Podcast Summary: To The Point - Home Services Podcast Episode: Blue Collar Success with a Masterclass in Operational Excellence
Release Date: July 8, 2025
Host: Chad and Jim
Guest: Chris Crew, President of Blue Collar Success Group

Introduction

In this episode of To The Point - Home Services Podcast, hosts Chad and Jim welcome Chris Crew, the President of Blue Collar Success Group. Chris shares his inspiring journey from a young electrician to a successful business leader and coach, offering valuable insights into operational excellence for home service companies.

Guest Background and Journey

[00:00] Chris Crew:
Chris Crew begins by recounting his early life, growing up in a single-parent household and leaving school in the 10th grade to support his family. At 16, influenced by a friend working as an electrician, he applied and quickly discovered his passion and aptitude for working with his hands. By 20, Chris started his own electrical business, although he initially lacked strong business acumen.

Key Quote:
"Owning a business, you got to have good business acumen. And I didn't have it at that time. I owned a paycheck." [00:00]

Despite early challenges, Chris worked for a large contractor in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was mentored by industry legend Jim Abrams. Under Jim’s guidance, Chris refined his skills in sales and operations, eventually partnering with Patrick Kennedy of Mr. Sparky. Together, they scaled the business from $3 million to a $30 million run rate within four years, demonstrating Chris's ability to drive substantial growth through fundamental business principles.

[07:40] Chad:
Chad highlights Chris's impressive feat of growing the business rapidly, emphasizing the significance of sales and operational strategies in achieving such growth.

Operational Excellence Principles

Chris emphasizes the importance of foundational business practices to ensure lasting success. Drawing from Jim Abrams’ teachings, he identifies two primary reasons businesses fail:

1. Improper Pricing:
   Key Quote:
   "The number one reason why business, any business fails is they're not priced properly." [00:00]

2. Lack of Effective Sales Systems:
   Key Quote:
   "The second reason why a business fails is they don't know how to get the price that they need to charge." [00:00]

Chris stresses that beyond just driving revenue, businesses must manage margins and overhead efficiently to ensure profitability.

Challenges in Home Services

The conversation delves into the common hurdles faced by contractors today, particularly in marketing and operations:

• Marketing Misconceptions:
  Chris observes that many contractors were misled into believing they were adept at sales and marketing, especially post-2020. This overconfidence often leads to reduced marketing efforts during downturns.
  Key Quote:
  "We're not going to stop marketing. Redirect funds instead." [16:02]

• Operational Organization:
  As businesses grow, they often outpace their owners' capacity to manage operations effectively, leading to inefficiencies and declining margins.

Training and Development

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the importance of continuous training, tailored to the specific needs of different teams within a business.

• Seasonal Training:
  Chris advocates for year-round training, aligning training topics with the current business season to ensure immediate applicability.
  Key Quote:
  "Train on the exact same stuff in the summer to manage high volume effectively." [35:59]

• Segmented Training:
  Effective training should cater to different roles within the company, ensuring that each group receives relevant and actionable information.
  Key Quote:
  "We do micro trainings where the content is directed at them." [42:44]

• Engagement and Retention:
  Chris highlights that well-executed training increases employee retention and enhances performance by addressing specific pain points and skill gaps.

Technology and Tools Implementation

The episode also explores the integration of technology in home service businesses, emphasizing the need for proper implementation to maximize benefits.

• Adoption of Tools:
  Chris discusses common pitfalls in adopting new technologies, such as Rilla and Peak Z, where contractors often struggle with implementation, leading to underutilization.
  Key Quote:
  "If you don't set it up correctly, it won't work for you." [48:47]

• Focus on Goals and Objectives:
  Successful integration of technology starts with understanding the business's goals and ensuring that the tools are aligned with these objectives.
  Key Quote:
  "Pick what you need and implement it correctly instead of chasing multiple solutions." [46:53]

Insights and Best Practices

Chris shares several best practices for maintaining operational excellence:

• Trust but Verify:
  Regularly monitor and audit business processes to ensure they are functioning as intended.
  Key Quote:
  "Trust but verify. Inspect what you expect." [26:02]

• Small Hinges Swing Large Doors:
  Paying attention to minor details can lead to significant improvements in business operations.
  Key Quote:
  "Small hinges swing large doors." [28:15]

• Building a Self-Running Business:
  The ultimate goal is to create a business that operates independently of the owner, allowing for scalability and long-term sustainability.
  Key Quote:
  "Build a business that runs itself." [20:34]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a light-hearted exchange, reinforcing the importance of maintaining a balance between humor and professionalism in business settings. Chris emphasizes the value of genuine engagement and tailored training to foster a motivated and efficient workforce.

Final Thoughts:
Chris Crew's expertise in sales and operations provides actionable strategies for home service companies aiming for substantial growth and operational excellence. His emphasis on foundational business practices, continuous and segmented training, and thoughtful technology integration offers a comprehensive roadmap for contractors striving to elevate their businesses.

Contact Information:
For more insights and coaching opportunities, visit thebluecolarsuccessgroup.com.

Notable Quotes:

• "The number one reason why business, any business fails is they're not priced properly." — Chris Crew [00:00]
• "Trust but verify. Inspect what you expect." — Jim [26:02]
• "Small hinges swing large doors." — Chris Crew [28:15]
• "Build a business that runs itself." — Chris Crew [20:34]

This episode offers a masterclass in operational excellence tailored for HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Roofing, and other home service companies. Chris Crew's journey and insights serve as a valuable guide for contractors seeking growth through effective marketing, sales, and operational strategies.