Lauren Bourland
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Logic vs Emotion and Data vs Feeling in Millwork and Woodworking with Lauren Bourland
Running a construction company is demanding. You manage crews. You handle clients. You solve problems every day.
But here’s the real question:
Are you running your business on facts… or on feelings?
In this episode of the Cabinet Maker Profit System Show, Dominic Rubino interviews Lauren Bourland of Custom Source Woodworking and board member of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI). Their conversation centers on one powerful idea:
Logic beats emotion in business.
The Cost of Doing Business Isn’t a Guess
Many contractors price jobs based on experience or instinct. But instinct doesn’t account for:
- True labor burden
- Overhead costs
- Equipment expenses
- Administrative load
- Target net profit
That’s where the AWI Cost of Doing Business Survey becomes powerful. It gives real data from real firms so you can compare your numbers against industry benchmarks.
When you know the numbers, you stop guessing.
What High-Performing Firms Actually Earn
In the episode, Dominic references a contractor hitting 17.1% net profit — and still pushing for more.
Why?
Because high-performing firms often target 20–22% net profit.
If your goal is simply “to be busy,” you’ll stay average.
If your goal is to be high-performing, you need measurable targets.
That shift changes everything.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
One of the most practical insights from the conversation is the value of industry associations.
Groups like:
- Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI)
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
- Associated General Contractors (AGC)
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
These organizations provide benchmarking, peer connection, and education. Too many contractors try to figure everything out by themselves.
There’s no need to stay on an island.
The Big Takeaway for Contractors
If you feel:
- Overworked
- Underpaid
- Frustrated with margins
- Unsure where the money goes
The solution isn’t working harder.
The solution is knowing your numbers.
Data removes emotion.
Benchmarks create clarity.
Clear targets drive profit.
That’s how you build a business that supports your family and your future.
🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear the complete conversation.
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