information for every job.
Focus on pre-construction. Nail the planning phase before picking up a hammer.
Lead with clarity. Create systems that enable your team to win without you.
Logan
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Contractor Growth Network podcast. I’m your host, Logan Shinholser. Today, we’re diving deep into pre-construction systems, clarity, and profitability with a very special guest, Todd Dawalt. Todd is the founder of Construction Leading Edge, and he’s got a lot of experience helping contractors get out of the day-to-day chaos and become better business owners.
Todd, welcome to the show.
Todd
Thanks for having me, Logan. Excited to be here.
Logan
Yeah, I appreciate it. So, for anyone who doesn’t know you, can you give us a quick rundown of what you do and who you help?
Todd
Sure. I work with construction business owners who are really good at building stuff but find themselves stuck in the chaos—too much to do, not enough time, no systems. They’re working long hours, dealing with team drama, projects are late and over budget. I help them put the systems and structure in place to get out of the day-to-day so their business doesn’t rely solely on them. That way, they can focus on growth and profitability.
Logan
So, when you say “systems and structure,” what does that look like?
Todd
The biggest issue is people trying to run their business with what’s in their head. There’s no process written down, no clear expectations for their team. Everything lives in their brain, and they make decisions reactively. So, we help them get all that knowledge out of their head and into systems—especially in pre-construction, because that’s where 80% of problems start. If you can solve it before construction starts, you’re in great shape.
Logan
So let’s talk about pre-construction. Why is it such a critical area for contractors?
Todd
Because pre-construction is where clarity happens. When it’s done right, you’re setting expectations with the client, you’re locking in the scope, and you’re identifying risks. Most of the chaos people deal with during construction—scope creep, unhappy customers, margin erosion—it’s because they didn’t get clarity during pre-construction.
Logan
What’s the mistake you see contractors make most in pre-con?
Todd
The biggest one is winging it. They think, “We’ve been doing this long enough, we don’t need a system.” But that mindset leads to inconsistencies. You might forget to ask critical questions. You give a proposal and find out later the client had different expectations. Or your team builds something wrong because the plan wasn’t clear. It creates friction and erodes trust.
Logan
So how does someone go from winging it to having a system?
Todd
Start simple. Just document the questions you always ask clients. Create a checklist. Then, make that repeatable. Over time, turn it into a process that your team can follow without you. It doesn’t need to be fancy—it just needs to be clear. Think of it like McDonald’s: they don’t have the best food, but they have a great system, and that’s why they’re successful.
Logan
That’s a great comparison. So how does this system help with profitability?
Todd
When you’re clear up front, you eliminate rework, you avoid margin erosion, and you speed up the process. You’re not losing time or money fixing mistakes or going back and forth with clients. You also make better decisions because you’re not relying on your memory or emotions in the moment—you have a process that tells you what to do.
Logan
What would you say to the contractor who says, “I just don’t have time to build these systems”?
Todd
That’s like saying, “I don’t have time to save time.” If you don’t take the time to build systems, you’ll always be in the weeds. You’ll never have time because you’re stuck putting out fires. Building systems is what gets you out of that cycle. Start with 30 minutes a day. Do one small thing to improve your process. Over time, it compounds.
Logan
I love that. You don’t have to change your business in a day—just commit to the process.
So Todd, where can people go if they want to learn more about you or work with you?
Todd
They can head over to ConstructionLeadingEdge.com. We’ve got a podcast, free resources, and coaching programs to help contractors build systems and grow their business. You can also find me on LinkedIn.
Logan
Awesome. We’ll put those links in the show notes.
Todd, thanks for being here. This was super valuable.
Todd
Thanks for having me, Logan. I enjoyed it.
Logan
Alright, everyone, go check out Todd’s stuff, and we’ll see you on the next episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast.
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