Pro Painter Podcast

You read the title right, this week's painting professional joining Nick on The Business Brush was once a boy in blue. Welcome Travis Dahlen, who - like every single one of us - came face to face with a hard choice of priorities. A hard, dedicated, dangerous career vs. the hard, dedicated covenant of family. His love for his family won out, of course.

"Great decision, don't regret it."

Came up in paint, went on to protect and serve, then back to paint. With so much background working for other companies in the industry, Travis knows a thing or two about what not to do and has been carving a successful path for himself these last few years.

Broad-strokes include: The importance of finances, what he learned from Crank, DISC personality types, our Roadmap to Profits Kickstarter - and much more.

This week's episode goes all over the place, as Nick is joined by Anthony Carrino, man of many talents. A developer and designer who's had several shows on HGTV (Kitchen Cousins, et al.), a digital series for Ellen (The Build Up), and his own YouTube series (TheBuild.tv) - Anthony's also been rolling up his sleeves and picking up his own paintbrush lately.

After interviewing him for our professional interior design podcast The Chaise Lounge (have a listen), we thought we'd bring him over here for you guys to enjoy as well. His story on getting into television, moving away from television, and how to build a brand and market yourself through video and storytelling - well, there couldn't be a better time to talk about exactly that. Plus some lessons learned that came back around to his other work.

Broad-strokes include: The importance of telling a good story, picking a paint contractor, motorcycles, what's coming in season 2 of TheBuild.tv - and much more.

Every single one of us got into this business the self-made way, but some people feel the call of the entrepreneur more than others. Enter Curtis Gabhart, president of TruLine Painting & Construction. And - what's that - president of Gabhart Investments, Inc., where he invests, manages and improves a portfolio of multi-family housing.

Nick and Curtis, sitting together in our iMay studio, talk big picture in today's episode of The Business Brush. What kind of business owner you want to be (e.g. helping his virtual assistant get her green card to come work for him in the states), economies of scale and favorable synergies, and the eternal engine of a passion for self-improvement.

Broad-strokes include: parents of same-age kids, where to focus your marketing energies, how success in sales can drive new opportunities - and much more.

As any successful entrepreneur can attest, there's no one right way to run a business. This week's guest on The Business Brush is Brian Reis, one of the founders and partners of Bella's Army. Brian brings an interesting partnership dynamic to the show, and emphasizes the importance of partnering with people who complement your strengths and weaknesses.

Broad-strokes include: lifestyle changes, college painters, strategic partnerships, making mistakes and setting goals - and much more.

It's finally here! Our first one-on-one interview of the season. (Thanks for joining us for our PCA specials.)

Today Nick is joined by Genesis Macedo, who has one heck of a story to tell. Originally from Brazil and emigrating to New York back in 2001 - in the midst of another national crisis - Genesis, like many of us, pulled himself up by his bootstraps. Together they talk a little bit about the developing pandemic (this episode was recorded at the very beginning of March) and how it's likely to affect business owners, as well as being a parent, business development, and all the good stuff you've come to know and love.

Broad-strokes include: playing soccer and getting older, raising your kids to be their own people, how Genesis differentiates his business, how to structure your office, using technology to get the most bang for your buck - and much more.

We're not done with PCA Expo yet.

This time Nick May is joined again by Chris Shank, as well as Nick Lograsso and Nick Slavik. (Chris & The Nicks is the name of their jam band, they're here all week.) In addition to excitement for the expo at large, the boys take a step back and really try to get at the core of what makes a trade association important and valuable in the first place. As business owners, as painters, as people.

Hey, you're people too! Go ahead and sound off in The Business Brush Group with your opinion as well. The more data and conversation, the better. Especially now, when we're all trying to figure out the best way to survive the current landscape.

Broad-strokes include: How to approach scope, clients don't read anything, revisiting paper in a digital world, feelings vs. data driven - and much more.

The Business Brush is back, baby!

Pt. 1

Way back in the halcyon days of February 2020, four intrepid paint professionals got together and made a podcast at the PCA Expo. Join Nick May, Chris Shank, Gina Koert, and Andrew Dwyer as they tease their talks, cover the pregame, share their excitement and just goof off really.

Broad-strokes include: Is Tom Brady okay?, talk teases, brain melds, excited about PCA2020, legitimate wings.

Pt. 2

Nick and Chris return, now joined by Morgan Ray and Jeremy Barton. Everybody shares a little bit of background, then the guys pick Morgan's brain, who shares the importance of wielding accounting like a sharp instrument - not a blunt one. The takeaway? Know your numbers and make better-informed decisions.

Broad-strokes include: Competing for a job, what is managerial accounting, more excitement for PCA2020, implement what you learn.

In this episode of the Brush, Nick meets old Denverite, now Lincolnite, and old friend, Jeremy Day, of Remy Refinishing.

It's a very fancy episode this week on the Brush, as Nick takes a break from his duties @ Crank to sit down with three of the biggest characters in the industry, Nick Slavic, Jason Paris and Chris Shank.

“Being the best painter is not all that there is - if you can't stay in business, being the best painter doesn’t mean anything. You really have to get your business life in order."