Articles
Deep dives on the topics we cover in our conversations. Lessons, frameworks, and honest takes on running a business.
It's Cheaper to Keep a Customer Than Find a New One (And How to Actually Do It)
Everyone knows this is true. But knowing it and actually building your business around it are two different things.
What Happens When It's -3 Degrees and Everyone's Furnace Breaks
When the temperature drops, everyone's HVAC system gets pushed to its limits. The marginal equipment fails. The calls flood in. How do you prepare for spikes you can't fully predict?
How to Take Over a Business That's Been Around 30 Years
Taking over a family business is different from starting one. The systems exist. The culture exists. Your job is to modernize without destroying what works.
Maintenance Contracts: The Annuity for Your Business
Geoff Farinha calls maintenance contracts 'the annuity for the business.' Then he said something that surprised me: 'We do it in a way where we're not looking to necessarily make money.'
Why Your Best Technicians Can Go Anywhere (And How to Make Them Stay)
Your best people have options. They can walk across the street tomorrow and get hired. The only thing keeping them with you is whether they want to stay.
The $80,000 Software That Paid for Itself
USI HVAC went from $2,500/year software to $80,000/year. That's not a typo. And it was worth every penny.
Why Small Businesses Can't Afford to Wait on AI
Big companies can afford to be late to AI. They have the capital to survive their own inefficiency. Small businesses don't have that luxury.
Find a Partner Who Can't Do What You Do
When I asked Ben Wespi for his number one tip for anyone thinking about starting or buying a business, he didn't talk about financing. He talked about partnership.
Small Businesses Aren't Afraid of AI – They're Flying Blind With It
Why tradesmen and owner-operators are already using ChatGPT for money decisions, and what has to change before it bites them.
Why Your Foreman Won't Use the iPad (And What to Do About It)
There are dozens of project management platforms built for construction. They promise real-time visibility. There's just one problem: your foreman won't use them.
I Built a SaaS Platform Without Knowing How to Code
I spent 18 years in military intelligence. I got an MBA. I never learned to code. In 2025, I built a full SaaS platform from scratch using AI.
The Contractor's Chicken-and-Egg Problem: Crew Size vs. Work Pipeline
Do I have enough work to keep my crew busy? Do I have enough crew to handle the work that's coming? It's a chicken-and-egg problem with real financial consequences.
Commander's Intent: The Military Doctrine That Makes AI Actually Work
Most people use AI like a vending machine. Specific input, specific output. There's a better model—one I learned over 18 years in the Marine Corps.
How to Buy a Business in an Industry You Know Nothing About
Ben Wespi had no background in construction. No experience in mechanical insulation. He bought a mechanical insulation company anyway. Here's what he learned.
The Window That's Closing: Why AI Costs Will Go Up, Not Down
The largest technology companies on Earth are spending money at a rate that makes no economic sense. They're subsidizing AI heavily—and that window won't stay open forever.
The Birthday Card That Saved Me $4/Hour Per Employee
A $25 gift card costs $25. The return on that investment is workers who stay, who care, and who don't demand above-market wages just to tolerate their job.
Why Veterans Make Great Business Owners (And Don't Know It)
Most veterans getting out don't feel like they have 'tangible skills.' They're wrong. Leadership and creative problem-solving are the two things that matter most in business.
Why We Started The Owner's Playbook
There's no shortage of business podcasts, but there's a shortage of honest ones. Here's why we're doing this differently.
Stop Trying to Use AI—Start Building With It
The conversation about AI is dominated by productivity. Write faster, research quicker. That's the appetizer. The real opportunity isn't productivity—it's capability.
The Chatbot Is the Free Sample—Here's What They're Actually Selling
Every AI company is giving away a chatbot. But chatbots aren't the product. They're the door. Here's what's really being built.
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