Blue Collar Nation

Most contractors don’t have a sales problem — they have a system problem. In this episode, Eric and Larry are joined by Josh Gillow, founder of YES Express and Master Plan Outdoor Living, who shares the painful sales failure that changed the course of his business forever. After getting the door slammed in his face on what should have been a “slam dunk” deal, Josh realized he had no real sales pro...

In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast , Eric and Larry tackle one of the toughest—but most important—skills in running a home service business: having hard conversations with your team. From avoiding conflict to losing top performers due to lack of accountability, they break down the real cost of not addressing issues head-on. Drawing from their own experiences, Eric and Larry share ho...

In this episode, Larry from Super Tech University breaks down a practical, no-nonsense system for handling difficult team members without letting emotions take over. If you’ve ever had an employee who’s underperforming, causing frustration, or dragging down your team, this session walks you through exactly how to respond with clarity and control. Larry outlines a step-by-step approach to diagnosin...

Promoting your best technician into management sounds like the right move—until it backfires. In this episode, Eric and Larry break down the costly mistake of promoting based on loyalty instead of leadership fit, and how it can damage team culture, morale, and retention. Learn a smarter approach to building strong service managers: identifying the right traits, using tools like personality assessm...

In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Larry dives into a practical topic that every home service business owner faces: meetings. While meetings often get a bad reputation for being long and unproductive, Larry explains how the right meetings—done the right way—can dramatically improve communication, accountability, and team culture. Drawing from real experience building and scaling a...

Building a strong referral network can be one of the most powerful ways to grow a service business—but it also comes with challenges many owners aren’t prepared for. In this episode, Eric and Larry dive into the realities of managing Business Development Representatives (BDRs) and why so many companies struggle to turn activity into real revenue. The discussion explores common pitfalls business ow...

On this episode of the Blue Collar Nation , Eric and Larry sit down with Nate Cisney and Stacy Sargent of Restoration Made Simple for a high-energy, no-fluff conversation about what actually moves the needle in home service businesses. From scaling multi-million dollar restoration companies to building real-world technician training systems, Nate and Stacy break down the leadership mistakes that q...

In this episode of the Blue Nation Podcast, Eric and Larry break down the “theater of business” — the intentional, step-by-step approach to delivering five-star service before ever stepping inside a customer’s home. Designed for home service owners and managers, this conversation walks through the critical pre-arrival and front-door process that shapes trust, confidence, and profitability. From th...

In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Eric from Super Tech University takes the mic solo while Larry is off traveling. Eric dives deep into one of the most overlooked drivers of success in home service businesses—operations. Drawing from decades in the trades, Eric shares why consistent systems often outperform raw talent and how the lack of written processes can quietly sabotage grow...

Strong Environments. Strong Teams. Strong Outcomes. Building a high-performance culture starts with leadership—and it starts before the workday even begins. In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Eric and Larry break down what it really takes to create a winning team in the home service industry, from leading by example to setting clear expectations and accountability. They dive into d...

Struggling with late starts, missing tools, and chaotic mornings in your home service business? In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Eric and Larry from Super Tech University break down the proven morning systems they used to get technicians out the door on time, prepared, and motivated—every single day. This conversation is packed with real-world leadership and operational strategie...

Larry and Eric sit down with Kayla McGowan, editor of R&R Magazine to discuss all matters within the trades and how getting the proper training for your team, industry networking, and exposure to the best practices of your trade will help you grow an amazing business.  TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video less...

In this episode, Larry and Eric break down the ins and outs of why how we present to clients matters to our bottom line. They go deep about dress codes, uniforms, grooming, and how to teach your team why looking good matters. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you...

Hard Work Pays Off: from unemployed and broke to a business owner in 5 years. Claire Carreras has an amazing home service success story and message. As a professional musician, she decided to take a leap of faith and move from her native Canada to Austin, TX in early 2020. Once in the US, she got stranded during the pandemic, unable to work and unable to go back to Canada.  Through grit, guts, and...

Today Eric and Larry sit down with Eric Wick, founder of Safety Team Technologies. Eric breaks down how blue-collar companies can stop bleeding cash from preventable injuries and high workers’ comp. We get real about why paper manuals and sporadic tailgate talks don’t move the needle, how XMOD actually works (and why a single $40k claim can hammer your premiums for three years), and the simple hab...

In this episode, Eric and Larry sit down with Ryan Lee - creator of the Lighting Secrets framework and one of the sharpest minds in service sales. Ryan built his reputation by showing contractors how to turn outdoor lighting into a high-value service, and the principles behind that success apply to every trade. We break down how to position your services so homeowners see the value, not just the p...

In this episode, we sit down with the leadership team from One Tom Plumber to dig into how their business model works—and what service contractors can learn from it. Whether you're a restoration company, a plumbing business, or a multi-trade operator, there’s something here for you. We unpack how combining plumbing and restoration creates new revenue streams, how branding can actually make th...

In this episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast, Eric and Larry sit down and have a conversation with Levi Gain, owner of Doug’s Carpet & Upholstery Care. Levi shares his journey from running a small, chaotic operation with one underperforming tech to leading a premium service business with consistent $750 average tickets. Levi opens up about the turning point—discovering Super Tech Universi...

In this lively episode of Blue Collar Nation , Larry and Eric sit down with Jeff Jones—Director of Sales & Marketing and business coach at Violand Management—to unpack how trade businesses in the disaster restoration, HVAC, plumbing, and janitorial industries can thrive in today’s slower market. Jeff shares his journey from family hardware stores to becoming VP of Everything Amazing, reveals w...

Gen Z is changing the workforce - and that includes your home service team. They don't respond to fear-based leadership or "back in my day" lectures. In this episode, Eric and Larry break down how to effectively lead and manage Gen Z employees in the trades. They discuss what makes Gen Z tick, what drives them to perform, and how to adjust your leadership style without lowering your...

In this engaging episode, Eric and Larry sit down with Kevin Bunce. Kevin shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey from dropping out of college to building a thriving company in the restoration industry. He discusses the importance of cultivating a strong company culture centered on professionalism, consistent training, and team development. Kevin emphasizes how investing in people through pro...

In this impromptu Zoom session, we dig into one of the most underrated performance boosters in the home service industry: the daily morning meeting. Discover why 10–15 minutes each morning can reduce turnover, improve communication, and create a magnetic company culture that attracts top talent. Learn practical steps for implementing these meetings, overcoming resistance from your team, and maximi...

In this inspiring episode of the Blue Collar Nation Podcast , Eric and Larry sit down with Bill German, co-owner of New Way Restoration and proud graduate of the "School of Hard Knocks." Bill shares his powerful journey from working in underground coal mines to leading a thriving restoration business. He dives into the life-changing lessons learned along the way—how COVID reshaped his vi...

In this episode, Larry and Eric break down the art of the in-home inspection—not just to diagnose problems, but to educate the client , build trust , and lead them naturally to a confident buying decision . If you’re in the home services industry, this one’s for you. We’ll explore how to turn your inspection process into a structured, trust-building experience that eliminates sales pressure and in...

We are always on the quest of trying to get our techs to perform "the perfect service call" so we get all the repeat business, referrals, and those coveted Google reviews.  In this episode, Eric and Larry go step by step through the actions and habits that create the perfect service call. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system...