Toolbox for the Trades

Retention: It’s something we all struggle with in the trades. It’s something we haven’t quite yet figured out.Though it’s not a perfect science, Eddie McFarlane — VP of Learning & Development at Haller Enterprises — has a rather revolutionary approach to retaining talented technicians.In this episode of Toolbox for the Trades, we talk to Eddie about… How and why he uses change management to hire and retain workersHow he gets to the root of problems instead of patching up the symptomsWhy diversity and inclusion is the answer to the trades’ labor shortage The importance of personal development in the workplaceIf you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We really did it!We delivered not 1 but 2 seasons of Toolbox for the Trades in this outrageous, chaotic year.In this episode, host Jackie Aubel walks you through just a few of our takeaways from this standout season.Thank you so much to every one of our guests: We know your raw honesty inspired our listeners. You do so much good in the world. Thank you!Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Keep connected with us on the Toolbox for the Trades Community on Facebook Find the companion for this episode at servicetitan.com/toolboxtipsIf you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ismael Valdez, CEO of Nexgen, shares his journey from startup to $30M, discussing technician tracks, efficiency practices, and the transition from hustling to running a business. They emphasize the shift to review-based referrals and the importance of tracking KPIs for contractors.

There are a lot of questions about how to approach mergers and acquisitions in the trades. Turns out, it’s a lot like dating. At least according to AJ Brown, President and CEO, and Will Matson, Group CFO & Head of MFA, from Apex Service Partners. It’s one of many things I learned when I spoke with them about how their services group is operating like a pit crew for its partners in the trades.What we talked about:Why they left finance and found their forever-home in the trades How services groups work How to approach a partnership (& why it’s like dating)If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Look around your workplace. Where are the young faces? The average age of someone in the trades is around 50. That’s what happens when your industry does things “the way they’ve always been done.”But for Justin Armendariz, Founder & CEO at Better Future Facilities, the average tech in his company is under 30. Justin has brought technology to the forefront in his business and, as a result, is dragging the trades out of the past and preparing a new generation for the future. In this episode, we discuss:How to revolutionize an aging industryHow he is taking on some of the biggest names out thereWhy recruiting and training is everything. If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Usually, the customer knows why they need your product… HVAC, plumbing — when something happens they’ll call.But what if they don’t know they need your product?Then it’s time to educate them.That’s exactly what Rod Yoder, Director — North American Dealer Sales at Kinetico Water Systems, does. He’s learned some clever techniques over the years to teach his customers the value of the water softening and filtration systems he sells. And there are some great ones. What we talked about:Educating your customers about the need for your product How to set yourself apart (and get referrals)How a non-electric company moved into IoT If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do you get a thriving culture?It starts with leadership.The owner should be the chief people-person in the company. That’s what Jaime DiDomenico, President at Cool, Plumbing and Energy Today, learned time and time again in his career: A company is only as good as its owner. In this episode, we discuss:Why the owner should be the chief people-personWhy you need to reinvest in your people and the businessWhy a business is only as good as its ownerTo watch our webinar with Jaime, visit servicetitan.com/jaime If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When it comes time to buy, your customers need options.And if you’re not giving them the options they need… They’ll go online and find someone who can. That insight is foundational for Joe Crisara’s success. Now Owner and Business Coach at ContractorSelling, Joe managed to turn a quarter of a million dollars in debt into a thriving business.All by giving his customers options. In this episode, Joe and I discuss:Why options can transform any business for the betterHow to present options to the customerWhy worrying about the competition is a waste of timeIf you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

First impressions matter.That’s why word choice is so important when we first meet someone…  And why your CSRs need amazing communication skills.They are the first point of contact with your customers — and what they say can set the tone for the whole relationship. Today’s guest is Angie Snow, Vice President at Western Heating & Air Conditioning and Success Coach at Snow Business Coaching, where she helps business owners struggling to find the right words learn to more effectively engage customers and cultivate 7-star CSRs. In this episode, we discuss:How to empower 7-star CSRs in your businessThe challenges (and triumphs) for women in the tradesHow to effectively leverage feedback Now Angie is part of the ServiceTitan team too! If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When looking for growth, owners often want to add more services.If you can do it all, you cast a bigger net, right?But a jack of all trades is a master of none…And nobody wants to hire a roofer to fix their plumbing.That’s one mistake Mike Claudio, Owner at WinRate Consulting, has repeatedly seen in his years advising owners in the trades.In this episode, Mike explains:How to find your niche (and what pitfalls to avoid)Why success means taking adviceWhy CRMs are so important to a successful operationIf you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.