Stay ConnectedToolbox for the Trades is a podcast where top service professionals share the tips, tricks, and tactics they use to succeed in their industry. This podcast is brought to you by ServiceTitan—the leading home and commercial field service software.
Episodes will feature stories and strategies to help contractors grow and scale their service business.
A lot of businesses in the trades struggle with marketing.
But marketing really comes down to 3 things:
Providing value, building trust and educating your customers.
My guest today is someone who has these 3 things down to a science.
Roger Wakefield, Owner at Texas Green Plumbing, has one of the most fascinating and storied backgrounds of anyone I've ever interviewed.
From plumbing to cosmetology to restaurant management — he really has done it all.
And now, he can add "YouTube sensation" to that list.
In this episode, Roger explains:
-The steps he took on his fascinating career path
-How he became a YouTube sensation
-How to pick a specialty in the trades
If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.
Has everyone in your office hopped in a van with a tech?
If not, they should.
Without seeing first hand what they go through, everyone's work suffers.
Since implementing ride-alongs, Vanessa Gonzales, Chief Administrative Officer at Albuquerque Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, has seen everyone — in the office and field — get better at their jobs.I caught up with her in today's show to pick her brain about what she's learned in her many years of experience owning a business in the trades.
We covered a lot of ground, including:
-The trick to running a business with your spouse (and his old roommate)
-Why ride-alongs are so effective
-How to be a coworker to your employees (until they force you to be the boss)
If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.
How well do you know your operations manual?
For many, it's just something to keep lawyers happy.
But it should be your bible for success.
In this episode, I speak with Al Levi, Consultant and CEO at The 7-Power Contractor and Author of The 7-Power Contractor, itself an operations manual for success in the trades.If Al has learned anything in his lifelong career in the trades, it's that a manager's real job is to make sure the manuals are right.
In this episode, Al explains:
-Why making great systems is more important than finding great people
-How a lawsuit at a young age taught him the importance of manuals
-The 7 powers you need to find success in the trades
If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.
Everyone wants to grow their business.
But sometimes, that means becoming less vital to it.
Your systems should be so good your business runs fine without you.
In today's guest episode, we have another great one from The Home Service Expert.
Tommy Mello and Adam Cronenberg, COO at A1 Garage Door Service, go over how streamlining their systems fueled their explosive growth.
Tommy and Adam discussed:
-How Tommy's team leveraged ServiceTitan to streamline their system
-Why systems and processes are vital to your business
-The difference between owning a job and owning a business
Want to take part in the conversation? Be sure to join our Facebook group here.
Adding services to your business can be a great strategy…
But it can also be scary.
So, it's important to make sure the business is spot on.
And we have another fantastic guest episode today from To The Point that explains exactly how you can.
In it, Host Chris Yano interviews Bobby Jenkins from ABC Home & Commercial Services and finds out how he was able to add so many services to his business.
They go over:
-Why multiple services is a great strategy (and topic)
-What it takes to build a sustainable family business
-Why a repeat customer is the best customer
Want to take part in the conversation? Be sure to join our Facebook group here.
There are 3 reasons people buy from you:
They know you. They like you. They TRUST you.
And there's only one way to win their trust…
Being consistent.
In today's Toolbox for the Trades Guest Series Episode, Mike Claudio and Ryan Webber, hosts of Big Stud Sales, go over how you can win your customers' trust through consistency.
They explain:
-Consistency selling (and why it builds trust)
-The importance of SOPs
-How you can leverage podcasts to reach your target audience
Want to take part in the conversation? Be sure to join our Facebook group here.
Have you ever read a book that changed everything?
Most small business owners have. Often, it's the same book…
The E-Myth.
I've learned it's one book everyone seems to swear by through my conversations with people in the trades.
I'm currently busy recording more of those conversations for Season 2, so we're doing something a bit different for the next few episodes…
Showcasing some of the other amazing podcasts on the trades!
And you're going to love this first one from The Home Service Expert.
Host (and Toolbox for the Trades alumn) Tommy Mello sat down with Michael E. Gerber, author of The E-Myth, and (another alumn) Ken Goodrich, CEO of Goettl Air Conditioning, to discuss their collaboration on The E-Myth HVAC Contractor.
They covered:
-How Ken's IRS issues inspired him to pick up the original E-Myth
-How the book changed everything for him (repeatedly)
-How he and Michael ended up collaborating for The E-Myth HVAC Contractor
Want to take part in the conversation? Be sure to join our Facebook group here.
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 control of your thoughts with Friedrich Nietzsche
Check out this resource we mentioned during the podcast:
-Our ebook companion to Season 1
-Our Facebook community: Toolbox for the Trades
If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.
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 the power our mindset can have — and how changing it can alter the entire trajectory of our lives.
In this episode, he shared:
-How he went from "loser" to the success he is today (and the neuroscience behind it)
-How we can use the same mental tools to improve our business, sales and culture
-Why every sales strategy works — the problem is usually human error If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.
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: It's not the math.
In this episode, Ellen covers:
-How Ellen got roped into the trades (and why she never left)
-Why a good mentor can change your life
-What is really scaring you away from your financials
If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.
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