In this gripping episode of Contractor Stories, host Jim Klauck sits down with Weldon Long, a man whose life journey has taken him from the depths of the penitentiary to the heights of entrepreneurial success. Weldon opens up about his turbulent past, including his early life struggles, multiple incarcerations, and the pivotal moments that led to his transformation. Listeners will be inspired by Weldon's story of resilience, focusing on his path to becoming a successful author, speaker, and business owner. He shares valuable insights into overcoming adversity, the importance of finding meaning in suffering, and the power of maintaining a positive mindset. Weldon also discusses the challenges ex-convicts face in finding employment and offers practical advice for those looking to rebuild their lives through small business opportunities. Tune in to hear how Weldon's experiences have shaped his approach to business and life, and why he believes that every setback can be a setup for a comeback.

Join your host, Jim Klauck on a profoundly personal voyage with AC Lockyer, the pioneer of the soft wash industry, on our podcast episode entitled 'Contractor Stories'. Rooted in humble beginnings, AC shares his transformative journey from envisioning dreams as a boy to establishing a revolutionary exterior cleaning company. This episode delves deep into how he harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit, started a profitable venture post-college, and disrupted the roof cleaning industry with his innovative soft washing technique. Listen as he takes us through the trials and triumphs of his journey, revealing the insights and blunders that collectively shaped SoftWash Systems. As AC transitions from a contractor to a supplier, he equips others to join the soft washing business while fostering a supportive company culture rooted in faith, learning, and collaboration. This narrative of personal dreams and entrepreneurial drive leading to groundbreaking results is as inspiring as it is enlightening. Overcoming Challenges and Chasing Dreams: The AC Lockyer Success Story! AC Lockyer, a successful businessman and Redfish Tour National Champion, shares his captivating family history in home services and his unexpected shift towards the industry later in life. Despite struggles and family disputes, AC managed to leverage his extraordinary talent for business systems to bring efficiency and success. AC defines success as more than monetary wealth. For him, it's about overcoming challenges and following intrinsic passions, leading him to the prestigious victory of the Redfish Tour National Championship. His story is a testament of persistence and dedication, evident in every business venture or personal pursuit he embarks upon. AC's engaging journey from an Inshore Fishing Association rookie to a national champion is filled with compelling anecdotes, demonstrating that dream chasing and consistent effort triumph above all. If you believe in manifesting your passions into a reality, then this enriching episode with AC Lockyer is a must-listen. Get AC's book - "The 5 Keys To Pattern Success"

Join Jim Klauck on Contractor Stories' as he welcomes self-made millionaire and industry titan, Alan O'Neill. This episode unveils Alan’s inspirational 20-year journey, shedding light on his transitions from a modest plumber to the CEO of a $100-million home service enterprise. Alan's story brings forth the importance of a strong team, unyielding dedication and a healthy work ethic. It all started with Abacus Plumbing in 2003, which soon broadened to include air conditioning and electrical services. The Wrench Group was born from a merger of various service companies across numerous American cities, underscoring Alan's relentless dedication to business growth. Despite his monumental success, Alan skillfully discusses the struggles of maintaining work-life balance. He weaves these challenges into his narrative with notable candor, expressing gratitude for his patient and understanding family. His entrepreneurial saga narrates invaluable advice for budding business enthusiasts and sheds light on the challenges entrepreneurs face while scaling their businesses. Alan's foresight goes beyond the corporate realm—he values the importance of family and personal relationships. He imparts the significance of financial literacy and real-world experience, outlining their influence in business success. He also includes Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" as a timeless piece of recommended reading for all entrepreneurs. Join us in this enlightening episode that polls the entrepreneurial terrain's ups and downs while offering invaluable insights and nuggets of wisdom.

Gain invaluable insights from the legendary business guru, Michael E. Gerber, on the latest episode of Contractor Stories with Jim Klauck. Discover how the proven approach of the E Myth can provoke miraculous growth in your small business and why operating a franchise-like system, where you work on rather than in your business, can lead to McDonald's level of success. Explore Gerber’s unique coaching, mentoring, and Imagineering method, learn about the Eightfold Path, a guide that can evolve your business from a company of one to a company of 1,000, and hear the inspiring success story of Ken Goodrich. This illuminating episode, perfect for both veteran and aspiring entrepreneurs, encapsulates the essence of successful entrepreneurship and highlights the necessity of clear dreams, vision, purpose, and mission. Take a deep dive into the makings of McDonald's legendary success, learning how foundational principles and operating integrity can stimulate consistent growth and expansion. Delve into the thought-provoking conversation around Gerber’s influential book, "The E-Myth Revisited", and comprehend how a successful business is dependent not just on its products, but also on the system it operates on. Listen to Michael Gerber’s valuable personal anecdotes and understand the profound impact of a selling system on business objectives. Learn why true dedication, passion, and love are the core elements of a good business, often described as a 'religion' by Gerber. Finally, get inspired by the groundbreaking realization ‘The sale finds you when you practice’ from the journey of a successful entrepreneur and learn the significance of effective branding. Join us in the dreaming room and contribute your part to the mission - transforming the state of small businesses worldwide.   Get Michael Gerber's Best Selling Book - "The E Myth Revisted" on Amazon. Contact Michael Gerber - michael@michaelegerber.com

In this compelling episode of Contractor Stories, Jim Klauck dives deep into an enlightening conversation with Victor Rancour, an entrepreneur recognized for his knack in swiftly growing businesses in high-risk, high-reward industries. In a rare display of vulnerability, Vic candidly discusses his transition from a ruthlessly driven businessman to a more balanced leader who acknowledges the importance of relationships and enjoying the journey. His path to success, marked by burnt bridges and regrets, presents a raw look at the often-overlooked darker sides of fast business growth. Jim's guest Victor Rancour opens up about his early life, sharing tales from his California childhood, how a job at an oil change place in Cleveland, Ohio changed his life, and the crucial role sports played in shaping his character and work habits. Despite a chaotic career journey that led him through various roles and industries, two things remained constant: Victor’s uncanny ability to excel and his relentless dedication. Victor’s later venture into the HVAC industry became his most rewarding move. Despite achieving substantial fast-tracked growth, he admits to over-prioritizing his business at the expense of personal relationships. He now shares the wisdom earned through experience, advising listeners to maintain balance and enjoy each step of the journey to success. Highlights of the discussion include Victor's admission of the personal and mental strain while running a high-stakes business and the major wins that came with letting go. Victor advocating for robust mental health practices, his lessons learned, and a revisit of his career pivot points give listeners unsurpassed insights into the entrepreneurship journey. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone seeking inspiration to reinvent themselves and a reassurance that resilience can transform failure into success. Vic concludes the episode by stressing the importance of sharing your losses along with your wins, making vivid the ups and downs that are an integral part of any entrepreneurial journey. His story serves as a stark reminder: what doesn't kill us indeed makes us stronger.

In this memorable episode of Contractor Stories, host Jim Klauck from Check A Pro presents an engaging conversation with industry leader, Al Levi. Known for his significant contributions in the contracting world, Al shares invaluable insights from his own life and prosperous career, and how embracing accountability led to transformative personal and professional growth. Al's journey, rich with inspiring anecdotes from his childhood, reveals how instilled work ethics guided him to success. Discover how he shaped from feeling incompetent to becoming one of the top names in the industry, realizing the powerful role mentorship plays along the way. His father's constant guidance created a positive influence that helped mold his career path. Throughout this riveting episode, Al candidly reflects on his past mistakes and learnings, offering invaluable insights to listeners about life and business. Delve deep into his experiences, from initializing in a family firm to experiencing the transformative power of mentorship. Learn from his account on transforming apprentices into skilled technicians resulting in the building of a successful career. Al’s exploration into his life-changing realization of how his actions impacted his life and business will leave you contemplating. He shares his strong belief and ethos, ‘Don’t ever do anything or ask anyone to do anything that you have not done yourself,’ reflecting years of his consulting experience worldwide. Unveil the beauty of resilience as Al paves his path through the uncomfortable and unfamiliar, stepping out of his comfort zone to build a flourishing business. Al also shares his perspective on overcoming tough times, explaining his belief in how pain and reward can lead to monumental change. With his recommended must-read, ‘The E-Myth’ by Michael Gerber, discover more about Al and his insightful tales that are bound to inspire and motivate.

In this introspective episode of Contractors' Stories, our host, Jim Klauck, engages in a revealing conversation with Billy Stevens- a plumber turned entrepreneur and industry disruptor. Billy shares his captivating journey from inheriting a small plumbing company to driving its growth into an industry-leading enterprise. Learn about the groundbreaking strategies and innovations behind the staggering 100x growth of his initial company. Billy also spills the beans on his successful private equity ventures and how he managed to shape a precedent-setting enterprise with his Stanford-educated partners. Hear about the creation of his revolutionary software, SERA, that enhances customer experience by eliminating redundancies and facilitating ease-of-business. This enlightening narrative illuminates how Billy, once a common plumber, ascended to become a software genius and a successful businessman. He continues to turn industry norms on their head, while staying grounded in his appreciation for the trade that gave him his start. Join us to unravel Billy's story of transforming a struggling small-scale enterprise into an industry-changing giant. Also, delve into our discussion about Sarah- Billy's AI-based software that aims to redefine customer service in the contracting industry. Understand how this software ranks calls based on priority to connect customers with the right technician in real-time. The episode takes you through Billy's journey from being an adventure-lover to becoming a trailblazing entrepreneur, shedding light on the strategic decisions leading to his business's triumphs. Finally, travel along with Billy's continuing mission to refine the contracting world's services, full of insights, inspiration, and legitimate stories on how to progress in the home service industry. Join us in this riveting episode, "Maximizing Potential with Smart Technology: The SERA/billyGo Story," where Billy shares his life’s highs and lows, his path to find his place, and the secret behind his success in the industry.

In this engaging podcast episode, Jim Klauck sits down with renowned entrepreneur, Tommy Mello. Known widely for his exceptional business acumen and time management skills, Tommy shares his journey from basement beginnings to projected earnings between $550,000 to $800,000 a day by 2025. Learn the secret behind his motivation and how he uses his success as a reminder of the value of time and eventual possibilities.   Get Tommy's Books: ELEVATE and Home Service Millionaire   Delving into his humble start in landscaping and his move into the garage door industry, Tommy lays bare his business strategy. From investing in personal growth, outsourcing, and seizing opportunities often overlooked by others - Tommy offers invaluable nuggets of wisdom for both budding and thriving entrepreneurs. Listen in as Tommy discusses his passion beyond the realm of business - automobiles. Not steeped in luxury but deeply tied to nostalgia, Tommy shares his love for a 68 convertible and the special memory associated with his girl friend's grandfather. Casting light on the growth of his business, A1 Garage Door Service, we explore how Tommy used economic downturns as a fantastic opportunity to scale and take over market share. He has built his company to potentially earn over 200 million with further expansion plans across 21 states. This episode highlights Tommy's belief that economic recessions breed billionaires. Beyond his financial achievements, this episode delves deeper into Tommy’s personal journey, his early days spent painting garage doors, a successful partnership in home service, and the transformative impact of mentor Al Levy's guidance. Tune in to listen to Tommy’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey and his practical strategies for success. In this episode rich with life lessons, Tommy further shares his perspectives on higher education, his win-win business philosophy, and how his leadership style has helped drive his business growth. He also provides sage advice to his younger self, underlining the importance of investment, focus, and understanding business financials. Experience this riveting discussion, and seize the opportunity to learn from Tommy Mello's experiences. Embark on your own successful entrepreneurial journey through the lessons that this business tycoon has to share.   Suggested Book:  Tommy Mello's ELEVATE

Join host, Jim Klauck in a powerful episode of 'Contractors' Stories', featuring Joe Crisara, one of the most successful home service contractors in America. Struggles, trials, successes, and wisdom shape this inspiring journey, not to be missed by home service professionals. Joe's unique approach to business, impactful communication techniques and deep appreciation for the relationships he has nurtured over the years adds color to his narrative... Uncle Joe's Book Pick: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber The host gives us a glimpse of Uncle Joe's humble beginnings, discussing how his mother's resilient spirit paved his way to success. Follow his journey through financial hardships, the birth of his entrepreneurial spirit, and his rise to financial stability. With genuine gratitude, Joe acknowledges the guiding lights in his journey to enlightenment. Joe Crisara delves into his transformative experiences, shedding light on lessons learned from influential figures, and the power of authenticity in personal and professional success. He shares personal anecdotes, placing emphasis on the importance of personal growth and continuous self-education, culminating in the discussion of his book, "What Should We Do?". Finally, an engaging conversation about the importance of individuality and the significance of an organized system in a successful business sets a compelling note to this riveting episode. To wrap up, Joe shares a touching story of his son's school presidential run, reflecting the impact of his parenting style. This insightful episode brims with invaluable lessons in overcoming adversities, cherishing meaningful relationships and personal growth. Take this opportunity to deep-dive into the inspiring journey of Joe Crisara and unearth gems of wisdom that are set to elevate your path to success in the contractor's world.