How to Grow Without Burning Out: Lessons from Dylan McCabe
Guest: Dylan McCabe, Founder of Limitless Roofing Group
Host: Jim Ahlin, Roofing Success Podcast
Listen to the Episode: https://roofingsuccesspodcast.com/podcast/one-thing-sabotaging-roofing-business-growth-248/
🤖 Have a question? Ask this customized ChatGPT for the answer! Specifically designed for this episode, it’s here to help! https://roofingpod.com/chatgpt-248
Episode Summary
What if your business struggles weren’t caused by market conditions or competition — but by burnout, isolation, and unclear boundaries? In this episode, Dylan McCabe, founder of Limitless Roofing Group and a passionate advocate for contractor masterminds, unpacks the hidden roadblocks holding roofing contractors back from building sustainable, high-performing businesses.
Dylan’s unique journey from healthcare to roofing has given him a fresh perspective on leadership, community, and personal balance. He shares how his love of collaboration led to launching peer groups for roofing CEOs — and eventually a game-changing Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that partners with major distributors like SRS.
But the heart of this episode isn’t just business strategy. It’s about building a life and company that doesn’t burn you out. Dylan’s framework for growth touches on several of the “Seven Ps”: Purpose, People, Product, Profit, and Persuasion — all rooted in real-world leadership lessons.
You’re the Limit, Not the Market
Dylan makes a bold claim that resonates with many entrepreneurs: your business can only grow to the extent that you grow.
“The challenge isn’t really how to grow a company. The challenge is facing the limits in my own skills, personality, and ability to manage stress.”
For Dylan, the hardest part of entrepreneurship hasn’t been operations or marketing — it’s been managing the internal battles of burnout, overcommitment, and self-doubt. The solution? Boundaries, mentorship, and mastermind-level peer support.
From Masterminds to a Movement: Launching a Roofing GPO
Dylan’s entrepreneurial pivot started with a simple question: “Where are the GPOs in roofing?”
After realizing that many roofing contractors were unfamiliar with group purchasing organizations, Dylan leveraged the trust he’d built in his mastermind groups to explore the idea. One relationship led to another, and soon, with the support of a roofing supplier founder and SRS Distribution’s CEO, Dylan was pitching a brand-new buying group — and the Limitless Roofing GPO was born.
“We were stuck. How do you start a GPO if you don’t have a group — and how do you get a group without deals? But the right relationship changed everything.”
This is a powerful lesson in Purpose and People: aligned vision and trusted relationships create exponential leverage.
Why You Shouldn’t Climb “Everest” Alone
Running a business in isolation is one of the biggest threats to a roofing contractor’s long-term success. Dylan likens it to climbing Mount Everest without a team.
“In real life, no one climbs Everest alone. Not one person has done it solo and lived. Why would you try to climb the mountain of business alone?”
Peer groups, mentors, and industry events offer something you can’t get from Google: perspective. Sharing challenges, systems, and ideas helps contractors break through bottlenecks faster — and avoid catastrophic mistakes.
Sales Models, Culture, and Custom Fit: You Do You (But Smarter)
Inside his mastermind groups, Dylan sees a recurring pattern: successful contractors model winning systems — but tailor them to their own culture.
One member runs a unique inside/outside sales model where inspectors are paid a flat fee and closers handle the sales. Another relies on traditional outside reps. Both work — because they’re aligned with each company’s team and vision.
The takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all model. But there are blueprints worth adapting.
“You can mimic 80%, but you’ve got to make it your own.”
This speaks to the “Product” and “People” dimensions of business building — crafting roles and systems that match your strengths.
Set Boundaries or Burn Out
Dylan shares a deeply personal story about managing burnout while running student housing and attending seminary full-time. The solution? Set strict office hours, communicate them clearly, and stick to them — even when people push back.
That lesson has shaped how he runs business today.
“When I’m home, my phone goes face down on the counter, my watch goes off, and I’m fully present. Nothing’s more important than being a dad and husband.”
He challenges roofing contractors to evaluate their balance across four key areas:
- Faith
- Family
- Fitness
- Finances
Success in business is meaningless if it costs you your health, marriage, or identity. His recommendation? Start with one habit in each area and build from there.
Don’t Build a Business Around You
One of Dylan’s strongest operational takeaways is simple: if your business relies on you for everything, it’s a liability.
“You need systems and people so the business can run without you. If you can’t take two weeks off, it’s a ‘you-centric’ business — and that’s dangerous.”
He advises roofing contractors to hire a strong operator early — someone who can take on leadership responsibilities and help remove you from daily fires.
Hire Smart, Not Fast
Most roofing owners are great at sales — and that can backfire during hiring. Dylan warns against “selling” candidates on roles they’re not fit for. Instead, he recommends tools like Culture Index to align personality profiles with job needs — and to build a pipeline of future leaders.
Pair that with a proper onboarding and training program — not just “ride-along” training — and you’ll dramatically increase team performance.
Don’t Chase an A in Business and Fail Your Life
Dylan closes with a profound story from seminary: a professor told students that it would be a “sin” to earn an A in class if it came at the cost of their marriage or family. That lesson stuck.
“You can’t afford to fail in your relationships. You can always grow a business — but you can’t buy back time with your kids.”
By reframing success as multi-dimensional, Dylan challenges roofing contractors to build a business that fuels life — not consumes it.
FAQs: Roofing Business Takeaways from This Episode
Topic: Growth-Expansion
Q: How can I grow my roofing business without burning out?
A: Build clear boundaries around your time, especially between work and family. Use systems, routines, and delegation to create margin — and join a peer group to avoid isolation.
Topic: People
Q: When should I hire an operator or business manager?
A: As early as possible. If you can’t step away from the business for two weeks without chaos, it’s time to bring in an operator who can lead daily execution.
Topic: Operations-Management
Q: How do I know if my business is too reliant on me?
A: If your absence would stall projects, frustrate customers, or halt decisions — it’s a “you-centric” business. Start creating systems and delegating now.
Topic: Customer-Service
Q: What makes customer experience a competitive advantage in roofing?
A: Personalized, consistent communication and fast response times. Companies that create memorable experiences grow through referrals — not just ads.
Topic: Education-Training
Q: How can I improve my training program for new hires?
A: Go beyond job shadowing. Build clear SOPs, video walkthroughs, and roleplay scenarios — even using AI — to ensure new hires succeed long-term.
Topic: People
Q: How can I use tools like Culture Index in hiring?
A: Culture Index helps you assess whether a candidate’s personality fits the role (sales, ops, etc.) before wasting time or onboarding the wrong person.
Topic: Faith/Family
Q: How do I set healthy boundaries with my phone or work calls?
A: Create work hours and communicate them. Turn off devices during family time. Over time, others will respect your boundaries — and so will you.
Topic: Fitness
Q: Why does fitness matter if I’m building a company?
A: Physical health impacts your energy, decision-making, and longevity. Even two consistent workouts per week can make a big difference.
Topic: Finance-Accounting
Q: What’s the first step to reducing business stress financially?
A: Know your numbers weekly — not just monthly. Understand cash flow, margins, and job profitability to avoid surprises and make better decisions.
Topic: Niche Services
Q: What is a roofing GPO and why should I consider joining one?
A: A GPO (Group Purchasing Organization) negotiates deals and rebates with suppliers on behalf of members — saving you money and increasing profit.
Topic: Education-Training
Q: What’s the benefit of joining a mastermind group as a roofer?
A: You gain real-world insight from peers, avoid common pitfalls, and accelerate growth through collective wisdom. You don’t have to climb Everest alone.
Want to Stay Ahead in Roofing?
Follow the Roofing Success Podcast for more real-world insights from industry leaders, and be sure to check out Limitless Roofing Group to see how Dylan McCabe is helping contractors grow through collaboration, community, and clarity. Whether you’re scaling your business or trying to avoid burnout, this is the kind of support that makes the journey sustainable — and successful.
