Everyone's got one—that moment where everything went sideways and you learned a lesson the hard way.

I got to thinking about this when I heard Jarod Coffman's story about his first time leading a 20-person crew and what happened on day one (see the video below)

What's yours? What's a day or a moment you'll never forget?

Drop it below. Someone's gonna learn from your pain.

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We've redone the home screen!

But we want it to work the best for YOU.

Tell us what you think (and join the beta)

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What questions do you have after today's class?

Note: I'll upload the recording and Q&A here shortly.

Is there a way to push a reminder to the team to complete their checklists by a certain day or time?

For example, we do lots of work around the country with Mon-Thu timeframes and we would like to stress the importance of a Thursday checkout before traveling back home. Today, we had an entire crew who failed to do their checkout update. Their response was that no one asked them to complete it.

For perspective, this is the third week of usage for this team, and last week we honestly didn't need an update because the construction manager for the client was on-site and didn't need a briefing, and work couldn't progress the way we intended.

Just getting going with CompanyCam and not sure how to use the Before & After feature?

Well, we've got you covered!

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This clip from back in Season 1 of the Good Contractor Podcast got me thinking about posing the question on the community…

What’s the funniest “rookie mistake” or “rookie confusion” you made or had when you were just starting out?

In the clip, Desmond Tse (The Siding Guy) shared how he thought he was getting paid per square foot at a certain rate (when it was by a square)

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...the walkthrough note onto the camera screen so you can capture the entire plan while you're on the job.

That way your crew and clients know everything that you know. Trust isn't just about you. Your clients need to trust your whole team. And your team needs to trust that you know what you're talking about.

Check out the full video

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Every contractor has that one client who made or continues to make every part of the job smooth and rewarding.

Whatever the reason as to why they were awesome, share your best “dream client” story: What made them so great to work with?

Was it about communication, trust, on-time payments, or something totally unexpected?

Let’s celebrate the awesome clients here!

Now we have a spot for you to talk about running a business, hiring and things entrepreneurs would love to discuss with one another https://community.companycam.com/forums/business-hiring.11/

We created a space to show off your Before & After work https://community.companycam.com/forums/show-your-work-before-after.9/

We'll drop CompanyCam Class Notes in the "Using CompanyCam" forum ... a spot to discuss tips, tricks and how best to USE CompanyCam https://community.companycam.com/forums/using-companycam.10/

Check out updates on the App Redesign: https://community.companycam.com/forums/app-redesign.6/

All things Good Contractor Podcast https://community.companycam.com/forums/the-good-contractor-podcast-room.12/

You can see the ENTIRE LIST OF ACTIVE FORUMS at any time, by going to the Forum List.

Thanks for joining us in the Community.

Have any questions about the features we covered today? Drop them below and we'll get them answered!

FYI, I'll add today's class recording and a copy of the Q&A shortly. While you wait for those, feel free to Introduce Yourself or check out any of the other threads.

I think Luke really wants you to join the beta...

Click the link below to join


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John Talman and Luke Hansen sit down with Colleen Keyworth, marketing director at Online-Access, international advocate, and past president of Women in HVACR. From getting fired at her family’s plumbing and heating business to becoming a global voice for contractors, Colleen shares her unexpected journey into sales, leadership, and advocacy. Whether you’re a contractor, business owner, or advocate for the industry, this conversation is packed with laughter, perspective, and actionable lessons.

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Hey everyone, Josh here—I’m the digital producer and editor for the Good Contractor Podcast. If you watch the podcast on YouTube, you may have noticed some of the obnoxious Photoshop visuals that pop up on screen while Luke and John are talking. As silly as they are, I take great pride in my “Bad” Photoshop slides.

For my first post on this community page, I thought it only right to give these beauties the attention they deserve—complete with little to no context!

Enjoy!

Love this line from @RavinBuilders ...

"Bring it."

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We want our app to help you and your customers BUILD TRUST

And we need your feedback to help us get there

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Not sure THAT is part of the app redesign

But what features should we add?

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Let's keep the conversation going! What questions do you still have about using our AI tools/AI features in CompanyCam?

A couple of questions/resources/stats from class to get us started:

• 49% of poll respondents are comfortable with AI assisting with estimates and financial docs.
  • How do you envision AI helping you with estimates and other docs?
    
• Have you used voice to complete a checklist?
  
  
• English/Spanish translations + Pages

Bonus: The class recording and Q&A will be added to this thread shortly. Stay tuned for the link!

Know what you think about the new app design

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We're baaaaaaack!



This week, Luke and John dive into one of the hottest topics shaping every industry today: artificial intelligence and specifically, AI as it relates to the trades.

From lighthearted jokes about AI “replacing” John to serious conversations about accountability, trust, and the real work that still needs human hands, Luke and John explore how AI is changing the trades. They discuss where AI is right now, what tools are already saving contractors time, and how CompanyCam is building AI features designed to give contractors more freedom to focus on what matters most—doing good work and serving their customers.

**Key Takeaways:**

- **AI as a Tool, Not a Threat:** AI can automate busywork like documentation, proposals, and communication, but responsibility and trust remain firmly human.

- **Time Back for What Matters:** The true value of AI is giving contractors more space for craftsmanship, leadership, and personal life.

- **Small Business Advantage:** For small contracting teams, AI and CompanyCam can function like an extra employee—handling marketing, communication, and project management.

- **Enterprise Oversight:** Larger companies benefit from AI’s ability to surface relevant data, enforce standards, and provide confidence across multiple locations.

- **Simplicity Wins:** The tools that succeed will be powerful yet simple enough for anyone—tech-savvy or not—to use effectively.

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Great stuff from @Audrey Ashburner

You already do great work — but if you’re not showing it online, potential clients may never see it.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Why a Contractor Portfolio Matters
3 Quick Steps to Build Yours
Tools That Make It Easy



Read the full post → How to Build a Contractor Portfolio in 3 Easy Steps

What’s been your biggest challenge in building a portfolio?

I would like to submit Basic Economics by Henry Haslit.

Contractors—what’s the one piece of advice you got when you were just starting out that turned out to be a game-changer?

We want to hear from you so others here n the community can benefit from what you’ve learned along the way.

Share your wisdom below so the next generation of contractors doesn’t have to learn everything the hard way.

We just launched a brand new spot on the community where you can show off your work — the dramatic transformations, the “we can’t believe it’s the same place” moments, and everything in between.

Check it out here: Show Your Work: Before & After

This is your place to:

• Post your own Before & After shots
• See what other contractors are doing across the country
• Swap tips and tricks on getting the best photos of those incredible transformations

Whether it’s roofing, remodels, landscaping, or anything else — we want to see it!


Who’s going to be the first to drop a killer transformation?