In this episode of the Forge Contractor Podcast, Kenton sits down with Joel for a real and practical conversation about people pleasing. What it is, where it comes from, and how it slowly starts running your life if you’re not careful.

What starts as a strength, being perceptive, caring about people, wanting to do a great job, can quietly turn into a burden. The hard truth is that a lot of us aren’t reacting to reality.

We’re reacting to what we think people might be thinking about us. And those imagined expectations begin to shape everything. Your schedule, your pricing, your stress, even how you show up at home.

One of the biggest shifts talked about in this episode is realizing how much pressure is self-created. Not by customers, not by employees, but by the words we say and the commitments we make too quickly. When you slow down, ask better questions, and stop boxing yourself in, things start to change.

There’s more margin, more clarity, and honestly just more peace. But this goes deeper than business. This is internal work. There’s a discipline required to stop letting your mind run wild with scenarios that aren’t even real. To catch yourself before you spiral. To accept that not everyone is going to think well of you, and that’s okay. That might be the hardest part for a lot of people listening. The conversation also gets really practical.

Talking through quoting jobs, setting timelines, dealing with demanding customers, and learning to pause before you commit. Simple shifts, but they carry a lot of weight. A big takeaway from this one is how much your words matter. What you say sets expectations. And a lot of the stress we carry is tied directly to things we didn’t have to promise in the first place. At the end of the day, this isn’t about becoming someone who doesn’t care. It’s about caring in a healthier way.

Serving people well without being controlled by them. It’s not an overnight fix. But it is a direction. If you’ve ever felt that constant pressure to keep everyone happy, this conversation will feel familiar. And it might just help you start putting some of that weight down.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca

@Forge_CA

In this episode, Josh and Kenton sit down for a real, unfiltered conversation about something a lot of contractors think they understand, but most have never actually worked through what makes a business truly saleable.

Speaking from their experience in Prince George, they unpack the gap between what owners believe they’ve built and what someone would actually pay for. The conversation quickly gets honest. Most small businesses are not really businesses, they are jobs built around one person. The relationships, the reputation, the decision making all sit with the owner.

When that person steps away, there is often very little left. It is a tough realization, but one that almost every trades business owner will face at some point. They dig into the difference between building something around yourself versus building something that can stand on its own.

A lot of companies have strong revenue and years of history, but without systems, structure, and a team that can operate without the owner, that value does not transfer. Buyers are not just looking at numbers, they are asking what happens when you are gone.

Throughout the episode, they share real stories from their own market. Companies that shut down after decades. Others that were handed off and quickly fell apart. And a few that made it work through intentional succession, strong teams, and the right people stepping in. The common thread is simple. If you are not planning for an exit, you are likely planning to close, whether you realize it or not. They also touch on the bigger picture.

There are more business owners than ever approaching retirement, and at the same time the world feels uncertain. Markets are shifting, economies are unpredictable, and there are more sellers than buyers in many industries. It raises an important question. If you wanted to sell tomorrow, would your business actually be ready.

This episode is not about theory. It is about reality and hard conversations. Whether you plan to sell, pass it on, or just run your company for as long as you can, this is a look at what you are really building and what will be left when you step away.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca

@Forge_CA

In this episode of Forge, Josh and Kenton explore what it really looks like to build a business around the work you actually love. As the demands of leadership grow, so does the pressure to fit into a predefined version of what a CEO “should” be. But the reality is far less rigid.

For many builders and entrepreneurs, the path forward isn’t about stepping away from the work that brings energy and clarity, it’s about learning how to structure your time so you can stay in it.

The conversation unpacks the tension between productivity and burnout, and how easily leaders can find themselves stuck in roles that drain them rather than drive them.

Josh shares his evolving approach to designing a weekly rhythm that allows him to stay on the tools, lead his team, and still carve out space for high-level thinking.

Throughout the episode, they dig into the importance of understanding your own wiring as a leader. From how you process ideas, to where you find clarity, to what actually makes you effective day to day, the conversation highlights how self-awareness plays a critical role in long-term success.

They also reflect on how forcing yourself into roles that don’t fit can create unnecessary stress, while leaning into your strengths can dramatically increase both output and satisfaction.

At its core, this episode is about rejecting one-size-fits-all leadership advice and instead building a rhythm that aligns with your strengths, your season, and your responsibilities. It’s a conversation about freedom, ownership, and the ongoing process of figuring out what actually works.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca

@Forge_CA

In this follow-up episode of Forge, Josh and Kenton continue the conversation about failure, resilience, and the long road of learning that comes with building a business.

After reflecting on the collapse of Kenton’s early real estate momentum in the previous episode, the discussion turns toward what came after.

The years that followed were not defined by a single event, but by the slower and often more difficult process of rebuilding confidence, culture, and leadership from the inside out.

Kenton shares how the internal impact of that season lingered longer than the external circumstances. Even as the company continued to operate and grow from the outside, the weight of that earlier failure shaped the way he made decisions, interacted with his team, and carried the responsibility of leadership.

Josh and Kenton explore how pride, fear, and lost confidence can quietly isolate leaders at the very moment when they need their people the most. They discuss the surprising reality that many team members are often willing to rally around a struggling leader, but only if they’re allowed into the process.

The conversation also turns toward the nature of risk. Entrepreneurs often celebrate bold moves and big swings, but fewer people talk openly about the emotional resilience required when those swings miss. Kenton reflects on how early success created a sense of certainty that later setbacks challenged, forcing him to develop a deeper understanding of resilience and self-awareness.

Throughout the episode, the discussion moves beyond business tactics and into the mindset required to continue moving forward. Josh and Kenton talk about the difference between regret and bitterness, why honest post-mortems matter, and how leaders can learn to separate criticism of their role from criticism of their identity.

They also reflect on the importance of creating environments where others can take risks without fear of catastrophic failure, whether in business, leadership, or even parenting.

This episode is ultimately about growth through adversity, and the quiet maturity that develops when leaders learn to analyze failure without being defined by it.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca

@Forge_CA

In this episode of Forge, Josh and Kenton dive into a deeply personal story from Kenton’s early years in business. In his twenties, Kenton was heavily involved in real estate investing, building momentum with multiple properties, partnerships, and ambitious development projects.

It was a time marked by optimism, energy, and the feeling that anything was possible. Deals were working, banks were lending, and every step forward seemed to open another opportunity.

But life has a way of testing even the most confident seasons.

Within a short period of time, several major events collided. A large development project in northern Alberta fell apart at the last moment. Seven rental units over half of his portfolio, suddenly became vacant at the same time.

At home, Kenton and his wife were navigating the emotional weight of losing two grandparents within weeks of each other while also expecting their first child. What had once felt like unstoppable momentum quickly turned into overwhelming pressure.

Faced with that perfect storm, panic set in. Instead of leaning on his partners and the relationships he had built, Kenton made decisions in isolation, fire-selling properties and stepping away from opportunities that, in hindsight, could have changed the trajectory of his life.

The lesson wasn’t just about business strategy. It was about pride, communication, and the weight leaders sometimes place on their own shoulders.

Throughout the conversation, Josh and Kenton reflect on the tension many entrepreneurs experience: the instinct to shoulder responsibility alone versus the humility required to ask for help. They explore how assumptions about what others are willing or able to do can quietly shape the decisions we make in moments of stress.

They also discuss how failure affects different personalities. For someone used to succeeding, a major setback can cut deeper and take longer to recover from. The optimism and confidence that fuel early success can also make failure feel like a defining moment rather than simply part of the journey.

This episode is not about dwelling on the past, but about understanding how pivotal moments shape the way we lead, take risks, and build trust moving forward. It’s a conversation about leadership under pressure, the importance of honest dialogue with partners, and the long process of rebuilding confidence after a major setback.

Original theme music composed and performed by: Ben Smith

Produced by: Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by: Kalen Wookey

Website: https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca

In this long-distance episode of the Forge Podcast, Josh and Chris sit down nearly 800 kilometers apart and do what they’ve done for almost two decades challenge each other. What starts as a simple catch-up turns into a raw reflection on friendship, ego, business, faith, and the question that keeps surfacing in both of their lives why do we really do this?

They rewind to the beginning dating roommates, early impressions, quiet competition, and the arrogance that often hides inside young entrepreneurs trying to prove themselves. Roofing didn’t sound like much of a career. Egos were big. Perspectives were narrow. But time, hardship, and business have a way of refining people.

What grew out of that rough start became a deep friendship built mostly in the trenches of entrepreneurship long conversations about risk, leadership, family, pressure, and the weight of responsibility. A defining chapter in their story was the Pay It Forward build, a dream to rally contractors together to build a home for a family in need. No TV cameras. No spotlight.

Just tradespeople proving they are more than a stereotype. The project took years. It tested patience, partnerships, and perseverance. It nearly fell apart more than once. But it also revealed something powerful when purpose is clear, people show up.

From there, the conversation shifts into something deeper how do you take your personal why and translate it into an entire organization? How do you build a company that is not just chasing revenue but forming people?

They reflect on ideas from Good to Great by Jim Collins, leadership principles popularized by Simon Sinek, and even the scale of purpose driven vision seen in entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, but bring it back down to the trades, to real crews, real payroll, and real pressure. They wrestle with uncomfortable questions. Is money enough?

Why does entrepreneurship feel so lonely? Why do some teams buy into vision and others just clock in? Are we building companies or are our companies building us? This is not a polished leadership talk. It is two friends shaped by twenty years of shared experience admitting they are still figuring it out.

Still evolving. Still asking why they get out of bed every morning. If you are in the trades, leading a team, building something from nothing, or quietly questioning whether the grind is worth it, this episode will feel personal.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca @Forge_CA

This episode is raw and real. We unpack what it is like to sit at the table with another fast growing company and seriously explore a full fledged joint venture in a brand new market. Valuations. Ownership splits. Hard conversations. Big vision. Even bigger responsibility.

We just walked out of a meeting that felt like a dream come true. But here is what stood out. There was no greed in the room. Instead of asking how do I win, the question was how do we all win. We talk about why collaboration over competition is the future, and what it actually takes to blend two companies, two trades, and two cultures into something unified.

Roofing and solar under one vision. Shared systems. Shared leadership. Shared risk. Building something that goes beyond profit and creates real impact in the communities we serve. We break down the balancing act of scaling without losing focus on your core business. The operational realities of training roofing and solar teams to create real efficiency.

The importance of alignment in values and why that matters more than the opportunity itself. And the nerves that come with jumping off the diving board before you know how deep the water is. We also dive into leadership growth, travel, and personal development. Why expanding your comfort zone, even socially, sharpens you as a business owner.

From lessons learned at the International Roofing Expo to conversations around solar innovation, roofing systems, and the future of integrated trades, this episode captures a pivotal moment in real time. This is not just about merging businesses. It is about merging vision.

We are stepping into a season where collaboration becomes the norm, not the exception, and we are bringing you along for the ride. If you are building, scaling, or considering partnership at any level, this one is for you.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca @Forge_CA

Sometimes the biggest chapters in your life start in the most ordinary places.

This episode goes all the way back to a random moment in a Walmart parking lot, when Josh was still in high school, pushing carts, with no real plan for what came next.

That one conversation turned into a job, then long days on rooftops, brutal winter projects, and years of learning what hard work actually looks like.

Josh and Kenton reflect on those early seasons, hiring green kids, surviving sketchy roofs, freezing out-of-town jobs, and the kind of shared suffering that quietly builds brotherhood. They talk honestly about leadership, motivation, grit, and why mindset matters more than talent.

It’s a real conversation about:

- Growing up through hard work.

- Learning resilience the painful way.

- Building teams that actually care about each other.

- Why money isn’t the main motivator.

- How momentum is created and destroyed.

- And what it means to walk through hard things together.

This one isn’t polished or scripted. It’s raw stories, lessons learned the hard way, and a reminder that some of the most meaningful growth happens when you show up, embrace the suck, and refuse to quit.

Original theme music composed and performed by - Ben Smith

Produced by - Seth Steward Productions

Co-produced by - Kalen Wookey

Website: ⁠https://forgealliance.ca/

⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/forge_ca⁠ (@Forge_CA) / X