Waste No Day: A Home Services Motivational Podcast

$2.8M In Just Electrical Safety Inspections with James Mellinger of Mister Sparky Electric - Part 1

In today’s show, we are putting James Mellinger in your passenger seat for the first part of a conversation about his incredible success with electrical safety inspections. James is a service electrician and safety advisor for Mister Sparky Electric in Lancaster, PA. Coming out of high school, James got introduced to the trades through a family connection eventually taking apprenticeship classes and learning the skills. Originally joining One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning as an HVAC tech, he eventually transferred to the sister company Mister Sparky Electric wear he found his niche in the service industry. As a self-proclaimed amateur in selling communication, James graduated the school of hard knocks to eventually become one of the highest producing panel sales electricians in the nation. In this two-part episode, James shares how he approaches an electrical safety inspection or tune-up and how he walks the client through expectations the whole way to the table. Make sure to catch the conclusion of the conversation next episode.

LARGEST Plumbing Contractor in AZ Talks Growth and Trading a Legacy Business for Legacy Money with Mike Brewer of Brewer Companies - Part 2

In today’s show, we are putting Mike Brewer in your passenger seat for the conclusion of a conversation around growth and leadership. Mike brings 44 years of experience in the plumbing industry as the Chief Executive Officer for the Brewer Companies, a family of businesses that provide plumbing services to the retail, residential new construction and commercial markets. He has held the role of strategist and visionary for the overall enterprise since its inception. Michael is devoted to the contracting industry and is past President of the American Subcontractors Association of Arizona (ASAA) and is the past chair of the steering committee for the Build Your Future Arizona initiative (BYFAZ.org).  Michael was instrumental as one of the initial leaders of the concept of a marketing campaign to attract the youth of our state to consider a career in the trades while striving to change the perception of the general public from trade workers being dead-end jobs to the deserved recognition that they are actually a gateway to highly lucrative and sound careers. He is also a lifelong learner, problem solver and inventor and holds two patents on a plumbing test device for the industry. Michael has lived in Arizona since 1968 and is married with 6 children, 4 of those working within the businesses. Mike joins us again to discuss the conclusion of his incredible story.

LARGEST Plumbing Contractor in AZ Talks Growth and Trading a Legacy Business for Legacy Money with Mike Brewer of Brewer Companies - Part 1

In today’s show, we are putting Mike Brewer in your passenger seat for the first part of a conversation about his journey to become the largest residential plumbing company in Arizona. Mike brings 44 years of experience in the plumbing industry as the Chief Executive Officer for the Brewer Companies, a family of businesses that provide plumbing services to the retail, residential new construction and commercial markets. He has held the role of strategist and visionary for the overall enterprise since its inception. He led and constituted a strategy to become the largest residential plumbing contractor in the state of Arizona right through the Great Recession. Not only did Brewer Enterprises Inc. survive, but organically grew its revenue from $6.4 million in 2009 to ~$80 million in 2021, growing market share in the Phoenix and Tucson market, all while going through the toughest economic times of our lives. He opened the first Benjamin Franklin Plumbing service and repair retail franchise in Arizona in 2003 and provides the commercial markets drain and service needs with Brewer Commercial Services since 2007. Having sold his ownership interests in the fall of 2021, he also currently holds the role as Senior Advisor to the CEO of Synergos Companies, a company of trade leaders who build efficiency into every project. He is also a lifelong learner, problem solver and inventor and holds two patents on a plumbing test device for the industry. Michael has lived in Arizona since 1968 and is married with 6 children, 4 of those working within the businesses. Today he shares his story on part 1 of this incredible episode.

Growing to $25M from $300K as an Electrical Contractor with Aaron Hagan of Mister Sparky Electric

In today’s show, we are putting Aaron Hagan in your passenger seat to discuss growing an electrical contractor business. Aaron is no stranger to the trade. He is a second generation electrician who grew up in a truck and made his way through the ranks to become owner. Learning in his dad's passenger seat from a young age, Aaron kept seeking out new and better ways to grow eventually putting them into the increase of his business. Starting off a two-man operation generating over $300,000 annually, Hagan saw his fair share of ups and downs. At one point, the entire company cycled in a year as they redesigned the definition of culture. Starting over a second time, Hagan grew the business to $25M with goals to his $70M in the next three years. Aaron joins the show today to not only talk about his journey personally, but some tips from the school of hard knocks that he picked up along the way.

Capture the Heart and the Mind Will Follow with Roy H. Williams of Wizard of Ads

In today’s show, we are putting Roy H. Williams in your passenger seat to discuss how the concept of story plays a vital part in accomplishing your message. Whether it is advertising on the radio or marketing yourself in the home, the story matters. So often we try to talk about quicker, faster, better, and the list goes on; but what about the story? What about how a product is going to make a difference? What about how your service makes someone feel? Every purchase is an emotional one and as such the heartstrings must be tugged with a picture, either physically or verbally. Roy H. Williams is the master story teller. A lifelong student of humanity, Roy H. Williams has spent a quarter-century asking, “What makes people do the things they do?” And he’s been using the things he’s learned to stimulate miraculous growth for his small business clients for more than 25 years. His books and Monday Morning Memos are a constant source of fascination and entertainment for his students and friends around the globe and have been named the Wall Street Journal’s number one Business Book in America as well as New York Times bestseller. With forty branch offices in the US, Canada, and Australia, Wizard of Ads, Inc. is now serving the advertising and marketing needs of business owners around the globe. Roy joins the show today to share his expertise on making yourself and your business memorable and moving.

Never Split the Difference with Chris Voss of The Black Swan Group

In today’s show, we are putting Chris Voss in your passenger seat to discuss never splitting the difference. Everything in life is a negotiation, but standing in front of a client makes it more apparent. Wouldn’t it be great if you knew what to say and how to say it and when to say it in a negotiation? Over decades of FBI hostage negotiation, Chris learned those things and more through real-world experience; which he detailed in his best-selling book, “Never Split the Difference.” A 24-year veteran of the FBI, Chris Voss is one of the preeminent practitioners and professors of negotiating skills in the world. He is the founder and principal of The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that provides training and advises Fortune 500 companies through complex negotiations. Voss has taught for many business schools, including the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Harvard University, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, among others. Chris joins the show today to relate these principles to the home services industry as we celebrate episode #100.

Running A Call Like A World Champion in Brazilian Jujitsu with Justin High of Gracie 717

In today’s show, we are putting Justin High in your passenger seat to discuss the grit and determination required to push through the tough things. Justin knows firsthand about commitment and overcoming the internal desire to quit. As a three-time world champion in Brazilian jujitsu he has competed at the highest levels and won. From a young age he became familiar with what it takes to overcome difficulties. When he was in his 20’s, he determined that he was the source of many of his own problems. However, as he became more serious about jujitsu he realized that he had to be honest with himself and cut out the habits and choices that would him weaker or the consequences would be his own neck. After winning his third world championship he started to see in each moment of your life it is easy to see what is right versus what is wrong. If you build a foundation of good choices success is the obvious outcome. Justin shares these experiences and more on today’s episode.

Running A Call Like A Wiener Dog with Peter Nevland of Wizard of Ads

In today’s show, we are putting Peter Nevland in your passenger seat to discuss valuable lessons to be learned from the wiener dog. What do wiener dogs and the home services industry have in common? The answer is creating memorable experiences. We need each client we serve to be intrigued at our service and drawn to our interactions. There is too much on the line each time we step foot in the home to not be extraordinary; and the cost of acquiring each client is too great to not secure return business. Peter Nevland lives with his wife and three children in Austin, TX. His teams of Wizard of Ads partners have helped grow businesses since 2008.  It’s very common for his clients to double and continue growing year after year.  He holds a masters in materials science and engineering and worked as an engineer for Motorola before leaving in 2002 to tour the world for a decade as a spoken word performer and writing workshop teacher.  He’s now released 3 books, 8 albums, 2 DVDs and endless smiles all over the world. Peter helps us understand how studying the wiener dog can lead to far better, and remarkable, client experiences.

The 5 Things to Always Be Doing with Al Levi of The 7-Power Contractor

In today’s show, we are putting Al Levi in your passenger seat to discuss five things that you should always be doing. Al Levi is no stranger to the industry. Working out processes and systems through decades of personal experience as both a tech and business owner, Al has successfully systematized so many areas to make your business go right. Detailing much of these concepts in his book, “The 7-Power Contractor,” Al returns to the show to discuss some new ideas that need constant focus.

Running a Call with a Marine One Pilot with LtCol John Ballenger - Part 2

In today’s show, we are putting Lt. Col. John Ballenger in your passenger seat to continue our conversation from the last show. Until recently, Ballenger served as a pilot with HMX-1 otherwise known as Marine One or the President’s Helicopter. Capping off a distinguished career in the military Ballenger takes time to share what his time in the service has taught him. Looking to transition into the next phase of life we also explore a great DOD initiative called SkillBridge and what it is doing to help military personnel move into the civilian world and specifically the trades. If you missed the first part of this episode, make sure to get up to speed before diving into this exciting conclusion.