Al Leffelman
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Al Leffelman had his first job at age 10, working for a farmer, where he began to learn hard work, personal responsibility, and working for what you want. With aspirations in high school of owning a lawn care business one day, he knew that small business was in his future. He graduated from tech college, was hired for his first real job, and quickly learned that being an employee was not for him. Questioning policies and struggling to conform to employment while the bosses made the decisions, he decided to try working for himself.
And so, in 2000, his small business journey began. Landscaping with a Ford Ranger and an undersized trailer, Al started meeting customers, pricing jobs, and learning how business finance worked. He started building a family in 2002 with his wife, Kari, and eventually had four kids.
Now, over 25 years later, Al has learned a million life and business lessons and continues to look for a better way. This is his purpose-driven life: to use the skills and talents that God has provided to raise up the industry, give customers an experience to remember, help other contractors improve, and provide projects that last a lifetime.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
- How pricing for profitability creates long-term business success instead of staying busy.
- Why delivering quality over cutting corners builds trust, reputation, and lasting customer relationships.
- How continuous learning, adaptation, and resilience help small businesses thrive through change.
- That adversity often creates opportunities for innovation, growth, and unexpected business breakthroughs.
- How strong systems, training, and accountability shape high-performing teams and better outcomes.
- Why sharing success with your team strengthens culture, morale, and long-term performance.
- That leadership begins with personal responsibility and a willingness to look inward first.
- How educating customers builds confidence, demonstrates value, and justifies premium pricing.
- Why honoring commitments and following through consistently remains a foundation of business success.
- That purpose-driven leadership can elevate an industry while creating meaningful impact for others.
about the show
Behind every construction site, repair shop, factory floor, and local business is an entrepreneur who built something real.
"America's Best Builders" is a cinematic business docuseries that shines a spotlight on the blue-collar founders and operators powering the real economy. These are the contractors, tradespeople, manufacturers, and business owners who built their companies through hard work, leadership, and relentless execution.
Each episode takes viewers inside the journey of a successful operator, revealing how they turned skills, grit, and determination into thriving businesses that employ teams, serve communities, and stand the test of time.
From construction firms and trucking companies to repair shops, manufacturing facilities, and service businesses, "America's Best Builders" celebrates the entrepreneurs who rolled up their sleeves, took the risks, and built something that lasts.
This is about the men and women who built real businesses, brick by brick, crew by crew, job by job.
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