Make Trades Great Again

The guys answer an email from a friend of the show. What do we want from our sales people?  Mark says he's recently moved into an outside sales position for the supply company he works for, he's looking for our feedback on what we are looking for from our sales partners in the industry.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  S...

Ever just get to a point you cant stand your own playlist? We have and Andy wants to know what you're listening to.  This week the guys relax and reminisce about the early days of XM Radio and talk about some of their favorite things to stream now.    Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over o...

Some pretty big changes are in the works for how Minnesotans pay for, and use electricity which had the guys discussing everything from electrification, off-peak electrical and the home heating utility usages from one state to the next.  To our faithful listeners: No actual investigative journalism was used for this groundbreaking discussion and revelations.  Text the guys your ideas & feedbac...

In all seriousness, the guys do talk about a couple recent medical events as a reminder that none of are invincible and taking care of ourselves is paramount to having a long successful career in the trades.  Pre-surgery talk started back in February in episode 279: https://maketrades.buzzsprout.com Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid ...

Eric and Andy share insights and strategies for navigating economic slowdowns amidst shifting market conditions. Whether it's seasonal fluctuations or the impact of high interest rates and inflation on consumer behavior, they delve into practical approaches. This episode focuses on the effective practices that have sustained their plumbing and heating service business, with potential applicat...

It’s time for a break from new episodes while the guys work on a new approach to delivering the MTGA content and topics.  Please take a look at any one of the 280 previous episodes in our library if you haven’t heard them all. We will be back, thank you for your continued support!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feed...

Credit card payments are the norm but how much of a risk are they if payments can be easily disputed and taken from you?  The guys talk about this as it all started from, where else but a stupid Facebook group…  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalh...

Eric has a minor surgery coming up, Andy just had one himself and both could've been done months or even years ago but it's too easy to put it off for another day.  In this episode the guys say lit like it is, you gotta make yourself a priority, if you don't it's only going to get worse.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.co...

Here's another one from AHR Expo 2024. Our friends Becky Brotherton and Michael Provenzano join us to talk about the iconic tool company's 100 years of manufacturing history and more.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson...

Heat Pumps are everywhere and Samsung HVAC has new technology on the market now and coming. Wade McCorkel of Samsung HVAC joins the guys at AHR Expo in Chicago to talk dual fuel and universal heat pump tech.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub...

Live from AHR Expo in Chicago, the guys sit down with Bryan Orr. Bryan Orr is the Co-Owner of Kalos Services Inc. an Orlando- area HVAC contracting business as well as an audio nerd and podcaster.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickel...

Warning: Lots of weather talk in this one lol.  When the weather dips to the double digits below zero (F) the heat needs to stay on because setting-back the temperature may be a recipe for disaster.  The guys talk ways to combat the extreme cold and how talking with your customers ahead of the storm might be useful.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.p...

Setting expectations ahead of starting a job is an obvious step in the process of service, repair, construction right?  Eric tells of a recent job when it didn’t start out so great.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb...

Will Aune Plumbing expand in 2024? Looking back on 2023 and forward in the new year.  There's always time to make plans and set goals but the new year seems like the most appropriate. What are some of your goals for 2024? Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Au...

If you're an apprentice this one's for you! If you're not an apprentice but know someone coming up in the trades, please share this with them asap!  In this episode Eric & Andy go thru a list of five things/habits/behaviors today's apprentice needs to do or think about daily.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid...

It's that time of year to look forward into the new year. This is also worth reflecting on the past year to gauge successes. This isn't a New Year Resolution episode!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb News...

Chad joins the guys to take a buzzfeed quiz to see what career we’re supposed to have. The results are as ridiculous as you probably expect.  Thanks to our friend Chad Killinger for joining us.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson...

“If you break it down into bitesize pieces you can eat an elephant” -Andy  In this episode the guys talk over how to approach estimating jobs large and small. Thanks to everyone writing in lately!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickel...

Some old school tactics still work when looking for employment no matter how many job services are out there.  The internet is awesome but following up on a job application can get you ahead of the competition. Also did you know there is a whole online service just for blue collar jobs?  Check this out and more in this episode where the guys talk about how they got hired into the trades and what w...

More listener mail from Australia. The guys talk about some things they’d consider in preparation of starting a new business.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

Luke, from Adelaide, Australia writes in to ask about our thoughts on inexperienced technicians driving a throw away society vs. finding the fault and repairing equipment. Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter...

Longtime listener Dillon writes in with a followup to an episode from almost two years ago when he was looking for advice on buying the business he was working for.   Dillon is at the point in owning the business where he needs to expand. He also had to fire the son of the former owner of the business.  Is not hiring and expanding as much of a risk as hiring? Maybe!  Text the guys your ideas &...

Andy tells us about a problem job they’ve been dealing with for a few years. Ever have one of those jobs you wish you never took on? How about a piece of equipment or materials you regret installing?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mic...

How long is long enough for proper training in the skilled trades? It’s no secret we are not attracting more young adults than needed into the trades, could a shorter training period move the needle on interest?  What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ide...

We recently talked about all these connected systems and appliances but what about an old school, simple system that’s not connected? Are we talking survival/prepping type of clientele or just simplification?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub...