Hard Work, Character & No Excuses — The Exceptional Carpentry Story
This week, we sit down with Lincoln Phelps, owner of Exceptional Carpentry in Edmonton, Alberta — a one-man powerhouse pulling in numbers most crews can’t match. Lincoln shares his raw perspective on the trades: why integrity and urgency are everything, how he built a thriving construction business during COVID, and why excuses about “the economy” are just noise.
He dives into topics most contractors avoid — pricing confidence, client respect, and how efficiency and character directly drive income. This one’s packed with real-world lessons every tradesperson should hear.
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⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & a client email that says it all
01:30 – Meet Lincoln: from production carpenter to business owner
05:40 – How the economy doesn’t define your success
07:40 – Integrity, urgency, and the character gap in the trades
10:40 – Why systems and efficiency separate winners from complainers
16:30 – Pricing, profit margins, and saying “no” to bad deals
25:40 – Creating your own economy (and your reputation)
28:20 – How Lincoln uses Jobtable to simplify and save time
33:40 – Standing firm on pricing and client respect
47:00 – Marketing without ads — word of mouth and Instagram strategy
55:00 – Real talk on collaboration, competition, and authenticity
1:03:00 – Family, homeschooling, and raising kids with discipline
1:17:40 – Final advice: character determines your value
00:00 – Intro & a client email that says it all
01:30 – Meet Lincoln: from production carpenter to business owner
05:40 – How the economy doesn’t define your success
07:40 – Integrity, urgency, and the character gap in the trades
10:40 – Why systems and efficiency separate winners from complainers
16:30 – Pricing, profit margins, and saying “no” to bad deals
25:40 – Creating your own economy (and your reputation)
28:20 – How Lincoln uses Jobtable to simplify and save time
33:40 – Standing firm on pricing and client respect
47:00 – Marketing without ads — word of mouth and Instagram strategy
55:00 – Real talk on collaboration, competition, and authenticity
1:03:00 – Family, homeschooling, and raising kids with discipline
1:17:40 – Final advice: character determines your value
