Ask The Chimney Sweep

Today we sit down with Greg Polakow and talk a little bit about what it means to be a blue collared professional. We talk about everything from how you knock on the door to making sure you leave a good impression. It's all here on episode 27!

In this episode we talk to Taylor Hill and Carter Hawkins from Guys in Trucks & Spark Marketer about their product, The Retention Engine. They share some insights and tips on how best to keep your customers using simple methods and planning.

Pilot and entrepreneur Doug Hetsch drops by the Home Contractor's HQ for a little chat about flying, saving lives, and gives us some great insight into what happens when plan B becomes plan A.

All of our marketing and business knowledge is thrown into doubt as we sit down with Blume from the great state of South Carolina! Blume and Clay talk about what it takes to be successful while running your business, lone wolf style.

This episode is all about...you guessed it, signs! We sit down with Al Brockman of Brockman Signs in Cincinnati, OH. Clay and Al share some industry tips and tricks to get your business noticed no matter where you are or what your budget.

In this, our first 'Training Stage' episode, we talk to Hope Stevenson owner of Dave Pomeroy Signature Training. Hope is an expert at strategic planning, team building, and new business development and we talk to her this week about who we should be hiring for our small business.

Tim Carter of Askthebuilder.com stops by to share more of his practical wisdom regarding technology, what it takes to build trust with your customers and what it means to build it right.

In this episode we talk about lean thinking and specifically theacronym TIM WOOD. Chris Wetzel shares some of his insights from bigcompanies that will help shape your small business.

In this episode our guest is Jerry Isenhour of CVCCoaching.com. Jerry shares some great thoughts on what it means to make your business lean and waste free!

This episode brings back a guest from one of our most popular episodes, Nick May.  Clay and Nick dive deep into the system side of a home contracting business, and has tips for the blue collar entrepreneur on how to onboard and train employees, and how to use customer data to boost your earnings.

In this week's episode we have the Podcast Answer Man himself, Cliff Ravenscraft.  What does he have to say to you, the home contracting entrepreneur?  Well, he is an expert in the area of focus; how to say "no" to good things to make room for great things to say "yes" to.  Listen to learn how and why he left a six figure income in insurance to pursue his dreams.

Today's guest is Todd Henry, an author, podcaster and speaker who excels at inspiring creativity, productivity, and passion for work.  Todd and Clay speak to you hard-working blue collar entrepreneurs about how to recognize your limitations and prioritize accordingly.  Chris and Clay spend some time unpacking this value-packed interview as well.

As a home contracting professional, your customer is more equipped every day to know more about your business than what you tell them.  The internet and smartphone use has forever changed how your customers choose your business.  In this episode, Clay interviews Carter Harkins of Spark Marketer and the Guys In Trucks podcast about this very topic.  Carter gives practical advice for dealing with your online business presence.

As Clay bathes in the Florida sun on vacation before the National Chimney Sweep Guild Convention in Orlando, FL, we discuss home contracting business building with Jim Brewer from the Hampton Roads/Tidewater VA/NC area.  Along with tips on interviewing and finding reliable employees, Clay and Chris talk about how not to freak out your inappropriately-dressed customers (you'll have to listen to figure that one out), and Chris goes off about management systems!

This episode's special guest is Mark Stoner, a successful home contracting entrepreneur who has recently worked with Larry Winget on a new book aimed at people like us!  Hear Clay and Mark talk about falling off roofs and the importance of learning about business building.

Go it alone or start with a franchise? That's one of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we interview author and business owner Joby Schubert. Listen in and add your feedback by hitting our site or giving us a call. 

This week our special guest is Brian Barnhill of Barnhill Chimney based in Lexington, KY. Clay and Brion discuss weathering a storm with workers comp and some of Brion's latest endeavors with Animal Planet.

This week our very special guest is John Lee Dumas, podcaster extrraordinaire and host of the amazing "Entrepreneur On Fire" podcast.  Clay and JLD talk about setting goals for your business, the false notion of "multitasking" and both of them have a hard time keeping track of how many books are being recommended.  A great listen from a giant in the industry!

This week in our podcast for home contractors who are morphing into entrepreneurs is Nick May, who owns Walls By Design in Denver, CO.  Nick and Clay talk about unconventional ways in which Nick finds employees that fit the model for his business and how networking factors into gaining customers.  

This week co-hosts Chris Wetzel and Clay Lamb talk to each other about their personal history together, failures they've experienced in their varied entrepreneurial past and how they have been affected by them and overcome them.  Home contracting business owners will especially be compelled by Clay's story concerning workplace safety.  A can't-miss episode that helps familiarize the Home Contractors HQ audience with the voices behind the podcast.