Kid Contractor Podcast with Caleb Auman: E744. Contractor Horror Stories | Tommy Cole EVP of Industry Relations at LeanScaper

E744. Contractor Horror Stories | Tommy Cole EVP of Industry Relations at LeanScaper

Oct 1, 2026

Veteran contractor Tommy Cole shares a wealth of experience from decades in the landscape construction and civil engineering industries. Tommy recounts numerous job site mishaps, ranging from an accidental skid steer intrusion onto a protected prairie meadow to the astonishing coincidence of plastering the wrong pool on the exact same street. Through these humorous and challenging anecdotes, he emphasizes the critical importance of owning one's mistakes and never complaining about clients. The conversation highlights how vital clear communication and accessible data are for growing a successful contracting business. Connect with LeanScaper.

Key Takeaways:

Take complete ownership of job site mistakes immediately rather than passing blame onto crew members or subcontractors.
Minimize handling materials multiple times to eliminate unnecessary labor costs and boost overall operational efficiency.
Move critical project details out of your head and into a shared system so your entire team has visibility into schedules and project expectations.
Build client trust through transparency by acknowledging that human errors will occur while guaranteeing you will take responsibility to make things right.
Refrain from complaining about difficult clients and instead view their feedback as essential insight for refining your business processes.