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Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
At 33, Luke Soderling was running plumbing calls when his mom noticed a lump on his neck. Three days later, a doctor’s voicemail changed everything: stage 3 thyroid cancer.
What happened next? Luke didn’t just survive—he went on to win a Discovery Channel survival show, buy his family’s plumbing business, and grow Approve Home Services by 600% in just four years.
In this episode of The Successful Contractor, Luke Soderling of Proof Home Services in northern Minnesota shares one of the most remarkable stories we’ve ever featured. From eating caiman in the Amazon to building a thriving plumbing and electrical company an hour south of Canada, to becoming an acclaimed professional speaker, Luke’s journey proves that the mindset you build in crisis becomes the foundation for business success.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How surviving cancer at 33 reshaped Luke’s approach to life and business—and why he refuses to complain now
• Why he competed on The Wheel (Discovery Channel) and survived 60 days alone in South America after beating cancer
• The exact steps he took after buying his family business—and how CertainPath helped him hit 600% growth in 4 years
• Why “simply answering the phone” beat every competitor in his small market
• How his 14-year-old son with flyers generated $100K in leads (guerrilla marketing that actually works)
• The painful truth he avoided—“I didn’t look at the numbers because I didn’t want to know”—and how facing it fixed his electrical margins
• Why Culture Index and clear core values (“faith, family, fantastic service”) transformed his hiring
• Why he added electrical to his plumbing business—and the $100K wake-up call that proved it was the right move
• What he’s learned from Brandon Marshall’s The Lion’s Pride mentorship program
• His new BHAG: $10 million in five years
Luke’s story is part survival tale, part business masterclass, and 100% proof that with the right mindset, mentors, and systems, any contractor can build something extraordinary.
🎧 Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform. And don’t forget to subscribe to The Successful Contractor for more interviews that move the needle.
Chapters:
00:00 – Stage 3 Cancer at 33: Luke’s Life-Changing Diagnosis
06:37 – How Cancer Changed His Perspective on Life
07:32 – The Wheel: Surviving 60 Days Alone in South America
10:43 – The Hardest Part of Survival (It Wasn’t the Hunger)
12:36 – From Technician to Business Owner: Buying the Family Business
15:04 – $204K to 600% Growth: The CertainPath Turnaround
17:40 – “We Had No Competitors” – The Power of Answering the Phone
19:24 – Hiring in a Small Market: Culture Index & Core Values
23:21 – Weekly Training: Meet “Gladys” the Role-Play Customer
26:07 – The Numbers Wake-Up Call: 47% Material Costs
28:27 – Cross-Selling Plumbing & Electrical with Club Memberships
31:02 – Marketing That Works: Billboards, Geo-Targeting & Flyer Walks
34:25 – Why He Added Electrical (And How It’s Going)
37:30 – Leadership Lessons: From 1 Employee to 9
41:40 – Lion’s Pride: What Mentorship With Brandon Marshall Looks Like
43:38 – The Next BHAG: $10 Million in 5 Years
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
About the Guest:
Luke Soderling is the owner of Approve Home Services, a plumbing and electrical company in northern Minnesota. A cancer survivor, Discovery Channel survival show winner, and professional speaker, Luke has grown his business from $204K to over $1M in four years. He’s a three-time Crown Champion and member of Brandon Marshall’s Lion’s Pride program.
Connect with Luke:
Approve Home Services: https://approvehomeservices.com/
Luke’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@LukeSoderling
Luke’s Professional Speakers Page: https://lukesoderling.com/
Book a free strategy call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What if the refrigerant decision you make today determines whether you're ahead of the curve—or scrambling to catch up five years from now?
Ben Middleton, National Sales Training Manager for Goodman, Amana, and Daikin, has spent nine years helping contractors navigate the biggest shifts in HVAC. In this episode of The Successful Contractor, Ben breaks down why Daikin chose R-32 over 454B, what that means for your business, and why the contractors who embrace change now will dominate their markets.
But this conversation goes far beyond refrigerants. Ben shares how Daikin is revolutionizing HVAC training with virtual reality—yes, actual VR headsets that eliminate distractions and boost retention. He reveals a game-changing rebate tool that finds all 2,000+ utility programs and files the paperwork for you. And he delivers a powerful message about thriving in what he calls the era of 'perma-uncertainty.'
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
• Why Daikin chose R-32 over 454B—and the real-world benefits contractors are seeing (smaller units, lower cost, proven since 2012)
• How to use Daikin's free VR training to get new techs job-ready faster
• The Daikin Energy Rebate Center—a tool that finds all available rebates and files the paperwork for homeowners
• Why the $2,000 IRA heat pump rebate is going away—and how to use that urgency to close more sales NOW
• The financing shift: why 15-year loans are now beating 0% interest (and what it means about affordability)
• Ben's 'perma-uncertainty' framework—why NOW is the time to innovate, test, and push the envelope
• Why Ben says 'the days of the cube-style unit are numbered'—and how to position yourself as the innovator in your market
• Critical advice: have 3-6 months of operating capital in the bank
Ben also hosts his own podcast, Accelerated HVAC Success, where he brings in vendors, contractors, and product managers to share what's working right now. Check it out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratedHVACSuccess
Resources Mentioned:
• R32Reasons.com - Learn why Daikin chose R-32
• HVAC Learning Campus - Free on-demand training and VR simulations
• Daikin Energy Rebate Center - Find and file utility rebates automatically
Whether you're evaluating refrigerant options, looking for better training tools, or trying to figure out how to close more sales in a tight economy—this episode delivers actionable insights you can use today.
Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to subscribe to The Successful Contractor for more interviews that move the needle.
Chapters:
00:00 - Meet Ben Middleton, National Sales Training Manager at Daikin
02:15 - Time Is the Biggest Barrier to Training
06:28 - Ben's Journey: From Aeronautical Engineering to HVAC Training
09:45 - The Ripple Effect of Great Training
11:41 - Accelerated HVAC Success Podcast
14:36 - Why Daikin Chose R-32 Over 454B
18:30 - R-32 Is Proven Since 2012
19:00 - Market Response to R-32
21:55 - The Financing Shift: 15-Year Loans vs 0% Interest
23:26 - Daikin's Core Value: Absolute Credibility
26:37 - The Days of the Cube-Style Unit Are Numbered
27:50 - Daikin's Training Resources & HVAC Learning Campus
30:50 - The Daikin Energy Rebate Center
31:20 - The $2,000 Heat Pump Rebate Is Going Away
33:49 - VR Training: The Magic School Bus for HVAC
37:15 - Why Retention Is Higher in VR
40:13 - Perma-Uncertainty = Innovation Opportunity
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brandon Marshall knows leadership in the trades isn’t just about KPIs and schedules — it’s about people. And people bring stress, purpose, and pressure with them every day.
As the Transformational Leadership Mentor with CertainPath, Brandon has worked with countless contractors to help them grow not just as professionals, but as human beings. In this conversation, he shares how leaders in home services can learn to manage stress, lead with purpose, and build lasting cultures that truly pour into others.
• Why most contractor stress doesn’t come from the job
• How to build “mini leaders” who multiply your culture
• Why accountability without leadership never works
• How to create a team culture that runs deeper than systems
• What Brandon learned about leadership from the pulpit to the trades
• Why Lion’s Pride was built — and what it’s doing for service leaders
If you’re a contractor who feels the weight of leadership, this conversation will speak directly to you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How to identify the real source of stress on your team
• What it means to “pour into” people as a home service leader
• Why culture is like a river — and how to shape its flow
• The power of mentoring vs. managing
• Why Brandon believes leadership is a calling, not a role
Want More Support Growing Your Business?
When you join CertainPath, you’re not just getting coaching and training. You’re getting access to our Partner Network—120 vendor partners, including solutions like Reins, offering exclusive discounts and rebates on the tools and services you’re already using.
Last year alone, our members earned back over $10 MILLION in rebates.
That’s more cash in your business—and more partners helping you grow, profit, and scale.
Book your free Discovery Call to learn how we can help you level up: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
Chapters
TBD
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kelson Carter built an $11M plumbing company — without ever offering HVAC or taking on debt. And he’s done it while only 35 years old.
As a third-generation plumber and owner of Carter’s My Plumber in Indianapolis, Kelson has taken bold, focused action to grow fast and profitably. In this episode, he shares how he:
If you're a plumbing contractor ready to grow without chaos — this one's for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Want More Support Growing Your Business?
When you join CertainPath, you’re not just getting coaching and training. You’re getting access to our Partner Network—120 vendor partners, including solutions like Reins, offering exclusive discounts and rebates on the tools and services you’re already using.
Last year alone, our members earned back over $10 MILLION in rebates.
That’s more cash in your business—and more partners helping you grow, profit, and scale.
Book your free Discovery Call to learn how we can help you level up: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
Chapters
TBD
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How do you grow a home services company to $21 million in revenue—and still stay true to your values?
In this episode, Bob Houchin sat down with Brett Hadley, president of Mountain Home Services in Ogden, Utah. Brett shares how he:
You’ll hear how he overcame marketing breakdowns, aligned two companies into one mission, and scaled sustainably—all while developing leaders and “great humans” along the way.
This is a must-listen for any contractor who wants to grow without losing what matters most.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Want More Support Growing Your Business?
When you join CertainPath, you’re not just getting coaching and training. You’re getting access to our Partner Network—120 vendor partners, including solutions like Reins, offering exclusive discounts and rebates on the tools and services you’re already using.
Last year alone, our members earned back over $10 MILLION in rebates.
That’s more cash in your business—and more partners helping you grow, profit, and scale.
Book your free Discovery Call to learn how we can help you level up: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
Chapters
TBD
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What if you could retain 94% of your key employees—without giving up a single share of equity?
In this episode, we sit down with Chris Buttenham, Co-Founder of Reins, a game-changing platform that helps home service contractors create performance-based incentives like phantom equity and profit sharing—without the complexity, confusion, or legal risk.
Reins makes it dramatically easier to set up and manage profit-sharing plans—giving you a powerful way to reward performance without getting buried in spreadsheets or back-end admin. Whether it’s short- or long-term incentives, Reins handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on running your business.
Chris shares how growing up in a contractor household inspired him to tackle one of the industry’s toughest challenges: employee retention. You’ll learn how the most forward-thinking contractors are locking in their top techs and leaders—while keeping full control of their businesses.
🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
💼 Want More Support Growing Your Business?
When you join CertainPath, you’re not just getting coaching and training. You’re getting access to our Partner Network—120 vendor partners, including solutions like Reins, offering exclusive discounts and rebates on the tools and services you’re already using.
Last year alone, our members earned back over $10 MILLION in rebates.
That’s more cash in your business—and more partners helping you grow, profit, and scale.
Book your free Discovery Call to learn how we can help you level up: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does it take to grow a home service business to $40 million—without chasing headcount or cutting corners?
In this episode, Nick Hartman, CGO at Ongaro & Sons, shares how a relentless focus on leadership, training, and accountability helped the company scale across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. From record-breaking margins to life-changing employee outcomes, this is a playbook for contractors who want to grow the right way.
Whether you're leading a $2M shop or managing multiple trades, you’ll walk away with clear, proven strategies to elevate your team, improve operations, and build a people-powered company that lasts.
🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How Ongaro & Sons grew to $40M by developing leaders at every level
• The systems behind 25% net profit and $1.7M+ months in HVAC
• Why growing your people can unlock exponential company growth
• The impact of growth plans—from new homes to reunited families
• How to lead managers so they lead their teams
• What it looks like to scale HVAC success into plumbing & electrical
• The role of trust, training, and communication in high-performing teams
• How culture drives results—and breaks sales records
💡 This is how you scale with intention. This is how you build something that lasts.
💡 Want insider strategies from operators like Nick Hartman?
CertainPath members get access to leaders like Nick at our twice-annual Expos—where contractors come to learn, level up, and lead.
Chapters
TBD
Show Notes
The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information.
FOLLOW CERTAINPATH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you do when your business is on the brink—and you’re out of options? If you’re Marcus Sheridan, you lean all the way into your buyer, start answering the tough questions no one else will touch, and transform your company into a national brand.
Marcus is the author of They Ask, You Answer and Endless Customers, a globally recognized speaker, and a partner in multiple companies. But his journey began in the trenches—saving a struggling pool company in the wake of the 2008 crash by becoming radically transparent and customer-obsessed.
In this no-fluff interview, Marcus shares exactly how home service contractors can grow faster, gain trust, and dominate their market using content, video, and AI. Whether you're a one-truck operation or a $100M business, these insights will help you level up—fast.
🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How Marcus saved his pool business from bankruptcy with content
• Why most contractors still don’t talk pricing—and how it’s costing them
• What the “Big 5” questions are—and why you must answer them
• The easiest way to start creating high-impact content TODAY
• Why “communion, not charisma” is the key to winning over homeowners
• How to use video and AI tools to scale trust and authority
• The mindset shift that separates great contractors from good ones
• Why training your team to think like buyers changes everything
• How to make complex services simple—and close more work
How do you take an electrical company from a basement startup to $2 million in revenue, earn 15% net profit, and do it all completely debt-free — in just two years?
Meet Mory and Clarissa Belle, founders of Doctor Electric in Lexington, Kentucky, and CertainPath members who did just that.
In this episode of The Successful Contractor, the Belles share how they went from burned out and overwhelmed to thriving business owners with a clear plan, powerful systems, and a rock-solid partnership — thanks to CertainPath. You’ll learn how they scaled quickly, made key strategic changes, and built a company that reflects their values and vision.
Whether you’re in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or roofing, this story will inspire you and show you how fast success can happen when you follow a proven path.
🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How Doctor Electric scaled from $600K to $2M in just 2 years
• Why 15% net profit was the non-negotiable benchmark
• How they launched debt-free (and why that mattered)
• Why they left new construction for residential service
• The CertainPath tools that gave them clarity and confidence
• How they added a service fee—and saw conversion rates rise
• Why SOPs and training allowed them to scale without chaos
• How Profit Day changed their business perspective
• The power of community—and what it meant to “not be alone”
💡 Ready to grow your contracting company with confidence?
Watch now to discover how Doctor Electric did it—and how CertainPath helped make it possible.
Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591
🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5
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What does it take to grow a home service company from $1.5 million to $58 million — and keep customers happy every step of the way? It all starts in the call center. Meet Missy Jones, senior coach at CertainPath, and one of the nation’s top experts in call center operations, culture, and leadership.
In this episode of The Successful Contractor, Missy reveals the call center secrets that scale home service businesses in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing. From coaching call center reps to building the right culture, to tracking KPIs and avoiding costly dispatch mistakes — Missy shares what she’s learned helping thousands of contractors transform their businesses.
Missy’s story and strategies are packed with insights every contractor, service manager, and home service business owner can use right now…
🚀 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why the customer relationship starts in the call center, not in the field.
• The biggest mistakes contractors make in call centers (and how they cost millions).
• How to properly train and coach call center reps — and why consistency matters more than scripts.
• The overlooked step that can dramatically increase customer satisfaction and prevent bad reviews.
• Why being booked two weeks out isn’t a good thing — and how dispatching mistakes destroy profits.
• The KPIs that make or break a call center, and how to track them effectively.
• How outbounding (done right) fills the board and keeps techs busy year-round.
• Why AI alone fails in call centers, and how to balance technology with people.
• Leadership lessons: from granting your team the permission to fail to building a culture of accountability and growth.
• How consistency in coaching and culture creates multi-million-dollar contracting success.
Whether you’re an HVAC contractor, plumber, electrician, or roofer, Missy’s insights will help you stop losing calls, boost customer satisfaction, and scale your business with confidence.
📈 Ready to learn how to transform your call center into a profit center — and grow your contracting business? Watch now and discover the systems, strategies, and leadership lessons that take home service companies from struggling to thriving.
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