Jon Valenta
Owner of General Pavingstones and a seasoned hardscaping professional with nearly 30 years in the industry, sharing experience on retirement planning, project selection, and running a specialty pavers and retaining wall business.
Top 3 podcasts with Jon Valenta
Ranked by the Snipd community
11 snips
Jan 7, 2026 • 34min
Why “Impressing” Homeowners Is the Worst Sales Strategy w/ Jon Valenta from General Pavingstones
Jon Valenta, a hardscaping expert and owner of General Pavingstones, shares his transformative journey after embracing sales training, which boosted his close rate from 30% to nearly 90%. He discusses the pitfalls of free designs and the importance of qualifying clients early to avoid wasting time. Valenta emphasizes the power of listening to customer needs over technical jargon, fostering relationships over mere transactions, and how consistent sales processes can lead to improved job satisfaction and efficient business practices.
8 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 29min
Why Outdoor Living Pros Should See Retirement as a Redirection, Not an Exit w/ Jon Valenta from General Pavingstones
Jon Valenta, owner of General Pavingstones and a nearly 30-year hardscaping pro, reflects on life after running a specialty pavers and retaining wall business. He discusses planning retirement as a redirection, becoming choosier with projects as you age, spotting client fit issues, and ways to stay involved in the trade without doing the heavy lifting.
7 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 29min
Why Avoiding Budget Conversations Is Costing Contractors Big Jobs w/ Jon Valenta from General Pavingstones
Jon Valenta, owner of General Pavingstones, shares his wealth of experience in hardscaping and landscaping. He dives into the pitfalls of avoiding budget talks, revealing how scope creep can lead to lost projects. Valenta recounts using a proactive follow-up strategy, like offering checks for past clients, which unexpectedly revived his business. The conversation touches on the importance of mindset in the face of rejection and offers practical advice for tackling budget conversations early on to maintain client trust and increase success.
