The Deep End with Eric Triplett

Enjoy a Christmas message from Eric Triplett, host of the Pond Digger Podcast. He reflects on the past year, emphasizing gratitude, personal challenges, and the importance of setting intentional goals. Eric discusses concepts like "misogi" (Japanese for purification) and the power of positive thinking and gratitude in creating opportunities. He promotes upcoming podcasts focusing on goal setting a...

Eric and Tyson discuss The Pond Digger's planned rebranding. Eric shares his vision for a bolder brand image, inspired by a Cal Fire truck, aiming for a more authoritative and professional appearance. He reflects on past rebranding experiences and emphasizes the importance of branding in shaping customer perception and employee morale. The conversation explores the concept of brand evolution versu...

This episode of the Pond Digger podcast, hosted by Eric Triplet, focuses on the importance of going the extra mile, being kind, and bringing back tough love. Triplet and his guests emphasize that going the extra mile is a reflection of integrity, leads to repeat business, and sets a positive example for employees. They also believes that kindness is crucial for creating a positive work environment...

This meeting of the contractor circle focuses on the importance of goal setting and accountability for the year 2025. Eric emphasizes identifying goals, reverse engineering them, creating a plan, and finding an accountability partner. He also highlights the significance of tracking progress through metrics and encourage participants to share their progress and challenges with the group. Key Takeaw...

Andy Jamieson, a natural pool designer from Cape Town, South Africa is Eric's special guest. The conversation begins with Andy's background in permaculture and his subsequent specialization in natural pools, spurred by a severe water crisis in Cape Town. Get ready to learn about the sustainable design and construction of natural pools, particularly Andy's innovative floating wetland systems as a c...

Eric's guest is Chris Phillips, a social media coach specializing in helping contractors grow their businesses. Chris emphasizes ditching excuses and consistently posting daily content, using a system he developed to distribute one post across seven social media platforms. He highlights the importance of showing the reality of the work, leveraging visuals and concise explanations to attract client...

This special interview details the work of a Kenske Sito, the top koi fish shipment arranger in Japan. He describes the substantial volume of koi transported, peaking in autumn and spring, and the logistical challenges involved, including negotiating with airlines, handling damaged or dead fish, and ensuring proper packaging, especially during summer. Sito emphasizes the crucial role he plays conn...

Today's show features Eric's interview with Shigeru Mano San of Dainichi Koi, a highly respected Japanese koi farmer. The discussion centers on his koi breeding techniques, focusing on prioritizing body quality over pattern. He explains his meticulous selection process, revealing his large-scale operation and the significant effort involved. The interview also touches upon his business collaborati...

There are a number of problems that arise when contractors do not focus on their sales process. Eric and Luke share how contractors should prioritize training their staff on proper sales techniques in order to convert leads into customers. When answering the phone, contractors should treat customers courteously and ask questions to determine their needs. Before discussing price, contractors should...

Today Eric talks with Tom Mays from SCAPE, the Southern California Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts. This volunteer-run, non-profit organization is celebrating its 20th anniversary of promoting the hobby of planted aquariums. The episode explores the club's history, its impact on the aquarium hobby, and the benefits of joining a community of passionate hobbyists. Listeners will gain insights into the wor...

The Rocky Mountain Koi Club, led by Elliot Virgil, is a thriving community of over 100 members who prioritize helpfulness and support within the koi hobby. Eric interviews Elliot and discovers the club's dedication and willingness to travel and volunteer at events like the All-American Koi Show, even when not showcasing their own fish. Elliot's personal journey in the koi hobby exemplifies his "al...

Today we feature Eric's weekly accountability call for contractors and entrepreneurs, "The Weekly Compass." The call participants discuss sales strategies, using the metaphor of a "new awakening" to represent transformative learning experiences. They analyze a sales interaction with a client needing a pond built, emphasizing strategic questioning and building rapport to guide the client toward a p...

Today, Eric speaks with Sam Garcia Jr., known as Sam Scalz, an artist who specializes in painting aquatic and terrestrial animals. Scalz finds inspiration for his artwork from traveling to shows across the country and observing the animals that hobbyists are passionate about. He is also a researcher who studies the behavior and ecology of the species he paints, and he uses his art sales to fund hi...

Eric interviews Hector Mardueño, the current owner of W. LIM Corporation. Hector describes the challenges he's faced and overcome since purchasing the company from its founder, William Lim. Lim had a reputation in the pond and water garden industry for making excellent pumps, but his business practices and personal interactions alienated many in the industry. Mardueño has worked diligently to chan...

Discover the importance of effective communication, specifically the difference between what is said and how it is interpreted. In sales and personal interactions, how something is said can drastically alter its meaning. Eric illustrates this point through examples of text message confusion and the impact of tone of voice. Triplet further emphasizes the significance of body language and non-verbal...

Graham is a British contractor who specializes in restoring old French properties. He's been in business for 17 years, but he's struggled financially, particularly in the early days after having a daughter. Discover Graham's journey of transforming his business and personal life through sales training, specifically with Eric's coaching group. Graham recounts how he initially resisted joining the g...

Today we learn about the hobbyist life of John Kim, a man with an extraordinary passion for multiple hobbies, particularly those related to plants, animals, and aquatic life. John highlights the benefits of belonging to multiple communities, emphasizing the importance of learning from experts, sharing knowledge, and fostering a sense of belonging. He discusses the unique challenges and rewards of...

This episode is from a coaching call for contractors hosted by Eric. The call centers around the importance of repetition and dedication in achieving success, particularly in sales. Eric uses the example of Jerry Seinfeld, who wrote jokes for two hours every day, regardless of whether he was working or not, to illustrate the power of consistent practice. He also emphasizes the importance of buildi...

Today Eric is joined by Dennis Yu, a former search engine engineer. They discuss how to make your brand "googable"—easily discoverable on Google. Yu explains that this isn't about SEO tricks but building a trustworthy, consistent online presence. He emphasizes linking your website, social media, and other digital mentions to create a unified brand image. Yu demonstrates how fragmented online ident...

Eric interviews Brett Raymer, a well-known aquarium enthusiast and former star of the Animal Planet television show  Tanked . Raymer reflects on his experiences with the show, including its impact on the aquarium hobby, the challenges of fame, and the ways he continues to engage with fans. He also discusses his plans for future projects, including a new aquarium-focused television show, a training...

Eric and members of his "Weekly Compass Coaching Call" discuss the art of selling and how to effectively apply pressure in sales situations, using the analogy of a baseball game and the pressure players face during crucial moments. They further analyze a specific sales call that one of the team members had, examining how his approach could have been more effective. The podcast ends with the team d...

Today's episode  explores the crucial topic of risk management for contractors , featuring expert guest John Shelonko, a seasoned risk management professional. John and Eric are joined by Kathy Jo Ferreria from Eric's team. They discuss the importance of contracts, insurance, employee safety, and the potential pitfalls contractors may face if they don't proactively manage these areas . This conver...

Eric sits down with one of his longtime team members, Mark VanderWoude, for a bittersweet conversation as Mark is leaving The Pond Digger team to pursue a career in law enforcement. They discuss Mark's journey from working on ponds to preparing for the police academy and reminisce about the good times, the challenges, and the strong bond they've built over the years.   In this episode, they talk a...

Today's guest is Mark MJ Wilson, a.k.a. The Pond Advisor, from the UK. MJ has over 35 years of experience in the water gardening industry and has written the upcoming book, Pond Passion to Profit: Achieving Prosperity and Fulfilment in the Business of Water Features, to help hobbyists passionate about ponds turn their pond and water feature passions into thriving, profitable businesses.   In this...

Eric interviews Ramy Guirguis, the organizer of the first annual LA Pet Fair. The LA Pet Fair is a groundbreaking pet show, which brought together a wide array of animals, reptiles, birds, aquatic animals, etc. It took place in June 2024. They discuss the fair's origins, its success, and future plans for the fair.   In this episode, they talk about… The origin story of the LA Pet Fair event  How R...