He Built A $300,000 Truck Brand With Zero Ad Spend And One Daily Habit | Chau Nguyen
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Chau Nguyen sold two tech companies, bought a 1974 Bronco that kept breaking down, and turned that headache into Vintage Modern, a $60 million luxury vehicle company that hand builds classic inspired trucks for LeBron James, Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Lopez, and Tommy himself. He did it with no outside capital and no ad budget: he posted three times a day for seven years, built a following of millions, and made social media his number one sales channel. In this episode he breaks down why organic leads buy at three times the rate of paid leads, why rich customers are tighter with money than most contractors assume, how to market a home service company to the affluent, why the founder has to be the face of the brand now, and the hiring mistake that nearly held his company back. Vintage Modern ⟶ https://vintagemodern.co Follow Vintage Modern ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/vintagemodern/ -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 01:37 - The Bronco That Made His Wife Smell Like Gas 03:33 - From Coupon Books To A Top 100 App To 40 Cars 06:14 - No Investors: Sales Paid For Everything 07:15 - How Do You Charge For 900 Hours Of Craftsmanship? 10:42 - His Kids Taught Him Instagram 14:23 - Organic Vs Paid: Why Organic Leads Buy 3X More 16:25 - Your Product Probably Has A Hole In It 20:46 - Scarcity, Exclusivity, And Selling To The Elite 26:30 - Why He Has Never Paid An Influencer 29:18 - How A Home Service Company Markets To The Affluent 35:13 - Rich Customers Are Tighter Than You Think 38:12 - The Mark Wahlberg DM And The Tyler Perry Referral 42:16 - Should The Founder Be The Brand? 47:36 - Competing With Ferrari At $60 Million 51:03 - Robotaxis, EVs, And Listening To Paying Customers 54:52 - Productive Paranoia: Why Winning Is The Dangerous Moment 59:07 - The One Piece Of Advice He Has Never Shared 1:03:03 - On His Hands And Knees Under The Car 1:07:36 - The Two Books He Has Listened To 50 Times 1:12:11 - Where To Find Chau 1:13:36 - Grinding From Zero To 5 Million Followers 1:18:00 - What Comes Next For Vintage Modern 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
How Tommy Mello Spends $5 Million A Month On Marketing And Tracks Every Dollar | Sara Nay
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Sara Nay is the CEO of Duct Tape Marketing and the author of Unchained. In this episode, Sara and Tommy break down why most contractors rent their marketing instead of owning it, which accounts your agency should never control, why referrals alone stall a home service company around $1 million, how to get found in AI search, and the two fixes to make this week if your marketing feels like chaos. Get Sara's free marketing audit for home service owners ⟶ https://dtm.world/hsep Duct Tape Marketing ⟶ https://ducttapemarketing.com -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 02:59 - Tommy Spends $5 Million A Month On Marketing 04:34 - Do You Need More Leads Or A Better Journey? 05:58 - What's Broken About The Agency Model 07:47 - The Accounts You Should Own, Not Rent 08:32 - When The Agency Keeps Your Website 11:41 - Random Acts Of Marketing 13:00 - One Person Can't Run Six Marketing Roles 15:33 - Direct Response Or Brand? 16:38 - 87% Of Searches Now Touch AI 19:34 - Should Contractors Publish Prices? 20:38 - The $400 Steakhouse Problem 23:23 - Interview Your Best Clients 23:46 - Record Every Sales Call 28:49 - Nextdoor, Angi, Yelp: Pick Two And Own Them 33:19 - The A Team Sells You, The Interns Run You 34:38 - The Five Questions To Ask Your Best Customers 36:59 - A 91% Booking Rate And The Calls You Still Miss 38:11 - The Money Sitting In Your Old Customer List 39:33 - Why Competition Becomes Irrelevant 41:46 - Why Referrals Alone Are Dangerous 43:14 - The Sign: Pay More Per Lead, Always Win 44:53 - Marketing To The Affluent 47:38 - What Marketers Get Wrong With AI 50:40 - Your Home Page Is What AI Reads First 56:29 - The Founder's Brand Beats The Company's 1:00:06 - Use Your Voice To Pull Stories Out 1:06:30 - Buy Back Your Time 1:09:22 - Delegating Versus Dumping 1:10:24 - Two Fixes To Make This Week 1:13:33 - Sara's Final Advice 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
Charlie Munger Mailed This Author One Share And It Became $735,000
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Dr. Robert Cialdini wrote Influence, the book behind almost every sales training a home service tech has ever sat through. In his second visit with Tommy he goes past the seven principles into the smallest changes that move the biggest numbers: the two words a restaurant added to its booking call that cut no-shows 62%, the one question that took Boy Scout popcorn sales from 15% to 52%, why "967 reviewers" beats "967 reviews," the number one rule of sales every trainer teaches backwards, and the $75,000 envelope Charlie Munger mailed him for a single chapter. Then Tommy puts him on the spot with two live persuasion role-plays. Learn more from Dr. Cialdini and the Cialdini Institute: https://cialdini.com Influence Unleashed, December 5 and 6 in Tempe, 75 seats, $500 off with code A1GARAGE -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 00:53 - 75 seats in December 03:16 - Who Robert Cialdini is 04:29 - You already paid for this research 05:44 - What ethical influence actually is 07:17 - The seventh principle: unity 08:01 - The couples study and the word "we" 12:54 - Two words that cut no-shows 62% 14:20 - Chris Voss and getting to "no" 15:00 - The Boy Scout popcorn question 16:35 - Social proof and the McFlurry 18:54 - Say reviewers, not reviews 19:38 - Authority: who vouches for you 21:00 - The number one rule of sales 22:22 - A welcome line that lifts conversions 23:42 - Scarcity done honestly 24:52 - Advice to young Robert 26:40 - Put them in the boat with you 28:19 - Ask for advice, not opinions 29:43 - The $75,000 envelope from Charlie Munger 32:44 - Two mints and a 23% tip 34:16 - Give first, before they decide 37:41 - Why 89% beats 90% 40:06 - Warren Buffett's letters and honesty first 42:37 - "You're worth it" 45:12 - Pre-Suasion: the moment before the message 48:39 - Live role-play: talk me out of your book 50:17 - Building a following the ethical way 51:59 - Rapid fire 54:14 - Charlie Munger on why wealth matters 57:39 - Tommy makes it right with a customer 59:46 - What changed his mind, and what's next 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
The Guy Behind Tommy Mello's Emails Only Sends 4 A Month For A Reason | Zac Garside
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Zac Garside spent eight years training CSRs before he noticed the most profitable channel in home service was the one nobody used: the customer list. Now his agency Send It runs email for some of the biggest contractors in the country, including A1. In this episode Zac and Tommy break down why contractors rebuy customers they already paid for, the one-email-a-week plan any company can run tomorrow, the Will/Won't research framework that tells you what homeowners are really afraid of, and why two CSRs with identical scripts book at completely different rates. Get Zac's free swipe file of 20 top-performing campaigns: https://withsendit.com/expert -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 00:46 - From training CSRs to running email 01:58 - Booking jobs the week you need them 02:54 - How to stay out of the spam folder 04:45 - The subject line has one job 06:35 - The 6x in 60 days guarantee 07:40 - Open estimates first, then members 10:36 - Homeowners read email. Owners don't 13:03 - Email, SMS and direct mail 14:09 - It has to come from a friend 15:54 - Tommy's neighbor letter and $225,000 20:44 - What a good open rate looks like 24:49 - The next wave: personalization 29:31 - The two-year spring campaign 34:31 - Broadcasts, campaigns and automations 37:27 - "You're never talking to them again?" 44:20 - Starting from scratch 45:23 - One email a week, four segments 49:26 - The Will/Won't research framework 52:53 - Same script, 90% vs 50% 55:58 - Making customers feel something 1:00:41 - The easiest ROI in home service 1:03:40 - One piece of advice: trust 1:06:00 - Free swipe file and where to find Zac 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
You Hit $5M, Then $10M. Why It Never Feels Like Enough (& What Actually Does)
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Tommy Mello does $410 million a year and admits he is still chasing the next thing. Tal Ben-Shahar taught the most popular course in Harvard's history, built the world's first master's and PhD in happiness studies, and won Israel's national squash title at 16 only to feel nothing three hours later. Together they break down the arrival fallacy that runs every entrepreneur, why happier companies post better margins, the SPIRE model, minimum viable interventions you can do in 60 seconds, why New Year's resolutions die by January 17, the phone-in-a-box rule, the accountability buddy that raises follow-through by 200 percent, the good enough life, and what it means to give yourself permission to be human. Connect with Tal ⟶ https://talben-shahar.com -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - The unhappiness that started 30 years of research 03:23 - National champion at 16, satisfied for three hours 05:40 - What is the arrival fallacy? 06:30 - Unhappy versus depressed and quiet desperation 08:11 - Enough is never enough and the $3 billion regret 09:38 - Two schools of thought and turning goal theory on its head 13:43 - SPIRE: the five elements of wellbeing 17:20 - Minimum viable interventions 18:34 - Five things you can do in the next 60 seconds 22:31 - Vision boards and the environment that primes you 25:04 - The six-week challenge and why resolutions die on January 17 26:51 - Keystone habits and islands of sanity 28:16 - Would you sleep next to a bottle of whiskey? 30:45 - Habits belong on the calendar 31:39 - The age of distraction and being bored with dignity 35:43 - Zero startup cost and the 200 percent accountability buddy 37:54 - Commitment bracelets and the letter N 42:53 - Stress is fine, recovery is what's missing 43:51 - Does happiness lead to success or the other way around? 45:01 - Six Fs, balance and fitting 48 hours into 24 48:59 - Wearables, step counts and building happiness into a blue collar culture 52:49 - Speed round: the biggest misconception high achievers have 53:46 - Live every day as if it's your first 57:27 - Rate it 1 to 10: cold plunge, sauna, sleep and reading 1:00:39 - Permission to be human 1:02:02 - Learn to fail or fail to learn 1:03:47 - Advice for your 20s and the 90-minute sprint 1:05:34 - $10 million and the Happiness Studies Academy 1:06:35 - Five books, one for each SPIRE element 1:08:19 - How to reach Tal and his closing message 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
The One Thing Nobody Can Take From Your Home Service Business | Jason Feifer
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Jason Feifer has run Entrepreneur Magazine for 10 years, and his message to owners is the opposite of what you'd expect: the title you hold is rented, press won't save you, and the only safe ground is something you own. He and Tommy get into being singular instead of interchangeable, the billionaire mentor he walked away from, why he tells businesses to stop chasing coverage, and the arbitrary yes that keeps life interesting. Connect with Jason ⟶ https://www.jasonfeifer.com Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/heyfeifer/ -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 02:05 - Singular or interchangeable 05:33 - Accessible vs available 06:51 - The title you rent 10:37 - Who should actually be an entrepreneur 16:20 - Why he ditched his own framework 18:50 - Ryan Reynolds: willing to be bad 21:05 - The Mailchimp all-hands story 25:43 - The Gary Vee focus debate 28:05 - The billionaire's list 30:46 - An interesting life 31:40 - The Dan Martell exchange 35:28 - How the speaking career started 37:50 - Don't bother with press 39:40 - Google zero 41:57 - What matters most: brand trust 43:01 - Awards, rankings, and recruiting proof 46:00 - The rapid-fire round 47:34 - No meetings before 11 52:40 - The Dave Eggers sellout screed 59:01 - Where to find Jason 1:01:00 - The arbitrary yes 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
The Man Who Took Tesla From $2B To $20B Shares The Exact Formula | Jon McNeill
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Jon McNeill ran Tesla as president while revenue went from $2 billion to $20 billion in 30 months. In this episode he hands Tommy Mello the exact formula, The Algorithm: question every requirement, delete what the customer doesn't pay for, simplify, apply speed, and automate last. Then he runs it live on a real home service business, from $350 pay per click leads and 30,000 in-home appointments a month to technician equity and the two-question performance review. Connect with Jon ⟶ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmcneill1/ DVx Ventures ⟶ https://www.dvx.ventures -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - From a Nebraska farm town to Tesla 03:02 - The Sheryl Sandberg phone call 05:47 - The growth target that sounded insane 12:38 - Questioning a $100M rocket requirement 16:40 - Circle what the customer pays for 18:12 - A garage door install in under 10 minutes 22:43 - Good, fast, and cheap: pick three 23:07 - The $350 click and 30,000 appointments 24:16 - Why be in the home at all? 27:08 - Automate last 30:19 - Network effects for local business 37:05 - The Jeff Wilke trunk-delivery story 39:19 - Training 200 technicians a month 43:02 - Equity for technicians 46:01 - Watching your money go to work 50:11 - The two-question performance review 53:08 - 168 hours and the six Fs 57:12 - How long will we live? 1:02:05 - The Ottoman Empire's mistake 1:04:23 - Bring your A game every day 1:06:03 - Where to find Jon 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://freedomevent.com Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
Why Most Remodelers Keep Paying for Demand They Could Be Creating for Free
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://homeservicefreedom.com/ Tony Hoty filed bankruptcy at 29. Spent 10 years on the road training companies across the country because he had no choice. Then rebuilt to $10M+ in retail remodeling with Window Expo and Bath Expo. His message is simple: stop throwing money at digital ads and start building a system that creates demand. Tommy and Tony break down door-to-door canvassing, home shows, events, call center follow-up, and the lead handling mistakes costing most remodelers thousands every month. -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 Intro & Origin Story 05:40 Hunting vs. Farming 08:42 Door-to-Door Playbook 13:13 Creating Infinite Demand 17:10 Capacity Planning 19:42 Culture & Hiring 23:33 Event Profiling 29:54 Lead Handling & Leakage 33:03 Lead Follow-Up Mistakes 38:53 Process & Discipline 43:11 Ride-Alongs vs. Technology 46:45 Vision & Self-Improvement 49:28 Lead Gen Expo 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://homeservicefreedom.com/ Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
He Lost His Company as a Minority Partner. Then Built It Back From Zero.
🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://homeservicefreedom.com/ Justin Feichter started Providence Roofing just over a year ago — after getting pushed out of his last company as a minority partner. In his first eight months he realized his pricing was completely wrong, rebuilt his systems on the fly, and crossed $1.2M in revenue. He's still in the field every day. This is a real-time look at what it actually takes to build a blue-collar business from the ground up — the pricing mistakes, the social media strategy that's working without a budget, and what happens when you refuse to quit. -- 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 🕐 -- 00:00 Intro & Background 06:00 Year One Pricing Mistakes 12:00 Hiring for Your Weaknesses 18:00 Trades as the New Goldmine 24:00 Competing on Price 30:00 Retention & Relationships 36:00 Technology & Systems 42:00 Tax Strategy 48:00 Sales Process & First Contact 54:00 Vendor Strategy 01:00:00 Close Rate & Lead Sources 01:06:00 Social Media & Content 01:12:00 Goals for 2026 01:17:00 Lead Gen & AI — Tommy's final word 🚀 FREEDOM 2026 Get your Tickets Today! https://homeservicefreedom.com/ Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
The Sales System That Took Him to $300M+ Revenue (David Peterson)
David Peterson is Senior Vice President of Sales at Annuity, a powerhouse in the home improvement industry. With over 15 years of experience, David has scaled multi-brand platforms to nearly 1,000 sales representatives and helped grow Mad City Windows from a regional player to a $300 million+ powerhouse before its acquisition. David is a proven expert in in-home selling, KPI-driven management, and building repeatable sales systems that deliver consistent results. From overcoming early career challenges to leading a billion-dollar company's sales strategy, David shares insights on leadership, sales culture, financing in home improvement, and the power of humility in success. Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/ My other podcast: Home Service Expert ⟶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4WHQ3ldGThHsP1cfzNF33G Live Q&A submission form: https://homeserviceexpert.com/questions
The Future of Blue-Collar is Tech, AI, Roofing, and Power (Josey Parks)
Josey Parks is a CEO, venture entrepreneur, and one of the most forward-thinking voices at the intersection of blue-collar industry and technology. As the founder of multiple companies spanning roofing, construction, and AI—including Total Home Roofing, RFX, Roofix, Think Unlimited, and Cognitive Contractor—Josey has built a reputation as a true category creator in the trades. A former Inc. 5000 honoree and one of the youngest leaders to make a major impact in roofing, Josey has been featured on CNBC's Blue-Collar Millionaires and This Old House and was named "Roofing's Fearless Visionary" by industry leaders. Today, through Outlaw Ventures, he's focused on something even bigger: building the infrastructure behind AI, including energy, data systems, and scalable intelligence platforms. Josey is also the force behind initiatives like Win The Storm Conference and SVG University, designed to equip contractors with the tools, technology, and community needed to compete and win in a rapidly evolving industry. Check Out My Social Media: Tiktok ⟶ https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram ⟶ https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook ⟶ https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/ My other podcast: Home Service Expert ⟶ https://open.spotify.com/show/4WHQ3ldGThHsP1cfzNF33G Live Q&A submission form: https://homeserviceexpert.com/questions
How Top Entrepreneurs Rewire Their Thinking to Win (Shawn & Kaitlin Feurer)
Shawn and Kaitlin Feurer are the founders of Shawn Feurer Consulting, a mindset and performance coaching company based in Draper, Utah, helping business owners across the U.S. and Canada unlock higher levels of execution, leadership, and growth. Together, they've built a reputation for blending mindset mastery with real-world business strategy—helping entrepreneurs break through internal limitations and scale companies that actually last. Shawn, known as The Universal Mindset Disruptor, is the creator of The Inner Blueprint™ and brings over two decades of entrepreneurial experience, including building, losing, and rebuilding success multiple times. His journey—from rags to riches, back to rock bottom, and rising again—has shaped his no-nonsense approach to leadership, resilience, and sustainable growth. Kaitlin, a mindset coach and former competitive cheer coach, specializes in helping individuals develop confidence, discipline, and belief through action. With years of experience coaching high performers, she plays a critical role in helping business owners close the gap between what they know and what they actually execute. Through consulting, coaching, and live experiences, the Feurers work with contractors and business leaders to reprogram subconscious patterns, eliminate self-imposed ceilings, and lead with clarity, control, and consistency. Their frameworks—like the Knowing–Doing Gap and E + R = O—have helped countless entrepreneurs transform not just their businesses but their entire approach to life and leadership. FOR MORE GREAT EPISODES: The Mello Millionaire - https://open.spotify.com/show/1jsZaiMgWe0EGaPfLtelDW?si=3de6091af58d41b4 Check Out My Social Media: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
The Highest ROI Marketing Tool for Home Service Businesses (Tim Hilcove)
Email tim@smartwrap.com to get your first wrap FREE! Tim Hilcove is the founder of SmartWrap, a Phoenix-based vehicle wrap and branding company he launched in 2009 alongside his father. Over the past 15+ years, Tim has helped businesses across the country transform their vehicles into high-performing marketing assets: combining design, messaging, and strategy to generate real, measurable growth. With a background in design, production, and marketing, Tim has built SmartWrap into a full-service operation, producing and installing thousands of wraps annually through an in-house model that prioritizes speed, quality, and consistency. His work focuses on helping small and mid-sized businesses stand out in crowded markets by turning everyday vehicles into mobile billboards that drive visibility, brand recognition, and inbound leads. Whether you're in home services, local business, or scaling a growing company, this conversation offers a practical look at how to maximize your marketing dollars and turn your brand into a lead-generating machine. FOR MORE GREAT EPISODES: The Mello Millionaire - https://open.spotify.com/show/1jsZaiMgWe0EGaPfLtelDW?si=3de6091af58d41b4 Check Out My Social Media: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
Psychology Tricks That Got My Business to $500M (David Royce)
David Royce is the founder and chairman of Aptive Environmental, one of the fastest-growing residential pest control companies in North America. Under his leadership, the company scaled to a $500M+ business operating across 30+ states and thousands of cities, with a team of over 6,000 employees. Recognized by Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, and The Wall Street Journal, David is a recipient of the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Beyond business, he brings a unique perspective by combining operational excellence with psychology, leadership development, and human behavior, helping founders scale not just their companies—but their lives with intention. FOR MORE GREAT EPISODES: The Mello Millionaire - https://open.spotify.com/show/1jsZaiMgWe0EGaPfLtelDW?si=3de6091af58d41b4 Check Out My Social Media: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
How to Scale and Exit Your Business (Brian Franco)
Brian Franco is a visionary entrepreneur, dealmaker, and private equity investor widely known as "The M&A Guy." He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Meritage Partners, where he has spent over two decades guiding founders, private equity groups, and strategic acquirers through transformative mergers and acquisitions—helping generate billions in successful exits. Brian is the author of Inevitable Exit, a definitive guide to business succession, strategy, and legacy, and the creator of Empire Builder Studio, a platform focused on scaling companies and preparing them for liquidity events. He also hosts The M&A Guy Podcast, where he shares practical insights on valuation, growth, and exit readiness. Anchored by faith, family, and purpose, Brian blends disciplined execution with long-term vision to help leaders build enduring companies—and exits that truly matter. FOR MORE GREAT EPISODES: The Mello Millionaire - https://open.spotify.com/show/1jsZaiMgWe0EGaPfLtelDW?si=3de6091af58d41b4 Check Out My Social Media: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
Inside LJW: 40+ Years of Advertising That Actually Works - Sam John
Learn more about LJW Advertising here: https://www.larryjohnwright.com/ Larry John Wright Advertising (LJW) is a full-service creative and media strategy firm based in Mesa, Arizona, helping growth-focused companies turn marketing into measurable revenue. Founded in 1982, LJW specializes in combining strategic media buying with strong creative execution—placing campaigns across television, radio, billboards, streaming, digital, and social platforms. With in-house production studios creating thousands of ads each year, LJW helps clients move faster, control costs, and maintain consistent messaging. With decades of experience and a proven track record across industries like home services, automotive, legal, and retail, LJW's mission is simple: help businesses invest smarter and grow faster. FOR MORE GREAT EPISODES: The Mello Millionaire - https://open.spotify.com/show/1jsZaiMgWe0EGaPfLtelDW?si=3de6091af58d41b4 Check Out My Social Media: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@officialtommymello Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/officialtommymello/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thomasmello/
Why Direct Mail Still Dominates Home Service Marketing (Dan Harlacher)
Interested in a complimentary market scan or ads workshop from Valpak? Click here: http://asktommypodcast.com/Valpak In this episode of The Mello Millionaire, Tommy sits down with Dan from Valpak, a marketing expert with over 30 years of experience helping local businesses generate leads and grow through targeted direct mail and data-driven marketing strategies. While many marketers focus only on digital advertising, direct mail continues to be one of the most powerful and underutilized lead generation tools, especially for home service businesses. Valpak has evolved from the iconic blue envelope into a sophisticated omnichannel marketing platform combining direct mail, digital advertising, and advanced audience targeting. Dan breaks down how businesses can use data, targeting, and integrated marketing campaigns to drive measurable ROI and consistently generate new customers. You'll learn why direct mail still works in the digital age and the biggest marketing mistakes local businesses make. You'll also learn how to target the right homeowners for home services, strategies to increase response rates and conversions, and why omnichannel marketing is the future for local businesses. If you're a home service business owner, entrepreneur, or marketer looking to generate more leads, this episode is packed with practical insights you can implement immediately. Timestamps: 00:00:00 Cold Open 00:00:11 Title Sequence VO 00:00:30 Show Notes VO 00:01:16 Intro Into Interview 00:58:24 Outro
The Art of Customer Service: Building a Culture-First Business with Rob Anderson
In this conversation, Rob Anderson shares his insights on the importance of company culture, customer service, and effective recruitment strategies in the home services industry. He emphasizes the need for businesses to focus on making customers happy and creating a positive work environment for employees. Rob discusses the significance of data-driven decisions, the impact of partnerships, and the challenges posed by private equity. He also highlights the importance of leadership development, emotional intelligence, and the art of storytelling in building relationships with clients and partners. Ultimately, Rob encourages a forward-looking mindset and the continuous pursuit of personal and professional growth. 00:00 The Importance of Culture in Business 05:52 Recruitment and Retention Strategies 08:55 Defining and Measuring Company Culture 15:01 Navigating the Challenges of Home Services 18:04 The Role of Partnerships in Business Growth 20:57 Giving Back to the Community 23:50 The Impact of Private Equity on Business 26:58 Leadership Development and Emotional Intelligence 30:07 The Art of Storytelling in Business 33:00 Building Relationships with Clients and Partners 35:57 The Future of Business and Personal Growth
The Art of Differentiation in Marketing with Brian Sooy
In this conversation, Tommy Mello and Brian Sooy discuss the critical aspects of branding, marketing, and leadership in the home services industry. They explore the importance of clarity in branding, the need for differentiation in a competitive market, and the balance between branding and direct response marketing. Brian shares insights on creating memorable customer experiences, the role of storytelling in branding, and the significance of data-driven decision-making. They also touch on building a strong company culture and the mindset of ownership that can drive success in business. 00:00 The Importance of Branding and Leadership 05:52 Clarity in Branding and Customer Connection 12:04 Specialization in Home Services Marketing 17:50 Differentiation in a Competitive Market 23:56 The Balance of Branding and Direct Response 30:07 Creating Memorable Customer Experiences 35:53 The Role of Storytelling in Branding 42:04 Data-Driven Decision Making in Marketing 47:54 Building a Strong Company Culture 53:55 The Mindset of Ownership in Business
The Future of AI and Marketing with Benjy Yuhl
In this conversation, Tommy Mello interviews Benjy, a data analytics expert, discussing the critical role of data in AI and marketing. They explore how businesses can leverage customer data for targeted marketing strategies, the importance of consistent marketing efforts, and the future implications of AI on the workforce. Benjy shares insights on understanding customer personas and the necessity of viewing marketing as an investment rather than a cost. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of AI and its potential impact on human roles in various industries. 00:00 The Importance of Data in AI 01:30 Benjy's Journey into Data Analytics 02:43 The Excitement of AI and Data Lakes 03:56 Leveraging Customer Data for Business Growth 05:02 Targeted Marketing Strategies 06:22 Neighborhood Targeting and Data Utilization 08:04 The Power of Consistent Marketing 10:16 Marketing as an Investment 12:57 The Future of AI and Human Adaptation 15:05 The Role of Data in Consumer Confidence 17:16 Optimism and Concerns about AI's Impact 18:14 Understanding Your Ideal Client
The Home Service Expert podcast is the No. 1 podcast for ambitious home service entrepreneurs, whether they are in plumbing, HVAC or another niche. In this show, Tommy Mello, a $200M business founder, will talk with the best entrepreneurs and experts in the home service industry and beyond, to share insights that have made them successful: from the newest marketing tools to the best scaling strategies. Previous podcast guests include Terry Nicholson (former national trainer of NYSE-listed home services company), Craig Smith (President of HomeAdvisor, a home services marketplace valued at $2B+), Cameron Herold (former COO of three $100M+ companies), etc.
