- The Path Less Traveled
- Topics
- People & Talent
#22 Build vs. Buy: A Framework for Thinking About AI
This issue covers the build vs. buy decision in AI — a framework from venture investor Mike Volpi that cuts through the noise: only build if it creates a real competitive advantage, buy everything else, and never confuse a prototype with a production-ready tool. We also go deep on the service wrapper — the six-step system around the technical work that our customers actually write reviews about.
#21 Your company's budget is lying to itself
This issue covers the discipline of honest budgeting, why overhead commitments deserve more scrutiny than most operators give them, and how smart technology configuration is turning lost calls into booked jobs. We also look at what PE-backed competitors figured out about financing long before most independents did, and why Pantheon 2026 belongs on your calendar. The through-line across all of it: the gap between good operators and great ones is usually found in the details they choose not to ignore.
#18 The $10M Growth Trap Most Contractors Fall Into
In this week’s issue of The Path Less Traveled, we explore two patterns I’ve seen repeatedly in the trades. First, why the best service companies aren’t flashy—they simply execute the fundamentals better than everyone else. Second, why many contractors stall at $5–10M in revenue, and what separates the businesses that break through from the ones that plateau.
#9 Profit vs Purpose. You Don't Have to Compromise.
Profitability and purpose aren’t opposing forces—they’re mutually reinforcing. In this edition, I share why strong financial results are what enable us to invest in our people, pursue growth, and stay independent. Purpose without profit is fragile—but when the two work together, that’s when a company becomes unstoppable.
