In this episode of Encourage Mindset, Ethan Van De Hey sits down with Sal Sciorta, owner of Plumbing Pros, to talk about the mindset, discipline, sacrifice, and standards that helped him build his business from the ground up. Sal Sciorta shares what it was like starting Plumbing Pros while still working a full-time union plumbing job in New York City. Rather than immediately jumping into entrepreneurship, he worked two jobs, saved money, avoided unnecessary debt, and waited until his business had proven that it could support him. His story is a powerful reminder that building something great often requires sacrificing comfort today for the freedom you want tomorrow. A major theme throughout the conversation is discipline. Sal credits much of his mindset to his father, football, and experiences that taught him the value of hard work, responsibility, and doing what needs to be done even when you don't feel like doing it. His approach to business is heavily influenced by the athlete's mindset: prepare, perform under pressure, know your strengths, trust your team, and keep getting better. Sal explains how he views himself as the coach of his business, with every employee representing a different player on the team. But perhaps the biggest lesson from the episode is the importance of creating an experience that customers never forget. Sal calls it “knocking them out of their socks.” From having a clean uniform and organized van to putting booties over your shoes, remembering a customer's name, explaining the work, and treating their home as if it were your own, Sal believes the little things separate an average company from an exceptional one. Those small details became so important that Sal began turning them into systems and standard operating procedures. Instead of relying on employees to simply “do a good job,” he created repeatable standards designed to consistently create what he calls raving fans. That philosophy has helped Plumbing Pros build a powerful reputation, with hundreds of five-star reviews in just a few years. Sal explains that premium service creates premium trust—and when you consistently deliver an experience that customers value, you can build a company that people are willing to recommend, call again, and trust with their families. The conversation also dives into what happens when things go wrong. Sal believes business owners have to take ownership when a customer is unhappy. Rather than hiding behind employees or an office staff, he believes the owner should personally face the problem, listen to the customer, determine what went wrong, and do what is reasonable to make it right. Sal also discusses his approach to personal growth and continuous learning. Books such as Rich Dad Poor Dad and The Road Less Stupid, along with the teachings of Tony Robbins, have influenced how he thinks about entrepreneurship, money, decision-making, and personal development. He journals regularly and asks himself one important question: “What's the one thing I could do today that would drive so much success for my business that these other things wouldn't matter?” That mindset helps him focus on the highest-impact problems instead of simply staying busy. But ultimately, Sal believes success isn't just about business. It's about becoming a high-performing person. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be willing to ask yourself the hard question: Where am I falling short, and what am I going to do about it? Keep raising your standards. Take ownership. Invest in yourself. Build people up. Treat others exceptionally well. Stay disciplined when nobody is watching. And most importantly, don't just do the job. Knock them out of their socks. Speakers: Ethan Van De Hey and Sal Sciorta Want to talk or have episode suggestions?Email: vandeheyethan@outlook.com
