Episodios

  • 17: The Gregg Hiller Episode

    17: The Gregg Hiller Episode
    Apr 30 2025
    In this episode, host Sheila Smeltzer interviews Greg Hiller of Sundance Window Cleaning in Park City, Utah. Greg shares how he left a comfortable corporate career to start his window cleaning business at age 50, driven by a desire for freedom and control over his future. Despite early challenges, he grew Sundance Window Cleaning into a seven-figure company within five years by focusing on hard work, strategic marketing, and building a strong team. Greg credits his success to perseverance, resilience, and maintaining a positive mindset—especially when facing major hurdles such as losing employees or handling unexpected accidents. He emphasizes that home service businesses need to view themselves as marketing engines, not just service providers. By reinvesting heavily in customer acquisition early on, Greg was able to build a robust client database and then reduce his marketing spend once the company reached a “cruising altitude.” His passion and optimism shine through, leaving listeners energized and motivated to push through challenges and scale their own businesses. Show Notes Guest Greg Hiller – Owner of Sundance Window Cleaning (Park City, UT) References & Resources Mentioned Window Washing Wealth (Coach: Jim DuBois)Busy Virtual Receptionist (AI-driven answering service in development): Resources The Huge Insider newsletter signupThe Huge Insider podcast downloadable action guideThe Foundations platform trial offerThe Huge Mastermind info pageFacebook Group Transcript: Sid Graef: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the huge transformations podcast. I’m Sid Graef out of Montana. Gabe Torres: I’m Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. Sheila Smeltzer: And I’m Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We’re your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry—folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. Gabe Torres: Yep. No fake gurus on this show. Just real-life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100% experience, 0% theory. Sheila Smeltzer: We’re going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. Thanks for joining us on the wild… Sheila Smeltzer: Hi, I’m your host today on the Huge Transformations podcast. I am Sheila Smeltzer. Today’s guest is Greg Hiller with Sundance Window Cleaning out of Park City, Utah. You’re going to love this extremely uplifting conversation that Greg and I have about how having a positive mindset can absolutely get you through the tough times that we all experience as business owners. Greg shares how he built a seven-figure business in five years. He did it with some coaching, but he also did it with a lot of perseverance and a ton of hard work. Greg provides some really tactical marketing strategies that ultimately lead to a “database goldmine.” I love that! I am super excited to have you join us today because I promise you are going to leave this podcast feeling motivated and totally excited to go out and crush it. Let’s get started. Sheila: Hello everybody. Welcome to the Huge Transformation podcast. I am Sheila Smeltzer located out of North Carolina. And today we have Greg Hiller. Greg is with Sundance Window Cleaning out of Park City, Utah. Yes, I’ve loved going to Park City and skiing, Greg. Greg Hiller: Yeah. Thanks for having me. Glad to be here. Sheila: Yeah, this is great. So I met you recently at a Huge Mastermind, and so I’m looking forward to interviewing you today and getting to know you better. Can you start off by just telling our audience who you are and what you do, and we’ll take it from there? Greg: Yeah. So, yeah, I have a window cleaning business in Park City, as you mentioned. We’re here in Park City, so it’s kind of more high-end residential, which is what I started with. And over the years, we’ve added some commercial, hotels, do a little pressure washing, gutter cleaning—kind of the regular services. And yeah, it just continues to grow every year. And it’s been a hell of a ride getting here these years later. Sheila: I hear you. What did you do before you got into the window cleaning biz? Greg: Yeah, well, primarily my career was in corporate, mostly logistics distribution in the end—used to run warehouses. But I’m kind of old-school. Started my way working night shift in a grocery store and then started picking orders in warehouses, and moved up to management, drove trucks. So I never went to college; just always been a grinder and a hustler. Sheila: Very good. Yeah. Well, I resonate with that story. ...
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    50 m
  • 16.5: Bonus - April Host Meetup

    16.5: Bonus - April Host Meetup
    Apr 22 2025
     Hey, welcome back to the Huge Transformation podcast. Guess what? Today's a really fun episode because I got Sheila and Gabe here. Hey Sheila. Hey, Gabe. Hey. Hey. What's up Syd? What's up Sheila? Alright. Is everybody home or are you still on the road? Gabe, you were in Oklahoma City last week. What's up on the I'm back home before I get back on the road next week, but yeah, back in Nashville for this week. And then is Sheila, are you, like last time we spoke you were just, you had just gotten back from an epic snow trip into Idaho, which is like right up in anywhere. Yeah. Idaho back country, yes. Oh, cool. It was fun. Yurt stays and. Wood-burning saunas and solar and totally off the grid with no cell phone, no internet. It was fabulous. Tons of snow. It was great. Exactly what I needed. God, that's beautiful. I saw the pictures. How, how you, you mentioned it when we were, uh, texting how many miles you guys back? Country cross country speech. We were just having fun. I mean, we did like 26. Smiles, 27 miles, something like that. But it, but there was a lot of, um, I mean we were pulling those, uh, what do you call the sled that you pull? What do call that? Yeah. It just, I don't know what it's called. Your gear is that all your gear on it and you're trudging and pulling that huge sled full of all your stuff. I mean, it was, I got a heck of a workout. That sounds like a void. It was called a fun. Called a Yes. How far in did you have to, to, uh, pull your gear to get to the yurt? About three miles. Oh, we lost you, Sheila. Oh no, there's your miles. I'm back. Three miles. Three miles? Yeah. It was three miles. Yes. Not far. It was fine. Okay. Yeah. That's cool. And then Gabe last week, you're in Oklahoma City and from what I understand, you're considering moving there. Is that right? Absolutely not. It's the flattest place on earth. Like literally it, there's nothing blocking the wind and dust. And so, uh, my flight got delayed 'cause there was a dust storm. And even when we went to fly out the, uh, stewardess said, Hey, I don't wanna scare anybody, but just make sure, double check. You have a barf bag in front of you. Right. I. Um, and everybody was like, what? And it was because it was so windy when we took off. The plane was shaking as we were going on the runway, but it was fine. But yeah, Oklahoma City is fun. Cool little city, like a lot of cool stuff to do around it, but would would never live there. Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting. They kind of flat, great Plains, high Plains area. Um, I grew up, you know, close to Amarillo, which is. Uh, roughly the same terrain. It's not that close, but it's just, you know, we go, oh, it's gonna be windy today. What does that mean? That means it's 50 mile an hour all day long with gusts up to 80. That's windy. Not like, that's when blocking the wind like nothing. No freeze. You can see, you look right and you see everything that's to the right or the east of you or the west, whatever direction you look. Mm-hmm. Like, I can't, I look in my backyard and I just see my trees. I can't see my neighbor's house. Or like, whereas here, you could see the entire city of Oklahoma City. Yeah. Yeah. That's crazy. So let's, let's catch up a little bit. So, six weeks ago was the last time we saw you guys. We were all together in Nashville at the huge Mastermind and we actually recorded an introduction to this podcast. This podcast in a phone booth. We were like stuck in this little bitty, bitty phone booth. Bye. In the last six weeks. I mean, we've kind of, how seasonal is your business, Sheila? You're in, in North Carolina? Yeah. Uh, our, we have really four slower months, but my goal is closing in that seasonal gap. Right. And just being slam ball the heck of the wall all the time. Yeah. Um, but uh, yeah, I mean, so January, February, and then we get a little slow down August, September because we have hurricane season, but you know. Yeah. It, it starts off slow the first couple months, and then otherwise we stay pretty, pretty solid. Okay. So you kinda, do you have, do you have a distinct spring rush? Oh, big time pollen season. Okay. Um, yeah, we, we are entering from really April, mid-April, all the way through August 1st. Um, yeah, we're, we've got 300, 350 calls coming in the office a week. Wow. Okay. Yeah. Something I wanna loop back around to that in just a minute. Let me ask you, Gabe, so the majority of right hand rhino is, is storefront window cleaning? Is there a seasonality to it? No. I mean, the springtime, I think it's a little busier because that's when people pay attention more or the patios are getting used more and the dust and pollen, especially in Nashville, is really bad. Like, I don't know if how it is with you guys, but you go outside right now and your, your car is yellow. It's just so covered. Yeah. So, so yeah. But, um, yellow gold. I like to call it yellow gold. Yeah. It's, it's awesome because I, I think people do pay more attention to it, ...
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    42 m
  • 16: The Larry Benham Episode

    16: The Larry Benham Episode
    Apr 21 2025
    In this episode of the Huge Transformations Podcast, host Sid Graef interviews Houston-based entrepreneur Larry Benham, who has spent nearly a decade in the power washing and soft washing business—and recently launched a successful trash bin cleaning service. Larry explains how he grew multiple home service businesses by leveraging relationships, seeking out commercial contracts, and diversifying his offerings. He shares his “Ross Perot” sales strategy of securing sales before equipment purchase, the importance of asking for deposits, and how simple demonstrations can reel in additional customers on the spot. Larry also reveals a unique fundraising idea—partnering with local youth sports teams to sell his services door-to-door—which quickly added hundreds of new customers. He emphasizes consistent branding, exploring new income streams, and always continuing to learn from mentors, masterminds, and peers. Show Notes Guest: Larry Benham – Houston, Texas-based entrepreneur in power washing, soft washing, and trash bin cleaning. Key Topics Discussed: Transitioning into Power Washing: Moved from real estate to landscaping and then accidentally discovered lucrative builder contracts.Ross Perot Sales Method: Sell first, then acquire equipment—don’t be afraid to test demand.Asking for Deposits: Ensures clients have skin in the game and prevents wasted scheduling.Diversification: Jumping into trash bin cleaning for recurring monthly revenue and potential franchising.Unique Fundraising Approach: Enlisting local sports teams to sell trash bin cleaning services door-to-door, creating win-win community partnerships.Working with Commercial Clients: Seeking municipality and commercial contracts for stable, larger-ticket work.Importance of Mentorship: Consulting with peers and experienced professionals to navigate obstacles. References & Mentions: Ross Perot (entrepreneur and founder of EDS): IBM Bimbo Bakeries Alex Hormozi Marine Corps Founders Podcast John T (industry educator) Resources The Huge Insider newsletter signupThe Huge Insider podcast downloadable action guideThe Foundations platform trial offerThe Huge Mastermind info pageFacebook Transcript: [Sid Graef]: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Huge Transformations Podcast. I'm Sid Graef out of Montana. [Gabe Torres]: I'm Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. [Sheila Smeltzer]: And I'm Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We're your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry—folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. [Gabe Torres]: Yep. No fake gurus on this show. Just real-life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100 percent experience, zero percent theory. [Sheila Smeltzer]: We're going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. [Sid Graef]: Thanks for joining us on the wild journey of entrepreneurship. Let's dive in. [Sid Graef]: Welcome back, my friend. Good to see you again. This is Sid with the Huge Transformation Podcast. As you can hear, I kind of lost my voice a little bit today, so I don't want that to be distracting for you. When you hear the interview with Larry Benham, I got Larry on the show today. He's a member of our mastermind. He's been in business for 35-plus years, but he's a guy that's not afraid to make changes. He had a career in real estate, and then he sort of accidentally got started in the landscaping business, and then he really accidentally got started in the power wash and soft wash business, at which he's done exceptionally well in the Houston marketplace. Then he added a new business line less than two years ago. There's a ton to learn and glean from Larry. One thing I want you to look for is when he talks about the “Ross Perot Sales Method.” It's so simple but overlooked—and so incredibly valuable. I won't reveal what it is now; you'll hear it on the show. And again, everything we talk about in the show is going to be in the show notes. I appreciate you being back and listening. Please meet my friend, Larry Benham. [Sid Graef]: Well, hello, everyone. This is Sid with Huge Transformations, and I have my friend Larry Benham on the show with us today. I met Larry only a year ago at the Huge Convention. He came to one of our mastermind visitors’ days, and then he joined the mastermind. It's really interesting. And Larry, I don't know how long you've been in business. You've definitely got a journey behind you. Your current business—Larry’s in Houston, Texas, and he's got a large trash ...
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    42 m
  • 15: The Jared Skinner Episode

    15: The Jared Skinner Episode
    Apr 14 2025
    In this episode of the Huge Transformations Podcast, host Sheila welcomes entrepreneur Jared Skinner, whose journey from concrete laborer to investor in multiple successful businesses provides valuable insights for service-based business professionals. Jared's experiences, from door-to-door sales to financial management, underscore essential strategies for sustainable growth and stress the value of surrounding oneself with knowledgeable mentors and industry leaders. This conversation offers actionable advice on how home-service business owners can achieve profitability, leadership effectiveness, and lasting success. Guest: Jared Skinner Owner/Investor in 6+ businesses Entrepreneurial experience spanning finance, door-to-door sales, and home services Key Topics: Importance of financial literacy and knowing your numbers Leadership strategies for effective employee engagement and autonomy The transition from labor-intensive roles to strategic business management Benefits of mentorship, masterminds, and industry networking Strategies for rapid scaling and sustainable growth in home-service businesses Resources: The Huge Insider Newsletter Signup The Huge Insider Podcast Downloadable Action Guide The Foundations Platform Trial Offer The Huge Mastermind Info Page Facebook Group PCF Marketing Transcript:   Hello, everyone. Welcome to the huge transformations podcast. I'm Sid Graf out of Montana. I'm Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. And I'm Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We're your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry. Folks that have already built seven and eight figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. Yep. No fake gurus on this show. Just real life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. We get insights and truths from successful business builders and every episode is 100 experience. 0 percent theory. We're going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. Thanks for joining us on the wild Journey of entrepreneurship. Let's dive in. Hi, this is Sheila Smeltzer with the Huge Transformations Podcast. Today's guest is Jared Skinner. Jared has a great story that outlines the skills he's learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey and how actually caring about people and about numbers has been a huge key to his success. Jared is owner and, or investor of more than six. businesses, and he shares the important lessons. On finance and leadership in today's show. Let's dive in. Hi, Jared. How's it going Sheila? How are you today? Doing excellent. Thanks for asking. How about you? Good. Yeah. No, I'm great. Great here in North Carolina. So Jared Skinner, we have you on the huge transformations podcast and i'm super super excited to interview you today Um, and uh, yeah, I just I want to know more about you. I've I've been involved with you through the huge for a number of years, and I get to take a deep dive into Jared Skinner's life and see what's going on. I'm pretty sure it's great after everything that I already know about you. So, um, so Jared, tell, tell our guests who you are and what you're all about. Yeah. Uh, so Jared Skinner, obviously, um, currently in Denver, Colorado is where we're based out of right now. Um, So I can give you a little bit of background if that's what we're going for. So I Yeah, please. Grew up in Idaho. Yeah. I grew up in Idaho, a small town called Rigby. Uh, about 4,500 people. Um, my dad had a concrete construction company, so I grew up doing concrete work my whole life, which was a good start to learning how to work hard. Right. Yeah. Labor definitely hard work. Mm-hmm . Wanted me to take over the business. Wasn't interested in doing that. Mostly 'cause. It's like super labor intensive and I, you know, my dad was on the job site every day and I was like, I don't want to do that because he just wore himself out. Right. Right. So anyway, um, you know, I started to see your mission for my church and then I went to, uh, college at BYU and got a degree, a bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis like in marketing. So, but marketing, So, you know, marketing back in the day, there was no internet, so it was a different type of marketing back then than it is today. So anyway, I feel you there, by the way, I feel you there. Our first advertisement was in the Yellow Pages. So right. Yeah. It was a phone books. And the Internet was just starting to come online when I was graduating college, so not going on there as far as learning that. So, um, anyway, married and, uh, met my wife at school in a statistics class. Our punchline is what are the odds...
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    53 m
  • 14: The Brandon Vaughn Episode

    14: The Brandon Vaughn Episode
    Apr 7 2025
    In this episode, host Sid Graef welcomes Brandon Vaughn, a serial entrepreneur who has founded and grown multiple successful businesses in the home service space. Brandon began by taking over his father’s small window cleaning business, then scaled it into a 70-employee operation. Along the way, he discovered the importance of developing a broader entrepreneurial mindset, investing in the right people, and letting go of self-limiting beliefs. Brandon has since founded the Conquer coaching program (serving business owners nationwide) and is now focused on his new venture, HireBus, a platform designed to simplify the hiring process. He also shares insights on the power of adversity, continuous learning, and the excitement of growing through challenges. This is an uplifting, experience-rich conversation for any business owner looking to accelerate their own “huge transformation.” Show Notes Guest: Brandon Vaughn – Founder of All-Clean SoftWash (scaled from 1 to 70+ employees), Creator of Conquer coaching program, and CEO of HireBus – a next-level hiring solution for business owners. Key Topics Discussed: Scaling a Small Service Business: Brandon’s journey from a single-truck operation to a 70-employee powerhouse.Mindset Shifts: Overcoming self-limiting beliefs by seeking mentors, coaches, and peer accountability.Unlocks for Growth: Hiring a sales team, adding new locations, and learning to invest in top-tier talent.New Venture—HireBus: Simplifying the hiring process for small businesses in a variety of industries.Future Plans: Rolling up multiple businesses via Hammer & Forge, exploring acquisitions, and remaining “coachably humble” as an entrepreneur.Advice to New Entrepreneurs: Focus on finding and empowering the right people—avoid “doing it all” yourself. References & Mentions: Conquer coaching programDunning–Kruger effectSimon Sinek (“The Infinite Game” concept)Berkshire HathawayYeti Books Resources (mentioned every time): The Huge Insider newsletter signupThe Huge Insider podcast downloadable action guideThe Foundations platform trial offerThe Huge Mastermind info pageFacebook Transcript [Sid Graef]: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Huge Transformations Podcast. I'm Sid Graf out of Montana. [Gabe Torres]: I'm Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. [Sheila Smeltzer]: And I'm Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We're your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry—folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. [Gabe Torres]: Yep. No fake gurus on this show—just real-life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100 percent experience, zero percent theory. [Sheila Smeltzer]: We're going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. [Sid Graef]: Thanks for joining us on the wild journey of entrepreneurship. Let's dive in. [Sid Graef]: Welcome back to the Huge Transformation Podcast. I'm Sid Graf, your host, and today's show is really cool—it's quite an honor to have Brandon Vaughn on the show today. You may know Brandon Vaughn as the guy who built All-Clean SoftWash—a power washing company in Oregon—from zero employees (just one guy) up to 70 employees in a very short period of time, or you might know him from the Conquer coaching program, or you might know him from HireBus. He is truly a serial entrepreneur, but he started on the ladder, in the truck, running a home service business, washing windows with his dad. Eventually he took over his dad's company, grew it exponentially, then sold it. He built another business to serve home service businesses, and he continues to do that. He's a visionary in the truest sense. The great thing about Brandon is he's always been in the service business, looking to serve people: “How can I help and serve people?” Our conversation today—I wish we could do an hour longer than we did, but everyone's got time limits. I'm so thankful Brandon was able to join us. Enjoy our time with Brandon Vaughn. [Sid Graef]: Hello, everybody, and welcome back. It's the Huge Transformations Podcast, and today you're going to be really excited, like I am. We have my friend and an industry leader for a lot of years, Brandon Vaughn, on the show. Brandon, thank you so much for joining us. How are you? [Brandon Vaughn]: What's up, Sid? I'm doing great, man. Thanks for having me. [Sid Graef]: Good. For those who can't see: Brandon, you're on the treadmill. You posted—and I chatted with you about it—your body fat dropped. You credited the ...
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    28 m
  • 13: The Michael Kaplan Episode

    13: The Michael Kaplan Episode
    Mar 31 2025
    In this episode of the Huge Transformations Podcast, Gabe Torres interviews home service veteran Michael Kaplan, who scaled a failing three-truck carpet cleaning company into a multi-state, 200-employee enterprise generating over 17 million in revenue. Kaplan shares how he stumbled into home services after exploring other business opportunities (including franchising Jimmy John’s!), and how leaning into “low-reputation” industries can pay off big when you focus on professionalism and customer service. He explains the evolution of company culture—starting with a “frat house” vibe, then formalizing values as the business grew—and how protecting culture and nurturing genuine relationships were critical to long-term success. Kaplan also highlights how recessions reward lean, scrappy operators, and offers practical wisdom on scaling, culture-building, and the power of investing in relationships. Show Notes Guest: Michael Kaplan – Home service entrepreneur, formerly owner of a 17M+ multi-state carpet cleaning business. Key Topics Discussed: Accidental Entry into Home Services: Transition from exploring Jimmy John’s franchises to buying a struggling carpet cleaning business.Rapid Growth & Recession Strategy: Doubling down on marketing spend during the economic downturn to outcompete bloated rivals.Culture & Values: Starting as a small, close-knit “frat house” environment, then formalizing core values to scale effectively across multiple states.Relationship Capital: Why building genuine relationships matters more than short-term gains—key partnerships and mentors can change your trajectory.Operating Lean: Avoiding costly overhead and vanity warehousing; how lean operations can unlock bigger marketing budgets and faster growth. References & Mentions: Jimmy John’sStanley SteemerPatrick Lencioni (culture and leadership resources): https://www.tablegroup.com/pat-lencioniWarren Buffett Resources: The Huge Insider newsletter signupThe Huge Insider podcast downloadable action guideThe Foundations platform trial offerThe Huge Mastermind info pageFacebook Transcrip [Sid Graef]: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Huge Transformations Podcast. I'm Sid Graef out of Montana. [Gabe Torres]: I'm Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. [Sheila Smeltzer]: And I'm Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We're your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry, folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. [Gabe Torres]: Yep. No fake gurus on this show—just real-life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100 percent experience, zero percent theory. [Sheila Smeltzer]: We're going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. [Sid Graef]: Thanks for joining us on the wild journey of entrepreneurship. Let's dive in. [Gabe Torres]: Hey, what's up, everybody. It's Gabe Torres with the Huge Transformations Podcast. We have an incredible guest today who is a home service legend that most of you probably already know by the name of Michael Kaplan. But if you don't, you're going to be really, really happy after this episode because there's going to be so much value in it. So, Michael, thank you so much for joining us. What's up? [Michael Kaplan]: Thanks for having me—legend, that's a big word. No pressure, right? [Gabe Torres]: The one that was weird for me was to call you Michael, because I always call you Kaplan. And so, um, I think I'm going to stick with Kaplan, but to everybody else, it could be Michael Kaplan. [Michael Kaplan]: My mom gets my name wrong, so it doesn't matter. [Gabe Torres]: Where are you at currently? Are you home? [Michael Kaplan]: I'm just outside of Minneapolis, in Minnesota. [Gabe Torres]: And that's home base for you, right? [Michael Kaplan]: Yep, we're digging out from about ten inches yesterday, so we got a little bit of snow and sludge and all that crap before the home service boom in a couple of weeks. [Gabe Torres]: Yeah, before busy season. So, for those of you who don't know Michael Kaplan, give us the quick backstory rundown: how'd you get into the home service space? What did you get into specifically in home service? [Michael Kaplan]: You know, it was not on purpose; it was kind of by accident. I think that happens to a lot of home service entrepreneurs. But in 2006, I was looking at starting a business or buying a business, had run across plenty of opportunities, and really couldn't come up with a business plan that made sense with any of them. I hadn't looked at service at all. ...
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    35 m
  • 12: The Steve Hunsaker Episode

    12: The Steve Hunsaker Episode
    Mar 24 2025
    In this episode of The Huge Transformations Podcast, Sid Graef, introduces holiday-lighting entrepreneur Steve Hunsaker. Steve shares how he built a thriving Christmas light installation business—starting from scratch by leveraging sales skills, proactive marketing, and high-end positioning to differentiate from cheaper competitors. Despite nearly going under in his third year, he refined his operations, hired strategically, focused on profitability, and now generates more than 800,000 in annual revenue from Christmas lighting alone. Steve also discusses his newer ventures in permanent and landscape lighting, along with his “Home Service Accelerator” coaching program. This episode provides valuable lessons on systems, hiring, marketing, and mindset for home service professionals looking to reach six, seven, and even eight figures. References: Paycom Sweaty Startup (Reddit) Jason Geiman (mentioned as a YouTuber in holiday lights) Jobber (CRM) Go High Level (marketing & automation tool) Tommy Mello (nine-figure home service entrepreneur) The Huge Convention Newsletter Sign Up! Downloadable Action Guide The Foundations Free Trial Huge Mastermind Info Page Connect With Us On Facebook! Transcript Gabe Torres: “Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Huge Transformations Podcast. I’m Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee.” Sheila Smeltzer: “I’m Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina.” Sid Graef: “I’m Sid Graef out of Montana. We’re your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry—folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed.” Gabe Torres: “Yep. No fake gurus on this show, just real-life owners that have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably.” Sheila Smeltzer: “We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100 percent experience, 0 percent theory. We’re going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Gabe Torres: “Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece.” Sid Graef: “Thanks for joining us on the wild journey of entrepreneurship. Let’s dive in.” Sid Graef: “Welcome back to the Huge Transformations Podcast. This is Sid Graef, and today you get to meet Steve Hunsaker. Steve was a young man in Arizona, and he started a junk removal service about six years ago, kind of struggled his way through it. And then he started hanging Christmas lights. He spent time getting educated on marketing and systems. In four or five short years, he built that to 800,000 revenue last season. He did really well. And now he’s got a partner, and he also spends time teaching other people how to start up their business. So Steve’s an interesting guy. He has really worked his way through struggles and challenges and just doesn’t quit. He’s doing a great job, and he’s a great example of a transformation from bootstrap to seven figures—he’s almost there. And I’m excited for you to meet him. So without further ado, meet Steve Hunsaker.” Sid Graef: “Hey everybody, I’m glad you’re here. This is Sid with the Huge Transformation Show, and I’ve got Steve Hunsaker with me. And did I say your name right? Hunsaker?” Steve Hunsaker: “Oh yeah, Hunsaker.” Sid Graef: “Hunsaker. Close enough. Okay, cool. So, interesting story. I’m really glad to have you on the show, and I’m glad to meet you because, in full transparency, I actually stalked you online just a little bit. You came across my Instagram feed—I was like, ‘Oh, this guy’s got good... you know, like you’re articulate, and you had some good content for the home service industry.’ You’ve got a holiday lighting company, a landscape lighting company. I think you had another service business beforehand. And now you coach people. And I was like, ‘Well, I’m going to pay attention.’ And I start paying attention, and I’m like, ‘Ooh, content’s good. You actually know what you’re talking about. I’m like, I gotta get you on the show because this is The Huge Transformation Show, and you’ve shared a lot of your story online.’ So before I just introduce you forever... how’d you get started in home service business, Steve?” Steve Hunsaker: “Yeah, no, I appreciate the intro. Yeah, I started—it was 2020. I was working at Paycom, which is like a human capital management payroll software company. And I was just miserable. So like, you know, the big sickness, if you’re putting this on YouTube I can’t use the C word apparently—so the big sickness or whatever happened in 2020. Basically, I was an outside sales rep wearing a suit and tie every day, like doing decently well. I was a career sales guy...
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  • 11: The Jim Dubois Episode

    11: The Jim Dubois Episode
    Mar 17 2025
    In this episode of the Huge Transformations Podcast, host Sheila Smeltzer interviews Jim DuBois from Squeegee Pros in North Charlotte, North Carolina. Jim shares his journey from starting as a solo operator to building a thriving home service company with efficient systems, a standout company culture, and a focus on hiring “A players.” Listeners will learn how Jim created detailed processes to incentivize high performance, retain quality employees, and scale his company with intent and vision. This episode is packed with actionable insights about recruiting effectively, nurturing a winning culture, and leveraging simple but powerful methods to stand out in a competitive market. Designed especially for service-based and marketing professionals, this conversation highlights the importance of: Developing a clear vision and detailed roadmap for your business.Crafting engaging job ads and a strong onboarding experience to attract top talent.Paying for performance with spiffs and commission structures to reward excellence.Building a fun, positive workplace culture where employees truly want to come to work. From rounding up daily performance metrics to organizing team-building events, Jim explains how a consistent, systemized approach can rapidly elevate a service business—even if you’re just starting out. SHOW NOTES Guest: Jim DuBois, Squeegee Pros (North Charlotte, NC) WebsiteCoaching & Consulting Topics Covered: Company Culture & Hiring: How to attract and retain A-player employees.Performance-Based Pay & Spiffs: Using incentives to encourage positive behaviors and sales.Systems & Processes: Why documented procedures help create consistency and scalability.Vision & Leadership: Shaping a clear roadmap so employees understand your company’s direction.Time Freedom & Business Growth: Creating a solid structure to step away from daily operations. Resources Mentioned Every Episode: The Huge Insider Newsletter Signup The Huge Insider Downloadable Action Guide The Foundations Platform Trial Offer The Huge Mastermind Info Page Facebook TRANSCRIPT Sid Graef:  Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Huge Transformations Podcast. I'm Sid Graf out of Montana. Gabe Torres: I'm Gabe Torres here in Nashville, Tennessee. Sheila Smeltzer: And I'm Sheila Smeltzer from North Carolina. We're your hosts and guides through the landscape of growing a successful home service business. We do this by interviewing the best home service business builders in the industry—folks that have already built seven- and eight-figure businesses, and they want to help you succeed. Gabe Torres: Yep, no fake gurus on this show—just real-life owners who have been in the trenches and can help show you the way to grow profitably. Sheila Smeltzer: We get insights and truths from successful business builders, and every episode is 100% experience, 0% theory. We're going to dig deep and reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our guests will share with you the pitfalls to avoid and the keys to winning. In short, our guests will show you how to transform your home service business into a masterpiece. Gabe Torres: Thanks for joining us on the wild journey of entrepreneurship. Let's dive in. Sheila Smeltzer: Hi, this is Sheila Smeltzer with the Huge Transformations Podcast. I've got an awesome guest for you today: Jim DuBois, Squeegee Pros, North Charlotte, North Carolina. Jim and I have a just pure gold conversation about what it takes to build a business at scale. We talk a lot about recruiting, attracting the A-players, and the multiple channels of attraction—where do we find them, what’s the story we tell to them to bring them into our company? Everything here is just pure gold. We know you're going to love it. I can't wait for you to hear my conversation with Jim DuBois today. Enjoy the podcast. Sheila Smeltzer: Hello, everybody. This is Sheila Smeltzer with the Huge Transformations Podcast, and I have a very special guest today: Jim DuBois, Squeegee Pros out of North Charlotte in the Lake Norman area. Hey, Jim. Jim DuBois: Hey, Sheila. What's happening? How are you doing? Sheila Smeltzer: Oh man, it's such an honor to interview you today on the podcast. We've known each other for a long time. Jim DuBois: Yes, we have. And hey, I am honored to be here. This is always special to be a guest of yours—a podcast in general—so thank you for the opportunity. I’m super excited. Sheila Smeltzer: Yeah. Well, just so you know, I made a special request to interview you today. I've always admired you. We both have a residential-focused window cleaning company. Jim, you’re going to tell us a lot more about what you do as well. And we've both been in business for 25 years, right? Jim DuBois: Yeah, I'm a little bit longer than you. I'm in 29 years now, but yeah. Sheila Smeltzer: Wow, okay. Jim DuBois: Yeah, 1996. Sheila Smeltzer: Okay, yeah, I'm ‘99, so very good. Well, Jim, I've been to your shop in Charlotte—Squeegee Pros—and I ...
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