The Deep End with Eric Triplett

Today Eric discusses the controversial practice of gifting live Japanese koi for Christmas. While social media critics view the surprise as irresponsible, Triplett argues that meticulous preparation and expertise can transform it into a deeply meaningful experience. He highlights the importance of vetting the recipient's experience and the health of their existing pond to ensure the animals thrive...

Today's podcast centers on how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the trades by allowing contractors to generate organized reports and notes through simple voice-to-text and photo capture. Luke from CompanyCam explains that many contractors resist technology because it is often difficult to use or distracting from their primary manual labor, so his goal is to make the app a seamless tool r...

Eric introduces the concept of the Eisenhower Matrix as a tool for improving time management and business efficiency. This matrix is explained through its four quadrants—urgent/important, not urgent/important, urgent/not important, and not urgent/not important—and Eric emphasizes that Quadrant Two (not urgent, but important) is the "magical spot" for strategic planning and growth, encouraging list...

Today Eric focuses on the concept of challenging traditional methods—or the mindset of "that's the way I've always done it"—within business, specifically contracting and the aquatic hobby. Triplet emphasizes the importance of innovation and efficiency, using examples like adopting new software (CompanyCam) to dramatically shorten the time spent on client reports, moving from burning CDs to using d...

Eric is joined by guests Tyson and Slayer in an episode conducted in a rapid-fire Q&A format. The discussion focuses on personal and professional experiences within the contracting and construction trades, covering topics such as favorite tools, regrettable purchasing decisions, scary job site moments, difficult phone calls, and times they felt "stuck" in their careers. They also share advice for...

Eric argues that true failure often results from working hard on the wrong tasks, rather than a lack of effort. He emphasizes the "nobility of quitting the wrong thing," stressing that stopping ineffective tactics or habits is a strategic move, not a sign of weakness. To illustrate this, Eric provides examples from business, such as contractors focusing on marketing before improving their sales sk...

Eric discusses the crucial concept of picking your battles for personal and professional success, especially as an entrepreneur or contractor. He uses a quadrant system to categorize tasks as urgent, not urgent, important, and not important, advising listeners to focus primarily on urgent and important tasks while delegating or ignoring those that are not urgent and not important. The core message...

The main focus of today's episode is the metaphorical concept of the "cocoon," which represents a period of necessary self-rebuilding and transformation for business owners to achieve higher levels of success, similar to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. Triplet emphasizes that while external help like coaching or peer groups can guide the process, the individual must fight their own way out of...

Eric establishes the theme of the 365 Reckoning, an annual self-audit designed to assess personal and professional growth over the previous year. He challenges listeners to stop living in a reactionary mode and instead approach the upcoming year with ruthless discipline and intentionality. A central point of the audit involves breaking the limiting "contractor conspiracy" mindset, advising them to...

Eric discusses what your pond would want for Christmas. He suggests practical and thoughtful gifts to enhance your pond's appearance and health, including a real maintenance schedule, professional pond inspections, aquatic plants, remodels, new koi, water treatment packages, lighting, wildlife-attracting items, and outdoor furniture. The overarching theme emphasizes that the best gift for your pon...

Eric discusses the philosophical concept that being worn out from work is actually a powerful sign of success. Triplet shares how he was inspired by the quote, "What a privilege to be tired from the work you once beg the universe for," which encourages listeners to reframe exhaustion as a blessing rooted in purpose. He recounts his career journey building aquariums and ponds, explaining the transi...

Eric shares audio from a weekly coaching call primarily aimed at contractors and small business owners, emphasizing the fragility of their businesses and the constant risk of financial collapse, which he metaphorically terms the "contractor's glass floor." The discussion centers on the importance of proactive planning, understanding profit margins, and sales training to ensure business sustainabil...

Today, Eric shares a "Weekly Compass Call," which focuses on the concept of iteration—the process of constant, small improvement. He emphasizes that continuous iteration is essential for personal and business growth, citing inspirational examples like the owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, Jesse Cole, who introduces 12 new ideas every game. The discussion identifies three main reasons wh...

Eric, humorously emphasizes the necessity of properly cleaning and maintaining a residential pond before the Thanksgiving holiday. He uses the analogy of a pond "hosting Thanksgiving dinner" to illustrate the importance of presenting a pristine water feature, arguing that family members, particularly judgmental ones like "Uncle Steve," will inevitably scrutinize the pond while walking off their ho...

Eric provides a pre-holiday reality check for pond owners. He stresses that Thanksgiving marks the final opportunity to perform necessary fall and winter pond maintenance before the chaotic holiday season makes it impossible. Triplet uses urgency and fear of an embarrassing, neglected pond to motivate listeners, sharing anecdotes about clients who waited too long and suffered consequences, such as...

Enjoy this conversation between Eric and the Jole's, Marvin & Nikki, focusing heavily on professional growth and community-building within the construction and asphalt industries. A central theme is the concept of "iron sharpens iron," which is discussed in the context of both personal development and professional accountability, particularly within coaching groups and through critiques during rol...

Eric's guest today is Larry from the Side Hustle Podcast. The main topic of conversation is Larry's experience attending the EQUIP Exposition, initially for equipment viewing, which unexpectedly led to a complete transformation of his business model—starting with raising prices, moving to better employee treatment, and adopting software like Jobber to streamline operations and payment collection....

Today's show documents a lively, late-night brainstorming session between two friends, Eric and Tyson, who are discussing branding and identity for Tyson's elite fire suppression business, Acefire. Fueled by whiskey and a fire in the background, the conversation quickly turns to leveraging ChatGPT, an AI tool, to formalize an "elite" group identity and an accompanying mascot, logo, and motto for T...

Eric speaks with two former law enforcement officers, Chris and Dave, regarding their experiences with hostage negotiation training and undercover work, particularly on a Vice detail involving arrests for public indecency and the pursuit of pedophiles. They discuss how the principles of negotiation skills, such as active listening, mirroring, and building rapport, are surprisingly transferable to...

Timothy Warren of Helium SEO joins Eric on today's podcast. He discusses the impact of ChatGPT on the search industry and specifically on Google. Warren explains that Google had a "red alert" meeting after Chat GPT launched because the AI tool is superior to Google for complex search queries, though Google remains better for commercial, location-based searches. The discussion covers the history an...

Eric has a conversation with Todd Zimmerman discussing Kress , a company focused on electrification and robotization in the landscaping industry, particularly through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Kress offers two main product lines: professional-grade 60-volt battery-powered tools for commercial landscapers and a pro-grade homeowner line, both utilizing advanced battery technology for...

Eric sat down with Mr. Producer , a seasoned podcast producer and former radio professional, to discuss his career journey and the evolution of audio communication. Mr. Producer shares how a chance encounter at age fifteen led him to a job in radio, detailing his practice of cultivating a powerful voice for the airwaves. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the shift from tradition...

Eric chats with Libby Delucian and they discuss her remarkable journey from hitting rock bottom after a separation—being locked out of her house with nothing—to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the home service and software industries. She details how she leveraged her experience and skills to launch an organizing and cleaning company which quickly grew, leading to the creation of three separ...

Eric speaks with Tyler Fisher about building and improving water feature businesses. They discuss a series of upcoming hands-on training sessions offered by Atlantic-OASE at their Aurora, Ohio, facility during the winter months. These intensive three-day courses are designed to teach contractors and DIY enthusiasts skills ranging from installing fountains and formal spillways to advanced koi pond...

Today's podcast interview is with Jonas Olson, the " Pest Control Millionaire ," where he and Eric discuss his rapid business growth and entrepreneurial philosophy. Olson emphasizes the importance of a strong mindset, competitiveness, and calculated risk-taking to achieve success, drawing on his personal history of being the youngest of four competitive siblings and working hard on a farm. A signi...