From World Cup Snowboarder to High-Performing Team Leader

Ian Price is defined by high performance. He started as a professional snowboarder, bringing home multiple World Cup Medals.

The expectations that propelled him to win have allowed him to attract his current team. As a group of high performers, all of them, including Ian, are subject to a high level of accountability.

As a result of his systems implementation, Ian is now able to come home a lot earlier to spend more time with his wife and young daughter.

The Reality of Growing a Construction Business (That No One Talks About)

When Ian Price started Forest Street Builders, on paper, things were working.

He was doing close to $1M in annual revenue… by himself.

But behind the scenes, it looked very different:

• 12–14 hour days
• Working weekends
• Managing every detail across multiple projects
• Trying to be present as a new father

“I was extremely tired… working 12, 14 hours a day… because I knew what I wanted. I just didn’t know how to do it.” 

This is where many builders get stuck.

The business is growing - but so is the pressure.

From Snowboarder to Builder: A Non-Linear Path to Construction

Ian didn’t take a traditional path into construction.

He started building as a kid - treehouses, cabins, and anything he could figure out. He then spent nearly a decade as a professional snowboarder before returning to construction full-time.

That hands-on mindset helped him get started quickly.

But running a business? That was a different challenge entirely.

The Trap: Trying to Do Everything Yourself

Early on, Ian fell into the same pattern most contractors do:

• Taking on more work to grow revenue
• Solving problems by working harder
• Avoiding delegation because it felt faster to “just do it”

The result?

More work → more stress → more complexity → less control.

Until something changes, that cycle doesn’t break.

The Shift: From Operator to Business Owner

The turning point wasn’t a tactic, it was a mindset shift.

Ian stopped asking how he could get more done and started asking how he could build a business that doesn’t rely on him for everything.

“The entrepreneurial journey really starts when you realize there’s a better way… to make your projects more successful as well as your life more enjoyable.”

That shift opened the door to systems, structure, and scale.

What Actually Drove Growth (It Wasn’t Just More Work)

1. Building a Team That Multiplies Output

Hiring wasn’t just about adding bodies, but about upgrading capability.

Ian moved from reactive hiring to a structured process:

• Clear job descriptions
• Intentional interview questions
• Focus on high-caliber talent

He started looking for people that are smarter than him, so his company could get to that next level.

What changed:

• Work that used to take a month now happens in days
• Better decisions at every level
• Less dependency on the owner

‍

2. Turning Financial Chaos into Clarity

Before implementing systems, Ian had almost no visibility into his numbers.

After implementing structured financial tracking:

• Every job could be analyzed
• Profitability became measurable
• Decisions became data-driven

This wasn’t just about spreadsheets. It was about control.

3. Learning to Delegate (Properly)

The biggest unlock wasn’t hiring. It was trusting and empowering people.

Instead of doing everything himself, Ian began:

• Assigning ownership
• Creating clear expectations
• Letting others execute

That’s the moment a business becomes scalable.

‍

Ian's Take On Breakthrough Academy

What This Means for Builders Trying to Scale

If you’re in the trenches right now, Ian’s story should hit close to home.

Here’s the reality:

You don’t have a workload problem - you have a systems problem

Working harder only scales chaos.

You don’t need more jobs - you need better structure

Growth without systems creates a limit.

You don’t need to do everything - you need the right people

Your ceiling is your team.

What Becomes Possible When You Get It Right

Ian is now building toward:

• $10M+ in revenue
• A recognized brand in Denver’s luxury market
• A business that runs beyond him

And more importantly, he’s enjoying the process.

“You can either keep going until it explodes… or get help and actually enjoy building your company.”

The Bottom Line

Forest Street Builders didn’t scale because Ian worked harder.

It scaled because he:

• Changed how he thought
• Built systems that worked
• Surrounded himself with the right people

That’s the difference between a business that depends on you and one that grows beyond you.

Want to Build a Business Like This?

If you’re stuck in the grind and want to scale without burning out, there’s a better way.

Book a strategy call to see how Breakthrough Academy can help you build a business that works.

‍