Waste No Day: A Home Services Motivational Podcast

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.

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.

In today’s show, we are putting Lt. Col. John Ballenger in your passenger seat to discuss his career as a Marine One pilot and how it aligns with life in the trades. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ballenger started his career as a naval aviator in March 2005. Through multiple deployments and services, Ballenger served in Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Quantico, Jacksonville, and eventually Washinton D.C. Rising through the ranks over a twenty-year career, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 2019, and took an assignment with Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1). Ballenger served as a pilot under President Trump and President Biden until his retirement in 2022. On today’s show, he shares of the many similarities between his training and experience and the trades. Ballenger brings to light many points for consideration on how and why we should challenge ourselves to do our best.

In today’s show, we are putting Mary Anglen in your passenger seat to discuss KPI’s otherwise known as key performance indicators. KPI’s may seem like something that someone behind a desk should be tracking but there is great value to bringing them to the truck. The summarized version is setting a goal and tracking the performance so you know how you are doing. This simple yet easily overlooked task is a key to incremental growth in your career. What matters is what you measure and it can make all the difference. For the past several years, Mary Anglen has been a growing leader in the Service Industry, with a focus on operational excellence and utilizing technology to improve efficiency. You may know her for her connections and expertise with Service Titan but she has spent most of her time in the trades managing operations for a large multi-trade service company in North Texas. Prior to joining the CEO Warrior team, she worked with over 150 business owners through on sites and training programs to improve their business structure and overall profitability. Mary joined CEO Warrior as a Master Advisor last year but has been involved in the CEO Warrior world for over 4 years. She has first-hand experience with the power that implementing CEO Warrior systems can have on a business. She brings a passion for bringing awareness to the value of tradesman and helping everyone in the trades change their mindset and achieve greatness. On this show, Mary shares why KPI’s should be not only understood, but established and tracked by techs in the truck.

In today’s show, we are putting Johneida Cano and Madisyn Thomas in your passenger seat to discuss getting more women in the trades. There is great opportunity in the trades for women to bring their skill sets into the field. The trades have typically been considered a “man’s world” but there is a growing trend of women joining as electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians. On today’s show we discuss with Johneida and Madisyn what being a woman in the trades is like. Madisyn is just starting out as an apprentice and is quickly growing in skill and confidence. Johneida has been in the trades for sometime and is installing her own jobs for clients. Together these ladies share any concerns they had with jumping into the trade from the start as well as challenges and successes they have experienced along the way.

In today’s show, we are putting Greg McAfee in your passenger seat to discuss the basics of a service call. A true entrepreneur, Greg McAfee has a passion for helping fellow HVAC business owners take their businesses to new heights. In 1990 Greg started McAfee Heating and Air with $274 and a used truck. Today, Greg runs one of the most successful HVAC companies in the Midwest and is called upon to share his expertise with other business owners all over the US. He is author of the book “It’s Your Dream,” and his company, McAfee Heating and Air has soared from #450 to #1 in their residential market. Today, Greg shares his coaching on why the start of the call matters to the end and why walking the client through education along the way provides a better result.

In today’s show, we are putting Brian Wick in your passenger seat to discuss his story of growth through the trades and climbing the ladder. Brian Wick started in the industry in 1994, as a helper carrying sheet metal into basements and being the guy on the bottom of the dolly helping to get water heaters and furnaces in and out of basements. He worked his way up to lead installer and service tech and eventually service manager. From there he had his sights set on Operations and General Management and began seeking out the help of those that were successfully operating locations that were of the size he eventually wanted to be and emerging himself in all the training available. Through those lessons from those before him and those doing great things, he learned a lot of what and what not to do and has implemented those lessons into his own organization which is highly focused on employee development, empowerment, and growth. Brian shares his view on climbing through the trades, empowering people, and staying the course even when it gets tough.

In today’s show, we are putting Tyler Zimmerman in your passenger seat to discuss blending the technical mindset with the sale acumen. The trades tend to be divided into two mindsets with one half being the “technical wizards” and the other half being the “sales gurus.” Does it have to be that way with such extremes? Tyler Zimmerman doesn’t think so. In this episode he explores the two sides and how to pull all parties towards the center with a nice even blend of knowing what you’re doing and knowing how to talk about it. Tyler has been in the trades for over a decade before which he gained significant mechanical aptitude in the automobile world. As a master mechanic Tyler found the switch to HVAC fairly simple, but also began honing his skills with sales training to become the most well-rounded version of a residential technician. Now serving as the service manager of a team of techs for One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Lancaster, PA; Tyler works with both mindsets to improve weaknesses and create a strong middle-ground. Listen on this episode as Tyler shares tips to meet in the middle and even a role play demonstrating the importance of both sales and technical know-how.

In today’s show, we are putting Ed Staub in your passenger seat to discuss his keeping your life in balance. We all get pulled and pushed in a hundred different directions everyday with equally important areas of our lives fighting for attention. Should we go to Johnny’s soccer game or work overtime to impress the boss? Should we train for that 5K or go on a much-needed date with our spouse? Pulled and pushed leaving us feeling out of balance. Ed has spent decades of his life living and teaching the concept of having a balanced wheel. In the wheel are eight equally important areas to keep balanced: mental, career, emotional, social, financial, physical, family, and spiritual. Making sure that you don’t neglect or over emphasize any one or more of these areas can prevent a bumpy ride. Ed shares great insight into why keeping balance in these areas of our lives can make all the difference.

In today’s show, we are putting Logan Altland in your passenger seat to discuss his success and strategy as a $3M electrician. Currently working for Mister Sparky Electric in Lancaster, PA, Logan wasn’t always in the electrical trade. In fact, he had a brief stint as a butcher learning the cuts of the meat. Now he spends his days learning how to cut up each meeting with a client. After graduating high school, Logan didn’t feel like he should pursue college so instead he got into school for the electrical trade. Working through the years and the system he became a journeyman electrician and started his career in commercial electrical. Working his way up to head electrician at a 500+ bed hospital he always viewed residential electrical as “the easy stuff.” However, he decided to try his hand at life in the residential world and found quick success. This year, Logan is already averaging over $300,000 in sales per month putting him on a run rate for well over three million dollars this year. Logan joins us today to share the magic that makes up his typical call and how he has found such success in both the financial benefits as well as customer service of the residential electrical field.