Ismael Valdez’s Toolkit for Success: Perseverance, Disruption, and Teamwork
Jan 16, 2024
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Ismael Valdez, a 'Renaissance Man' in contracting, shares insights on knowing your numbers, paying people well, and staying ahead of competitors. He discusses struggling business owners, scaling effectively, and managing labor costs. The podcast also covers dispatching techniques, partnership with Wrench, balancing work and personal life, and innovative thermostat technology.
Focus on tough decisions and team well-being during challenges.
Enhance business growth by knowing essential KPIs like revenue and average ticket.
Negotiate vendor deals and train technicians for cost-effective solutions at NextGen Air Conditioning.
Deep dives
Fundamentals of Operation and Contracting
Booking the car, signing the car, selling the car, installing the car, and collecting the car are highlighted as the key aspects of operations and contracting for service professionals in the trades.
Adapting to Economic Climate
With changes in the contracting landscape, adjustments are made at NextGen Air Conditioning to offer more cost-effective systems to customers through negotiated vendor deals and enhanced technician training for repair options.
Financial Resilience and Mentorship
During tough times, operators are advised to focus on making tough decisions, persevering through challenges, and prioritizing their teams' well-being, as shared by the CEO based on personal experience and mentorship.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Decision-Making
Emphasizing the significance of knowing essential KPIs like revenue, average ticket, booking percentage, and closing percentage to drive strategic decision-making and business growth with a strong focus on financial education.
Nuve Predictive Maintenance Solution
Nuve introduces an innovative thermostat exclusively for Service Titan users, offering unique features such as displaying contractor logos, sending customized messages, auto-cycling units, and enhancing customer engagement through predictive maintenance solutions, aiming to revolutionize client retention and operational efficiency in the HVAC industry.
Ismael Valdez is a “Renaissance Man” in every sense of the word. Not only has he built a successful contracting business from scratch, but he’s also about to launch another business that will be a game changer for the trades.
He has a simple yet very profound approach to running his businesses: know your numbers, pay your people well, take care of them, and always be one step ahead of your competitors.
As Owner and CEO of Nexgen Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing, Ismael capitalizes on his experience and industry know-how to provide a comprehensive range of professional heating, cooling, and plumbing services to customers across southern California. During our discussion, Ismael talks about what business owners should do when they’re struggling, how to scale effectively, and what the key elements are to running a successful business.
Join us as we discuss:
[03:47] Ismael’s advice to contractors who are struggling
[05:44] The importance of knowing your numbers
[12:19] The BASIC plan and what it entails
[20:51] How to manage your labor costs
Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: