Blue Collar Nation

Join this insightful conversation with Eric and Larry as they discuss how home service businesses can maximize each service call's effectiveness by prioritizing technician training and soft skills, especially during a tightening economy. Key Takeaways: * Every Call Counts: Each service call is your opportunity to secure a lifetime client, not just a one-time job. * Soft Skills are Critical: Connection, clarity, and confidence determine the outcome of your service calls. * Consistent Training Pays Off: Ongoing practice of soft skills directly improves technician performance, client satisfaction, and business profitability. * True Cost of a Lost Call: Missing a call impacts more than just immediate revenue—it affects future business, referrals, and reviews. Episode Highlights: Economic Context and Its Impact: * How the slowing economy mirrors the 2008-2009 recession. * Why maintaining value and pricing integrity outweighs the short-term gain from discounting. The Three C's of a Profitable Call: * Connection: Establishing immediate trust and rapport. * Clarity: Clear communication about the issue and solution. * Confidence: Technicians must confidently project competence to secure client trust. Anatomy of a Winning Call: * Pre-arrival tips: Call ahead, offer small courtesies. * Arrival etiquette: Professional presentation and respect for client property. * On-site best practices: Active listening, clear explanations, and cleanliness. * Post-service follow-through: Thorough walkthroughs, gratitude expressions, and proactive review encouragement. Technician Training & Investment: * Importance of structured and consistent soft skills training. * Using role-playing and regular practice scenarios. * Celebrating and incentivizing wins related to soft skills and client satisfaction. Real Cost of Lost Calls: * Understanding that lost opportunities extend beyond immediate revenue. * How losing a call affects long-term client relationships, referrals, reviews, and overall market reputation. Action Steps to Implement Immediately: * Schedule regular soft skills training sessions. * Standardize client interaction protocols. * Regularly review customer feedback for continuous improvement. * Evaluate external structured training options like SuperTech University if internal resources are limited. * Shift your mindset from running calls to winning calls to enhance profitability and client experience. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.

Most service company owners spend an inordinate amount of time working on and worrying about client experience....as they should. However, do they put the same amount of effort into creating an amazing work experience for their team? Larry and Eric discuss this topic on today's podcast. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.    TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.

Matt Michel joins Eric and Larry to talk about the future of the HVAC industry for the next 10 years. We tackle topics such as how tariffs will affect HVAC sales, the importance of soft skills to grow a great service company, and how the smaller companies can effectively compete with the big players in their markets. This is an episode that should not be missed, regardless of which vertical you are in for home services. Check out Matt's book, Contractor Stories: Inspirational Lessons for Contractors with a Burning Desire to Succeed! [https://www.amazon.com/Contractor-Stories-Inspirational-Lessons-Contractors/dp/B0D3C9NYGQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ED6AHAZZU301&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2NuBswl2emW-AHdU_K8nppeg1GVdV7zSXThOLbj43pvsjwEBImtiqRxa865CadWUmbn4eRUap9l-7K8b5jIhqIVE0BbmTswv005247opKg3O_wIk9PDMTSu6vjy_TsJ822EGyWlZOCIND-cwy1MA-qDrd04GkfCNmDkXZGj63saUYc397DGHlBCKoCQ1zHb_FDXuSXnhue5LBQ5Eqq3sbZphSlNh4OZQr8scyg4Yj8w.pEA_7RuiCMlqWMNLxXKo_wxaoOnEOZm8sj0JS-2hjoI&dib_tag=se&keywords=contractor+stories&qid=1741269653&sprefix=contractor+stories%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.    TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.

In this episode, we sit down with Mandy Rewis, Director of Business Development and Strategy at JOC Analytics [https://jocanalytics.com/], to explore how business intelligence tools are revolutionizing the restoration and trades industries. Mandy shares how JOC Analytics pulls data from CRMs and job management software to create real-time, customizable dashboards that eliminate manual reporting and provide actionable insights on KPIs, financials, and production metrics. We discuss why small and mid-sized businesses need to leverage data-driven decision-making to compete with larger, private equity-backed firms, and why tracking business metrics from day one is essential for growth. Mandy also walks us through JOC’s key features, data sources, and how their tool integrates seamlessly with platforms like DASH, Service Titan, and QuickBooks. Key Takeaways: ✅ Real-time data insights without manual report generation ✅ Custom dashboards to track job performance, revenue, and inefficiencies ✅ Data-driven decisions to help businesses scale and compete ✅ Compatibility with major CRMs, job management, and accounting software ✅ Scalable pricing to fit businesses of different sizes Next Steps: 📌 Request a demo at www.jocanalytics.com [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jocanalytics.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C7310a8f1854d4e0cec8308dd4167ab1b%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638738635677674993%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VtZKlqQTDxVCV3TJ34UZCm%2FeBqTN61ChmGn5%2Bs2xjas%3D&reserved=0] 📌 Contact Mandy at mandy@jocanalytics.com If you're spending too much time on manual reporting or feel like you're flying blind without data, this episode is for you! 🎧🚀 TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader e TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.

In this weeks episode, Larry and Eric sit down to discuss the positives and negatives that come with running a business at a certain age and how to stay on the cutting edge of new business practices. TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.    TITLE SPONSOR: Super Tech University [https://supertechu.com/] Dramatically improve your team's performance with a system of short daily video lessons training your team in soft skills. When you invest in your team and teach them soft skills, your team can make you more profit. Go to https://supertechu.com/ [https://supertechu.com/] for more info. Click here for a discount: https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/ [https://supertechu.com/register/podcastoffer/]. Here is an entrepreneur's story [https://youtu.be/EdRLBuSOyeg] you will relate to. SPONSOR: C&R Magazine C&R magazine is the leading periodical in the Cleaning and Restoration industry. Owner and editor Michelle Blevins has brought printed copies back from the dead to increase reader experience. Go to www.candrmagazine.com [https://candrmagazine.com/] to get your free copy sent directly to your home or business.