If you love Waterfalls, Koi, Ponds, Goldfish, Turtles, Ducks, Rock, Fountains and quite frankly anything to do with water features, then you’re in the right spot! Be warned, you are in the SplashZone when listening to this podcast hosted by Eric Triplett, AKA The Pond Digger. Eric a veteran water feature design, construction, and instructional specialist passionate about his craft. He will be sharing Pond Pro Tips from his personal experiences in the water feature business on the podcast. Yo ...
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EP202: Crafting Serenity to Upholding Peace: An Employee’s Move from Ponds to Law Enforcement
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57:01
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Eric sits down with one of his longtime team members, Mark VanderWoude, for a bittersweet conversation as Mark is leaving The Pond Digger team to pursue a career in law enforcement. They discuss Mark’s journey from working on ponds to preparing for the police academy and reminisce about the good times, the challenges, and the strong bond they’ve bu…
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EP201: Turning Your Passion for Ponds Into a Business!
1:16:16
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Today’s guest is Mark MJ Wilson, a.k.a. The Pond Advisor, from the UK. MJ has over 35 years of experience in the water gardening industry and has written the upcoming book, Pond Passion to Profit: Achieving Prosperity and Fulfilment in the Business of Water Features, to help hobbyists passionate about ponds turn their pond and water feature passion…
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EP200: Experiencing The LA Pet Fair Debut with Ramy Guirguis
26:46
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Eric interviews Ramy Guirguis, the organizer of the first annual LA Pet Fair. The LA Pet Fair is a groundbreaking pet show, which brought together a wide array of animals, reptiles, birds, aquatic animals, etc. It took place in June 2024. They discuss the fair’s origins, its success, and future plans for the fair. In this episode, they talk about… …
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EP199: Atlantic - OASE Professional Pond Conference 2024 With Kyle Weemhoff
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56:25
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Eric sits down with Kyle Weemhoff to discuss the upcoming Atlantic - OASE Professional Pond Conference 2024, taking place in Denver, Colorado. They discuss the unique aspects of the conference, what attendees can expect, the growing diversity of the Atlantic Professional Contractor Network, networking opportunities, educational sessions and worksho…
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EP198: Becoming Coachable with Mike Claudio
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59:36
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Eric sits down with Mike Claudio of WinRate Consulting. Mike shares his journey of becoming a leader, his approach to helping contractors improve and grow in their business, and how he has continuously evolved his coaching approach. The two also talk about self-development, the importance of coachability, the value of having multiple coaches, and h…
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EP197: It’s More Than Just A T-Shirt with Tyson Matayas and Ron “Slayer” Yelenich
51:53
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Many contractors often overlook the power of something as simple as a company t-shirt. It can have a major impact on how you’re perceived and the success of your business. Eric sits down with Tyson Matayas and Ron “Slayer” Yelenich to discuss the importance of team uniforms, dress code policies, and branding for establishing a professional image, f…
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EP196: Conspiracy Files: Trump’s Close Call
1:13:27
1:13:27
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Eric sits down with Tyson, Slayer, and Matyas to discuss the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13th, 2024. They discuss their initial reactions, where they were when they first heard the news, and how the event has impacted them. They also explore the political rhetoric surro…
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EP195: Mind & Muscle: Intentional Growth with Kathy Jo Ferreira and Monte Butler
1:18:32
1:18:32
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Eric sits down with Kathy Jo Ferreira and Monte Butler to discuss their third annual 4x4x48 challenge—a physical and mental endurance challenge in which participants run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours. They share their planning process, navigation challenges, memorable moments, food and rest management, and the overall experience of the journey…
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EP194: The One Thing I Would Change About the Mindset of a Pond Contractor with Kent Wallace
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Do you know the secret to building a pond that thrives for years? It’s working with Mother Nature. When it comes to pond building, many contractors do it in a standardized, one-size-fits-all manner without properly considering the unique characteristics of each pond. Kent Wallace wants to change this mindset of pond contractors. He wants contractor…
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EP193: Modern Marketing for Residential Contractors w/ Savannah Gresham
1:13:18
1:13:18
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The landscape of marketing is evolving, and to keep up with these changes, contractors need to ditch outdated marketing tactics and embrace a modern approach. In this episode, marketing expert Savannah Gresham shares modern marketing strategies for residential contractors. She talks about sales, communications, and marketing to people on a needs-ba…
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EP192: The Premiere Wet Workboot for The Pond World w/ Shawn Langton of Kujo Yardwear
1:17:28
1:17:28
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Eric sits down with Shawn Langton, the founder of Kujo Yardwear. Shawn is taking the aquatic industry by storm with his innovative new boot line designed specifically with the needs of people in the pond world in mind by providing comfortable, durable footwear. Shawn shares his story of growing up in construction and identifying the gap in the mark…
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EP191: Putting Word of Mouth to Work w/ Luan Nguyen
1:08:49
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In the world of contracting, word of mouth can be the difference between a booming business and a bust. Today's guest is Luan Nguyen, CEO of Deck Bros, a Nebraska-based company that skyrocketed from zero to $5 million in revenue in just under five years. Luan has cracked the code to growing his business by harnessing the power of word-of-mouth, and…
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EP190: Koi Fest w/ Brian Fitzsimmons & AJ Mandell
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Eric sits down with Brian Fitzsimmons & AJ Mandell to discuss plans for the annual Koi Fest event happening on August 23rd and 24th. They share some exciting details about the event, like the variety of koi sizes and breeds available for viewing and purchase, live koi auctions, new vendor showcases, interactive workshops, etc. They also discuss the…
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EP189: The Last Koi Magazine Standing w/ James Rothwell of Maru Koi
1:05:25
1:05:25
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In a digital world where everything is online, James Rothwell of Maru Koi is bucking the trend through his print magazine, Maru Koi, which is dedicated to the koi hobby. In this episode, James discusses the journey of launching Maru Koi magazine, the challenges he faces in keeping the magazine running, and the support he gets from the people in the…
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EP188: How To Overcome A Sales Slump w/ Christopher Phillips
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57:48
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How to get out of a sales slump as a contractor? Christopher Phillips turned his business around after hitting a sales slump. Christopher had been doing well in his business from 2020 to the end of 2023, but then his sales suddenly dried up. He wasn’t getting any new jobs. Eric and Christopher discuss what caused the sales slump and how Christopher…
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EP187: Creative Repurposed Concrete Garden Walls with Nick Ivey
1:07:29
1:07:29
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Have you ever seen an old driveway or building get torn down? Today’s guest, Nick Ivey, has found a cool way to reuse that broken-up concrete. He repurposes those concrete pieces to make beautiful walls of them. He discusses with Eric how to make cool and unique garden walls out of old concrete instead of expensive stone. In this episode, they talk…
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EP186: Saving Sick Fish w/ Dr. Erik Johnson
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1:55:55
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Eric and Leslie sit down with Dr. Erik Johnson. Dr. Erik is a veterinarian who has written many books on tropical fish, pondfish, goldfish, and Koi health and husbandry. After disappearing from the aquarium scene for over a decade, Dr. Erik is back with a new book called Saving Sick Fish. In this episode, he provides insights on the proper manageme…
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EP185: Exposing Weakness w/ Duncan Farrow
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59:02
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Do you feel afraid to admit or expose your weaknesses? Eric and Duncan talk about how overcoming that fear can actually make you stronger. Both Eric and Duncan have Enneagram Type 8 personalities, which makes it difficult for them to expose their weakness. They tell you that exposing your weaknesses is the quickest way to fix them and become better…
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EP184: How to Travel Japan to Purchase Koi w/ KoiTrips.com - Fitzsimmons, Waddington, AJ, & Kosuke of Shintato Koi Farm
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39:29
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Have you ever wanted to visit Japan and see/buy the beautiful koi they have there? A company called KoiTrips makes it easy to travel to Japan just for the koi! Eric is with Brian, Tim, AJ, and Kosuke of KoiTrips.com. They give some fascinating information about what it takes to travel to Japan to find the right koi that you're looking for. In this …
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EP183: Lift Up Landscapers w/ Michelle Esau
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1:13:51
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Are you trying to grow your business but struck with marketing? Are you tired of feeling like your ads are just floating out there without giving the results you expected? Facebook ads expert Michelle Esau from Lift Up Landscapers shares different marketing strategies you can use to grow your business. She talks about Facebook ads, targeting strate…
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EP182: Doing It Different Aquariums & Ponds w/ Lucas Bretz
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1:09:37
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Today, we have YouTube sensation Lucas Bretz from LRB Aquatics on the show. Lucas is doing aquariums differently and with great success. He discusses the importance of embracing natural processes in aquarium maintenance and shares his unique approach to natural, no-filter aquarium maintenance. In this episode, they talk about: Importance of buildin…
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EP181: Personal Branding for Contractors w/ Isaac Mashman
1:22:50
1:22:50
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Personal branding is a powerful way for contractors to grow their business and attract more clients. In this episode, personal branding expert Isaac Mashman talks about personal branding, and how it can help you with your business. He discusses how personal branding is more than just logos, shares tips and strategies for personal branding, and how …
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EP180: Behind The Curtain of Oase Living Water w/ CEO Thorsten Muck
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44:07
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Eric sits down with Thorsten Muck, the CEO of Oase Living Water. The two talk about Thorsten’s journey to Oase, the challenges and successes he’s experienced in his seven years as CEO, merging with other companies, and how COVID-19 affected them. Thorsten also shares insights into his life running a global business and talks about the tendency of w…
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EP179: The Power of Assumptions with Yelenich & Matyas
58:20
58:20
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We all make assumptions every day without even realizing it. And sometimes, most of the assumptions we make have a bad connotation. So, while assumptions can get you in trouble, Eric discusses the flip side of it—the power of assumptions. He sits down with Slayer and Tyson to talk about how assumptions can be good too and explores the power of assu…
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EP178: Undergravel Suction Grid Technology w/ Jason Steele & Mark Yori
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41:46
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At first, Jason was skeptical of underground suction grid technology. He thought it’s not going to work. It’s going to clog up. It’s going to be a maintenance nightmare. But after testing it in his pond for five years, he found it worked well. Eric is at the water garden expo and sits down with Jason Steele and Mark Yori to discuss undergravel suct…
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EP177: Fighting Fitz’s Fish Ponds w/ Brian Fitzsimmons
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27:56
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Today’s guest, Brian Fitzsimmons from Fitz’s Fish Ponds, has built a successful business of building ponds and breeding and selling koi fish, but these days, he is focusing his energy on something else. He is going to take on Eric as part of the finsNfury charity boxing match on August 17th for Brian Barczyk’s Legacy Aquarium. Tune in to find out B…
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EP176: Quitting the 5 AM Club w/ Johnny Buck
1:11:14
1:11:14
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Do you believe there is a need to wake up at 5 AM every day to be successful? Today’s guest, Johnny Buck, found this isn’t sustainable long term. As an entrepreneur, athlete, and coach, he was burning the candle at both ends just to keep up. In this episode, he shares his decision to quit the 5 AM Club and take a more flexible approach to mornings …
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EP175: Cichlid Breeding Chronicles with Living Legend John Niemans
1:25:38
1:25:38
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Eric sits down with Cichlid legend John Niemans to discuss his encyclopedic knowledge of cichlids. They discuss John’s experiences over 30+ years of keeping and breeding cichlids, lessons he’s learned along the way, breeding and fishkeeping tips for different cichlid groups like Africans, New World cichlids, Asians, and more. If you’re passionate a…
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EP174: Aging and Exiting The Pond Industry w/ The Pond Monster, Mark Gibson & Mike Miller
1:11:37
1:11:37
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As pond professionals get older, it’s natural to start thinking about retirement. But leaving behind a career you’ve poured your heart into for decades is no easy task. Eric sat down with three industry veterans—The Pond Monster, Mark Gibson, and Mike Miller—to get their insights on aging in the industry and how to make an exit. In this episode, th…
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EP173: Fins & Fury w/ The King of DIY Joey Mullen
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1:34:03
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Joey Mullen, the undisputed King of DIY, is here to make the aquarium hobby a lot more exciting with the upcoming charity boxing event – Fins N Fury. Joey details about the boxing match, a charity event for raising funds for late Brian Barczyk’s Legacy Aquarium. He also opens up about his long YouTube career and gives some gold nuggets about YouTub…
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EP172: Inside The Coast Tropical Fish Club with Ross Freeman
1:36:16
1:36:16
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Do you know there’s a Fish Club local to around you? Today’s guest, Ross Freeman, is the President of the Coast Tropical Fish Club located in California. He has been a member of the club for over 15 years and has held various volunteer roles during that time. Ross gives an inside look at what goes on during a typical meeting of the club, the upcomi…
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EP171: Atlantic Water Gardens & Oase Merger w/ Jeff Weemhoff
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58:32
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Eric sits down with Jeff Weemhoff to discuss the fascinating story behind the merger of Atlantic Water Gardens and Oase. Jeff helped grow Atlantic into a $12 million+ business as its founder and president. In 2018, Atlantic merged with global water feature leader Oase to form Atlantic Oase. During the discussion, Jeff provides a behind-the-scenes l…
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EP170: Pond Professional Alliance Debut w/ Craig McBride & Ana Arntson
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Craig McBride and Ana Arntson sat down with Eric to discuss the debut of a new community for pond builders — the Pond Professional Alliance (PPA). Via PPA, they aim to bring together people from all walks of the water feature world through an unbiased platform free from manufacturer influence. They share that over 200 people have already joined the…
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EP169: Pond Builder of The Stars with Steve Sandalis
1:27:32
1:27:32
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Today’s guest, Steve Sandalis, has been crafting water features and landscapes for the stars of Hollywood for over 20 years. From Jeff Probst to Tom Brady, Steve has transformed countless celebrity backyards into works of natural art. Listen in as Steve discusses some of his most high-profile projects over the years and opens up about the challenge…
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EP168: Graybeard Pond Building Advice w/ Demi Fortuna
1:17:49
1:17:49
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In this episode, renowned pond builder and industry veteran Demi Fortuna shares his Graybeard experience and hard-earned wisdom gained from four decades of working in the pond industry. Demi is the founder of August Moon Designs and director of product information at Atlantic-OASE. From early challenges installing ponds with limited resources to pi…
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EP167: Mastering Your Mindset: The Key To Unlocking Your True Potential w/ Shane Boyd
1:24:53
1:24:53
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Are you struggling to grow your business because of limiting beliefs and negative self-talk? Today’s guest, Shane Boyd, discusses the connection between mindset and results and how even small changes in your mindset can dramatically grow your business results. Shane is a marketing and mindset coach who has helped countless entrepreneurs overcome li…
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EP166: Introducing The All American Koi Show w/ Shawn McHenry & Hector Mardueno
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Eric sits down with Hector Mardueno and Shawn McHenry – the organizers of the highly anticipated All American Koi Show coming to Las Vegas in 2024. Shawn and Hector spill all the deets on what makes this show a game-changer. From the vendors and judges to educational programs, they reveal it all and tell how this event will take the Koi industry to…
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EP165: Call The Damn Leads w/ Drewbie Wilson
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Have you ever gotten leads for your business and then wondered why they weren't turning into sales? Sales consultant Drewbie Wilson wants to tell you that the problem may not be with your leads – it's that you're just not calling them. Drewbie shares some great tips and strategies that will help you turn your leads into paying customers. In this ep…
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EP164: The Legacy of Anthony Archer-Wills with Guests AAW & Kelly Billing
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1:23:39
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Today, we have the pond legend Anthony Archer-Wills and aquatic plant expert Kelly Billing in the house! Anthony shared how he discovered his passion for ponds as a child and how it developed into his career. Anthony and Kelly also shared valuable insights on pioneering techniques in water features, aquatic plant care, how pond design and construct…
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EP163: Grow Your Service-Based Business by 40% in 12 Months w/ Laura Reale
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Today’s guest, Laura Reale, grew her service-based business by 40% in just 12 months. Want to know her secret? Tune in as she shares the framework, secrets, tips, and tricks that she used to make that happen for her business. Laura runs two businesses: AquaReale—a pond construction, service, and maintenance company—and Pondtent—a marketing company …
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EP162: Koi Show Chronicles w/ Shawn McHenry & Anthony Quintero
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Koi shows have come a long way since their origins in Japan. Seasoned Koi experts Anthony Quintero and Shawn McHenry join Eric to explore the historical beginnings of Koi shows and how they’ve evolved over the years. From their over two decades of experience in the industry, they discuss their memorable moments, trends, and innovations in Koi shows…
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EP161: Speak With Authority & Confidence w/ Philip Session
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Public speaking can be intimidating, but having strong communication skills is essential for contractors to grow their businesses! Public speaking coach Philip Sessions shares strategies for contractors to speak with authority and confidence when speaking to prospects, clients, and industry groups. In this episode, they talk about: Philip’s fear of…
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EP160: Water Garden Expo: Past, Present, and Future w/ Randy Stewart
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Eric is joined by Randy Stewart, the Vision Manager for Pondliner.com and the driving force behind the highly popular Water Garden Expo. Randy shared the history of the Water Garden Expo, gave an exciting preview of the upcoming 2024 Expo — why you should attend, what you can expect, who is going to speak at the event, — and the future of the Water…
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EP159: 10 Symptoms You Probably Suck At Sales!
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Are you a contractor who excels at sales? Or are you the contractor who sucks at sales? How can you identify which category you fall into? Just like on American Idol, there are contestants who truly think they could sing well, but in reality, they are terrible singers. In the same way, there are contractors who may think they are a pro at sales whe…
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EP158: Emotional Intelligence for Contractors w/ Benny Fisher
1:15:59
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Emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of the most important skills for contractors — it allows you to better understand clients, defuse tense situations, and provide excellent service. Today’s guest, Benny Fisher, is the founder and visionary of The Big Fish Contracting Company, Co-Founder of The Arena Mastermind, Business Growth Leader for Contractor…
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EP157: The Pond Digger Team vs. 75 HARD
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The Pond Digger team is taking on the 75 HARD challenge. Eric motivates them by sharing his own experience with the challenge and inspiring them to join in. In this episode, each team member shares their motivation for taking on 75 Hard — some want to get in shape for future goals like firefighting academy, while others want to be healthier role mo…
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EP156: Pond Trade Magazine w/ Lora Lee Gelles
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Today’s guest is Lora Lee Gelles, owner and editor of Pond Trade Magazine. Laura discusses the history of the magazine, how she took it over in 2013 without even having a pond herself at that time, some controversial articles Pond Trade Magazine has published over the years that caused controversy in the pond industry, and more. In this episode, th…
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EP155: Digital Marketing for Contractors w/ Adam McChesney
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Are you struggling to generate leads and sales for your contracting business? Today’s guest, Adam McChesney, shares the best digital marketing strategies that can help boost your business. Adam is a serial entrepreneur, a digital marketing and personal branding expert, CEO at Builders of Authority and Hite Digital, and host of Entrebrewer podcast. …
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EP154: Koi Grow Out Contest Secrets with Shawn McHenry
1:33:17
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There are secrets to winning koi grow out contests, and Koi expert Shawn McHenry of Mystic Koi is here to share some of these secrets. Eric and Shawn discuss koi grow out contests, how these contests work, and how to select, grow, and prepare fish to their best potential for competition. In this episode, they talk about: The history of koi grow out…
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EP153: West Coast Cichlid Supplies with Brandon Blombquist
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Today, Eric dives into the colorful world of cichlids with guest Brandon Blombquist. Brandon is the owner of West Coast Cichlid Supplies, a cichlid breeding and sales business in Southern California. Brandon shares how he turned his longtime hobby for cichlid into a thriving business. In this episode, they talk about: Story of how Eric and Brandon …
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