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Welcome back to the Talking Pools Podcast, your go-to source for everything wet, wild, and wonderfully misunderstood in the pool world.
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I'm Natalie Hood, and we are continuing our journey talking to the top 10 mentors in the pool industry.
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And today I'm joined by Greg Beard, one of the top ten finalists for the Talking Pools podcast.
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Now, if you've been around the pool industry for a while, there's a good chance you know Greg, or as most people know him, by Beard Man.
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Greg has spent more than 35 years working hands-on in this industry, building the kind of knowledge that only comes from decades of being out on the pool deck.
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He started Greg Beard's pool service in 1990 and today managers close to 170 pools with a licensed C61 D35.
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But what really stands out about Greg is what he does with all that experience.
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You know, he's the guy who answers the phone, helps you work through a problem, and shares what he's learned because he genuinely wants other pool professionals to get better at what they do.
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And that willingness to help others becomes safer, smarter, and more confident, has confident, has made an impact.
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And this isn't Greg's first time being recognized for it.
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Greg is now a two-time Talking Pools podcast top head mentor, pool industry mentor.
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So, Greg, welcome to the show.
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Thank you, Natalie.
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That was uh pretty spot on introduction.
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So I I don't I couldn't have said it better myself.
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So I appreciate that.
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And uh yeah, thanks for having me.
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I wanna first start out by s uh by thanking Rudy from the Talking Pools podcast and your whole team.
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But along with that, huge, huge thank you to the sponsors that are out there that are that are pushing behind, that are making this thing go too, because it is one of a kind.
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And I look at it as there's nothing popular about nothing popular about this.
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It's uh this is something that other people put your name in for and and when they put your name in for there's there's a recognition there that's you obviously left a mark with them in order to kind of help them through their problems, teach them and doing things that they may need help with, and that's kind of been a been an honor for me to do that.
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Does it feel different being recognized a second time around since this is your second time You know, the the first time I was I was really, really into it because I it's funny because I was tracking Rudy, didn't know I was tracking him, but when he jumped on a plane, when he jumped on a plane and his phone went silence for six hours, I'm like, wait a minute, wait a minute.
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It takes from east coast to west coast, it's about a six hour flight.
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So when he landed, there was uh a couple things in the LAX airport that I had recognized from being traveled through the LAX airport and knew that he had come here and uh I thought, well, wait a minute, there's only three of us here in LA that are up for this award.
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So I was at that point I was one of three.
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And when he ended up going a little bit north then I said, Oh, okay, well, you know, we'll see it, we'll get a better life next time.
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But yeah, it means the same to me.
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It's I appreciate those that have turned in my name.
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I appreciate those that have nominated me, those that I was able to actually try to know me what I call it a brotherhood and a mentor, but help through trying to teach them what I have been taught.
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And it's just my way of kind of giving back.
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So it's it's been it it's it has its ups, it has its downs because you never know when the phone's gonna ring and somebody needs your help and there's been times where you know I'm I mean like man, I can't handle this right now, but you you go off your natural instinct to wanna be able to help them and you you answer the phone.
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Yeah, yeah.
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You know, w and we can't not talk about it.
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What would taking that belt home mean to you?
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What would you do with it?
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Where would you put it?
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Uh you know, I'd probably probably probably in the office or in the bedroom.
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I don't know.
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It's uh definitely display it.
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It it's huge.
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Again, it's it's something that you don't you don't really quite think about until it's obviously you're up against it and w and what it is and I I know the last year recipient he drove around with it in his truck and he took it everywhere he went and it's been kind of funny to watch him and I never knew him and and I spent probably two hours on the phone with him and caught up with his whole his whole legacy of how he started and things that he's been through and what a what an awesome awesome guy.
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So he's I think he's out there rooting for me this year.
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He's been sending me a few text messages saying, dude, you got this, and I'm like, no, it's not over until it's over.
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And you know, that's the thing is the other nine guys that are out there that are in that top ten, congratulations to them too.
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It's it's huge.
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And what would I do with that belt?
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I'd be honored to have it a hundred percent.
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And if if I don't get it, it's one of those things where I'm gonna continue to be me and I'm gonna continue to to help others and and when they need that help, there's nothing worse than standing in a backyard when Mr.
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and Mrs.
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Jones are standing over the top of you and you're trying to get your head inside a heater to figure out what's wrong with it, and you're not quite sure about yourself, what's kind of nice, especially with these earpieces, you can have a guy in your ear that's telling you when you voltage test this, this and this of how to fix it and and what to look for next.
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So the belt's just one of those one of those golden awards that would, you know, kind of be nice thing to have and and I was pretty amazed by the plaque that Rudy sent me this year.
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That plaque was just an awesome, awesome thing to to say, well, I'm looking at this man.
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Top ten two years back to back is that that was enough spine tingling for me to say this is why I'm here.
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Yeah, you guys have some awesome swag and you're wearing your shirt today.
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Um I am I do have my I do have my shirt on.
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I want to thank Revved Up Apparel for that.
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Very comfortable.
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The Talking Pools podcast hat.
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I I I forgot to grab that when we left home.
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But just that and the little coin that came in there and just just the box of cool stuff is sitting on the counter right now.
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It's full of snacks up here at our desert home.
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So the way Rudy, like I said, the way Rudy's done all this, um, now it's it's just huge because there's no voting in this.
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There's it's your guys' panel and the and the sponsors that are that are making this thing go and driving it from the back.
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That you know, there's there's gonna be reasons to whoever receives that belt, there's really, really good reasons why they received it.
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Right.
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It's not people voting for it.
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Yeah, and Rudy really he puts his his his heart into it and again it was hundred percent.
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The judges we we did blind judging, right?
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We we did no good.
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Yeah, he told me a little bit about that and I thought that was awesome.
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He took everybody's names out and basically even took out the the names of the people that put n nominations in and I just thought, Rudy, yeah, Rudy, what a what a what a genius way to do it because not one soul in our industry can come backwards and say that this thing is rigged, it's a popularity contest.
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It just it just takes the level to a whole new meaning.
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Whole new meaning.
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Yeah, and even our the the judging criteria that we had to go through, it took me a while to go through all of the nominations because there were quite a few, but again, I had no idea who any of these people were, and I was given, okay, this is how you have to judge each person.
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And so it it took about a week to go through and read all of these based on what Rudy wanted me to judge on.
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And and it took all of us.
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I mean, we really took it seriously, and so you're absolutely right.
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It was not a popularity contest.
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I had no idea who was in the top ten until it was announced.
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So we were right there with you guys.
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Yeah.
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It's just the the whole the whole I'm gonna call it spreadsheet to it, it's just phenomenal.
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Or you know, whether you call it a blueprint or what you might want to call it, is it it's it's it's intriguing.
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It it really is.
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And being now that the second year, you know, I I think Rudy changed some things up, like you said, and it and it's just I think it's only gonna get better from here on out.
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And I and I I kind of was gonna mention it to Rudy sooner or later, is you know, it's gonna be nice to be able to track it for a four or five years and you know, maybe have people come together for a group pitcher five years in or something like that.
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I don't know what it would be, but it's kind of an on awesome thing that that's happening and it's again, I think there's these recognitions like this are huge, but you know, and it's it's a lot of guys aren't doing it for the recognition because of there's some heavy hitters in here, man.
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There's some pretty big names in the top ten, and there was last year as well.
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And so I find myself being that little little small fish in a big pond, and I just it's it kind of tingles your spine when you can when you all of a sudden start to get recognized.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I see a future event with uh maybe talking to his podcast.
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Yeah, exactly.
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Something like that would would be would be would be huge.
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Listening, Rudy.
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So I'm sure he is.
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Yeah.
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So you know, nobody starts out knowing all of this.
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So who were the people that helped shake you early in your career?
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Man, I'm gonna hope that I don't forget any.
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I'm gonna start obviously with my oldest brother Randy, was one of my bigger ones, along with Alan Smith from Alan Smith Pool Plastering, and then Greg Garrett were my main three, and obviously the three three guys that stood before our industry and created the National Plasters Council to get it up off the ground.
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And that was from that whole finger pointing game that we'll get into a little bit more here.
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And they my brother was the chemistry guy, Alan Allen as the plaster, and then Greg Garrett as the septitious guy from the cement side, and bless his heart.
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And then Bob Lowry.
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Bob Lowry was huge too, many hours on the phone with Bob Lowry.
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There's been quite a few Ipsa guys as well.
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I'm currently in the United Pool Association, but a lot of people and uh and uh thank them all.
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But what was instilled into me primarily from those three, I mean Rudy's been that that one in there too, because when I had a couldn't get a hold of anybody else, I would call Rudy and sometimes, you know, with a three hour difference between us, Rudy always got back to me and always answered that question.
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So that's a huge he he may not agree with that, but huge, huge guy.
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So that was that was big as well.
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Rudy was one.
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And I I just you know, I'm trying trying to think of so many other ones.
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There was back into my younger, younger days, there was guys that taught me how to work at a transmission shop on the Sosby family, Mark and David.
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And those guys were kind of like a second fathers to me, basically.
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Coming from a divorced mom and dad.
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And I worked on that greasy transmission shop, and then another one was the electrician that taught me how to do electrical work, was a guy named Dennis Brandon from Brandon and Son Electric.
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So I I've got so many that that you know pushed me and molded me and shaped me to what I am.
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Yeah, that's awesome.
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That's so that's great that you had such a driving force and support system behind you.
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You know what time it is?
00:11:20.870 --> 00:11:31.750
Wednesday vibes on the talking pools punching.
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They give their time, share their knowledge, and expect nothing in return.
00:13:47.830 --> 00:13:50.310
First, you take a sample of the water.
00:13:50.550 --> 00:13:54.470
They walk someone through a problem and explain the why behind the answer.
00:13:54.629 --> 00:13:59.909
So the next time it happens, that person has the confidence and knowledge to figure it out themselves.
00:14:00.230 --> 00:14:02.310
That is mentorship.
00:14:03.590 --> 00:14:05.990
Grasshopper, watch this technique.
00:14:06.230 --> 00:14:09.590
That kind of generosity deserves recognition.
00:14:10.789 --> 00:14:13.990
We must not forget the ancient Fool Pro secrets.
00:14:14.470 --> 00:14:20.070
For the second annual Talking Pools Podcast, Top 10 Fool Industry Mentor Recognition.
00:14:20.230 --> 00:14:24.310
We're honoring 10 individuals to make this industry better by helping the people in it succeed.
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Each honoree received a trophy, a challenge coin, a polo shirt, and a keychain.
00:14:30.230 --> 00:14:34.310
First, research, then specialize, and finally test.
00:14:34.629 --> 00:14:37.830
Each earned a place among the 2026 top 10.
00:14:37.990 --> 00:14:43.990
And yes, one of these badasses will receive the 2026 Mentor Championship belt.
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He's waiting for you! Don't give him a chance!
00:14:49.350 --> 00:14:59.909
In 2025, Rich Gallo, CEO of Pure Swim, was named the Talking Fools Podcast Mentor of the Year and became the first recipient of that belt.
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Within a few weeks, we'll know who carries that honor into 2026.
00:15:05.269 --> 00:15:08.310
Just trust your instincts and enjoy the moment.
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This recognition is made possible by our sponsors, title sponsors, Blu-ray, XL, and United Chemical.
00:15:17.990 --> 00:15:22.950
Gold sponsor, Lamont Company, Silver Sponsor, Revump Apparel.
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Supporting sponsor, Aqua Comfort, Watergroup.
00:15:49.509 --> 00:15:50.870
10 Mentors.
00:15:51.190 --> 00:15:55.590
Ten examples of what happens when someone takes the time to help another person grow.
00:15:55.750 --> 00:15:57.669
One championship belt.
00:15:57.830 --> 00:16:00.789
The 2026 Talking Pools Podcast.
00:16:01.110 --> 00:16:04.389
Top 10 Pool Industry Mentor Recognition.
00:16:04.629 --> 00:16:06.710
They help others find their way.
00:16:06.950 --> 00:16:09.350
It's time we put the spotlight on them.
00:16:14.629 --> 00:16:18.310
The 2026 Talking Pools Podcast, Top 10.
00:16:18.550 --> 00:16:30.230
Pool Industry Mentors are Jeff Hampy, John Poma, Greg Beard, Lacey Davis, Tim McDowell, Chris Kavanaugh, Terry Timinen, Peter Wiederman, and Jerry Wallace.
00:16:30.470 --> 00:16:33.269
This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain.
00:16:33.509 --> 00:16:39.990
Pool Brain gives pool professionals the tools to run smarter, more efficient, and more profitable service businesses.
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Check them out at PoolBrain.com.
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Was there any advice or was there something that someone in particular taught you that you still carry with you today?
00:17:59.349 --> 00:18:03.990
So you can't carry all of it, but was there was there one piece of advice that stands out?
00:18:04.549 --> 00:18:06.789
I think it would probably be Alan.
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Alan and my and my oldest brother, along with Greg Garrett, to never look back and just keep going forward.
00:18:13.189 --> 00:18:30.869
And when you hit that crossroad of of something that you couldn't figure out, how to network and how to research and and and get to the bottom of the answer so that you could keep yourself from maybe an insurance pain, keep yourself from a finger pointing game and and push forward to figure those problems out.
00:18:30.949 --> 00:18:40.309
And when you look at what we're here for doing the mentoring thing, you always turn back to those mentors to because if you couldn't figure something out, you had to go back and figure out where you were gonna get it.
00:18:40.389 --> 00:18:42.629
We didn't have we didn't have AI back then.
00:18:42.709 --> 00:18:43.669
We didn't have Google.
00:18:43.829 --> 00:18:48.629
This is all kind of newer technology and it is really great for the newer guys coming up.
00:18:48.789 --> 00:18:59.909
But just being able to get to that voice-to-voice call and get a little reassurance of that you're moving in the right path so that you don't turn around and get into a lawsuit or something, I would say it would have to be those three guys.
00:19:00.149 --> 00:19:00.709
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:00.789 --> 00:19:15.990
And I I think a lot of people from what I've just from what I've seen getting into this industry, I don't think they realize how powerful networking is and how much one yeah, it's huge and one conversation can really just skyrocket your business.
00:19:16.229 --> 00:19:16.549
Oh yeah.
00:19:16.789 --> 00:19:17.109
It's huge.
00:19:17.349 --> 00:19:19.990
Well, I mean standing at the right place at the right time.
00:19:20.149 --> 00:19:31.269
I mean, so a lot of times I would go into Alan Smith Appreciation Days and go to training classes there and getting to know all the reps and people like that that that have also helped me.
00:19:31.509 --> 00:19:37.509
Um, a couple that stand out is Chris Barstow from Pent There, Brian Scaplan that was with Jandy for many years.
00:19:37.669 --> 00:19:47.990
Those guys, when they see somebody that's willing to go out and get out of their comfort zone, that takes you to a whole nother ladder step as well and just puts you up a little bit higher.
00:19:48.229 --> 00:19:53.269
And having the electrical background is probably the one thing that I was carrying to your previous question.
00:19:53.509 --> 00:20:02.149
That electricity is stuck with me and has just paid me dividends for a long time because everything that we do and we control involves electricity.
00:20:02.309 --> 00:20:05.509
So, you know, it's it it just helps me in my everyday thing.
00:20:05.669 --> 00:20:17.829
My my mother-in-law recently got back from Europe and when she came back, she came back to a flooded home, and I had to go in and clean up some electrical work in her kitchen when they just you know took out all the cabinets and stuff and flood cut all of her drywall and stuff.
00:20:17.990 --> 00:20:27.589
So we're currently still underneath all this doing this with her her house, and that electrical again has saved my mother-in-law a little bit of money, but it's paying me dividends by helping out my family.
00:20:27.750 --> 00:20:27.990
Yeah.
00:20:28.389 --> 00:20:36.949
So it's it's it's a it's that electrical thing that's in the back, but also chemistry from from my brother Alan and and and Greg Garrett.
00:20:37.269 --> 00:20:38.469
Yeah, no, I agree.
00:20:38.709 --> 00:20:46.949
You know, somewhere along the way you went from being the person where people are asking questions to being the guy that everyone calls with them.
00:20:47.109 --> 00:20:54.069
When did you realize that people were looking to you as Noah it's that's man, that's a that's a brutal question right there.
00:20:54.389 --> 00:20:57.429
It's it's it was kind of an interesting transition.
00:20:57.589 --> 00:21:11.909
It it was a matter of rather than and I think it started to happen like instead of sitting in the back of the IPSA chapter, once I started picking up the ball and getting more involved, once I started becoming more present at some of the functions within the industry, the Western Pool and Spa Show.
00:21:12.629 --> 00:21:22.629
I I did a I did a class one time where with Dave Penton and I was basically just the guy to throw t-shirts when guys would stand up in the back and ask questions.
00:21:22.789 --> 00:21:23.589
This was recently.
00:21:23.829 --> 00:21:25.909
But I started to realize, whoa, wait a minute.
00:21:25.990 --> 00:21:40.389
I I'm up here standing next to Dave Penton and doing this in a class, and there was a whole panel of guys, other contractors that they had up on a stage, and we were trying to get the audience to engage, and so I I want to say that they named it the the tomato fight of all tomato fights.
00:21:40.469 --> 00:21:45.829
And uh the guy that er I think his name's Eric that that runs the Western Fluence Wall Street called this Hey Du.
00:21:46.789 --> 00:21:48.549
Eric Nielsen is like, We're not gonna fight here.
00:21:48.629 --> 00:21:50.149
And I'm like, No, no, no, no, we're not fighting, man.
00:21:50.229 --> 00:22:09.509
I don't know, I don't know why they called it the tomato fight, but it it was one of those things where it wa and when you looked at who came to that class and sat in that class, there was a lot of top guns in the in the front of that class and it was a very good class that kind of brought some other guys together, a lot of guys out of the Arizona and Nevada area.
00:22:09.750 --> 00:22:27.269
And that's my whole thing is when I realized that your presence of being involved and being around rather than being the guy sitting in the back of the class, when you when you engage and you you step forward to kind of say, Hey, I'll I'll take on that and I'll volunteer for this and that, you start to get a little bit more of a following and a little bit more of a presence.
00:22:27.429 --> 00:22:27.589
Yeah.
00:22:27.909 --> 00:22:30.549
So I think that's where where it kind of shifted for me.
00:22:30.869 --> 00:22:35.829
Probably I would say fifteen, ten to fifteen years in to my thirty six years.
00:22:35.990 --> 00:22:36.229
Yeah.
00:22:36.389 --> 00:22:36.709
Yeah.
00:22:36.949 --> 00:22:49.509
And I would say or when someone asks you for help, are you likely to where you're at now, are you likely them to give them the answer or do you typically have them work with you through it to discover the answer?
00:22:49.829 --> 00:22:51.349
So that's a great question.
00:22:51.829 --> 00:22:52.869
I prefer a little bit.
00:22:53.349 --> 00:22:54.949
More hands-on with them.
00:22:55.109 --> 00:22:58.629
The reason why is you know you get the phone call, hey man, my heater's not working.
00:22:58.709 --> 00:23:02.069
Okay, well, hey, you know, get your tool bag and get your voltage tester.
00:23:02.469 --> 00:23:05.669
You know, the most common thing you'll get, I don't have a voltage tester.
00:23:05.990 --> 00:23:07.269
And I'm like, well, wait a minute.
00:23:07.349 --> 00:23:14.709
If you don't have a voltage tester, we're not going to be able to test voltage from knowing that we've got high voltage coming into a heater going to 24 volts.
00:23:14.869 --> 00:23:17.109
We we gotta go and we gotta go and test certain things.
00:23:17.189 --> 00:23:27.990
And nowadays some of these heaters have little, little, I'm gonna call them little dashboard lights on them that can tell you that there's this is what's wrong, and you can throw parts at it, but you still didn't learn why it failed.
00:23:28.149 --> 00:23:33.109
So being hands-on, I think is the best way to teach people because then they retain it.
00:23:33.189 --> 00:23:50.229
And if you can stand back over the top, and and and one thing people seem to forget is when you're teaching it over the phone, you're you're teaching it where you have to kind of bring it from upstairs and put it in your voice to to to get another one to retain it and perceive it, it's a little bit tricky.
00:23:50.389 --> 00:23:53.589
So, really true story, there's a kid that is in Blight.
00:23:53.750 --> 00:23:55.750
I call him a kid because a lot younger than me.
00:23:55.909 --> 00:23:57.269
Um his name is Damien.
00:23:57.349 --> 00:24:02.469
And when I met Damien through Instagram, Damien lives in a remote area in Blythe, California.
00:24:02.709 --> 00:24:03.829
He didn't know a whole lot.
00:24:03.990 --> 00:24:07.750
And and you go look at this kid today, he's a rock star.
00:24:07.829 --> 00:24:11.589
And I taught him how to wire automation panels over the phone.
00:24:11.750 --> 00:24:11.909
Wow.
00:24:12.069 --> 00:24:20.229
I'll never forget the first time that he says, Greg, if I put this screwdriver on here and I get shocked, you I'm gonna jump through this phone and get you.
00:24:20.309 --> 00:24:22.309
And I go, Damien, think it through.
00:24:22.469 --> 00:24:33.109
Because if you're using a rubber, rubberized screwdriver and you're not grounded, and you have soles on your shoes, and you don't ground yourself against anything that's grounded, it can't conduct.
00:24:33.349 --> 00:24:39.189
And he he today is popping in automation panels left and right, and just his business is thriving.
00:24:39.349 --> 00:24:47.509
So Damien has been kind of one of those kids that or guys now that is is living proof of what mentoring can do.
00:24:47.909 --> 00:24:48.549
That's awesome.
00:24:48.629 --> 00:24:49.669
He definitely stands out.
00:24:49.750 --> 00:24:50.709
Um 100%.
00:24:51.189 --> 00:25:00.389
Yeah, and it it's I you know it's those it's those stand out and those moments that I think make you stop and go, this is so worth it, and this is why I'm gonna continue to keep doing this.
00:25:00.789 --> 00:25:04.629
Just a man that you he says, hey man, I turned it all on and it all works.
00:25:04.789 --> 00:25:05.750
Thanks for your help.
00:25:05.909 --> 00:25:06.709
That's all I need.
00:25:06.789 --> 00:25:09.349
And hey, just make I want to make sure you get paid too.
00:25:09.509 --> 00:25:09.669
Yeah.
00:25:09.909 --> 00:25:13.429
You know, and so that's what's even better about it is I want to make sure that you got paid for it.
00:25:13.669 --> 00:25:14.549
Yeah, exactly.
00:25:14.709 --> 00:25:15.349
Exactly.
00:25:15.589 --> 00:25:22.949
You know, on the other side, well, so after 35 years, I'm assuming, you know, you've learned that you can't help everybody, right?
00:25:23.189 --> 00:25:29.990
And so how do you know when somebody really wants to learn versus someone, let's just say, that just wants the answer?
00:25:30.309 --> 00:25:40.549
No, and you you're you're gonna get a few that are gonna, I'm gonna say call in or they're gonna they're gonna reach out to you that they appreciate it and they they understand it.
00:25:40.709 --> 00:25:49.029
They it's kind of you you you figure it out real quick because it's I have a guy that I help a lot and he's like, hey man, I don't have time to do this right now.
00:25:49.109 --> 00:25:50.309
I don't have time to do this right now.
00:25:50.549 --> 00:25:52.949
I say, well, you can call me back when you have the time.
00:25:53.429 --> 00:25:56.949
Because you're not only on your time, but you're on my time.
00:25:57.509 --> 00:26:08.309
So, you know, when when you're ready to go figure it out and you got all your tools and in and ready to go, you can't be in a hurry with it because it's gonna take us some time to walk ourselves through it so that we can figure it out.
00:26:08.549 --> 00:26:28.869
So you'll figure out the ones that really wanna wanna learn from you that appreciate you and and uh you know, like I said, I've I've taught more people this business, and I've given away a ton of accounts to guys that are out of my area because I I worked my route into an area where we're I'm literally in one neighborhood called Rossmore, California.
00:26:29.029 --> 00:26:42.549
I'm in that neighborhood four days a week and now into a fifth day, which my Friday's not real big, but you will learn the guys that want to stick around and learn versus the guys that are just there to try to get an answer and then they move on.
00:26:42.629 --> 00:26:44.469
And I don't I don't I don't mind.
00:26:44.629 --> 00:26:45.269
That's okay.
00:26:45.349 --> 00:26:52.549
It's there's a place for everybody, and it it's it's I think it's that simple blessing that hey, they reached out and they called you.
00:26:52.629 --> 00:27:01.189
And and so that's one thing to look at is they they chose to call you whether it's a convenience or it's they knew they could get the answer is is here nor there.
00:27:01.269 --> 00:27:06.069
It's it's just a matter of, like I said, networking of of having a a big thing.
00:27:06.149 --> 00:27:15.829
So now when it comes to tile cleaning, I have several guys that send me tile cleaning so I don't have to travel too far and and appreciate all of them because they're starting to give it back to me now.
00:27:15.990 --> 00:27:24.629
And then obviously, you know, we pay a little bit of a referral fee as well, but you're gonna know what guys are just trying to take advantage of you and what you guys really want to learn.
00:27:24.789 --> 00:27:28.549
They they they stand two parts, you know, there's a left and a right there.
00:27:28.709 --> 00:27:28.869
Right.
00:27:29.909 --> 00:27:31.990
So you you you figure it out pretty quick.
00:27:32.149 --> 00:27:33.669
I don't I treat them all the same.
00:27:33.750 --> 00:27:36.709
It it just to me it's I just glad I can help you.
00:27:36.789 --> 00:27:47.509
And if I can't help you, I will get on the phone and I will find you the answers because when if when I feel that I've failed by not helping you, it irritates me enough to where I want to go find the answers.
00:27:47.669 --> 00:27:53.189
So now I'm curious, so I want to go get the answer, and so now I'm gonna turn to those guys that have helped me.
00:27:53.349 --> 00:27:56.229
Um we've got one too, just an outstanding guy.
00:27:56.309 --> 00:27:58.949
If you ever get on Instagram, you want to follow the pool nerd.
00:27:59.109 --> 00:27:59.269
Okay.
00:27:59.429 --> 00:28:01.269
His name's Marcus Marcus Lee.
00:28:01.589 --> 00:28:06.309
Spent many, many years working warranty for uh for uh Larry Eccle.
00:28:06.469 --> 00:28:12.149
And Marcus Lee is one of these guys that, man, I gotta tell you, this this guy's going places too.
00:28:12.229 --> 00:28:13.909
He's just a phenomenal guy.
00:28:14.709 --> 00:28:20.869
He he was sent out to do warranty stuff, and when he couldn't figure it out, he called Larry, and Larry would always tell him, figure it out.
00:28:20.949 --> 00:28:22.869
You got the tools in your hand, I'm not there.
00:28:23.029 --> 00:28:26.629
And so Marcus was one of those guys that really, really learn.
00:28:26.789 --> 00:28:34.469
And man, I'll tell you, he's he's my go-to guy, you know, real quick on some of the stuff that I may or may not be able to figure out automation-wise, or if he can't get a hold.
00:28:34.709 --> 00:28:43.909
I'm Marcus is one of the first ones I call, you know, now that my brother's been retired and stuff, he's not in tune with it as much other than on the construction side of defects and stuff.
00:28:44.069 --> 00:28:56.149
But Marcus is just hands-on deep into it and has a huge electrical background, and you know, we're getting into some pretty crazy stuff in our industry, and it's it's getting harder and harder to find guys that know it.
00:28:56.309 --> 00:29:01.829
And so when we look at some of these trainings that are offered to us, there's good ones and there's bad ones.
00:29:01.990 --> 00:29:02.709
I'm just saying.
00:29:03.029 --> 00:29:03.750
Very true.
00:29:04.469 --> 00:29:05.429
Good ones and bad ones.
00:29:05.589 --> 00:29:18.469
And so when you can have that mentor or a guy that's uh uh a walking book of I call them encyclopedias, you know, and that's uh that's a good guy to have in your back pocket that you can be able to call and say, Hey, can you help me through this?
00:29:18.549 --> 00:29:23.829
And Marcus is one that if I was I I think for next year, I think that's a name I don't know, draft to Rudy.
00:29:23.990 --> 00:29:24.629
That's Marcus.
00:29:24.789 --> 00:29:26.629
Marcus has mentored so many people.
00:29:26.869 --> 00:29:27.589
Well, I would love to.
00:29:27.669 --> 00:29:29.269
Yeah, the pool nerd Instagram.
00:29:29.589 --> 00:29:30.549
Marcus Lee, yeah.
00:29:30.709 --> 00:29:30.949
All right.
00:29:31.189 --> 00:29:31.589
Great guy.
00:29:31.909 --> 00:29:32.789
Oh, awesome.
00:29:32.949 --> 00:29:36.149
Well, hey, I have one more question before we jump over to myths.
00:29:36.309 --> 00:29:45.109
Do you think Potter teaching someone who knows nothing or getting someone to unlearn something that they've been doing for years?
00:29:45.429 --> 00:29:53.669
So I I think when they don't know too much, it's easier because now you can shape them and curve them and teach, I'm gonna say, the right way.
00:29:53.829 --> 00:29:54.069
Yeah.
00:29:54.229 --> 00:30:01.269
Um we all have the terminology, especially when you've been hanging on to a pool pole as long as I have, um, hey, I'm gonna go in and splash and dash this pool.
00:30:01.429 --> 00:30:02.789
You know that that's not the right way.
00:30:02.949 --> 00:30:12.549
We know that we can make time doing that, and we know that when you got a cleaner down in the bottom of the pool, what takes the time to service in the account is obviously dropping in a vacuum and vacuuming the pool.
00:30:12.629 --> 00:30:13.509
But when Mrs.
00:30:13.589 --> 00:30:14.309
Smith and Mr.
00:30:14.389 --> 00:30:21.349
Smith come out of the house and realize that you didn't vacuum the spa because the cleaner doesn't go up over the dam wall into the spa, we know we splash and dash.
00:30:21.509 --> 00:30:24.229
So cutting corners is only going to catch up with you.
00:30:24.389 --> 00:30:26.789
You know, I I do it a little bit when I want to go out of town.
00:30:26.949 --> 00:30:27.829
I'm not gonna lie.
00:30:27.990 --> 00:30:29.189
I don't BS people.
00:30:29.349 --> 00:30:31.669
We all do it, but it eventually will catch up with you.
00:30:31.829 --> 00:30:37.509
But when you and I've always taught guys to say, hey, here's the best way that I can teach you on service and an account.
00:30:37.669 --> 00:30:39.829
Drop the vacuum in, whether it needs it or not.
00:30:39.909 --> 00:30:40.629
Because when Mr.
00:30:40.789 --> 00:30:41.189
and Mrs.
00:30:41.269 --> 00:30:44.469
Smith are looking out the window, they saw the vacuum go in.
00:30:44.549 --> 00:30:45.829
They saw some work being done.
00:30:45.990 --> 00:30:51.909
They're just they saw you put the yeah, they're they're watching you because it's at the end of the month they're gonna pay you.
00:30:52.149 --> 00:31:00.949
So they want to make sure that they're get they're getting the most for their for their dollars, but at the same time, they can visually walk back out to the pool and see that it's it's nice and clear.
00:31:02.149 --> 00:31:10.069
Tune in next week for the conclusion of this two part episode on Myth Busting with Natalie Hood and top ten pool industry mentor Greg Beard.