Episode 288 Pool Nation Podcast. Are you busy… or are you actually building a profitable pool service business?

In this episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac break down one of the biggest traps in the swimming pool industry: confusing being busy with being successful.

As we head into peak pool season, many pool pros find themselves working longer hours, adding more pools, and filling every minute of the day — but still feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and underpaid.

This episode dives deep into:

• Why long hours don’t equal profitability • How busyness hides skill gaps and financial problems • The dangerous cycle of “organized chaos” in pool companies • Why scaling without readiness leads to burnout • How to transition from technician to operator • The role of planning, pricing, and financial clarity in sustainable growth

If you’re a pool service business owner trying to grow, scale, or simply survive the busy season without burning out — this conversation is for you.

Because readiness isn’t about knowing more. It’s about making better decisions before chaos hits.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 – Why “Busy” Doesn’t Mean Profitable 05:30 – Western & Southwest Pool Shows + Boot Camp Updates 08:45 – The $10,000 Pool Pro Challenge & Raypak AVIA Giveaway 12:00 – The “Busy Trap” in the Pool Industry 15:00 – Hustle vs. Structure: Why Long Hours Aren’t the Answer 19:00 – How Busyness Masks Skill Gaps in Pool Service 22:00 – Stop Being a “Field Medic” – Fix Root Causes Instead 25:00 – The Illusion of Success in a Packed Schedule 28:00 – Why Adding More Pools Isn’t Always the Solution 31:00 – Warning Signs You’re Running in Organized Chaos 34:00 – Creating Space in the Day for Preventative Work 41:00 – Readiness vs. Reaction: Making Better Decisions 45:00 – Where Pool Businesses Get Stuck as They Grow 50:00 – Financial Readiness as a Competitive Advantage 56:00 – Final Thoughts: Work Smarter, Not Just Harder

A huge thank you to our Visionary Partners for supporting the Pool Nation Podcast and helping us elevate the pool industry:

• SPPA

• Blu-Ray XL

• AquaStar Pool Products

• Natural Chemistry

• Raypak

• Heritage Pool Supply

• Hayward Pool Products

• PoolSide Tech

• Pool Brain

• Nidec

• OnCore Filtration

We appreciate your commitment to helping pool pros grow stronger businesses.

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.