The Deep End with Eric Triplett

Have you ever gotten leads for your business and then wondered why they weren't turning into sales? Sales consultant Drewbie Wilson wants to tell you that the problem may not be with your leads – it's that you're just not calling them. Drewbie shares some great tips and strategies that will help you turn your leads into paying customers.   In this episode, they talk about: The origin story of Drew...

Today, we have the pond legend Anthony Archer-Wills and aquatic plant expert Kelly Billing in the house! Anthony shared how he discovered his passion for ponds as a child and how it developed into his career.    Anthony and Kelly also shared valuable insights on pioneering techniques in water features, aquatic plant care, how pond design and construction techniques evolved over time, early filtrat...

Today's guest, Laura Reale, grew her service-based business by 40% in just 12 months. Want to know her secret? Tune in as she shares the framework, secrets, tips, and tricks that she used to make that happen for her business.  Laura runs two businesses: AquaReale—a pond construction, service, and maintenance company—and Pondtent—a marketing company that provides email marketing services to pond bu...

Koi shows have come a long way since their origins in Japan. Seasoned Koi experts Anthony Quintero and Shawn McHenry join Eric to explore the historical beginnings of Koi shows and how they've evolved over the years. From their over two decades of experience in the industry, they discuss their memorable moments, trends, and innovations in Koi shows.   In this episode, they talk about: Origin of Ko...

Public speaking can be intimidating, but having strong communication skills is essential for contractors to grow their businesses! Public speaking coach Philip Sessions shares strategies for contractors to speak with authority and confidence when speaking to prospects, clients, and industry groups.   In this episode, they talk about: Philip's fear of public speaking and how he overcame it Philip's...

Eric is joined by Randy Stewart, the Vision Manager for Pondliner.com and the driving force behind the highly popular Water Garden Expo.   Randy shared the history of the Water Garden Expo, gave an exciting preview of the upcoming 2024 Expo — why you should attend, what you can expect, who is going to speak at the event, — and the future of the Water Garden Expo, and provided some tips and tricks...

Are you a contractor who excels at sales? Or are you the contractor who sucks at sales? How can you identify which category you fall into? Just like on American Idol, there are contestants who truly think they could sing well, but in reality, they are terrible singers. In the same way, there are contractors who may think they are a pro at sales when they actually suck at it.   Eric is here to help...

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the most important skills for contractors — it allows you to better understand clients, defuse tense situations, and provide excellent service.   Today's guest, Benny Fisher, is the founder and visionary of The Big Fish Contracting Company, Co-Founder of The Arena Mastermind, Business Growth Leader for Contractor Dynamics, and host of The Big Fish Cares Podcas...

The Pond Digger team is taking on the 75 HARD challenge. Eric motivates them by sharing his own experience with the challenge and inspiring them to join in.   In this episode, each team member shares their motivation for taking on 75 Hard — some want to get in shape for future goals like firefighting academy, while others want to be healthier role models for their kids. They discuss the physical a...

Today's guest is Lora Lee Gelles, owner and editor of Pond Trade Magazine. Laura discusses the history of the magazine, how she took it over in 2013 without even having a pond herself at that time, some controversial articles Pond Trade Magazine has published over the years that caused controversy in the pond industry, and more.    In this episode, they talk about: The history of Pond Trade magazi...

Are you struggling to generate leads and sales for your contracting business? Today's guest, Adam McChesney, shares the best digital marketing strategies that can help boost your business. Adam is a serial entrepreneur, a digital marketing and personal branding expert,  CEO at Builders of Authority and Hite Digital, and host of Entrebrewer podcast.   In this episode, they talk about: Adam's journe...

There are secrets to winning koi grow out contests, and Koi expert Shawn McHenry of Mystic Koi is here to share some of these secrets. Eric and Shawn discuss koi grow out contests, how these contests work, and how to select, grow, and prepare fish to their best potential for competition.   In this episode, they talk about: The history of koi grow out contest and what a koi grow out contest means C...

Today, Eric dives into the colorful world of cichlids with guest Brandon Blombquist. Brandon is the owner of West Coast Cichlid Supplies, a cichlid breeding and sales business in Southern California. Brandon shares how he turned his longtime hobby for cichlid into a thriving business.   In this episode, they talk about: Story of how Eric and Brandon met Why Brandon decided to pursue cichlids as a...

If you're looking for something unique to add to your aquarium, how about adding an aquatic snake? Many aquatic snake species can thrive in aquariums with compatible fish species. Today's guest is Myke Clarkson, a reptile expert who's making efforts to make aquatic snakes become accessible display animals. Myke also works with Herpetological Conservation International to conserve reptiles.   In th...

After a four-year hiatus from YouTube, The Pond Digger is finally making a comeback. Eric sits down with the person who is helping him to return to YouTube – independent filmmaker Joe Betancourt. They discuss their creative plans together for YouTube, how their collaboration came to be and where it's headed.   In this episode, we talk about: Why did Eric stop posting to YouTube four years ago  Wha...

Today Eric takes us on a trip down memory lane with his longtime friend and colleague Kathy Jo. The two discuss the origin story of this episode's title and share the value of actively working at creating meaningful memories with friends and family that will stand the test of time.   In this episode, we talk about: Why did Kathy said "I hope you die before I do" to Eric years ago Impact of a memor...

Today's guest, Dustin Wunderlich, is a strong proponent of using dirt in aquariums to achieve explosive plant growth. In this episode, Dustin shares the origins of this unconventional approach of using nutrient-rich dirt in aquariums and why it works so well for getting lush plants.    In this episode, we talk about: Dustin's journey with aquatics and entrepreneurship  The importance of lighting a...

Stonework is not just a practical feature in ponds. It gives a decorative touch and makes the pond a more attractive part of your garden. Today's guest, Graham Waleryszak, is a stone artist known for his unique approach to stonework that blends function and creativity. He discusses how stonework can also serve as a visual work of art beyond being functional structures.   In this episode, we talk a...

Contractors who defy their realities transform their business by expanding what they think they can achieve! Today's episode is a recording of a coaching call that Eric did to give you a glimpse of what it's like inside the Contractor Power Circle. Eric discusses the importance of defying your reality and how we can redefine the boundaries of what we believe is achievable.   In this episode, we ta...

Effective communication is the key to building a solid brand! Today's guest on the show is branding expert Bill Harper. Bill discusses the importance of defining your brand and communicating it clearly to your clients to run a successful business.   In this episode, we talk about: Bill's journey of becoming a branding expert The importance of branding and communication in running a successful busi...

Having a clean pond brings an extra touch of elegance to events like parties, weddings, or other special occasions. But you can get a little extra pop and just a little bit of extra polish to make it picture-perfect. Today, Eric shares pond polishing tips to make the water clarity of ponds pop like never before. He also does a Q&A session and answers questions about ponds and fishes asked by you....

We're 20 years behind in the contracting industry, and the old way of doing things has been outdated. Today's guest — Johnny Vescio, founder of Kolaabo Inc. — wants to create a modern vibe in the contracting world. He discusses the need for modernization in the contracting industry and what it means to be a modern contractor.   In this episode, we talk about: The contracting industry's outdated pr...

In this episode, we dive into the world of pond inspections and maintenance, exploring why they are essential for maintaining a healthy and beautiful pond. Join us as we discuss the importance of regular inspections, the role of pond inspections in preventing issues, and practical tips for pond owners to keep their aquatic ecosystems thriving.   In this episode we discuss... The Value of Pond Insp...

Welcome to this episode where we explore the captivating world of bingeable content and the art of connecting with your ideal clients through your content. Get ready for some invaluable tips and tricks that will transform the way you approach content creation, making it truly binge-worthy. Plus, we have a special guest today, Jasmine Partida, a seasoned social media strategist, who is here to shar...

In this episode, Eric Triplett, breaks down his 10-point pond inspection and how important it is to his Pond Business.    He discusses: the basics of pond inspections what inspectors look for on job sites  gives tips for homeowners to know what to look for in their own ponds how many fish can be kept in a pond  importance of maintenance routines You'll get the inside look at how he runs his busine...