Why Contractors Get Stuck in Hustle Mode — Liz Chism on The Future Factory Podcast
Addicted to Hustle? Liz Chism Reveals How Contractors Break Free
(Liz Chism on The Future Factory Podcast episode #232 with Anthony Amunategui)
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re working 80–100 hours a week and still feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water, you’re not alone. That exact pattern is what I unpacked on my recent interview with The Future Factory Podcast—and it’s one of the biggest traps contractors fall into as they try to grow their business.
In this episode, we went deep into the real problem behind burnout in the trades:
👉 your business is running you… instead of supporting your life.
From the myth of “no one can do it as well as I can,” to why SOPs don’t work without structure, to the mindset shift required to go from operator to owner, this conversation is packed with transformational takeaways for contractors who want to scale without adding more chaos.
What We Covered on the Show
Here are a few of the highlights:
1. Why working 100+ hours isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a bottleneck
I shared my own story of burnout, running a multimillion-dollar brewery, and realizing that hard work alone doesn’t build a scalable business.
2. The real reason SOPs fail
Most contractors think SOPs are the answer, but an SOP without structure is like “putting a stove in a house with no foundation.” We talked about the three things every SOP must include to actually work: a trigger, a clear process, and a defined output.
3. Accountability that doesn’t require micromanaging
We dug into the difference between holding people accountable (owner-driven, exhausting) and helping employees BE accountable (team-driven, scalable).
4. The biggest mindset shift contractors must make to grow
Humility. Letting go of the belief that you’re the only one who can do things “the right way.” The moment owners stop stepping on their team’s “air hoses,” businesses grow—and lives change.
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5. How to find your next most immediate constraint
Instead of trying to fix everything at once, I shared how contractors can identify and remove one bottleneck at a time—creating outsized results and freeing up hours each week.
6. Why people—not just systems—will determine your long-term success
We talked about culture, ownership, and why a people-focused business will always outlast any tech or trend.
If you're a contractor feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or overworked… this episode is your blueprint.
You’ll walk away with practical tools to step back from the day-to-day, empower your team, and start operating like the CEO your business actually needs.
Ready to build a business that runs without you?
If this episode hits home and you're tired of white-knuckling your business, your next step is simple:
👉 Book a free Gameplan Call and I’ll help you identify the #1 constraint holding your business back—and the system that will fix it.
And if you want to dive deeper with a community of growth-minded contractors who are scaling the right way…
👉 Join us inside the Contractor’s Roundtable Mastermind, where we implement the systems, structure, and accountability your business has been missing.
