by Tess Helmandollar | Oct 21, 2026 | Founder Knowledge, Resources
Finding the Cattails in Your Own Business If you haven’t caught up on part 1 yet, start here. When I was a little girl in Kentucky, I thought cattails looked like hot dogs growing on sticks. They stood along every ditch and pond, and I never gave them much thought...
by Tess Helmandollar | Oct 21, 2026 | Founder Knowledge, Resources
Why developing skilled workers is getting harder, and what contractors can do about it A contractor told me not long ago that he had a full payroll, but hardly anyone who could run a job without him breathing down their neck. “All I’ve got is helpers,” he said,...
by Tess Helmandollar | Aug 24, 2026 | Founder Knowledge
It’s a hard question to ask yourself, but the honest answer is probably yes. Your business likely has some value without you. I know, that seems harsh. Most business owners prefer to deal in absolutes. I get it; I’d love an absolute. Unfortunately, the only one I’m...
by Tess Helmandollar | Aug 24, 2026 | Business Systems, Founder Knowledge
I won’t lie. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have considered myself a bottleneck. I thought I was being a good steward of my business. I believed I was serving my team when I stepped in to handle tasks that should have been theirs, because founder dependency...
by Tess Helmandollar | Jul 6, 2026 | Founder Knowledge
Teaching the Next Generation of Trade Professionals Knowledge transfer is a leadership responsibility The next generation of trade professionals needs more than technical instruction. They need judgment, standards, communication skills, and pride in the work. Those...