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!

What happens when you're pushed into business ownership before you're "ready"?

In this insightful episode of theSkid Steer Nation Podcast, host Ryan Deemer sits down with Luke Mace, owner ofKansas Property Services, to discuss the unexpected leap into entrepreneurship. Luke shares how he transitioned from side jobs to full-time excavation work, what it was like to take that plunge with a family to support, and how he's scaling his business with a massive, multi-year regenerative farm project.

This episode is packed with real-world lessons on risk, business growth, and balancing work with family life.

Key Insights:

✅Forced Into Entrepreneurship– Luke didn't plan to go full-time when he did, but when circumstances pushed him, he embraced the challenge and never looked back.

✅Navigating the Uncertainty – With three kids and a stay-at-home wife, Luke shares the mindset shift needed to succeed in a high-risk industry.

✅Scaling with Strategy– Taking on a long-term farm development project required a shift in pricing models and planning for the future.

✅Balancing Business and Family – Luke talks about integrating his kids into his work, making the most of business ownership, and why time is the most valuable asset.

Why This Episode Matters:

For excavation professionals, land clearing contractors, and small business owners, this episode is a must-listen. If you've ever considered taking the leap into business ownership but were hesitant, Luke’s story will inspire you to take action. And if you're already in the game, his approach to pricing, scaling, and managing family life will give you valuable insights to apply in your own journey.

🔗Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Kansas Property Services website:https://www.kansaspropertyservices.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 or land services business? Get a professional web presence, marketing automation, and high-quality leads. https://www.getthrottledup.com/

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

Why would a guy specializing in excavation and land clearing decide to focus solely on equestrian arenas?

In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Scott Macdonald, owner of Elite Arena Solutions and 10 Point Land Management, to talk about the power of niching down in business.

Scott shares how he went from general excavation and land clearing to becoming a go-to expert in equestrian arena construction—and why attention to detail is everything in this industry.

Key Insights:

✅ Focusing on a niche can change everything – Scott explains why shifting from general excavation to equestrian arenas helped him build a high-demand, word-of-mouth business.

✅ The science behind a proper arena – Why drainage, compaction, and footing blend are critical for the safety of horses and riders.

✅ Why precision matters in excavation – The smallest grading errors can cause major issues in an equestrian arena. Scott shares how he uses 2D and 3D laser grading to get it right every time.

✅ Growing a business without a website – Scott’s work speaks for itself. Learn how he built a successful business with little online presence.

✅ Giving back through equine therapy – Scott shares his work with rehabilitation arenas that serve individuals with disabilities.

Why This Episode Matters:

For excavation professionals, contractors, and business owners, this episode is packed with real-world advice on scaling your business by specializing. Whether you’re looking to refine your services or understand the high standards of equestrian arena construction, Scott’s insights are worth tuning in for.

🔗 Connect with Success:

👉 Visit Elite Arena Solution’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554063113605

👉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!