Next Level Pros

Chris Lee
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Welcome to Next Level Pros, where we explore the journeys of some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. I'm your host, Chris Lee. Throughout my career, I've founded multiple nine-figure companies and learned a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Now, I want to share those lessons with you by bringing on guests who have their own incredible stories to tell. I'm on a mission to find the most unique and entertaining individuals that have done it the right way.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    From Stuck to Sold: The $18M Turnaround Story Every Business Owner Should Hear

    In this episode of Next Level Pros, hosts dive into an eye-opening conversation with Elaine and Todd, co-founders of Mainstream Electric, Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. After spending over 15 years stuck at $3 million in annual revenue, they made a powerful decision—to get out of their own way. By confronting ego, redefining success, and seeking mentorship through Nexstar Network, Elaine and Todd transformed both their mindset and their company. The result? A thriving $20 million business that attracted private equity buyers—and a journey that redefined what “winning” truly means. This is a story of humility, discipline, and the courage to evolve. 🔑 Key Takeaways The Ceiling Is Internal: Why your business only grows as much as your mindset allows. Revenue Feeds Ego—Profit Builds Freedom: How they shifted from chasing sales to building wealth. The Power of Mentorship: How Nexstar Network and a trusted community sparked real growth. Scaling Through Humility: Why letting go of control was the best business decision they ever made. The Private Equity Exit: What it really takes to prepare, sell, and stay true to your values. 💡 Episode Highlights [00:00] – Hitting the wall: $3M for 15 years and the realization that something had to change. [04:00] – Killing the ego: redefining leadership and embracing coaching. [08:00] – Lessons from failure: expanding too fast and learning to stay focused. [12:00] – Building systems that serve both people and profit. [18:00] – Joining Nexstar Network and discovering the power of shared experience. [22:00] – Preparing for the private equity sale and what the process really looks like. [28:00] – Life after the exit: freedom, impact, and Elaine’s next chapter. 💬 Memorable Quotes “The business only grows as fast as the owner does.” “Revenue is for ego. Profit is for sanity.” “Ego is the silent killer of growth.” “We stopped chasing more trucks and started building a better company.” 📘 Mentioned in This Episode Nexstar Network – Contractor success and leadership community Elaine’s Book: Made in Vietnam – A powerful memoir on identity, forgiveness, and resilience Lessons in leadership, mindset, and sustainable growth for service-based companies 🎧 Listen If You’re A business owner stuck at a plateau and ready for a breakthrough. A contractor or service professional looking to scale profitably, not painfully. A leader who wants to trade ego for excellence and growth for freedom. Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/ 📍Connect Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true Watch my latest Podcast Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281  Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a  YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

    37 min

  2. 16 SEPT

    The Strain Every Entrepreneur’s Spouse Feels

    In this episode of the Next Level Pros Podcast, Daryl sits down with his wife Joanna to share the real side of building a marriage and raising a family while growing businesses. Together they open up about the highs and lows of nearly 20 years of marriage, raising four daughters, and navigating seasons where entrepreneurship pulled them in opposite directions. You’ll hear how they built trust, created family culture, and learned to renegotiate their relationship through different phases of life. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your spouse connected and your kids grounded while you scale a business, this conversation will give you practical tools and honest insight from both sides of the journey.🔥 Highlights:✅ The hidden struggles of being married to an entrepreneur✅ How to stay connected as a couple when life gets busy✅ Building family culture with mission, values, and vision✅ Why opposites in marriage can actually be a strength✅ Simple practices to protect your relationship while scaling a businessPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital AgencyAt Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/🎧 Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2v...▶️ YouTube:    / @nextlevelpros  Want more tools and strategies? Join the community:📲 https://linktr.ee/nextlevelprosWant to be a guest? Apply here:📩 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkV...#nextlevelpros #hvacbusiness #tradesbusiness #businessgrowth #salestraining #nlp #leadership

    1h 2m

  3. 22 AUG

    #161: From 38% to 55%: How David Mayster Mastered His HVAC Margins // Next Level Pros Podcast

    Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris sits down with David Mayster, owner of Maester Heating and Air in Seattle. David shares his remarkable journey from Ukraine to building a thriving HVAC business, overcoming personal struggles, and learning the hard truths about running a profitable company. This episode is packed with insights for business owners—especially those in the trades—who want to get their pricing right, build a strong team, and scale their business while staying true to their values. Highlights: "If you know how to work, America will reward you for that." "A standardized offer is one of the best things that I could get for you." "Numbers don’t lie. People do." "If the company makes a lot of money, we can provide you a lot of opportunity." Timestamps: 0:00:00 – Introduction & David’s Background 0:06:09 – Starting Maester Heating and Air 0:10:13 – David’s Personal Transformation 0:19:38 – The Power of Money and Business Purpose 0:21:45 – Partnership Challenges and Lessons 0:28:36 – Pricing Strategy and Gross Margin Goals 0:36:11 – Sales Negotiation and Standardization 0:49:19 – Reviewing the Numbers: Revenue and Gross Profit 1:01:23 – Marketing Spend and Customer Acquisition 1:14:22 – Action Items: Standardizing Offers and Scaling Up Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554 Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events! https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true Watch my latest Podcast Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

    1h 23m

  4. 20 AUG

    #160: How Alex Hormozi Cheats the System // Next Level Pros Podcast

    Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, host Chris sits down with Alex Hormozi, founder of Acquisition.com, to dive deep into the mindset, strategies, and lessons behind building and scaling successful businesses. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or aspiring operator looking to level up, this episode is packed with actionable insights on growth, investment, and the realities of the entrepreneurial journey. Highlights: “I just enjoy playing the game… I know I would do it if it didn’t make money.”   “At some point you have to expand… I was just in a pond, and everyone else was going after an ocean.”   “If I’m afraid to take a risk now, I’ll never be able to take a risk later.”   “You have to provide value—make them an offer so good they feel stupid saying no.”   “This is the point where most people quit, and that’s why they don’t quit.” Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 02:55 – The Obsession with Business: Playing the Game   04:48 – Transition from Gym Launch to Acquisition.com   09:08 – Defining Moments: Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship   12:45 – The Hardest Decision: Disappointing Family to Follow Your Path   21:03 – How to Work for Free and Actually Add Value   33:13 – What Acquisition.com Looks for in Investments   36:47 – Identifying Founders with Big Visions   45:54 – The Discipline to Say No: Focusing on the One Thing   1:04:49 – Advice for Tough Times: Why You Shouldn’t Quit Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554 Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events! https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

    1h 6m

  5. 7 AUG

    #159: How to Build a Business Without Losing the People You Love // Daryl Kelly // Next Level Podcast

    Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, we dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship and family life. Daryl Kelly is joined by his daughter Evelyn Kelly for an honest conversation about growing up in an entrepreneurial household, balancing ambition with family connection, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode is for parents chasing big goals without losing touch with what matters most, and for kids witnessing the journey up close. Highlights: "Being an entrepreneur isn't just about building a business. It's about carrying the weight of providing while trying to be present at home." "Success isn't just one thing, it's a million things combined." "I just want to be able to have whatever, keep my choices open." "The reason I want people to be at my house is to see that I'm not chasing money, but I'm building a family." Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:33 – Evelyn’s Unique Path: Graduating High School and College Early 02:37 – Realizing Dad Was Different: The Entrepreneurial Mindset 05:01 – Quality Over Quantity: Making Family Time Count 10:31 – The Impact of Absence: When Dad Was Away 16:10 – Childhood Hardships: Seeing the Ups and Downs 19:14 – Redefining Success: More Than Money 22:36 – What Drives Evelyn: Going 100% in Everything 28:55 – High School Side Hustle: Building a Dance Business 40:46 – Family as the Why: Building a Legacy Beyond Wealth Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554 Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events! https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true Watch my latest Podcast Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

    47 min

  6. 31 JUL

    #158: My 9-Figure Blue Collar Journey Part 3 // Chris Lee // Next Level Pros Podcast

    Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris Lee takes us on a candid journey through his entrepreneurial highs and lows, sharing the real story behind building Sol Gen Power and the lessons learned along the way. If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or anyone interested in the realities of building and scaling a business—especially in the trades or home service space—this episode is for you! Highlights: “Throughout my life, I’ve had a very divisive personality. It’s either you love me or you friggin hate me.” “There’s not a playbook for doing it. You’re literally just learning as you go, until you get slapped on the hand, and then you change your behavior.” “The goal isn’t to produce the fruit. The goal is to become the tree that has the ability to continue to produce the fruit.” “Life was meant to be hard, but when it’s hard with a positive mindset, it becomes bearable and joyful.” Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:19 Various Business Ventures and Experiences  04:56 Transition to Employment and Learning from Entrepreneurs  8:57 Vivint Solar and IPO Experience  25:48 Starting Sol Gen Power and Early Challenges  32:59 Growth and Expansion of Sol Gen Power  Building a Strong Team and Culture  42: 28 Overcoming Financial and Operational Challenges  57:11 Expansion and Acquisition  58:44 Personal Reflections and Future Plans  Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554 Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events! https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

    1h 2m

  7. 25 JUL

    #157: My 9-Figure Blue Collar Journey Part 2 // Chris Lee // Next Level Pros Podcast

    Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris shares the raw, unfiltered story of his first major business failure, the lessons learned from bankruptcy, and how he rebuilt his career and mindset. If you’re an entrepreneur, operator, or anyone in the trades or home service space looking for real, tactical advice and inspiration, this episode is for you. Highlights: “Take everything you believe are going to be your expenses and at least double it, sometimes triple it.” “There is almost always a way out… Go ask for help. Quit being prideful.” “Do what you’re physically able to do, not what you’re mentally able to do.” “The best flattery you could ever give me is something that I 100% know that I did, and it was amazing.” Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:34 - Challenges and Mistakes in Early Business  09:55 - Changing the Approach 16:06 Handling “Dead Partners” 19:36 - Impact of the 2008 Economic Crash  24:02 - Rebuilding and Learning from Failures  30:26 - Competing in the Sales Seminar  34:33 - Winning the Sales Competition  47:50 - Lessons Learned and Future Plans  Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554 Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events! https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros

    49 min

  8. 17 JUL

    #156: My 9-Figure Blue Collar Journey Part 1 // Chris Lee // Next Level Pros Podcast

    Welcome to a New Episode of Next Level Pros! Today, Chris Lee shares his powerful origin story. From humble beginnings in a small town to early business ventures, overcoming personal challenges, and finding his true path in entrepreneurship. Originally recorded for his first podcast, “The Founder Podcast,” this replay dives deep into Chris’s childhood, his work ethic shaped by necessity, how he found confidence through Cutco sales, and the pivotal decision to walk away from medical school and build something on his own. Apply to be on the show: https://forms.gle/hwDijQPFyKCEtHNs8 Highlights:"Sales is the root of every successful business. Learn it or lose.""Diabetes didn’t define me. It disciplined me.""I was making $65,000 in three months while my dad worked all year for that.""You don’t need to be the quarterback to win the championship." Timestamps: 00:00 – Why This Episode Matters 00:38 – Meet Chris Lee: Early Retirement & Entrepreneurial Lessons 02:00 – Growing Up in Connell, Washington 05:10 – Childhood Jobs & Early Financial Discipline 08:10 – Discovering Sales Through Cutco at 18 13:00 – Lessons from Sports & Being Benched 18:00 – Diabetes Diagnosis & Life-Changing Identity Shift 21:00 – Serving a Mission & Developing Deeper Resilience 27:11 – Marriage, Fatherhood & That First $65K Summer 31:30 – Pivoting from Medicine to Entrepreneurship Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl  Join my community - Founder Acceleration ⁠https://www.founderacceleration.com  ⁠ Apply for our next Mastermind: h⁠ttps://www.thefoundermastermind.com ⁠  Golf with Chris: h⁠ttps://www.golfwithchris.com ⁠  Watch my latest Podcast Apple- Next Level Pros Podcast - Apple PodcastsSpotify- ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2 ⁠ YouTube - @christhefounder

    35 min
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About

Welcome to Next Level Pros, where we explore the journeys of some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. I'm your host, Chris Lee. Throughout my career, I've founded multiple nine-figure companies and learned a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Now, I want to share those lessons with you by bringing on guests who have their own incredible stories to tell. I'm on a mission to find the most unique and entertaining individuals that have done it the right way.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Lee
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    163
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chris Lee
  • Show Website
    Next Level Pros

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