Luke Kuznia's path to owning a successful plumbing business started with dropping out of college and diving into hands-on work, proving that trades can offer a fulfilling alternative to traditional education – all built on word-of-mouth referrals without any advertising spend.

In this episode of The Reasonable Contractor, The Reasonable Tech Dad chats with Luke about how a leaky laundry valve brought them together, leading to a discussion on transitioning from college to the trades, mastering the journeyman exam, and building a business through exceptional customer service. They explore the realities of plumbing work, the value of problem-solving, and why more people should consider skilled trades amid growing shortages.

Whether you're a contractor seeking inspiration for your own business, a parent guiding your kids toward career options, or a homeowner frustrated by unreliable service, this episode highlights practical insights into thriving in the trades without a degree.

Key Takeaways:

Dropped out of UND after 2 years, worked in moving before choosing plumbing over electrical for its unique opportunities
Combined night classes at Hennepin Tech with daytime apprenticeship to learn code navigation and hands-on skills
Journeyman test is tough: 240 questions in 4 hours, open-book but requires quick searching – Minnesota's is among the hardest, with examples of people failing 11 times
Passed master's test on first try after 1.5 years as journeyman, enabling him to launch his own business 2 years ago
Zero advertising: Relies on word-of-mouth from happy customers, emphasizing eye contact, fair pricing, and problem resolution
Common challenges: Faulty products from suppliers (e.g., missing parts or broken items) that require quick fixes to maintain trust
Advice for next generation: Don't fear trying trades if school isn't your vibe – it's fulfilling for hands-on problem-solvers

Sound Bites:

"I went up to University of North Dakota after senior year of high school, tried the college gig for two years, realized very quickly wasn't for me."
"I realized that you can only learn so much in a classroom... I knew very quickly you just had to get out in the field, get your hands on some tools, and just do it."
"I don't do any advertising. I just let people kind of find me and word of mouth is so big... you can't beat that free advertising."
"Customer service... you have to look the customer in the eye and just kind of hear their story... give them a fair price. And you just got to get the job done, make sure they're happy."
"Don't be scared to try it. If you're in school and you don't like it, just don't be scared to try it."
"If you're a problem solver, there's so many good fits for you in the blue collar industry."

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: How a Leaky Laundry Valve Connected Ryan and Luke

00:00:45 - Luke's Shift from College at UND to the Moving Industry

00:01:45 - Choosing Plumbing and Starting Apprenticeship with Night School

00:02:22 - Navigating the Codebook and the Realities of the Journeyman Test

00:05:17 - From Journeyman to Master: Launching His Own Business

00:06:41 - Building Success Through Word-of-Mouth and Customer Service

00:09:17 - Challenges with Suppliers and Faulty Products 00:11:10 - Advice for the Next Generation: Embrace Hands-On Problem-Solving in Trades

Keywords: master plumber, plumbing apprenticeship, journeyman test, college dropout, starting a plumbing business, word-of-mouth marketing, skilled trades shortage, hands-on learning, Twin Cities contractors, customer service in trades, problem-solving careers