Make Trades Great Again

Ever wondered how two renowned tech tycoons, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, facing off in a deathmatch could benefit a veterans charity? Buckle up as Andy and I take you on a journey through our amusing reflection of this hypothetical charity event. We then dive into our personal experiences navigating the sea of new technologies, sharing tales of my initial stumbling blocks with invoicing softwar...

Ever found yourself with a cold beer in hand, kicking back at a customer's Saturday farm bash, wondering if this is a professional blunder or a savvy networking move? We've been there, and it's in the gray area of these social and professional intersections that we've learned a thing or two. In this candid conversation, we navigate the boundaries between work and personal relat...

Ever wrestled with the mystery of asbestos inspection regulations for water heaters? Well, we're here to break it down for you. With a decade of its existence, these regulations have stirred up quite the conversation among contractors. We examine why this law exists and what it means for professionals in the field. Believe it or not, this legislation isn’t as old as you might think! The episo...

Brace yourselves! The trades and services industry is in the throes of a seismic shift, spurred on by the aftermath of COVID. As a business, navigating this changing landscape can feel like walking a tightrope. But fear not, we're here to guide you, offering practical advice to help you adapt to this new market reality and secure the highest possible profits.  Through the lens of an industry...

Ever been stumped by an HVAC installation in a concrete construction house? We've been there, and we've got some stories to share. Our latest adventure involved a customer plagued with extremely noisy air handlers every time the second stage of heat kicked in. It was a tough nut to crack, but after two years of planning and brainstorming, we found a solution.  In our latest episode, we s...

Ever been hit by a wave of nostalgia over the simple pleasure of an old-timey hardware store? Or found yourself marveling at the convenience brought about by a Nespresso machine? Join us as we journey down memory lane, reminiscing about childhood trips to the hardware store, and the unique olfactory delight of popcorn and old leather. We tackle the evolution of retail and discuss the vital role we...

Brace yourselves for a thrilling collaboration between two powerhouses, 'Appetite for Construction' and 'Make Trades Great Again' podcasts. This electrifying episode kicks off with a deep dive into the dynamic world of co-hosting a podcast. Want to know the secret behind crafting layered questions and overthinking interviews to ensure engaging content? Well, you're in for...

We have more work than we can handle, its been that way for a while now. This isn't a pricing thing but it seems like everyone online thinks the only answer is to "RAISE YOUR RATES!" Lol, we don't think that's the answer.  What do you think?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic i...

Incentivizing a sale is one thing but what happens when techs have sales goals, commissions and weekly targets?  Guest Denver Baker, owner of MD Heat in Michigan shares his experience and policies on sales in the field and how his employees are compensated for the almighty upgrade.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your fee...

Ever figure out what the magic number is? What’s the monthly income level that would change things for 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 ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

Workers rights and working conditions are changing all over North America. The guys talk about paid time off and a new law voted in recently in Minnesota  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:/...

Mickelson Plumbing & Heating completes a killer job at the local courthouse with the addition of some serious tools and wicked fast piping system. Gotta love it when a job goes as planned!  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...

Eric has a topic questions from a listener asking about what he should know as he makes the transition to move from an install position to a service position.  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: ht...

FYI, Montana’s Governor punched a reporter and Chad's back to talk about social media from the job site with the guys.  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

Chad Killinger joins the guys this week to talk about a few things, one of them is how Texas legislators killed a mandatory bill that made sure workers received water breaks during a work shift. Does Texas hate water or its workers?  No, Chad isn't an official host of the show. We honestly didn't expect to have him on as many times as we have but he pays us so much money.  Text the guys...

Ever think what we do every day for our customers might actually be super disruptive and a giant ordeal for our customers? We often think nothing of tearing open a wall to relocate a pipe or wiring etc is no big deal because we do it all the time.  Andy's been tearing up his master bedroom and the bathroom is next. The guys talk about living in a renovation zone and how much it effects everyt...

Kyele is 17, recently graduated from high school with high diploma and is looking for a M-F job working with his hands for about $20/hr.  Does this sound reasonable?  He's 17, how much experience could he have? What would you say to a kid posting on a community bulletin facebook page looking for a lead on a job?  Don't forget to leave us a rating in your podcast app! Rating our podcast h...

Some guy is still driving around Missoula looking for Andy's shop lol. Bonus 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 Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

Ever live inside a remodel project? What would your spouse say if you just gutted the bathroom for a full remodel?    Andy is about to ditch the brown bathroom for a refresher. Wish him good luck!  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...

After years of building their plumbing & heating businesses the guys are tasked with looking back on how they got to today and what they would do different if they started over.  Listen as Eric & Andy answer a listener question of "what would you do different if you could go back in time and start your business knowing what you know now." Text the guys your ideas & feedback!...

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

The guys sit down with Denver Baker @mdheat.hvac (IG) to learn how he got started and grew his hvac business in Michigan. Denver’s experience includes growth and cutting back to a more manageable level. Sometimes big isn’t always better.  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 chann...

We need kids in the trades and college. It’s pretty simple to understand but why can’t we all agree on that?  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

The guys talk vans and van build-outs after recovering a DM from IG’s @abbldgoperator Victor from Alberta  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

The guys talk hydronic system design software  in this week’s bonus 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 Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email