Builder Nuggets
The Builder Nuggets community is comprised of successful industry leaders like yourself. Award winning builders, remodelers, business coaches, industry experts, and fellow podcasters have come together to share their secrets of success. Our mission is to improve our businesses, our lifestyles, and to move the industry forward by focusing on collaboration over competition.
Hosts Duane Johns and Dave Young invite you to experience the life changing breakthroughs that have helped hundreds of contractors like you build better lives.
Recent Episodes
EP 09: Building a Workforce
March 2, 2021
Here’s an unfortunate truth: Building a workforce of highly qualified workers is a stressful and fr…
EP 08: The Unsolvable Problem with Jeff Smith
Feb. 23, 2021
Building high end custom homes is a tough business. You could try to do it all yourself, but that w…
EP 07: Free Estimates Are Too Expensive with Paul Kowalski
Feb. 16, 2021
If you’ve been in the building business for any length of time, you’ve experienced the hamster whee…
EP 06: It Takes a Village with Whitney Brown
Feb. 9, 2021
There are always excuses for not getting involved in your community. Time, money, effort. Builders …
Recent Blog Posts
Free Estimate = No Value
Think about the term FREE ESTIMATE. It’s exactly what it says. I gave up on offering free estimates many years ago. In my opinion they simply bring…
The Power of Saying No
In 2018 I stood in front of 250 fellow builders and remodelers and challenged them all to say NO. Why, because after years of finding myself overwhelmed …
How I Found the Time
About 6 years ago I made a conscious effort to take control of my ability to manage time. I realized that everything I was doing was affected by time. Ti…
About the Hosts
Duane Johns
Podcast Host | Builder | Remodeler | Consultant
Duane has been dedicated to elevating professionalism in the construction industry for over 25 years. He believes the key ingredients to success are continual learning, strategic planning, collaboration with like minded peers and the elimination of egos. If you fail to do these things the industry will reduce you to a commodity and leave you alone on an island!
He entered the construction industry over 30 years ago working on oceanfront estates in The Hamptons on Long Island, New York. After honing his skills and being involved in all aspects of high end custom construction, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1996 and started a general contracting business with Roger Ketchum and the two achieved success right away, winning industry awards and earning rave reviews from clients. That relationship continues today.
• Builder and Remodeler
• Regional Developer for Alair Homes
• HBA of Charlotte Board Member
• NARI/Charlotte Board Member 1999 - 2008
• HBA of Lake Norman Board Member HBA 2006 to 2013
• Remodelers Chair LKN HBA from 2008 to 2012
• Vistage Member 2014 to 2016
When he is not talking shop you will most likely find him outdoors. He and his family love to travel, hike, explore, and discover new places and new things. Enjoy life by living in the moment and try not to take yourself too seriously!
Be sure to listen to Episode 01 to learn more about Duane and the story behind Builder Nuggets.
Dave Young
Podcast Host | Connector
Dave is an innovator who loves to challenge the traditional way of thinking. Having previously been involved with launching new technologies for Construction and Real Estate professionals, Dave turned his focus to the Custom Contracting community in 2013.
In his capacity as Regional Developer for multiple Alair Homes regions in North America, Dave gets the opportunity to collaborate with top business owners, leaders, and project managers as they strive to find a better way to grow dynamic businesses with less chaos.
Dave’s mission is to get you off the hamster wheel and unlock your true potential. He wants to put you on the path of scaling a business that you can run from anywhere in the world with a team that is committed and empowered.
When not cooking up new ways to optimize growth, Dave loves playing hockey and spending time with his wife and three daughters. Their favorite places to relax and explore are Muskoka, Canada and the Exuma Cays, Bahamas.
Dave’s biggest nugget of advice to anyone looking to create a better life through their business:
Stop looking at new concepts from the standpoint of “What will they do for me?”. Instead, learn about them, understand them, and challenge yourself with “What could I achieve with this?”
Be sure to listen to Episode 01 to learn more about Dave and the story behind Builder Nuggets.
