In our latest episode, Dan and Steve are joined by Matt Michel! Michel is the founder and past Chairman, CEO, and president of Service Nation Inc., which operates the Service Roundtable (the world’s largest business alliance for service contractors), the Service Nation Alliance best practices group, the Retail Contractor Coalition branding alliance, the Service World Expo. Tune in as the trio discuss Matt's journey through the industry and all things private equity — including how independent contractors can stay competitive. Plus, find out what Matt thinks are the top five mistakes contractors make and how to avoid them! About Matt: Matt sold Service Nation to EverCommerce in 2017 and stepped down from his leadership position in January 2023. Previously, he founded the Aire Serv franchise system, HVAC’s oldest continually operating residential franchise network. Deemed “The Contractor’s Advocate” and “The Contractor’s Northstar” by various industry publications, Matt is a serial entrepreneur and an internationally acclaimed motivational and informational speaker. He has spoken about marketing, branding, culture, sales, pricing, leadership, strategic planning, goal setting, entrepreneurship, business exit strategies, and industry outlooks from Istanbul to Australia and many places in-between. Today, Matt is a writer, speaker, and rancher. He is the author of "Never Lose a Customer," "The Power of Positive Pricing," "Social Media for Service Contractors," "Uplift," the bestselling "Contractor Stories," and is researching a book on the emotional side of selling a business. Thank you to A. O. Smith for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about the company's Cyclone FLEX water heater, visit Hotwater.com/cycloneflex.