The Mentor Moment

Changing your life begins with believing that something better is possible—and taking steps to make it happen. In this episode of The Mentor Moment, host Dirk Houglum explores three steps toward meaningful change: believe it, manifest it through action, and don’t be afraid to change direction. Through lessons from business, mentoring, and learning Kung Fu at fifty, Dirk shares how to challenge lim...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, a delayed restaurant visit sparks a conversation about the difference between knowing what to do and assuming you do. Paulette, drawing on her years in the restaurant industry, reminds Dirk that deciding when to cut staff is a fine line. Dirk reflects on his father’s grocery business and his advice: “If you can’t find something to do, sweep the floor.” The les...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about how leadership skills grow through practice. Drawing on his experiences mentoring inspectors, serving in BNI and at church, and learning Kung Fu, he explores the value of listening, accepting correction, following through, and owning mistakes. Leadership doesn’t require a title; it develops through everyday choices that help the people countin...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, I talk about continuing to show up when you are sick or simply not feeling like yourself. As you will hear, my voice is off today—but that makes this message even more real. Many of us continue working because people depend on us and the job still needs to be done. However, there is a difference between confidently pushing through a difficult day and ignoring...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk Houglum welcomes Rachel Schneider, author of The Widow Chose Red?, for a conversation about faith, grief, and finding hope when life takes an unexpected turn. Rachel shares her experience of losing her husband to ALS, raising their sons through grief, and supporting a son through addiction and recovery. Together, Dirk and Rachel discuss how mentoring and...

As the year moves toward its final months, now is the time to take an honest look at your business. In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk discusses examining what worked, what failed, where you grew, and where you struggled—without allowing mistakes to define you. He also explains why continuing education remains essential, even for experienced professionals, and how the lessons from this yea...

This is one of those conversations I honestly did not want to have—but it is necessary. Personal growth is not only about making more money, gaining confidence, or building a bigger business. It is also about becoming responsible enough to protect what you have worked so hard to build. In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks straight about protecting your name, your business, your time, y...

Today on The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about how real-life situations can teach us the biggest lessons. After a recent ER visit and more testing ahead, he shares why he started building a backup plan for D&P Home Inspection and reaching out to trusted inspector friends. Using his own story—and the story of a friend who lost their spouse—Dirk explains why having a plan, building real relationsh...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about how storytelling can make mentoring more powerful. After speaking with a former home inspector who left the business because fear became overwhelming, Dirk shares how fear can affect even talented people—and why mentors need to listen, encourage, and share their own real experiences. He also opens up about being afraid to put his face and voic...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk explains the GROW Model: Goal, Reality, Options, and Will. Building on active listening and powerful questions, this simple mentoring tool helps business owners define where they want to go, honestly examine where they are, explore possible solutions, and commit to meaningful action. Real growth begins when we stop simply staying busy and start moving for...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk explores how active listening and powerful questions can strengthen our marriages, personal relationships, businesses, and communities. Drawing from one of his earliest sermons—and the honest story of how his wife almost stopped seeing him because he talked more than he listened—Dirk explains the difference between merely hearing someone and making them f...

In Too Deep is about those moments in life when you have already invested so much time, money, effort, or emotion that walking away is not an easy decision. Whether it is a business that is surviving but not thriving, a vehicle that keeps needing repairs, a plan that suddenly changes, or a relationship going through a difficult season, the real question becomes: Is this still worth fighting for? I...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk shares a powerful business lesson passed down from his father: "You can make 10% off one item or 1% off ten. Chances are you'll sell a lot more at 1%, and in the long run you'll make more money." Rather than focusing on charging the highest price possible, this episode explores the value of pricing for growth—a strategy centered on creating long-term rela...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk shares a humorous and humbling story from his first Kung Fu tournament. What started as an attempt to step outside his comfort zone quickly turned into a series of embarrassing moments—from discovering he'd be sparring barefoot, to his protective cup falling out twice, to tripping over his own gi pants and landing flat on his back. Instead of letting thos...

This week on The Mentor Moment, Dirk welcomes Ron Monaco, a Financial & Credit Repair Professional with over 22 years of experience in the financial industry. Having worked as a licensed mortgage loan officer, in automotive sales management, and now helping people rebuild their credit, Ron has seen firsthand how financial challenges affect lives from every angle. Together, Dirk and Ron discuss...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk explores the true power of mentorship—not just teaching others, but connecting them with people who can help them grow. Through experiences with InterNACHI webinars and mentoring inspectors across the country, he shares how building relationships, sharing knowledge, and opening doors for others creates stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a stro...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk discusses the importance of expanding your networking reach and how meaningful relationships can open doors to opportunities, mentorship, personal growth, and business success. Drawing from his own journey of moving from Minnesota to Florida and building D&P Home Inspection from the ground up, Dirk shares how networking is about much more than referra...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk discusses the importance of having the right support system in place to stay motivated and engaged in both life and business. He shares how positive influences, mentors, family, friends, church, and networking relationships can help keep you focused on your goals during difficult seasons. Drawing from his own experience of moving to Florida and rebuilding...

This week on the Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about overcoming challenges both in and out of life. From stressful everyday situations to major life obstacles, he shares how challenges can either break us or make us stronger depending on how we respond. Dirk discusses facing fears, stepping outside your comfort zone, learning through hardship, and using patience, wisdom, and calm leadership during dif...

This episode of The Mentor Moment focuses on the importance of support systems while building a business, raising a family, and navigating life’s uncertainties. Dirk discusses moving his family from Minnesota to Florida five years ago and the challenges that came with leaving behind familiar structure, routines, and support systems to start over from scratch. He shares the reality of working lawn...

In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about managing expectations and setting stronger boundaries in business and life. He explains how unclear communication and lack of boundaries often lead to stress, frustration, and conflict. Dirk shares real-world examples from the inspection industry and everyday business situations, emphasizing that boundaries are not walls or rigid laws, but hea...

This episode of The Mentor Moment focuses on the relationship between outcomes and pushback in life and business. Dirk talks about how everyone wants success, healthy relationships, stronger faith, peace of mind, and financial stability—but few people talk about the resistance that often shows up right before growth and breakthroughs happen. Using personal stories from working in the grocery busin...

The Mentor Moment – Fear, Courage, and Doing Something That Matters In this episode of The Mentor Moment, Dirk sits down with author Danny Betamy and her husband Phil to discuss children’s books with messages that reach far beyond childhood. Together they talk about courage, emotional growth, volunteering, chaos in society, and why real change starts when people stop arguing and start serving. Fro...

This week on The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about the importance of encouraging continuous learning and why growth should never stop—no matter your age. Starting with his personal experience of joining Kung Fu at 50 years old, Dirk shares how stepping into something new can sharpen your mind, strengthen your body, humble your spirit, and reignite curiosity. This episode dives into the connection be...

This week on The Mentor Moment, Dirk talks about how too many business owners accidentally sound like commercials instead of real people. He shares how the key to building relationships is not talking more about yourself, but learning to ask better questions, listen with purpose, and make conversations about the other person. Through humor, real-world networking examples, and practical advice, Dir...