Business Growth Playbook – Getting to Know Michael Matalone with XP3 Talent System

Struggling to hire, train, and retain top talent in your construction business? You’re not alone—and there’s a proven system to fix it.

In a recent episode of The Business Growth Playbook, hosts Jeff Evans and Dean Nolley sit down with Michael Matalone, founder of XP3 Talent and author of the Amazon bestseller Hire, Train, Retain. With nearly two decades of experience, Michael has helped companies like Outback Deck, Contract Exteriors, Gerry’s Roofing & Siding and Window Nation transform their teams—delivering measurable results in just 90 days.

Why Most Business Problems Are People Problems

According to Michael, 90% of business challenges boil down to people issues. If you’re not hitting your sales or production goals or you have cash flow issues, it’s typically a symptom of not having the right people who know how to address and fix those problems.

Michael’s journey began as a Vistage Chair, working closely with CEOs and business leaders. It was here that he identified the gaps in traditional hiring and management practices and began developing what would become the XP3 Talent System.

What Is the XP3 Talent System?

The XP3 Talent System is a scientifically validated, turn-key solution that empowers construction businesses to:

• Hire the right people for the right roles
• Train them effectively and turn them into productive company advocates
• Retain top performers through engagement, detailed career paths, and skill assessments to ensure they are constantly growing.

One standout result? A client slashed their turnover rate from 80% to just 23%—in only six months.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

Here’s what you’ll learn by tuning in:

• Why 90% of business problems are actually PEOPLE problems
• The origin story of XP3 (hint: it started with Michael’s experience as a Vistage chair)
• How Michael helped Window Nation transform their sales training success rates from 50% to nearly 100%
• The science behind the “magic of three” and why it drives everything XP3 does
• How to tap into employees’ untapped 40-60% discretionary effort
• The shocking truth about construction company culture that’s costing you talent
• Why most managers fail at defining success (and how to fix it)
• How personality assessments can match the right people to the right roles and intrinsically motivate your employees
• The exact system that transformed Window Nation’s hiring process
• How an emergency room nurse became a top sales producer selling $300,000 a month in his first eighth months on the job
• Plus, Michael shares the five pillars of business (leadership, people, sales/marketing, operations, finance) and how they work together to drive organizational success.

About the Book: Hire, Train, Retain (2nd Edition)

Michael’s upcoming release is more than a book—it’s a workbook and tactical guide for the Talent Mastery program. With a foreword by Brian Gottlieb (who recently sold his company for $150M), this edition is packed with strategies that could save you years—and hundreds of thousands of dollars—in trial and error.

“This book could have saved me five years and $500,000,” writes Gottlieb.

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 – Intro to Michael Matalone

• 02:01 – The XP3 Origin Story

• 13:18 – Why Construction Is the Focus

• 20:50 – The Science of Employee Engagement

• 28:01 – First Steps with New Clients

• 35:36 – The Magic of Three

• 48:16 – Creating Strong Company Culture

• 55:18 – Maximizing Employee Engagement