In this episode of The TradeMarke Podcast, hosts Sarah Ghirardo and Eric Thomas sit down with Ismail Shahid, a 30-year plumbing veteran who has worked everywhere from historic New York brownstones to the mountains of Colorado and the neighborhoods of South Carolina.

Ismail shares how he went from organizing parts in a shop to becoming a seasoned service plumber, why starting in the stockroom gave him a competitive edge, and a few unforgettable “learning experience” stories from the field. He breaks down what it really means to be a true service technician today: minimizing mistakes, adapting to constant change, and always putting the homeowner’s needs first.

The conversation dives into:

How mindset shapes a long-term career in the trades

Why service quality has slipped in some areas and how to bring it back

The tension between sales training and true technical training

Adapting to new technology, tools, and even AI in home services

Ismail’s passion for mentoring youth and building up the next generation of tradespeople

Whether you are in the field, in the office, or leading a team, this episode will push you to rethink how you train, serve, and grow in the trades.