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In this episode, I sit down with Angie and Ryan Snow, owners of Western Heating, Air, and Plumbing, an eight-figure company that’s been in business for nearly two decades. We talk about what it’s really like building a business as a married couple, why buying an existing company changed everything for them, and how they survived the recession, hiring mistakes, sales struggles, and major growth transitions. We dig into sales, pricing, data vs feelings, leadership, people, culture, and why paying top dollar for top talent is non-negotiable if you want to scale. If you’re a contractor trying to grow without blowing up your marriage or your business, this episode is packed with real lessons.

What’s in this episode:

00:00 Why Angie and Ryan’s story matters for contractors

02:05 How they got into the trades and started their careers

05:45 Buying an existing HVAC company vs starting from scratch

09:40 Surviving the recession and running out of cash early on

13:45 Marriage, stress, and setting boundaries between work and life

17:30 Finding the right roles as a couple inside the business

21:37 Hiring mistakes, sales failures, and hard lessons learned

26:05 Data vs feelings and how to actually lead people

30:05 Why sales was the real growth bottleneck

32:21 Scaling past $5M and building a true sales process

34:30 Paying top dollar for top talent and why you can’t afford not to

38:07 Private equity, building value, and planning an exit

40:57 What they would do differently starting over today

44:11 Starting over with $1,000 and the power of relationships

Contact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip

Summary:
In this episode, I sit down with Katy Higgins from TruePros Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, and her story is unreal. Katie spent over 25 years in the trades before finally betting on herself, and when she did, she didn’t just start a business… she built a $5.6 million company out of her garage in year one. We talk about what it’s really like being a woman in a male-dominated industry, why sales is actually about solving problems, how relationships drive growth, and what allowed her to scale faster than almost anyone I’ve ever worked with. If you’re a contractor wondering what’s possible when you combine skill, mindset, and the right people around you, this episode will open your eyes.

What’s in this episode:
00:00 Why Katy story is different from almost every contractor I’ve met02:05 How she accidentally got into HVAC and built confidence in the field05:45 Being a woman in a male-dominated trade and learning to own the room09:40 Why sales isn’t selling — it’s solving real problems13:10 The mindset shift that made customers trust her immediately17:30 Why she finally decided to start her own company19:55 Building TruePros from her garage and hitting $5.6M in year one23:45 The hidden chaos and hard lessons of hyper-growth27:10 Why relationships and reputation create long-term success30:40 People, processes, and building a business that can scale34:30 Starting over with $1,000 — what Katy would do today37:25 Final advice: asking for help and getting after it

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Court Lundberg from Rare Breed Plumbing, and we dive into the real story behind building a seven-figure home-service company. Court opens up about growing up on a farm, falling into plumbing by accident, living in a trailer, almost losing everything, rebuilding from scratch, and figuring out how to lead people, grow a brand, and stay married through the chaos. If you're trying to level up your business and your life, this episode will hit home.

00:00 Why I brought Court from Rare Breed Plumbing on the show

02:05 How Court stumbled into plumbing and found his passion

05:12 The early years: living lean, learning fast, and choosing happiness

09:40 Marriage, expectations, and the hard truth about entrepreneurship

15:22 The burnout phase and why most contractors get stuck here

20:48 From one-man operation to first hires, and major growing pains

26:10 The $80k marketing mistake and losing his house

30:32 Rebuilding confidence, raising standards, and fixing culture

35:44 What Court would do differently if he had to start over

40:10 Final lessons for any contractor scaling past survival

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip

Summary:
When I was a police sergeant, I learned one powerful truth: until it’s your problem, it will always be a problem. In this episode, I talk about Extreme Ownership and how contractors can stop blaming subs, clients, and crews — and start leading. I’ll show you the Fix → Debrief → Accountability system so you can turn problems into opportunities and raise the standard of your entire business.

📂 What’s in this episode:
00:00 Until it’s your problem, it will always be a problem
00:21 My story as a sergeant managing a tough squad
01:25 The moment I realized blaming wasn’t leadership
02:08 Why Extreme Ownership changes everything for contractors
04:00 Contractors: everything in your business is your responsibility
06:28 The 3-step fix: Fix, Debrief, Upgrade Accountability
07:52 How incentives + consequences improve team performance
08:58 Why leadership raises the standards of your crew
09:59 My challenge: stop blaming, start owning

🧠 Titles:

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip

Summary:
I call it the Chaos Tax — the price you pay when your business runs on reaction instead of strategy. In this episode, I share how my time as a rookie cop taught me the danger of chasing outcomes without a plan. I’ll give you four strategies to cut through chaos: define outcomes, plan ahead, always have a backup plan, and embrace accountability. Stop paying the Chaos Tax and start running your business like a pro.

📂 What’s in this episode:
00:00 What the Chaos Tax is costing your business
00:27 Rookie cop story: chasing outcomes at any cost
01:26 Why contractors embrace chaos instead of fighting it
02:39 4 ways to eliminate chaos and build structure
03:04 Step 1: Define your outcome clearly
03:48 Step 2: Plan ahead weekly and daily
05:00 Step 3: Always have a backup plan like a SWAT team
06:18 Step 4: Embrace accountability in yourself and your team
07:18 My challenge: stop paying the Chaos Tax and join BuildPro

Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip

Summary:

I share the story of a contractor who was stuck at $1 million in revenue, burning out and running in circles. The shift that helped him scale past $6 million wasn’t more hustle, it was structure. I’ll show you how to replace “doing more” with building systems, setting capacity caps, and making growth sustainable instead of chaotic.

📂 What’s in this episode:

00:00 Why doing more jobs doesn’t equal more money

00:29 The remodeler stuck at $1M and ready to quit

02:01 Why trading time for money caps your growth

03:20 How burnout shows up when you hit capacity

04:44 The $6M shift: people, processes, and plan

05:55 How to set a capacity cap and stop overbooking

07:29 Why sticky notes are killing your profits

08:33 How systems turn busy into scalable

10:34 My challenge: identify your biggest bottleneck

Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

👉 Join BuildPro Now! https://buildprosystem.com/vip

Summary:

If your crew treats your plan like a suggestion, you’ve got chaos in a box. In this episode, I break down why jobs fall apart even when you’ve got the work lined up and the right people in place. From vague plans, to zero ownership, to no checkpoints or consequences. I show you the four mistakes contractors make that force them to babysit crews and lose money. More importantly, I’ll give you the tools to turn your jobs into structured, repeatable wins.

📂 What’s in this episode:

00:00 Why “chaos in a box” destroys contractor profits

00:32 A million-dollar remodeler stuck babysitting crews

01:28 The real reason crews ignore plans and miss deadlines

03:31 How vague instructions cause costly mistakes

04:57 Why ownership matters at every step of the job

06:36 The importance of checkpoints to keep projects on track

07:47 No consequences = no accountability on your team

08:55 The solution: checklists, ownership, and structure

Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

Setting Standards: The Key to Quality Work in Your Contracting BusinessIn this episode of Success Unleashed, host Garrett Bake addresses the common issue of sloppy work due to undefined standards. He emphasizes the importance of establishing clear expectations for employees and shares a personal story from his days as a police officer to illustrate how strict standards can lead to better performance and accountability. Bake advises contractors to set, communicate, and enforce standards consistently to ensure quality work and operational efficiency. He concludes with an invitation to join the Build Pro community for more tips, tools, and support in growing a successful contracting business.00:00 Introduction: Setting the Standard01:25 Identifying the Real Problem02:27 The Importance of Enforcing Standards02:49 A Lesson from Law Enforcement07:19 Implementing Standards in Your Business10:20 Consistency is Key10:47 Join the Build Pro Community11:10 Final Motivation and Call to ActionSuggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

Summary:In this episode of Success Unleashed, host Garrett Bake shares strategies for contractors to manage their cash flow and escape the 'rich on Monday, broke by Friday' cycle. Garrett emphasizes the importance of having solid payment terms in contracts, charging for change orders, and maintaining a cash reserve to ensure business stability. He offers practical advice on how to stop cash flow issues from derailing a business by implementing straightforward financial practices and leveraging credit options. This episode is a must-listen for any contractor aiming to grow and sustain a profitable business.

📂 What’s in this episode:

00:00 Introduction: Success Unleashed

00:27 The Cash Flow Rollercoaster

01:20 Identifying the Real Problem

01:31 Solving Cash Flow Issues

05:38 Importance of Payment Terms

10:22 Building Financial Reserves

12:29 Practical Financial Strategies

14:04 Conclusion: Join the Bill Pro Community

Suggested Videos:📹 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/f9NE7ia7gDA?si=A3JFa1cus-CgnBS9📹 Is One Bad Hire Threatening Your Business? https://youtu.be/A0waQvno7Ms?si=-qmq9iXTdIU4GO5w📹 Is Your Contracting Business Costing You Your Family Life? https://youtu.be/G1KDIy4Q_Yk?si=KwyfkaTNQjSA8fAR📹 Why Hustling 60+ Hours a Week is Destroying Your Contracting Business https://youtu.be/vOC1OTdUzAo?si=f2-yw77QbbzE7cfu📹 From Hustling Alone to an 8-Figure Business: The Contractor’s Blueprint for Success https://youtu.be/NLvYE_jy9Ss?si=F5iMDs8DtcVU4TKxContact & Social Media:American Contractor Network: https://www.americancontractornetwork.com/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gerrittbake/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gerritt.bakeSubscribe me to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@UCewWukVmYzA7_fCVv4-UnKQThanks for watching my video! Stay tuned for more high-quality content that could change your life.

Summary:
Are you constantly putting out fires, reacting all day, and wondering what you even accomplished? That’s what I call the Chaos Tax — and it’s costing you time, money, and peace. In this episode, I break down four things you can do right now to get out of reactive mode and finally take control of your business.

📂 What’s in this episode:

• 00:00 – Are you paying the chaos tax?

• 00:27 – How chasing outcomes nearly got me killed as a cop

• 01:26 – Contractors: you’re embracing chaos instead of solving it

• 02:39 – 4 ways to eliminate chaos and run your business like a pro:

  • 03:04 – 1. Define your outcome clearly

  • 03:48 – 2. Use weekly and daily planning systems

  • 05:00 – 3. Always have a backup plan (contractor version of SWAT prep)

  • 06:18 – 4. Hold yourself and your team accountable

• 07:18 – Join BuildPro for tools, templates, and training to grow