In this special episode of The Beer Garden, we’re joined by our very first guest, Benji Carlson—a powerhouse in the world of contracting. Benji built a successful College Pro Painters franchise, where he gained recognition for managing the network’s most productive team. He then went on to help over 1,500 contractors across North America as the Assessment Specialist & Content Lead at Breakthrough Academy. Currently, he’s the host of the Contractor Evolution Podcast, where he’s interviewed renowned high performers like Chris Voss, Luke Hansen, Tommy Mello, Mark Bradley, and Kory Ballard. In this conversation, Benji shares the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs, offering insights you can apply to elevate your own business game.
Here’s what we discuss:
•Mastering time and priority management to maximize productivity.
•Building a clear, detailed vision to guide every decision.
•Committing to self-education and—most importantly—self-implementation.
•Creating a strong employer brand and scalable hiring systems.
•Exercising patience with growth and staying focused on long-term success.
•Adopting tech wisely, avoiding the trap of shiny object syndrome.
•Investing in brand to create a lasting impression.
•Embracing mindset work and personal development.
•Viewing themselves as entrepreneurs first, beyond their trade.
•Developing laser focus on critical areas.
•Staying actively involved as business drivers.
•Building a robust implementation muscle or assembling a team to bring ideas to life.
Join us as we explore these transformative habits and hear insights from Benji’s extensive experience in helping shape successful entrepreneurs. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let’s dive into what makes a great entrepreneur in The Beer Garden.
Connect with Benji:
Breakthrough Academy: https://www.btacademy.com/
Contractor Evolution: https://www.btacademy.com/contractor-evolution/
The Beverages:
Corona Extra
Pineapple Bubly
Great Divide - Titan IPA
Book Recommendations:
Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Get in touch:
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roudtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io
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