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You and your brother sit down to decide once and for all: Yes, we’re going to outright buy the company from Dad. A year later, you’ve rebranded, switched to 100% residential, and added two divisions. How? In this episode, I interview Jeremy Lewis, President at Gleason Heating, Plumbing, Air and Electric, about how he transformed his family business within the past 12 months. Join us as we discuss:  - What Jeremy’s buyout was like  - The first steps of onboarding with ServiceTitan and NexStar  - Job costing by the numbers  - Employee retention and growth during massive change Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: HVAC Spells Wealth HVAC Masters of the Hustle   To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

If you’re a long-time listener, you know the drill. Today, I’m going to recap some of the best tips, tricks, and tactics shared by this season’s guests. I’m Jackie Aubel, Senior Content Marketing Manager at ServiceTitan and host of Toolbox for the Trades. Join me for a recap of all the amazing guests we’ve heard from this season. Listen to our guests speak about: - How to have a successful business partnership with a spouse or friend - How to find the right business mentor - Leading your team - Delivering exceptional customer service - Women in the trades To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Apprentices are rewarded for education and initiative. Teams are rewarded for doing things the right way. Managers are rewarded when customers are satisfied… and not in quarterly bonuses, either. Tune in to an astounding companywide incentivization program based on processes and growth. In this episode, I speak with Mario Martinez, COO at Scott's One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, about how he rewards employees. Mario and I discuss: - Mario’s career trajectory from tech to COO - To franchise or not to franchise - Incentivizing managers based on every single job - Mario’s wildly successful apprenticeship program - Growth and leadership lessons from someone who is always reaching for the next success Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek - Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Today’s guest dropped out of high school because he said he couldn’t pass anything. But he earned his master plumbing license on his first try. HVAC license, too. About a decade ago, he was making $20/hour and broke. Today he’s just added an HVAC team to his $3.3 million dollar business. In this episode, I chat with Russell Furr, President at Culpeper Home Services, about the struggles and realities of entrepreneurship. (Let me tell you, Russell does not hold back!) Listen in as we discuss: - Russell’s journey from high school dropout to president of his own company - Entrepreneurship hurdles and how to keep charging forward - The recent addition of HVAC services - Why customer experience matters more than ever - The explosive growth plan for next year Check out these resources we mentioned: - Beyond Plumbing Webinar - The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

It’s no small thing to take over as third-generation president of your 100-year-old family business. Especially when you think you can do everything yourself… at first. Today’s guest candidly shares the leadership lessons he acquired the hard way in a family business that’s existed since February 1922. In this episode, I interview Rob Birnie, Owner and President at Thos R Birnie & Sons Ltd, about what it was like to come into his own in a family business and how he learned to prioritize people as a leader. Join us as we discuss: - Getting an on-the-job “MBA” by wearing all the hats - Fulfilling the legacy of putting people first - Business coaches, personality assessments, and leadership development Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - ColorCode Personality Science - People Matter More Than Money | Simon Sinek - Episode 44 with Keith Mercurio - Kerwin Rae on YouTube If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

You should place these 6 Ps prominently on your home service website: product, place, price, promotion, people, and personality. Yeah, we said price. In this episode, I chat with Chris Yano, CEO at RYNO Strategic Solutions, about what he’s learned from his depth of 14 years’ experience marketing for home service businesses. Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - How Chris finally got the attention of Gary Vee - Two common themes from coaching and marketing in the trades - The 6 Ps of a website that will please prospects - Why price belongs on your website - Reasons Chris is grateful he started a podcast Check out these resources we mentioned: - Chris’s podcast is To the Point - Traction by Gino Wickman - The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

One way to reach the Spanish speaking population of the U.S. market is to make your ads in Spanish, not in English with Hablamos Español pasted on. In this episode, I chat with Mario Campirano, Owner at Express Electrical Service, about his pride and passion for marketing to Spanish speakers and uplifting his local community. Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - Mario’s journey from digging trenches to 32 trucks in the field - The family feel of his company culture - His calling to help others pursue their dreams - Strategies for marketing to Spanish speakers in the U.S. - Recruiting and training electricians Check out these resources we mentioned: - Pew Research Center - Zippa.com - Los Titans presents Spanish in the Trades If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Working with your spouse can be absolutely ego destroying at best. At worst, it can ruin your business and your relationship. Ready to learn from a couple who succeeded? In this episode, I chat with Sarah Casebier and Brad Casebier, Owner and President, respectively, at Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning, a company they built from scratch that now brings in $50M in revenue. Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - Sarah’s shift from an ER labor and delivery nurse to GM of Radiant - Brad’s fear that he wouldn’t have a role in a service company - Concurrent business coaching and life coaching - Candid struggles in co-leading a business - Incorporating private equity into the business partnership Check out these additional resources: - The Survival Guide to Working with Your Spouse by Brad Casebier - Making Sense of Men by Alison Armstrong - Loving What Is by Byron Katie - Plumbing and Mechanical - The Mike Dillard Show - Ellen Rohr: Your Job is Hard, Keep Your Financials Simple If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Women bring something unique to the trades industry, to their customers, and to their employees. The female contractors who stand out most are the ones who are hungry to improve. In this episode, I chat with Desiree Grosman, Business Coach at Female Home Service Pros, about the 4 top challenges facing female owners in the trades. Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - The difficulty of money management - Gaining the respect of your employees - The dynamics of husband-wife partnerships - Why a rebrand can be super effective - Hire year-round by keeping a database of potential employees Check out these resources we mentioned: - Dan Antonelli: 10 Takeaways on Rebranding for Breakout Success - The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber - Profit First by Mike Michalowicz - The Go-Giver by Bob Burg - The Contractor's Guide To Saving 30+ Hours Per Week If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

People become seriously sick, injured, or die because of conditions in buildings maintained by people doing work they shouldn't be doing. You may think it’s rare, but it isn’t. Look, experience doesn’t necessarily mean skill. Skilled work requires education, proper training, and ongoing learning and development. A culture of learning is created by leaders who learn. In this episode, I chat with Willby Evans, Safety and Training Manager at Albuquerque Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc., about how a focus on safety has increased learning and profits and saved lives. Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - Answering the calling to protect the public - Why experience doesn’t equal skill - Leaders who set a culture of humility and learning - Willby’s company’s apprenticeship program - Strengthening your competitors with education Check out these resources we mentioned: - The National Center for Construction Education and Research - Leadership BS by Jeffrey Pfeiffer If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orhere. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

There’s no money for Christmas presents. We’ve got to try something — anything. Let’s start a company.  Since its founding in 2017, Viva Electric has evolved from just three vehicles to three locations. Today’s guest is the person with the vision for business growth and adaptation that has made the company what it is today: a family.   In this episode, I chat with Maegan Giler , COO and Co-Owner at Viva Electric , about orchestrating the explosive growth and change in her company.  Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - The origin story of Viva Electric as a construction company - Shared services with Griffin Brothers and mentorship - Behind the scenes of a COO’s business development strategy - When employees are family - Why marketing is everything  Check out these resources we mentioned: Episode #17 with Vanessa Gonzalez   If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here .  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Being a solo dispatcher is like playing a huge game of chess every day. But the necessary skills for success change when you’re a dispatch manager with six dispatchers under you.   So, how exactly does the role change when the dispatch team scales?  In this episode, I chat with Barbara Pfeiffer, Dispatch Manager at The Eco Plumbers , about the delightful complexity of scaling your dispatch team.  Here are some topics we highlight in the conversation: - The moment when Barbara realized she loves dispatching - Training new dispatchers in 3 languages on the job - The importance of ride alongs and technician relationships - Advice for improving dispatching at your business  Check out these resources we mentioned: - Episode 4 with Aar on Gaynor - The Advantage by Patrick L encioni  If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here .  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Play ball! It’s a beautiful day for a podcast, folks. Today’s is shaping up to be a barnburner. In this crackerjack episode, we break out the baseball wordplay as I chat with Margie Baker, Operations Manager at 1-Hour Heating, Ben Franklin Plumbing, and Mr. Sparky Electric, about how to attract more women and Gen Z/millennials to the trades. The bases are loaded with topics such as: The advantages of a Gen Z/millennial lineup Scouting talent and training technicians in-house Tips for handling communication curveballs and pitching a perfect dispatch game Hitting triples in customer experience - a win for the customer, a win for the technician, and a win for the company Why sales will have a better batting average if they learn to embrace the silences Extra innings (resources mentioned during the episode): Democracy in America by Alex de Toqueville  The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long  The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster by Darren Hardy  In Praise of Difficult Women by Karen Karbo  LadyTitans  If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

You’re a secretary for a little while, but you’ve been watching the technicians, and you want to give it a try. So you become an apprentice. You’ve been in the field for a little while, but you see a need to open a new location, and you write up a business proposal. So you become a general manager. As a GM, what’s the key to your success? (Other than a phenomenal work ethic and passion for the industry.) Open-mindedness, especially in interviewing. This is the true story of this episode’s guest, Samantha Salazar, General Manager at Rice Plumbing and Heating.  Join us as we discuss: - Samantha’s career journey from no industry experience to management - Expansion and opening a new location - How she interviews, hires, and trains - Candid experiences as a woman in the trades Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Business coaches - Al Levi , Tommy Mello , and Ellen Rohr  - Ellen’s e-books  If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here.  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

The way to unlock a lot of growth and scale your business is to stop being the funnel. Sometimes the owner believes everything has to go through me. A business coach will help build relationships, improve processes, and keep owners from becoming a bottleneck.  In this episode, I interview a business coach and client about how their relationship has doubled business. Jim Corcoran is Head Coach at BDR , Tony Marmon is Owner at Trademark Mechanical , and they had amazing things to say about the coach-client relationship. Join us as we discuss: - How Jim moved from the field to coaching - When Tony recognized that he needed a coach - Jim and Tony’s mutual trust and vulnerability - Which processes had to scale and which had to go - Why people leadership lies at the core of scaling Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Traction by Gino Wickman As a Man Thinketh by James Allen  If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Did you just write something on that resume? Big mistake. Did you make a note about the candidate’s kids? Big, big mistake. And what about documentation for injuries and accidents? If you didn’t take a witness statement, you failed. In this episode, I interview c about her love of processes and why she spends so much time thinking about things that could go wrong. To throw some much deserved light on the back office, Angie talks with me about: - Falling in love with the trades and learning on the job - Processes in action during a record-breaking heat wave  - Hiring and liability practices you haven’t thought about - Common personnel issues like accident reporting - What owners should know about accounting Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - SmartLess podcast  - Harvard Business Revi ew If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or https://www.servicetitan.com/here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

To reach beyond the phone book generation, home service companies must leverage digital marketing. That means understanding brand, messaging, and omnichannel. Today’s guest literally wrote the book on digital marketing for plumbing and HVAC contractors, and he walks us through how digital can bring in more calls (and potentially grow your business from garage-level to golfing vacations). In this episode, I interview Ryan Redding , Owner at DP Marketing Services and Host of Blue Collar CEO , about the impact of digital. Join us as we discuss: - Success stories so amazing they sound fake - What a home service owner really needs to know about marketing - Putting the customer at the center of your marketing decisions - Target customers and lead generation - Using messaging to tell stories about brand Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - The Book On Digital Marketing: For Plumbing & HVAC Contractors by Ryan Redding  - Culture Eats Strategy for Lunch by Curt Coffman  - Who Not How by Dan Sul livan and Benjamin Hardy If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify , or here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

What’s your company’s purpose? For that matter, what’s your own purpose for being in this business at all? Answering these questions can ignite passion in your recruits. Skeptical? In this episode, I interview Ben Stark and Chris Hunter , Owners at Go Time Success Group , about how they became business success coaches for home service companies. In this episode we discuss: - Ben and Chris’s mentor-mentee relationship - The importance of developing your company’s vision, mission, and core values - Strategies for igniting recruits with passion - The four toolboxes and why the mental toolbox is the most important - Recruiting, marketing, technology, and entering new verticals Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Ben and Chris’s book, It’s Go Time  If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

You clock in, you clock out, you know the basics, but you want to elevate your profession. What you need to do is start studying your craft. Want to unlock unbelievable opportunities by becoming an extraordinary professional? Learn from manufacturers, engineers, peers with three decades of work experience, and even your customers to find out how to go beyond your day-to-day.  Today’s guest, Ben DiMarco , CEO at DiMarco & Associates LLC , shares his learnings from 30+ years in the trades, including how to serve customers well beyond installing an HVAC unit. In this episode we discuss: Why accountancy wasn’t for Ben Commissioning and why it matters to installers Air quality matters when we spend 90% of our lives indoors A positive change in promoting the trades among the college-aged If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcast s, Spotify , or here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Leader is not a synonym for firefighter. With the one notable exception — actual firefighters — if you spend all day putting out fires at your business…  You’re too busy to lead.  That’s one of countless lessons today’s guests, Eric Sprague & Larry Wilberton, Owners of Blue Collar Consulting and MorningTechMeeting.com , have learned over their many years working together — lessons they’re now teaching others through advising. They join me today to discuss: Why leaders need to take a step back and let their team make their own mistakes Why your teams home life is inseparable from their work life How to use morning meetings to improve every facet of your business How to spend 30+ years in business with a friend (without strangling them) If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here . Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.