Buy Back Your Time For Business Growth with Trent Harris

CONEXPO – CON/AGG Podcast: Construction Business Insights For Contractors

Feeling the pressure of wearing all the hats in your growing business? It’s a common battle, but what if the key to unlocking serious growth was learning to let go and trust others? This episode is for you.

Learn how Trent Harris, owner of Blue Collar Contractors Oklahoma Earthwork and Demolition, transformed his business by embracing delegation and strategic risk when he reveals his journey from a solo operator to leading a growing team. You'll discover how he navigates the complexities of scaling, managing multiple ventures, and the mindset required to push through challenges.

🎯 BIGGEST TAKEAWAY [22:57]:"My biggest fear is to be saying the same stuff today in five years from now…Let's do our research and make the best, most educated decision we can and then dive in. Let's go."This raw honesty about combating stagnation is a powerful reminder for anyone hesitant to make bold moves.

OTHER KEY TAKEAWAYS:

💡 FRAMEWORK REVEAL [07:54]:The Delegation Shift during Rain Delays:• Rain forces multiple job scheduling.• This necessitates trusting the team.• Owner focuses on lining up future work, not just current execution."I think God's kind of forcing my hand a little bit and being like, 'Hey, delegate, let them handle it, you know, trust them and do what you're supposed to do.'"Watch this part to see how uncontrollable factors can actually become catalysts for better business practices and increased production through delegation.

🔑 BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT [15:21]:Tired of being the bottleneck in your own company, trying to do everything yourself?"I was king of kicking someone out of a machine nicely, but like, 'Hey man, let me, let me hop in there real quick.' And then it ended up with me paying someone to watch me do all the work for a lot longer than I'm going to say out loud."Trent reveals his painful but necessary transition to true delegation and the freedom it's starting to unlock.

📈 SUCCESS BLUEPRINT [43:37]:From a push mower to a fleet of heavy equipment and multiple business ventures:"I want to do this until one of my guys gets paid by whoever takes this over to throw dirt on top of me when I'm gone. I mean, that's, I want to get it as big as I can, and I, I would love to see it continue after."Trent breaks down his long-term vision and the relentless drive to build a lasting legacy.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - CONEXPO 2026 Preview

00:50 - Introducing Trent Harris

02:40 - Building a Dirt Business While Balancing Family and Firefighting

04:46 - Growth Through Risk, Learning, and Networking

08:33 - Delegating Work and Trusting the Team

11:47 - Overcoming Micromanagement and Shifting to Leadership

16:02 - Building Systems, Teams, and Communication for Scale

21:15 - Managing Overhead, Profitability, and Equipment Strategy

29:43 - Balancing Commercial vs. Residential Projects for Cash Flow

34:00 - Investing in GPS Technology to Increase Efficiency

43:11 - Long-Term Vision: Passive Income, Legacy, and Work-Life Balance

48:10 - CONEXPO Community, Networking, and Future Panel Ideas

🔗 CONNECT WITH TRENT HARRIS / BLUE COLLAR CONTRACTORS:

• TikTok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-harris-542a6b282/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-harris-542a6b282/

Thank you to our good friends over at John Deere Power Systems for sponsoring this podcast: https://www.deere.ca/en/engines-and-drivetrain/\

CONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/industry-news#sign-up

#BlueCollarContractors #ScalingBusiness #WorkEthic