Should your skid steer come with a therapist?

In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer gets into the real talk with Joshua Fecht of Fecht Custom Dirtwork—who opens up about why he's pulling away from residential demolition jobs. From clients breaking down mid-project to refund battles after emotional reversals, Joshua reveals the hidden mental load behind “simple” residential work.

If you've ever been on a job site wondering if you’re being paid to operate or counsel—this episode will hit home.

Key Insights:

✅ Emotions vs. Efficiency: Why Joshua prefers commercial projects—and how residential clients can drain profits and patience.

✅ $100K Mistake: A brutally honest story of underbidding and the price of ignoring your margins.

✅ Leadership Culture: How he rotates crews between machines to prevent burnout and keep morale high.

✅ From Farm to Field: Hear how Joshua uses ag tools like scraper pans to cut job time and crew size dramatically.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you’re a contractor tired of client hand-holding and last-minute changes, this episode gives you permission to draw a line and protect your business. Learn how to make the pivot from unpredictable homeowners to streamlined, profit-focused commercial projects.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Fecht Custom Dirtwork’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/fechtcustomdw

👉 Skid Steer Nation: Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: ⁠https://skidsteernation.com/⁠

👉 Throttled Up Marketing: We help you market smarter and grow your land service brand: ⁠https://www.getthrottledup.com/⁠

🎧 Join us next week for more raw insight from the field.

What if the key to launching your dream business was buried inside your day job benefits?

In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Leighton Howe of SiteCo Excavation to uncover how he leveraged two full 12-week paternity leaves to secretly build the foundation of a now-thriving excavation business. No fancy launch, no full-time commitment at first—just grit, a used Cat 304, and an “if it works, it works” attitude.

Packed with real-world advice and honest reflections, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how Leighton grew his company from a side hustle to a full-blown operation with employees, equipment, and momentum—all without burning bridges or overspending.

Key Insights:✅ Built on Paternity Leave: Learn how Leighton maximized time off from Cummins to build SiteCo Excavation while still receiving a paycheck.

✅ Systems Before Scaling: Discover the importance of documenting simple daily routines before trying to grow your crew or take on more jobs.

✅ The Power of Saying No: Hear how learning to set boundaries helped Leighton protect his time and sanity as demand grew.

✅ Family-Driven and Cash-Funded: From his brother running backend ops to his retired dad getting a CDL to drive trucks, SiteCo is powered by trust and teamwork—not debt.

Why This Episode Matters:If you’re working a day job but dreaming about launching something of your own, this episode is proof that it’s possible—and smart—to start small and steady. Leighton’s story is for every operator, contractor, or land management pro who’s juggling kids, jobs, and a bigger vision.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit SiteCo Excavation’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100029017224834

👉 Skid Steer Nation: Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: ⁠https://skidsteernation.com/

👉 Throttled Up Marketing: Struggling to get your excavation or land service business noticed? With industry-specific expertise, we help businesses like yours build a professional web presence, automate marketing, and generate quality leads. Learn more at ⁠https://www.getthrottledup.com/

🎧 Join us next week as we bring you more insights from professionals shaping the excavation industry!

What happens when someone believes in your potential more than you do?

In this latest episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Drew Gardner of Tennessee Valley Land Works. While many contractors start small and grow, Drew’s story stands out because of one critical relationship—a general contractor who saw his worth, offered him a shot, and unknowingly changed the course of his life and business.

This conversation goes far beyond dirt work. It’s about mentorship, humility, and learning how to stand your ground in the tough world of commercial excavation.

Key Insights:

✅ The Job That Changed It All: How a small commercial parking lot job opened doors to bigger contracts and licensing opportunities.

✅ Lessons from a Mentor: The advice that stuck with Drew—and how it still shapes the way he runs his business today.

✅ Standing Your Ground: Why giving in too much on commercial jobs can cost you, and how Drew’s learning to protect his business.

✅ Marketing Without Even Trying: Why Drew’s Facebook presence plays a bigger role in his business than he thought.

Why This Episode Matters: If you’ve ever questioned your next move—or needed someone to believe in you when you weren’t quite ready—this episode is a must-listen. Drew’s story is raw, honest, and full of lessons for contractors navigating both growth and setbacks.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Tennessee Valley Land Works on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tennesseevalleylandworks

👉 Skid Steer Nation: Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: ⁠https://skidsteernation.com/⁠

👉 Throttled Up Marketing: Struggling to get your excavation or land service business noticed? Learn how to dominate your market at ⁠https://www.getthrottledup.com/⁠

Join us next week for more stories from the boots-on-the-ground professionals shaping the excavation industry.

How does clearing fence lines turn into a full-time firewood operation?

In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Phil Anderson, a former welder who unexpectedly built a thriving firewood business—all starting from cutting wood off farmers’ fence lines. What started as a side hustle quickly became a full-time operation, requiring large-scale processing, working with loggers, and even developing custom firewood kilns to expand his reach.

Whether you're in excavation, land clearing, or looking for ways to make the most of your resources, this episode is packed with practical business growth strategies and efficiency hacks you won’t want to miss.

Key Insights:✅ Turning a Weekend Job into a Full-Time Business: How Phil’s casual fence-line clearing turned into a high-volume firewood operation.

✅ The Hidden Challenges of Firewood Production: From sourcing wood to managing loggers and finding the right equipment.

✅ Efficiency in Firewood Processing: Why Phil doesn’t just buy bigger machines but focuses on smarter processes to save time and money.

✅ Why He Built His Own Firewood Kilns: The real reason behind heat-treating firewood and how it’s helping small operators grow.

Why This Episode Matters:This episode is perfect for excavation pros, land clearing specialists, and small business owners looking to scale without overextending themselves on equipment costs. Whether you're searching for an off-season revenue stream or a way to increase efficiency and margins, Phil’s insights will challenge the way you look at business growth.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Follow Phil’s Firewood and Land Management on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firewoodandlandmanagement

👉 Explore Skid Steer Nation for the best American-made skid steer attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

👉 Get your excavation or land service business noticed with Throttled Up Marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

🎧 Join us next week as we bring you more insights from professionals shaping the excavation industry!

What if you could buy equipment, expand your business, or even fund an investment—without spending your own money?

In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Brett Watts, a former marketing agency owner who successfully exited his business and now helps small businesses secure financing through Swift Line Capital. Brett shares his journey from digital marketing to private lending, offering powerful strategies on how contractors and excavation professionals can leverage capital and marketing to scale their business.

Key Insights:✅ Creative Financing Solutions – Brett explains how business credit cards can provide up to 18 months of 0% interest funding, helping business owners purchase equipment, manage cash flow, and grow without traditional bank loans.

✅ The Power of Niching Down – Discover why focusing on a specialized service, rather than trying to do everything, is the key to scaling faster and increasing profitability.

✅ Marketing Strategies That Work – Brett shares how targeted digital ads and data-driven marketing can bring in consistent leads without wasting ad spend.

✅ Delegation & Systems for Growth – Learn how systematizing your business and outsourcing tasks can free up time and allow you to focus on high-value activities.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you're a contractor, excavation professional, or land management business owner struggling with cash flow or lead generation, this episode is packed with practical, real-world advice to help you break through your limitations and take your business to the next level.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Swift Line Capital: https://swiftlinecapital.com/

👉 Skid Steer Nation: Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

👉 Throttled Up Marketing: Need more leads for your excavation business? We help businesses like yours dominate online. Learn more at https://www.getthrottledup.com/

🎧 Listen now and start making your money work for you!

Would you leave a secure federal job to go all in on your excavation business?In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ron Bylo shares how he built Bylo Acres Excavation and Grading from the ground up—while still working full-time for the FAA maintaining air traffic control systems. After four years of balancing both careers, working 70+ hours a week, and never taking a draw from the business, Ron is finally ready to take the leap into full-time excavation.If you’re on the fence about going all in on your business, this episode is packed with real-world insight on what it takes to make the transition.Key Insights:✅ The Unconventional Start – How Ron went from Air Force aircraft maintenance to running excavation projects in Missouri.✅ Balancing a Full-Time Job & Business Growth – What it really took to juggle both careers—and what finally convinced him to quit his federal job.✅ The Marketing Strategy That Built a Booked-Out Business – Why Google reviews and a simple approach to branding made all the difference.✅ How to Lock in Recurring Work – The secret to turning HOA road grading into a predictable revenue stream.Why This Episode Matters:If you’re an operator wondering when to take your business full-time or struggling to get consistent work in a new area, Ron’s journey will give you the confidence and strategy to make it happen.🔗 Connect with Success: 👉 Visit Bylo Acres Excavation & Grading website: https://www.byloacres.com/ 👉 Skid Steer Nation: Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: https://skidsteernation.com 👉 Throttled Up Marketing: Struggling to get your excavation or land service business noticed? Learn how to rank on Google, build a brand, and generate real leads at https://www.getthrottledup.comJoin us next week as we bring you more insights from professionals shaping the excavation industry!

What’s the real difference between just moving dirt and building a thriving business?

In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, host Ryan Deemer sits down with Trent Harris, owner of Blue Collar Contractors, to uncover what it takes to build a standout brand in excavation.

Trent isn’t just running equipment—he’s mastering business growth by leveraging social media, managing multiple service offerings, and making smart financial decisions to scale.

If you’ve ever wondered how to take your excavation business to the next level, this episode is packed with real-world advice and strategies that work.

Key Insights:✅ Building a Recognizable Brand: How Trent’s Blue Collar branding across multiple businesses boosts recognition and credibility.

✅ Cash Flow Strategies: Why a pressure washing contract became a game-changer for stabilizing income.

✅ Smart Growth & Delegation: The key to stepping out of the daily grind and into strategic business leadership.

✅ The Power of Mentorship: How networking and surrounding yourself with people ahead of you can fast-track your business growth.

Why This Episode Matters:

This episode is a must-listen for excavation professionals, small business owners, and anyone looking to break through growth barriers. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, Trent’s journey provides valuable insights into making strategic moves that lead to long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Blue Collar Contractors’ website and get in touch with Trent:https://www.bcdirt.com/

👉 Skid Steer Nation – Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

👉 Throttled Up Marketing – Get your excavation or land service business noticed with expert marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

Join us next week for more insights from professionals shaping the excavation industry!

Would you start a business with just a borrowed lawnmower?

In this latest episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer chats with Luis Barrett, who went from borrowing his dad’s mower to running multiple crews across two states in just four years.

At only 21 years old, Luis has built Freedom Lawn & Landscape into a thriving operation, proving that grit beats experience every time. This episode is filled with insights on starting from scratch, scaling fast, and creating a business that doesn’t run you into the ground.

Key Insights:✅ The Borrowed Mower Hustle: How Luis started with zero equipment and turned a side hustle into a full-time, multi-crew business.

✅ Manifesting Success: At 13, Luis declared his future business plans online—and made them happen.

✅ Hiring the Right First Employee: Why an office manager before a laborer can be the key to scaling smart.

✅ Eliminating Chaos: The three-step system Luis uses to cut unnecessary tasks, automate processes, and free up time.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you’ve ever hesitated to start because you don’t have all the right tools, experience, or capital, Luis’s story proves that determination and strategic thinking can take you further than the perfect setup ever will.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Freedom Lawn & Landscape’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066998774375

👉 Skid Steer Nation: Your go-to destination for American-made skid steer attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

👉 Throttled Up Marketing: Struggling to get your excavation or land service business noticed? Get professional web presence, automated marketing, and lead generation here: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

Join us next week as we bring you more insights from professionals shaping the excavation industry!