Sometimes the hardest part of running a business isn’t the long hours or tough calls — it’s figuring out what comes next. In this episode, Ryan opens up about his own season of reflection: what it means to step back, redefine the vision, and start building with purpose again. No guest this week — just a raw, real talk between Ryan and you about leadership, growth, and the next evolution of Skid Steer Nation.

Takeaways:

✅ How creating space to think — even just 20 minutes a day — can completely change the direction of your business.

✅ The mindset shift from “being the boss” to serving your team and why that’s where real growth happens.

✅ Why Ryan is rebranding the Skid Steer Nation Podcast and what his upcoming book Out of the Weeds means for contractors everywhere.

✅ A behind-the-scenes look at the new software project, Toolbox, built to help small business owners simplify operations with AI-powered tools.

✅ The most powerful lesson Ryan’s learned lately: learning to say no — and how it protects your time, clarity, and vision.

Why It Matters:Because owning a business isn’t just about grinding — it’s about building something that actually gives you freedom, not another job.

Links:➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. ⁠https://www.skidsteernation.com⁠

➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. ⁠https://www.throttleupmarketing.com

When Sy Kirby started SY-CON, he wasn’t chasing fame—he was chasing integrity. In this episode, Sy breaks down how staying true to your word and building respect in the field can open doors that marketing never could.

From turning wrenches in a mechanic shop to running crews that handle utilities and excavation across Tennessee, his approach to leadership is brutally honest and refreshingly simple: treat people right, do the job right, and the rest follows.

Takeaways✅Reputation travels faster than marketing: Sy explains how reliability and relationships have built more business than any ad ever could.

✅From fixing trucks to leading crews: How years as a mechanic shaped his understanding of efficiency and equipment care on job sites.

✅Lessons in scaling smart: Why he keeps his company lean and focused instead of chasing every opportunity that comes along.

✅No shortcuts in leadership: How showing up alongside your crew earns more respect than any title.

✅ Balancing work and life: What it really takes to grow a business while keeping your family and sanity intact.

Why it Matters:This episode hits home for any contractor trying to grow without losing their reputation or control of their business.

Links:

➡️ Visit and Subscribe to Sy Kirby’s YouTube channel⁠: https://www.youtube.com/@Sy-Con

➡️ Shop Attachments: Build your business with the right attachments. https://www.skidsteernation.com

➡️ Marketing Help: Marketing built for blue-collar contractors. https://www.throttleupmarketing.com

Most guys don’t talk about the bad deals they’ve made. But Ryan Haar does, and his story will sound familiar to anyone who’s bought a “great deal” machine that turned into a money pit. Injectors failed, the drive motor quit, and what should have been a win nearly sank him before he got started.

But instead of bailing, Ryan stuck with that skid steer, learned the hard lessons, and built Elite Excavation in Olin, Iowa.

In this episode, Ryan opens up about what that experience taught him about persistence, referrals, and marketing in a crowded market. His journey proves that sometimes the worst machine can teach you the best lessons.

Takeaways:

✅The nightmare skid steer purchase that nearly stopped him—and why he still runs it today

✅How one driveway job turned into five more through simple word-of-mouth

✅Why old-school flyers plus creative videos helped him stand out in a saturated Iowa market

✅His personal motto: “Cost to floss—strap in and hold tight” and what it means for business

Why it Matters:

Every contractor knows the sting of bad equipment—but Ryan’s story shows how grit and consistency can turn setbacks into stepping stones.

Links:

🔹 Visit Elite Excavation’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555780441041

🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: ⁠www.skidsteernation.com

🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttled Up Marketing: ⁠⁠https://www.getthrottledup.com/

Brent Boitano didn’t scale his excavation business by taking every job that came his way—he grew by getting crystal clear on what he doesn’t do. In this episode, Brent shares the overlooked power of saying “no,” how he built trust in a small-town market, and why focusing on quality over volume has paid off for Boitano Excavation.

Brent also opens up about what it takes to hire people who show up with the right mindset—and why you shouldn’t expect your employees to care as much as you do. If you're running a growing excavation or land services business, this is a no-BS conversation you’ll want to hear.

Takeaways:✅Don’t chase every dollar – Brent explains why turning down the wrong jobs has helped him build a more sustainable, high-quality business.

✅Be the guy who gets the call back – His strategy is simple: show up on time, do great work, and don’t disappear.

✅Hiring mindset over skillset – Brent looks for workers who want to learn and take pride in doing things the right way—even if they’ve never run a machine before.

✅Reputation is your best marketing – In a small community, word-of-mouth can make or break your business. Brent shares how to earn trust job after job.

✅Let go of the growth-for-growth’s-sake mindset – Brent’s business is profitable and respected because he’s not trying to do it all.
Why it Matters:If you’re tired of burnout and want to build a business that lasts, Brent’s approach to boundaries, hiring, and quality-first work is a game plan worth hearing.

Links:

🔹 Visit Boitano Excavation’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054446142567

🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: ⁠https://skidsteernation.com/⁠

🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttled Up Marketing: ⁠https://www.getthrottledup.com/

When Andrew Michael left his job as a diesel tech during the chaos of COVID, he didn’t chase scale—he chased control, family, and purpose. What started as renting equipment and testing the waters led to buying his first skid steer and embracing a solo operator model.

But what really makes this episode stand out? Andrew’s mindset. This isn't just about clearing land—it’s about clearing mental clutter, owning your story, and showing up for your family and clients in a way most business owners never figure out.

If you’ve ever battled imposter syndrome, wrestled with niching down, or wondered if staying small is actually smart, Andrew’s story hits hard.

Takeaways:

✅Renting vs. Owning: Andrew rented equipment for three years before finally buying his own skid steer—and the confidence that came with it was the real game changer.
✅Niching Is a Strength: Early on, he tried to do “anything brown or green,” but narrowing his focus helped build a reputation and reduce burnout.
✅Mindset over Machines: Success in this business isn’t about horsepower—it’s about what’s happening between your ears.
✅Solo by Design: Andrew doesn’t want 30 employees or a fleet—he wants to be known as a specialist, and it’s working.
✅Pressure Creates Performance: From family life to business decisions, Andrew uses pressure to fuel growth, not fear.
Why it MattersThis episode hits home for blue-collar business owners trying to balance growth, purpose, and peace of mind—without selling their soul or sacrificing their family.

Links:

🔹 Visit Michael Way Acre’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwayacres🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttled Up Marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

Joe Borowski didn’t plan to become a concrete contractor—but the market had other ideas. In this episode, Ryan Deemer sits down with the owner of Hawthorne Excavating to talk about how pouring a single hot tub pad turned into 90% of his workload. Joe shares what it’s like managing growth, staying hands-on, and slowly building a real business—not just a job.

He also gets real about what it takes to keep standards high without burning out, how he’s setting up two crews for future expansion, and why communication matters more than fancy equipment.

Takeaways:

✅ Joe got his start as a union operator at 18—but bought his first excavator instead of a new truck.

✅ Concrete wasn’t the plan, but customer demand made it impossible to ignore. Now it drives most of his revenue.

✅ He’s learned more from redoing jobs the right way than from the ones that go perfectly.

✅ Joe is shifting from operator to leader, learning how to train, trust, and let others figure it out.

✅ He's realizing time—not money—is the most valuable asset in business, and he's starting to build processes to reclaim it.
Why It Matters:

If you’re in excavation or hardscaping, learning to offer concrete—or partner with someone who does—can unlock bigger, better-paying jobs and more referrals.

Links:

🔹 Visit Hawthorne Excavating LLCs’ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HawthorneEx

🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttled Up Marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

Austin Gurney didn’t just quit his job—he quit the idea that being a great operator was enough. After moving to a new state with no contacts, he grew his excavation business fast by focusing on systems, showing up when others wouldn’t, and thinking like a business owner from day one.

He didn’t build this to stay busy. He’s building it to last.

Takeaways:

✅Built a steady business from scratch in a brand-new area with zero connections.

✅Used daily Facebook group posts (at 5AM) to keep leads coming in before going full time.

✅Realized he was spending too much time being a technician—not a leader.

✅Wants his business to leave a legacy—not just cover the bills.

• Why it Matters:

• If you’re growing a blue-collar business and want to scale without being stuck in the machine, this episode gives you the playbook.

  Links:

  🔹 Visit Gurney Excavation’s’ website: https://gurneyexcavationllc.com/

  🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

  🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttle Up Marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

Matt Wolcott didn’t grow up in Tennessee—and he didn’t know a soul when he got there. But in just a year, he went from the “new guy” handing out business cards at gas stations to being the go-to name for storm shelters and mowing tough terrain. His story’s not about luck—it’s about hustle, follow-through, and solving real problems when others bail.

Takeaways:

✅Matt wore his company shirts everywhere—even got in trouble at his old job for it. Branding doesn't stop after hours.

✅He calls back every missed call—telemarketer or not. Most don’t leave voicemails, and that quick reply often wins the job.

✅He turned a simple mower attachment for his mini-excavator into a niche that competitors couldn’t touch.

✅He sold 15 storm shelters in under 6 weeks—some from his recliner, thanks to $10 Facebook ads and quick customer responses.

✅Built partnerships with other contractors to offload jobs outside his scope—keeps the customer happy, and the phone ringing.

Why It Matters:If you’re a contractor looking to stand out in a crowded market, this episode shows how being reliable, visible, and responsive is sometimes all it takes to win.

Links:

🔹 Visit Wolcott Outdoor Services’ website: https://wolcottoutdoorservices.com/

🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttle Up Marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/