Do Home Service Pros Never Make It Past This Point?
You start out doing the work. You stay busy. You make decent money. But then what? You feel like you’re building something just because your phone keeps ringing. But if you’re not learning AND applying, I feel as if you’re wasting time. I was watching all the videos, reading all the books… but nothing was actually changing because I wasn’t acting on it. I’m saying this because I’ve lived it. And I know there are other guys out there right now doing good work, but they’re not leading. Not building. Just staying busy. How do you all handle these feelings? All the IG post hit , motivate then Im just stuck scrolling. What helped you take action?
2025 Best Year Ever
With this year ending in a new year beginning, we should be starting to think about planning for the upcoming year. What are some of your tools you use for planning for the year to come and also daily planning. Do you have any cool tricks that you use to help you in setting goals, and breaking down, goals into smaller action items, and taking those action items and making them happen. Please share your tips, tricks and or traps things that have worked and have not worked.Before You Change ANYTHING — Be Honest About What Needs to Change
Am I overthinking?? Whenever I feel stuck, or entering a new phase of my business, either uncertainties or a new challenge, these are the exact questions I ask myself: - Am I happy with where my business/life is right now? - What’s actually working: financially, operationally, personally? - What’s not working: stress, cash flow, structure, balance? - And the big one: If I keep doing what I’m doing… - Will I get the results I want? How about you guys ?You Didn’t Buy Freedom. You Bought Responsibility
A lot of people think starting a business means they’ll finally have freedom. Their own schedule. No boss. No rules. But here’s the reality check: If you stop working, the money stops. If you miss a call, the customer walks. If you push a job back, you have to make it up later. You didn’t escape the 9 to 5. You just traded one boss for twenty. What have you all done to stay flexible ?Built a $1M Contracting Business in 4 Years
I have only been contracting for 7+ years now, but from the beginning I did not want to end of like the majority of the businesses I saw. Out of shape, back hurting, always complaining about work. Just the unapologetic rough side of contracting. I thought, this couldn't be the solution. So I started from the beginning putting myself in rooms with people who do better than me in every aspect of my life. Family, health, business, finances you name it. I was the smallest guy in every room and it squashed every ounce of pride I had in myself, but in a healthy, I want to grow sense. What I learned shocked me, this wasn't a business issue, it's about the urgent need for a blue-collar leader. - We need more contractors who are trained to lead. - More tradespeople who know their worth. - More builders willing to pass the torch. The skilled trades don’t have a labor shortage.We have a leadership gap. If you hyper focus on leadership qualities, your business will blow up as a side effect. Thats why I'm so proud to be in this community of leaders. Can't wait to learn from you all in this new venture I'm in. Read our story. Learn how we unlocked the secret to scale. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnour/2024/11/27/urgent-need-for-blue-collar-revival-shift-mindsets-invest-in-skills/?The Hardest Thing in Entrepreneurship? Looking in the Mirror.
Hands down, The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in business… was look in the mirror and ask myself: ➡️ Where am I actually going? ➡️ And am I the person to get us there? We talk a lot about growth, but most people can’t define what success even looks like for themselves. This is when so many get caught up in business, rather than on the business. Is it freedom? Is it hitting 350k, 500k, 1M in revenue? Is it peace of mind and time with your kids? And don’t forget: Your business can’t grow if the person leading it refuses to. What are you working towards ? Half way through 2025, keep it up.What Flying Taught Me About Business
One of my favorite things to do any day I get 1–2 hours free, is head to the airport in Danbury, CT and fly. Sometimes it’s a lesson. Sometimes it’s just being up out there just to think. But what surprised me is how much flying taught me about business. To get a plane in the air, you need 3 things: Speed – You have to build enough runway momentum Lift – Once you hit the right speed, you rise Momentum – After you’re up, you have to keep steady energy to stay in the air The Funny thing is business is the same. You can’t fly without direction either. That’s where the GPS analogy comes in. I created this graphic to help remind myself of what's needed when im about to start a new venture in business, or if imm feeling stuck, lost or going nowhere. What do you do when your stuck?Contracts with customers vs Contracts with yourself
You’d never start a job without a contract, estimate or anything in writing, right? So why are you trying to build a business… run a team… or chase your goals… without a contract with yourself? It's so funny how business taught me so many different life lessons and how they all play a part. So I created this breakdown for myself whenever I want a new goal, or ones starting their own business. Do you all think business plans are valuable ?
💡 Deep Discussion
What core belief about running a home-service business did you have when you started that has since been completely overturned—and how has that single mindset shift reshaped the way you lead, hire, or serve customers today? Ill start give you my answer first: When I launched Mr. Backflow I was convinced that “if you’re the best technician in town, the phone will ring.” I poured every waking hour into mastering test gauges, pressure zones, and relief-valve anatomy—but assumed marketing, storytelling, and team culture were secondary noise. Spoiler: being a backflow Jedi means nothing if homeowners don’t know what a backflow preventer is, why it fails, or who to trust when it leaks. My once-sacred belief—“skill sells itself”—got obliterated in year one. Here’s how flipping that mindset rewired the whole company: Lead with clarity, not jargon • We turned boring reports into photo-rich “device health cards” that read like a mechanic’s inspection sheet. • Instagram reels now explain “Why that brass thing by your hose bib matters” in 15 seconds. Result: service calls doubled and we collect a 5-star review on 4 out of every 5 jobs. Hire for empathy first, wrenches second • New techs must role-play explaining a failed check valve to a curious grandma before they ever pick up a tester. • I can train the plumbing; I can’t fake patience and good vibes. Result: callbacks dropped 30 %, morale skyrocketed, and customers ask for techs by name. Systemize the story • Automated email/SMS drip educates clients on backflow law, seasonal tips, and what to expect on-site. • Team tablets generate on-the-spot quotes with “good / better / best” options—zero mystery pricing. Result: average job value is up 18 % because clients actually understand the upsell. Bottom line: the skill is still non-negotiable, but *communication* is the real differentiator. Once I stopped assuming expertise was enough—and started speaking human, hiring empathetic pros, and packaging our knowledge in bite-size ways—Mr. Backflow went from a one-man wrench show to the go-to clean-water problem solver in Carlsbad.
