272 - Stop Juggling Everything: How Contractors Can Buy Back Their Time with John Nieuwenburg
Business coach John Nieuwenburg reveals how contractors can escape day-to-day overwhelm by delegating low-value tasks and focusing on true leadership. You'll discover practical strategies for identifying what you should stop doing, creating time for high-impact work, and building a reliable talent bench—all without adding more hours to your already packed schedule.
What You’ll Learn
How to identify the 5-7 hours of work you shouldn't be doing each week
Why "attention" is more valuable than "time" for contractors
How to properly delegate tasks using virtual assistants without micromanaging
Practical steps for building a recruiting bench that gives you leverage with current employees
Time Stamps
00:55 - Episode Intro
02:51 - Guest Intro: John Nieuwenburg
03:50 - Challenges Faced by Business Owners
04:55 - Time Management for Construction Companies
05:40 - The Oh Shit List
07:06 - Delegation and Virtual Assistants
13:08 - Mindset and Personal Coaching
18:15 - Focus & Prioritization
22:44 - The Importance of Attention Management
23:51 - The Big Rocks Metaphor
24:38 - Implementing a Default Diary
27:01 - Handling Interruptions and Emergencies
30:52 - Building Your Bench
37:46 - The Role of Company Culture
39:22 - Conclusion and Contact Information
Snippets from the Episode
"If you're listening to this call and you own a construction business, you're probably doing five to seven hours worth of work each week that you shouldn't be doing."— John Nieuwenburg
"All business coaching is personal coaching in disguise. Often, business owners identify the problem as something in their business, but they don't hold up a mirror to themselves and recognize they're actually the obstruction."— John Nieuwenburg
"The question isn't 'How can I get this done?' It's 'How can this get done?' And the only thing that changed is who's doing it. It isn't I."— John Nieuwenburg
"You don't get the culture you want. You get the culture you deserve."— John Nieuwenburg
Key Takeaways
The Oh Shit List Delegation Strategy
Leveraging Virtual Assistants for Admin Tasks
Implementing a Default Diary System
Building a Proactive Talent Bench
Creating SOPs Through Delegation
Attention Management vs Time Management
The Leadership Mindset Shift
Resources
24 Things Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire & Train an Executive Assistant
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Visit cashflowcontractor.com to access our free resources for contractors looking to reduce stress, reclaim time, and boost profitability. Subscribe to the podcast for weekly insights you can implement immediately in your construction business.