Episode Overview
Shafer Heating and Cooling owner Nathan Shafer is the living embodiment of an oft-repeated business truism: You have to get out of the business to work on it.
A third-generation tradesman, Shafer came to a point in his career when he realized he needed to stop spinning his wheels and make changes that would propel the business forward.
He got a coach and took the advice to heart about stepping outside his former role to create a business structure that would advance the company to the next level.
After being stuck at $1.3 million in sales for years, he doubled the business in 2020 and increased sales each of the next three years. He was able to watch his parents retire comfortably as he bought out the company.
What was the secret to success? Primarily, just stepping back and realizing the answers were right there all the time.
Oftentimes we all know the answers,” Shafer says. “We just have a lack of implementation.”
Rather than struggling with blinders on, Shafer now says he’s in control of his fate.
“The business should be our vehicle to get us [to] where we want to go in life,” he says.
Shafer adds that he’s a big believer in the Zig Ziglar quote: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
Shafer still runs the business, but now that he’s seen the light of coaching, mentorship and strategic thinking, he’s also become a coach himself. And one of his biggest thrills is helping other owners map out a plan to get out of a rut and onto a new path.
Nathan Shafer recently joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Shafer’s thoughts on:
[04:03] When Shafer hit a breaking point and what he did to change things
[07:36] Barriers that Shafer had to overcome to make changes
[10:23] The difficult choice to reorganize the accounting department
[14:21] Telltale signs an owner is a slave to his business
[18:13] Core lessons he imparts to coaching clients
To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, or anywhere you get podcasts.
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