Life Of An Electrical Contractor Podcast

In this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor,  I take a break from talking about being a contractor and focus on “the life.” We tend to think of influencers as a specific type of job or title meaning you have a lot of followers on social media. The fact is, we are all influencers and we are all being influenced in some way. As a leader in your community, you are an influence on everyone around you. And as someone who is around other people and who consumes any kind of media, you are being influenced. In this episode, I want you to take a serious look at what is influencing you, and whether or not that influence helps you. Watch this episode to become a better leader by having a better understanding of what an influencer is.

On this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I take a break from talking about business and instead focus on another important aspect of having a happy and fulfilling life that most people don't talk about: being a better man. Being a better man often means resisting the urge to be the “bigger man.” We do this constantly without realizing it, which is why it's so important to become aware of your own patterns and triggers. Often, to be the better man, you have to learn to let go of your need to be the “bigger man.” This episode will show you why and how.

On this episode of the Life of an Electrical Contractor, I have a special guest: My good friend, Ron McKay. Ron has been a friend of mine for many years now, and I've watched him go from the deepest depths to the highest highs. In this interview, he'll share the story of how he became a successful entrepreneur, how he had to shut down his business practically overnight, and how he started his newest venture, Hammock Greens. Hammock Greens grows leafy greens in shipping containers, using an innovative technology that can grow the same amount of produce a 30 acres in the space the size of a mobile home. He is on the cutting edge of AgTech, and he is set to scale up and disrupt the entire agriculture industry. Watch this interview to learn what he's doing now, and how he got to where he is.

On this episode of the Life of an Electrical Contractor, I talk more about mindset. As a business owner, you run more than just your business. You also lead your family and your community. You have to constantly evaluate where you are so you can evolve. It isn't comfortable to to something new, especially when things are going well, but if you want to stay ahead in business, you must constantly be expanding. The first place you need to expand is… well yourself. With that in mind, I recently made the trip to Florida for a business mastermind/boot camp with Valuetainment founder Patick Bet-David and The Next Level Experience founder Raul Villacis. The experience really gave me some new ideas to expand my business and improve my life, and on this episode, I'm going to share some of them with you. Watch the video for more.

On this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I take a break from the electrical contracting side and focus more on life. In this episode, I share what I do in my life to get the most out of it. Yes, I work hard, and I see the results from that hard work, but having financial success and not being able to enjoy it is trapping yourself in a cage. I don't try to find balance in my life, I look for integration. That means I go 100% (or at least as close to it) at the 4 areas of my life: Body, bonds, business, and being. I focus my attention on where I am and what I'm doing, and I don't let myself get distracted and be 50% at home and 50% at work. People who do that are spinning their wheels and getting nowhere. Instead, give work everything you've got, and then when you're with your family/at the gym/at church, you give it your all and leave your other areas of your life at the door. Easier said than done? Sure. But isn't investing in yourself the best investment? Put the work in, find the time to take care of yourself, and everything will grow from there.

This episode of The Life of an Electrical Contractor is an exploration of the meaning of the Parable of the Talents. This is a story in the bible. The story goes that 3 men are given money, and 2 men take risks and make more, but the third buries the money, even losing out on interest compared to taking it to the bank.The third man is punished. What can we learn from this story in our modern world? Watch this video to learn more.

As the end of the year approaches, most of us are taking the time to review how the year went. Did you reach your goals? What kept you from accomplishing them? Or did you even make them in the first place? If you didn't accomplish your goals, are you trying to rush to reach them in the last 3 weeks of the year? On this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I will share with you some advice to move forward in a smart way. You will learn what you can do in 2023 to make it your best year yet. 2023 will be challenging for everyone, but you can take advantage of opportunities that others aren't prepared for, if you have the right mindset.

On this episode of the show, I give sound advice on what to do in uncertain and volatile times. 2023 is certain to be one of the roughest years in over a decade for investors, and if you're not careful, you can lose your investment. This episode wil give you 5 strategies to use to make the best decisions in times like these. Watch the video to hear these tips, which will how you how to make decisions in a rational manner based on experience, rather than make decisions based on panic and FOMO. Although the market is volatile now, real estate investing is one of the best long-term investments you can make, and this guide will help you keep that investment and be profitable in the long term.

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is a lesson you can apply whether you are a contractor or in any business that deals with moving parts from place to place: How to keep from losing supplies. Anything that is ordered to go to a job site, particularly something that is specific to the job (e.g. NOT extension cords, fuses, socket plates) can get lost. All it takes is one busy moment where someone decides “I need to get this out of the way to deal with this other thing” can throw off an entire job.

On this episode of Life on an Electrical Contractor, I share with you how to make a plan to succeed in 2023 by starting today. Average people make New Year's Resolutions. But do you want to be average? No! You want to go above and beyond. So why not start your New Year's Resolution a few months early? And instead of abandoning your resolution in 6-8 weeks, why not have a plan and stick to it? The fact is, 2023 is going to be a rough year. You can't control the market. But what you can do is prepare, and find opportunities where other people are looking for excuses. Create a plan of action today, so you'll be ahead of the game. Watch this video to learn how.

On episode 18 of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I explore the importance of taking vacations. I am fortunate to have the kind of job that I love. But I work very hard at that job, and it's important to take time out away from your work to refresh yourself. Recently, I went on a two week vacation with my family to France. There are many lessons from this experience. As an entrepreneur, all that hard work you are doing is in service of buying freedom. If you ever lose sight of that, your job becomes your jail. Take advantage of the benefits of the hard work you've put into your business by taking time out every once in a while to be physically and mentally present to somewhere other than work. Many of the things that happened started out as bad experiences, then quickly turned into memorable moments that became the highlights of the trip. These moments are a good reminder of the importance of staying flexible rather than being attached to an outcome. The point is to have a good time, however that happens. Watch the full episode to learn more about the funny stories on my vacation, and what lessons I learned and you can learn from them.   Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/  

On this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, the subject is “Are your hands tied?” Whether you are an electrician or in any area of your life, you may have someone tie your hands or even unintentionally be tying your own hands. On this episode, I explain what it means to have your hands tied, because you may even have your hands tied and not realize it because you're so used to it! I also give 5 strategies on how to untie your hands both in the moment and long-term. Your habits every day will keep your hands free to do everything that you need to do to be successful, not just in business but in everyday life.

On this episode of Life of an Electric Contractor, I tell you what to do when things go wrong. Things will not go according to plan, and you can decide if you want to take failure as a learning experience or as a personal failing. If you want to learn from failure, you need to ask yourself three questions when things are going wrong: What is the real problem, who do I need to become, when must I execute the solution? If you can successfully figure out those questions, then every loss today can be a win tomorrow. Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/  

On the day I made this video, there were 44 days left in 2021. As you watch this, the end of the year will be even closer. Instead of waiting until January 1st to make a new year's resolution, start working now to close the year strong. Review the last year, see what worked and what didn't. See where you can tie up loose ends and where you can double down on what's working. You should be reviewing your life often, not just once a year. If you want to have a good year in 2022, you need to start now.   Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is about success. As you go through school and in your first few years of your career, you might think that success means having a nice car, or a big house, but as you mature, you realize that success means different things to different people, at different times of your life. For me, the freedom to spend time with my children. But getting to success is never easy; there are no shortcuts. Having a schedule, which has specific, achievable goals, will help develop the discipline to work hard every day. Ultimately, success is a feeling more than a finish line. Don't define your success as making a certain amount of money or having a certain amount of business, but find joy in the journey. Your success will continue as long as you define success in your life in a way that is achievable.   Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/  

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is about how to get paid. As a contractor, you may not be used to the idea of having to bill your client and fight to get your money, because when you're an hourly wage worker you never have to think about it. This episode details all the different ways you have to have your own books in order and the ways to bill your client and follow through with them in a professional manner. Unfortunately, not every bill will get paid, and you may have to take some legal action, or even take a loss and end your professional relationship with that client. This episode will teach you what you need to know to get the money that's owed to you throughout your career.   Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is about Intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurship can be summed up as being an entrepreneur within a company. That is, taking ownership of your situation rather than do the minimum to get by, to look for opportunities to expand either your own responsibilities or the company itself, and being able to think independently. The term may sound new, but it actually dates back to 1978, and came into common usage in the 1980s. In this episode, I detail the kind of person you need to be to be an Intrapreneur. You need to be able to fix things in the company that you see can be improved, you have to give it your all, you have to be willing to bring and give value to others, and be of strong character. If you have the mindset of doing just enough to get by and then finding other things that make you happy, there's nothing wrong with that, but if you want to take ownership and take a step closer to being an entrepreneur, being an intrapreneur will give you a chance to learn many soft skills it takes to be a successful entrepreneur before you run with your big idea and start your own business.   Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/  

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is all about ladders and scissor lifts. If you want to get to a high place, these are the tools you'll use to do it. And that's what they are: tools. Any tool can be used safely or unsafely, and if you use any tool in an unsafe way, accidents are more likely to occur. In this episode, I explain when you would want to use either a ladder or scissor lift, and how to do it safely. More importantly, I warn against common mistakes and unsafe ways of doing things with these tools. The safety features of scissor lifts are designed to mitigate damage, but they can't protect you completely. Sure, falling 10 feet and being caught by a harness is better than dropping 50 feet, but you still might hit something that's around you. If you are aware of the risks of using these tools, and take those precautions, your chances of an accident are much lower. Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is more on mindset and life tips than about specifically working as an electrical contractor. Life is going to punch you in the face. That is as certain as death and taxes. The question is what you do about it. Although you might think the best thing to do is to get right back up and go into the fight, often the right move is to slow down and reflect as to why you got knocked down. Those steps in between getting knocked down and getting back up will have a huge impact on whether you have better results the next time or you keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

This episode is all about the dangers of accepting “good enough.” Many of us just keep going about our day thinking that because something works fine, that means it works. But when I come over, I sometimes see lights that are too dim to see properly, equipment that isn't properly maintained, and dangerous conditions. In addition, I also have found that some organizations don't have properly trained personnel for the job. And we're talking about equipment that costs 6 figures, and personnel that require many hours of training and have years of experience in other areas. So having equipment or people that are “good enough” can actually be costing you money every day. It really does pay to invest in quality.

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is about questions. Some of us make a very big mistake by thinking that asking questions is bad. No! Asking questions is the way to get things right. If you simply assume the customer/contractor knows what you want, you are sure to miss important information, and the job will not be done to the customer's satisfaction. The art of asking questions goes beyond being between a customer and a contractor, but also includes relating to your family and answering questions from your team members. You have to have an environment that fosters asking and answering questions, which you create by asking questions yourself, and being genuine in the questions and answers. The goal is to have the other person not just have a question answered, but to understand and learn, so that in turn, that person can teach others.

In this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I address the three most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make, whether they are electrical contractors or any other business owners. If you don't address these mistakes, you will lose out on more money than you can ever count, burn yourself out, and lose the love you once had for the business you worked so hard to build. The first is, invoice correctly. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of fitting in the time to crunch the numbers when they have a slow day, but this pattern sets you up to be chasing money that is owed to you, and giving your labor away for free. Second, know your numbers. Entrepreneurs often overlook hours and expenses, and don't realize that they are losing money. Third, pay yourself. As a business owner, you want to reinvest into the business, but if you don't set a specific, measurable rate for your labor, you will undervalue your own time, and never be able to make a profit. To hear more details, and learn how these lessons can come home with you after work, watch the episode.   0:30 The top 3 mistakes beginner entrepreneurs make 1:20 1 - Bill/invoice correctly 2:20 Why I didn't invoice correctly early on 3:45 Maybe you're going through this and don't even realize it  4:38 Are you screwing yourself with your billing cycle?  5:50 Create the system to fix the problem 7:20 The people you invoice aren't your friends  8:01 2 - Know your numbers 9:57 Breaking even means you lost money 11:55 How do you calculate your hourly labor rate? 13:02 Don't wait until you lose money to realize it 14:58 It's painful but rewarding when you see how much you're making 15:42 3- Pay yourself 16:35 When you pay yourself, you know what to charge per hour 17:54 You drive the business, you have to fuel yourself 20:30 Why be in business if you're not going to pay yourself 22:25 Everyone makes these mistakes, not everyone discovers them 23:00 Review 24:15 Why you need to know these three things, no matter what level you are in business 26:33 Wrap up, don't forget to like and subscribe

On this episode of Life of An Electrical Contractor, I explain what makes Gem Electrical Contracting (my company) different from the competition. It really comes down to three things: We care, we show up, and we get it done. In other words, from the first step to the last, we work with you to find what you need, then procure the necessary equipment, and then finish the job to your satisfaction. A lot of contractors just do the minimum. We don't just show up on business hours, we show up when you need us. When you need us most, we answer the phone. We don't just do the job, we take care of the customer. Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/

This episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor is an interview I did with Alan Schutz. Schutz is an electrical contractor who specializes in LED lighting. In this interview, we discussed what customers expect from LED lighting, which can be a big investment, and sometimes takes getting used to, because LED is so much brighter than what they've been using for years. LED lighting has such a long life that some contractors actually don't tell their customers that they do it, because the contractor gets a predictable payday two or three times every year to change the bulbs, which they would have to give up if they install lights that can last for 15 years. But, a good contractor like me, or Alan, knows that by saving the customer money, you can develop a relationship with them that will far outweigh the quick payday, and lead to greater opportunities and references in the future. The interview ends with some predictions on what the future of lighting will look like. I can predict one thing: The future looks bright for LED lighting.

On this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I teach you how to make money on your lights. Yes, you really can make money on your lights. As Benjamin Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” As good advice as that is for a person, in a business, every penny can be put right back in the business to make you more money. Wouldn't you love to have up to 75% of your light budget (plus the savings on not changing bulbs) in your pocket? To understand how LEDs are so efficient, I begin this episode with a primer on different types of bulbs that are used in commercial applications. As you will find, you may be wasting money that you thought you were saving when you have dead light bulbs. As you will see in this episode, it's easier and cheaper to switch to LEDs than you might have thought, and you'll be on your way to making more money in your business in less time.

In this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I explain the importance of building a relationship with your electrical contractor. When you hire a contractor, you are entering not just a contract but a partnership; you get what you want, but you have to be clear on what you want, and in turn the contractor has to be clear about what he can and cannot provide in terms of service, price, and time.  As a customer, it's important to be honest about what you want and what you expect from a contractor. At times, you may find a lower cost, but at the same time, that lower cost may bite you in the rear if you accept inferior quality work. It's important to understand why things cost as much or as little as they do, and so if you have a good relationship with your contractor, you can feel comfortable asking those questions.

On this episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, we go over some of the most frequently used words and terms you will use when negotiating, hiring, and letting a contractor to work for you. These terms include: licensed insured, bonded, experience, permit, honesty, safety, and value. When you talk to a contractor, you must know that a contractor understands these terms and follows your directions safely and legally. When hiring a contractor, you should also understand the difference between price and value. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Although we are sometimes the least expensive, often we are not. But to get the honesty and peace of mind that comes from knowing you hired the best person is always worth the price.   Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Imjosemoreno https://www.instagram.com/iamjosemoreno/ https://www.gem-electricalcontracting.com/  

On this, the inaugural episode of Life of an Electrical Contractor, I introduce myself. I, Jose Moreno, have been in the electrical business since I graduated from high school. I studied a trade rather than go to college, and I began working for a contractor.