Blue Collar StartUp

Michael Nelson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

  1. 2D AGO

    How a Father-Son Team Built a $25M Trade Business | Blue Collar Startup #128

    In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, Scott Sypniewski and Scott Sypniewski Jr. share how they built SSLLC Plumbing into a $25M+ plumbing business by combining extreme ownership, leadership development, and strong company culture. From overcoming personal struggles to scaling fast in the trades, this father-son team breaks down real strategies for growing a service business, implementing EOS, and creating a team that drives long-term success. Find Scott Sypniewski, Scott Sypniewski Jr., and SSLLC Plumbing at ssllc.pro and connect with them to learn more about their work in the trades. Watch the full YouTube exclusive segment here: youtube.com/@bluecollarstartup849 00:00 Introduction 1:45 Meet the Guests: Scott Sypniewski Sr. & Scott Sypniewski Jr. 3:30 How Junior Successfully Works Remotely 5:16 Transitioning from Father/Son to Business Partners 8:56 The Power of Using First Names in a Family Business 10:43 The Origin Story of SSLLC Plumbing 14:08 Scott Sr.'s Defining Moment & Extreme Ownership 16:15 Landing a $7.2 Million Contract on Day One 18:46 A Brutal Self-Assessment with Echelon Front's JP Dinnell 23:45 SSLLC Plumbing's Vision: Building on the Success of Others 27:58 Junior Takes the Baton: Building Business Structure 32:08 Implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) 36:15 The Unique Visionary & Integrator Dynamic 40:00 Level 10 Meetings & Decentralized Command in Action 43:18 The 80/80 Principle Explained 48:25 Appointing a Chief Culture Officer 55:58 SSLLC Plumbing's Core Values & Hiring Criteria 1:07:10 Head over to our YouTube channel to watch the YouTube exclusive segment!

    1h 8m

  2. MAY 6

    Define the Problem, Fix the Fire | Blue Collar StartUp #127

    In episode 127 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Bill Tansey to discuss bringing structure to a chaotic business and defining the real root of your operational fires. They dive into the critical differences between just being busy and actually being productive, and how to know when wearing every hat becomes a liability instead of a hustle. You can connect with Bill Tansey Jr. on LinkedIn, visit his website at theopexshop.com, or email him directly at bill@theopexshop.com. 0:00 Introduction & Welcome  2:49 Introducing Bill Tansey & The OpEx Shop  5:02 What to do when "everything feels like it's on fire"  7:35 Defining the performance gap in your business  10:22 The importance of proper problem definition  12:56 Common examples of small business chaos  14:00 When does wearing every hat become a liability?  16:13 Quantifying the risk of doing everything yourself  18:34 Are you running a business or being self-employed?  20:57 The 3 types of motion: Rotation, Vibration, Translation  23:43 Moving things from point A to point B  26:18 Falling out of your personal operating system  28:40 The "Automate or Delegate" mindset  31:20 Bringing structure to a company with none  33:41 Setting success metrics for standard roles  36:42 The biggest mistake owners make when getting organized  39:49 Leading your team vs. doing the work yourself  43:41 Where to find Bill Tansey  45:20 Wrapping up the main episode

    46 min

  3. APR 29

    Simple Marketing for Blue Collar Businesses | Blue Collar StartUp #126

    In episode 126 of Blue Collar StartUp, Derek and Mike break down what marketing actually looks like when you’re starting a blue-collar business, from building a simple website to leveraging personal social media for real leads. Listen in as they discuss what’s worth your time, what’s a waste of money, and how to grow your visibility without overcomplicating the process. For exclusive content, bonus segments, and deeper dives, check out the Blue Collar StartUp Patreon. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro and welcome 2:37 New episode formats and updates 5:14 Kicking off the marketing conversation 7:32 Why a simple website matters first 9:58 Avoiding common beginner marketing mistakes 12:26 Google Business Profile importance 14:52 Setting up email and basic infrastructure 17:18 Why personal social media beats business pages 19:44 The reality of Facebook reach 22:10 Choosing the right platforms 24:36 Understanding your target audience 27:02 Social media strategy pitfalls 29:28 Transition into AI and marketing changes 31:54 How AI is impacting search and discovery 34:20 Adapting to new marketing trends 36:46 Simplifying your overall strategy 40:12 Key takeaways for business owners 47:11 Episode wrap-up

    45 min

  4. APR 22

    Building the Future of Concrete with Sarah Patrie | Blue Collar StartUp #125

    In episode 125 of Blue Collar StartUp, guest host Stacy Spector sits down with Sarah Patrie to explore her journey from growing up in a construction family to becoming Executive Director of PCI Northeast, highlighting the power of mentorship, industry involvement, and embracing nontraditional career paths. They dive into workforce development, innovation in concrete, and the critical role of relationships and associations in long-term success in the trades. You can find Sarah Patrie and learn more about PCI Northeast at pci.org and by following her on LinkedIn. Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro to Women in Trades format 2:40 Meet Sarah Patrie 5:20 Growing up in construction 8:00 Discovering engineering and BOCES impact 10:40 Clarkson decision and education path 13:20 First role at D.A. Collins 16:00 Early career challenges and mindset 18:40 Transition into AGC 21:20 Policy, advocacy, and DC experience 24:00 Power of networking in trades 26:40 Moving into PCI Northeast 29:20 Workforce development challenges 32:00 Educating the next generation 34:40 Telling the story of construction 37:20 Passion for the industry 40:00 Lightning round and personality 42:30 Wrap-up and key takeaways 44:55 End of episode

    42 min

  5. APR 15

    Real Leadership Lessons for the Trades with Codey Gandy | Blue Collar StartUp #124

    In episode 124 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike and Derek chat with Codey Gandy of Echelon Front as he breaks down what real leadership looks like in the trades, and why most people get it wrong. From extreme ownership to building strong relationships, this conversation is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to grow a team or business. You can find Codey Gandy and learn more about his work at Echelon Front on their website at echelonfront.com or connect with him on Instagram @codey.gandy. For exclusive content and deeper blue-collar insights, subscribe to our Patreon.  https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro and welcome 2:00 Mission behind the show and scholarships 4:10 Introducing Codey Gandy 4:40 Codey’s background and Echelon Front overview 6:00 Experiential leadership training explained 7:30 Why stress reveals true leadership traits 9:00 The problem with traditional training 10:30 Sustainability and long-term leadership growth 11:30 What “extreme ownership” actually means 13:00 Leadership vs authority 14:30 Applying ownership as an employee 16:00 Real impact of extreme ownership in business 17:30 Fixing underperforming team members 19:00 Why relationships matter in leadership 21:00 Transitioning from worker to leader 23:00 Why most leaders are set up to fail 25:00 Learning leadership before promotion 30:00 Leadership applications 40:00 Advanced leadership mindset shifts 48:00 Final thoughts and shift to Patreon segment

    52 min

  6. APR 8

    Perfection, Processes & Growth at Lazzaro’s Autobody | Blue Collar StartUp #123

    In episode 123 of Blue Collar Startup, host Derek Foster welcomes back guest Josh Jewett for an in-depth conversation on his path from a Hudson Valley Community College auto-body student to owning Lazzaro’s Autobody and acquiring a second shop in Saratoga—all within six months. Josh shares hard-won lessons on perfectionism, implementing shop processes, mentoring his team, continuing education, and the mindset required to scale a blue-collar business.   Connect with Josh by emailing him at jj@lazzarosautobody.com and check out Lazzaro’s Autobody in Green Island and Saratoga Springs, New York, or on their website at lazzarosautobody.com. Subscribe to our Patreon for a full bonus Q&A with Josh and exclusive Blue Collar insights after every episode.  https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 00:00 Welcome to Blue Collar Startup   00:29 New episode formats, sponsors & Patreon reminder   03:28 Introducing returning guest Josh Jewett 04:21 Josh’s early spark for cars and Hudson Valley Community College   08:09 From technician to business owner: when the goal shifted   09:58 The perfectionist mindset that drives Josh   12:32 Advice for young tradespeople: self-education & YouTube   18:31 Owning Lazzaro’s Autobody – one year in   20:27 Taking over a 50-year shop: first-year challenges & observation   24:43 Creating & rolling out new processes with the team   29:33 How processes built culture & staff retention   32:29 What Josh looks for when hiring today   35:06 iCar training, continuing education & staying sharp   38:54 Future vision: becoming the go-to shop for anything on wheels   41:42 How Josh bought a second shop in Saratoga in just six months   42:08 Introducing Patreon exclusive segment, and episode closure

    43 min

  7. APR 1

    The Pivot That Revolutionized Shepherd Communication & Security | Blue Collar StartUp #122

    In episode 122 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with  Richard Ruzzo, who shares how he built Shepherd Communication & Security from a small telecom contracting operation into a growing commercial security company by refocusing the business, embracing enterprise thinking, and betting on the right people. He talks about losing a major revenue stream, rebuilding from the ground up, and the lessons every trade business owner should learn. You can learn more about Richard Ruzzo and Shepherd Communication & Security at shepherdcny.com. Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/c/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro 0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp 1:04 Business owner group therapy 2:15 Help us grow the show 4:28 Patreon and business growth insights 5:36 Introducing Richard Ruzzo 6:14 What Shepherd Communication & Security does 8:03 Why security and low-voltage work is still a trade 11:58 Growing the company to 34 employees 13:11 Why trades can outperform traditional college paths 16:13 The garage business that sparked the idea 17:28 Landing their first telecom contract 18:36 Building the Shepherd brand 19:30 Why relying on one client is dangerous 20:45 Lifestyle business vs enterprise business 23:03 Rethinking the entire company strategy 24:38 Losing a major revenue stream 27:06 The people who helped transform the company 32:00 Landing a project 10x bigger than anything before 35:06 How Shepherd decides which services to offer 41:57 Why security matters more than ever today 43:00 Final thoughts and where to find Shepherd

    45 min

  8. MAR 25

    30 Years of Building Luxury: Jim Sasko's Journey with Teakwood | Blue Collar StartUp #121

    In episode 121 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Jim Sasko, founder and president of Teakwood Builders, to discuss his 30-year journey from a hands-on 26-year-old carpenter to leading a premier design-build firm specializing in luxury homes. Jim shares hard-earned lessons on saying no, building strong company culture, and focusing on exceptional client experiences and team development. Connect with Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders at teakwoodbuilders.com, or find Jim on LinkedIn. Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro and welcome to Blue Collar StartUp 0:40 Shoutout to sponsors 1:25 Introducing guest Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders overview 2:00 Explaining design-build remodeling and luxury custom building 3:45 Celebrating 30 years in business and Jim's origin story 5:00 Early hands-on days, learning the craft, and organic growth 7:30 Transitioning from fieldwork to project management and scaling 9:20 Evolving from general remodeling to luxury-level projects organically 11:50 Lessons learned from overcommitting 14:00 Knowing when to say no to projects 16:30 Building a true "company" vs. personal business 19:00 Implementing systems, processes, EOS, and leadership team development 22:30 Proving the systems work 24:50 Material/labor price escalation and long sales cycles 27:00 Overcoming staffing hurdles in recent years 30:00 Upside-down org chart and production-first mindset 33:30 Secrets to long-term employee retention 36:00 How to connect with Jim and Teakwood

    39 min
See All (125)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Nelson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    125
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michael Nelson
  • Show Website
    Blue Collar StartUp

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