The Blue Collar Gold Podcast

Of all of the things that can make you and your business grow and prosper, I believe in personal and business mentors as well as mastermind groups. Tonight I discuss how each of those has impacted everything I do on a daily basis.

In this episode I discuss a recent conference that I attended in

Orlando that help to open my eyes as to large shifts coming in the home services industry.

Sales guru Alan Rush is my guest this week. As usual, his information is so good! He discusses his process of getting the most out of the initial phone call into your office and when your technicians do the home visit.

Tim Reed is my guest on this episode. Tim has developed one of the simplest and effective sales process in the industry. His no pressure, straight forward, and natural process is fantastic. Hope you enjoy the show!

Kirk Chandler is a Public Adjuster. What is that? He's a guy that works for the homeowner, not the insurance company. His goal is to make sure you get all that you are entitled to in case you have an insurance claim. We had a great talk so I rebroadcasted it from my SureFire Live Show.

There is one common thing that leads to most peoples unhappiness. If you manage this one thing, your life will be much happier.

Today I talk about 7 uncomfortable truths about success and the way a lot of people think. The way they think and process information and pressure is usually the defining difference in those that are successful and those that aren't

Kent Wessley is one of the industry leaders in hiring men and women in the service industry. Tonight he talks about his philosophy, his questions, his methods and software that he uses to hire. This is a recording of our SureFire Live episode

kent.knowledgewins@gmail.com

Very few things are as irritating as a leader that's considered "too nice". That was me (and sometimes still is) but these two books that I discuss have helped me understand that being labled as too nice can be a real problem in business.

I play the story of "The Falling Tide" which means you basically need to make sure you have your line in the water and don't pull back. You need to be trying new things even when things may be looking bad.

Happy Independence Day! This episode is about my thoughts on America and the promise that it still holds!

This is the second in the Business Start Up Series. I go over my thoughts and ideas about the first, and one of the funnest steps, in starting a business.

I wanted to record what it means to me to celebrate Memorial day with a few audio clips from Ronald Reagan and Ted Nugent.

The Rifle Book is a new book soon to be video sounds like this will be amazing!

https://thewwiirifle.com

I have been asked to talk about how to start a business by a few people and I love helping people to do this. I want to start by saying that owning your own business is definitely not for everyone for many reasons. If you feel driven to start your own business, this series will have some ideas, tips and tricks to getting your idea off the ground.

This week I had a fascinating conversation with Dave Rettinger. He's a second generation hearth store owner and has a great look at how he uses technology and new ideas to stay on top of and in front of the changing face of business.

Jonah Lindley is my guest this week and he will talk about his journey to being a rising star in the chimney industry. One of the biggest compliments that I always hear about Jonah is "Man what a great guy, he really get's it!" I think you will understand what I mean after this episode.

Don't forget about the Sweep Away Cancer Rally June 9-10 at the Back of the Dragon in Wytheville VA. www.sweepawaycancer.com

Please join us!

This week I discuss an article that I wrote for Fire Time Magazine in which I rant (a little) and the Hearth Industry for having an attitude about the chimney service world that id getting them beat!

I also talk about the upcoming sweep Away Cancer Rally in Whtheville VA June 9-10.

www.sweepawaycancer.com

Almost everyone has heard of ChatGPT, if you haven't it's an artificial intelligence language  program that is taking the world by storm.  Tonight, I talk about how to use it and I even use it lave while doing the SureFire Live show.  The results are amazing.  Since this show aired a few weeks ago so many people have responded back to me about it.  I have continued to use it almost daily to help with some task.  It's here to stay so you need to get on board and add it to your productivity tools!

This weeks guest is my daughter Evane.  She is an inspirational young woman with an amazing story.  For the past 3 months she has been training and raising money for the Rumble on the Rox boxing match.   She raised over $30,000 dollars for her charity and put on a hell of a show.  I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed interviewing.  

Steve Trumble is my guest this week as is the owner of Chimney Doctors, SOTA Metal Fab and a new venture called Home Care Heating and Air. Steve is also one of the few Chimney Safety Institute of America Master Sweeps

He has an amazing spirit and that carries through his businesses and his home life.  The thing that stands out to me about him is that he always seeks council and education while moving fast.  He implements very quickly and moves through his mistakes with ease while never loosing the spirit to try again.  

Recently Steve was on a scuba diving trip and faced a true fear that he had never had in his life.  He talks about facing it and getting through it.

Chris Tomlin is an amazing guy with a huge heart and a ton of drive.  I have seen him at many conferences and spoken to him several times by phone but i wanted to see what made him tick.  He always has a great sprit and a clear fun culture with his employees.  This is a great interview with a guy that just makes it happen.  

Kevin Russell is the founder of an amazing non profit called Warrior Horse.  His foundation helps veterans and first responders that suffer from PTSD.  He shares some amazing stories about how they have been able to help so many in just a short period of time.  

Please visit and donate at www.warriorhorse.net 

Nothing could be more nerve wracking experience as a business owner than laying of or letting people go because you don't have enough work on the books.  There are definitely tactics that you can take to avoid this stage of business.  Understand that almost every growing business goes through this.  

I hope this episode gives you some good tactics.

Are you a new leader...or even an experienced leader?  I bet you have made each of these mistakes and if you haven't, you probably will!  :). 

This is a rebroadcast of a SureFire Live I did recently. 

I start with the 2022 Wrap up of the Blue Collar Gold Podcast.  

We move to the different stages of business growth and the importance of getting coaching if you want to move through those stages.

Do you know the difference between the two?  I love planning a lot more than strategy for sure but if you just stay in planning mode, its a recipe for failure.  I review a Harvard Business Review video that I recently watched and describe how to apply it in your business.

Happy New Year!   Lets make this year amazing!

This weeks guest was Anthony Valerio.  Anthony is showing the industry what the next generation of chimney business owner can do.  He has a great culture, great looking marketing, takes education very seriously and on top of everything, he understands the importance of family.  I hope you get inspired from this interview.  

My visit to the SEMA automotive show in las Vegas last week helped me to understand what its like to be the best of the best in the automotive game.  Wow is all I can say. I also got a chance to observe some crackheads in the wild and it helped me to understand true determination   :)  

Most leaders and employees have a hard time knowing if they are actually the problem in the company. This episode was inspired by an article from author Mark Manson, who wrote the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*^k.  On my journey, they have been multiple times that I have realized that I am actually the problem, even though I have the best intentions.  Many times when an employee comes to talk to me, I have to help them understand that they are actually creating or inflaming the very problem that they don't like.  I hope you enjoy it.  

I just wrapped up another bucket list item... motorcycle riding the historic Route 66 Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica pier in California.  I give you an update on that experience as well as some business thoughts. 

Our guest this week is Past President of the Chimney Safety Institute of America as well as the owner of the business consulting service Roydhouse Effect.

Chuck has a tremendous amount of knowledge about running a VERY profitable "small" business.  

Chuck now coaches others on how to build and maintain the best business for his clients.

www.roydhouseeffect.com

Our guest talks about how to set your company up to sell, buy or to transition out.  All businesses eventually will have to go through this because one way or another, the owner will be out...so why not prepare for the inevitable as soon as possible?  Garnett is a managing director at the Decosimo firm and is a true pro with fantastic information! 

 www.decosimo.com

Reading is the key to you extended success when it comes to all things business.  From Leadership to Finance, it's an absolute must.  I will discuss how I consume as many books as I can and read several amazing facts about reading.   

Here's my list of 10 foundational books I recommend

How to win friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Failing forward - John Maxwell

Whale done - Ken Blanchard

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Good to Great - Jim Collins

Rich Dad Poor Dad

You’re Broke Because you want to be - Larry Winget

Outliers - Malcom Gladwell

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind - T. Harv Eckler

10 New Books I recommend 

Can’t hurt me - David goggins

Extreme Ownership - Jacko Wilnik

Loserthink - Scott Adams

The Road Less Stupid - Keith Cunningham

Not Nice - Aziz Gazipura

Never Split the Difference - Chris Voss

The Happiness Advantage - Scott Actor

The Subtle Art of not giving a F. - Mark Manson

Traction - Gino Hickman

The War of Art - Steven Pressfield

Blue Collar Gold - Your's Truly

This week I had Mike Fasy from Den Defenders (formerly Mike's Mobil) on the SureFIre Live! show.  He talks about a huge milestone in business "the million dollar month" and how he did it.  This was such a great interview, I just repurposed it for the podcast.  Hope you like it!

It's great to be back after a mid summer break!  I tell some stories from the road plus I discuss a leadership philosophy of "Working with the Willing" 

Tonight I discuss our new program for business owners. 

If you would like to join us, here's the link for the application.

www.surefire.academy/552571-2

Tim Reed is the founder of the revolutionary hearth software WhyFire, FireTime Magazine and also hosts The Fire Time podcast.  Tim is an expert in hearth retail sales and has some fantastic tips for you and your team to sell more.  

I have become a big fan of Tim's and love the way he brings his ideas to life in an incredibly easy and relatable way.   

www.whyfire.com

www.itsfiretime.com/magazine

Happy Fathers Day! In this episode I make the case for fathers and particularly fathers in the home.  I read several harrowing stats that make us realize that if we can do anything as a society that would do the most good, it would be to celebrate and get fathers back in the homes. 

This week I review the best selling book by Mark Manson "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck! Part 1. This book helped me forcus on what to care about and what to put to the side.  Also, understanding the absolute role and need of failure in your success journey.  

WARNING...lots of F words used when reading the reviews and highlights of the book. 

Also, I talk about the new moving What is a Woman by Matt Walsh in my Dumb is Real section. 

Britt Tucker has an absolutely incredible story and I am excited to share it with you this week.  Her story goes from starting her moving to Nashville to be a singer, to starting a cookie and gift basket business all the way to be head of Astronaut Sales for Blue Origin and a coach on Zero G - Weightless Experience.  There are several great takeaways from this interview.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Being mature with your time and energy is the theme of this podcast.  As we get older and wiser, we tend to get more deliberate with the things that matter and reduce the things that don't. I hope you enjoy this message.

1. Please help me with a donation to The Leukemia  Lymphoma Society!  I'm up for Man of the Year and its over next week, so please dig deep to help me and this amazing cause.  www.bit.ly/markstoner

2.  The CSIA Business Symposium is June 9-10 at my shop in Smyrna Tn. we have 11 speakers going over absolute gold to help run your business!   

https://web.csia.org/events/Business-Symposium-4807/details

Happy Stoner day!  I continue the new tradition of crazy ass stories from employees to situations.  There are some cuss words.  Enjoy

We have crossed 50,000 listens! Thank you so much.  This week we continue our Extreme Ownership book study.

This week I'm at the national convention for the chimney industry and I ran into a dear friend of mine, Bob Ferrari.  Bob is a fantastic story teller and I always learn from him when we talk.  This past year has been extremely tragic for him and his family and he shares some great wisdom when we sat down and spoke.  

This week I continue my dive into the Extreme Ownership book and how it applies to our business.

Thank you for all of those that wished me well on my neck surgery!

Plus, a new dumb is real rant.  

I'm starting a new series on a book that has been around for many years and a lot of people believe it is one of the best leadership books and principles ever written.  I am doing a deep dive on this book with our team and I am really enjoying putting the principles back into place.  I attempted this a few years ago but a few things didn't take and I, taking extreme ownership, need to take responsibility.  

I hope you enjoy my take on the lessons.

Also, thank you to everyone supporting our Ukrainian fund raising effort at www.poppyandpeep.com

This week I tell the story of an exit interview that was pure gold.  I also talk about the uncertainty of the entrepreneur journey.  It's easy to look back and think you knew all along that it would work out.  I know I didn't.  

Plus help us support the efforts in Ukraine while you enjoy some chocolate!   www.poppyandpeep.com

This weeks guest is a long time entrepreneur, chimney guy and race car driver.  Jasper Drengler is very transparent about his journey though business and life.  This interview is very enlightening and inspiring to those who think they shouldn't make mistakes or talk about them!  

One of my good friends and a recent event with my wife's employer of 32 1/2 years sparked this podcast topic.  What happened to loyalty from the employer and even many employees?