🎧 Tune in now and tag a trades business owner who needs to hear this!  

A layoff at 45 could have been the end of the story. For Chris Rocher, it became the door to Advanced Air Technology of South Carolina—an HVAC company built on discipline, customer experience, and a relentless commitment to follow-through. We talk about what it takes to move from corporate life to hands-on service, how a state retooling program jump-started his skills, and why one bad review can undo months of good will if you don’t design for trust at every step.

Chris breaks down the simple systems that compound: organizing parts and finances, writing clear playbooks for calls and visits, and using tools like WAV and House Pro without losing the human touch. He explains the summer grind in the South—phones lighting up from May to October—and how he guards one day a week for family to stay sane and effective. We dig into the growth engines that actually work: word of mouth fueled by proactive check-ins, BI’s vetted networking ecosystem, and a culture that bans negativity and resets between jobs so the next customer gets your best.

Hiring is refreshingly straightforward: teach the skills, recruit the character. Chris shares what he looks for in techs, how he recovers from mistakes by owning and fixing them fast, and why your business will mirror who you are, online and off. Then we look ahead to HVAC’s future: Wi‑Fi thermostats, zoned ductwork with smart dampers, and home hubs that tie HVAC, appliances, and security into one app. This is comfort, efficiency, and peace of mind delivered through tech and trust.

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, Chris’s advice is direct: step back, audit the gaps, and seek serious peers even if they cost more—you’ll get it back in time, clarity, and better decisions. Subscribe for more candid conversations on entrepreneurship, share this with a business owner who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can keep raising the bar together.

If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.

📲Guest contact info:

[email protected]

advancedairtechnologysc.com

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

🎙️In this episode, we pull back the curtain on who Galen Walter really is and how Haven Realty Team grew from a “second income” side gig into a fast-scaling real estate business in Western North Carolina and South Florida. Galen shares how his background in sales and entrepreneurship set the foundation for getting licensed just before COVID and then riding — and surviving — the market surge by simply showing up, staying hungry, and surrounding himself with driven, like‑minded people.

You’ll hear the hard lessons he learned about overcomplicating systems, leaning on proven tools instead of reinventing the wheel, and why taxes blindside so many self‑employed agents and business owners. Galen also talks candidly about work‑life balance, what it really takes to unplug as a self‑employed entrepreneur, and how he decides which opportunities are “now,” “tomorrow,” or “not at all.”

We dive into the DNA of Haven Realty Team—why he hires first for being likable, adaptable, and trainable, and how he keeps a mostly virtual team connected, positive, and self‑motivated. In a rapid‑fire round, Galen unpacks his real take on education, planning vs. adaptability, inspiration, discipline, and execution, and then closes with honest advice for any business owner feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or wondering if it’s time to pivot.

If you’re a small business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or real estate professional looking for a grounded, no‑fluff conversation about building a business that actually fits your life, this episode is for you. 

If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.

Guest contact info: 

Galen at GalenWalter.com 

 @galen.avl / @galenwalter_.

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

In this episode, Mandy and Richie Caudill share how HandyMandy went from a “happy accident” side gig during COVID to a full-time renovation business serving the Upstate, fueled almost entirely by social media and word-of-mouth. Mandy explains how her background in wedding photography, years of DIY rental and home projects, and a willingness to “learn it on YouTube, then do it right” positioned her to say yes when a friend asked for help—and how one kitchen remodel unlocked a flood of inquiries. She and Richie open up about undercharging in the early days, learning the financial and bookkeeping side the hard way, hiring a business coach to understand true profitability, and why “handyman” does not mean “cheap labor” when you’re supporting a family and bringing real expertise to every project.

They also tackle the myth that owning a business means more freedom, talk candidly about 24/7 mental load, and define their ideal clients as people who value their time and want trusted pros to handle the work. Mandy shares how hyper-intentional social media posting in local residents’ groups and consistent networking filled their calendar to the point she now hesitates to post because demand spikes so quickly. For owners feeling stuck or overwhelmed, she offers grounded advice: change what you’re doing, get out of your head, put yourself in new rooms, and stay hungry to learn rather than hiding behind “this is how I’ve always done it.”

Looking ahead, Mandy talks about the scary but necessary next step of hiring help—ideally a skilled 1099 contractor who loves the work but not the business side—so they can grow without burning out and reclaim more family time. If you’re a small service-based business or trades professional, this conversation delivers honest perspective on pricing, planning, networking, continuous education, and building a people-first business that clients find—and trust—long before you ever print a business card.

If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.

Guest contact info:

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/mandy.caudill

@mandyleigh_allthethings

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

🎧Taylor Wright of 828 Builders shares his raw journey from landscaping to building lifetime homes in Western North Carolina—after a $300K lesson on why "contract, contract, contract" is non-negotiable.

He gets candid: Ditch investor pressure for values-driven work, take bigger swings if starting over, lead by owning mistakes, and hire for attitude over resumes. Running a business is tougher than a job, but with preparation meeting opportunity (aka "luck"), balance, faith, and team wins, it's worth it.

828 Builders is scaling in Hendersonville with custom homes that last generations. 

Guest contact info:  

828builders.com

[email protected]

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

🎙️In this episode, Brian Thompson shares the behind-the-scenes story of taking over the LVP Warehouse of Asheville, a specialty luxury vinyl plank (LVP) supply house serving contractors and homeowners in Western North Carolina.

What began as a situational opportunity quickly became a full commitment. Brian talks openly about the transition from treating the business like a side hustle to going all in — and how that shift in focus sparked real growth. As part of a growing franchise network under Case Flooring, the LVP Warehouse model is built around a streamlined concept: specialize in one high-quality product, keep overhead lean, and deliver exceptional service.

But Brian makes one thing clear — there’s no such thing as passive income.

From broken forklifts and lease negotiations to navigating steep mountain deliveries in Asheville, he shares the “unknown unknowns” of small business ownership. He dives into the myth that entrepreneurship is glamorous or automated, emphasizing instead the daily problem-solving, flexibility, and commitment required to succeed.

Key themes in this episode include:

• Why focus and full commitment accelerate growth
• The advantage small businesses have over big-box competitors
• High highs and low lows of entrepreneurship
• The power of word-of-mouth and customer experience
• Staying disciplined without getting too high or too low
• Balancing flexibility with execution

Brian also explains how being a smaller, local business allows him to cut through red tape and provide a level of accessibility and service that national chains simply can’t match. Whether it’s meeting a contractor after hours or scouting a tricky mountain delivery site, flexibility is part of the value.

Looking ahead, Brian plans to expand showroom availability and grow the team to better serve retail and contractor clients.

This episode is a grounded, honest look at what it really means to run a small business — not flashy, not passive, but personal, adaptable, and built on commitment.

If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.

Guest contact info:

[email protected]

https://www.lvpasheville.com/

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

🎙️In this candid and refreshingly honest episode, Tim Young, founder of AAA Extreme Comfort, shares the unfiltered reality of building an HVAC business from the ground up.

With decades of experience in heating and air, Tim started his company after witnessing poor workmanship and inflated pricing practices in the industry. Frustrated by customers being misled and underserved, he set out to create a company built on transparency, quality installs, and doing the job right the first time. His passion? Protecting homeowners and business owners from costly mistakes and delivering honest, dependable service.

But this episode goes deeper than technical expertise.

Tim opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship — financial missteps, lack of working capital, learning business literacy the hard way, and the reality of still being “in the trenches” five years in. Unlike many polished success stories, Tim speaks from the middle of the journey — not the finish line. He shares lessons about taxes, structuring finances properly, building systems, and why knowing your trade isn’t the same as knowing business.

Key themes in this episode include:

• Why integrity and quality workmanship still matter
• The myth of “get rich quick” entrepreneurship
• The importance of planning, discipline, and execution
• Limiting risk and making calculated moves
• The power of business coaching and mentorship
• Rebranding and repositioning for growth

Tim also discusses the upcoming rebrand of AAA Extreme Comfort and his vision to scale with better structure, stronger branding, and a more strategic foundation.

This episode is for business owners who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or still grinding it out. It’s a reminder that success isn’t always glamorous — sometimes it’s about staying committed, educating yourself, and executing better each time around.

Real. Transparent. In progress.

“If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.”

Guest contact info:

[email protected]

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

🎙️ In this powerful episode, Jay Schumpert, founder of No Worries Painting and Pressure Washing in Columbia, South Carolina, shares his raw and inspiring journey from hardship to entrepreneurship. What started in 2012 as a way to make ends meet after a devastating leg injury has grown into a thriving residential, commercial, and light industrial painting and remodeling company — now operating at 70% painting and 30% remodel work.

Jay opens up about the realities of business ownership — the sleepless nights, the responsibility of making sure his team’s families are taken care of before his own, and the myth that entrepreneurship is all glory and ease. He credits his growth not to flashy marketing, but to integrity, faith, and deep relationship-building. For Jay, business isn’t transactional — it’s personal. From mentoring employees who’ve gone on to start their own companies to treating his crew like family, his leadership philosophy is rooted in loyalty, discipline, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard.

He also discusses:

• Why integrity matters more than resumes
• The challenge of stepping away from your business
• Building a team you can trust
• The risks and rewards of entrepreneurship
• Advice for business owners who feel overwhelmed

Now a proud grandfather, Jay shares how faith, family, and service continue to drive his mission forward. If you’re a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or leader looking to grow the right way — this episode is a reminder that success built on character lasts.

If this conversation helped you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review with your favorite takeaway—we read every one.”

Guest's contact info:

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/noworriespainting/

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

A great piece of furniture tells a story long before it’s finished. We sat down with custom furniture maker with Ansel Ringler Estatoe Woodworks to unpack how he turned a childhood hustle into a sustainable business by pairing creative craft with clear-eyed operations. From first principles planning to a client experience that invites collaboration, Ansel shares the systems that keep his shop profitable, resilient, and fun to follow.

We dive into the early missteps—making whatever seemed exciting and hoping it sold—and the reset that came from stepping away, running the numbers, and rebuilding a product mix around real demand. Ansel explains why custom desks became his flagship: strong margins, repeatable process, and obvious value for buyers who need a perfect fit. He breaks down the hidden hours that crush margins when ignored, the communication loops that reduce revisions, and the simple tweaks that keep projects on schedule.

Marketing for makers can feel like a mystery, so we get specific. Ansel maps how he layered channels—local Facebook groups, Instagram, Pinterest, Etsy, galleries—and let reviews and process videos do the heavy lifting. He talks about building a reputation that travels farther than ads, the discipline to ask for feedback, and why thoughtful hiring unlocks both output and culture. Expect practical takeaways on pricing, scoping, batching similar builds, creating client buy-in, and fostering a shop where craftsmanship and camaraderie go hand in hand.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, woodworker, or small business owner looking to grow without losing your soul, this conversation offers a blueprint: focus on what sells and scales, count every hour, and tell your story where your customers already gather. Subscribe for more builder-to-business insights, share this with a fellow maker, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Guest contact info:

[email protected]

www.estatoewoodworks.com

www.instagram.com/estatoewoodworks

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

 In this episode, digital marketing expert Jeremy Ashburn of Push Leads shares how he built a 45‑client agency helping small businesses get visible at the top of Google and recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT—without huge loans or big‑budget funding. He breaks down the mistakes he made growing solo, why hiring driven people like his star social media rep Andrea transformed his business, and how documenting processes and delegating (with tools like Loom) unlocked real scalability.

Jeremy and the host dive into resilience, manifesting goals, and why “see a need, fill a need” and “giver’s gain” are the core philosophies behind his success. You’ll hear practical advice on networking in Asheville and online, using content and “inner hidden pages” to rank for profitable keywords, and why business owners must balance workaholism with intentional time offline. Jeremy also previews his next big move: building an AI‑powered SEO “operating system” that blends automation with human oversight to help small businesses win more leads on autopilot.

Guest contact info:

[email protected]

https://link.pushleads.com/widget/bookings/jeremy-ashburn

https://pushleads.com/about-us/

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

 In this episode, certified financial planner Heather Banks of Willow Tree Wealth Planning shares how she helps individuals define what financial success really means to them and then build a personalized roadmap to get there. Drawing on 20 years of experience, Heather explains why comprehensive, customized planning matters, how relationships and trust drive her business, and why business owners often misunderstand the realities of “flexibility” when you’re the one holding the bag.

Heather talks candidly about giving herself grace as an entrepreneur, setting boundaries to protect family time, and using both in‑person and remote work to create a healthier balance. She discusses the power of surrounding yourself with the right team—financial planner, CPA, attorney, and business coach—and how client relationships and word-of-mouth referrals have fueled record growth for her firm. Listeners will hear practical advice on overcoming fear of success, staying on top of ongoing education, and taking the next step toward a clearer, more confident financial future.

Guest contact info:

[email protected]

www.willowtreewealthplanning.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-a-banks-cfp%C2%AE-chsnc%C2%AE-6a516b33/

https://www.facebook.com/Heather-A-Banks-Financial-Planner-at-Pruco-Securities-LLC-669710856515175/

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!
Bill

Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/