How a Lawsuit and Knee Injury Saved a Construction Business with Nate Mielke | E356

The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

EPISODE 356: Have you ever felt like your business was running you instead of the other way around? That’s exactly how today’s guest felt for a long time.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Nate Mielke, owner of Skäpar Design Build, to talk about how his challenges–a lawsuit and a knee injury–forced him to rethink his approach to running a construction business.

With over 25 years of experience under his name, Nate shares how mentorship helped him make the transition from a hands-on worker to a business owner running a successful operation.

He explains how developing systems and outsourcing pre-construction tasks enabled him to focus on what he does best–client relationships and strategic thinking.

Plus, he dives deep into the importance of making all decisions upfront before starting the project, hiring tips for building the right team, why customer experience is more important than the final product and more.

Want to step back from the day-to-day grind and put on your CEO hat? Tune in now!

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Meet Nate Mielke of Skäpar Design Build (03:47)

How Nate started his business after being laid off (06:01)

Transitioning from a one-man show to subcontracting (07:44)

Key factors to consider when outsourcing your pre-construction (15:35)

How to avoid the JETS trap (18:44)

Nate’s three-phase construction process (21:25)

The worst part about doing free estimates (24:55)

Why customer experience is more important than the final product (29:07)

The Operation Dignity International (33:49)

Construction business challenges that Nate had to face (40:59)

How a pre-construction process helps you to sell (43:47)

Most impactful changes SYCB made to his business (48:42)

What life and business have been now for Nate (51:44)

The CEO Alliance (54:21)

Additional Resources:

- Join the Construction Leading Edge community HERE

- Join our FREE Get Out of Your Construction Business Masterclass HERE

- Schedule your FREE business evaluation call with our team HERE or tap the “APPLY NOW” button on our website

Other Links Mentioned in the Episode

- Follow Skäpar Design Build HERE

- Visit Operation Dignity International HERE

- Check out JL Freelance for more information HERE

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The Construction Leading Edge Podcast helps construction business owners maximize their revenue, eliminate chaos, systematize their work, and win back their time.

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