Episode Overview
As a kid growing up in New England, Scott Caron was a restless school student who didn’t find his way academically. Then he discovered shop class, where he found a vocational calling.
His natural skills helped him become owner of Caron Electric. That was just Act I, though. It turned out running a business was just the beginning of a very public career in the industry.
Through the luck of geography and a key introduction, Caron got a chance to try out for the TV show Ask This Old House (A spin-off of This Old House). He got the job and spent nine seasons as a member of the show’s cast.
Whether he’s working on a television production or in somebody’s house, Caron believes first impressions are critical for success.
“Don’t take shortcuts,” he says. “Do things the right way. In the end, if it's not the right way it's going to create a problem down the road. It always comes back. Just do things the right way the first time and you'll have a good reputation.”
Caron also shares sage advice on ambition, and on learning from mistakes.
Ambition: “It’s great and important. I can work with anyone [who] wants to learn and can replicate what I’m showing them and retain it…You cannot give them that taste of ambition and zest to learn something. It's just what they have.”
Learning from mistakes: “They’re absolutely imperative to make. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years, and I like to talk things out [afterward] with my employees and see what angle they’re coming [from].”
Based on his skills and experience, Caron was given an opportunity to help shine a bigger spotlight on trade industry skill sets. He’s a commentator on the Elite Trade Championship Series, focusing on the National Championships for electricians and HVAC.
“It's really exciting,” Caron says. “My project that I live with yearly is to keep these competitions challenging, interesting, and technically correct.”
Apparently, his first impressions were quite positive.
Scott Caron recently joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Caron’s thoughts on:
(3:18) How a love for hands-on projects blossomed into a trades career
(13:25 Becoming a business owner
(17:56) Mentorship and what to look for in good tech candidates
(28:53) Pivoting from fan to cast member on Ask This Old House
(40:03) Why it’s important to show up authentically, on and off-camera
To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts.
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