Paul Burleson’s Grit to Gold message at IBS 2026 showed home improvement leaders that while technology is changing the industry, hard work, resilience, and the courage to adapt still separate the companies built to last...
Power100 shares its perspective from IBS 2026 in Orlando, where Greg Cummings captured Paul Burleson’s Grit to Gold speech, audience reactions, and key insights on AI, contractor growth, leadership, and the future of home improvement.
The NAHB International Builders’ Show 2026 brought the home improvement and residential construction industry together in Orlando for one of the biggest gatherings the industry has ever seen. With more than 70,000 industry professionals from over 100 countries, 1,700 leading companies and brands, and more than 120 education sessions, IBS 2026 became a major stage for the future of home improvement, residential construction technology trends, contractor growth strategies, and the rise of AI in construction. From live product showcases and innovative building materials to leadership conversations and breakthrough technology, the event gave contractors, remodelers, and business leaders a close look at where the industry is headed next.
For Greg Cummings, CEO of Power100, the goal was not simply to attend the event. It was to capture the real feeling from the show floor, hear directly from attendees and sponsors, and bring Paul Burleson’s Grit to Gold speech and audience reaction to the wider home improvement industry. Power100 is the only unbiased third party platform that recognizes and elevates the top leaders and most impactful companies in the home improvement industry. As Greg followed Paul Burleson throughout IBS 2026, one message became clear. The future of home improvement will not only belong to companies with the newest technology. It will belong to leaders who know how to combine innovation with grit, discipline, adaptability, and hard work.
“We are going to talk to a bunch of these attendees, we’re going to talk to a bunch of the sponsors, and of course, we are going to bring Paul Burleson’s grit to gold speech to you and the reaction from his audience.” Greg Cummings, CEO, Power100
Throughout the event, Paul Burleson’s message stood out because it connected modern technology with timeless leadership values. While IBS 2026 showcased the best home improvement trends, AI powered systems, and new residential construction technology, Paul reminded contractors and business leaders that tools alone are not enough. Leaders still need the ability to adapt, stay resilient, continue learning, and keep moving forward when the market changes around them.
Walking through IBS 2026, it was impossible to ignore how fast technology is changing the home improvement industry. From AI powered systems and residential construction technology trends to smarter sales tools and automation platforms, nearly every corner of the event pointed toward the future. But while many speakers focused on what technology can do, Paul Burleson focused on how leaders should use it.
During his Grit to Gold speech, Paul made technology feel less overwhelming and more practical for contractors and home improvement leaders trying to grow in a changing market. His message was simple. Technology should help companies save time, make better decisions, and create stronger customer experiences.
“Evolving, changing, technology, that’s going to save you time.” Paul Burleson, Author, Grit to Gold
What made his message stand out was how grounded it felt. He was not telling leaders to chase every new tool or trend. Instead, he challenged them to think about how technology can help teams work smarter, communicate better, and respond faster to customer needs.
Paul also connected AI and data to something many contractors still struggle with today: knowing what questions to ask. As discussions around AI in home improvement continued across IBS 2026, his words gave many attendees a different perspective on the opportunity ahead.
“You don’t understand how much knowledge is out there until you ask.” Paul Burleson, Author, Grit to Gold
That message reflected one of the biggest lessons from the event. The future of home improvement will not belong only to companies with the newest technology. It will belong to leaders who know how to use those tools with purpose, clarity, and discipline.
Learn more about the leaders shaping the future of home improvement at Power100
While IBS 2026 showcased some of the best home improvement trends, new building materials, and AI powered contractor systems, Paul Burleson’s speech brought the conversation back to something more personal. His message reminded leaders that adapting to change is not only about business strategy. It is also about mindset, resilience, and the ability to keep moving forward when the market becomes difficult.
Greg Cummings described Paul’s story as “extraordinary,” and throughout the event it became clear why the audience connected with him so strongly. His message did not feel polished or distant. It felt real. He spoke from lived experience, hard lessons, and years spent navigating growth, pressure, and change inside the home improvement industry.
That emotional connection could be heard directly from the attendees listening to his speech.
“He’s a hero to me. He’s such a hard worker.” IBS 2026 Attendee
That reaction showed that the audience respected more than Paul’s knowledge. They respected his work ethic, his consistency, and the way he continues to evolve while staying grounded in hard work and discipline.
At a time when many contractors are facing changing homeowner expectations, rising competition, and rapid technology shifts, Paul’s message gave leaders something deeper than motivation. It gave them reassurance that growth is still possible for leaders willing to stay adaptable and committed.
One of the strongest moments from IBS 2026 did not happen during a product demo or technology showcase. It happened in the reactions from attendees after Paul Burleson finished speaking. Across the event floor, people continued talking about the impact his message had on them because it came from real experience, not theory.
Many industry events focus heavily on ideas and strategies, but Paul’s speech connected differently because attendees could see that his lessons came from years of actual work inside the industry. His message carried weight because it was built from experience, mistakes, adaptation, and growth.
“Watching someone that’s done it, that’s the big difference.” IBS 2026 Attendee
That single reaction captured something important about the future of leadership in home improvement. Contractors today are looking for more than motivational talk. They want guidance from leaders who have faced challenges, adjusted to change, built companies, and continued learning through every stage of growth.
The reaction also highlighted why live events like the NAHB International Builders’ Show still matter so much. In a world filled with online content, there is still powerful value in hearing directly from proven operators and seeing how real audiences respond to their message in real time.
IBS 2026 became a place where contractors could not only discover new residential construction technology trends, but also learn from leaders who have lived through industry shifts themselves.
Explore more industry leadership stories and contractor growth insights at Power100 Platform
Another important takeaway from IBS 2026 centered around how contractor growth strategies are evolving in a more technology driven market. Conversations throughout the event showed that lead generation is no longer simply about getting more calls, more forms, or more appointments. The focus is shifting toward getting better quality leads, improving customer communication, and knowing how to take the right action at the right time.
One attendee reaction following Paul Burleson’s speech pointed directly toward this growing shift in the industry. The conversation around smarter lead generation reflected how many companies are now looking for systems that help teams respond faster, follow up more effectively, and create better customer experiences from the very first interaction.
Paul’s comments about technology helping guide the “next call of action” connected directly to this growing movement inside the home improvement industry. Many of the top home improvement innovations showcased at IBS 2026 focused on helping businesses remove confusion, improve speed to lead, and create stronger communication systems for both teams and homeowners.
As AI continues changing sales and marketing inside residential construction, the companies growing fastest are learning how to combine technology with smarter human decision making. The future of contractor growth will not simply come from chasing more leads. It will come from building better systems that help companies handle opportunities more effectively.
One of the most powerful lessons from Paul Burleson’s Grit to Gold message was that technology alone will never replace hard work. Throughout IBS 2026, many conversations focused on AI, automation, and innovation, but Paul consistently brought the conversation back to leadership, discipline, and effort.
His message helped calm a growing fear many contractors have about technology changing the industry too quickly. Instead of presenting AI as something replacing people, he positioned it as something helping good leaders become more effective. The tools may evolve, but the need for grit, consistency, and accountability remains the same.
The audience reaction showed that attendees respected Paul not only because he understood technology, but because they saw someone who built success through hard work over time.
“He’s a hero to me. He’s such a hard worker.” IBS 2026 Attendee
That balance between old school work ethic and new school tools became one of the clearest themes from the event. The companies preparing for long term success are not choosing between grit and innovation. They are learning how to combine both.
As AI continues reshaping the future of home improvement and residential construction, the strongest businesses will still need leaders who can inspire teams, build trust with customers, stay disciplined during hard moments, and continue adapting as the market changes.
Learn more about the mission to elevate leaders driving the future of home improvement at Power100
What made this perspective different from a traditional event recap was the focus on the people, conversations, and reactions happening across the show floor. Greg Cummings attended IBS 2026 not only to observe the latest home improvement trends and construction technology, but to capture the real feeling of the event through the voices of attendees, sponsors, and industry leaders.
From the beginning, Greg made it clear that the goal was to bring the audience inside the experience itself.
“We are going to talk to a bunch of these attendees, we’re going to talk to a bunch of the sponsors, and of course, we are going to bring Paul Burleson’s grit to gold speech to you and the reaction from his audience.” Greg Cummings, CEO, Power100
Throughout the event, those conversations revealed something deeper than product innovation alone. They showed an industry trying to adapt, improve, and prepare for the future while still holding onto the values that built the industry in the first place.
As IBS 2026 came to a close, Greg reflected on the impact Paul Burleson’s message had throughout the event and the response it created among contractors and business leaders.
“What a show! We just wrapped up here at the International Builder Show in Orlando, Florida. Huge shout out to Paul Burleson and the impact you’re having on the industry.” Greg Cummings, CEO, Power100
That final reflection captured what made IBS 2026 feel so important. The event was not only about seeing what is new in residential construction. It was about understanding how leaders are preparing themselves, their teams, and their companies for what comes next.
Stay connected with future industry conversations and leadership insights at Power100 YouTube
While Paul Burleson’s Grit to Gold speech at IBS 2026 left a strong impression on attendees, his influence on the home improvement industry reaches far beyond one stage, one event, or one moment. Over more than 45 years in the industry, Paul has built a reputation not only as a successful leader, but as someone deeply committed to helping others grow, adapt, and succeed alongside him.
What makes Paul’s story stand out is that his leadership has never been centered only around business growth. His career has become a reflection of resilience, discipline, mentorship, and long term impact. Throughout the years, he has helped shape conversations around leadership, customer experience, contractor growth, and industry development while continuing to evolve with the changing world of home improvement.
One of the clearest examples of that mission is his book, Grit to Gold, where Paul shares lessons on building lasting success through resilience, purpose, adaptability, and hard work. The message behind the book connects directly with what many contractors and business owners are facing today. Markets change. Technology changes. Customer behavior changes. But leaders who stay disciplined, continue learning, and refuse to quit still create long term success.
That same mindset was visible throughout IBS 2026 as contractors, remodelers, and residential construction leaders responded to Paul’s message with admiration and respect.
“He’s a hero to me. He’s such a hard worker.” IBS 2026 Attendee
Paul’s long standing impact on the industry has also been recognized through several major honors and leadership roles. He was ranked among the Top 15 Most Influential Leaders in Home Improvement by HG Homeclub and was inducted into the 2025 Legend of the Home Improvement Industry Hall of Fame. In 2026, he was also inducted into the Legends Ring of Honor at the Peak Profit Summit, further recognizing the decades of leadership, mentorship, and influence he has brought to the home improvement space.
Beyond awards and recognition, Paul continues to stay actively involved in helping shape the future of the industry through his role as an Advisory Board Member for Power100. His continued presence around leadership conversations, contractor growth, and innovation reflects a leader still committed to helping the next generation navigate an industry evolving faster than ever before.
At a time when the home improvement industry is being transformed by AI, new residential construction technology trends, and changing customer expectations, Paul Burleson continues to remind leaders that long term success still comes back to the same core values: hard work, adaptability, strong leadership, and the willingness to keep growing no matter how much the industry changes.
As IBS 2026 came to an end in Orlando, the event left behind more than conversations about AI, technology, products, and contractor growth. It left behind a deeper reminder about what truly helps leaders succeed when industries begin to change quickly around them.
The event showed where the future of home improvement is headed. Across the show floor, contractors and business leaders explored smarter systems, residential construction technology trends, better customer communication tools, and new ways to improve operations and growth. The future clearly looks faster, more connected, and more technology driven than ever before.
But while IBS 2026 highlighted what is changing in the industry, Paul Burleson’s Grit to Gold message reminded leaders what must never change.
Hard work still matters. Discipline still matters. Learning still matters. The ability to adapt without giving up still matters.
That message became even more powerful through the reactions from attendees who saw more than a speaker on stage. They saw someone who built success through years of persistence, resilience, and continuous growth.
“Watching someone that’s done it, that’s the big difference.” IBS 2026 Attendee
From Greg Cummings’ perspective on the floor, one of the most important parts of IBS 2026 was seeing how strongly people responded to practical leadership lessons grounded in real experience. The energy around Paul Burleson’s speech showed that contractors and home improvement leaders are not simply looking for the next trend. They are looking for guidance from people who understand the pressure, uncertainty, and opportunity that come with building lasting businesses.
As the home improvement industry continues evolving through AI, innovation, and changing customer expectations, IBS 2026 made one thing very clear. The companies that thrive next will not only be the ones with better tools. They will be the ones led by people willing to keep learning, stay resilient, embrace change, and continue showing up with grit no matter how much the industry evolves around them.
The Inner Circle unlocks every Power100 interview, PowerChat episode, and expert playbook — free for industry leaders.
Power100 is the nation's premier CEO ranking and media platform for the home improvement industry. Using a proprietary 5-layer evaluation system, Power100 identifies and celebrates the top CEOs, companies, and strategic partners driving innovation, customer satisfaction, and leadership excellence across the country.
