In this episode of The Deconstruction Podcast, we sit down with Ben Bruce, owner of Highland Electric in Winnipeg. Ben shares how he built a lean, efficient electrical business by focusing on systems, contracts, and craftsmanship — not chaos.
The Jobtable founders and Ben dive deep into the realities of running a construction business today — from learning to think like a business owner, to protecting yourself with solid contracts, to navigating the future of trades in an AI-driven world.
They also tackle the big questions contractors rarely discuss: when to implement processes, how to get paid faster, and why craftsmanship still matters in a world of automation.
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⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro + Contractor Review from Nick
01:00 – Meet Ben Bruce from Highland Electric
04:00 – Why Systems and Feedback Matter
07:00 – The Breaking Point: From Tools to Business
13:00 – Growing Beyond “a Guy in a Truck”
18:00 – The Cost of Inefficiency and Lost Quotes
25:00 – How Jobtable Changed Highland’s Workflow
29:00 – The Truth About Contracts, Change Orders, and Getting Paid
46:00 – What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Pay
52:00 – Associations, Advocacy, and Learning from Other Contractors
58:00 – The Future of Trades: AI, Modular Homes, and Craftsmanship
01:26:00 – Ben’s Billboard Message: Believe You Can