I believe there have been three moments in history that fundamentally changed how people work, build, and create wealth.
The first was the printing press.
The second was the internet.
The third is happening right now: artificial intelligence.
Every major technological shift follows the same pattern. At first it's dismissed. People say it's too expensive, too complicated, or just another passing trend. Then, almost overnight, it becomes impossible to imagine life without it.
The printing press gave people access to knowledge.
The internet connected the world.
AI gives every business owner access to expertise, systems, and productivity that were once only available to companies with massive budgets.
That's why I believe AI isn't just another software trend. It's a fundamental shift in how businesses will operate.
And construction is no exception.
Every Revolution Starts With Skepticism
When the printing press arrived, very few people saw its potential. Books were expensive, literacy was rare, and most assumed it would only matter to scholars.
Centuries later, the internet followed a similar path. Businesses questioned whether they even needed websites. Email seemed unnecessary. Learning the technology required time, money, and patience.
Today, those decisions seem obvious.
AI feels remarkably similar. But one thing is different.
It's moving exponentially faster.
Unlike previous technological shifts, AI teaches you as you use it. If you don't know something, you simply ask. You don't need to spend weeks researching, pay thousands for a course, or wait for someone else to show you.
The barrier to learning has almost disappeared.
I've heard entrepreneurs like Dan Martell describe AI as the next great technological leap, and I couldn't agree more. Every major innovation is underestimated in its early days. AI is following that exact pattern, only at a pace we've never experienced before.
Over the next few years, the companies that embrace AI will create an advantage that's incredibly difficult to catch.
Why Construction Needs AI More Than Most Industries
After spending 25 years building and scaling companies in the construction industry, I've learned one thing. Construction isn't held back by a lack of hard work. It's held back by complexity.
Every project involves estimates, takeoffs, schedules, change orders, purchase orders, suppliers, inspections, invoices, safety documentation, client communication, and hundreds of emails.
As companies grow, most owners solve the problem the same way. They hire more people. More coordinators. More administrators. More project support. More overhead.
Eventually, every dollar of new revenue requires another salary just to keep the machine running.
AI changes that equation by increasing the capacity of the people you already have.
A Problem I Watched Every Day
At the last company I built, one of our senior project managers received roughly 75 emails every single day.
She faced the same impossible choice every morning. Manage the inbox or manage the projects.
The problem wasn't the person. The problem was the system.
Today, AI can organize those emails, identify priorities, draft responses, summarize conversations, and surface the items that actually require human attention. Instead of drowning in administration, people can focus on the work that moves projects forward.
Where AI Is Already Making Construction Companies Better
AI can help subcontractors:
- Generate and qualify leads.
- Answer and route phone calls.
- Organize inboxes and draft responses.
- Build SOPs and documentation.
- Create project updates.
- Standardize onboarding.
- Automate repetitive administrative work.
That's exactly why I built the Mint AI Estimation Engine. AI dramatically reduces estimating time while improving consistency and accuracy. It's not about replacing estimators. It's about allowing great estimators to accomplish far more.
The Companies Moving First Will Build the Biggest Advantage
The best companies in construction aren't waiting to see whether AI works.
They're already implementing it.
Every week they automate another process. Every month they improve another workflow.
I understand the hesitation because I had it too. A year ago, I was skeptical. Then I started using AI and realized it wasn't another productivity tool. It was a completely different way of operating a business.
Why I'm Going All In
At this stage of my career, my mission is simple. Help subcontractors build companies they're genuinely proud of.
Companies with healthy margins. Strong cultures. Clear systems.
I believe AI is one of the biggest opportunities our industry has ever seen, not because it replaces people, but because it removes unnecessary work and multiplies what your team is capable of.
Imagine growing from $1M to $10M without needing ten times the office staff. Imagine growing from $10M to $20M without building an entirely new support department.
Final Thoughts
The future isn't coming.
It's already here.
Every construction company will eventually decide how AI fits into its business.
The only real question is whether you'll lead that change, or spend the next few years trying to catch the companies that already did.
After 25 years in this industry, I believe this is one of the biggest opportunities subcontractors have ever had.
And that's exactly why I'm all in.
Ready to start?
Whether you're simply exploring AI or you're ready to begin implementing it in your business, my goal is to help make the process practical, not overwhelming. Over the coming months, I'll be sharing real world examples, proven workflows, and practical tools I've learned while building AI systems specifically for construction companies. If you're ready to build a smarter, more efficient business, I'd love to help. The companies that begin today won't just save time, they'll build an advantage that compounds for years to come.