In Episode 287 of Pool Nation Podcast is Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Edgar , John “JJ Flawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” Nicholas break down the real difference between information and actual training—and why most pool professionals aren’t truly prepared when they walk into a backyard.

This episode dives deep into training readiness, skill gaps, and why mistakes keep happening at customer pools instead of in controlled learning environments. If you’ve ever felt confident in a class but froze when things went sideways in the field, this episode explains exactly why—and how to fix it.

You’ll hear real-world stories from the field, honest conversations about YouTube education, hands-on training, repetition, and why confidence only comes from practice, not just knowledge. The team also explains how seasonality, pressure, and poor training structures hold pool businesses back—and what owners must do differently moving forward.

This episode is a must-listen for:

• Pool service techs

• Repair technicians

• Business owners

• Managers training teams

• Anyone serious about growing skills, confidence, and profitability in the pool industry

If you want to stop learning the hard way in customers’ backyards and start building real readiness, this episode is for you.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 – Why Part 2 matters: Training vs information 03:00 – YouTube education: Helpful or harmful? 07:00 – Why information feels like progress (but isn’t) 10:00 – The real danger of learning under pressure 15:00 – Why mistakes show up at customer pools first 19:00 – Repetition, muscle memory, and real confidence 23:00 – Hands-on training vs classroom learning 28:00 – Why “figuring it out in the field” became normalized 33:00 – Seasonality and why training gets pushed aside 37:00 – How skill gaps show up operationally, emotionally, and financially 42:00 – Why owners stop training themselves 47:00 – What effective training actually looks like 52:00 – How to choose the right education for your team 58:00 – Final thoughts: Raising the standard in pool education

A huge thank you to our Pool Nation Visionary Partners who make this podcast possible:

• The SPPA

• BlueRay XL

• AquaStar Pool Products

• Natural Chemistry

• Raypak

• Heritage Pool Supply

• Hayward Pool Products

• PoolSide Tech

• Pool Brain

• Nidec / U.S. Motors

• Encore Filtration – Welcome to the Pool Nation family

Your continued support helps elevate education, professionalism, and profitability across the pool industry.

In episode 286 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus is joined by co-hosts John “JJ Flawless” and Zac “The Pool Boy” Nicholas for a powerful, honest conversation about training, readiness, and real-world skill development in the pool industry.

With trade show season, boot camps, and certifications ramping up, the guys break down the difference between consuming information and being truly prepared to execute in the field. They explore why watching videos and attending classes feels productive—but often falls short when real-life variables, customers, and safety risks enter the picture.

You’ll hear why:

• Information alone doesn’t equal competence

• Pools are one of the most challenging environments to learn in

• Repetition, practice, and hands-on training matter more than ever

• “Figuring it out on the fly” has been normalized—and why that’s a problem

• The right education now leads to fewer mistakes, more confidence, and more time with your family later

This episode is a must-listen for pool service techs, repair techs, builders, retailers, and business owners who want to stop guessing, sharpen their skills, and approach training with the right mindset in 2026.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 – Why this conversation about training matters right now 03:30 – Kicking off 2026 & returning to show season 08:00 – Industry shout-outs & community updates 10:00 – Trade shows, boot camps & upcoming Pool Nation events 16:30 – Upskilling vs. reskilling: what pool pros actually need 18:30 – Information vs. training: why most education doesn’t stick 22:30 – Why confidence disappears in the field 27:00 – YouTube learning vs. real-world execution 31:30 – Why repetition and practice are missing in education 36:30 – Sponsor break 41:00 – Why pools are one of the hardest environments to learn in 47:00 – Working alone in backyards & pressure from homeowners 52:30 – The danger of “figuring it out on the fly” 58:30 – How the industry must evolve training standards 01:06:00 – Final thoughts: education now = freedom later 01:19:00 – Closing & where to see Pool Nation next

Big thank you to our sponsors for supporting Pool Pros and helping us keep the education and conversations rolling:

• SPPA • Blu-ray XL • AquaStar Pool Products • Natural Chemistry • Raypak • Heritage Pool Supply • Hayward Pool Products • Poolside Tech • US Motors / Nidec

Also, thank you to Pool Invoice and PoolManUniversity.com for supporting pool industry training and business systems.

In episode 285 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesús sits down with leadership expert Leanne De Jesús for an in-depth conversation on how pool business owners, service techs, retailers, and builders can grow without burning out, falling behind, or constantly starting over.

What is upskilling? Upskilling means improving and expanding the skills you already use in your role — not changing careers, but getting better, smarter, and more effective at what you’re already doing.

In the pool industry, upskilling can look like:

• Developing leadership and people-management skills

• Improving pricing, financial clarity, and decision-making

• Learning new equipment, technology, and automation

• Building sales and customer communication skills

• Training your team so the business doesn’t rely only on you

Reskilling, on the other hand, is learning an entirely new role or function — like moving from service into building, retail, or management.

Throughout this episode, Edgar and Leanne break down why most frustration, burnout, and leadership struggles aren’t people problems — they’re skill gaps. They also explain why access to information alone doesn’t create better leaders, and how structure, mentorship, and intentional learning are what actually drive growth.

Whether you’re a one-truck operator or scaling a multi-location business, this conversation will help you:

• Understand when to upskill vs when to reskill

• Recognize early signs of burnout and stagnation

• Build stronger leaders and more accountable teams

• Create growth without chaos

• Shift from operator thinking to owner thinking

This episode isn’t about working harder — it’s about thinking differently so your business can grow with clarity and control.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:05 – Why upskilling and reskilling matter right now 03:00 – Pool Nation events, shows, and upcoming education 06:10 – What upskilling really looks like in real life 09:45 – AI, technology, and staying relevant 13:20 – How pool pros upskill without realizing it 16:10 – The difference between upskilling and reskilling 18:50 – When you should reskill vs improve your current skills 21:40 – Why people think they need to quit when they really need new skills 25:10 – Learning, testing, applying, and sharing knowledge 30:00 – Burnout, overwhelm, and hidden skill gaps 33:10 – Leadership problems vs skill problems 37:20 – Why information alone doesn’t create better leaders 40:50 – Time, structure, and intentional learning 44:30 – Sponsor break 46:00 – Upskilling business owners for growth and scale 50:30 – Hiring for skill vs hiring for personality 55:10 – Upskilling pool techs: sales, safety, and trust 1:01:40 – Retail teams, product knowledge, and relationships 1:07:30 – Why training fails without structure 1:12:00 – Train-the-trainer mindset and leadership confidence 1:17:40 – Why guided learning and mentorship matter 1:21:10 – The most important mindset shift: growth mindset 1:26:30 – Final thoughts and takeaways 1:30:00 – Closing remarks and where to find Pool Nation

A huge thank you to our visionary partners who make Pool Nation education possible:

• SPPA –

• US Motors (Nidec) –

• Blu-Ray XL –

• AquaStar Pool Products –

• Natural Chemistry –

• Raypak –

• Hayward Pool Products –

• Heritage Pool Supply

Your support helps us continue to educate, elevate, and strengthen the pool industry.