You Don’t Need More Hours — You Need the Right People
Everyone says they want to grow — but few are willing to let go. The inbox, the content, the sales follow-ups, the backend bugs — they hang onto it all, thinking it’s the only way to keep control. I get it. I used to do the same. But over the last 9+ years, I’ve built and scaled businesses by doing the opposite: building a remote team I trust, and getting out of their way. Not just “virtual assistants” — real professionals. People who run content, sales outreach, client communication, systems, software, and everything in between. They don’t just lighten the load. They raise the bar. This approach has been a game changer — not just for saving time, but for building momentum that actually lasts. It’s what I’ve been doing successfully for nearly a decade. If you’re wondering where to find this kind of talent, how to train them, or how to make it actually work long-term — drop your questions. Lets talk!Do You Train Your Team to Think or Just Work?
Every Monday, we hold a short training session with our team. We train on communication. leadership. & mindset. The reason being most tradespeople aren’t struggling because they can’t do the work. They’re struggling because they were never taught how to: Speak with clarity Handle conflict Lead a crew Represent the business professionally These tend to be the issues I see bottling up, either from our exit interviews or customer feed back or when things are misunderstood. Thats why I'm curious: Do you train soft skills with your crew?Do Electrical Contractors own a business or job?
A lot of guys say they “work for themselves.” But when I ask who controls their schedule — it’s the customer. When I ask what happens if they take a day off — the work stops. And if they stop answering the phone — the leads disappear. That’s not a business. That’s a job with more pressure. I built this visual because I lived it. The truth is: most contractors don’t own their time, they just own the stress. So I came to the conclusion: If you stop working and your income stops too… You don’t own a business ... you just own your own job. How do you guys feel about that ?How do you handle employees complaining about one another?
Every once in a while I have team members who will complain about one another. The problem is that some of the things they complain about are not things that I have a major problem with. I usually tell them that I have to choose my battles but the complaining is just a weight on me. I don't want the team member that is complaining to feel like I don't care, or don't hear them but sometimes its just not a hill I want to die on. Hope that was enough information to answer this. Look forward to hearing how some of you handle team dynamics. Thanks in advance!How did you know it was time to hire your first salesperson?
When did you realize you needed your first sales hire? And if you’ve already hired a rep, what’s one thing you’d do differently next time? 🎙️In this episode of Masters of Home Service, Doni Jones and Rich Camacho dig into: When it’s actually time to hire your first salesperson How to spot the right (and wrong) salesperson during interviews Onboarding plans, sales KPIs, and pay structures to motivate reps Never miss an episode of Masters of Home Service. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast discussion: Stop Using Org Charts. Use This to Grow Faster.
Do you have any thoughts, stories, or feedback after listening to the episode? Comment below what stood out to you most! 👀 🌟 Do you have a system for keeping your team accountable? How is it working for you, and what impact has it had on your service business? 🌟 How do you empower your team to make decisions without running every little thing by you? What’s worked (or not worked)? Episode Overview Most business owners think they need an org chart. But what many really need is accountability. In this episode of Masters of Home Service, Forrest Derr—Fractional COO and owner of Derr Consulting—joins host Adam Sylvester alongside his client, business owner Jerry Jackson, to show how to structure your team so everyone knows exactly what they’re responsible for. You’ll learn how to cut daily chaos, reduce unnecessary calls, and hit your business goals faster. Show Notes: [01:31] The #1 leadership mistake service business owners make [02:09] Accountability vs. organizational charts: what’s the difference? [02:46] How an accountability chart cut 80% of Jerry’s calls [03:28] Real-world examples of accountability in action [07:34] How to empower your team to make decisions [08:28] The $500 vs. $50K decision-making rule [09:37] The “barrel of monkeys” ownership trick explained [12:57] What to do when someone’s in the wrong role [13:48] Using the “GWC” method to evaluate employees [16:34] Why your team needs a clear “North Star” to stay aligned [18:24] Building positions based on outcomes, not people 🚀 Want to put these tips into action? Download our free, customizable accountability chart template. Never miss an episode of Masters of Home Service. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Everyone Wants to HIRE the “3–5 Year Guy” — But Why?
Once again, contractors are falling into the same pattern. I keep seeing posts on Instagram that say: “Must have 3–5 years experience.”What do you guys think about this? Here’s my take: It’s because most people want someone they can toss straight into the field. No training. No culture building. Just go-go-go. But that’s how we end up with more bad hires than good ones. Here’s the truth: Hiring talent doesn’t fix broken systems. If you don’t know what problem you’re solving — even the “perfect” hire won’t help. So I made this visual graphic to help. This is how I think through hiring when I know I’m ready to grow. What are your thoughts?
