#736 – The Hard Truth: Surviving the Construction Slowdown with Brayden Harkness & Chris Wren

In this brutally honest episode of The Construction Life Podcast, Brayden Harkness of Sandman Construction (Show #637) and Chris Wren of Wren Contracting (Show #649) return to the studio to discuss the harsh realities of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025—and why they’re worried about the future of construction.
We tackle:
🔹 The financial storm hitting the trades—why younger contractors are feeling the squeeze harder than ever.
🔹 Letting go of ego in tough times—adjusting to a market where rates have dropped, but bills haven’t.
🔹 What it’s like going from making great money to just scraping by—and how to mentally push through.
🔹 Why this isn’t the end—it’s a reset—how younger trades can adapt, survive, and eventually thrive.
🔹 Finding opportunity in the struggle—lessons learned from previous downturns and strategies for weathering the storm.
The construction industry is cyclical, and this downturn is testing the resilience of tradespeople everywhere. But Brayden and Chris aren’t giving up, and neither should you.
🎧 Tune in for real talk, hard truths, and some much-needed motivation for tradespeople trying to survive in today’s construction economy.
📸 Follow Chris on IG: @wren_contracting
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 705-985-9736
📸 Follow Brayden on IG: @sandman_construction
🌐 Website: www.sandcon.ca
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 705-333-5881
Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-construction-life/id1480122326?i=1000699961639
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/72AwM0h62q98bK0pOIAhUf?si=d83273ff650448d5
YouTube
https://youtu.be/DkI3F2VnA7A?si=FIVGWJhv7NKwYSIX
#TheConstructionLife #ConstructionCrisis #TradesInToughTimes #FinancialSurvival #EgoInConstruction #BuildThroughTheStorm 🔨🏗️📉
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At Trade Links Consulting, we’re passionate about helping you find the right trade, build your business, and mentor the next generation. Whether you're exploring your options or ready to take the plunge, we offer tailored career consulting and startup guidance to get you on the right track. Visit www.tradelinksconsulting.ca today and book your personalized strategy session. Your future in the skilled trades starts here!