Podcast Summary: To The Point - Home Services Podcast

Host: Chris Yano (RYNO Strategic Solutions)
Episode: Break Episode (January 6, 2026)
Theme: Reflections on Leadership Change at RYNO, Personal Transitions, and Commitment to the Home Services Industry

Episode Overview

In this candid episode, Chris Yano, co-founder and former CEO of RYNO Strategic Solutions, shares a personal update with listeners: his recent transition from daily operations at RYNO to a strategic advisor role. Speaking openly from Costa Rica, Chris reflects on his 18-year journey with RYNO, explains the reasons behind his decision, and talks about what's next for him and the "To The Point" podcast. He also expresses gratitude to colleagues, mentors, and the home services community while offering heartfelt advice for the year ahead.

1. Chris Yano’s Transition from RYNO

[00:17–02:18]

Announcement of Career Change
- Chris shares that he stepped away from his day-to-day role at RYNO at the end of December 2025.
- He expresses excitement and uncertainty for the future, mentioning he'll continue as a strategic advisor to RYNO.
- Focus will shift to exploring new purpose-driven opportunities within the home services space.
- Memorable quote:
  
  “It’s bittersweet, you know, to step away from something that you’ve built and been a part of and poured into for so long. Wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one.” (Chris, 01:29)
Why He’s Leaving
- Acknowledges private equity partner wanted him to stay, but his vision no longer aligned with the direction of RYNO.
- Chris is not leaving for another job and is taking time to consider his next step.

2. Reflections on RYNO’s Journey

[02:19–04:36]

RYNO’s Impact and Culture
- Describes RYNO as “family, mission, passion.”
- Pride in the culture, team, and industry influence.
- Highlights integrity, innovation, and commitment as core values.
Leadership & Legacy
- Confident in the current management team’s ability to continue RYNO’s legacy.
- The transition is “a new season of exploration” for Chris.

3. The Future: Personal Outlook and Podcast Commitment

[04:37–07:35]

No Immediate Plans, But Big Possibilities
- Chris is open to conversations and reviewing opportunities both in and outside of home services.
- Humorously notes he legally can’t start another digital marketing company.
- Prioritizes purpose and meaningful work:
  
  “The one thing that matters to me most is the purpose. I gotta have a purpose in what I’m doing.” (Chris, 05:55)
Podcast Will Continue and Evolve
- “To The Point” will remain, with Chris now able to focus more on the podcast’s growth and content.
- Plans for new, creative approaches and deeper dives into topics like private equity.

4. Rhino X and Community Engagement

[07:36–09:23]

Rhino X Event Updates
- Chris will still host Rhino X in February 2026, promising exciting new elements.
- Openly questions if the event will exist in its current form in 2027, depending on ownership.
- If he retains it, he plans to rebrand but keep the same community- and knowledge-driven spirit.
Shoutouts and Gratitude
- Sincere thanks to employees, clients, strategic partners, and listeners.
- Names influential mentors and friends: Anna Yano, Ken Goodrich, Mike Branson, Dave Geiger, Tommy Mello, Chad Peterman, Leland, and Gary Vee.
  - “Ken Goodrich… super, super critical in our journey. These last five years has been huge for me.” (Chris, 08:34)
- Acknowledges competitors and the value of raising standards together.

5. Advice and Motivation for Listeners

[09:24–12:50]

Words to the Industry
- Affirms the difficulty and importance of serving contractors at a high level.
- Encourages listeners to focus on integrity and doing what’s right, not just revenue:
  
  “Don’t focus on the revenue. Focus on doing what’s right and the revenue will follow… Just be good.” (Chris, 10:29)
Personal Outlook and Next Steps
- No set plans—still exploring potential partnerships or ventures.
- “No zero days” mindset and encouragement to take action in the new year.
  
  “You don’t gotta do everything, but damn it, you gotta do something. No zero days.” (Chris, 12:35)
- Recommends listeners revisit the previous “Goals” podcast episode for 2026 planning and motivation.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Change and Uncertainty:

“I never thought I’d be back on the market, you know, but wherever I land or whatever I do, you know, I’m already getting some… really great offers thrown at me with some fantastic people, but I’m excited for it.” (Chris, 06:28)
On Industry Competition:

“I really enjoy competing against each other to drive the standard of serving these contractors at the highest level. Our jobs are not easy. This industry is not easy and it’s not getting any easier—it’s getting harder.” (Chris, 10:06)
On Purpose:

“The one thing again that is constant is this podcast and I’m excited for it and I’m grateful for all of you listeners.” (Chris, 11:45)

Key Takeaways

Chris Yano has transitioned out of daily operations at RYNO but will still be involved as a strategic advisor.
The “To The Point” podcast will remain a constant and is expected to grow in scale and depth.
Chris emphasizes the importance of integrity, community, mentorship, and continuous self-discovery in business and life.
Major industry events like Rhino X will continue in 2026, though the future may bring changes.
Listeners are encouraged to focus on purposeful action and proactive planning for the new year.

Timestamps of Important Segments:

[00:17] Chris announces his transition from RYNO
[01:29] Emotional reflection on leaving RYNO
[04:35] RYNO’s values and legacy
[05:55] Importance of purpose in next steps
[07:36] Rhino X event details
[08:34] Tribute to mentors and industry friends
[10:29] Advice: Integrity over revenue
[12:35] Motivation: “No zero days”

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive overview of the episode.

Transcript

A (0:01)

This is to the Point a Rhino experience. Fully one of the top home services, marketing and operations podcasts. Cutting through the and getting to the point.

B (0:17)

Hey, what's up everybody? It's your boy, Chris. Happy New Year. Right now I am in Costa Rica with Anna and my good friends Tommy and Bri and in talking probably about some different stuff this time around because if you saw from our post, my last day at Rhino was the end of December. So it's gonna be an interesting and exciting 2026 and I've had lots of opportunities thrown at me and we'll see what I'm gonna do. But one thing that will remain constant is this podcast. So I'm excited for it and continue to share with all you guys and I thought know for this episode what I would do. For those who maybe didn't see that my post or didn't know that I'm no longer working daytoday at Rhino right now. I'm currently in a strategic advisor role so I'll kind of be there for the team to support them as needed, but actively trying to figure out what's my next step going to be. I'm excited for it. So hope you guys had a, a great New Year's and you're already off to the races like I said, you know, and you're already figuring things out and running your plan. Um, but I would just go ahead and finish just by sharing what I posted. So I had just mentioned that I'll be stepping away from my day to day role at Rhino at the end of December. A company that, you know, that I had the honor of co founding, building and pouring my heart into for the past 18 years with my wife, Anna Yano. And so it's been a hell of a journey and it's bittersweet, you know, to step away from something that you, that you've built and been a part of and poured into for so long. Wasn't an easy decision, but it's the right one. Rhino has been our family, our mission and our passion. We're incredibly proud of what we've built together. The culture, the team, the impact we've made on contractors across the country and the way we've always tried to show up with integrity, innovation and heart. Rhino will continue to serve this industry with the same fire and commitment it's known for, with the strongest management team it's ever had. We will step into our senior advisor role and will support and I will always bleed orange. So as for me personally, I'm not leaving for another company. I wasn't chasing a job. It's straightforward through our private equity partner. Excuse me, though. Our private equity partner wanted in I to stay, you know, and made us an offer to stay. Our vision for the future of Rhino doesn't align. So I'm not moving on because I have everything figured out. I'm moving on because a company needs a clear leader that and mission that aligns with its goals. When you bring on a private equity partner, you lose that ownership and final decision making. I'm simply stepping into a new season of exploration, taking time to listen, learn, and have conversations with other companies and other people and see where I can make the biggest impact next here in the home services space. This industry has given me so much and I know there's still more work for me to do in it. I mean, I still have a fifth grader, so I can't really retire and like, you know, run off to the sunset. So. But the, you know, I'm just giving myself the, the time and the space to discover, you know, what that looks like and who it could be with. I'm in no hurry to make any decisions. I'm reviewing kind of all the opportunities and offers and trying to figure out can I even work for somebody ever again and not be for myself. So we'll see. But the one thing that matters to me most is the purpose. I gotta have a purpose in what I'm and I'm doing. So, I mean, to be honest, I never thought I'd be back. I never thought I would be back on the market, you know, but wherever I land or whatever I do, you know, I'm already getting some, some. I've already had some really great offers thrown at me with some fantastic people, but I'm excited for it, you know, whatever, whatever comes. Maybe I can talk in into starting another company, I don't know. But it definitely won't be a digital marketing company. Just making sure I'm putting that out there because I do not want to start another digital marketing company legally, I can't. So what will stay the same again? I'll continue to host this podcast, you know, and actually I'll be able to focus a lot more on the podcast and doing more with the podcast and growing it and scaling and find the right guests and kind of find some new creative ways, you know, to be, you know, to bring some entertainment to us, but also some more knowledge. I think this year is going to be a very busy year in the private equity space. And so I hope to shine the light on some of the things happening in it and with some of the people. But I want to say to anybody who is attending Rhino X, you know, I'm still doing that event as well. So Rhino X in February, you know, is going to be exciting. Like, I, I can't share with you because I want you to see all the cool details he put into it. But like, every time I don't think I can one up myself, I want up myself. So I'm feeling really, really good about this. And then the people speaking at it, so excited for it. Will Rhino x exist in 2027? I don't know. Um, my guess is I will most likely change that event if I get to keep it. I think I get to keep it. I'll, you know, change the name, but it'll still be basically a Rhino X style event. It just will be a different name. So we'll see. That's tbd. So to, to any of my Rhinos that are listening, I know some of our employees listen, you know, and our clients, any of our strategic partners, and all of you in the home services community, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for trusting me, challenging me, believing in me and building with me. I'm forever grateful for the journey, trust and relationships along the way. A few special shout outs to mentors who became really good friends to me and were a big help on our journey. I thought that was important to call out. Number one is Anna Yana. We certainly would not have be where we are without her. Also a To the Point legend at this point, Ken Goodrich was super, super critical in, in our journey. These last, you know, five years has been huge for me. Mike Branson in the early days was the one that kind of helped me, you know, start this business like Kenny Gate and was able, I was able to lean on him for, I mean, really as recent as last month, I was able to text him and talk, talk with him through this journey. Dave Geiger, you know, my friend Tommy Mello, Chad Peterman, of course my friend Leland, and also the years I got to spend with Gary Vee. So all critical people in the role and the growth of this business and for me personally and to all my competitors who might be listening to this podcast, man, I really enjoy competing against each other to drive the, the standard of serving these contractors at the highest level. You know, our jobs are not, are not easy. This industry is not easy and it's not getting any easier, it's getting harder. And I know what you're going through. And you know, my hope for you is stay the course. Always do what's right, you know, don't do, you know, don't, don't focus on the revenue. Focus on doing what's right and the revenue will follow. Just be good. Don't try to, you know, fear monger people into doing the things you need them to do when you know it's not right. I doubt that person's listening, but if they are, you know who you are. I get along with most everybody. Right. As long as you're trying to do good, like I'm game. So what will I do next? I don't know. The one thing again that is constant is this podcast and I'm excited for it and I'm grateful for all of you listeners. So listen, if you didn't listen to the goals podcast last month, go back and listen to it and get your together, right? Because you got some cool stuff to do this this year. This is going to be a great year. I'm excited for it. I'm excited for whatever's next for me. And as things progress, I will openly share with you on the podcast. So listen, you know, I hope, I really, I hope you're already off to the races and you're running your plan. And you know, you may have if you don't have a plan, you know, I think you've heard the term if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. So get your together and get it done. You don't got to do everything, but damn it, you got to do something. No zero days.