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The Successful Contractor Podcast

The Successful Contractor Podcast

By: CertainPath
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 Welcome to The Successful Contractor Podcast, Powered by CertainPath. A show for residential contractors about residential contractors… We chronicle business journeys, share insights, and celebrate successes in this wonderful industry.© 2022 Aquila Investment Group, LLC Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Cancer Survivor. Reality TV Winner. International Speaker. Contractor with 600% Growth. Meet Luke Soderling.Shape

    Cancer Survivor. Reality TV Winner. International Speaker. Contractor with 600% Growth. Meet Luke Soderling.Shape
    Jan 30 2026
    Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591 🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5 At 33, Luke Soderling was running plumbing calls when his mom noticed a lump on his neck. Three days later, a doctor’s voicemail changed everything: stage 3 thyroid cancer. What happened next? Luke didn’t just survive—he went on to win a Discovery Channel survival show, buy his family’s plumbing business, and grow Approve Home Services by 600% in just four years. In this episode of The Successful Contractor, Luke Soderling of Proof Home Services in northern Minnesota shares one of the most remarkable stories we’ve ever featured. From eating caiman in the Amazon to building a thriving plumbing and electrical company an hour south of Canada, to becoming an acclaimed professional speaker, Luke’s journey proves that the mindset you build in crisis becomes the foundation for business success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • How surviving cancer at 33 reshaped Luke’s approach to life and business—and why he refuses to complain now • Why he competed on The Wheel (Discovery Channel) and survived 60 days alone in South America after beating cancer • The exact steps he took after buying his family business—and how CertainPath helped him hit 600% growth in 4 years • Why “simply answering the phone” beat every competitor in his small market • How his 14-year-old son with flyers generated $100K in leads (guerrilla marketing that actually works) • The painful truth he avoided—“I didn’t look at the numbers because I didn’t want to know”—and how facing it fixed his electrical margins • Why Culture Index and clear core values (“faith, family, fantastic service”) transformed his hiring • Why he added electrical to his plumbing business—and the $100K wake-up call that proved it was the right move • What he’s learned from Brandon Marshall’s The Lion’s Pride mentorship program • His new BHAG: $10 million in five years Luke’s story is part survival tale, part business masterclass, and 100% proof that with the right mindset, mentors, and systems, any contractor can build something extraordinary. 🎧 Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform. And don’t forget to subscribe to The Successful Contractor for more interviews that move the needle. Chapters: 00:00 – Stage 3 Cancer at 33: Luke’s Life-Changing Diagnosis 06:37 – How Cancer Changed His Perspective on Life 07:32 – The Wheel: Surviving 60 Days Alone in South America 10:43 – The Hardest Part of Survival (It Wasn’t the Hunger) 12:36 – From Technician to Business Owner: Buying the Family Business 15:04 – $204K to 600% Growth: The CertainPath Turnaround 17:40 – “We Had No Competitors” – The Power of Answering the Phone 19:24 – Hiring in a Small Market: Culture Index & Core Values 23:21 – Weekly Training: Meet “Gladys” the Role-Play Customer 26:07 – The Numbers Wake-Up Call: 47% Material Costs 28:27 – Cross-Selling Plumbing & Electrical with Club Memberships 31:02 – Marketing That Works: Billboards, Geo-Targeting & Flyer Walks 34:25 – Why He Added Electrical (And How It’s Going) 37:30 – Leadership Lessons: From 1 Employee to 9 41:40 – Lion’s Pride: What Mentorship With Brandon Marshall Looks Like 43:38 – The Next BHAG: $10 Million in 5 Years Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/ About the Guest: Luke Soderling is the owner of Approve Home Services, a plumbing and electrical company in northern Minnesota. A cancer survivor, Discovery Channel survival show winner, and professional speaker, Luke has grown his business from $204K to over $1M in four years. He’s a three-time Crown Champion and member of Brandon Marshall’s Lion’s Pride program. Connect with Luke: Approve Home Services: https://approvehomeservices.com/ Luke’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@LukeSoderling Luke’s Professional Speakers Page: https://lukesoderling.com/
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    49 mins
  • Why Daikin Bet Big on R-32 (And What It Means for Your Business)

    Why Daikin Bet Big on R-32 (And What It Means for Your Business)
    Jan 23 2026
    Book a free strategy call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What if the refrigerant decision you make today determines whether you're ahead of the curve—or scrambling to catch up five years from now? Ben Middleton, National Sales Training Manager for Goodman, Amana, and Daikin, has spent nine years helping contractors navigate the biggest shifts in HVAC. In this episode of The Successful Contractor, Ben breaks down why Daikin chose R-32 over 454B, what that means for your business, and why the contractors who embrace change now will dominate their markets. But this conversation goes far beyond refrigerants. Ben shares how Daikin is revolutionizing HVAC training with virtual reality—yes, actual VR headsets that eliminate distractions and boost retention. He reveals a game-changing rebate tool that finds all 2,000+ utility programs and files the paperwork for you. And he delivers a powerful message about thriving in what he calls the era of 'perma-uncertainty.' What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Why Daikin chose R-32 over 454B—and the real-world benefits contractors are seeing (smaller units, lower cost, proven since 2012) • How to use Daikin's free VR training to get new techs job-ready faster • The Daikin Energy Rebate Center—a tool that finds all available rebates and files the paperwork for homeowners • Why the $2,000 IRA heat pump rebate is going away—and how to use that urgency to close more sales NOW • The financing shift: why 15-year loans are now beating 0% interest (and what it means about affordability) • Ben's 'perma-uncertainty' framework—why NOW is the time to innovate, test, and push the envelope • Why Ben says 'the days of the cube-style unit are numbered'—and how to position yourself as the innovator in your market • Critical advice: have 3-6 months of operating capital in the bank Ben also hosts his own podcast, Accelerated HVAC Success, where he brings in vendors, contractors, and product managers to share what's working right now. Check it out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratedHVACSuccess Resources Mentioned: • R32Reasons.com - Learn why Daikin chose R-32 • HVAC Learning Campus - Free on-demand training and VR simulations • Daikin Energy Rebate Center - Find and file utility rebates automatically Whether you're evaluating refrigerant options, looking for better training tools, or trying to figure out how to close more sales in a tight economy—this episode delivers actionable insights you can use today. Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to subscribe to The Successful Contractor for more interviews that move the needle. Chapters: 00:00 - Meet Ben Middleton, National Sales Training Manager at Daikin 02:15 - Time Is the Biggest Barrier to Training 06:28 - Ben's Journey: From Aeronautical Engineering to HVAC Training 09:45 - The Ripple Effect of Great Training 11:41 - Accelerated HVAC Success Podcast 14:36 - Why Daikin Chose R-32 Over 454B 18:30 - R-32 Is Proven Since 2012 19:00 - Market Response to R-32 21:55 - The Financing Shift: 15-Year Loans vs 0% Interest 23:26 - Daikin's Core Value: Absolute Credibility 26:37 - The Days of the Cube-Style Unit Are Numbered 27:50 - Daikin's Training Resources & HVAC Learning Campus 30:50 - The Daikin Energy Rebate Center 31:20 - The $2,000 Heat Pump Rebate Is Going Away 33:49 - VR Training: The Magic School Bus for HVAC 37:15 - Why Retention Is Higher in VR 40:13 - Perma-Uncertainty = Innovation Opportunity Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
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    39 mins
  • How Contractors Grow Through the Hard Stuff | Brandon Marshall

    How Contractors Grow Through the Hard Stuff | Brandon Marshall
    Jan 13 2026
    Book a free Discovery Call to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591 🔗 Grab our FREE resource: The Foundation Series, Real strategies to build a business that runs (and grows) without chaos: https://bit.ly/3Yqzow5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brandon Marshall knows leadership in the trades isn’t just about KPIs and schedules — it’s about people. And people bring stress, purpose, and pressure with them every day. As the Transformational Leadership Mentor with CertainPath, Brandon has worked with countless contractors to help them grow not just as professionals, but as human beings. In this conversation, he shares how leaders in home services can learn to manage stress, lead with purpose, and build lasting cultures that truly pour into others. • Why most contractor stress doesn’t come from the job • How to build “mini leaders” who multiply your culture • Why accountability without leadership never works • How to create a team culture that runs deeper than systems • What Brandon learned about leadership from the pulpit to the trades • Why Lion’s Pride was built — and what it’s doing for service leaders If you’re a contractor who feels the weight of leadership, this conversation will speak directly to you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • How to identify the real source of stress on your team • What it means to “pour into” people as a home service leader • Why culture is like a river — and how to shape its flow • The power of mentoring vs. managing • Why Brandon believes leadership is a calling, not a role Want More Support Growing Your Business? When you join CertainPath, you’re not just getting coaching and training. You’re getting access to our Partner Network—120 vendor partners, including solutions like Reins, offering exclusive discounts and rebates on the tools and services you’re already using. Last year alone, our members earned back over $10 MILLION in rebates. That’s more cash in your business—and more partners helping you grow, profit, and scale. Book your free Discovery Call to learn how we can help you level up: https://bit.ly/3TvGiNW or call us at: (214)-453-1591 Chapters TBD Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is a part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath builds successful home service businesses—and has for 25 years. We do it by providing contractors with a proven path to success, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong. Doubling your sales, with a 20% net profit, and an inspiring company culture is ALL possible. Let us show you the way. With CertainPath, Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/
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    41 mins
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