The Home Service Expert Podcast

In this conversation, Josh Young discusses the challenges and successes in the commercial construction industry, focusing on business growth, leadership, and the impact of private equity. He explores the importance of pushing team members to exceed their limits, learning from mistakes, and the complexities of navigating the commercial landscape. The discussion covers strategizing for scaling businesses, restructuring profitability for sustainability, and maximizing productivity through effective time management. The conversation also delves into the role of technology and AI in business operations, the future of autonomous vehicles, and the need for education and apprenticeship programs in trades to bridge the talent gap.   Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025! This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025. For more details visit freedomevent.com   Show Notes: 00:00 Transforming Challenges into Opportunities 02:06 Navigating Business Growth and Fluctuations 06:00 Understanding the Commercial Landscape 09:51 Learning from Mistakes and Leadership 14:10 The Role of Private Equity in Business Growth 17:58 Building a Legacy and Future Goals 21:55 The Importance of Leadership and Team Dynamics 27:43 The Power of Storytelling in Sales 30:04 Building Trust and Relationships with Clients 32:54 The Importance of Networking and Learning 36:12 Scaling and Growth Strategies in Business 39:03 Profitability and Business Sustainability 41:52 Maximizing Time and Productivity 44:47 Embracing Technology and AI in Business 48:00 The Future of Autonomous Vehicles and Its Impact 50:04 Education and Apprenticeship in Trades  

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

In this conversation, Dr. Chris Phelps shares his journey in dental marketing and the principles of influence that transformed his business. He discusses the importance of commitment within teams, understanding client mindsets, and the techniques of pre-suasion to enhance client engagement. Phelps also emphasizes the implementation of membership plans as a successful strategy in his practice, while addressing the ethical considerations of using influence in business. He also delves into the seven principles of influence, the role of scarcity in marketing, and how to optimize websites for better conversion rates. Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025! This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025. For more details visit freedomevent.com For more information about Dr. Chris Phelps, visit https://www.thephelpsinstitute.com/  

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

In this conversation, Tommy Mello and Brian Kaskavalciyan discuss the mindset and strategies necessary for achieving success in business. Brian emphasizes the importance of building a supportive network, understanding market dynamics, and the necessity of creating a profitable business model. Additionally, Brian highlights the value of mentorship and mastermind groups in personal and professional growth, the significance of investing in oneself, and the process of building a profitable business through structured financial management. The discussion culminates in a practical exercise for listeners to reverse engineer their financial goals, ensuring they understand the lifestyle and wealth they aspire to achieve.   Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025! This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025. For more details visit freedomevent.com   For more information about Brian, visit https://www.thewealthycontractor.com/  

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

Tommy sits down with Mike Andes, CEO of Augusta Lawn and host of the Home Service Millionaire podcast. Mike discusses his journey in the landscaping industry, the challenges of franchising, and the importance of building systems in your business. They discuss the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs and the strategies for turning around struggling businesses, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift towards profitability and growth.    Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025! This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025. For more details visit freedomevent.com   For more information about Mike, visit mikeandes.com

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

In this episode, Tommy talks with Weldon Long, an ex-con turned successful entrepreneur, author, and CEO. Weldon shares his journey of overcoming adversity and the powerful mindset shifts that fueled his success. They dive into essential topics such as the role of transparency in sales, understanding customer expectations, and building trust. Weldon also discusses the future of sales, the impact of mindset on personal growth, and how simple marketing techniques and storytelling can drive business success.   For more information about Weldon Long, visit https://weldonlong.com/books/   Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025!  This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025.  For more details visit freedomevent.com

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

In this episode, JD Ploetz, a long-time area manager at Tommy’s company, shares his journey as a seasoned leader and manager, growth, leadership, and overcoming challenges in the trades industry. JD reflects on his early days as a technician and the evolution of his role into management, eventually overseeing multiple locations. He opens up about the struggles of managing people, balancing business growth, and the importance of leadership in creating a successful team culture. JD also discusses his recent book, Nothing Changes When Nothing Changes, which highlights actionable advice on personal development, time management, and financial responsibility. He shares how these principles have transformed his own life and how he’s using them to mentor his team and help them navigate not only their careers but also their personal challenges. This episode is packed with insights on leadership, personal growth, and the power of building trust within a team. You can purchase JD’s new book here!  https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Changes-When-Universal-Meaningful/dp/1953487211 Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025!  This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025.  For more details visit freedomevent.com

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

In this episode, Tommy speaks with John Jantsch, a marketing expert and founder of Duct Tape Marketing, about the critical role of marketing in small business success. John is an expert at creating marketing strategies, building trust with customers, and creating tailored marketing systems for small and large businesses. In this episode, John provides actionable strategies for generating leads and retaining customers through effective sales training and referral systems, and gives his advice on how to adapt to the future of AI in marketing.  For more information about John and his company, you can visit ducttapemarketing.com Don’t forget to register for Tommy’s event, Freedom 2025!  This is the event where Tommy’s billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market in 2025.  For more details visit freedomevent.com  

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

Boris Valkov is the Co-Founder & CEO at Lace, and a technology leader with expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning. With a background in engineering leadership at top tech companies, he is dedicated to bringing AI-driven solutions to the home service industry. His work focuses on optimizing call center operations, improving booking rates, and helping businesses unlock new growth opportunities through data-driven decision-making. In this episode, we talked about common call center challenges, automation, marketing ROI…  

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2025

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 22 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about lead generation, delegation, financial intelligence…

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

DJ Carroll is the CEO of Carroll Media. He is an expert on sales psychology and advertising strategy, focused on helping others achieve their business goals. As an author and speaker, he travels the country motivating and training entrepreneurs in social media strategies and how to make the most of their advertising budget. In this episode, we talked about employee support, AI integration in business, profitability strategies...

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2025

Tony Hoffman is the Founder of PH Wellness, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility in Southern California. After being released from prison in 2008, Tony overcame his addiction and achieved significant milestones as a former BMX Elite Pro, including placing 2nd at the 2016 World Championships. In this episode, we talked about mental health, addiction recovery, habits...

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

This week we're re-airing an episode from 2023 with business LEGEND Dan Martell. Dan Martell is the founder and CEO of SaaS Academy. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and coach who has helped thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide build successful businesses. He is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals and has consequently developed a range of resources to support them, including his podcast, "The Martell Method," and his best-selling book, "Buy Back Your Time." Don't forget to register for Tommy's event, Freedom 2025! This is the event where Tommy's billion-dollar network will break down exactly how to accelerate your business and dominate your market. For more details visit freedomevent.com

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 22 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about operational efficiency, branding, team management...

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

Chris Lee and Daryl Kelly are long-time business partners and entrepreneurs, known for co-founding Solgen Power, a solar energy company that rapidly scaled to over $200 million in revenue through innovative sales strategies and operational excellence. In this episode, we talked about scaling operations, maintaining margins, long-term partnerships, home-grown talent development...

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025

Steven Kotler is the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective and a leading expert in peak performance. He is an 11-time national bestselling author, known for successful books such as “The Art of Impossible,” and “The Future is Faster Than You Think.” In this episode, we talked about the science and application of flow, recovery and energy management, motivation and goal-setting…

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

J.J. Levenske is the President and Co-Founder of Bleuwave, a company that provides facilities-based solutions for its clients. J.J. has over 30 years of experience in the construction and business solutions industry, and is a past board member at Vistage Worldwide, Inc., a global CEO peer advisory and executive coaching organization. He is also the host at MAC & Bleu, a podcast covering all things related to Building the Future. In this episode, we talked about team building, mergers and acquisitions, visionary leadership, enterprise value growth...

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 22 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses.  In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about hiring, marketing budgets, valuation…

Transcribed - Published: 27 December 2024

Ryan Pineda is a successful real estate investor, entrepreneur, and author of The Wealthy Way, with over $100 million in investments and multiple thriving businesses.  In this episode, we talked about wealth-life balance, personal branding, real estate market and investments, influence...  

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

Chris Voss is the world's #1 Negotiation Coach and CEO at The Black Swan Group, a negotiation consultancy serving Fortune 500 companies globally. He represented the U.S. in international conferences and served as the FBI’s hostage negotiation representative on the National Security Council’s Hostage Working Group. In this episode, we talked about negotiation techniques, ethical influence, systems thinking...

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

Brendan Kane is a Managing Partner at Hook Point. He is a digital marketing expert who has been helping top brands and celebrities create viral content since 2005. Overseeing $300 million in marketing spend, he has worked with major corporations like MTV, Paramount Pictures, and IKEA, generating over $1 billion in revenue. His celebrity clients include Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Adriana Lima, for whom he crafted successful digital strategies. Brendan is also the best-selling author of “One Million Followers” and “Hook Point: How to Stand out in a 3-Second World.” In this episode, we talked about social media presence, virality, content format, organic media strategies…

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

Brian Burton is the General Manager of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Phoenix and the host of the Waste No Day Podcast. He previously served as VP of Sales for One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning of Southeast PA and was an Operations Manager at Rohrer’s Mister Sparky Electric.  Logan Altland is the #1 salesman at Mister Sparky, holding the position for two consecutive years, and brings over a decade of experience as an electrician. In this episode, we talked about sales tactics, customer interaction, overcoming sales objections…

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2024

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 22 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about business intelligence, employee accountability, development programs...

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2024

Ismael Valdez is the Owner and CEO of Nexgen Air Conditioning Heating and Plumbing, a $100 million Southern California company that highlights superior customer service, data efficiency, and a highly-trained staff of technicians and contractors. From initially working as a “counter guy” at a wholesale distributor to expanding his own HVAC company, Ismael has emerged as one of the most innovative figures in the home services sector. Travis Ringe is the President of ProSkill Plumbing, Heating & Air, which was established in 2008 by Travis and his brother Tyler, who both grew up in a family of tradesmen. In this episode, we talked about customer feedback, client retention strategies, service efficiencies...

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2024

Chris Yano is the CEO of RYNO Strategic Solutions and has been leading the company since 2008. He is an experienced business owner, investor, and philanthropist with a heart for the trades and a successful history working in the home services digital marketing and advertising industry. Chris is also the host of the popular “To The Point Home Services Podcast,” which offers marketing solutions to help more companies grow. In this episode, we talked about data-driven business decision-making, digital marketing, private equity…

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2024

Rob Parker and Eric Van Dam are Managing Directors and Co-Heads of Residential Services at Piper Sandler. Rob was one of the founders of Quarton Partners. He has advised public and private clients on numerous mergers, acquisitions, LBO, cross border, and capital raising transactions across a variety of industries. Eric, on the other hand, brings over 15 years of experience from over 100 transactions. Eric expertise lies in middle market mergers and acquisitions engagements. In this episode, we talked about mergers and acquisitions strategy, private equity, financial metrics...

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2024

Dr. Robert Cialdini is the Founder of Cialdini Institute and the President of Influence at Work. Recognized as the “Godfather of influence,” he is known for his cutting edge scientific research and ethical business and policy applications. Dr. Cialdini is also the New York Times Bestselling Author of “Influence” and “Pre-suasion.” In this episode, we talked about principles of influence, ethical persuasion, personal development...

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2024

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 19 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about customer service, finance and credit, talent retention, scaling strategies...

Transcribed - Published: 18 October 2024

Benny Fisher is the Founder of The Big Fish Contracting Company. He is an experienced public speaker, business consultant, and marketer. Benny has earned a reputation for outstanding customer satisfaction, gaining several awards including, GAF Master Elite Contractor, GAF President’s Award, Beacon Lighthouse Award, Angie Super Service, and hundreds of 5-Star Google reviews. In this episode, we talked about personal growth, delegation techniques, personal branding...

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2024

Cameron Herold is the Founder of the COO Alliance & Second In Command Podcast. Known as “The CEO Whisperer” and a business growth guru, he earned his reputation by guiding CEO & COO clients to double their profit and double their revenue in just three years or less. In this episode, we talked about scalable systems, employee development, delegation...

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2024

Andy Elliott is the CEO and Co-founder of The Elliott Group, the fastest growing automotive sales training company and virtual training program in the world which currently trains 185,000 salespeople across the globe. He also runs the largest car sales training channel on Youtube while hosting a live automotive sales seminar called “The Master Closer Seminar” based in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this episode, we talked about work ethics, mental toughness, sales tactics...

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2024

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 19 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about profitability, mindset shifts, equity incentive programs...

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2024

Travis Ringe is the President of ProSkill Plumbing, Heating & Air, the Phoenix Area's Premier plumbing, heating and air conditioning service contractor. Proskill Plumbing was established in 2008 by Travis and his brother Tyler, who both grew up in a family of tradesmen. In this episode, we talked about arbitrage, roll-up strategy, health and fitness, customer retention...  

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2024

Chad Peterman is the president of Peterman Brothers Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a family-owned, full-service HVAC & plumbing company located in Indiana. It was recognized as the 2019 Residential Contractor of the Year by Plumbing & Mechanical. He is also the host of the Can’t Stop the Growth Podcast. In this episode, we talked about greenfield, networking, personnel management, operational metrics…

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2024

Aaron Gaynor is the owner and CEO of Eco Plumbers, a residential plumbing company with a full range of eco-friendly products and services. With a decade’s worth of experience as a licensed green plumber, Aaron has grown his business to a team of 87 strong, even guiding it through a recession-battered economy.  In this episode, we talked about rebranding, operational excellence, EBITDA, decision-making...  

Transcribed - Published: 6 September 2024

Howard Partridge is the President of Phenomenal Products Inc., a company dedicated to equipping small business owners with the systems and strategies needed to build successful businesses. He is an international business coach and the best-selling author of “The Power of Community.” In this episode, we talked about system implementation, business relationships, communities, time management…

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2024

Jim Leslie was the former Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of A1 Garage Door Service. He is Tommy’s go-to guy for building software needed by A1, and is also a great contributor to the success of organizing Vertical Track and the Freedom events. In this episode, we talked about talent acquisition, lead conversion, marketing and operations...

Transcribed - Published: 30 August 2024

Leland Smith is the Founder of Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning, an industry leader that continues to provide homeowners in Southern California with services beyond expectations. In this episode, we talked about recruitment practices, training & development, happy money promises...

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2024

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 19 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about digital marketing, task delegation, smart networking…

Transcribed - Published: 23 August 2024

Ken Goodrich is an expert in business process, negotiation, mergers and acquisition, business planning and operations management. As Chairman of Goettl, he is widely recognized by organizations such as the Las Vegas Business Press, Top 40 Under 40 Professionals, and the Business Professional of the Year Success Club. In this episode, we talked about selling businesses, mentorship, hiring practices…

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2024

Tom Howard is the VP of Customer Experience at ServiceTitan. An experienced home service entrepreneur and consultant, Tom owns multiple residential and commercial service companies in California, including a pest control company and an HVAC company. In this episode, we talked about budget management, automation tools, financing, marketing strategies...

Transcribed - Published: 16 August 2024

Steve Sims is an entrepreneur, speaker and coach. He was labeled “The Real Life Wizard of Oz” by Entrepreneur Magazine for his experience with teaching the art of communication and helping businesses accelerate their goals. He is also the author of the best-selling book “Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen.” In this episode, we talked about networking strategies, branding, mentorship...

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2024

Ellen Rohr is the co-founder of Zoom Drain and the Brand + Industry Marketing Lead for Service Titan. She has worked as a columnist for Huffington Post, PHC News, and is a contributor to many business journals and trade magazines. In this episode, we talked about financial literacy, debt management, profit margins…  

Transcribed - Published: 2 August 2024

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 19 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about digital marketing, task delegation, smart networking…

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2024

Keith Mercurio is the Senior Director of Executive Success of ServiceTitan, and CEO & Founder at Ethical Influence Global. Keith has spoken to nearly 20,000 people on the topics of leadership, influence, sales, and personal development. He has also guided over 600 businesses and transformed their own leadership identity and led unprecedented growth for their teams. In this episode, we talked about building relationships, personal transformation, mental health...  

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2024

David Cogan is the Founder of Eliances (Where Entrepreneurs Align), a vast private community of diverse leaders, including celebrities and billionaires. With corporate experience from IBM and Microsoft, he's also a successful serial entrepreneur in e-commerce, healthcare, and more. David is a Docusign Global Advisory Board Member, an adjunct college professor, and an advisor to Eureka Loft, a mayoral initiative. In this episode, we talked about work-life balance, time management, launching strategies, relationship building…

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2024

Eduard Mirzoian is the CEO of RESTORERZ - Emergency Services, the most trusted and technologically advanced emergency restoration company in Southern California. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas and he previously worked as an Operations Manager at Dry Tech Restoration for more than ten years. In this episode, we talked about the restoration industry, building client relationships, insurance companies…  

Transcribed - Published: 5 July 2024

Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 19 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com and the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy shares his experience and insights to help fellow entrepreneurs scale their businesses. In this special episode of the Home Service Expert podcast, Tommy answers your biggest questions about business efficiency, online brand presence, scaling strategies...

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2024

Brian Davenport is the Senior Vice President of Operations at A1 Garage Door Services and former Regional VP of Operations. Part of his role at the company is to find new talent and lead people to their full potential. His other specialties include executive leadership, customer service excellence, and personal development. In this episode, we talked about effective meetings, employee behavior patterns, operations…

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2024

Dr. Anna Lembke is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives and is also the author of “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence,” an instant New York Times Bestseller. In this episode, we talked about addiction psychology, mental illness, treatment, productivity habits...

Transcribed - Published: 14 June 2024

Dan Claps is the Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Voda Cleaning & Restoration, a successful Franchise Playbook Brand. He’s a serial entrepreneur in the franchise space who joined Murphy Business and Financial Corporation as the franchise system's youngest Business Broker in 2014. In this episode, we talked about franchising strategies, local service ads, lead generation...  

Transcribed - Published: 7 June 2024