I'm having a conversation with one of my favorite people today. Cassie Castaneda began working with us over seven years ago while she was studying to be a dental hygienist. She quickly decided to stay and grow in the trades with us. I couldn't be happier to know that she decided to dedicate her career working in the trades. Cassie is now our Chief Administrative Officer.

I like to think of Cassie as a young, cool me. She's been a huge supporter in getting this podcast out. She's also been my hair, makeup, and beauty consultant. She helps me keep up-to-date with trends and the latest happenings. One of those is AI, which we are going to talk about today.

We discuss the pros and cons of AI, how to utilize it in the trades, and the amazing potential for marketing and content creation. We also talk about the importance of authentic and human connection. It's our goal to use these new tools to make our business, training, and information sharing better, while still keeping the value on human intelligence and connections.

Episode Highlights:

[03:30] AI is basically using computers to do things that traditionally require human intelligence. It can recognize patterns, make decisions, and judge like a human. It's creating an avenue for us to do things faster and better.

[04:01] AI is cool, but also a little bit creepy. It's good to keep up with the new technology especially in businesses like marketing.

[04:37] We use Chat GPT which is a generative AI tool. There are a lot of tools out there that do all kinds of things.

[05:29] How is AI affecting the trades? Employers are going to expect employees and marketers to know how to use AI.

[07:21] Andy was able to create very detailed job duties with AI, but the language didn't sound like what we normally use. It was more generic instead of specific.

[08:01] AI helps organize things in a very professional way that makes it easy to follow. There are also so many applications for marketing.

[09:08] AI is going to be super helpful in providing technical training to tradespeople.

[10:02] Drawbacks of AI include how auto-generated content could have no authority or trust and not speaking the language we speak won't translate well.

[11:05] Our personality still needs to go into the things we create. There's also value in creating your own process.

[13:18] AI is great, but there's definitely value in our own experience and intelligence.

[15:25] Alexis had some resistance at first when it came to AI, but I want to incorporate it into our business as a valuable tool while still remaining authentic.

[15:51] Cassie is looking forward to using AI with data analytics and customer insights.

[16:59] AI should help your team level up, but humans will always be needed for uniqueness and human connection.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• Cassie Castaneda

I'm excited to talk about the very important topic of women in the trades. I also want to remind everyone that this podcast is specifically for intrapreneurs. This is someone who wants to work within an organization to help that organization grow and thrive while reaping financial benefits from that organization. They don't necessarily want to take all of the risk of being an entrepreneur.

When my husband and I first started in our plumbing business, I didn't know any women in the trades. Eventually, I discovered Ellen Rohr and Mary Jean Anderson who were successful women in the trades. I know there is so much room for enhancement in the trades by having women in the business. In this episode, I'm talking about six areas where women absolutely thrive in the trades.

Episode Highlights:

[02:11] When my husband and I started our first home service plumbing business, everyone we knew in the industry were men. I didn't have a female mentor to look up to.

[02:59] A few years later, I met Ellen Rohr. She taught me so much about reading financials. She was instrumental for me learning about home service business financials.

[03:36] I also learned from Mary Jean Anderson of Anderson Plumbing. These are the only two ladies that I know who are successful public figures in the trades.

[03:58] One of the reasons I created this podcast is I wanted to be a mentor for women in the trades.

[04:19] There is so much room for enhancement from women being in the trades, but I'm not discrediting men in the gift that they have been given.

[04:49] I think we thrive in the world when we tune into the strength of men and the strength of women and honor that instead of competing.

[05:44] Mary Jean Anderson has a large number of female technicians out in the field and a lot of female managers.

[06:11] I would never be able to do physical labor in the same way that my husband does.

[07:59] Tapping into women's intuitive gifts in business creates an amazing synergy between men and women.

[09:02] 1. The world of accounting. A lot of women are very detail oriented, organized, and great support.

[10:13] 2. Leadership. Women are amazing leaders, and we don't see enough women in leadership roles in the trades.

[11:29] 3. In the marketing world. More women need to enter into the world of marketing.

[12:35] 4. Customer service. Women are very in tune to the needs of the customer and being in the customer's home during the work.

[13:54] 5. In the world of sales. Women thrive in sales, yet they are extremely underutilized.

[15:14] 6. Women bring so much attention to detail, organization, planning, and support to trades organizations.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• Ellen Rohr

• Anderson Plumbing

Everywhere you look, there is buzz about a recession and the economy. That's why I'm talking about what a recession means for us in the home services trades business. The gloom and scarcity is scary for some people.

Today, I'm going to put things in perspective for those of us in the home services trades. I want you to leave this podcast with tangible steps of what you can do in your personal life, and I also want to assure you that you are in an amazing business. We can thrive and grow during any type of economic downturn.

Episode Highlights:

[02:16] My husband loved construction. One of his favorite parts of his job was the plumbing. He wasn't planning on actually becoming a plumber. We moved to Las Vegas during a big economic downturn. My husband ended up falling back on his plumbing skills and service plumbing.

[03:12] I loved the idea of having a home service business that did plumbing, heating, and cooling.

[03:44] My husband ended up becoming a plumber and realized he was actually good at it. After a few years of working for a company, we branched out and started our own business.

[04:32] Home service businesses are really stable. People will always need plumbing, cooling, and air.

[05:01] Being in a home services business will set your family up for success.

[05:06] 1. Make sure you're in a business that is 80% to 90% services.

[05:23] 2. It's important to always have your financial house in order. Have a budget and include everyone.

[07:57] 3. Limit the amount of doom and gloom that you are consuming. Cut out negative media and even negative people.

[10:01] 4. It's really important to give your customers options. Be in tune with your customer and supply them with multiple options.

[11:17] 5. Get really familiar with your company's financing options or promotions. These options can give people time to figure out what they want to spend and how to pay. Offer your customer solutions.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

I'm going to talk about a subject that I'm very passionate about, making the trades hot. When we were first starting out, my husband was resistant because of the negative image of people in the trades. We've made it our mission to turn that around.

We are going to challenge and change negative images about people in the trades. I told my husband that we can make plumbing and HVAC hot. We are attracting other members of the team who care about their image and value their appearance. It's time to bring sexy back to the trades.

Episode Highlights:

[02:50] We want people who want to take care of themselves financially and physically.

[03:16] We attract great people, because of who we are and what we value. We also feature our team members in our ads.

[04:06] It's not just about being superficial. People who value their image and appearance are also great for business.

[05:16] 1. People in the trades need to believe in themselves and believe that they bring so much value to society. You have to believe that you are worthy of recognition.

[06:01] 2. You need to value your image and come to work in clean clothes and comb your hair. When you look good you feel good and have a better day.

[08:16] 3. Be aware of your food choices and what you're eating. Think about alternative options for food. Plan ahead or explore healthy options like grocery store salad bars.

[09:49] 4. Drink lots of water. It's extremely important to stay hydrated.

[11:21] 5. Start some type of workout routine that you can enjoy and be consistent with. This will help increase energy levels and avoid injuries.

[13:42] When you can encourage people to look and feel good, it's healing for everyone involved.

[14:33] Bringing sexy back is also amazing for the industry. It's a win-win for everyone.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• Grant Cardone

Supporting your spouse or significant other in the trades is crucial for a successful relationship and business. My husband and I have a unique experience. We've been working together for the last 10 years or so. As a result, we've gotten really good at it.

I'm excited to share tips and insights that we worked through to honor our relationship and thrive. This podcast will also be helpful even if one spouse works in the trades. I talk about why it's not good to compartmentalize, how your spouse is your greatest form of support, and more.

Episode Highlights:

[02:36] We don't compartmentalize our life. We would naturally talk about work when we were at home.

[03:42] One reason why it's not good to compartmentalize your life is because your spouse is your greatest source of support.

[04:01] If you don't share what's going on with your career, your spouse can't support you.

[05:28] I would recommend bringing your spouse into your life all around.

[06:20] We have a safe space where we chat after we put the kids to bed.

[07:18] Sometimes we just need to be. Women need to share and connect, and sometimes men just want to fix things. Sometimes, I just want my husband to hold space for me and be there with me.

[08:29] It's also important to share the good and the bad.

[09:04] My number one piece of advice is don't compartmentalize your life.

[10:03] Women tend to be more gifted with the gift of intuition. When you share with your wife, you tap into her innate wisdom.

[11:40] It's important to bring your spouse into your career so they can support you.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

This is part two of my interview with my handsome hubby and business partner Andrew Aranda. I'm interviewing him because he is the king of culture and has done a phenomenal job of making Pure Plumbing & Air a great place to work and grow professionally.

We continue our conversation about how to build a strong team and an amazing culture. We're committed to growing people and training and promoting from within. In turn these amazing people grow our company. We talk about professional development and creating an environment where everyone wins financially. This is a great episode for business people who want to be the best they can be at whatever they do.

Episode Highlights:

[02:03] We've created a family environment and made Pure Plumbing & Air an amazing place to work at. We do our best to help each other smile.

[03:12] Acknowledgement and small talk helps build relationships and create trust.

[04:04] We've committed to building people who have in turn built the company. We will train someone who has a great personality for a position within the company.

[05:33] We have a clear mission and have created an amazing environment for people to learn.

[06:30] Andrew built a training house in the back of the shop. People are really vetted well and work with a master trainer. There is no better investment than the minds of the people who build the company.

[07:30] Andrew doesn't have any regrets. Mistakes are attributed to success.

[10:53] Recommended books include: The Like Switch and books by The Harvard Business Review and John Maxwell. Andrew also listens to Andy Frisella and Ed Mylett. All of his mentors have helped develop who he is today.

[12:43] The law of the lid. The leader is the lid. They need to grow and expand. Our vision is for people to use Pure Plumbing to make their goals and dreams happen.

[15:01] Find something that people need and be the best you can be at that.

[17:29] Andrew shares the advantages he had when going into plumbing. Taking care of people and solving problems does give gratification.

[19:19] If you're out there working in a company, you are the reason that the company does well.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over (The Like Switch Series Book 1)

• Harvard Business Review

• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You

• A Collision of Limitless Minds: Andy Frisella and Ed Mylett

• Howard Partridge

I am so excited about interviewing my best friend and business partner, Andrew Aranda. Andy worked in his family's trade business growing up. When he decided to get into the plumbing business, he became motivated to change people's views on the trades. Andy's personal brand is called The Modern Day Tradesman, and his mission is to "bring respect back to the trades," particularly for young people aspiring to work in this field.

We talk about so many interesting things from helping intrapreneurs and how we try to go the extra mile with our team. We talk about the importance of mentoring, coaching, good communication, and planning. We even share some steps we've taken to improve our communication and our marriage. We talk about personal development and balance in life. This is the first part of a two-part interview with Andy. We'll publish the second part next week.

Episode Highlights:

[01:37] Andy has been in the trades for about 20 years. He started working in his family's business when he was young.

[02:25] His first impression of seeing trade workers made him think that it wasn't for him.

[02:47] After working in plumbing, Andy became motivated to change how people view the trades.

[03:00] His personal brand is The Modern Day Tradesman. His slogan is "bringing respect back to the trades".

[03:11] It's his mission to bring respect back to the trades for the young people who aspire to work in the trades.

[03:44] Going from a tradesman to a business owner is a big leap and a lot of work.

[04:50] There was a need to have people speaking directly to intrapreneurs or people who don't want to actually become entrepreneurs.

[05:19] A lot of people crave financial stability. You want a company that allows everyone to rise.

[06:25] Business owners are always looking for people who are dedicated. A company with great leadership that really looks out for its people can be very profitable.

[07:31] Starting our company has been about growth and commitment for everyone including our team members and their families.

[08:09] Become a great leader. Focus on growth and development. If you get stagnant, shake things up.

[09:03] Self-development is key to business growth and success in life. Aspiring to be a good leader works outside of work as well.

[09:36] Challenges include putting individuals in the right space to foster a win for them.

[11:06] Andy is certified as a D-I-S-C trainer. Understanding personalities is helpful in business.

[12:18] Focus on the needs of the company and put the right person in the right position. It's okay to experiment with different things.

[17:21] Andy shares tips on working with a spouse. Be open minded and have patience. Know each other's love language and listen.

[22:45] There's a huge advantage to having a mentor and someone who can coach you and add value.

[23:16] It's our goal to go the extra mile with our team. The first mile is paying well, and the second mile is helping our team improve the quality of their lives.

[26:23] Spend time communicating about what happens at work, because it's just going to strengthen your bond.

[27:35] We also invested in a marriage coach. Alexis wanted to focus on being a better wife.

[28:45] The Wheel of Life from Zig Ziglar. The point of the wheel is balance.

[31:20] Find something that you can do everyday that you feel excited about.

[35:23] It takes intention and planning, but you can be a great intrapreneur and a great dad or whatever you aspire to be.

[36:41] We have every employee plan out their important dates and events for the year. Put processes in place to open the lines of communication.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• John Maxwell

• Positive Personality Profiles: D-I-S-C-over Personality Insights to Understand Yourself and Others!

• Grant Cardone University

It might sound a little cliche, but I'm extremely passionate about changing your thoughts, change your life. I really believe that if you can change the thoughts that you're thinking, your whole life will shift in a positive way. One of my favorite Zig Ziglar quotes is about stinking thinking. About 10 years ago, I was stuck in a stinking thinking trap. Whenever anything bad happened, I would immediately turn into a victim.

When I really got involved in the self-development world, I had to challenge myself to think about the thoughts that I was thinking. I'm so grateful that I dug in deep and did the work. Today, I'm going to help create awareness around your thoughts by sharing eight steps that will help break any negative thoughts that might be holding you back, because if you can change your thoughts, you can change your world.

Episode Highlights:

[02:35] 2020 was a challenging year. Had I not done all the work prior, I may have been stuck in a perpetual negative pattern.

[02:58] 2022 was the first solid year of business with our second company in Dallas. Plus, we were launching an HVAC division in Las Vegas. Things didn't work out with our new GM, but we didn't let it get us down.

[05:14] 1. How is this happening in our favor? What are we learning? How are we growing? What can we do better? When you get curious, you open yourself up to find the solution.

[06:27] 2. Make time to feel your emotions. Make time to feel the emotions, process them, and release them. Make sure you are doing this in a safe place.

[07:53] Find a safe place for your anger release method. I'll hit pillows, yell into the pillows, stomp, or whatever I need to do. Not spiritually bypassing.

[09:43] 3. Choose your words. Choose empowering words. Switch your language to empowering words.

[11:08] If you say negative things, your subconscious mind will find ways to make them true.

[11:42] Switching your words can have a profound impact on your thoughts and mindset.

[11:52] 4. Examine the negative thoughts. A lot of our adult programming has come from our childhood, and these negative thoughts aren't even our own.

[13:36] Get to the root cause of where these negative thoughts are coming from. You may even have to have some tough conversations.

[14:03] Your inner child. Things from your childhood come up in your adult life.

[15:32] 5. Journal and write down your thoughts, so that you can examine them when you have time.

[16:16] 6. Pay attention to what you put in your body. All of the things we put in our body have an effect on our thoughts.

[18:00] 7. Cut out negative influences. Pay attention to who you hang out with. Take a step back from focusing on negative things to avoid creating anxiety.

[19:08] Create boundaries and eliminate toxic people and media.

[20:16] 8. Incorporate movement and exercise into your lifestyle. Movement and running makes me feel positive and high on life. Find something that you enjoy doing and that you'll be excited about doing.

[21:11] Incorporate walking, strength training, or riding a bike. When we exercise our bodies create dopamine which generates positive thoughts.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

This podcast is specifically for intrapreneurs, somebody who wants to work inside of an organization to improve the organization and be part of something bigger than themselves. They don't necessarily want to assume all of the risk like an entrepreneur.

I'm a huge fan of podcasts. They are wonderful for learning and growing and sharing information, but there's a shortage of podcasts for intrapreneurs. That's why this podcast is specifically for intrapreneurs in the trades who want to better their skills and more.

This episode is all about dispelling some of the myths about working in the trades and home services. I'm going to share five common myths about people in the trades that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm going to share why these jobs are valuable, lucrative, secure, clean and full of opportunity for old and young alike.

Episode Highlights:

[02:58] Picture a tradesman. One of the biggest myths about people in the trades is that they are less than or couldn't get into college, so they went into the trades.

[03:56] Myth #1. People in the trades are trashy.

[05:30] More and more men and women are choosing to go into the trades, because it's so lucrative. There's also job security. The trades can't be outsourced.

[05:59] Myth #2. The only way to make money in the trades is to be the business owner.

[06:57] Sales people make a lot in our company. If you can perfect your craft, you can write your check.

[07:29] There's a lot of money to be made in the trades, and you don't have to be the business owner.

[07:55] Myth #3. Trades people are college rejects. More people are opting out of a traditional college education and attending an apprentice program and learning a trade so that they can easily get a job.

[09:11] Current college grads are actually having a hard time getting a job.

[09:26] Myth #4. Everything is going to be dirty, and you're going to have to touch poop.

[10:52] There is occasional poop involved, but it's not every call or every day. There are also different areas of plumbing or HVAC that don't involve poop.

[12:14] Myth #5. It's a job for the young. It's important to have a long-term plan when getting into the trades. Physical stuff does become more difficult as you age. Not taking care of yourself physically also makes it more difficult to do these jobs.

[13:32] There is still so much potential for older people in the trades. Many of the older tradesmen are in a trainer role and able to pass on their knowledge to the next generation.

[14:38] There's also a lot of opportunity for managers. Becoming a great leader leads to many opportunities in the trades.

[15:41] A recap of the 5 myths: People in the trades are trashy. The only way to make money is to be a business owner. People in the trades are college rejects. You're going to have to touch a lot of poop. It's a job for young men or young women.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• Intrapreneur Versus Entrepreneur

• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship are two distinct concepts that have gained prominence recently. An entrepreneur is an individual who initiates, manages, and assumes the financial risk in the establishment of a new business. An intrapreneur is a leader within a company who enhances the organization's growth through innovative ideas and advancements.

While entrepreneurship has been romanticized, the majority of people who branch out on their own fail, making intrapreneurs' contributions critical. Intrapreneurs utilize their organization's resources and create value with less executive risk, solving significant problems within the company.

In contrast, entrepreneurs take on more significant financial risks, have less time freedom, and must make considerable sacrifices to succeed. In this podcast, we'll focus specifically on intrapreneurs and explore some shared traits with entrepreneurs while highlighting three things to look for in a company if you are an intrapreneur.

Episode Highlights:

[03:03] Intrapreneurs are people within a company that make that company grow. They have a pivotal role in growing the organization.

[03:29] An entrepreneur has more risk and less time freedom. They also have to make significant sacrifices. There's a lot of opportunity, but a lot of sacrifice goes along with that.

[03:47] I was a different woman 5 years ago. I realized that there's a huge void for intrapreneurs specifically in the trades.

[04:26] I've seen amazing technicians fail in the transition to entrepreneurship. That's okay because entrepreneurship isn't for everybody.

[05:06] Shared traits include leadership, adaptability, innovation, and persistence.

[05:28] My husband was a free-spirited entrepreneur who took risks. I was the opposite. We've been so successful, because our talents are the exact opposite.

[07:40] "You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want." -Zig Ziglar

[08:15] If you would prefer to be an intrapreneur and not take all of the risk, look for these things in your company. Are the company's core values in alignment with your own?

[13:01] What is the company culture like? How do people interact? How do they feel about the company?

[15:18] What are the opportunities for advancement and growth? Is professional development provided? Is there a ladder of opportunity within this company?

[17:15] It's my passion to help bring respect back to the trades. I'm here to help intrapreneurs bring passion back to their careers.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Pure Plumbing & Air

• Pure Plumbing & Air Facebook

• Alexis Aranda Instagram

• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It