Freedom Blueprint for Home Services | HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Leadership, Business Growth

Justin Deese | Home Service Industries
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Welcome to the Freedom Blueprint Podcast! Host Justin Deese delivers practical advice from his decades in the home service industry. Each week, discover strategies for success, avoid pitfalls, and hear real-life stories. Join our community to learn and grow together. Featuring guests like Tommy Mello from Home Service Experts, Tersh Blissett and Josh Crouch from Service Business Mastery, Jerod Williams from Wealthy Plumbers and Ara Mahdessian CEO of Service Titan. Visit www.FreedomBlueprintPodcast.com for more. Empowering leaders, fostering growth and a positive mindset. Your journey to success in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical starts here!

  1. 137 | Freedom Is Engineered: How to Build a Business That Runs Without You

    4D AGO

    137 | Freedom Is Engineered: How to Build a Business That Runs Without You

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 137 Date: March 9, 2026 Duration: 10:31 Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com SummaryIn this solo episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, Justin Deese shares a powerful lesson about what real freedom looks like for business owners, and why most entrepreneurs accidentally build businesses that trap them instead of serving them. As Justin prepares for a three-week RV road trip with his wife Kristen, traveling from Florida to Las Vegas for the ACCA Conference and across the Southwest, he reflects on a six-month RV journey his family took nearly a decade ago. That trip became a real-world test of whether their businesses were built to operate independently or if everything depended on them. What they discovered changed how Justin thinks about leadership, systems, and business ownership. The companies didn’t just survive while they were gone, they thrived. That experience reinforced a powerful principle: freedom in business doesn’t happen by accident. It is engineered. Justin breaks down the three essential elements required to build a company that allows owners to step away without chaos: strong leadership, clear systems, and personal clarity about what freedom actually means. Whether you want to scale your home service company, create more margin in your life, or simply stop being the bottleneck in your business, this episode will challenge you to rethink how your company is structured and what kind of freedom you are truly building. Takeaways• Freedom in business must be intentionally designed, not hoped for • If your company cannot operate without you, you don’t own a business—you own a job • Leadership depth is the first step toward real freedom • Clear roles, scorecards, and expectations allow leaders to succeed without constant oversight • Systems create stability and allow businesses to operate consistently • Owners must define what freedom personally means to them • Trying to build someone else’s version of success leads to frustration • Identifying and removing bottlenecks is key to scaling your business Chapters00:00 Introduction and upcoming RV adventure 02:10 What freedom really means for business owners 04:10 The danger of accidentally building a business that owns you 06:00 The six-month RV trip that tested the business model 08:30 The moment Justin realized freedom is engineered 10:20 Building leadership instead of dependency 13:00 Why systems create freedom and scalability 15:20 Getting clarity on your version of freedom 17:30 The three keys to designing a freedom-based business 19:00 Action step: Identify your biggest bottleneck Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #JustinDeese #HomeServiceBusiness #ServiceBusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessSystems #EntrepreneurFreedom #ServiceCompanyLeadership #HVACBusiness #PlumbingBusiness #ElectricalContractor #SmallBusinessLeadership #ScaleYourBusiness #BusinessOwnership #EntrepreneurMindset Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    11 min
  2. 136 | If You're Still Waiting on the Phone to Ring… You're Already Behind | Jimmy Speyer

    MAR 2

    136 | If You're Still Waiting on the Phone to Ring… You're Already Behind | Jimmy Speyer

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 136 Date: March 02, 2026 Duration: 41:35 Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com Guest Contact InformationGuest: Jimmy Speyer Company: Glasshouse Guest Website: https://glasshouse.biz Gift to listeners: Free live demo of Glasshouse platform SummaryIn this episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, Justin Deese sits down with returning guest Jimmy Speyer, Founder & CEO of Glasshouse, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing home service businesses in 2026 — rising customer acquisition costs. Jimmy explains why relying solely on Google and paid ads is becoming more expensive every year (what he calls the “digital Yellow Pages problem”) and how contractors can shift from reactive marketing to proactive neighborhood-level outreach. But this episode goes deeper than marketing. Jimmy also shares powerful leadership lessons from growing Glasshouse from 1 employee to 18 in just two years, including: How to hire for alignment, not just skillWhy most companies hire wrongThe importance of core values and mission clarityHow to manage rapid growth without breaking cultureWhy transparency and weekly team communication matter If you’re a plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or home service business owner looking to grow smarter in 2026, this episode is packed with practical strategy and leadership insights. TakeawaysCustomer acquisition through Google Ads continues to get more expensive every year.Waiting for homeowners to search is reactive marketing.Proactive outbound neighborhood outreach creates demand instead of waiting for it.Speed to lead isn’t enough — speed to creating the lead matters.Hiring mistakes are expensive financially and culturally.Involve your team in defining core values.Growth requires constant communication and transparency.Meet with your team weekly to maintain alignment during change.Define your culture clearly — and hire only people who match it.Leadership is repetition. Say the mission until you're tired of hearing it. Chapters00:00 – Welcome Back Jimmy Speyer 03:00 – The “Google Tax” and Rising Ad Costs 06:00 – Proactive vs Reactive Customer Acquisition 10:00 – Why Homeowners Aren’t Thinking About Your Business 12:30 – Growing Glasshouse from 1 to 18 Employees 15:00 – Hiring for Alignment (The Right Way) 18:00 – Interview Questions That Reveal Character 23:00 – Why Consensus Hiring Doesn’t Work 27:00 – Managing Rapid Growth & Team Communication 31:00 – Building Mission, Vision & Core Values 35:00 – Leadership Lessons from Scaling Fast 38:30 – Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Glasshouse Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #HomeServiceBusiness #HVACBusiness #PlumbingBusiness #ElectricalContractor #ContractorMarketing #CustomerAcquisition #OutboundMarketing #LeadershipDevelopment #CompanyCulture #HiringRight #CoreValues #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurLeadership #GlasshouseSoftware #JustinDeese #JimmySpeyer Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    42 min
  3. 135 | From Ditches to Millions: 40+ Years of Hard-Won Lessons in the Trades with Joe Cunningham

    FEB 23

    135 | From Ditches to Millions: 40+ Years of Hard-Won Lessons in the Trades with Joe Cunningham

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 135 Date: February 23, 2026 Duration: 55:21 Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com Guest Contact InformationGuest: Joe Cunningham Company: TAC – Technical & Sales Training | Home Service Checklist Guest Website: www.homeservicechecklist.com Gift to listeners: Scholarship certificates for TAC technician training (details in episode) SummaryIn this episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, Justin Deese sits down with industry legend Joe Cunningham, a veteran with over 40 years in plumbing, HVAC, training, and business development. Joe shares his journey from digging ditches as a young apprentice to helping build the first publicly traded HVAC roll-up, training over 35,000 technicians, and creating some of the highest-producing selling techs in the industry. The conversation dives deep into why fundamentals still matter, how contractors scaled long before CRMs and software, and why checklists—not more tech—are often the missing link to higher tickets, fewer callbacks, and happier customers. Joe also breaks down: The philosophy behind TAC technician trainingWhy most tech training failsHow the Home Service Checklist app forces consistency, accountability, and profitabilityWhy slowing techs down actually increases revenueHow call-by-call management changes everything This episode is packed with timeless lessons for plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractors looking to scale without losing quality. Key TakeawaysThe most successful service businesses still win by mastering the basicsChecklists prevent missed opportunities, callbacks, and lost customersTraining techs how to think beats training them what to replaceDoor-to-door hustle built million-dollar businesses long before Google AdsFewer calls per day can lead to higher tickets and less burnoutSystems create freedom—software just supports themDeclined repairs are future revenue if documented correctly Chapters00:00 – Welcome & Joe’s 40+ year journey03:00 – Learning the trades the hard way08:30 – Selling HVAC door-to-door11:45 – Financing collapse & pivot to training15:30 – Contractor Success Group & Service Experts20:30 – Why technology doesn’t replace fundamentals25:45 – The problem with traditional technician training31:00 – Inside TAC’s 10-day technician bootcamp37:30 – Why most checklists fail41:00 – Home Service Checklist app explained47:00 – Call-by-call management & higher tickets52:00 – Final lessons from a lifetime in the trades Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #JoeCunningham #HVACBusiness #PlumbingBusiness #HomeServiceGrowth #ServiceBusinessSystems #TechnicianTraining #SellingTechs #HomeServiceChecklist #ContractorLeadership #TradesEntrepreneur #HVACSales #PlumbingSuccess #ServiceNation #ServiceRoundtable #TACTraining Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    56 min
  4. 134 | Why the Trades Still Win: Careers, Culture, and Freedom with Jeff Mudd

    FEB 20

    134 | Why the Trades Still Win: Careers, Culture, and Freedom with Jeff Mudd

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 134 Date: February 20, 2026 Duration: 13:27 Recorded Live: PHCC Conference – San Diego, CA Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com Guest Contact InformationGuest: Jeff Mudd Company: The Trades Podcast Guest Website: https://thetradespodcast.com/ Podcast: The Trades Podcast Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trades-podcast/id1574731261 SummaryRecorded live at the PHCC Conference in San Diego, this episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast features a candid conversation with Jeff Mudd, host of The Trades Podcast and longtime advocate for skilled trades careers. Jeff shares his journey from hands-on repair work and termite inspections to business ownership—and eventually to podcasting as a way to promote the trades to younger generations. Together, Justin and Jeff unpack the skilled labor shortage, the stigma that’s surrounded the trades for decades, and why that narrative is finally starting to change. The conversation dives deep into career paths vs. jobs, building culture inside service businesses, financial freedom through trades ownership, and why intentional leadership matters more than ever. Jeff also explains how podcasting became an unexpected but powerful platform to recruit, educate, and elevate the trades nationwide. TakeawaysWhy the skilled trades offer financial and time freedom most careers don’tHow stigma pushed generations away from trades—and why it’s reversingThe difference between giving someone a job and building a career pathWhy owners must be intentional about training, raises, and advancementThe real economics behind service businesses (and common misconceptions)How podcasting became a powerful advocacy tool for the trades Chapters00:00 – Live from PHCC San Diego 01:15 – Jeff’s background in the trades 02:10 – Why he started The Trades Podcast 03:00 – Changing perceptions of trades careers 03:55 – Financial freedom in the trades 05:00 – Owner vs. employee perspectives 06:15 – Building culture and career paths 07:30 – Training people even if they may leave 08:45 – Helping people grow beyond your business 09:35 – Moving from San Diego to Tennessee 10:45 – Podcasting, semi-retirement, and impact 11:45 – Final thoughts from PHCC Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #TheTradesPodcast #SkilledTrades #TradesCareers #TradeLeadership #PHCC #HomeServiceBusiness #TradesIndustry #BlueCollarCareers #WorkforceDevelopment #TradeCulture #ServiceBusiness #ContractorLife #TradesEducation Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    14 min
  5. 133 | Miss Mini Split: Grit, Motherhood, and Building an HVAC Business the Right Way

    FEB 18

    133 | Miss Mini Split: Grit, Motherhood, and Building an HVAC Business the Right Way

    Show Information Episode Number: 133 Date: February 18, 2026 Duration: 14:42 Recorded Live: PHCC Conference – San Diego, CA Host Contact Information Host: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com Guest Contact Information Guest: Rachel Evans Company: Evans HVAC Instagram: @MissMiniSplit Summary In this live episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, Justin Deese sits down with Rachel Evans, founder of Evans HVAC and the voice behind the Instagram brand Miss Mini Split, recorded on-site at the PHCC Conference in San Diego. Rachel shares her unconventional path into the HVAC industry—learning electrical theory hands-on, earning her California contractor’s license in record time, and launching her business while raising young children. She opens up about what it’s really like to be a female HVAC business owner in a male-dominated industry, including taking her baby to job sites and building credibility through technical excellence rather than sales tactics. This conversation dives into grit, motherhood, mentorship, and why Rachel is committed to building an HVAC company rooted in quality, integrity, and long-term customer relationships—not high-pressure sales models. Takeaways Why mastering electrical theory and fundamentals creates better technicians and ownersHow Rachel earned her California contractor’s license faster than mostWhat it’s like building an HVAC business while being a hands-on momThe reality of being a female leader in the tradesHow “Miss Mini Split” grew organically on InstagramWhy quality-focused contractors stand out in a PE-driven market Chapters 00:00 – Recording live from PHCC San Diego 01:15 – Rachel’s approach to quality over sales 02:40 – What “new” really means in the trades 03:45 – Why she chose HVAC 04:30 – Early mentorship and learning electrical theory 05:50 – Getting licensed in California 07:15 – Starting the business as a mom 08:25 – Being a female HVAC owner 10:05 – The birth of “Miss Mini Split” 11:40 – Vision for the future of Evans HVAC 12:55 – Where to follow Rachel Keywords #FreedomBlueprintPodcast #MissMiniSplit #WomenInTrades #HVACBusiness #HVACLife #FemaleEntrepreneur #TradesIndustry #PHCC #HomeServiceBusiness #HVACOwner #ContractorLife #SkilledTrades #BlueCollarSuccess #HVACCalifornia #TradeLeadership Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    16 min
  6. 132 | Old-School Plumbing Values in a High-Tech World with Cody McLeod

    FEB 16

    132 | Old-School Plumbing Values in a High-Tech World with Cody McLeod

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 132 Date: February 16, 2026 Duration: 09:54 Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com Guest Contact InformationGuest: Cody McLeod Company: Utility Plumbing Services Guest Website: https://utilityplumbingservices.com/ SummaryIn this live episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, Justin Deese sits down with Cody McLeod, owner of Utility Plumbing Services, recorded on-site at PHCC San Diego & Del Mar. Cody shares his journey as a second-generation plumber, growing up in the trades, partnering with his father, and eventually stepping out to build his own modern plumbing company. The conversation dives into blending old-school business principles with new-school technology, including automation, AI, and service software—without losing the fundamentals that built the trades. They also discuss Cody’s growing leadership role in the industry, including his upcoming appointment to the PHCC California State Board, and his passion for giving back through high school career days to change the narrative around skilled trades. This episode is packed with real-world insight for plumbing, HVAC, and home service business owners navigating growth, technology, and leadership in today’s market. Key TakeawaysWhy old-school business values still matter in a tech-driven service industryHow Cody transitioned from a family partnership to sole ownershipPractical ways automation and AI are improving customer experienceWhy empowering employees matters more as a 100% ownerHow trade careers offer opportunity without massive student debtThe importance of industry involvement through PHCC leadership Chapters00:00 Live from PHCC San Diego & Del Mar01:00 Cody’s background as a second-generation plumber02:00 Leaving the family business and starting fresh03:00 Old-school business mindset meets modern technology04:00 Automation vs. AI in service businesses05:30 Joining the PHCC California State Board06:30 Giving back through high school career days08:00 Why the trades are a powerful career path today Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #JustinDeese #CodyMcLeod #UtilityPlumbingServices #PHCC #PHCCSanDiego #PlumbingBusiness #HomeServiceBusiness #Trades #SkilledTrades #ServiceIndustry #PlumbingLife #SecondGenerationContractor #TradeLeadership #ServiceBusinessGrowth #Automation #AIInTrades Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    11 min
  7. 131 | PHCC San Diego Recap and why 2026 is already moving fast

    FEB 9

    131 | PHCC San Diego Recap and why 2026 is already moving fast

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 131 Date: February 09, 2026 Duration: 36:27 Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com Guest Contact InformationGuest: Kristen Deese Company: Virtual CFO for the Trades Guest Website: JustinDeese.com Gift to listeners: N/A SummarySix weeks into 2026, Justin and Kristen Deese sit down to unpack a whirlwind start to the year—conference travel, frozen pipes, live podcasting at PHCC San Diego, and a major family decision they never saw coming. On December 31st, just hours before the new year, they officially purchased East Hill Pizza in Pensacola—alongside their kids. In this episode, they pull back the curtain on why they said yes, how leadership transitions really affect teams, and what happens when you apply home service business principles to an entirely different industry. From DISC profiles and team psychology to scorecards, food cost controls, and why vocabulary matters more than you think—this conversation is packed with lessons for any business owner thinking about growth, legacy, or acquisitions. Key Takeaways Why involving your team early builds trust during ownership transitionsThe power of giving people the numbers they controlHow small operational tweaks can drive massive financial impactWhy most employees fear change—and how language can reduce resistanceWhat restaurant ownership revealed about leadership across industriesHow to build a business your kids can grow into—not inherit as a mess Chapters00:00 – Welcome & why 2026 already feels wild02:30 – PHCC San Diego: live podcasts, chaos, and air horns08:20 – Handling distractions and pressure as a leader11:50 – Frozen pipes, Florida problems, and real life12:40 – The “family business” conversation with the kids14:30 – Why East Hill Pizza caught their attention18:20 – Buying a business fast (and what that really means)21:30 – Leading a team through an ownership transition24:45 – Scorecards, transparency, and immediate results27:30 – Applying home service principles to restaurants31:45 – What’s next for the business and the family Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #FamilyBusiness #BusinessAcquisition #LeadershipDevelopment #RestaurantOwnership #TradesLeadership #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessWithFamily #Scorecards #TeamCulture #DISCProfile #LegacyBuilding #SmallBusinessGrowth #JustinDeese #KristenDeese #WhenYourBusinessPartnerIsYourSpouse Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    36 min
  8. 130 | Why Comparing Your Numbers Is Holding You Back (And What to Focus on Instead)

    FEB 2

    130 | Why Comparing Your Numbers Is Holding You Back (And What to Focus on Instead)

    Show InformationEpisode Number: 130 Date: February 02, 2026 Duration: 10:50 Host Contact InformationHost: Justin Deese Website: JustinDeese.com Contact: podcast@JustinDeese.com SummaryToo many business owners are busy, exhausted, and frustrated—yet still falling short of their goals. In this episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, Justin Deese breaks down a critical leadership mistake: confusing goals with priorities. Justin explains why comparing your numbers to other businesses is dangerous, how different accounting methods skew benchmarks, and why progress—not comparison—is the true measure of success. Using simple sports analogies and real-world business examples, he shows how championship teams win by protecting priorities, not just dreaming about outcomes. If you want clarity, focus, and real momentum in your business, this episode will help you stop chasing noise and start executing the plays that actually move the scoreboard. Key TakeawaysGoals define the destination, but priorities determine daily executionMost owners fail not because of bad goals—but unclear prioritiesBusiness KPIs are rarely measured the same way across companiesComparison without context leads to distraction and poor decisionsConsistency in the right actions beats chasing the latest tacticProgress against your own metrics matters more than outside benchmarks Chapters00:00 – Why comparing numbers is misleading 02:30 – Goals vs. priorities explained with sports analogies 06:15 – Why being busy doesn’t equal progress 09:40 – The danger of KPI comparison in business 13:10 – Average ticket, labor, and margin misunderstandings 18:45 – Why you’re only competing against yourself 22:30 – How to align goals with real priorities 26:00 – The true “silver bullet” for business growth 29:10 – Action steps to regain clarity and focus 32:00 – Final takeaway: change priorities to change results Keywords#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #BusinessLeadership #GoalsVsPriorities #HomeServiceBusiness #BusinessClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurMindset #ServiceBusinessGrowth #BusinessExecution #LeadershipFocus #ConsistencyWins #StopComparing #WinningTheDay #JustinDeese Mentioned in this episode: SERVICE MANAGER ACADEMY 2026 WWW.SERVICEMANAGERTRAINING.COM

    12 min
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Welcome to the Freedom Blueprint Podcast! Host Justin Deese delivers practical advice from his decades in the home service industry. Each week, discover strategies for success, avoid pitfalls, and hear real-life stories. Join our community to learn and grow together. Featuring guests like Tommy Mello from Home Service Experts, Tersh Blissett and Josh Crouch from Service Business Mastery, Jerod Williams from Wealthy Plumbers and Ara Mahdessian CEO of Service Titan. Visit www.FreedomBlueprintPodcast.com for more. Empowering leaders, fostering growth and a positive mindset. Your journey to success in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical starts here!

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