Lighting For Profits

One of the most challenging things of trying to scale a business is finding good people to help you do it. At times, I was tempted to just keep doing everything myself because it seemed I had a better chance of success on my own than trying to get others to help me. Are you with me? If so, make sure to join me this week with my guest Shawn Day with Blue Skies Recruiting. Shawn is an expert on all things recruiting and we'll discuss the strategies it takes to attract high quality talent and what it takes to keep team members engaged.

Client numero uno! Every business has a first client. Luke Jensen was founding member of Landscape Lighting Secrets. Find out why he decided to make the jump on this episode. Also, we discuss what he is doing now and how he was able to buy an existing business to go from operator to owner.

How do you price event lighting? How do you get clients? What product do you use? If you've even wondered how to add event lighting to your business and make additional revenue providing rental lighting for weddings, parties, graduation, etc, you'll want to join me this week with my guest, Jeff Larcom. Jeff has figured out a pretty cool niche and is building his name in the industry as an expert in event lighting.

This week I'll give you the recap of my first ever Landscape Lighting LIVE. Then we'll have Colin Dehaan join the show and talk about his life as an entrepreneur and now business coach.

The truth is I forgot to schedule a guest this week. Oops! So I reached out on FB and have a few fellow lighting professionals joining me for a panel discussion. We are going to discuss several things including marketing, social media, hiring sales people and how to pay them.

I talk a lot about business, but I want to make sure we bring in discussions around design and product as well. This week I welcome back Tom Garber, CEO of Emery Allen. We'll talk about his company and the ways they are adding value in the industry.

We all have limited beliefs. It's normal to doubt ourselves or even doubt what is possible. This week, I'll help you crush through one of your limiting beliefs of..."Can I really replace myself?" Don't miss this exclusive interview with Chad Sieg, my former salesperson/lighting designer. We will discuss his role at my former company and how he is able to sell over $1M in landscape lighting himself every year.

After taking a couple weeks off at the end of the year, I am recharged and ready to go for a BIG 20222! What are your plans for 2022? What do you need to do in order to accomplish your goals. I'll talk about some things I recommend that can help you with whatever you are working on.

I met my guest this week only 6 months ago. Ryan Edrington is the owner of Xcellent Xteriors and is brand new to the lighting world, yet somehow has managed to already hit the 6 figure mark in his business and is well on his way to hitting 7 figures in 2022. Join us as we discuss what he has learned and he reveals what things are working for him in his business.

If you know who Tommy Mello is, then you're definitely not going to want to miss this show. If you don't know who Tommy Mello is, then you're definitely not going to want to miss this show. Tommy started at the bottom and is already well on his way to his goal of being a billionaire. Yes that is with a B. He is in the garage door industry but I promise you that everything he talks about applies to the lighting industry as well. We will talk about his journey so far and what else he has planned. He is already set to do around $100M this year!

I know a lot of people that brag about how much business they get from "word of mouth". It's almost like a badge of honor they wear because they don't advertise. If you want to stay small, that may be totally fine. If that is you, then you are not going to like this episode. Ha! However, if you want to scale and not being the guy doing EVERYTHING in your business, then investing in some smart advertising strategies is going to be key in building enough profits to be able to afford to replace yourself in business. This week, I welcome David Kaminski with Collaborate Pros. He is a successful small business owner that has grown his window cleaning business into several million dollars per year. He is going to share how he uses GMB and his website to generate high quality leads.

Do It Dirty! This has become a regular phrase in my guests vocabulary. This week I welcome Scott Molchan, with Million Dollar Landscaper to the show. We will discuss what this phrase means and how it will change your way of thinking. Scott and his wife Katie run a successful podcast and training academy for landscapers to help them grow their businesses. Find out how they got their start and listen to their tips and ideas for success!

I remember how hard it was to remember to follow up with clients and sometimes to even remember to advertise. It seems so hard to stay on top of things as you are running your business. That is why I am excited to have my guest, Daniel Dixon on this episode. He is the CEO of SendJim and we are going to talk about how to use automation in your business. This is a game-changer for those of you that feel overwhelmed and know you are forgetting to follow up.

Creating a personal brand is becoming more and more important everyday. Yes, even if you don't like to self-promote, brag, or whatever you want to call it. This week my guest is personal brand expert, mentor, coach, and overall good dude, Nick Cavuoto. We are going to talk about how building your brand online will bring you a constant lead supply and how it even helps you close more deals.

Since selling my landscape lighting business, I have had more time to research, learn new business strategies, and meet other successful entrepreneurs. I recently met Jason Geiman who teaches people how to start their own Christmas light & pressure washing business. In this episode, we are going to find out how he was able to build his business up and eventually sell it, and what he is doing now to give back to the small business community.

I'm back in the studio and pumped for this week's episode. I'll be joined by Chris McCoy with Haven Lighting. We'll talk RGB and everything you need to know before you become a RGB expert!

My guest this week, Jim Frederick with Tru-Scapes will be speaking at the GIE and Northeast Hardscape Expo next week. We will get to know him and his company that specializes in lighting for the hardscape industry.

I have a lot in common with this week's guest (Except the fact that I wasn't in the Air Force and I didn't fight in Desert Storm). I'll be chatting live with Rick Hughes of Heritage Landscape Supply Group. We are going to talk selling high quality products at high prices and of course, I'll ask him about his background as a veteran and how it has fueled his career.

Have you ever wondered how some of the fixture designs are created? Join me and my guest, Scott Romacker of Sterling Lighting. Anyway, I recently found out he invented a light fixture. Pretty cool. We'll talk manufacturing, installations, and of course sales & profitability.

This week, we go outside the box as I welcome Dustin Gutkowski, owner of Results Roofing. I've been following Dustin's success as he has built his roofing business and I'm going to get him to share is secrets to rapid growth in a saturated market.

If you've ever wondered who does those large landscape lighting jobs and how the heck they get them, then make sure to come listen to Greg Matthews of Luxury Illumination. Greg is a beast when it comes to designing and installing high end, high quality lighting and audio systems. Listen to him share his experience.

It is time to take the show on the road. For the first time ever, I leave the studio and do this episode on the road. Going International! This week I'm in Switzerland and I am going LIVE with some lighting friends. My first international show and we had some technical difficulties. If you can get past the poor audio, the content is amazing. We talk about the importance of replacing yourself in your business. Can you guess who will be joining me as this weeks guest?

My guest this week is a real son of a Vich! I'm excited to have Anthony Bogdanovich, owner of California Outdoor Lighting and Imagine lighting Co. on the show. Anthony has a ton of experience and has built up quite the portfolio over the years and we will be discussing his success in the industry.

This week I welcome a friend, author, entrepreneur, and mother, Michelle Mueller. I probably missed some accomplishments in there as well! I'm going to ask Michelle about her career in the lighting industry and pick her brain about how she has managed to accomplish all that she has. We also welcome a special surprise guest to join us as we discuss her newest venture, Learn Night Light.

Visit Ryan Lee and the Gang this October 20th thru the 22nd at the GIE Plus Expo near the food court. Be sure to get your picture taken with Ryan in the Time Machine! See you there!

I met my guest this week, Tom Garber, in an interesting fashion. Make sure to tune in to hear my embarrassing story! Tom is the CEO of Emery Allen, a U.S. based LED lamp manufacturer. We will discuss some of the issues in the supply chain and where he sees the future of the lighting world.

If you are going to design and install landscape lighting, you're going to want to meet my guest this week, Jan Moyer. She is an internationally known lighting designer that has 45 years of experience and has helped shaped the lighting industry into what it is today. We are going to discuss design and find out what she feels has allowed her to influence so many others.

Special Edition

Multiple streams of income is the goal of every entrepreneur. This week, I welcome Dan Platta who has built and is continually adding to his multiple streams. He not only has a background in the home service industry, but also now helps other business owners with recruiting, bookkeeping, and marketing.

If you are trying to figure out how to get started in the lighting business, make sure to join me and my guest Michael Zuzack. I'll ask him about his start in the lighting business and how he has been able to quickly establish himself as an authority in the industry.

This week, I welcome to the show, James Solecki. If you want to know how you can land large projects and even move to an island to do landscape lighting for a living, then you should definitely make this episode a priority!

If you don't know Nels, you don't know lighting. In this episode, I welcome Nels Peterson to discuss his career in lighting and some of the strategies he has used to set himself apart as a lighting designer in the industry.

Building a referral partner program for your lighting business is not easy, but when done correctly it can result in monumental profits. This week, I bring on Luxury Pool Builder, John Caldwell. John and I will discuss our relationship and his experience with lighting on his projects. Rumor has it, he can sell ice to an eskimo, so if you're lucky we'll even get a sales tip or two!

One of the challenges of installing Christmas lights every year is trying to keep your guys working throughout the rest of the year. This week, my guest Chris Apfelstadt will discuss with us the process of starting up his landscape lighting business to help keep busy throughout the year.

From operator to owner, I'll discuss this topic with my guest this week, Mike Long. Mike has been diligent in working on his business and is in the process of hiring his replacement one hire at a time. I'm anxious for him to share his progress in building his landscape lighting business.

If you are wondering which marketing and advertising methods you should be using in your business, then you're not going to want to miss this episode. This week I welcome Dave Carroll, owner of DOPE Marketing. I'm going to ask him which marketing methods have the BEST ROI and discuss some of his newest top secret strategies that he is using to get his clients massive profits.

This week I welcome Bryan Gold with Brilliance LED. Bryan and his father were landscape lighting contractors and kept seeing opportunities to improve the lighting products that were available. They sold their contracting business and pivoted to manufacturing the products they wished they had in the field. Brilliance focuses on manufacturing high-quality LED products, fixtures, and smart products and controls. I end the show with my lighting tip of the week on how you can save time and get to enjoy work even more.

Be sure to join Brian... I mean Ryan Lee on the Weekend Review Saturday's at 9 AM. Find out what he's up to on future shows and in his everyday life. That's the Weekend Review LIVE every Saturday Morning at 9AM Eastern

Sales. Marketing. Branding. Lighting. Who knew lighting could be so much fun? This week, I welcome Tommy Herren (The Lighting Geek) from HGTV. Tommy has figured out his voice and has figured out branding and marketing. He uses his off-the-wall ideas to be “memorable” to clients. I ask him what his most successful advertising method has been. I end the show with my lighting tip of the week which involves a step by step plan to make sure you get to where you want to be in business.

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling....What??!!??!! Christmas in May? That's right, you know every year it seems like the retail stores start to put out the Christmas gear earlier and earlier. But I'm beating them to the punch. This week I welcome, Mike Marlow, owner of Holiday Bright Lights, a premier holiday lighting and Christmas decor wholesale supplier. We are going to be discussing the Christmas light industry and why its such a profitable business. Whether you already offer Christmas lights to your clients or you are thinking about adding it to your offering, you're going to want to hear what Mike has to say. I end the show with my lighting tip of the week and how you can make sure you don't experience a labor shortage.

I share my experience at Transworld's Christmas Light Show and CLIPA Conference in St. Louis. It was a great time to network and meet new people in the lighting industry. I taught a class on how to add landscape lighting to your existing business with Luke Jensen and Scott Romacker. My guest this week is Paul Gosselin Sr. of NightScenes Landscape Lighting Professionals and author of The Landscape Lighting Guide. He has been in the industry a long time and he shares his thoughts on what you can do if you are just starting out in the landscape lighting industry. Paul has been actively involved with AOLP and is always willing to help other people grow their lighting business.

If you like money, don't miss this episode. I talk about the one thing that most people overlook when starting and building a business. I share my experience of building a home and why I won't be using my builder in the future. Next I'm joined by Jeremy Sviben of Botanical Lighting and Lighting Shrink. We discuss maintenance plans and how to effectively implement them into your landscape lighting business. Jeremy shares his knowledge of being in the business for over 30 years (he ages well). I loved the way this conversation went and I'm telling you...you gotta listen to this (unless you hate money).

We start with another segment of "Prank My Business" and I give my best British accent. Next I am joined by Mark Carlson, owner of Avalon Lighting Design and ELLI (Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative). Mark shares his thoughts on lighting design and how design has more benefits than just the regular benefits we think of. I also discuss risk and how the most successful landscape lighting businesses are taking risks to get to the next level. Finally, I discuss how thinking bigger can transform your business and allow you to get to the level you know you should already be.

Today Lighting For Profits, adds a whole new twist. Instead of just being educational, I thought it would be nice to add some entertainment. Make sure you listen to the prank call I did with my old company. And make sure to watch the Mr. Peterson phone call of Ferris Buehler's Day Off before you do. I am also joined by the CEO of Garden Light LED, Reto Mueller. Reto has been a mentor of mine for 10 years and has helped me get clarity in my landscape lighting business. He is not one to do LIVE interviews and does not like talking about himself so to get a glimpse into his life like this is a rare treat. We discuss, self-education, self-awareness, building your own ecosystem and some of his other tips to make sure you are chasing excellence in all that you do. A landscape lighting legend!

Let's talk differentiating yourself. I'm joined by Andy Thomas, owner of Viewpoint Lighting in Sacramento, Ca and also President of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP). We talk about why he's so passionate about lighting and how he has grown his lighting business. We also get an introduction to AOLP and some of the benefits of being a member. Finally I close with my lighting tip of of the week and give you some tips on how you can work "on" your business every single week.

In this episode, we discuss the difference between being a business operator vs. a business owner. We discuss how to get to the next level and what steps are necessary to become an entrepreneur vs. being self-employed. Being self employed usually means terrible pay, bad hours, and a terrible boss (you). lol. Woody Kerwin from Night Owl Landscape Lighting joins me and reveals some of his top tips of how he is working on growing his landscape lighting business. Even with 3 young kids, he has been able to work on his lighting business and is on his way to being business owner.

In this episode of Lighting For Profits, I discuss why I had to change the name of the podcast!!! Then I have first guest on the show....Ryan Jaso. We discuss his background of how he got into the landscape lighting industry, and what separates his distribution business apart from the rest. We discuss the power of setting up partnerships to stay specialized what you do and he brings up what he thinks is hurting the landscape lighting industry today. I close with my landscape lighting tip of the week. Make sure to listen and find out several things you can do to get more free leads right now.

Most people think that you can't sale millions of dollars of landscape lighting every year. I used to think like that too. In this episode, I go over my backstory and share a little bit about how I got into the green industry and how I was able to build and sell a multi-million dollar landscape lighting business. I touch on how profitability will transform your life and business forever. I set the stage for Lighting For Profits and how we are going to be talking about increasing your price, increasing your qualified leads, and increasing your closing rate.

I quickly introduce the podcast and why the name of the first 2 episodes are different!