E-295 Pool Nation Podcast. If you’ve ever felt like your pool business is growing… but somehow getting harder, more stressful, and less profitable—this episode is for you.

In this episode, Edgar breaks down one of the biggest problems in the pool industry: why companies break when they try to grow. And more importantly, what you need to fix before it happens to you.

This isn’t about working harder. It’s about understanding what growth actually does to your business.

Because growth doesn’t fix your business… 👉 Growth reveals your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why adding more pools can actually make your business worse
• The critical mistake most pool pros make between 50–100 pools
• How poor structure leads to burnout, callbacks, and lost profit
• Why not knowing your cost per pool is killing your business
• The pricing mistake that keeps you stuck and underpaid
• How repairs are the hidden profit engine you're walking past every day
• The mindset shift from technician to true business owner

If you’re serious about scaling your pool business the right way—and actually making money doing it—this episode will change how you think about growth forever.

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. In Part 2, we’ll break down the systems and operational structure you need to scale the right way.

00:00 – Podcast Intro & Welcome 01:00 – Why Pool Companies Break When They Grow 03:30 – The Illusion of Growth (Why More Pools Feels Right) 06:00 – The Most Important Stage in Your Business (And Why You Skip It) 09:00 – The Breaking Point: 70–90 Pools 11:00 – When Everything Starts to Feel Heavy 13:00 – How Small Decisions Turn Into Big Problems 15:00 – The Hidden Cost of Rushing (Chemicals, Time, Profit Loss) 17:00 – You Didn’t Fail—You Grew Without Structure 19:00 – The Most Important Question: Cost Per Pool 22:00 – Why Most Pool Pros Don’t Know Their Numbers 24:00 – Route Inefficiency & Profit Leaks 26:00 – When Growth Makes the Math Worse 27:00 – Sponsor Break 31:00 – The Pricing Problem (Why Matching Competitors Fails) 34:00 – The 3 Things Your Price Must Cover 36:00 – The “More Pools” Trap 38:00 – Why More Work Doesn’t Fix a Broken System 40:00 – The Repair Opportunity You’re Missing 44:00 – Turning Pools Into Profit Centers 46:00 – Technician vs Business Owner Mindset 49:00 – Why Most Pool Pros Stay Stuck 50:00 – The Power of Knowing Your Numbers 52:00 – Sponsor Break 56:00 – Key Takeaways: Fix the Foundation Before You Grow 57:30 – What’s Coming in Part 2 (Systems & Scaling) 59:00 – Outro

A huge thank you to our Pool Nation Visionary Partners for making this podcast possible:

• SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply Group
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• EnCore Brands
• Pool Brain
• Nidec
• OnCore Filtration

These companies are investing in the future of pool pros and helping us build a stronger industry.

In episode # 294 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus sits down live at AquaStar with Bryan Chrissan and Michael Kraus to break down one of the most important topics in the pool industry today training, repetition, and real-world experience.

From early career mistakes to high-level field knowledge, this episode dives into what it really takes to build confidence, skill, and success in the pool service industry.

You’ll hear real stories from the field including costly mistakes, hard-earned lessons, and the power of mentorship along with a deep conversation on how education in the industry has evolved from basic classroom learning to hands-on, immersive training.

Whether you’re a new pool tech or a seasoned pro, this episode will challenge how you think about learning, growth, and what it takes to become elite in this industry.

💡 If you’re not getting reps… you’re not getting better.

00:00 – Podcast intro & Visionary Partners 01:00 – Meet Bryan & Michael + setting the stage 03:00 – Industry changes: Then vs. now in training 07:30 – Real-world mistakes (and what they teach you) 12:00 – Travel story + behind-the-scenes laughs 20:00 – Why networking is EVERYTHING in this industry 25:00 – Pool Nation Bootcamps & $10K Pool Pro Challenge 30:00 – The importance of reps in building confidence 36:00 – Rookie mistakes: filters, pumps, heaters & more 41:00 – Learning from failure vs. wasting time 45:00 – The power of mentorship & calling for help 50:00 – Evolution of pool industry education 56:00 – Why hands-on training beats classroom learning 01:05:00 – Creating a safe learning environment 01:10:00 – Real impact: changing lives through training 01:18:00 – Long-term thinking vs. short-term sales 01:25:00 – Relationships vs. transactions in business 01:30:00 – Final thoughts: learn, share, grow 01:40:00 – Outro + where to connect

A huge thank you to our Pool Nation Visionary Partners for supporting this podcast and the pool industry:

• The 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 everything you do to help move the industry forward.

In episode #293 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we sit down with industry leaders Alicia Stephens and Michael G to break down what innovation really looks like in the pool industry—and why it matters more than ever for pool service pros, retailers, and business owners.

From next-generation pool chemicals and faster-dissolving chlorine technology to AI-powered training platforms and the future of education, this conversation goes deep into how the industry is evolving—and how you can stay ahead of it.

We’re not just talking about products—we’re talking about thinking differently, solving real problems, and building a better experience for your customers.

You’ll hear how innovation is reshaping:

• Water chemistry and treatment strategies
• Pool service efficiency and troubleshooting
• Retail and customer experience
• Training, certifications, and workforce development

Plus… we tease some major upcoming industry disruption you’re going to want to keep your eye on 👀

If you’re a pool pro, business owner, or industry leader looking to stay competitive, this is a must-listen episode.

• Why “old school” pool chemistry thinking is holding you back
• How new chemical innovations are solving real field problems
• The role of AI in training the next generation of pool pros
• How to simplify your service process and reduce errors
• Why innovation isn’t just for big companies—it’s for YOU

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Pool Nation 02:00 – Meet Alicia Stephens & Michael G 04:30 – Industry energy, culture & community 06:30 – Why innovation matters right now in the pool industry 09:30 – Michael’s background (Harvard, toys, marketing & beyond) 12:00 – Storytelling, branding & marketing in pools 15:00 – What “real innovation” actually means 18:00 – How the pool industry is changing (environment, chemicals, behavior) 22:00 – New product innovation: faster dissolving trichlor & shock technology 26:00 – Solving real problems for pool pros in the field 30:00 – Retail vs service: simplifying chemistry for success 34:00 – Multi-benefit products (the “multivitamin” approach) 38:00 – Algaecide + phosphate innovation explained 42:00 – New category: pool fragrance (yes… seriously 👀) 47:00 – AI-powered training & BioGuard University breakdown 52:00 – The future of education in the pool industry 57:00 – Why embracing change is critical for growth 1:01:00 – Final thoughts: innovation, mindset & opportunity 1:04:00 – Teasing what’s coming next (major disruption ahead)

A huge thank you to our amazing partners who continue to support the Pool Nation mission:

• SPPA
• Blu-Ray XL
• AquaStar Pool Products
• Natural Chemistry
• Raypak
• Heritage Pool Supply
• Hayward Pool Products
• Poolside Tech
• Pool Brain
• Nidec / U.S. Motors
• OnCore Filtration

Your support helps us continue to bring education, innovation, and growth to pool pros everywhere.

If you’re serious about growing your pool business, improving your chemistry knowledge, and staying ahead of industry trends—make sure you:

✔️ Subscribe to the Pool Nation Podcast ✔️ Share this episode with your team ✔️ Stay plugged into everything Pool Nation

Because the future of this industry belongs to those who learn faster, adapt quicker, and think differently.