Toolbox for the Trades

From bad reviews and $50K in debt to homelessness and loss — our guests have gotten real with us on Toolbox for the Trades. In this episode, I share our top takeaways from Season 1 (and let you know what’s coming up for the summer). What we talked about: -Each of our guests shares inspiration & insights -What you need to succeed in leadership, acquisitions, & overcoming adversity -Take con...

What do you think about most?  Have you never really thought about that? Maybe you should.  Thinking about what to think about can transform your entire life.  At least it did for Weldon Long , speaker, mindset and sales expert and New York Times Bestselling author of The Power of Consistency .  After spending much of his adult life in prison, Weldon’s incredible success story truly demonstrates t...

The trades are filled with people who know hard work. And not just physically — you need savant-like technical expertise to do your job.  So why are you scared of your financials?  Today we’re speaking with Ellen Rohr , President and Franchise Operations Manager at Zoom Drain .  After a long career in the trades, Ellen has figured out why you don’t want to look at your financials.  And, spoiler: I...

Are you worried about the labor shortage? Well, don’t be. There’s no shortage of workers out there. You just haven’t built a culture they want to be a part of.  At least, so says our guest, Chad Peterman , President, Peterman Heating, Cooling & Plumbing . For Chad, the story of a labor shortage in the trades is nothing but a tall tale designed to scare kids into eating their vegetables.  Okay,...

If Thanksgiving has taught us anything, it’s that family can be tough. So, it’s amazing how many family-run businesses succeed and grow. But that growth means new, non-familial employees. How do you adopt them into the family On our show today, Darius Lyvers , COO of F.H. Furr Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning , shares some do’s and don’ts for growing a family business.  Darius has had some ba...

We live in a golden age of data that’s transformed operations in the trades. It’s never been easier to use software to track and analyze information on every facet of your business. So, it’s sometimes tempting to think you can see the whole picture without ever looking up from your computer screen.  But even with all the help these tools provide, sometimes getting hands-on out in the field is the...

What are your values? It’s a question every leader needs to answer.  It’s both the how and the why to success. And leadership in the trades is no different.  Our guest today, Chris Hunter , proves that. Chris is the Co-owner of Go Time Success Group , Founder of Hunter Super Techs and Director of Customer Relations at ServiceTitan. He collected this impressive collection of titles by living out hi...

We hear so many success stories in the trades that often follow a similar path: Start as an apprentice fresh out of high school, work hard to move through the ranks and, eventually, start and grow a company. And while you should never underestimate the power of hard work, it isn’t the whole story.  Success is about what you choose to invest in. Just ask Aaron Gaynor , owner of The EcoPlumbers . He...

Have you ever wondered how you can better market to women?   What do you think women look for in a contractor?    Now, this may seem crazy, but we have a suggestion: Ask them.   And our guest today, Susan Frew , public speaker and President of Sunshine Plumbing, Heating & Air , did exactly that.    In this episode, we talk about what she learned and so much more.   Susan goes over: - Why bigge...

Mario spent time in prison.  But when he tells his story, he glosses right over that fact.  What turned Mario’s life around wasn’t prison. It was the 2008 recession.  It all started with a letter from bankruptcy court.  He was being written off for nearly $300,000 of what he was owed.  Imagine pacing the floor of your bedroom in a house that you just built,  figuring out how to tell your wife that...

Are you a vital part of your business? If you leave on a two-week vacation and don’t check-in, will it fall apart? Many business owners will proudly say “yes” to both questions — but, if you’re one of them, you’re probably doing it wrong.  That advice is straight from our guest today, Tommy Mello , who is a bit of a renaissance man when it comes to the trades. He is the owner of A1 Garage Door Ser...

As anyone in the trades can tell you, hard work pays off. We’re always blown away here by the success stories we see in the trades every day. And that work ethic follows from the first day crawling through the mud to overseeing a $50 million empire. At least, it did for our guest today, John Akhoian, CEO at Rooter Hero Plumbing . John has carried his work ethic through every stephe has taken in th...

You’ve heard that saying, “Treat the janitor the same way you would treat the CEO.”   It’s one of the keys to great leadership, and it’s easy to say, but much harder to do, particularly if you’re already the CEO.   Which is why our conversation with Ken Goodrich was such an inspiring one.   Ken is the CEO of Goettl, one of the oldest HVAC companies in the US, and was a guest on the Toolbox for the...