From Tools to Systems, Contracts, and AI: Lessons from Highland Electric

The Deconstruction Podcast

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