Out of the Hourglass
Business & Finance
About
Out of the Hourglass, presented by Nolan Consulting Group, is here to help Small Business Owners and Contractors alike visualize their goals, develop their team & build sustainable growth. You'll hear from our panel of NCG Coaches on a variety of topics, guest speakers from top industry resources, Business Owners sharing best practices and a focus on strategies across sales, marketing, business planning, human resources and more. We're here to take you "out of the hourglass" and reach YOUR Summit.
Episodes
- Ep. 273: The Team That Wanted to Free Him: Pete Grandin on Building a Management Team That Transformed GrandScapes
Pete Grandin shares insights on transforming his landscaping company, GrandScapes, by building a structured management team. He details how delegation and empowering employees led to significant business and personal life changes.
- Ep. 272: Working Genius in Action — Hiring, Retention, and Leadership | with Alysa Medina of Painters USA
Alysa Medina shares how Painters USA implemented the Working Genius framework to improve hiring, retention, and leadership, resulting in a significant drop in field turnover.
- Ep. 271: Hire for Potential – Introducing the POP™ Assessment with Jane Allen and Mark Repkin
Jane Allen and Mark Repkin introduce the POP™ Assessment, a science-backed tool designed to identify hiring potential. They explain how it differs from other assessment tools and its potential to improve hiring processes. Information on an…
- Ep. 270: Business is Messy – Finding, Hiring, and Keeping Your Number Two
In this episode of Business is Messy, hosts Brian and Colin discuss the challenges and strategies for finding, hiring, and retaining a strong "number two" for trades businesses. They suggest looking outside the industry and cover topics li…
- Ep. 269: The Leap and the Plan – How Watson & Sons Turned Pressure Into Progress
John Moskola, co-owner of Watson & Sons Plumbing, shares the journey of scaling the company from a 5-person local business to a multi-location operation. He discusses the financial pressure, contingency planning, marketing investments, and…
- Ep. 268: The Outside Perspective – What Level 2 Safety Certification Really Looks Like with Darren Lottes & Mason Mimnaugh
Darren Lottes and Mason Mimnaugh explain that safety culture, not just policies, protects workers. They detail the process for Summit Safety Level 2 certification, including on-site verification, and discuss connecting safety metrics to bu…
- Ep. 267: Your Brand Story – Video, Content & the Marketing Mindset That Changes Everything
In episode 267 of Out of the Hourglass, Molly and Dennis Williams, co-founder of 3 Bridges Consulting, explore the power of brand storytelling for businesses. They discuss how trades businesses can adopt a media company mindset, the import…
- Ep. 266: Financial Clarity Meets Smart Staffing – Fractional Solutions for the Trades
Annie Newton, founder of ProfitWorks, explains how fractional CFO services and strategic remote talent placement can help trades businesses achieve profitable scaling through financial clarity and smarter staffing.
- Ep. 265: Cash Flow: The Lifeblood of Business Growth
Luis Serrano of Serrano Bookkeeping and business coach Kathryn Freeman join Out of the Hourglass to address why trades businesses fail due to cash flow issues. They discuss the challenges faced by bookkeepers and provide practical strategi…
- Ep. 264: From Big Ideas to Strategic Execution – Pete DiStefano's Leadership Journey
Pete DiStefano recounts his 20-year career trajectory, moving from a solo contractor to the head of four companies. He explains how he overcame early challenges with accountability and impulse control by implementing systems for strategic…
- Ep. 263: Breaking Out of Autopilot — How Strategic Thinking Transforms Sales Results
Jeff Cramer discusses the issue of autopilot selling in trades, where sales reps follow a script instead of thinking strategically. He explains how this leads to tactical fatigue and offers solutions for building a sales GPS to align actio…
- Ep. 262: Conquer the Chaos – The Balance of Family, Business & Finding Your Voice
Desiree Cleave shares her experiences as COO of Coeur d'Alene Painting Group, detailing how she navigated the complexities of running businesses, raising children, and leading a family business. She discusses finding her voice and establis…
- Ep. 261: Business Is Messy — Sales Culture, Family Succession & Accountability Challenges
In this episode of Out of the Hourglass, hosts Brian and Colin Nolan address common challenges in trades businesses. They cover transitioning sales teams towards relationship-building, managing family business succession, and implementing…
- Ep. 260: Why Mental Health First Aid Matters — Equipping Leaders to Support Their Teams with Rob Vallentine
Rob Vallentine discusses how Mental Health First Aid training equips leaders to support their teams, transform workplace culture, and improve retention by addressing mental health concerns before they escalate. Information on an upcoming c…
- Ep. 259: Growing a Legacy – The Story of Kent Countryside Nursery with Susan Kussin Tompkins
Susan Kussin Tompkins details her 32-year experience at Kent Countryside Nursery & Landscaping, focusing on succession planning, implementing Profit First, and strategic business operations. The episode covers trust, timing, and managing t…
- Ep. 258: Building Culture Through Strategic Downtime — The CHP Paint Co. Story
CHP Paint Co.'s Eric McDonald implemented strategic downtime and improved benefits, leading to increased productivity and profitability. He discusses budgeting for culture over chasing revenue, with the podcast sponsored by Red Key Solutio…
- Ep. 257: You Can't Give What You Don't Have – Developing Yourself and Your Key Leaders in 2026
Brian Nolan shares his personal development goal of completing a Half Ironman, emphasizing how challenging goals foster leadership development. He outlines three critical areas for leaders—emotional intelligence, financial management, and…
- Ep. 256: Common Small Business HR Misconceptions (That Cost You Money)
In this episode of Out of the Hourglass, Lisa DeMaria of Utopia Solutions discusses five common HR misconceptions that can cost trades businesses money, such as worker misclassification and expanding company compliance.
- Ep. 255: Planning Check In – What our Coaches are Seeing in Every Annual Planning Session Right Now
Sydney Bates and Molly Nolan share insights from over 20 client site visits during annual planning season. They highlight themes such as contingency planning, sales management, leadership development, geographic expansion, and business acq…
- Ep. 254: AI Accelerator Workshop – A 6 Month Roadmap to Turn Strategy Into Competitive Advantage
Bill Drysdale and Ross Hartmann introduce NCG's 6-month AI Accelerator Workshop, a program for trades businesses focused on practical AI adoption to gain a competitive edge. The workshop addresses AI as a people and strategy challenge, pro…
- Ep. 253: "How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything" - Building Career Ladders & Peer Feedback
Dave Scaturro of Alpine Painting details the creation and refinement of a career ladder, incorporating peer feedback, to address employee retention challenges by clarifying growth paths.
- Ep. 252: Behind the Scenes — Reflections from the 2025 Grand Summit
Molly and Coach Eamon reflect on the 2025 Grand Summit Conference, sharing observations on sessions covering the "Experience Mindset" and leadership with mental health. They discuss standout moments and the unique community of trades indus…
- Ep 222 Re-Release: Highlights from the Experience Mindset, a Book by Tiffani Bova: Where EX & CX are Intricately Intertwined
This re-released episode features insights from Tiffani Bova's book, 'The Experience Mindset.' The discussion explores how Customer Experience and Employee Experience are interconnected and contribute to company success.
- Ep. 251: Beyond Your Trades Business – Pete Schnepp on Diversifying Into Commercial Real Estate
Pete Schnepp, founder of Envision Service Group and Asset Stream Properties, details his move from a painting business to commercial real estate. He explains his reasons for preferring commercial properties over short-term rentals, how he…
- Ep. 250: Small Resets, Big Results – A Conversation About Dan Heath's Book, Reset
Kevin Muñoz and Kathryn Freeman discuss Dan Heath’s book "Reset," focusing on the effectiveness of small resets over large changes. They cover identifying positive examples, empowering teams with ownership, and implementing resets proactiv…
- Re-Release Ep. 220: AI Meets Small Business - A conversation with Ross Hartmann of Kiingo AI
In this re-released episode of Out of the Hourglass, host Molly speaks with Ross Hartmann, founder of Kiingo AI. They discuss practical ways small businesses can use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to improve efficiency, lower…
- Ep. 249: Grand Summit 2025 — Seattle, Sessions & Why You Should Attend
Molly and Colin Nolan discuss the upcoming 2025 Grand Summit Conference in Seattle, which includes sessions on AI, business valuation, and features keynote speaker Tiffany Bova. The conference offers learning, networking, and coaching oppo…
- Ep. 247: Partnership at the Top – How GMs and Owners Work Together
Sheldon Stewart, Owner & President, and Kimberly Redfield, General Manager, of Stewart Painting discuss the dynamics of their partnership. They share insights on the GM role, effective collaboration, boundary-setting, strategic planning, a…
- Re-Release Ep. 199: Scaling your Business with Overseas Talent: Sharing Insights & Approach from Michael Murray
Re-release Ep. 199 features Michael Murray, founder of Textbook Painting, discussing the strategic advantages of hiring overseas talent for business scaling and organizational growth. The episode, originally from May 2024, shares insights…
- Ep. 246: The Delicate Art of Passing the Egg – From Sales Promises to Operations Delivery
Eamon Lynch shares insights on scaling operations, drawing from experience at a billion-dollar remodeling company and adapting systems for smaller trades businesses. He addresses the importance of effective sales-to-operations handoffs and…
- Ep. 245: Don’t Hit Snooze on 2026 Planning – Why Now is the Time to Start Your Annual Plan
This episode of Out of the Hourglass emphasizes beginning 2026 annual planning in the fall, focusing on tools and structures like vision setting, SWOT analysis, and 90-day action steps to make planning retreats effective.
- Ep. 244: Beating the Drum – Setting the Table for Sales Success with Gavin Hepp
Gavin Hepp, Co-Founder of Webfoot Home Improvements and Nolan Sales Coaching team member, joins "Out of the Hourglass" to discuss his approach to sales success, termed "Setting the Table." The episode explores foundational communication st…
- Ep. 243: Checking Back In — Stewart Painting's Board Journey Continues
Sheldon Stewart and Shayla Wilkinson of Stewart Painting discuss the progress made in building a board of directors since 2022. They cover navigating family business dynamics and a succession plan to include outside board members by 2028.
- Ep. 242: Safety Reports – Transforming Construction Safety with Digital Technology
Molly and Ryan Reber discuss how digital technology is transforming construction safety. They cover practical implementation of safety software, getting field teams involved, and leveraging technology to make safety a competitive advantage.
- Ep. 241: Cybersecurity for Small Business – It's Not Optional Anymore
Molly and Paul Grenci of Red Key Solutions discuss cybersecurity threats for small businesses, noting that automated hacking makes small companies vulnerable. Grenci highlights that 60% of businesses experiencing cyber events fail within s…
- Ep. 240: The Heavy Backpack — Breaking Through CEO Isolation with Bill Drysdale
Bill Drysdale, former Fujifilm executive and Vistage Chair, shares his experiences with CEO isolation, detailing challenges like people decisions, financial strain, and legal issues. He emphasizes how vulnerability and peer connection, fos…
- Ep. 239: Compensation Planning for Growth – A Conversation with Utopia HR Solutions
Lisa DeMaria, founder of Utopia HR Solutions, discusses strategic compensation planning and employee retention for small to mid-sized businesses in the trades industry. The episode covers creating competitive compensation packages beyond s…
- Ep. 238: From Founder to Coach – Mike Freeman's Entrepreneurial Evolution
Mike Freeman, Co-Founder of Mike's Quality Painting and One Day Concrete Coatings, shares his entrepreneurial evolution from a childhood business to building ventures that operate without constant owner involvement. He highlights the impor…
- Ep. 237: The Dual Impact – Safety Focus as a People Strategy and Business Advantage
Paul Cook and Darren Lottes of Painters USA share insights on integrating safety as a business strategy, focusing on protecting employees and enhancing business growth. They explain how safety can build trust, lower costs, and provide a co…
- Ep. 236: Pain Points & Price Points – Winning the Objection Game Before It Starts
In episode 236, Colin Nolan discusses how to master objection handling by uncovering customer pain points early in the sales process. The episode emphasizes leveraging emotional buying motives to overcome resistance and improve closing rat…
- Ep. 235: The Hourglass Scorecard – A Tool for Business Assessment and Growth
Brian Nolan and Sydney Bates of Nolan Consulting Group discuss the Hourglass Scorecard, a new assessment tool for trades businesses. It helps identify current status, set future goals, and create strategies for growth and value building.
- Ep. 234: What Small Business Owners Should Know When Choosing a Financial Advisor
In episode 234, Michael Pallozzi of HFM Investment Advisors explains how small business owners can select a financial advisor. He covers the importance of an advisor understanding both business and personal objectives, how to identify warn…
- Ep. 233: The Rise of AI Search & Digital Marketing for Home Service Businesses
Sarah Adkins discusses the evolution of digital marketing for home service businesses, focusing on AI search and content. She provides advice on website optimization and leveraging AI tools.
- Ep. 232: Planning for the Unplanned – Every Business Owner Needs a Crisis Plan
Episode 232 of Out of the Hourglass features Brian Nolan discussing the importance of crisis planning for business owners. A comprehensive plan is presented as a strategic tool for business protection, peace of mind, and navigating unexpec…
- Re-Release Episode #196: Unlocking the World of Crucial Conversations – High Stakes, Disagreeing Opinions and High Emotions
This episode discusses tools for preparing for and conducting crucial conversations, referencing the book "Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when the Stakes are High". It offers practical applications for handling workplace and cust…
- Ep. 231: Budget B Agility – Preparing Your Business for Whatever Comes Next
In episode 231, Senior Business Coach Kathryn Freeman discusses Plan B Budgeting. The episode emphasizes the importance of financial contingency planning and preparing alternative budget scenarios to navigate market uncertainty.
- Re-Release #179: Job Site Leadership – Their System vs. Our System and the 3-Legged Stool
This episode revisits a conversation on Job Site Leadership, focusing on effective strategies for managing production teams, customers, and employees, especially during seasonal business peaks. It explores the core elements of this leaders…
- Ep. 230: From Trades to Real Estate — How Dan Brady Built a Second Seven-Figure Business in the Short Term Rental Space
Dan Brady, owner of Dan Brady Painting and Adventure North Vacation Rentals, details his journey building a seven-figure short-term rental business while running a painting company. He shares insights on property selection, renovation, and…
- Ep. 229: A Journey to CEO & Intentionality – How Eric Tilghman Transformed His Leadership & Mindset Approach
In this episode, Eric Tilghman, CEO of Tilghman Builders, discusses his decade-long transformation towards intentionality and goal-driven leadership, focusing on the "ideal day" concept and its impact on his approach and company culture.
- Ep. 228: How I Show Up as a Leader
Brian Nolan, Co-Founder & President of Nolan Consulting Group, explores how leaders can identify their personal style through tools like strengths identification, Working Genius, and DISC profiles. The episode offers frameworks for underst…