The Untrapped Podcast With Keith Kalfas

In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, host Keith Kalfas talks with Joel Kouski from Kouski Landscaping, who has built a $2 million business with 20 employees. Joel shares his story and talks about why staying emotionally detached in customer service is important, while still building real connections with customers. They discuss overcoming challenges, leading with humility and strong character...

In this insightful episode of the Untrapped podcast, host Keith Kalfas interviews Erica Krupin, the founder of Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin. Erica shares her inspiring journey from working at the  University of Michigan Hospital to creating a multiple six-figure business specializing in poop scooping. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to entrepreneurship, the challenges she faced, and the...

In this lively episode, Keith Kalfas hosts Austin Douglas from Ditch The Itch, who has built a six-figure business from scratch by removing poison ivy and offering mosquito treatments. Austin shares his journey from part-time work to significant growth, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and networking. He discusses his innovative approaches to marketing and client retention, as wel...

In this episode, Keith Kalfas discusses the intense work required when starting a business, including long hours, stress, and financial struggles. He highlights the importance of healthy eating, proper sleep, and reinvesting earnings into personal growth and education. Keith also addresses overcoming mental barriers like unworthiness and emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with positive, s...

In this engaging and personal episode, Keith Kalfas shares his raw and emotional journey of overcoming self-sabotage and insecurity. From his early days as a landscaper with dreams of becoming a musician, to his moment of self-sabotage at a city-wide talent competition, Keith emphasizes the importance of persistence and emotional control. Through relatable stories and personal anecdotes, he explor...

In this thought-provoking episode, Keith Kalfas explores the challenging relationship between empathy and achieving extreme success. He argues that highly successful individuals often have to develop skills akin to a 'personality disorder' to manage their emotions and compartmentalize stressful situations. Through various analogies and insights, the episode delves into the necessity of conscious c...

In this episode, Keith gets real about the tough balance between working for money and chasing what you love. He talks about his journey dealing with jobs that paid the bills versus work that brought him joy. Keith shares some eye-opening insights on whether doing something just for the cash or trying to turn your passion into your paycheck is worth it. He even brings in some tips from the pros on...

In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, Keith Kalfas gets personal and pretty inspiring as he talks about how even the smallest positive gestures can have a massive impact on the world. He shares some cool stories about passing on the right book at the right time or making a YouTube video when you least feel like it can be life-changing for others. Keith digs into how trusting your gut and doing...

In this episode, Keith opens up about the rollercoaster ride of building and running his own landscaping business. You'll hear about why he now schedules all his landscaping quotes for Mondays. It's part of a strategy to bring more sanity into his hectic schedule and ensure that he's not just drowning in work but enjoying life. Keith dives into those early days of hardcore hustle when he was grind...

In this live episode, Keith Kalfas dives into the realities of running a landscape business, especially when dealing with customers who try to get free work. He shares hard-earned lessons on setting boundaries, valuing your services, and handling tough conversations with confidence. Reflecting on his journey from solopreneur to business owner, Keith explores the internal challenges and strategic s...

In this episode, Keith Kalfas and Mack explores the challenges and strategies of balancing lawn care and landscaping services. It features a discussion between two lawn care business owners on the benefits and fears of transitioning to landscaping, focusing on how to streamline services and manage both effectively. They discuss how to schedule and price recurring maintenance, charge for additional...

After his recent trip to Atlanta for a speaking gig, Keith's got some fresh insights about how the way we see ourselves can really shape our success. He's breaking down the difference between a scarcity mindset that holds you back and an abundant mindset that drives success. Keith shares some personal stories and drops some knowledge bombs on how shifting your identity and aligning with the right...

In this episode, Keith explored the crucial skill of discernment in business decisions. He shared insights from his experiences in the landscaping industry, emphasizing that saying no can be more beneficial than saying yes to everything. He discussed the importance of focusing on core services, understanding the risks of overextending, and utilizing smart subcontracting. Success lies in mastering...

Keeping your landscaping and service business on track can be challenging, but Keith has some great tips and stories today. In this $13,000 project, he and his crew dealt with everything from chopping down massive arborvitaes to detecting hidden PVC pipes. Keith explains the importance of saying "no" to things that aren't in your wheelhouse and why sometimes you need to learn the hard way. In addi...

In today's episode, Keith dives into a pretty intense story that could really make you stop and think.  A few years back, in 2021, Keith had a near-miss that none of us would ever want to face—he almost got seriously hurt while working on a tree job near some high-voltage power lines. And he's shared why that experience serves as a major wake-up call about the realities and risks of working close...

In this episode, Keith Kelfas shares a personal story about cutting corners on a landscaping job due to fear and lack of confidence. He recalls how he started his landscaping business with an obsessive focus on quality and customer care, only to land a wealthy client whose massive property overwhelmed him. Keith recounts undercharging for extensive landscaping work and making a critical error by n...

Keith delivers a profound narrative on navigating life's darkest moments in this compelling episode of The Untrapped. He recounts his experiences of financial hardship and emotional challenges, illustrating how he discerned a faint glimmer of hope amidst seemingly insurmountable despair. Keith emphasizes the importance of developing resilience and the readiness to receive life's blessings when the...

In his inspiring speech at the 2024 Lawntrepreneur Academy, Keith Kelfas discusses the importance of grit in overcoming professional and personal challenges. Drawing from his own experiences in the landscaping business and his faith in God, Keith shares powerful stories of perseverance, emotional growth, and the journey through highs and lows. He emphasizes the significance of honesty in business,...

On this episode of The Untrapped Podcast, host Keith Kelfas talks with Cornell from Mack Landscaping and Lawn Care, currently attending the Lawntrepreneur Academy event in Novi, Michigan. Cornell shares his journey from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he grew up learning lawn care from his grandmother to starting his own lawn care business in 2016. They discuss the importance of having commercial...

In this episode, we dive into the psychological and financial struggles of running a service business, especially when undercharging creates a cycle of stress and low profitability. Keith Kalfas, shares personal strategies for escaping this 'doom loop' by setting boundaries, improving communication, and learning from successful entrepreneurs. We also discuss the value of staying positive, organize...

In this episode, Keith Kelfas offers crucial advice for landscaping business owners facing economic uncertainty. He emphasizes the importance of staying strong, learning new skills, and maintaining a positive mindset. Keith shares insights from books like 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' and 'Guerrilla Marketing Tactics' to highlight resilience and strategic thinking. He also introduces a...

In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, Keith Kalfas shares the hardships and unpredictability of the landscaping business, focusing on the importance of resilience and gratitude in the face of challenges. He discusses personal anecdotes and those of others in similar businesses, illustrating how perseverance through difficulties can lead to greater growth. Keith emphasizes learning from mistake...

In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, Keith Kalfas interviews Dan Platta, the Home Service CFO and founder of Best Dan Bookkeeping. They discuss key topics such as managing chaos in business, the importance of having the right team, effective organizational strategies, and Dan's journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. The conversation touches on the significance of recruiting top...

Join us as we dive deep with David Carroll, founder of Dope Marketing, who shares his inspiring journey of building a multimillion-dollar service business in window cleaning, pressure washing, and soft washing before transitioning into his dream venture, Dope Marketing. Discover the secrets behind his success, automation of service businesses, and how he balanced his family's priorities. Learn abo...

In this episode, Keith shares invaluable insights from a decade-long experience serving 5,000 clients in a landscaping business. He discusses the challenges and strategies to make the business more manageable and enjoyable. Key topics include the importance of consuming industry-specific knowledge through audiobooks and podcasts, avoiding unrelated distractions, and systemizing tasks. He emphasize...