Q & A Episode 57 - Losers Are Winners Part 6: The Cost of Hiring the Wrong Person with Adam Copenhaver
Hiring mistakes, financial setbacks, and communication misfires—yep, Adam’s got the receipts. In this candid conversation. Mark talks with Adam Copenhaver of CopeGrand Homes about hiring wins, hiring woes, and what happens when your culture isn’t strong enough to catch a bad fit. From cultural index tests to writing painful checks, Adam opens up about what it takes to build a resilient team—and how building with your twin brother might just be the ultimate hack.
Q & A Episode 56 - Culture, Failure, and Finding Your Why: The Top Quotes That Transformed My Business
In this episode, Mark gets real about the ups and downs of running a business, parenting, and life in general. He shares some of his go-to quotes, talks about why having a solid company culture matters way more than any fancy strategy, and opens up about learning from failure (and why you shouldn’t stress about being perfect). It's an insightful and down-to-earth episode packed with practical advice and a healthy dose of encouragement for anyone leading a team or building a business.
Q & A Episode 55 - Quotes to Lead By: Building Better Businesses and Lives, One Insight at a Time
In this episode, Mark Williams gets real about his go-to quotes and how they’ve helped him run a better business (and just live better, too). He talks about tackling problems together, not letting perfection trip you up, and why jumping in and taking action really matters. With plenty of relatable stories, Mark offers friendly advice for building better businesses—and lives—one small improvement at a time.
Q & A Episode 54 - Losers Are Winners Part 5: How a Million Dollar Home Almost Ruined Me & What I Learned From It
In this Q&A, Mark gets candid about a major setback during the 2008 recession, sharing how a failed spec home taught him some hard life and business lessons. Thanks to some wise words from his dad, he learned not to fear failure and how bouncing back can set you up for even bigger wins down the road. It’s a real and relatable listen for anyone dealing with ups and downs in their career!
Q & A Episode 53 - Losers Are Winners Part 4: Boundaries, Burnout, & Big Decisions with Nathan Marsala
Ever bitten off more than you could build? Nathan Marsala has. In this candid convo, Mark and Nathan unpack the cost of chasing the wrong projects, the lessons hidden in late-night site visits, and how Nathan’s dashboard (and daughter) helped him recalibrate. It’s one of those real, raw chats that hits hard—especially if you’re building a business and a family at the same time.
Q & A Episode 52 - Losers Are Winners Part 3: Finding Success Through Setbacks with Caleb MacDonald
Lets turn some big loses into some big wins. In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark and Caleb MacDonald swap stories about their early business blunders—from failed snowboard sales to endless house cleaning gigs—and how those moments shaped them into better builders. Caleb gets real about learning from those flops, staying patient, and why having solid contracts (and good people around you) makes all the difference.
Q & A Episode 51 - Losers Are Winners Part 2: When to Walk Away & Trust Your Gut with Allyson Case
Sometimes “just get through it” is the worst advice ever. In this Losers Are Winners episode, Mark sits down with Allyson Case of Integro Builders to unpack what happens when you ignore your gut, protect the wrong people, and stick with a project that should’ve ended ages ago. From bad architects to bad breakups (and the clients caught in the middle), it’s a brutally honest peek at how one of Chicago’s top builders learned when to call it — and why consistency is kinder than favors.
Q & A Episode 50 - Losers Are Winners Part 1: Hiring, Firing & Keeping the Right People with Katie Kath
Welcome to Fail Club, where losers really are winners—eventually. Mark kicks off this new series with designer and builder Katie Kath to swap war stories about team culture fails, the cost of ignoring your gut, and the power of doing the scary stuff anyway. It’s unfiltered, funny, and surprisingly motivating for any builder, remodeler, or business owner who’s learned the hard way that perfection is a myth—and sometimes, a lawsuit is just tuition for the next level.
Q & A Episode 49 - “Happy Trails and Dr. Death” What Happens If Your Builder Dies?
What happens to your business if you die tomorrow? In true Curious Builder fashion, Mark D. Williams turns a grim question into an insightful, funny, and oddly empowering Q&A episode. From picking a successor to gifting handyman budgets to clients, Mark outlines his personal 10-step plan to protect his team, his clients—and yes, even posthumously prank his followers. It’s morbid. It’s useful. It’s very on-brand.
Q & A Episode 48 - From Scroll to Sale: Building a Smarter Funnel
What’s the point of a beautiful website or an aesthetic Instagram if no one takes the next step? In this episode, Mark and Alyssa explore the full sales funnel—from awareness to action—and how blogging, Pinterest, and email marketing each play a role. Plus: the hourglass sales strategy you didn’t know you needed.
Q & A Episode 47 - Part 2: Profits, Purpose & Positive Tornadoes: A Q&A with Mark
Mark’s back with a quote-fueled episode series that covers everything from why your best clients are often the most profitable, to how slow seasons can set the stage for big growth. Plus, he explores how overachievers thrive, why goals matter, and what business builders can learn from training for a race.
Q & A Episode 46 - “Dad, Why Do You Build Houses?” A Father’s Day Q&A with Mark & May Williams
What happens when your nine-year-old becomes the podcast host? In this special Father’s Day Q&A, Mark’s daughter May takes the mic to ask the big questions about business, building, and freedom. It’s sweet, insightful, and unexpectedly hilarious—from chucking lumber out windows as a kid to explaining why relationships matter in custom home building. A fun, heart-forward listen for curious entrepreneurs and parents alike.
Q & A Episode 45 - Part 1: Profits, Purpose & Positive Tornadoes: A Q&A with Mark
Mark’s back with a quote-fueled episode series that covers everything from why your best clients are often the most profitable, to how slow seasons can set the stage for big growth. Plus, he explores how overachievers thrive, why goals matter, and what business builders can learn from training for a race.
Q & A Episode 44 - Crafting Homes with Intention, Not Just Tools
This week, Mark gets reflective—sharing the quotes that have stuck with him through 21 years in construction. He talks client psychology, setting realistic expectations, working as a team, and why square footage isn’t nearly as important as how a home feels. A great listen for builders, designers, and anyone who’s ever tried to get a vision off the ground.
Q & A Episode 43 - Kettlebells, Campfires & Canyons: The Zion Retreat Recap
In this special Q&A episode, Mark recaps the inaugural Curious Builder Bootcamp held in Zion National Park. From early morning journaling and kettlebell workouts to canyon rappelling and Jeffersonian-style campfire chats, hear how 12 builders unplugged from daily life to reconnect with themselves and each other. It wasn’t just a retreat—it was a reset.
Q & A Episode 42 - Preconstruction Power: Preventing Chaos Before You Break Ground
Change orders can make or break a build—but they don’t have to break your business. In this episode, Mark welcomes back Brad Robinson and Allyson Case Anderson to unpack the art and science of change order management, from the preconstruction stage to the final walk-through.
Q & A Episode 41 - The Power of Blogging: Educate, Elevate & Build Trust
Blogging is so much more than just writing — it’s a tool for education, SEO, branding, and real connection. In this Q&A episode, Mark sits down with Alyssa Abbott of Olive & Vine to explore the power of blogging for builders, designers, and home brands. They unpack how a single blog can answer client questions, attract organic traffic, and showcase the values behind your brand. From writing strategies and SEO nerd-outs to real client stories and AI tools, this episode is packed with honest insights on how to make blogging actually work for your business — without adding another thing to your already full plate.
Whether you're a seasoned builder or just starting to think about your marketing strategy, you'll walk away with simple ways to use content that converts curious browsers into loyal clients.
Q & A Episode 40 - Designing Joy: How Space Transforms Lives
In this special Q&A episode, Mark D. Williams sits down with Mark Ostrom, founder of Joy Collaborative, to discuss their upcoming “Pairings” fundraising event on May 29. They explore how design and construction professionals can make a tangible, local impact for families with life-limiting disabilities—one room, one child, one story at a time. Hear about the Joymobile, Jaden’s inspiring transformation, and how you can be part of something that truly matters.
Q & A Episode 39 - What I Learned at Buildertrend University (And Why You Should Go Too)
Curious about Buildertrend University? Mark shares why he took his entire team to Omaha for hands-on training, how they went from a 17/100 health score to a strategy for real improvement, and what it means to truly implement instead of just attend. From AI tools to better templates, this one’s for builders looking to scale smarter.
Q & A Episode 38 - Pricing Pitfalls: How to Guide Clients Through the Toughest Part of a Build
Great builds start with great communication. In this candid solo episode, Mark shares his approach to managing expectations during the design and pricing phase—including how to spot red flags, ask smarter questions, and protect both your client and your business. A must-listen for builders who want to lead with clarity and confidence.