EP 46: Matt's Five Rules for Buying a Trades Business

This episode ran originally on March 22, 2023:

In this week's episode we talk with the Kevin Dobson, the Executive Director and Founder of Capital College and Career Academy. CCCA is a brand new charter school, based in Sacramento, with a focus exclusively on the construction trades.

Borne out of frustration, over the lack of opportunities and preparedness for real life in this Title 1 neighborhood, Kevin and a core team of industry partners devised CCCA to help build pathways for kids to escape of poverty and develop the hard and soft skills to succeed in life.

Learn how he devised the idea for CCCA, created the strategic partnerships that helped navigate political waters and fund it.   We hope you can take away a few ideas to implement in your own communities and if you like what you hear, please follow the show and share it with a friend!

Resource Links for More Information:

• Kevin Dobson LinkedIn Profile
• CCCA Website
• CCCA Linktree for Social Channels
• Angela Duckworth TEDtalk 
• Greg McClelland Episode

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This week's guest is Dan Kitchen, the founder of Make Stuff Move. Make Stuff Move is a social enterprise that aims to bridge the gap between STEM education and the skilled trades by providing hands-on kits that teach children about engineering, electronics, and problem-solving.

Dan shares the inspiration behind Make Stuff Move and discusses how he wants to empower kids to explore their creativity and learn practical skills through building and tinkering. He emphasizes the importance of integrating STEM and trades education, as well as fostering confidence and a love for learning in children.

Throughout the conversation, Dan highlights the accessibility and affordability of the Make Stuff Move kits, which utilize everyday materials and tools found at hardware stores. He also talks about the positive reception he has received from educators and school boards, despite the challenges of budget constraints.

Key Takeaways:

• Hands-on learning experiences, such as building and tinkering, can foster creativity, problem-solving, and confidence in students.
• Make Stuff Move kits provide an accessible and affordable way to engage students in engineering and electronics using everyday materials and tools.
• Educators can use Make Stuff Move kits to teach students about the practical applications of STEM concepts and introduce them to the world of trades.
• Connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations in the skilled trades community can provide support and opportunities for collaboration in education.
• The goal is to make STEM and trades education scalable and accessible to all students, regardless of their background or resources.
• Make Stuff Move is actively working on expanding its reach to the United States and welcomes partnerships and collaborations with educators and institutions.

To Learn More about Dan:

• Make Stuff Move
• Dan Kitchen on LinkedIn
•  Facebook
• Make Stuff Move Youtube
• Make Stuff Move Instagram

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Join entrepreneur and blue-collar trades advocate Austin Laulainen as he defies societal norms, educates young adults on the value of blue-collar careers, and strives to bridge the skilled labor gap in this inspiring and thought-provoking episode of Inside the Trades.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Explore the rewarding aspects of choosing a blue-collar trade as a career path during youth.
• Learn how social media can be harnessed for impactful communication with young people.
• Interpret the peculiarities and merits of living as a transient worker.
• Embrace the need for innovation and change in thriving in the trades industry.
• Capture the essence of combining technical prowess with soft skills in every trade.

Learn more about Austin:

• Blue Collar Edu: Blueprint
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• LinkedIn

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In this episode, we welcome the Disrupt Education podcast dynamic duo, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Privitt about the integration of trades and education. They discuss the challenges faced by the education system in preparing students for the workforce, the misconceptions surrounding vocational education, and the need for collaboration between industry and education. Peter and Alli emphasize the importance of integrating real-world experiences into the curriculum and building connections with local businesses and organizations. They also highlight the role of technology and innovation in shaping the future of education and the trades. The conversation explores the need for flexibility in curriculum standards, the value of career technical education, and the potential for industry to drive change in the education system.

Key points:

• Misconceptions and pushback regarding the integration of trades and education.
• Real-world projects and experiences have a lasting impact on students and can foster a love of education and connection to their community
• The need for better communication between schools and businesses to develop mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Evaluating and reducing Graduation requirements to create more space for innovative programs
•  Superintendents and education leaders should actively engage with businesses and community organizations to bridge the gap between education and industry
• Integration between industry and education can start at an early age through community involvement and school partnerships.
• Big thinking is necessary to bring about meaningful change in the education system and the trades.
•  Colleges and universities should also focus on integrating career technical education and fostering connections with industry.
•  Collaboration, continuous conversation, and the sharing of best practices can drive positive change in education and the trades

 Learn More About Our Guests

Peter Hostrawser

• LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Website 

Alli Privitt

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Website

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In this week's "Emergency Pod" session Matt talks about the challenges and strategies involved in pricing, marketing, and running a mosquito control franchise, all while dealing with multiple disasters in the span of one morning. 

His reflections on three months of business ownership include:  

• The importance of raising prices to reflect the value and target higher-end customers
• Focusing on perceived value is key, as wealthy customers are willing to pay more for the best quality. 
• Identifying  talent as a marketing issue (Thank you, Ryan Englin )and aiming to hire and train high-value talent to deliver exceptional service. 

Despite the challenges, Matt is determined to push through the growing pains and achieve success.

Key Points:

• Raising prices helps lock in value and cater to higher-end customers.
• Targeting wealthy customers requires understanding their mindset and offering the best quality.
• Franchise owners have flexibility in setting prices and creating their own sales strategies.
• Reinvesting profits allows for improved operations, marketing, and talent acquisition.
• The mosquito business is fundamentally a marketing business, requiring a focus on effective marketing strategies.
• Talent is a crucial aspect and needs to align with the value promised to customers.
• Challenges and setbacks are part of the process, and perseverance is essential for long-term success.

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This episode is the second part of our dive into Matt's purchase of a Mosquito Authority franchise in Massachusetts.   Part 1 explored the selection criteria he applied to narrow the decision process.   This week he shares the due diligence phase and financing steps he used to close the deal.

Key Takeaways:

• Create your research and purchase process before making any offers
• Stick to the process and stay true to your principles 
• Funding options and the value of "good debt"
• Owner financing and why it's so valuable

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It is an absolute pleasure welcoming Ontario's Minister of Labour and Immigration, Monte McNaughton, to the show and learning about the number of initiatives the Ford Ministry has undertaken to welcome more people into the skilled trades.

With a goal of bringing 100,000 new skill trades professionals into the field by 2033 the Minister and his team have worked tirelessly to roll out programs to improve education, workplace conditions and streamline regulations to meet those goals, seeing great results already.  There are a lot of takeaways from this episode that can be implement across communities everywhere!

Some of these initiatives can be found here:

• Skills Ontario Competition
• Skills Development Fund 
• Second Chances Program

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We've talked trades since the start, but neither Matt nor Derek had a background on the tools.  That has all changed and Matt talks about buying a business and the rules he devised to research, identify and purchase a trades business that fit his comfort level and skills. 

He brings a lot of great insights to the conversation and we're excited to follow his story,  introducing this new feature to the show.  If you'd like to know more about his purchasing process or how he's doing as the new owner of the Mosquito Authority East Bridgewater MA, reach out!

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Paige Knowles, aka Plumber Paige is in the studio this week and we are so happy to hear from the voice of our target audience! Paige touches on how she came into the trades, but the bulk of the show is us wanting to learn about what's driving young adults today and how we can provide the permission structure for them to explore a life in the trades. Paige does an absolutely wonderful job shedding light on the matter and we hope you can take some valuable tips from her.

If you have not heard or seen Paige please check out her work, as an author, advocate and documentary inspiration!

Resource Links:

• Plumber Paige Website
• Instagram
• YouTube

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In this episode of "Inside the Trades," we had the pleasure of speaking with Nate Clayberg, the founder of Career Adventure Academy, Business & Program Development Director of Cedar Falls CAPS and host of "That's a Job?" podcast. With a background in economic development, broadcasting and a passion for career exploration, Nate has been working to help students find their path in life and prepare for the workforce.

One of the unique approaches that Nate employs in his program is the concept of ikigai, a Japanese term that translates to "a reason for being." By helping students identify their passions, skills, and values, and finding the intersection between them, Nate helps them discover their own ikigai and develop a sense of purpose and direction in life. 

In addition to ikigai, Nate also incorporates training elements picked up from a workshop with the Marine Corps.  By instilling these values in his students, Nate helps them develop the mindset and habits they need to succeed in their future endeavors.

Whether you're a student, educator, or industry professional, there's something to learn from Nate's experience and expertise. So tune in to this episode of "Inside the Trades" to hear more about how Nate is helping students discover their ikigai and prepare for successful careers.

To learn more about Nate and his work check out:

• Cedar Falls CAPS
• Career Adventure Academy
• "That's a Job?" podcast
• Nate's website
• Seth Godin TEDxYouth Talk - "Stop Stealing Dreams"

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