Leader is not a synonym for firefighter.

With the one notable exception — actual firefighters — if you spend all day putting out fires at your business… 

You’re too busy to lead. 

That’s one of countless lessons today’s guests, Eric Sprague & Larry Wilberton, Owners of Blue Collar Consulting and MorningTechMeeting.com , have learned over their many years working together — lessons they’re now teaching others through advising.

They join me today to discuss:

- Why leaders need to take a step back and let their team make their own mistakes

- Why your teams home life is inseparable from their work life

- How to use morning meetings to improve every facet of your business

- How to spend 30+ years in business with a friend (without strangling them)

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or here .

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Wouldn’t it be so much easier if customers and new hires could read your mind?

Well, why can’t they?

Today’s guest, Josh Kelley, Owner at Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps, has perfected documenting everything his customers and employees need to know, saving time, money and endlessly repeating himself.

In this episode, we discuss:

- The power of searchable onboarding documents

- How YouTube videos can minimize callbacks and save money

- The benefits of a database of completed jobs to show customers

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s one of the age-old conundrums in leadership: We promote people because they are good at their jobs and, when it comes time to lead, they aren’t prepared.

It’s easier if I do it myself. I used to be a tech, I’ll cut him some slack.

These are the statements of a manager.

But people don’t follow managers, they follow leaders.

If you’re struggling with leadership, today’s guests have the answers you seek. Kathy Nielsen of Schaal Heating and Cooling & Lauren Schieffer, President of The Colonel's Daughter, join me to dissect what truly makes a leader.

In this episode, we discuss the core components to great leadership:

- Accountability — for yourself and your team

- Setting clear expectations

- Helping your team grow in their roles

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

One of the best things about the trades is how far you can go if you have the drive and are committed to lifelong learning.

It’s not uncommon to hear stories like that of Julian Scadden, who went from a high school dropout to President & CEO at Nexstar Network. He joins me on the latest episode to share exactly how he pulled it off.

We discuss:

- The Be Dumb Quick movement

- Why leading starts with leading yourself

- The difference between understanding and realizing

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.
 

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Three seasons. It’s hard to believe.

The more I do this podcast — and we’ve done over 50 episodes at this point — the more I am blown away at the incredible work being done by contractors across the world.

Like the incredible work being done by this season’s guests: Eddie McFarlane, Lauren Vahey, Mary Jean Anderson, Brad Pesek, Kathy Nielsen, Steve Solla, Shane Jaeger, Crystal Williams, Eric Knaak, Ryan Lucia, Megan Bedford, Josh Crouch, Chisholm Brunner, Josh Bigelow, Tersh Blissett, Trevor Lively, Brian Cohen, Keith Mercurio, and Chris Crew.

In this episode, join me as I take on the daunting task of compiling some of the best moments from these fabulous guests — daunting because it’s incredibly difficult to pick just one insight from each member of this talented group.

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Do one thing really well — this is how Zoom Drain & Sewer Service has grown to become a go-to provider for drain cleaning services.

In today’s episode of Toolbox for the Trades, I sit down with Steve Solla, General Manager at Zoom Drain & Sewer Service.

What we talked about:

- Steve’s progression into the trades and his journey within Zoom Drain

- Tools and training used by Steve, to improve his work in the trades

- Zoom Drain’s service offering, way of working and growth over time

- How Zoom Drain keeps employees engaged and motivated

- What do trade business owners need to know about their Technicians?

- Zoom Drain’s apprentice program

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Steve Solla’s LinkedIn profile

- Zoom Drain’s website

- Service Titan’s website

- The Joe Rogan Experience (Podcast)

- John Sanford’s Book List

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What do a computer mouse, airpods and your home’s insulation have in common?

They were all invented by NASA.

It’s proof that often the best improvements come from outside your business.

Recognizing this in his hiring, marketing and strategy is one of the ways Josh Crouch, Founder at Relentless Digital and Director of Sales, Marketing, and Business Development at Professional Services Port Washington, thinks differently as a marketer specializing in the trades.

What we talked about:

- Why you should look for talent, strategy and insights from outside your industry

- Why you shouldn’t neglect existing customers for new business

- The secrets to hiring the best talent

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! 

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s never easy for a family when a loved one dies.

But if, like many in the trades, that loved one is in charge of the family business, it can make it even more difficult.

That’s why you need succession planning.

My guest today is Trevor Lively, President at Blue Jay Irrigation, who, along with his dad who was diagnosed with cancer, suddenly felt the pressure for succession planning in the worst possible circumstances. The experience taught Trevor the importance of preparing for the unexpected.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Trevor’s experience with succession planning

- How EOS helped ease the transition to new leadership

- How Trevor is using video to grow the business.

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Let’s face it — most owners in the trades don’t like marketing.

And it makes sense. Most people get into the trades because they like, well… the trades.

But that doesn’t mean you have to hate marketing and branding.

It just means you need to turn it into a game, not a chore.

Take it from Crystal Williams, Creative Director at Lemon Seed Marketing Firm and an expert in winning the marketing game.

She joined me in the latest episode to share her expertise and the secrets to branding and marketing every owner should know.

What we talked about:

- The benefits of seeing marketing as a game, not a chore

- Where people in the trades go wrong with branding and marketing

- Why, even in today’s digital world, not all branding and marketing needs to be digital

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Everyone wants the right people for the job.

But in an industry facing a talent shortage, that’s not enough.

It’s more important to hire the right personality for the job.

That’s how President Josh Bigelow approaches hiring at Great Dane Heating & Air Conditioning, and that piece of wisdom has helped the company grow tremendously over the last two decades.

In this episode, Josh and I discuss:

- Why you should hire for personality

- The value of consultancies

- Why you need to join a peer-to-peer group

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- HVAC Spells Wealth

- The Go-Giver

If you want to hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.