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The Yeah C'mon Show welcomes Chris Lalomia, founder of The Trusted Toolbox, to discuss his journey from the corporate banking world to founding his handyman/home renovation business. See his book "From The Zoo To The Wild: Your Guide To Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth" and his business at www.thetrustedtoolbox.com
Lessons in Pricing, Value, and Funk, with Chris Lalomia, The Trusted Toolbox (The Price and Value Journey, Episode 121) In this episode of The Price and Value Journey, host John Ray chats with Chris Lalomia, owner of The Trusted Toolbox, the largest handyman service in Atlanta and in the top three nationwide. Chris discusses his journey […]
In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser sits down with Chris Lalomia, founder of The Trusted Toolbox, a handyman and remodeling company generating over $3 million annually. Chris shares his journey from corporate life to building a thriving handyman business with 15 employees and how he expanded into the remodeling space. The conversation dives deep into the operational and marketing strategies that helped Chris scale his business, the challenges of balancing handyman and remodeling services, and why staying focused on what you excel at is key to success. Chris also offers practical tips on training employees, managing customer expectations, and navigating industry trends. Tune in to learn how to cross-promote services and grow your business in the home services industry. Keywords: handyman business, remodeling business, home services industry, scaling a business, business operations, contractor marketing, Chris Lalomia, The Trusted Toolbox, business growth, training employees, customer service, contractor podcast.
The SECRET to Business Success with Chris Lalomia from The Trusted Toolbox (Organization Conversation, Episode 62) In this episode of Organization Conversation, host Richard Grove interviews Chris Lalomia, founder of The Trusted Toolbox. They talk about Chris’s journey from the corporate world to building a successful handyman business, as well as the importance of customer service […] The post The SECRET to Business Success with Chris Lalomia from The Trusted Toolbox appeared first on Business RadioX ®.
Home Designs for Life: Remodeling ideas to increase safety, function, and accessibility in the home.
Send us a text. We love to hear from our fans.Chris Lalomia, CEO of The Trusted Toolbox, discusses his business and the challenges and benefits of home renovations for older adults and people with disabilities. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing professionalism and trust in the handyman industry. Lalomia also talks about the growing trend of multi-generational homes in Atlanta and the need for home modifications to accommodate aging parents. He highlights the need for proactive modifications to prevent falls and improve safety, and the importance of educating homeowners about the benefits of these modifications. Lalomia also discusses the challenges of working with older adults and their families, including managing different opinions and addressing feelings of guilt and anger. He encourages homeowners to view modifications as a lifestyle change and an opportunity to improve their homes. The conversation covers various topics related to home remodeling and aging in place. Chris Lalomia discusses the importance of integrating accessibility features into home design and the work he does with the National Association of Remodelers. They also touch on the challenges of deferred maintenance in older homes and the need for upgrades to plumbing, electrical, and other systems. The conversation highlights the role of home technology in improving comfort and safety, and the importance of starting with key rooms like the bedroom and kitchen when planning for aging in place. They also discuss the benefits of zero-step entrances and the conversion of carports into garages for safety and security.TakeawaysPrioritizing professionalism and trust is crucial in the handyman industry.Home modifications are necessary to accommodate aging parents in multi-generational homes.Proactive modifications can prevent falls and improve safety.Educating homeowners about the benefits of modifications is essential.Challenges in working with older adults include managing different opinions and addressing feelings of guilt and anger.Modifications should be viewed as a lifestyle change and an opportunity to improve the home. Integrating accessibility features into home design is important for aging in place.Deferred maintenance in older homes can decrease their value and pose safety risks.Home technology, such as smart home features, can improve comfort and safety.Starting with key rooms like the bedroom and kitchen is crucial when planning for aging in place.Zero-step entrances and the conversion of carports into garages can enhance safety and security.Sound Bites"I started the business in 2008. And if everybody remembers what that was, that was the start of the recession. So timing has never been my thing.""A lot of people are moving here because it's a big distribution center and it's also a great quality of life.""Once a person falls, they are four times more likely to fall.""You can actually integrate them into the flow of the home and you don't even know they're there or that's what they're there for.""Our home is our number one asset. It is 100% our number one financial, emotional asset.""The housing stock in the U.S. is very old. 90% of the housing stock was built before 1990."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background05:00 Starting The TrustedSupport the showwebsite: https://homedesignsforlife.com/Email: homedesignsforlife@gmail.com
Guest: Scott Seitz Title: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors – First Fence of Georgia Website: https://www.firstfence.com Scott Seitz from First Fence of Georgia gives advice on how to approach a fence project and the process that their team follows. Scott joins Jim Niarchos and Chris Lalomia from The Trusted Toolbox. First Fence of Georgia is an employee-owned company where each person in the company takes ownership of taking care of the customer and helping you get a fence that will be beautiful. First Fence of Georgia does Residential and Commercial Fencing. Thanks to our Sponsor All Four Seasons Garage and Entry Doors as they celebrate their 25th year of service in the Metro Atlanta Area for garage and entry door service and installation and now offering window replacements Don't forget to check out All Four Seasons Garage and Entry Doors, and catch the other episodes on the XTRA 106.3 All Four Seasons Home Show or where ever you listen to podcasts. GET THE APP or subscribe to the PODCAST and get ready to get amazing advice on your home repairs, maintenance, and renovations. Podcast Hosts: Chris Lalomia The Trusted Toolbox Jim Niarchos #fence #PressuretreatedFence #CommercialFence #FencingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Whether it's a repair or replacement Georgia Roof Advisors is ready to help you on the different approaches you can take for maintenance or replacement. Naomi Gasson, a co-owner with her husband James, joins Dan Watkins our sponsor from All Four Season Garage and Entry Doors, Jim Niarchos and Chris Lalomia from The Trusted Toolbox. Georgia Roof Advisors is proud of their approach to help homeowners with their roofs. They are a GAF Master Elite Contractor so you can trust that they will take care of your roof. Tune in! Guest: Naomi Gasson – Georgia Roof Advisors Title: Roof advice, including maintenance tips Website: https://www.georgiaroofadvisors.com Thanks to our Sponsor All Four Seasons Garage and Entry Doors as they celebrate their 25th year of service in the Metro Atlanta Area for garage and entry door service and installation and now offering window replacements Don't forget to check out All Four Seasons Garage and Entry Doors, and catch the other episodes on the XTRA 106.3 All Four Seasons Home Show or where ever you listen to podcasts. GET THE APP or subscribe to the PODCAST and get ready to get amazing advice on your home repairs, maintenance, and renovations. Podcast Hosts: Dan Watkins All Four Seasons Garage and Entry Doors Chris Lalomia The Trusted Toolbox Jim Niarchos #roofrepair #roofreplacement #roofing #gutters #GAF #homerepairSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on the PTB Podcast, we're looking into the practical world of handyman and renovation businesses. In this episode, we're joined by Chris Lalomia, a master in the home service industry, who shares his insights on delivering top-notch customer service, the art of smart hiring, and the secrets to operational efficiency. We explore the real challenges of running a successful handyman business, from building a reliable team to optimizing your business processes for maximum growth. Join us in this episode. If you like our content, please hit subscribe! BOOK A CALL WITH US
Find More Episodes on PCA Overdrive: https://www.pcaoverdrive.org/painter-marketing-mastermind PCA Overdrive is free for members. Not a member? Download the app on the Apple Store or Google Play and enjoy a 7 day free trial! Become a member: https://www.pcapainted.org/membership-resources/ Chris Lalomia is the founder and owner of The Trusted Toolbox, a handyman and remodeling company based in Atlanta, GA. In this episode, Chris shares his unique insights into how to effectively build and market a painting company, having successfully founded and grown a large company in a similar industry. The insights shared here are unique, deep, and absolutely worth listening to!
Chris Lalomia is the founder and owner of The Trusted Toolbox, a handyman and remodeling company based in Atlanta, GA. In this episode, Chris shares his unique insights into how to effectively build and market a painting company, having successfully founded and grown a large company in a similar industry. The insights shared here are unique, deep, and absolutely worth listening to! If you want to ask Chris questions related to anything in this podcast series, you can do so in our exclusive Painter Marketing Mastermind Podcast Forum on Facebook. Just search for "Painter Marketing Mastermind Podcast Forum" on Facebook and request to join the group, or type in the URL facebook.com/groups/paintermarketingmastermind. Again that URL is facebook.com/groups/paintermarketingmastermind. There you can ask Chris questions directly by tagging him with your question, so you can see how anything discussed here applies to your particular painting company.
Welcome to the latest episode of The Underdog Show! Our guest today is Chris Lalomia, a renowned expert in home remodeling and customer service. He is not only an experienced entrepreneur, but also a published author, podcaster, and the founder of The Trusted Toolbox and The Home Service Institute. In this episode, Chris will take us through his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, sharing valuable insights and lessons he learned along the way. He will discuss how he overcame challenges during a startup in a recession, managed cash flow, and built a winning team. Join us as we learn from his 15 years of experience in the industry.Join us as we follow Chris's path from corporate success to entrepreneurship in home services. He's the expert to consult if you're considering starting your journey.In this episode, Pamela and Chris tackled the following:Chris's inspiration leading to his journey today and the story behind his book From Zoo to the WildChris had a successful career but felt unhappy and unfulfilled. What did he do to fix it?The key to building a successful business despite the recessionThe lessons Chris learned from entrepreneurshipThe advice Chris will tell his younger self based on what he knows nowThe future of construction and tradesWhat's coming up with Chris in the next few monthsListen to this exciting episode. Join us for the conversation! Listen to the full episode here:Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/underdog/id1534385651Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FbSDu0aNtuxAEiderUAfBWebsite: https://theunderdogshow.comIf you found this story worth your time and made changes in your life, we'd love to hear from you! Subscribe and leave a review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Catch up with Chris Lalomia here:Website: https://www.chrislalomia.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomiaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrislalomiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/customerservice.freakBook: https://www.chrislalomia.com/zooThe Underdog Podcast host is none other than Pamela Bardhi. She's rocking the Real Estate Realm and has dedicated her life as a Life Coach. She is also in the Forbes Real Estate Council. To know more about Pam, check out the following:Website: https://pamelabardhi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela_bardhiTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pamela_bardhiYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatethroughrealestateOur goal is to help you create the life you dream of through real estate. We're giving value-packed masterclasses on our YouTube Channel - Elevate Through Real Estate. Make sure to subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@elevatethroughrealestate.
Chris Lalomia is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experiences working with the largest companies in America and bringing his unique style to produce success in starting his business from an idea. He currently runs a multi-million-dollar handyman and remodeling company and has started the Home Service Institute to provide a community of like-minded service business owners who have a passion for providing an incredible Customer Experience. Starting a business from scratch is the single hardest business move anyone could undertake and Chris was able to start a business during the 2008 recession and grow it into a thriving symbol of professional home repair excellence in the Metro Atlanta area. The Trusted Toolbox is the largest award-winning handyman company in the area. After a successful career in the corporate world, he gave it all up to start a handyman company that is focused on customer service and has consistently improved while growing through training, process and people. LinkedIn : Chris Lalomia www.linkedin.com/chrislalomia Facebook: Chris Lalomia www.facebook.com/chrislalomia Instagram: CustomerService.freak www.instagram.com/customerservice.freak TikTok: CustomerService.freak www.tiktok.com/customerservice.freak Home Repair Company: www.thetrustedtoolbox.com Podcast: www.safaripodcast.com Training: www.thehomeserviceinstitute.com Book: www.zoo2wild.com In addition to listening to the episode, you can watch a video of their discussion on our YouTube Channel. Due to some technical difficulties, the video interview was recorded in two parts - be sure to watch both and subscribe to support the podcast! For general information about the podcast, send an email to info@beinhakerlaw.com To follow Mitch and the podcast, go to linktr.ee/beinhakerlaw. You can subscribe and listen to episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and most other directories. Please review us whenever possible and thanks for your continued support! Sponsorships and paid guest appearances are available. Connect with us by email or on social media. The Accidental Entrepreneur is brought to you with the help of our sponsor, AWeber - the world's leading small business email marketing and automation service provider. Since 1998, AWeber has helped more than 1 million small businesses, entrepreneurs through its suite of web-based email marketing, automation tools and education. AWeber – the best option when it comes to marketing your business. Visit http://bit.ly/3HK3DVB for more information and to sign up for a trial account. We are also brought to you by TAB. Since 1989, The Alternative Board (or TAB) has been one of the leading peer advisory and business coaching organizations for independent business owners and CEOs across the world. By facilitating peer advisory boards, private 1-on-1 coaching and strategic planning services, TAB helps business owners improve their businesses in ways that change their lives. https://www.thealternativeboard.com/jersey-shore-north Also brought to you by Beinhaker Law, a boutique business & estates legal practice in Clark, NJ. To learn about shared outside general counsel services and how to better protect your business, visit https://beinhakerlaw.com/fractional-gen-counsel/ Opening music written and performed by Howie Moscovitch and Made to Order Music. For more information about Howie and his music services, visit https://howiemoscovitch.com/made-to-order-music/ Please support our affiliate sponsor (https://beinhakerlaw.com/podcast-affiliates/) One of One Productions - a New Jersey-based studio, just over the George Washington bridge, that caters to the booming business of podcasting. Be sure to check out the guesting kit that they've created exclusively for our listeners! https://one-of-one-productions.myshopify.com/products/mitchell-beinhakers-guesting-kit Also, support the show and get your own podcast merch! (https://beinhakerlaw.com/podcast-store/) The Accidental Entrepreneur is a trademark of Mitchell C. Beinhaker. Copyright 2018-2023. All rights reserved.
Today we've got a special guest on the podcast, Chris Lalomia, founder and owner of The Trusted Toolbox out of the Atlanta Georgia metro area.Chris left a high-paying corporate career in the middle of a deep recession in 2008 and started a bathroom and kitchen remodeling company in the Atlanta metro area and has been crushing it ever since.With nearly 800 reviews on Google & Facebook and a 4.7 average rating, it will be no surprise to see Chris has got his systems and training dialed in.We had a great discussion on marketing, training, quality control, software systems, local trade associations, and developing his team and department managers.He also founded and runs The Home Service Institute which provides excellent customer service training for home service companies.Chris took his managerial knowledge and skills from the corporate world and successfully applied them to the home services industry.I thoroughly enjoyed the talk and am sure you'll find some golden nuggets in there for your company.Guest Website:www.thetrustedtoolbox.comwww.thehomeserviceinstitute.comFor more podcast episodes, visitwww.battleplan-marketing.com/podcast/Battle Plan Marketing®Next-Level Marketing for ContractorsCapture - Book - Closehttps://battleplan-marketing.com/LinkedInhttps://linkedin.com/company/battleplan-marketing
It's no secret that nearly everything is getting outsourced today. From house cleaning to car maintenance to food delivery, the convenience and accessibility of hiring someone else to do a task you A) Don't know how to do or B) Have no interest in doing has become big business. This is particularly true in the world of home improvement and renovations; while a good percentage of the population still goes the DIY route, more and more are seeing the benefits of hiring a professional to do it right the first time, saving both time, money, headaches - and probably marriages. And since so many people are spending more time IN their homes thanks to remote work, they're much more eager to invest in outdoor living spaces, remodeling bathrooms, and upgrading their kitchens. But anyone who has hired (or attempted to hire) a handyman knows finding trustworthy and reliable contractors can be challenging. Vice versa, if you're a handyman or contractor, you know the difficulty of managing customer expectations, dealing with paperwork and contracts, and handling admin while doing the job itself. Far too often, neither side comes out ahead. This is an opportunity that Chris Lalomia has capitalized on. (Very successfully, we might add.) Leaving the “corporate zoo,” he ventured out on his own and started The Trusted Toolbox, a home repair and remodeling service. He employs a team of specialized technicians whose only responsibility is to do what they do best. By managing the communication, the paperwork, and the “busy work,” he has more control over the final outcome, making both customer and contractor happy. If you're in any type of service-based business, tune into this episode for some great advice on customer service, business planning, mistakes to avoid, and more. What You'll Learn: Lessons he learned from building a business plan Marketing mistakes he made first starting out What the number one priority should be today for advertising Why it's essential to show your client your work Why he puts a premium on customer service His exit strategy …and much more! Favorite Quote: “We can't be a master and expert of everything.” Connect with Chris: www.chrislalomia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ Instagram: @customerservice.freak How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you're looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com. Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review.
Chris Lalomia had a fancy job in banking with all the perks. But after several years, he realized he wanted more. He wanted to be an entrepreneur. Connect with Chris at his podcast The Small Business Safari HERE or learn more about his company The Trusted Toolbox and his book HERE.With a business education, a banking background, and his trusty business blueprint in hand, he opened a handyman business with an eye for building it into multiple businesses. And then the economy collapsed.You will learn:Lean times might jumpstart growth and new planning.Entrepreneurs may find themselves performing every role during the worst of times.Well-oiled work meetings can promote both personal and professional goals.Lizbeth's links Support the podcast and Lizbeth's writing for $2 or $5 a month on Patreon HEREOR Buy Lizbeth a Coffee Lizbeth's memoir Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters is now a TV movie, #Stolen By Their Father on Lifetime, now streaming on Roku, Vudu, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Interested in seeing if you and Lizbeth would partner well for 1:1 coaching? Sign up for one free session to see. Need a motivational speaker? Sign up HERE to talk with Lizbeth about your needs.
Most founders “over engineer” their business, killing productivity and results because of it. Instead of focusing on what actually creates prosperity in their business… They're busy worrying about the latest 17-step whiz bang funnel. When they do this, it leads to burnout, exhaustion, and endless worry about finding the next customer. And what's ironic is this: deep down, we all know that chasing the next shiny object, and having the latest and greatest CRM, isn't going to make things better. What transforms your business is a near-dictatorial adherence to the simple fundamentals. And in today's episode, Chris Lalomia, founder of The Small Business Safari, reveals how to simplify your business forever. You'll also discover a 3 step plan for endless referrals. Listen now. Show Highlights Include: Sales cycle taking longer than a month? Here's how to close leads on one touch (and yes, it's entirely possible to do this) (1:31) How to build customers who'll stick with you for life by adhering to this simple 4 point checklist (3:33) The Warren Buffet secret to building a better, more profitable business plan (5:48) Why focusing on “outcomes” unlocks better interactions with your customers and employees (9:32) How to get 40% of your business from repeat customers with this 3 step plan for endless referrals (12:50) 2 sentences that could boost your Google My Business reviews from 4.1 to 4.7 (13:58) How to skyrocket the amount of clients you work with by saying “no” to certain clients (17:03) Want more from Chris? Here's where you'll get it: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ The Small Business Safari: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-business-safari/id1579733969 The Trusted Toolbox: https://thetrustedtoolbox.com/
Chris Lalomia is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism in the blue-collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES, he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion-dollar handyman and remodeling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA.
Getting started as an entrepreneur can be a scary process. When you're accustomed to having a reliable paycheck from a company, the idea of creating your own income can be hard. But if you have the dream of entrepreneurship, it can be a hard one to shake. Starting a business often becomes a second career after working as an employee. A desire to set their own schedule, reap the benefits of the business's profits, and build something from the ground up are just some reasons people cite for transitioning into entrepreneurship. But it isn't easy, and there are some basic characteristics you need to have to make it a successful journey. In today's episode of Creating Your Encore Career, Chris Lalomia, owner of The Trusted Toolbox in Atlanta, Georgia, joins Lynn to talk about how he made the leap from a career in mechanical engineering to founding his successful handyman company. At 37 years old, he couldn't ignore his dream of owning a business any longer. It coincided with the recession of 2008, but he persevered, his company survived, and today, he has 40 employees in the metro Atlanta market. Chris Lalomia is still learning business lessons 14 years into his second career, and he shares some of his insights with Lynn. We'll dive deeper into these concepts: Chris Lalomia's background in engineering and banking, why he started his business, The Trusted Toolbox, and what his company looks like today The roadblocks he faced as he shifted into entrepreneurship and how his business plan helped keep him on track How Chris decided what he needed help with as he developed his business and how he prioritizes his time Why culture plays a role in how he runs his company and the feedback he receives from other entrepreneurs How timing and the effort you're willing to put forth affect your business The reason you're selling yourself to your customers as much as you are your product The three things you need to become a successful entrepreneur What The Trusted Toolbox has in its future Chris's advice for those seeking an encore or second career Now, for some action steps: Download the free worksheet: Three Steps You Need for a More Productive Workday Visit Chris Lalomia's website: https://thetrustedtoolbox.com Listen to the podcast: The Small Business Safari Get the book: From the Zoo to the Wild: Your Guide to Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth Visit Chris's LinkedIn page: linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia My Resources: A quick guide to help you get started on your Encore Journey encorecareermindset.com My Website https://www.lynnfriesth.com/ Please leave a Rating and Review: Since this podcast is new, I'm asking for Apple Podcasts reviews. Reviews help others discover and learn what Creating Your Encore Career is all about. If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://www.lynnfriesth.com/podcast1 to download it. I thank you so much for being here and I'll see ya next time on Creating Your Encore Career. — Lynn *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.
How do we find the courage to change? What led Chris go from being in a Corporate job and set up his own business? What were the things on his journey that he found easy and what did he struggle with? Join Em and Chris as they talk all things change and how all of us can do it. Follow Chris: chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com www.thetrustedtoolbox.com -home repair www.thehomeserviceinstitute.com - training www.zoo2wild.com - book www.safaripodcast.com - podcast About Chris Lalomia: Founded the largest handyman company in Atlanta Chris is focused on providing professional, reliable remodeling and handyman services. He has created an environment that focuses on providing an EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE when fixing or enhancing people's homes. The 5 principles of the company are continually reinforced to position the team for success.
The "Vanity Line" vs the "Sanity Line. Chris Lalomia shares his view. An Entrepreneur, Change Leader, Owner of The trusted Toolbox, Podcast Host Small Business Safari and Author of "From the Zoo to the Wild" now on Amazon. https://thetrustedtoolbox.com
In this episode, I interview Chris Lalomia, the Founder, and CEO of The Trusted Toolbox based in Atlanta, United States of America. Chris has set up his own business to provide quality-focused handyman services that surpass expectations. Chris has over 14 years of corporate experience and has opted to establish a home repair and handyman business in order to pursue greater opportunities. The Trusted Toolbox was established in 2008 and has been running for over 14 years. Growing with over $128,000 in the first year revenue has been running with over 40 FTEs. According to Chris, growing a small business necessitates becoming more thoughtful and predictive of what you're asking for. So he says, “In the beginning, it's all about sales. Now, my mindset shift has been about being more thoughtful and more predictive of what I'm asking for, and keep saying that over and over and over.” This Cast Covers: Expert handyman services that are quality-focused and surpass expectations. Left the corporate world and started a home repair and handyman business. Got a master's and bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Went to work in manufacturing. Started business with zero knowledge. Creating a team that solves problems without being involved. Did $128,000 in total revenue in the first year of business. Started a business at the age of 38. Got 40% of business coming from customers. Been 4.6 rating on Google, and got over 600 reviews. Links: Chris' Linkedin Chris' Facebook Additional Resources: The Trusted Toolbox The Habits by Stephen Covey The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Quotes: “Success is freely doing the things that make you happy.” —Chris Lalomia “If you want to grow, you have to keep your customer base. —Chris Lalomia “You need to make sure you're getting better. —Chris Lalomia "Be more thoughtful and more predictive of what you're asking for.” —Chris Lalomia “Know that you're time is your own.” —Chris Lalomia
One of the big challenges of continuous improvement is that different kinds of workers have very different expectations for their own professionalism, customer service, and how their management should behave. Chris Lalomia ran into this when he made career moves from engineering to financial services, and then to entrepreneurship in the home repair business. He's here to share how he made those transitions, and what he has learned about building a culture for continuous improvement with different types of workers.
In part 2 of my chat with Chris Lalomia of Trusted Toolbox we chat about the importance of celebrating individual wins, why hire slow, fire fast isn't always the best approach, and calling people out and holding them accountable. Don't forget to check our part 1, where we talk about showing your team the benefits of working in your culture, how to identify if you have a fragmented team, and the importance of having a comprehensive onboarding programme for your people. Partners Thank you for supporting our sponsors at The Cafe Hustle Podcast! Our title sponsor is RotaCloud: Find out how you can transform your people management and give your management team practical insights into labour cost over at RotaCloud.com. Espressly.co: In a digital age, it is important to have branded mobile assets. Get a custom-branded mobile ordering and loyalty app for your business over at Espressly.co. Hustle Together Online Community Go to thecafehustle.com/together to join the waitlist and have the opportunity to be one of our first 150 Founding Members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chris Lalomia is a man of many hats, a successful entrepreneur, author, and podcast host. In 2008, Chris decided to dip his toes into the entrepreneurial space and began The Trusted Toolbox, a home repair and renovation company located in Atlanta, Ga. Since its inception, The Trusted Toolbox has grown into a multimillion-dollar handyman and remodeling business. It took more than luck to grow a business from the ground up during the great recession. Chris believes his success is due to his business acumen. By positioning himself as a problem solver in the home repair industry, Chris gained loyalty from his customers. If you're interested in learning how to grow a business regardless of the economic climate and are willing to put your customers' needs first, read on!Owning his own business was not something on Chris's to-do list. Chris worked for Sun Trust bank as a mechanical engineer with a master's degree. Highly successful in his position, he found it left him empty. In search of personal satisfaction and fulfillment, Chris quit his corporate job and ventured out independently. Creating the Trusted Toolbox during an economic downturn was not easy, but 14 years later, Chris is grateful for his journey and thriving business. When you ask Chris how he started a successful business during a recession and continued to thrive during Covid 19, Chris credits his success to being a problem solver. The One Big Tip he offers audiences is that if they want to own a thriving business, they need to position themselves as problem solvers in their industry. Every day with the ever-changing economic and political climate, things are changing, and suppliers and materials are forever shifting. Being able to ebb and flow with whatever the world throws at you is how you build a successful business. To be the best you can be, you need to accept that no one person can be an expert on everything. Chris laughingly credits much of his success to his coined entrepreneurial ADD, something many business owners can relate to. Hiring people to run your departments is the best way to manage that. When you outsource your demands to the people who can do it best, you create a successful foundation. This allows you to offer the best service in every aspect of your business. You need to empower your employees. Let them feel proud of the work they do and the success they bring to the company. That is how you grow a strong team that your company and customers can rely on. Another tactic that Chris relies upon to keep his company strong is hiring people who are the right fit for the business culture. It works out like a self-selection process. The people who won't succeed end up walking away on their own due to the rigorous business environment and expected work ethic when they join his team. The last strategy Chris relies on for his business to succeed is reviews and newsletters, keeping his brand at the forefront of consumers' minds. By creating an email list and sending out a monthly newsletter, his brand is on top of the minds of his target audience. They may not need his services today but will reach out when they do. After that, customer satisfaction is most important. This is probably the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur. In a world where everyone is looking for instant gratification, developing the patience needed to grow a successful business is challenging. If you're looking to grow your business or establish yourself as an authority in your field, the most important thing you can do is put your customers first. Be a problem solver and think about how you can make their days easier. In This Episode:[2:45] Chris shares his road to entrepreneurshipYou don't always know where you'll end up, and that's fine. Just follow your passionWhen you are passionate about what you do, it's easy to...
Hospitality usually has high staff turnover rates. That's why it often feels like we are constantly rebuilding and developing our teams. In a way, we are constantly trying to integrate individuals into a group of established people and get them all pulling in the same direction. In the first part of this episode, I am joined by Chris Lalomia of Trusted Toolbox, who will help us to align all our people together and get them pulling in the same direction. Partners Thank you for supporting our sponsors at The Cafe Hustle Podcast! Our title sponsor is RotaCloud: Find out how you can transform your people management and give your management team practical insights into labour cost over at RotaCloud.com. Espressly.co: In a digital age, it is important to have branded mobile assets. Get a custom-branded mobile ordering and loyalty app for your business over at Espressly.co. Hustle Together Online Community Go to thecafehustle.com/together to join the waitlist and have the opportunity to be one of our first 150 Founding Members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chris Lalomia is a successful entrepreneur that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style of leadership to build a culture of professionalism in the blue-collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES, he started a business right before the Great Recession, He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion-dollar handyman and remodeling company that has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA. Chris's website: https://thetrustedtoolbox.com/ For top tips and more resources pls go here for show notes: https://successgrid.net/sg122/ “If you love this show, please leave a review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/successgrid and follow the simple instructions
Meet Chris Lalomia. Chris is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experiences working with the largest companies in America and bringing his unique style to produce success in starting his business from an idea. He currently runs a multi-million-dollar handyman and remodeling company and has started the Home Service Institute to provide a community of like-minded service business owners who have a passion for providing an incredible Customer Experience. Starting a business from scratch is the single hardest business move anyone could undertake and Chris was able to start a business during the 2008 recession and grow it into a thriving symbol of professional home repair excellence in the Metro Atlanta area. The Trusted Toolbox is the largest award-winning handyman company in the area. Chris is originally from Michigan and grew up in Jackson (60 miles west of Detroit) and YES, he uses his hand to show where is from. He went to school in the Upper Peninsula and earned his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech University. He then realized that he wasn't enjoying the cold, so he moved to Charlotte, NC and earned his Masters Degree in Precision Engineering from The University of North Carolina - Charlotte. His path to business ownership was a lot like peoples' paths to their current position… not exactly straight… His first engineering job was at Curtiss-Wright Flight systems making airplane parts, but soon realized he needed to add some other business skills to his resume, he joined Accenture and began working with large banks to help them merge, which led him to SunTrust where he ran the Commercial loan operations department… That meandering path led him to start The Trusted Toolbox in 2008. That's right at the start of the recession, and he has proven that he could make it through those times. He has lived Georgia since 2001, with his wife Nicolle and they have 2 children. Sydney and Austin. He likes to spend his free time enjoying wine and good food , playing golf and watching sports. #b2bmarketing #entrepreneurship Topics covered: b2b marketing,b2b sales,b2b lead generation,b2b,b2b lead generation strategies,b2b marketing strategies,b2b lead generation ideas,b2b sales funnel stages,b2b leads,b2b sales funnel,b2b marketing strategy,b2b sales process,sales development,b2b business marketing,business marketing,patrick dang,b2b saas,sales lead generation techniques,new marketing ideas for 2023,gary vaynerchuk,marketing trends 2023,garyvee,lead generation In this week's episode of This Week with Sabir, Chris Lalomia shares his journey from novice marketer to experienced lead generation pusher. Hear how Chris used social media, lead gen forms, and email campaigns to scale his lead generation business and make more sales. If you're looking to learn how to generate leads for your business, then this episode is for you! Chris shares his experience and tips on how to grow your lead generation business and make more sales. Hear how Chris used social media, lead gen forms, and email campaigns to scale his lead generation business and make more sales. Don't miss out, subscribe now to learn from the best! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sabir-semerkant/support
Chris Lalomia, owner of The Trusted Toolbox in Atlanta, shares his unique journey in business. Chris left a lucrative, successful career to start his handyman business from scratch. Today, he has dozens of employees and his business produces more than $5M in annual revenue. You don't want to miss this one!
Too many entrepreneurs—especially solo entrepreneurs—jump into their business without a business plan. Chris Lalomia shares his story of why it is so important to have a business plan when building your business, highlighting key points and lessons learned from his experience in various parts of business building. In this episode, you will learn: 1. The importance of having a business plan when building your business 2. The value of diversity in thought and perspective when it comes to coming up with better solutions 3. The importance of being able to adapt your business plan as your business grows and changes. Chris' links: http://www.safaripodcast.com/ (www.safaripodcast.com) http://www.zoo2wild.com/ (www.zoo2wild.com) http://www.thetrustedtoolbox.com (www.thetrustedtoolbox.com) — https://www.angelakellysmith.com/podcast/the-importance-of-building-your-business-with-a-business-plan-with-chris-lalomia (Link to this episode on the website) — Want help starting your own podcast? https://the-marketing-chat.captivate.fm/podcasting (Go here) Contact Kelly at hello@angelakellysmith.com Music by Gvidon Mentioned in this episode: 1-on-1 Podcast Coaching Want customized help to start your own podcast to boost your authority in your field, expand your audience, and get more clients? I work with a limited number of private clients every month. Go to angelakellysmith.com/apply to learn more and to apply. https://the-marketing-chat.captivate.fm/apply (Podcast coaching)
Chris Lalomia is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES, he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion dollar handyman and remodeling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA.Chris is originally from Jackson, MI, and he does use his hand to show where he lived. He went to college and earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering. His path to business ownership was similar to most people's journey to their current position… spinning and winding… His first engineering job was at Curtiss-Wright Flight systems making airplane parts, but soon realized he needed to add some other business skills to his resume, he joined Accenture and began working with large banks to help them merge, which led him to SunTrust(now Truist) where he transformed the commercial loan operations department… That meandering path led him to make the leap into starting his own business, The Trusted Toolbox in 2008. His company is focused on processes and training to deliver home renovations and earning customers trust each day. The culture in the company is on continuous improvement and allowing the “artists” in the company to show off their talents as they are set up for success. Chris appears regularly as a guest on WSB95.5's Home FixIt Show with Dave Baker, All Four Season Home Show, and TrustDaleTV providing advice on home projects for consumers and answering their questions.Chris resides in Johns Creek, GA and when not working on his business, he enjoys cooking, good wine and escaping with his wife, son and daughter to their mountain getaway with his wife.www.safaripodcast.comwww.thehomeserviceinstitute.comwww.zoo2wild.comwww.thetrustedtoolbox.comMichael and Chris talk about the importance of customer service and technology to empower small business ownership. How it can transform an industry!
On the True Man Podcast, I speak with Chris Lalomia. Chris and I talk about his life pivot from corporate America into entrepreneurship and the consistent persistency required to build a quality life and business. #onewaylife #truemanpodcast #startyourcomebackstory Reach Chris: 770-623-3097 chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com Founder - www.thetrustedtoolbox.com Trainer - www.thehomeserviceinstitute.com – training website Author - www.zoo2wild.com Podcast - www.safaripodcast.com Reach Mike: 864-266-2058 mike@startyourcomebackstory.com
Today Al chats with Entrepreneur, Author, and change leader, Chris Lalomia, of the Trusted Toolbox. He was working with the largest companies in America then decided to start his own business from scratch. Learn all about his journey and the “tools” acquired to be a successful entrepreneur! Websites: https://www.safaripodcast.com https://www.thehomeserviceinstitute.com https://www.zoo2wild.com https://www.thetrustedtoolbox.com Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrislalomia/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrislalomia/ Connected with this amazing guest via PodMatch: https://podmatch.com/ Thanks for listening / watching! Host: Al Mega (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook): @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven't yet. https://www.youtube.com/c/comiccrusad… Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/comiccrusaders Visit the official Comic Crusaders Comic Book Shop: comiccrusaders.shop Visit the OFFICIAL Comic Crusaders Swag Shop at: comiccrusaders.us Episode 146 in an unlimited series! Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/ Sister Sites: http://www.undercovercapes.com http://www.geekerymagazine.com http://www.splinteredpress.com Pick up official Undercover Capes Podcast Network merchandise exclusively on RedBubble.com – bit.ly/UCPNMerch Streamyard is the platform of choice used by Comic Crusaders and The Undercover Capes Podcast Network to stream! Check out their premium plans for this amazing and versatile tool, sign up now: https://bit.ly/ComicCrusadersStreamyard
Special Guest: Chris Lalomia We all want to be happy, but it seems like chasing happiness is just a fool's errand. You've probably heard that the key to happiness is to "follow your passion." But what if you don't know what your passion is? And even worse, what if you're passionate about multiple things? How do you choose just one? On this episode of Chasing Happiness, we have a special guest Chris Lalomia. Chris left the corporate zoo and started his company, Trusted Toolbox in 2008. While some may have said he was taking a huge risk at such an uncertain time- they were absolutely wrong because what happened next has been nothing short of astounding! Connect with Chris Website Facebook From Zoo to the Wild Book Connect with Chasing Happiness Podcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/chasinghappiness/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chasinghappiness/support
Today, Candice welcomes Chris Lalomia of The Trusted Toolbox to talk about his journey as a tradesperson in the home construction industry. - - - - - Like what you hear? Make sure to share with your colleagues and loved ones, and rate and review us on iTunes! Show Notes: 0:55 - How Chris got started in his business - and why he stuck with it during economic crisis 3:52 - How Chris scaled his business 5:48 - How COVID affected the business 9:08 - What sets Chris apart from his competition? 10:48 - Chris tells us about his newest venture: The Home Service Institute 13:11 - What are reasons for people to want to work for Chris vs. going out on their own? 17:08 - With Chris' shift in focus to training tradespeople - is he worried about training his own competition? 20:30 - Where does Chris see himself growing over the next couple of years? 22:10 - Chris talks about his book: From the Zoo to the Wild 23:33 - On not being alone in business and the need for instant gratification 25:47 - Wrap up
On today's episode of American gypC Podcast, we're talking to Chris Lalomia about his small business ownership journey. Chris is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES, he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion dollar handyman and remodeling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA. Chris is originally from Jackson, MI, and he does use his hand to show where he lived. He went to college and earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Mechanical Engineering. His path to business ownership was similar to most people's journey to their current position… spinning and winding… His first engineering job was at Curtiss-Wright Flight systems making airplane parts, but soon realized he needed to add some other business skills to his resume, he joined Accenture and began working with large banks to help them merge, which led him to SunTrust(now Truist) where he transformed the commercial loan operations department… That meandering path led him to make the leap into starting his own business, The Trusted Toolbox in 2008. His company is focused on processes and training to deliver home renovations and earning customers trust each day. The culture in the company is on continuous improvement and allowing the “artists” in the company to show off their talents as they are set up for success. Chris appears regularly as a guest on WSB95.5's Home FixIt Show and TrustDaleTV providing advice on home projects for consumers and answering their questions. Guest Link: https://thetrustedtoolbox.com https://safaripodcast.com https://www.instagram.com/chrislalomia https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia https://www.facebook.com/chrislalomia American gypC Podcast Website: http://americangypc.com Donate: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/klaccikcarpenta IG: https://www.instagram.com/americangypcpodcast Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0m40c7gVhMJQVqrRmtRi3E --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/american-gypc/support
Hi, I'm the Profit Answer Man Rocky Lalvani! I help small business owners simplify their financial reports so that they can make more informed business decisions with fewer hassles. We utilize the Profit First system created by Mike Michalowicz Effortless Cashflow Course: http://bit.do/effortlesscashflowcourse Schedule your free, no-obligation intro call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro-appointment-15-minutes More about making profitability simple: http://profitcomesfirst.com/ Bio Chris Lalomia is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES,he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion dollar handyman and remodeling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA. Links: Chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com www.safaripodcast.com www.thehomeserviceinstitute.com www.zoo2wild.com www.thetrustedtoolbox.com Questions: questions@profitanswerman.com Email: rocky@profitcomesfirst.com Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/ My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/ First 2 chapters of Profit First: https://sendfox.com/rocky Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.
Welcome to Episode 389 of the Today's Leader Podcast, leading a revolution, building Tomorrow's Best Leaders, Today. What we know is that we need better leaders throughout every calling, in organisations. and that process must start today. This week we have a show for entrepreneurs in the construction industry. In Australia the construction industry is a 424billion dollar, of which residential services is estimated at 72.3 billion. It has low concentration of market share, and success factors are proven financial, managerial, and technical ability. The size of home services, the renovations, improvements and maintenance aspects of the market account for 24% of revenue, with a major success factor being professionalism and customer service.Our guest today, is an expert in the construction industry. Chirs Lalomia brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue-collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008.=================================================================Chris can be contacted:Twitter - https://twitter.com/trustedtoolboxWebsite - https://thehomeserviceinstitute.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheTrustedToolbox/Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/Website - https://thetrustedtoolbox.com/Email - chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com==================================================================If you are looking to build better leadership skills, check out The Today's Leader website at todaysleader.com.auWe are driving a leadership revolution and BUILDING TOMORROW'S BEST LEADERS, TODAY!Today's Leader is a collective, The mindset to make a difference and the ability to create an impact.Think & Grow Business Hosts our Today's Leader Masterminds. TAGB where we focus on personal, professional, and business growth. Book your free 30-minute discovery call at https://thinkandgrowbusiness.com.au/book-your-free-discovery-call/You are standing Stronger, Braver, and Wiser. Don't forget the golden rule – Don t be an A-HoleIf you loved this interview check out these previous experts Check out our recent interview with Brian Clayton with more great content for Trades Leaders. - https://todaysleader.com.au/381-bootstrapping-to-your-business-success-bryan-clayton/Check Blue-Collar Leadership with Mack Story - https://todaysleader.com.au/214-mack-story-authentic-passionate-blue-collar-leadership/Check Out our Top 10 Leadership Podcasts: https://todaysleader.com.au/the-best-leadership-podcasts-for-2021/#purpose #transformation #leadership #communication #conversations #clarity #todaysleader #tomorrowsbestleaders #mentoring #mondaymentoring #construction #digtalleadership #renovation #tradie #careerskills #management #people #process #builders
Welcome to Episode 389 of the Today's Leader Podcast, leading a revolution, building Tomorrow's Best Leaders, Today. What we know is that we need better leaders throughout every calling, in organisations. and that process must start today. This week we have a show for entrepreneurs in the construction industry. In Australia the construction industry is a 424billion dollar, of which residential services is estimated at 72.3 billion. It has low concentration of market share, and success factors are proven financial, managerial, and technical ability. The size of home services, the renovations, improvements and maintenance aspects of the market account for 24% of revenue, with a major success factor being professionalism and customer service.Our guest today, is an expert in the construction industry. Chirs Lalomia brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue-collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008.=================================================================Chris can be contacted:Twitter - https://twitter.com/trustedtoolboxWebsite - https://thehomeserviceinstitute.com/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheTrustedToolbox/Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/Website - https://thetrustedtoolbox.com/Email - chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com==================================================================If you are looking to build better leadership skills, check out The Today's Leader website at todaysleader.com.auWe are driving a leadership revolution and BUILDING TOMORROW'S BEST LEADERS, TODAY!Today's Leader is a collective, The mindset to make a difference and the ability to create an impact.Think & Grow Business Hosts our Today's Leader Masterminds. TAGB where we focus on personal, professional, and business growth. Book your free 30-minute discovery call at https://thinkandgrowbusiness.com.au/book-your-free-discovery-call/You are standing Stronger, Braver, and Wiser. Don't forget the golden rule – Don t be an A-HoleIf you loved this interview check out these previous experts Check out our recent interview with Brian Clayton with more great content for Trades Leaders. - https://todaysleader.com.au/381-bootstrapping-to-your-business-success-bryan-clayton/Check Blue-Collar Leadership with Mack Story - https://todaysleader.com.au/214-mack-story-authentic-passionate-blue-collar-leadership/Check Out our Top 10 Leadership Podcasts: https://todaysleader.com.au/the-best-leadership-podcasts-for-2021/#purpose #transformation #leadership #communication #conversations #clarity #todaysleader #tomorrowsbestleaders #mentoring #mondaymentoring #construction #digtalleadership #renovation #tradie #careerskills #management #people #process #builders
Chris Lalomia joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast today. He is is a successful entrepreneur and change leader that has built on his experience working with the largest companies in America to start his own business from scratch. He brings his unique style to leadership to build a culture of professionalism to the blue collar world of home renovations. He left the corporate zoo and ventured into the entrepreneurial wild and started The Trusted Toolbox: Home Repair and Projects in 2008. YES, he started a business right before the Great Recession, so timing the market is not his strength. He survived through that time and has grown his business into a multimillion dollar handyman and remodelling company which has won numerous awards in Atlanta, GA. How The Dots Joined Up For Chris As he says "Save yourself the time and aggravation of having to do repair work around your home on your own. You don't have the time, energy, or patience to do bathroom remodelling, kitchen remodelling, wood rot repair, home repair, deck remodel & installation, painting, window replacement, window repair, bathroom repair, kitchen repair, deck repair, or any of our other handyman services with other small odds and ends type jobs that keep piling up around your home. It's a much wiser idea to let our handymen do the work for you. And its a very wise idea to build an evergreen business, around peoples pain points and limitations first and foremost. So is he happier now, running his own businesses or does he look back to the turn up and get paid corporate life with fondness? And what would be the biggest lesson he learnt which he always shares as his "Make sure you don't do what i did moment" ? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Chris Lalomia
In today's podcast, Chris Lalomia from The Trusted Toolbox and Stephen Halasnik from Financing Solutions (financingsolutionsnow.com) discuss the importance of building a business plan for businesses. This solution is helping small businesses optimize the efficiency and productivity of their companies by providing a clear-cut roadmap that discountenances distractions from the set goals.
Thirteen years ago, after spending his entire career in corporate, Chris Lalomia decided he had had enough. He was drained, stressed, and unable to be his authentically extraverted and present self in his corporate role. He may have had his dream home and his dream car, but he wasn't living his dream life. Chris didn't know much beyond that fact that he needed to get out of his corporate job. So he started surrounding himself with successful entrepreneurs in order to conduct some hands-on research. He tried starting a community bank, buying an engineering company and going into construction development before finally settling on an entrepreneurial venture: The Trusted Toolbox. In fact, Chris actually got the idea to start a handyman service from a friend, who casually noted how much Chris loved to fix things! Tune into this week's episode of Move Forward Anyway to hear more about Chris's entrepreneurial vision and how it continues to evolve. Learn how Chris started his business without even realizing it (his business phone wasn't even hooked up yet!), why you don't need to have all the details ironed out in order to get your business off the ground, and why Chris never makes major decisions on Mondays. You'll even get a sneak preview of Chris's book, FROM THE ZOO TO THE WILD: Your Guide to Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth, which you can purchase using the link below! Quotes: • “If you don't do it, you'll never do it, and you'll always wonder if you could have done it.” (4:23-4:27) • “Security is a very intoxicating reality that sometimes keeps us stuck in not living our full life….Fear is a powerful motivator to stay where you are.” (5:05-5:25) • “The fear of me being 60 going, ‘I wish I could have, I wish I did'...drove me more. One of the definitions of success that I started to develop for myself was I didn't need the big house, the country club, the fancy car. I need to know that I could use my whole brain.” (5:52-6:22) • “Corporate America does not reward an entrepreneurial mindset. It does not reward the take-a-chance, the optimism. They always reward pessimism and rearview mirror thinking.” (7:17-7:27) • “I remember at seventeen telling [my dad], ‘I hope one day to have a business like grandma and grandpa. And he looked at me and said, ‘Hopes and wishes are in Disney and in fairy tales. If you want to do something, you better write it down. And I did!....I had that piece of paper up until my last office move!” (9:51-10:19) • “My why, my what was not about, ‘Hey, I'm going to be a trainer and help people's livelihoods.' My what was ‘I gotta fix some stuff, make some money and get going.'” (17:28-17:36) • “Find your way to find your play because that passion is going to really work out.” (38:23-38:29) Links: The Trusted Toolbox 5865 Oakbrook Pkwy, Suite F Norcross, GA 30093 Telephone No. 770-623-3097 Email: chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com https://www.thetrustedtoolbox.com/ Order FROM THE ZOO TO THE WILD: https://www.zoo2wild.com/ Instagram: @chrislalomia and @thetrustedtoolbox LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia www.jeffmeyer.org Podcast production and show notes provided by FIRESIDE Marketing
In this episode of Home Service Business Coach with David Moerman, we have invited Chris Lalomia, Owner of The Trusted Toolbox, and Author of “FROM THE ZOO TO THE WILD: Your Guide to Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth.”Chris' business focuses on Bath and Kitchen Remodeling. They put professional image on the traditional handyman, offers a variety of skill sets within the company, and they don't do one thing—they have the right guy for the right job on the right day. Struggles [14:04] Don't start the blame game and always begin with what you did wrong as the owner. From there, find and trace your way back to find out what is the root of the problem. [17:32] Finding the right people for the right job has been a pain for any businessowners. Finding artists from painters, handyman, electricians, to plumbers in this “gig” or “side-hustle” economy to work for a company full-time is challenging. These people are used to being autonomous problem solvers who does not have any desire to work for a company. Hence, attracting them for Chris' niche has been difficult. Chris' Home Service Institute [27:34] The Home Service Institute was established to help busy business owners who have no time to put out a robust and cohesive training system for their people to help improve their business reviews, employee retention, and profitability. Time Lag [31:15] During the pandemic, Chris observed that people become attention and time starved, and anxious. They want instant gratification of today's world where they want anything requested, as long as they have the money to pay, be there as quick as possible. It might work on other areas, but not in Home Service because they are chronically uninformed. He found out that in Home Service, you need to call them 30 minutes ahead of appointment that you will be invading their “space” to alleviate behavior. [35:58] If you make do the business right and make it easy for them, they will come back for you more—even if they pay extra bucks because it's all worth it for them. Last Piece of Advice [37:24] Be optimistic, stick-to-itiveness, and be a problem solver to win the day. Don't let yourself get beaten down during the bad days and don't get too high during good days. You just need to get things done and happen if you are in this business. To learn more about Chris, visit: Website: The Trusted Toolbox | Professional Handyman Services LinkedIn: Chris Lalomia | LinkedIn Facebook: Chris Lalomia - Home | Facebook Instagram: Chris Lalomia (@chrislalomia) • Instagram photos and videos Enroll in Home Service Institute by heading to: The Home Service Institute - The Leader In Customer Experience Training Buy Chris' “From Zoo To The Wild” on Amazon: Amazon.com: FROM THE ZOO TO THE WILD: Your Guide to Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth eBook: Lalomia, Chris: Kindle Store Have any questions, inquiries, or suggestions? Email Chris at: chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com
In this episode of Home Service Business Coach with David Moerman, we have invited Chris Lalomia, Owner of The Trusted Toolbox, and Author of FROM THE ZOO TO THE WILD: Your Guide to Entrepreneurial Freedom and Wealth.Chris business focuses on Bath and
Andy and Zach discuss with Chris his career journey from the corporate life to the entrepreneur life, his business he built in the The Trusted Toolbox, the creation of his Home Services Institute and his recently released book titled "From the Zoo to the Wild." You can reach Chris at www.thetrustedtoolbox.com, via email at chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com and on the Facebook, LInkedIn and Instagram platforms. Hit that subscribe button to follow Andy and Zach on their journey to generate value in this world!
Andy and Zach discuss with Chris his career journey from the corporate life to the entrepreneur life, his business he built in the The Trusted Toolbox, the creation of his Home Services Institute and his recently released book titled "From the Zoo to the Wild." You can reach Chris at www.thetrustedtoolbox.com, via email at chris@thetrustedtoolbox.com and on the Facebook, LInkedIn and Instagram platforms. Hit that subscribe button to follow Andy and Zach on their journey to generate value in this world!