Building a Championship Construction Business: Insights from Chad Prinkey

In a recent episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum sat down with Chad Prinkey, founder and CEO of Well Built Consulting, to discuss what truly makes a construction business exceptional. The conversation revealed profound insights into building a successful construction company that goes beyond mere financial success.

The Core of Construction Excellence: People First

What Makes a Construction Champion?

Chad Prinkey's philosophy can be distilled into one powerful concept: Putting People First. This isn't just a catchy slogan, but a fundamental approach to business that transforms how construction companies operate.

Key principles include:

Recognizing that human beings build the structures we live and work in
Prioritizing employee experience and satisfaction
Understanding that happy employees create happy customers

The Investment Mindset

Delaying Gratification for Long-Term Success

One of the most critical insights from the conversation is the importance of investment over immediate profit. Chad emphasizes that building a championship business requires:

Patience
Strategic investment in your team
Willingness to delay personal financial gratification
A long-term perspective (5-8 years of consistent effort)

Reframing Expenses as "Growth Fuel"

Chad introduces a revolutionary way of looking at business expenses:

Instead of seeing investments as overhead
View them as "growth fuel"
Understand that investing in your people and infrastructure creates future opportunities

The Path to Seven-Figure Success

Building Your Team Like a Championship Program

The podcast drew parallels between building a construction business and creating a top-tier sports program:

Recruit top talent
Develop player (employee) facilities
Create clear career development paths
Build a track record of success

Key Takeaways

Success is not about immediate profits
Invest in your people
Create a long-term vision
Be willing to delay personal gratification
Focus on building a people-first culture

Conclusion

Becoming a construction champion isn't about working harder but working smarter. It's about creating an environment where employees thrive, customers are satisfied, and the business grows sustainably.

Remember: The most successful construction businesses are built on a foundation of people, not just profits.