Today's guest, Brian Fitzsimmons from Fitz's Fish Ponds, has built a successful business of building ponds and breeding and selling koi fish, but these days, he is focusing his energy on something else. He is going to take on Eric as part of the finsNfury charity boxing match on August 17th for Brian Barczyk's Legacy Aquarium. Tune in to find out Brian and Eric's preparations and predictions for the fight and how you can support their efforts.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Brian's journey to Japan to select koi fish to bring back to the US

• Brian's experience of transporting koi fish from Japan to the US for the All American Koi Show

• Details of Fitz's Fish Ponds Koi Fest happening on August 24th in Milford, NJ, and how it has grown bigger over the years

• What makes a good koi fish for awards

• Importance of having photogenic koi fish for shows and events

• Fins N Fury boxing charity event for the Legacy Aquarium on August 17th

• Reactions from friends, family and colleagues about Eric and Brian's decision to participate in the boxing match.

Mentioned:

Click here to purchase tickets and PPV fight card: https://finsnfury.vhx.tv/?campaign=eric

Fitz's Fish Ponds- https://www.fitzfishponds.com/

Fitz's Fish Ponds YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIzO41pTpqRxZBuanS7HwnQ

Links to resources:

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Do you believe there is a need to wake up at 5 AM every day to be successful? Today's guest, Johnny Buck, found this isn't sustainable long term. As an entrepreneur, athlete, and coach, he was burning the candle at both ends just to keep up. In this episode, he shares his decision to quit the 5 AM Club and take a more flexible approach to mornings and how it has impacted his life and work.

In this episode, they talk about:

• What is the 5 AM Club, and whether it is necessary for success

• The misconceptions around the 5 AM club

• What made Johnny quit the 5 AM Club and explore alternative approaches to productivity

• Johnny's background in combat sports and how it has shaped his journey as an entrepreneur

• The importance of work-life harmony versus work-life balance

• Balancing different priorities like family, fitness, work

• Dan Martell's Buy Back Your Time to optimize schedule and productivity

• Eric's upcoming amateur boxing match for a noble cause

• Quitting drinking alcohol and its impacts on physical and mental health

• Strategies for improving productivity and having an effective morning routine

Mentioned:

Johnny Buck on Instagram: Johnny Buck (@johnnybuck2)

The Johnny Buck Show: The Johnny Buck Show

Don't forget to cheer for Eric on August 17 for his boxing event available on Pay Per View: https://tinyurl.com/finsnfury-campaign-eric

Links to resources:

Stop struggling with sales! Transform your business with Eric's FREE list of Contractor Sales Secrets and start moving in the right direction. Click here to download it: Contractor Sales Secrets

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Eric sits down with Cichlid legend John Niemans to discuss his encyclopedic knowledge of cichlids. They discuss John's experiences over 30+ years of keeping and breeding cichlids, lessons he's learned along the way, breeding and fishkeeping tips for different cichlid groups like Africans, New World cichlids, Asians, and more. If you're passionate about Cichlids, this episode is for you!

In this episode, they talk about:

• Different cichlid breeding behaviors — substrate spawning, mouth-brooding, etc

• Issues with growing fish in small tanks and buying stunted fish from stores

• The dangers of keeping cold-water Plecos in ponds in California

• Recommendation of Chris Biggs' YouTube channel about isopods

• The growth of local aquarium clubs like Aquascape Club and the events they hold

• John's past experiences with the Southern California Cichlid Association fish club

• Upcoming speakers and events from clubs like Coast Club

• The challenges of maintaining fish clubs long-term due to issues like politics and finances

• Breeding fish varieties, differences between wild vs domestic strains, and selection techniques

• Fish breeding experiences with Black Widows and Red Peacocks and the importance of selecting female breeders

Mentioned:

John's Website California Cichlids: https://californiacichlids.com/

Links to resources:

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

As pond professionals get older, it's natural to start thinking about retirement. But leaving behind a career you've poured your heart into for decades is no easy task. Eric sat down with three industry veterans—The Pond Monster, Mark Gibson, and Mike Miller—to get their insights on aging in the industry and how to make an exit.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Aging in the pond industry and the challenges of exiting the business

• The importance of networking, education, and attending industry events

• Approaching well-known speakers and experts who are willing to share knowledge

• Having clear contracts that outline payment schedules, scope of work, and mechanic's lien language to protect against non-payment

• Budgeting and saving money, even when business is struggling, to maintain cash flow

• Earning respect through good work instead of expecting it to be given automatically

• Technological advancements in the pond industry over the years

• Good ways to exit the business and deciding whether to pass it to the family

• Challenges of succession planning and passing down the business to the next generation

• Advice for younger contractors just starting out in the industry

Mentioned:

Lloyd Lightsey, The Pond Monster - https://thepondmonster.com/

Mark Gibson's Website: https://www.greenthumblr.com/

Mike Miller's Website: https://www.pondliner.com/

Links to resources:

Stop struggling with sales! Transform your business with Eric's FREE list of Contractor Sales Secrets and start moving in the right direction. Click here to download it: Contractor Sales Secrets

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Joey Mullen, the undisputed King of DIY, is here to make the aquarium hobby a lot more exciting with the upcoming charity boxing event – Fins N Fury. Joey details about the boxing match, a charity event for raising funds for late Brian Barczyk's Legacy Aquarium. He also opens up about his long YouTube career and gives some gold nuggets about YouTube and content creation.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Joey's YouTube journey over 16 years

• Struggles Joey faced with burnout, identity crises, and life challenges

• How Joey worked through that identity crisis and got back into the mindset shift

• Tragic incidents in his life that made him consider retiring from YouTube

• Eric's experience with cancer in 2015 and keeping it private for years

• Joey's journey to reaching 1 million subscribers on YouTube and the challenges and setbacks along the way

• Joey's first meeting and collaboration with Dustin of Dustin's Fish Tanks

• YouTube algorithm's impact on content and visibility

• Advice to aspiring content creators who are looking to build their brand and channels

• Meeting Julian Sprung and innovations in saltwater aquariums

• How stingrays are often mis-cared for in freshwater aquariums

• Details about the Fins N Fury event

Mentioned:

The king of DIY on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekingofdiy

Joey Mullen's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kingofdiy

Joey Mullen's book The ultimate DIY handbook – for the DIY aquarist: https://diyaquariumbook.com/

Links to resources:

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Do you know there's a Fish Club local to around you? Today's guest, Ross Freeman, is the President of the Coast Tropical Fish Club located in California. He has been a member of the club for over 15 years and has held various volunteer roles during that time. Ross gives an inside look at what goes on during a typical meeting of the club, the upcoming events, and how you can get involved with your local fish club.

In this episode, they talk about:

• The history and mission of the Coast Tropical Fish Club

• Structure and details of the club's monthly meetings — first Sunday of every month from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m

• Speaker selection process of the club

• Volunteering roles within the club — program chair, treasurer, auctioneer, etc

• The process and system for bidding on fish and plants at the club auction

• The types of fish-related items that members typically bring to auctions

• Fish breeding, club dynamics, and improving member contributions

• Details on the Aqua-Swap event coming up on April 7th in Fountain Valley, CA

• The difference between buying fish from big box stores vs. a fish club

• Tension between hobbyist members and professional members of the club

• Benefits of joining an aquarium club – access to knowledgeable members, support for local breeders, opportunities to learn, and more

• Speaking and podcast opportunities at the club

Mentioned:

Email Ross at: [email protected]

COAST Fish Club Website: https://coastfishclub.com/

COAST Fish Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/COASTFishClub

COAST Fish Club Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/COASTfishclub/?locale=nl_NL

Links to resources:

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Eric sits down with Jeff Weemhoff to discuss the fascinating story behind the merger of Atlantic Water Gardens and Oase. Jeff helped grow Atlantic into a $12 million+ business as its founder and president. In 2018, Atlantic merged with global water feature leader Oase to form Atlantic Oase.

During the discussion, Jeff provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the merger came together, including when Oase first approached him about acquiring Atlantic years earlier. He shares why the merger made strategic sense and how it has helped both brands better serve the industry.

In this episode, they talk about:

• History of Atlantic Water Gardens and how Jeff became involved with the company

• The merger between Atlantic and Oase in 2018

• Setting a positive company culture focused on kindness, respect, and teamwork – values that helped Jeff retain staff for decades

• Blending Oase's European styles with Atlantic's North American approach

• Why did Atlantic stick to their business model rather than bending the rules for distributors

• Atlantic's transition under Jeff's leadership to focus on professional equipment and growing revenues over the years

• Some business growth strategies and the importance of transparency versus backdoor deals

• Innovative new products for koi ponds

• Differences in how koi ponds are typically built in the US vs the UK

• Atlantic University's contractor training sessions on hardscape and pond design

Mentioned:

Atlantic-Oase Website: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/

Atlantic-Oase University: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/university

Links to resources:

Stop struggling with sales! Transform your business with Eric's FREE list of Contractor Sales Secrets and start moving in the right direction. Click here to download it: Contractor Sales Secrets

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Craig McBride and Ana Arntson sat down with Eric to discuss the debut of a new community for pond builders — the Pond Professional Alliance (PPA). Via PPA, they aim to bring together people from all walks of the water feature world through an unbiased platform free from manufacturer influence. They share that over 200 people have already joined the group and discuss the PPA's future plans for events, collaboration and supporting the pond industry.

Tune in to know more about the group!

In this episode, they talk about:

• The formation of the Pond Professional Alliance and its goal

• The International Pond Professional Contractors (IPCA) group that was dissolved a few years ago

• The void left by the dissolution of IPCA and the need for a new community

• The value of having a safe space for contractors

• Future plans for the Pond Professional Alliance group

• Starting a podcast to document the group's history, gain support, and connect with a broader community

• Advice to make the group a nonprofit to access more resources and have a greater impact

• The importance of sharing ideas, best practices, and business strategies to support the industry

Mentioned:

Pond Professional Alliance Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/343134304872031

[email protected]

Craig's Website: http://www.allaquatics1.com/

Ana's Website: https://stonebridgelandscape.com/

Links to resources:

Stop struggling with sales! Transform your business with Eric's FREE list of Contractor Sales Secrets and start moving in the right direction. Click here to download it: Contractor Sales Secrets

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Today's guest, Steve Sandalis, has been crafting water features and landscapes for the stars of Hollywood for over 20 years. From Jeff Probst to Tom Brady, Steve has transformed countless celebrity backyards into works of natural art. Listen in as Steve discusses some of his most high-profile projects over the years and opens up about the challenges of working with celebrities and managing their expectations.

In this episode, they talk about:

• The story of how Steve started his career in the Pond industry

• Some of the celebrities Steve has worked with — Jeff Probst, Tom Brady, etc

• Working with difficult clients who have unrealistic expectations for their ponds

• Challenges Steve faced during the 2014-15 California drought and how he overcame it

• The importance of having the right plants and vegetation to make naturalistic ponds

• Steve's experience working with Tom Brady on a landscaping project

• How Steve phase projects to fit within a client's budget

• Discussing budget with clients to avoid overpromising and underdelivering

• The challenges of working with architects and their tendency to want to draw every single rock in a pond design

• Steve's experience during the 2007 financial crisis

• The value of collaboration and friendship with other builders

Mentioned:

Mystic Water Gardens Website: https://www.mysticwatergardens.com/

Mystic Water Gardens on Ig: Mystic Water Gardens (@mysticwatergardens)

Links to resources:

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

In this episode, renowned pond builder and industry veteran Demi Fortuna shares his Graybeard experience and hard-earned wisdom gained from four decades of working in the pond industry. Demi is the founder of August Moon Designs and director of product information at Atlantic-OASE.

From early challenges installing ponds with limited resources to pioneering bottom drain filtration systems, Demi has seen it all. He also played a key role in developing modern pond equipment like skimmers. Tune in to learn from a true graybeard who is actively building incredible water features!

In this episode, they talk about:

• Demi's journey in the pond industry over the past 40 years

• The challenges he faced when starting out with no experience or available resources

• Demi's early pond designs and filtration methods from the 1980s-1990s

• Bottom drain technology that Demi instilled before it was being produced in America

• The introduction and adoption of skimmer technology in the US market

• Differences between the European and American models of pond filtration systems

• Demi's transition from employee to business owner to product developer

• The evolution of pond equipment and designs over the decades

• Demi's collaborations with other people

• Innovations in pump, filter, and other pond technology over the years

• New pump technologies and their benefits in reducing costs and increasing efficiency and water quality

• What to expect from Demi's company in the upcoming Water Garden Expo

Mentioned:

Demi's email: [email protected]

Atlantic-Oase Website: https://www.atlantic-oase.com/

AWGtv: https://www.youtube.com/@AtlanticOase

Links to resources:

Book A Call With Triplett: Call with Triplett

The Pond Digger - https://theponddigger.com/

You can also check out The Pond Digger's products at:

http://helixpondfiltration.com/

TWT Contractor Circle

TWT Contractor Power Circle

And follow his adventures in the pond world at:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok