Epic Entrepreneurs

The Crown Molding Took Four Times Longer Johnathan Lewis of Legacy Quality Craftmanship

The hardest part of running a small business is not the work you do with your hands. It’s the work that follows you home. Jonathan Lewis, founder of Legacy Quality Craftsmanship in Greenville, Tennessee, joins me to tell the truth about what entrepreneurship actually costs and why he still chooses it anyway. We get into the freedom myth and the mental load of ownership, then go behind the scenes on how a young remodeling and renovation company finds its footing. Jonathan shares the pivot from furniture restoration to larger home remodels, how realtor relationships can stabilize your leads and also raise the pressure, and what it feels like to learn estimating the expensive way. If you have ever undercharged because “I would never pay that,” this conversation will hit home. We talk job costing basics, pricing confidence, and the moment profitability starts to show up when you understand what a business truly costs to run. A big thread throughout is culture. Jonathan explains how he leads without micromanaging, why he is willing to let team members learn even when it takes longer, and the standards he sets for trust on a jobsite. He also lays out what creates word-of-mouth marketing in contracting: consistent client care, a team that shows up with the right attitude, and a willingness to slow down to do excellent work. We close with practical advice for any owner feeling stuck in a rough year, plus what’s next for Legacy Quality Craftsmanship, including mold remediation certification and more design support. Subscribe for more candid founder conversations, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. CONTACT INFO: Legacyqualitycraftsmanship@gmail.com [Legacyqualitycraftsmanship@gmail.com] https://legacyqualitycraft.wixsite.com/legacycraft [https://legacyqualitycraft.wixsite.com/legacycraft] https://www.facebook.com/share/18ajc6jJao/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus-west-2.protection.sophos.com%2F%3Fd%3Dfacebook.com%26u%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL3NoYXJlLzE4YWpjNmpKYW8vP21pYmV4dGlkPXd3WElmcg%3D%3D%26p%3Dm%26i%3DNjg3Nzk0ZDQ1YWQ3NjEyOTEyMDYxOWVh%26t%3DWjAwc1pJU2p1YzZZTXVXRzRQamlqMG9EY2tyeG1sUmVERkdxbGdQdFhDOD0%3D%26h%3Dd55cb115ca2244819b8b02df7bcf4e02%26s%3DAVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVY7MBhq-GqpegyQFhiG_gD1XNdvp2j13NmitNecFyhFoXgHlMvmuanTBvaJxE5nK-c&data=05%7C02%7Ccyndimadden%40actioncoach.com%7C479e950aaacc4b4e5edb08dea08d2d8b%7Cfc563d52023b4149bb900a3df1a524f0%7C1%7C0%7C639124725500016097%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CijVghJlMhbC9uoRJ%2B3bos6ZNNyn6y5w3Hvct3zVhJI%3D&reserved=0] Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

How A Navy Veteran Builds Trust Through Thorough Home Inspections with Philip Nistal

Your home is probably the biggest purchase you’ll ever make, so why do so many buyers settle for an inspection they don’t fully understand? We sit down with Philip Listel from Eight Point Home Inspections to get blunt about what “thorough” really means, how a great home inspection report should read, and why the goal isn’t to scare you, it’s to help you make a clear decision with confidence. Philip is a retired Navy veteran turned home inspector, and he breaks down the mental shift from military structure to small business reality: setting up an LLC, sorting tax basics, finding the right CPA and bookkeeper, and pushing through the first-year uncertainty when referrals and leads feel unpredictable. We also talk about what freedom looks like for an entrepreneur, including the schedule flexibility that makes family commitments possible without sacrificing professional standards. We go deep on buyer education and communication. Philip shares the framework he uses to make reports more useful: observation, implication, and recommendation. That structure helps first-time home buyers, experienced buyers, and even investors quickly understand what’s urgent, what can wait, and what to do next. We also touch the real estate side of the industry: building healthy relationships with realtors while reminding buyers they can choose their own home inspector and do their own research, including resources like InterNACHI. We close with a realistic take on AI in home inspection, where technology can help inspectors learn new systems faster without replacing hands-on judgment in the field. If you like honest talk about trust, referrals, and building a service business that puts customers first, subscribe, share this with a friend buying a home, and leave a quick review so more people can find us. CONTACT INFORMATION: Website: https://8pointhomeinspectionllc.com/ [https://8pointhomeinspectionllc.com/] Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/8PointHomeInspections/ [https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com/?d=facebook.com&u=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tLzhQb2ludEhvbWVJbnNwZWN0aW9ucy8=&p=m&i=Njg3Nzk0ZDQ1YWQ3NjEyOTEyMDYxOWVh&t=WDliRmNKeFUvVGNPcGVEdlI1M0lBVVVMMDBFV0k1OWQwUmh1dUxZRG1VMD0=&h=2a3dded654034fb1bf65522a48694366&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVaJrGelguWowP4bEd7lf9OHJga8pooi39CqKrT0ZFKQBHWJZ8bWc9sS-6VezjV2IOY] https://www.nachi.org/certified-inspectors/phillip-nistal-202352 [https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com/?d=nachi.org&u=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmFjaGkub3JnL2NlcnRpZmllZC1pbnNwZWN0b3JzL3BoaWxsaXAtbmlzdGFsLTIwMjM1Mg==&p=m&i=Njg3Nzk0ZDQ1YWQ3NjEyOTEyMDYxOWVh&t=WkZpSXR2QWpvL2RndlZGUjFONDRxbjF3OTFxa1FEWmpzQlJQYWMzZ2xBND0=&h=2a3dded654034fb1bf65522a48694366&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVaJrGelguWowP4bEd7lf9OHJga8pooi39CqKrT0ZFKQBHWJZ8bWc9sS-6VezjV2IOY] https://app.spectora.com/home-inspectors/my-inspection-company-f02f5c21ad/sample_reports [https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com/?d=spectora.com&u=aHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuc3BlY3RvcmEuY29tL2hvbWUtaW5zcGVjdG9ycy9teS1pbnNwZWN0aW9uLWNvbXBhbnktZjAyZjVjMjFhZC9zYW1wbGVfcmVwb3J0cw==&p=m&i=Njg3Nzk0ZDQ1YWQ3NjEyOTEyMDYxOWVh&t=emhZUjhic25Tc1lrZ1MvYk05SCtidWdqSzNGRnlZTmplWmpBeTZEYzkrOD0=&h=2a3dded654034fb1bf65522a48694366&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVaJrGelguWowP4bEd7lf9OHJga8pooi39CqKrT0ZFKQBHWJZ8bWc9sS-6VezjV2IOY] https://www.yelp.com/biz/8-point-home-inspections-chesapeake [https://us-west-2.protection.sophos.com/?d=yelp.com&u=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueWVscC5jb20vYml6LzgtcG9pbnQtaG9tZS1pbnNwZWN0aW9ucy1jaGVzYXBlYWtl&p=m&i=Njg3Nzk0ZDQ1YWQ3NjEyOTEyMDYxOWVh&t=TVlrdHQ3eTRmWExJTFhrWUtqdTZHS25qVlpJWXVMSTc0ZnZqbDZoTk5vbz0=&h=2a3dded654034fb1bf65522a48694366&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVaJrGelguWowP4bEd7lf9OHJga8pooi39CqKrT0ZFKQBHWJZ8bWc9sS-6VezjV2IOY] Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

How Two Roofers Built Trust Without High Pressure Sales with Ben and Keary

The fastest way to ruin a service business is to chase growth while cutting corners, and Ben Lyle and Carrie Sampson refuse to play that game. As the owners of Roof Guys of East Tennessee, they share what it actually feels like to run a roofing company day to day: the long hours, the “always on” phone, the stress of slow seasons, and the discipline it takes to keep showing up when jobs fall through and the calendar suddenly looks empty. We talk through the real mechanics behind their reputation: one of the owners physically touches every job site, they obsess over communication with homeowners, and they treat safety as non-negotiable. They also explain why doing things “the right way” can cost more upfront but saves money long term through less rework, fewer surprises, and stronger trust. If you care about customer experience, contractor accountability, or building a durable local brand, you will recognize a lot of hard-earned wisdom here. Their most controversial choice might be their sales process. They do not hard close, and they often do not deliver a formal quote on the spot. Instead, they educate homeowners on roof replacement versus roof rejuvenation options and send a detailed proposal later, even if it means waiting weeks or months for the decision. That patience, they argue, is exactly what wins the right customers and supports sustainable growth as they plan expansion toward Western North Carolina. If you enjoy candid conversations about entrepreneurship, small business systems, and scaling a service business without losing integrity, subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Contact Info: bear.lyle@gmail.com [bear.lyle@gmail.com] https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574881502994 [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus-west-2.protection.sophos.com%2F%3Fd%3Dfacebook.com%26u%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL3Byb2ZpbGUucGhwP2lkPTYxNTc0ODgxNTAyOTk0%26p%3Dm%26i%3DNjg3Nzk0ZDQ1YWQ3NjEyOTEyMDYxOWVh%26t%3DRGxqOE0wNXppY3c3NTJqM1YyaGJJYWF2UGdCcVlFNlYzbS9HWW0vOFhwWT0%3D%26h%3D805d3c0fbf3643d6b50e55a32ed7705d%26s%3DAVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVbqry7bGwt_IU9gF6O0tCELho9zeTAERhtSv6kOqzXuSw&data=05%7C02%7Ccyndimadden%40actioncoach.com%7Ce34e7492f1ef4e61634408de86108a2a%7Cfc563d52023b4149bb900a3df1a524f0%7C1%7C0%7C639095602874735615%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QDgRq%2FdqQ%2BknONBYkK4BnZIYYV%2BvCgkpB%2B4C5Ce6TNg%3D&reserved=0] https://www.roofguys-tn.com/ [https://www.roofguys-tn.com/] Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

How A Mortgage Loan Officer Builds Trust And Referrals with Robbie Gardner

If you’ve ever wondered why “working hard” still isn’t paying off, this conversation gives you the missing piece: nobody pays you to show up. We’re joined by Robbie Gardner of Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, a mortgage loan officer serving North Carolina and Virginia, to unpack what it really takes to build a durable referral-based business in a market defined by shifting interest rates and constant noise online.  Robbie walks us through the jump from a secure bank role to a commission-driven mortgage career, including the moment COVID-era refinancing dried up and the job turned into daily lead generation. We talk about earning trust with home buyers who are making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, partnering with real estate agents, and why communication can matter more than chasing the lowest advertised rate. He also shares how he reverse engineers the numbers, focuses on behaviours over outcomes and uses coaching to stay consistent when motivation dips.  We dig into the real day-to-day of pre-approval conversations, credit and income realities, “not today” guidance that turns into future yeses, and how technology and AI can support the process without replacing the human touch. If you’re a small business owner trying to scale without burning out, this one is packed with practical mindset shifts and repeatable habits. Subscribe, share it with a friend building something, and leave a review. What’s one daily behaviour you know would move your business forward if you did it consistently? Contact Information: robertgardner@atlanticbay.com [robertgardner@atlanticbay.com] https://www.facebook.com/robbiegardnermortgage/ https://www.atlanticbay.com/robbiegardner/ Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

Building A Flooring Business By Doing What You Say with Nathan Roach

Silence kills trust faster than bad pricing, and Nathan Roach has seen it from both sides. We’re joined by Nathan, co-owner of Floor Coverings International in Chattanooga, to unpack what it really takes to build a dependable local service business when you’re no longer protected by a corporate safety net. From day one, their goal is simple to say and hard to execute: do what you say you’ll do, call people back, and fix problems the right way when installs don’t go perfectly. Nathan walks us through their mobile showroom model, where flooring samples come to the customer’s home for an in-home consultation that actually fits the space and the light. We also get honest about the messy startup phase: testing marketing channels, learning which lead sources create quality jobs, and tightening Google and zip-code targeting after wasting money early. If you care about small business profitability, customer acquisition, and creating a seamless flooring installation experience, you’ll hear the real trade-offs behind the numbers. We go deeper into leadership and mindset too: checking your ego, staying disciplined with planning and weekly meetings, and building a team you can trust without micromanaging. Nathan shares how referral networking with realtors and local partners starts compounding over time, why he now shuts work down after 7 pm to protect family life, and what’s next for the company, including epoxy garage floors and concrete finishings. If you got something from this conversation, subscribe for more founder stories, share it with a business owner who needs a reset, and leave a quick review telling us what principle you’re focusing on this week. Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review,  and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/