Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service

Today’s guest is Neil Sahota, an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations A.I. Advisor, professor at UC Irvine, and globally-recognized speaker and author. Neil is a founding member of the UN’s Artificial Intelligence for Social Good Committee, and he’s here to talk about the ways we can harness the power of AI and use it for social good. Neil is also the author of Own the A.I. Revolution, providing a future-forward look at A.I., focusing on how businesses can use it to commercialize while doing good in the world. We’ll discuss things like the challenges posed by A.I. and how we can overcome them, as well as which skill sets are going to be most important in the near future.    [00:01 - 03:03] Opening Segment Introducing Neil to the show Brief background and career Neil’s book, “Own the A.I. Revolution”   [03:03 - 12:04] Utilizing Artificial Intelligence How can we use A.I. in business? Automating tasks  Using A.I. in an office setting The jobs that A.I. has created especially in the field of arts Focusing on jobs that are more in line with people’s emotional intelligence and human nature   [12:05 - 12:49] Closing Segment See the links below to connect with Neil Final words Quotes:   “You need fewer people working in manufacturing supplies.” - Neil Sahota   “The ability to create experiences just became a huge differentiator now, especially for companies.” - Neil Sahota Connect with Neil through LinkedIn, Twitter, or visit www.NeilSahota.com.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

Today’s guest, Tom Connally, is an experienced leader, strategist, and change agent with proven performance leading, building, and fixing organizations by creating a culture of performance. In over 30 years of Marine leadership, he led organizations from 50-3500 personnel, with budgets up to $2.8B. Tom served as a Director for two defense companies, before founding Connally Consulting where he helps leaders improve their performance and success professionally, personally, spiritually, and physically.    [00:01 - 09:00] Opening Segment Introducing Tom to the show A retired Marine Colonel and leadership expert  How top-down leadership is the most effective and beneficial type of leadership Communication is key to being a successful leader, and learning yourself is essential for becoming a better leader   [09:01 - 26:36] From Being A Boss to Being A Leader The leader has to be what the organization needs The leader should always be bringing people along What to do in situations where you don’t feel like doing something Using your limited amount of willpower wisely Leadership consists of both big job and small job people You have a limited amount of willpower, so it's important to use it wisely.   [26:37 - 40:28] Leading People in Different Ways The importance of authenticity in leadership Leaders should show their people what they're doing and why it's important Leaders need to maintain a cool, calm, and collected demeanor to lead effectively in stressful or combat environment To lead effectively in a peaceful environment, leaders must be familiar with their employees and understand their strengths and weaknesses Leaders should also be constantly thinking to anticipate potential problems and make informed decisions Tom’s definition of integrity is living one's highest values How becoming a business owner is an ongoing journey that requires continual interaction and learning Tom encourages business owners to talk to others about their business and to be open to feedback   [40:29 - 41:18] Closing Segment See the links below to connect with Tom Final words   Quotes:   “Leadership is something that you develop. It’s something that you grow. People are born with talents, but they’re not necessarily born leaders.” - Tom Connally   “The leader has to be who everybody in that organization needs.” - Tom Connally   “If you have the time to put it off until the next morning, you’ll have much better and clearer decisions.” - Tom Connally   Connect with Tom through LinkedIn and YouTube, or visit www.ConnallyConsulting.com. Check out his book, “Becoming a Leader”.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

As a service business owner, you must understand your numbers, like being able to read and interpret financial statements, knowing your breakeven point, and having a good handle on cash flow.    When you know your numbers, you can make informed, strategic decisions about where to allocate resources and which products or services are most profitable. Good number-crunching skills will help you run your business more efficiently and effectively. Though, it’s too stressful to keep all those numbers organized in your head, so you need tools and software to manage that for you.   Meet Garrett Baird, CEO of The Neat Company, a software company that provides financial management tools to small businesses. He started the company in order to help entrepreneurs who are struggling with organization and management. The goal was always to make life easier for business owners so they could focus on what they're passionate about. Now, businesses worldwide rely on Neat's software to keep things organized - it's no wonder Garrett is seen as a visionary in this space!   Join us as we talk with Garrett about simplifying the organization and management of your financial documents.   In this episode, we discuss: Problems small businesses face with financial management How Neat’s software benefits small business owners Neat’s pricing, customer service, integration capabilities, and more!   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: This episode is kindly sponsored by Sera (https://sera.tech/go/service-business-mastery/), Podium (visit their website), CompanyCam (visit www.companycam.com/SBM for 14 day trial and 50% off your first two months). Learn more about Neat Join the Service Business Mastery Facebook group   Meet the Hosts: Tersh Blissett is a serial entrepreneur who has created and scaled multiple profitable home service businesses in his small-town market. He’s dedicated to giving back to the industry that has provided so much for him and his family. Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Joshua Crouch has been in the home services industry, specifically HVAC, for 8+ years as an Operations Manager, Branch Manager, Territory Sales Manager, and Director of Marketing. He’s also the Founder of Relentless Digital, where his focus is on dominating your local market online. Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Meet the Guest: Garrett Baird is President and CEO of The Neat Company (Neat). He joined the company in 2020 to lead its entrance into the digital accounting space, helping small business owners spend more time growing their businesses while transforming mundane bookkeeping into actionable insights.   Prior to Neat, Garrett was the Founder & CEO of Walletron, the mobile wallet platform company managing enterprise clients’ presence in mobile wallets like Apple Wallet and Google Pay. Walletron was the first platform of its kind to deliver bills via the mobile wallet, and Garrett was granted two US patents for mobile wallet bill presentments in 2017 and 2019. The business was acquired by Western Union and subsequently by ACI Worldwide in 2019.   Before joining Walletron, Garrett led channel sales and product management for Collections Marketing Center (CMC) and held roles in sales, product management, and web development for venture-backed startup firms, including Lumeta (spun off from Bell Labs), Incurrent Solutions (now part of ACI Worldwide) and IPO.com.   Links to content here:  Follow Neat on Twitter Connect with Neat on Facebook Connect with Neat on LinkedIn   Tune in to hear the latest and greatest in business services trends on Service Business Mastery on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our website.     Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Service Business Mastery in your favorite podcast player.

Tony has helped thousands of businesses survive crises. Whether it was post 9/11, during the Great Recession, or amidst massive company acquisitions, Tony has helped businesses navigate the uncertainties and emerge stronger on the other side. As a child, Tony experienced firsthand the devastating crisis of business failure when his parents’ small business failed and they lost everything, including their home. Its impact on his life was powerful. Having lost everything, he determined he would one day figure out how to help business owners like his parents by learning how to run a profitable business. This mission shaped his entire 20-year career. As an entrepreneur, business owner, and enterprise marketer, Tony worked with, literally, the best businesses in every industry, including Google, Microsoft, ADP, Ford, BMW, Mohegan Sun, and Morgan Stanley to name a few. And he has helped grow over 10,000 small businesses and a dozen Fortune 500 companies.   After working with the best businesses across hundreds of industries, he learned how they grow consistently and predictably, using adversity to pivot towards opportunity to survive and thrive in all manner of economic conditions. His mission now has a name: Democratize Marketing — to share with small business owners and entrepreneurs exactly What to Do to grow profitably, How to Do It, and How to Leverage the Resources to Make It Happen. He believes that by growing small businesses, together we can impact not just our local communities but also our world.   [00:01 - 06:15] Opening Segment Introducing Tony to the show Brief background and career Tony shares his advice on how to prepare for success   [06:16 - 23:51] How to Create a Results Loop to Improve Your Business Designed to help businesses plan and execute successful marketing campaigns quickly and easily It helps businesses expand into new markets and offer new offerings to existing markets. The 3 keys to creating a successful business markets, offerings, and value Businesses should focus on acquiring new clients and customers. Loyalty keeps customers from switching to competitors and helps businesses increase revenue per transaction How to automatically drive more referrals Do you have a system in place to automatically drive more referrals?   [23:52 - 23:51] Closing Segment See the links below to connect with Tony Final words   Quotes:   “Even if you can’t capitalize on the opportunity yourself, find partners that can.” - Tony Guarnaccia   “Take a minute and just look at what you’re doing. Because ultimately that’s gonna help you grow up much quicker.” - Tony Guarnaccia Connect with Tony by visiting www.SmallStepsGrowProfits.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

If you want to WIN in ductless sales in 2023 and beyond, you need a marketing strategy that’s competitive. But how do you differentiate your service business from the competition and dominate your customers’ search engines? This week’s guest is going to tell you just how to do that in any market, regardless of the size.   Meet Michelle LaFrance, aka “The Ductless Marketing Gal”. Michelle is President and CEO of Smarty Pants Web, a digital marketing and web design firm, as well as Founder of The Ductless Directory, a comprehensive resource for consumers, contractors, and manufacturers. The Ductless Directory is a powerful tool that will give your website a boost in rankings AND double or even triple your visibility.   Join us as we talk with Michelle about this one-of-a-kind marketing solution that’s boosting contractors to the top of search results. Plus, she shares what you need to do to be recognized as ‘the ductless guy’ in your area!   In this episode we discuss: Marketing tips and strategies that will help you generate ductless leads online How to easily increase traffic to your service business’s website The many benefits of getting featured in The Ductless Directory (and how to get featured!)   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: This episode is kindly sponsored by Sera (visit their website), Podium (visit their website), CompanyCam (visit www.companycam.com/SBM for 14 day trial and 50% off your first two months). Sign up at The Ductless Guy for 70% off! (limited time only) The Ductless Directory Articles by Michelle LaFrance on ACHR News Join the Service Business Mastery Facebook group   Meet the Hosts: Tersh Blissett is a serial entrepreneur who has created and scaled multiple profitable home service businesses in his small town market. He’s dedicated to giving back to the industry that has provided so much for him and his family. Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Joshua Crouch has been in the home services industry, specifically HVAC, for 8+ years as an Operations Manager, Branch Manager, Territory Sales Manager and Director of Marketing. He’s also the Founder of Relentless Digital, where their focus is dominating your local market online. Connect with him on LinkedIn.   Meet the Guest: Michelle LaFrance, aka “The Ductless Marketing Gal”, is an HVAC consultant, ductless marketing expert, digital marketing strategist, content creation expert, author, and speaker. Michelle is President and CEO of Smarty Pants Web, a digital marketing and web design firm, as well as Founder of The Ductless Directory, a comprehensive resource for consumers, contractors, and manufacturers.   Links to content here:  Connect with her on LinkedIn Connect with The Ductless Guy on Facebook   Tune in to hear the latest and greatest in business services trends on Service Business Mastery on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our website.     Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Service Business Mastery in your favorite podcast player.  

Aaron Christopher (A.C.) Evans is a pioneer in conversational marketing and the co-founder and CEO of Drips.com. Drips is the first conversational texting company of its kind, founding a new category and leading the way for some of the biggest brands in the world to use automated, humanized conversations at scale. On a daily basis, Drips engages in tens of millions of completely humanized conversations with zero client-side human resources or operators. Starting at the early age of 16, A.C. has been passionate about “scaling the unscalable” in all of his business ventures and Drips is no exception.    As a proven thought leader, A.C. shares his vast experience in performance marketing, consumer retention, and entrepreneurship. A.C. continues to innovate many of the best practices in lead conversion and compliance being adopted within the industry.   [00:00 - 02:10] Opening Segment Introducing Aaron to the show Brief background and career   [02:11 - 19:27] Texting is the Future of Lead Generation Automation in text messaging How to keep an engagement with people who prefer text messaging Make sure you have the right consent in automating messages The importance of being thoughtful when creating marketing messages Personalizing them for each individual Honoring the stop Keywords that are beneficial and no-go’s in continuing conversations What message am I sending? How am I sending it? What time am I sending it? Influence by Robert Cialdini People not playing with messaging are missing out People buy experiences, not services and products   [19:27 - 20:52] Closing Segment See the links below to connect with A.C. Final words Quotes:   “I think if people aren’t playing with messaging and tweaking it, then they’re missing out.” - Aaron Christopher   “Today, people are buying experiences. They’re not buying services or products.” - Aaron Christopher   Connect with A.C. through LinkedIn, or you can visit www.Drips.com. This episode is kindly sponsored by Sera https://sera.tech/go/service-business-mastery/ Upfrog https://upfrog.io/ CompanyCam https://www.companycam.com/SBM/ for a 14-day trial and 50% off your first two months --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

Service Business Mastery Podcast show notes: How to Re-Engage Your Current Client List Tersh & Josh are discussing re-engaging their current client list. Josh talks about how humans are more afraid of spiders than they are of humans. Noah discusses simplicity in online marketing, and how it can help small businesses grow rapidly. Is It Because We've Always Done It This Way, Or Is This The Best Way To Do It?  Contractors are busy and need to find ways to be more efficient There are many different ways to be more efficient, including reactivating old customers Email is a good way to start, but there are other methods as well Data is important for reactivation because it allows for segmentation and targeting How to Keep Your Customers Responding to Your Text Messages The guys discuss how they approach recovering customers, focusing on personal relationships and reactivation over spamming. They discuss how the younger generation is less likely to fall for automated text messages. They also suggest that businesses focus on human communication in order to build a relationship with their customers and increase reactivation rates. Introverts in the Workplace Struggle with Technology Humans are herd animals and tend to long for human communication, which is why they're drawn to technology in the modern world. Technology has been shoved down people's throats, leading to more separation between people than ever before. People are now more likely to communicate through text messages or emails rather than phone calls, as this is the easiest way to get an answer without being bothered. The text channel is the preferred method of communication for most business owners, as it is easier to document and provides a better experience for both the sender and receiver.  How to create a personalized digital invoice for your business Transparency and online pricing are going to come into the world through data transparency and understanding of what a customer's experience was before, during, and after a service call. The #CRMs have developed a process where they send a PDF with estimates, a cover letter, and a video explaining the business. This allows for better customer engagement and reduces the labor burden on the techs.  How to make small business marketing easier with upfrog You feel more comfortable and at ease when you use video instead of phone calls to communicate with customers because it's more authentic, and you can do it with your phone today. You don't have to make huge investments to get started with video communication, and there are many ways to use video to connect with customers. You can find Noah and Justin on social media, in the HVAC Owner's Digital Ally Facebook Group, and in other online communities like the Service Business Mastery Facebook Group.  New Podcast: Service Business Mastery There is a community of service business owners who can help each other out The key to success is to be active in the community and reach out to others Thank your customers for their support Key Resources From The Show: Learn more about ReFrog Connect with Justin on LinkedIn. Join the HVAC Owner's Digital Ally Facebook Group. Join the Service Business Mastery Facebook group. Email us at Podcasts@ServiceBusinessMastery.com To check out more fun and valuable video, do not forget to follow our YouTube Channel. Learn all about the Hosts of Service Business Mastery!   This episode is kindly sponsored by the following: Sera Request a demo through Service Business Mastery for a discounted Onboarding and Per Tech Fee. Upfrog CompanyCam (visit www.companycam.com/SBM for a 14-day trial and 50% off your first two months)   Listen to this podcast and get equipped with essential business advice from this impactful conversation. So, what’re you waiting for? Tune into this episode immediately and get one step closer to becoming the successful owner of your dreams. Subscribe to Service Business Mastery on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you get podcasts to hear more such fascinating and insightful stories. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

We recorded this episode live while at the AHRexpo 2022 in Las Vegas. There is some background noise, but the content is worth the listen!  If you have any questions about what you have heard on today's episode, don't hesitate to reach out to us at www.servicebusinessmastery.com or email us at podcasts@servicebusinessmastery.com  This episode is kindly sponsored by Sera https://sera.tech/go/service-business-mastery/ Upfrog https://upfrog.io/ CompanyCam https://www.companycam.com/SBM/ for a 14-day trial and 50% off your first two months --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

Be a part of RectorSeal's OnDemand Training here https://rectorseal.com/rectorseal-on-demand-training/ Tersh & Josh speak with David Cyrus of RectorSeal while at the AHRexpo 2022 in Las Vegas. They talk about the training programs that are available to the contractor at no charge to them through RectorSeal. Check out this episode to learn more.   Get the Training You Need to Succeed as a Contractor • David is from Florida and is the regional sales manager for HVAC and plumbing in Florida. • They have new products available for training, including standing calendars, on demand training, float switch training, and hard start kits. • The process for scheduling training is through rectorseal.com and involves interaction with Michael Emrick or Jerry Myron. • There are innate certified classes available for those that need Nate credits. RectorSeal launches 50,000 amp surge protector • Rector Seal offers on-demand training to contractors, which is available through BlueVolt. • The RSH 50 is a type one surge protector that can take a one-time hit up to 50,000 amps and survive the UL test. • It has three wires and is fully potted, waterproof, and can go anywhere in the disconnect box.  Bulletproof safety switches • The text discusses the design of the safety switches, including the use of a solid float and height adjustment, and the reintroduction of a Schrader valve. • The text also discusses the management of safety switches, including the installation of a clean-out and shallow well.  5 New Products from RectorSeal • New products from RectorSeal company • Products include a float screw adjustable height wet switch, and a five-wire sensor • Products are designed to help technicians differentiate themselves from competitors • Product features include a sturdy feel, growth, and low price compared to other air conditioning systems   Learn more about RectorSeal by visiting  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: This episode is kindly sponsored by Sera https://sera.tech/go/service-business-mastery/ Upfrog https://upfrog.io/ CompanyCam https://www.companycam.com/SBM/ for a 14-day trial and 50% off your first two months Connect with David here https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cyrus-4b780821/  Be a part of RectorSeal's OnDemand Training here https://rectorseal.com/rectorseal-on-demand-training/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support

Kim Daly has spent the last 20 years helping people achieve financial freedom by enabling them to find the perfect franchise opportunities. Her skill for matching a client’s background, interests, skills, finances, and life goals to the ideal opportunity has made her one of the top franchise consultants in the country. Today, we are here to pick her brain and gain some insight into what can seem like a daunting process - deciding on the perfect franchise to enable you to gain financial freedom.   [00:01 - 05:46] Opening Segment Introducing Kim to the show Brief background and career The biggest mistake that people make when going into franchising  Having assumptions about what it is or what they're owed Franchising can help business owners support themselves and lower the amount of work that they have to do Franchising is all about the people, not just the widget Franchises bring in marketing and tools to help the business grow   [05:46 - 12:23] What It Takes to Own a Franchise Do you need to have a license? Managing employees who know more in the industry Why do most entrepreneurs build businesses that are centered around them The importance of learning how to price properly   [12:24 - 19:48] Gaining Success in the Franchising Space How a business can benefit from a cloud-based system Can you be part of more franchises? The importance of deciding who your customers are Validating through talking to other franchises   [19:49 - 21:29] Closing Segment See the links below to know more about Kim Final words   Quotes:   “What you’re really doing when you invest in a franchise is you’re buying a partnership. This is all about the people.” - Kim Daly   “Widgets are not making people successful. It’s leadership, culture, and relationship that you’re buying into that’s infinitely more important than the widget that your business actually sells.” - Kim Daly Connect with Kim by visiting www.TheDalyCoach.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tershblissett/support