Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, we dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship and family life. Daryl Kelly is joined by his daughter Evelyn Kelly for an honest conversation about growing up in an entrepreneurial household, balancing ambition with family connection, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode is for parents chasing big goals without losing touch with what matters most, and for kids witnessing the journey up close.

Highlights:

"Being an entrepreneur isn't just about building a business. It's about carrying the weight of providing while trying to be present at home."

"Success isn't just one thing, it's a million things combined."

"I just want to be able to have whatever, keep my choices open."

"The reason I want people to be at my house is to see that I'm not chasing money, but I'm building a family."

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:33 – Evelyn’s Unique Path: Graduating High School and College Early

02:37 – Realizing Dad Was Different: The Entrepreneurial Mindset

05:01 – Quality Over Quantity: Making Family Time Count

10:31 – The Impact of Absence: When Dad Was Away

16:10 – Childhood Hardships: Seeing the Ups and Downs

19:14 – Redefining Success: More Than Money

22:36 – What Drives Evelyn: Going 100% in Everything

28:55 – High School Side Hustle: Building a Dance Business

40:46 – Family as the Why: Building a Legacy Beyond Wealth

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Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris Lee takes us on a candid journey through his entrepreneurial highs and lows, sharing the real story behind building Sol Gen Power and the lessons learned along the way. If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or anyone interested in the realities of building and scaling a business—especially in the trades or home service space—this episode is for you!

Highlights:

“Throughout my life, I’ve had a very divisive personality. It’s either you love me or you friggin hate me.”

“There’s not a playbook for doing it. You’re literally just learning as you go, until you get slapped on the hand, and then you change your behavior.”

“The goal isn’t to produce the fruit. The goal is to become the tree that has the ability to continue to produce the fruit.”

“Life was meant to be hard, but when it’s hard with a positive mindset, it becomes bearable and joyful.”

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:19 Various Business Ventures and Experiences 

04:56 Transition to Employment and Learning from Entrepreneurs 

8:57 Vivint Solar and IPO Experience 

25:48 Starting Sol Gen Power and Early Challenges 

32:59 Growth and Expansion of Sol Gen Power 

Building a Strong Team and Culture 

42: 28 Overcoming Financial and Operational Challenges 

57:11 Expansion and Acquisition 

58:44 Personal Reflections and Future Plans 

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

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YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris shares the raw, unfiltered story of his first major business failure, the lessons learned from bankruptcy, and how he rebuilt his career and mindset. If you’re an entrepreneur, operator, or anyone in the trades or home service space looking for real, tactical advice and inspiration, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

“Take everything you believe are going to be your expenses and at least double it, sometimes triple it.”

“There is almost always a way out… Go ask for help. Quit being prideful.”

“Do what you’re physically able to do, not what you’re mentally able to do.”

“The best flattery you could ever give me is something that I 100% know that I did, and it was amazing.”

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:34 - Challenges and Mistakes in Early Business 

09:55 - Changing the Approach

16:06 Handling “Dead Partners”

19:36 - Impact of the 2008 Economic Crash 

24:02 - Rebuilding and Learning from Failures 

30:26 - Competing in the Sales Seminar 

34:33 - Winning the Sales Competition 

47:50 - Lessons Learned and Future Plans 

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

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Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

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YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to a New Episode of Next Level Pros! Today, Chris Lee shares his powerful origin story. From humble beginnings in a small town to early business ventures, overcoming personal challenges, and finding his true path in entrepreneurship. Originally recorded for his first podcast, “The Founder Podcast,” this replay dives deep into Chris’s childhood, his work ethic shaped by necessity, how he found confidence through Cutco sales, and the pivotal decision to walk away from medical school and build something on his own.

Apply to be on the show:

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Highlights:"Sales is the root of every successful business. Learn it or lose.""Diabetes didn’t define me. It disciplined me.""I was making $65,000 in three months while my dad worked all year for that.""You don’t need to be the quarterback to win the championship."

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why This Episode Matters

00:38 – Meet Chris Lee: Early Retirement & Entrepreneurial Lessons

02:00 – Growing Up in Connell, Washington

05:10 – Childhood Jobs & Early Financial Discipline

08:10 – Discovering Sales Through Cutco at 18

13:00 – Lessons from Sports & Being Benched

18:00 – Diabetes Diagnosis & Life-Changing Identity Shift

21:00 – Serving a Mission & Developing Deeper Resilience

27:11 – Marriage, Fatherhood & That First $65K Summer

31:30 – Pivoting from Medicine to Entrepreneurship

Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl 

Join my community - Founder Acceleration ⁠https://www.founderacceleration.com  ⁠

Apply for our next Mastermind: h⁠ttps://www.thefoundermastermind.com ⁠ 

Golf with Chris: h⁠ttps://www.golfwithchris.com ⁠ 

Watch my latest Podcast

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YouTube - @christhefounder 

Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! Today, we sit down with Victor Rancour, a powerhouse in the trades and HVAC industry who scaled from scratch to multi-million dollar success in just a few years. In this episode, Victor breaks down the exact moves he makes when acquiring new businesses, the systems he installs for profitability, and the sales processes that drive results. If you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or sales professional looking to dominate your market and build a real machine, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

"If you decide to do something and you put your all into it, you can have an opportunity."  

"You have to recruit the sales guy. If you want to start winning, you got to get one from that big company."  

"If you can't get customers, you're not going to attract me and Chris ain't working for you."  

"Implement AI, know your numbers. Let's go."

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:06 - Breaking Into HVAC: The Craigslist Ad That Changed Everything

04:03 - Learning the Business: From Sales to General Manager

08:12 - Marketing in 2025: Hand-to-Hand Combat and Direct Mail

12:11 - The Power of Follow-Up: Building a Rehash Strategy with RP1

15:19 - Pricing Models: 65% Gross Margin and Sliding Scale Commissions

19:38 - Acquiring Businesses: The First Three Things Victor Changes

22:12 - Sales Training: Four to Five Days a Week for Consistency

28:53 - Leading with Financing: Making High-Ticket Sales Accessible

44:29 - Upcoming Event: Victor’s Sales Training in Ohio & Final Advice

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

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Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

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YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris reveals three powerful strategies to 3x your revenue in the HVAC and trades industry. Whether you’re a business owner, manager, or sales leader in home services, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you scale your business, avoid common pitfalls, and close more deals with confidence.

Highlights:

“Customers do not buy products. They buy solutions.”

“Do not, I repeat, DO NOT train your technicians to go and do this work.”

“A confused buyer does not buy.”

“A no is still a decision. And a maybe, no matter how you convince yourself, is a freaking maybe.”

Timestamps:00:00 Introduction

02:25 Sales Process Separation and Technician vs. Salesperson Roles 

05:34 Limiting Sales Options and the Louis Vuitton Approach 

06:54 The Louis Vuitton Approach

09:25 Eliminating Quotes and Adopting Yes or No Decisions 

10:54 Understanding the Decisions Clients Make

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, we dive into the journey of joining a startup from humble beginnings, the power of a clear mission and vision, and how culture can shape both personal and organizational success. This episode is perfect for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone seeking inspiration to build or join a purpose-driven team.

Highlights:

"He who has the bigger vision will always win."

"If people come to you for money, they will leave you for money."

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast."

"Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate how much they can accomplish in five."

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:01 First Impressions and Interview Experience 

05:09 Starting at the Company and Initial Challenges 

09:22 Growth and Success of the Solar Company 

11:53 Building a Five-Year Roadmap 

14:34 Adapting to Different Roles 

17:33 The Importance of Clear Communication 

18:50 Final Thoughts on Mission and Vision 

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris interviews Aaron Cooper from Sameday.ai, exploring how AI is transforming customer service and sales in home service businesses. Perfect for entrepreneurs, trade business owners, and tech-curious professionals looking to understand the future of customer interactions and business efficiency.

Highlights:

"If you're not using AI to rewrite your copy now, you're missing out." 

"The AI can close at rates in the 90s for HVAC, plumbing, and electric services."

"We're training AI to be the best closer." 

"AI never has a bad day, never struggles with work ethic."

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

02:57 AI's Impact on Marketing and Content Creation

07:44 Consumer Fears About Talking to AI

11:27 AI Voice Nuances and Realistic Interactions

14:39 Overcoming Customer Objections with AI

16:27 Replacing vs. Supplementing Human Customer Service

19:29 AI Handling Difficult Customer Interactions

21:51 Smart Dispatching and Technician Allocation

25:08 The True Cost of Underperforming Customer Service

28:07 Sameday.ai's Growth and Industry Impact

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to Next Level Pros! In this explosive episode, we dive deep into the public feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, uncovering critical lessons about leadership, ego management, and healthy communication. Whether you're a business owner, team leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode will transform how you handle disagreements and build high-trust organizational cultures.

Highlights:

"Your ego is the guard dog that's been with you since you were two or three years old, and its self-appointed job is to make you feel safe."

"Check your egos at the door."

"To the degree that you are passionate about something, to that same degree you tend to be attached to it."

"Real leaders understand how to work with both strengths and weaknesses."

Timestamps:

00:00 Elon Musk and Donald Trump's Feud: Initial Context and Reactions 

02:27 Handling Disagreements in Leadership 

05:07 The Role of Ego in Leadership 

12:46 Building a Culture of Trust and Conflict Resolution 

Practical Strategies for Managing Ego and Conflict 

13:18 The Impact of Ego on Organizational Dynamics 

17:28 The Role of Passion and Attachment in Leadership 

23:11 The Importance of Preemptive Communication in Leadership 

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

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YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! Today, we’re diving into how Google's new AI video platform, VEO 3, is flipping the script for small business marketing and production. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the cost or complexity of creating video content, this episode is for you. Learn how AI is making full-scale video production accessible — and how it could literally save your business millions. This one’s for small business owners, digital marketers, content creators, and anyone looking to scale using AI without a massive team or Hollywood budget.

Highlights:

“You can produce a Hollywood style commercial in a matter of what, 30 minutes?

“You’re a freaking influencer.”

“If you’re not using AI, see you later.”

“This is the gold rush of the early 2000s… now’s your time to shine, baby.”

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

00:53 – Google's New Ecosystem

02:19 – Community Use Case

04:32 – Cost Comparison

08:20 – The Business Bottleneck

09:34 – AI Without Being On Camera

10:30 – Scaling with AI vs. Teams

11:53 – Strategy Over Automation

14:59 – The 1% Opportunity

18:17 – Free Resources & Next Steps

Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554

Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!

https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros

Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true

Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros