Modern Craftsman

Charles Ochello walked away from emergency medicine to build luxury homes in Park City. He talks about the financial runway, the insecurity of starting over, and how lessons from the ER shaped the way he manages high-stakes projects and clients. Charles' Website: https://www.vitruviusbuilt.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 The Work You Wake Up Thinking About 02:29 The Financial Reality of Leaving Medicine 06:57 When People Think You're Crazy 17:51 How Insecurity Fuels the Chase 27:39 Why Park City 43:28 Managing Homes Like Family Office Assets 53:32 The Project That Should Have Been Paused 1:06:36 Learning the Language of Luxury 1:12:23 The Emotional Weight of High-Stakes Work 1:17:35 Chasing Consistency Instead of More Video Version: https://youtu.be/Dvm4c6QxY5I Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

A midlife crisis might not be losing control. It might be reaching a dead end, quitting on creativity, and deciding there's no better version of yourself left to build. Mark D. Williams talks about risk, fulfillment, expensive lessons, and why the next bet can matter even when it doesn't fully check out on paper. Full Episode: https://youtu.be/A6S_eqGEstA Mark's Website: https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com Mark's Podcast: https://www.curiousbuilder.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 There's Never Enough Time Anyway 01:22 The Entrepreneurs Who Couldn't Give Up Their Phones 02:11 When the Project Doesn't Pencil 04:40 The Guy in the Mirror Can Sell You Anything 05:32 What If You Lose $2 Million? 08:34 The House Became a Reflection of Himself 10:24 What a Midlife Crisis Really Is Video Version: https://youtu.be/BKTU_Q47TfA Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Everybody wants to build the project they believe in, right up until the risk gets real. This episode gets into what it looks like to take a swing on a house that does more than one job, why Mark D. Williams built Mysa Hus the way he did, and how the project became part business play, part creative reset, and part bet on the future. Mark's Website: https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com Mark's Podcast: https://www.curiousbuilder.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 The big bet 00:09 Intro 04:19 What Mark fears most 15:18 Risk, danger & decision-making 19:03 From spec house to story home 27:25 The build that made Mark love building again 29:49 What wellness actually means 38:28 Boundaries create freedom 46:37 Buying back time 53:25 When a risky project is still worth it 1:15:18 Building a home that fits your real life Video Version: https://youtu.be/A6S_eqGEstA Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

The business starts leaking money when the plan in your head never makes it to the people doing the work. Nick and Tyler talk about teaching clearly, building repeatable systems, and why shadowing someone only works when they eventually have to do it themselves. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 The Lesson That Changed the Business 02:47 You Don't Know It Until You Teach It 05:32 Every Step You Forgot to Explain 07:22 Why Apprenticeship Still Matters 13:16 Builders Keep Reinventing the Wheel Video Version: https://youtu.be/tOjp2zn7GWc Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Most builders learn the trade first and figure out the business by taking hits for ten years. Nick and Tyler talk about college, online education, fake gurus, systems, financial clarity, and what builders should actually invest in before the business gets away from them. From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:04:15 The Problem With Builder Education 00:14:55 Are Online Courses Any Better? 00:22:49 Builders Never Learned the Business Side 00:30:29 You Don't Know It Until You Can Teach It 00:40:32 Builders Keep Reinventing the Wheel 00:46:45 Where Should a Young Builder Invest? 00:53:43 Teaching From Scars, Not a Script 01:03:06 There Is No Silver Bullet Video Version: https://youtu.be/Th0DA9TFKoU Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

This compilation pulls from recent guest conversations with Mark O'Brien, Shane Durkin, Mike Romanowicz, Morgan Molitor, and Michael Holmes Jr. Five different perspectives, but a shared thread runs through all of them: risk, money, systems, tools, identity, and what it really takes to build a better business. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 01:00:00 Five Takes on Building a Better Business 01:00:35 EP 406 Mark O'Brien 01:06:47 EP 407 Shane Durkin 01:18:00 EP 403 Mike Romanowicz 01:24:49 EP 402 Morgan Molitor 01:33:27 EP 401 Michael Holmes Jr. 01:43:37 You Need the Backbone Before You Scale Video Version: https://youtu.be/aU1xKwkUOsE Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Tyler gives another update on the house build while juggling client work, family, site prep, foundation details, and the next round of framing decisions. He gets into the reality of self-performing a build while life, work, and money keep moving. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Video Version: Show Notes: 0:14 Midweek From the Build 1:15 Working Around the House 4:43 Foundation & Crawl Space 10:15 Framing the Floor 13:02 Exterior Plan & Windows 17:37 Partners & Products 22:19 Building a Real House 24:02 Course & Community Updates Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Putting yourself out there comes with opinions, cheap shots, and plenty of people who think they know the whole story from one post. Nick and Tyler talk about online criticism, support systems, comparison, family, friends, and finding the people who actually want to see you win. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 Who Said I Invented This? 00:13 Pretending Everyone Else Has It Figured Out 03:38 Getting Lit Up on Facebook 06:35 When Online Comments Don't Hurt Anymore 10:44 When People Close to You Question It 14:56 Cutting Out the Wrong Support 18:05 Giving People Ammunition 20:55 Fighting Better Two Days Later 24:03 Don't Send the Text 28:56 Comparing Generations 35:48 Just Working Should Be Enough 40:31 Paying for Convenience 43:37 Everything Costs More Now 51:55 Calling Out the Trolls 54:34 Finding the People Who Have Your Back Video Version: https://youtu.be/5gxZ8n2ksos Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

A lot of builders run millions of dollars through the business without a clear view of what they actually make. Shane Durkin talks through construction finance, project money, cash flow, profitability, and why builders need better systems than acting like the bank for every job. Shane's Websites: https://www.buildpatriot.com http://www. ledgerwise.com Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 The Builder's 16% Slice 00:23 Meet Shane Durkin 05:14 Tyler's Superior Walls Foundation 10:37 From Maryland to Coronado 16:03 Engineering, Lacrosse & the Naval Academy 20:41 9/11 and the Pull to Serve 25:35 What the Naval Academy Was Really Like 32:37 Leaving the Military 38:00 Getting Back Into Building 42:00 The Value of Higher Education 50:00 Business School Meets Construction 54:50 Construction Fund Control 60:00 The Missing Piece in Construction Finance 65:20 Why Builders Shouldn't Be the Escrow 74:30 Revenue, Profit & the Financial Tornado 80:10 Selling Financial Stability to Clients 84:10 Building a Better Pay Chain 98:20 How LedgerWise Came Together 102:30 Let Builders Be Builders 108:20 Why More Work Doesn't Always Mean More Money Video Version: https://youtu.be/JcYe0DN0Om8 Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Some projects stop making sense on paper long before the story is over. Mark O'Brien talks through bankruptcy, real estate risk, New York red tape, private equity, treehouses, 45 White Oak, and why the experience can still be worth chasing. Mark's website: https://buildmeabrownstone.com Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 The Treehouse That Sold the House 00:15 Meet Mark O'Brien 03:52 Losing It All and Starting Over 22:54 New York Red Tape and Carrying Costs 33:15 Why Keep Taking the Risk? 47:02 Private Equity Changes the Game 54:50 Sometimes It Doesn't Have to Pencil 61:34 Bootstrapping and Hard Lessons 68:29 What Do You Worry About? 79:23 45 White Oak and the Dream Build Video Version: https://youtu.be/G9Rw3-TsqiY Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Tyler's house build is moving from layout and excavation into foundation prep, and every step is teaching him something new. This one gets into site work, drainage, equipment costs, and the real stress of building your own place while learning the land as you go. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Video Version: https://youtu.be/rW_7THRb8Bw Show Notes: 0:13 Project Update 2:05 The House Build So Far 7:31 Superior Walls Prep 14:36 Crawl Space & House Plan 18:03 What the Build Is Teaching Me 21:54 Getting to Foundation 24:42 Family, Stress & Support 27:41 What's Next Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Some of the best builder questions are the ones that do not always get asked out loud. This episode has questions that come straight from the MC Community and gets into pricing tiers, labor rates, first admin hires, dead leads, subcontractor agreements, and the systems that help make a construction business easier to run. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 Square Foot Pricing Has Limits 00:28 Questions From the Builder Community 02:13 Tiered Pricing in Precon 09:35 Can Square Foot Pricing Work? 11:37 Cost Plus, Labor Rates & Markup 17:01 Billing the Same Rate for Different Carpenters 21:39 The Real Cost of an Employee 26:14 When to Make Your First Office Hire 33:58 Fixing Dead Lead Flow 43:04 Tracking Leads That Actually Convert 51:57 Master Sub Agreements & Work Orders 58:00 Why the Community Matters Video Version: https://youtu.be/vwGv8aE8Jio Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Some seasons get heavy fast, even when you built the business to avoid that. This episode gets into Tyler's house build, money pressure, family guilt, decision fatigue, and trying not to fall back into the old grind-at-all-costs version of yourself. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 When It Feels Impossible to Move Forward 00:12 Guest Fell Through 04:05 Calling the Vendor 06:00 Life Hits 110 MPH 08:14 Avoiding Old Grind Habits 10:03 Carrying the Weight After the Job 13:17 Cutting the List Down 15:38 Decision Fatigue on the House Build 22:26 Just Make Progress 29:35 When Hard Things Motivate You 33:16 Sleep, Work & Second Winds 39:11 Family, Guilt & Being Present 42:06 Opening the Conversation Video Version: https://youtu.be/GD208zeQtew Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Tyler gives an update on his personal home build, from permit headaches and erosion control to layout, equipment, and finally moving dirt. This one gets into the pressure of building your own house, self-performing as much as possible, and turning years of trade experience into a family home. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Video Version: https://youtu.be/YFG1z032FkQ Show Notes: 0:19 AI Beyond Productivity 2:37 The Mental Load 5:04 Organizing the Chaos 12:15 Clearer Thinking 21:16 AI as a Mirror 25:21 Getting Your Day Back 29:44 Wrap & Community Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Custom building gets messy fast when every project starts from a blank page. Mike Romanowicz talks through Den, prefab housing, better lead qualification, and what builders can learn from a product-based approach to pricing, systems, and client expectations. Den Outdoors: https://denoutdoors.com Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 Productized Housing 00:20 Meet Mike Romanowicz 03:59 Product First, Founder Second 05:45 Building in Public 09:22 The A-Frame Kit Lesson 14:11 The First Product Bet 20:30 Making Better Housing More Accessible 23:40 What Fasten Does 25:50 From Software to Homebuilding 30:17 The Power of Pre-Designed Plans 31:43 Starting From 100% 35:36 Why Customization Gets Hard 40:47 Where the Process Breaks 47:31 The Business Finally Clicked 55:25 How the Prefab Model Works 57:07 Designing Around Real Materials 61:06 What Tech Teaches Builders 66:33 Turning a Website Into a Booking Engine 71:04 Leading With Price 75:16 Cutting Out Bad Leads Video Version: https://youtu.be/WOyN-PR9mHs Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Most people talk about AI like it's just there to save time, write faster, or build better systems. This episode gets into the quieter side of it: using AI to organize your thoughts, cut down the mental noise, and get clearer before the day runs you over. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Video Version: https://youtu.be/NUkdSkNq8QU Show Notes: 0:19 AI Beyond Productivity 2:37 The Mental Load 5:04 Organizing the Chaos 12:15 Clearer Thinking 21:16 AI as a Mirror 25:21 Getting Your Day Back 29:44 Wrap & Community Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

AI is not just for writing nicer emails or cranking out generic captions. This episode gets into how builders can use AI, construction software, agents, and connected tools to clean up admin, qualify leads, track money, improve communication, and make the business side less of a mess. Morgan: https://construction2style.com Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 AI Is Already Doing the Work 03:47 Where Builders Should Start 06:54 Chat, Claude & Better Prompts 11:32 AI Inside Construction Software 12:35 Agents Are Employees 16:36 Setting Up AI to Work for You 27:49 Connecting Tools & Automating Follow-Up 31:11 Better Communication With Less Admin 37:09 Start With a Brain Dump 49:07 Using AI to Qualify Clients 54:21 Catching Misses Before the Next Job 57:43 Estimating From Real Job Data 61:23 Comparing Bids & Educating Clients 67:41 Why Builders Need to Start Now Video Version: https://youtu.be/w5XwumOO1cE Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Working in a family business comes with a lot of pressure, especially when your last name already means something in the industry. Michael Holmes talks through the Holmes legacy, finding his own lane, taking risks, and what it looks like to build something that actually feels like his own. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 Who Michael Holmes Is Now 04:53 Growing Up Without Dad Around 10:29 Being the Dad He Needed 18:08 Getting His Dad Back 20:15 Stepping Out of the Family Shadow 29:00 Building Something for Himself 36:07 Hummingbird Hill Blue Mountain 40:15 How the New Division Works 45:16 Media, Builders & Skilled Trades 54:18 Living His Own Dream 60:38 Why Taking Risks Matters Video Version: https://youtu.be/bAZJ2FTJTLU Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

This Midweek is about what happens when life forces you to step back and ask what all the work is actually for. Tyler talks about loss, family, and building a business that creates enough freedom to be present for the parts of life you don't get back. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Video Version: https://youtu.be/fALKjhyTuLo Show Notes: 00:43 Time Moves Fast 02:57 A Wake-Up Call 07:31 Making Better Decisions 12:06 Learning From Loss 14:20 Work Isn't Everything 16:43 Building Around the Life You Want 21:10 Don't Wait Until Later 23:37 Let the Business Serve You 29:01 More Than Paying Bills 31:16 Do It Now Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

After 400 episodes, the conversation shifts toward what Modern Craftsman should become next. This episode gets into why the show is moving away from surface-level interviews, what kind of guests and stories they want to bring in, and how deeper conversations can create more value than another round of standard industry talk. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes: 00:00 A Curveball at 400 02:33 Why the Podcast Is Changing 09:23 Why the Old Guest Model Fell Flat 14:11 The Kind of Conversations We Want 23:41 What We Can Learn Outside Construction 26:48 Who Makes the Best Guests 34:40 The Stories Worth Telling 43:08 The Why Behind the Work 52:28 Why This Matters Now 57:32 Send Us Guest Ideas Video Version: https://youtu.be/q9yxzp9HVqY Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman : linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts : Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media