December 3, 2025 • 16 mins
What if the strongest growth lever in home services isn’t ads, but trust? We sit down with Zeke Seaton of Solid ARM Solutions and Carolina Radon to explore how a healthy-home mission—mold remediation, crawl space encapsulation, moisture control, and radon mitigation—scaled on the back of clean execution and steady referrals. Zeke walks us through the early days as a licensed home inspector, the pivot to specialized services, and the moment he realized billboards and flashy logos could not compete with word of mouth from inspectors, contractors, and tight-knit BNI groups.
You’ll hear the real texture of the trade: crawling tight spaces, dealing with fiberglass, facing spiders and the occasional snake, and still showing up with PPE, tucked shirts, and a respectful tone in customers’ homes. Zeke shares how professionalism on the messiest jobs earns more than five-star reviews—it earns repeat recommendations. We dig into hiring for a hard, hazardous role with clear pay, bonuses, tools, and culture, plus the traits that matter most when the work gets tough and the crawlspace gets tighter.
We also tackle the head game of entrepreneurship. Zeke does not romanticize the grind: you do not just work for yourself, you work for everyone who trusts you. He protects his evenings by shutting down phones at six, manages vacations with short morning check-ins, and credits a skilled virtual assistant in the Philippines for reclaiming time by handling calls, Facebook, website updates, and outreach. Planning the night before keeps materials and steps dialed in, and with the calendar booking months out, he is adding techs and another van to shorten lead times without sacrificing quality.
Enjoy the conversation, share it with a fellow builder or inspector, and if it helps you, leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Guest contact info:
Email: info.solidarm@gmail.com
www.solidarmsolutions.com
Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/
All the best!
Bill
Thanks for listening. Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/
All the best!
Bill
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
All right, welcome to this week's episode of Epic
Entrepreneurs.
I am Cliff McCray filling in forBill Gillilan with your local
business training and coachingfirm Action Coach Business
Growth Partners.
I'm excited to have Zeke Seatonwith Solid ARM Solutions as the
focus for our Epic Entrepreneurspodcast episode today.
So, Zeke, please introduceyourself and tell us a little
(01:32):
bit about yourself and yourcompany and what primary
products or services you offerthe community.
SPEAKER_00 (01:37):
Yeah, thank you, Cliff, for having me on.
So, long story short, I'm in thehelping business.
So, what do I mean by that?
Um, well, I've got threecompanies, they all tie in
together, but obviously I'mfocusing on Salt Arm Solutions
today.
Um licensed home inspector forfour years, um, created Salt Arm
(01:59):
Solutions in 23.
Got another company, RadonMitigation.
Uh it's called Carolina Radon.
Uh we focused on people'shealth, you know, helping people
breathe easy, um, keeping peoplehealthy.
Um, just longevity.
Um that's my kind of myministry.
Um, kind of how I can helppeople.
(02:19):
Um not really doing many homeinspections anymore, just really
focusing on, you know, keepinghomes healthy, uh breathing
good, mold remediation, uh,crawl space hand caps, uh, you
know, anything to do withmoisture, um, leaky basements,
we do uh tear-outs, we do, we doit all.
(02:40):
But uh yeah, I guess we'll diveinto that a little more.
SPEAKER_01 (02:44):
All right, perfect, perfect.
Nice introduction.
So if you had to start yourbusiness from square one, would
you do anything differently?
SPEAKER_00 (02:54):
Well, yeah, for sure.
I've learned uh I've learnedfrom my mistakes, but uh I've
made plenty of those.
But no, I what the number onething I would do is don't be
afraid to reach out.
So obviously any business isgoing to be um based off of your
um your referrals.
(03:15):
Um and it was slow at first forthe first you know six months.
We had you know just a handfulof jobs.
Me and a license home inspector,I know real estate agents, but
the ticket in my business wascontractors and other home
inspectors actually.
You know, in the uh in the homeinspection business, you're kind
of you know, you want to keepyourself hush-hush.
(03:38):
You know, home inspectors don'ttalk to one another.
But I was at CE class and youknow, I was wearing my salt arm
shirt and I just went up to someother home inspectors, like,
hey, you know, yeah, I'm anotherhome inspector, but willing to
work with you, you know, send ussome some referrals, I'll send
you some referrals.
So that's actually how I metKenny McBurney, uh, which is my
(03:58):
business partner with CarolinaRadon.
And uh she's helped us outtremendously.
She does the marketing forCarolina Radon.
Um, but yeah, it's just buildingthose networks.
Um, because I that's the bestreferrals you can get is word of
mouth.
Um, you know, you can you can dothe I've done billboards, I've
done signs, but there's noreferral like getting word of
(04:22):
mouth.
You know, something or someservice you've done for somebody
and they can they can refer youand say, hey, you know, they did
this and this is the the waythey did it, the
professionalism, thecleanliness, um, getting it done
correctly.
SPEAKER_01 (04:35):
So okay.
So what have your biggestlearnings been as an owner and
employer since you started yourbusiness?
SPEAKER_00 (04:44):
So again, like I mentioned, we know we did the
billboards.
Um the biggest learning thingfor me at first, you know,
marketing was um I thought theflashing lights and the, you
know, the nice shirts would getyou business and how
professional you are, but youknow, that's not it.
Um some of the some of thecompanies we compete against,
(05:05):
you know, we we obviously we doa better job because we're
getting paid to fix their stuff,but they're getting more jobs.
And I used to think, how in theworld, but it's all about the
marketing, it's all about wordof mouth, you know.
But uh that's the biggestlearning curve for me was really
figuring out that it's it's theword of mouth.
I mean, I'm gonna keep hammeringon that because that's what's
(05:26):
transformed my businesses is isthat uh making those connections
there, being in some in somegroups, you know, like like
today, you know, I'm on thispodcast because I was referred
by Ann with College Hunks.
Um she's in my B and I group.
I was referred from Kimmy tobeing B and I, you know, it's
just a chain of of commandthere, but uh but yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:49):
Okay, okay.
So what are some commonmisconceptions about running a
business and how do you addressthem?
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
Oh man, people think that people think that uh you
can create your own schedule,which you can, you can, you
know.
People think that you work foryourself, but no, you whenever
uh whenever you own your ownbusiness, man, you work for
everybody.
You know, you don't just workfor yourself.
It's it's in me personally, howI how I run things and how I uh
(06:17):
how I do things is I'm kind ofan extremist, so if anything I
do, I'm gonna go to you knowfull till, you know, turn that
baby to rabbit, we're gonnawe're gonna mow it down.
But uh, but man, it's uh I Iit's hard because you can't shut
your mind off at night.
You know, you you're up thinkingabout things, you know, what
things you could have donebetter, or you know, you kind of
(06:38):
have to, that's another learningcurve too, is you kind of have
to learn to shut that off.
You know, after about sixo'clock, I just turn the phones
off, you know, turn the computeroff and just kind of you know
tell my partners, hey guys, youknow, it's time to time to clock
out.
And uh but yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (06:53):
Okay.
So you basically tell them toclock out and go live your life,
right?
Yeah, have a personal life.
SPEAKER_00 (06:59):
You go crazy.
SPEAKER_01 (07:00):
Yeah.
Especially on Friday nights,right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, all right.
So yeah, I I really like that.
So what what have you attributedto your growth so far in your
business?
SPEAKER_00 (07:13):
Well, I'm trying to say not I'm trying to to not
say, you know, word of mouthagain, but uh the growth is
well, obviously hiring peopletoo.
Um that's been a big thing, isI've hired a couple guys now, so
we can get more done, we can getdone quickly.
And we're booking into Februaryright now, so you know, I'm not
we've lost a couple jobs justbecause we're so far booked out,
(07:34):
and these other companies cancome, you know, in a couple of
weeks.
So hiring people has reallymoved things along, I guess you
can say.
Um, but yeah, that's that'shelped with growth.
Um, obviously just knowing,making these connections with
people and treating peopleright.
SPEAKER_01 (07:51):
Okay.
Now, when you're hiring people,what are you typically looking
for?
SPEAKER_00 (07:55):
So, man, it's what we do is super hard.
You know, we're crawling aroundcrawl spaces, it's hazardous.
You know, you're dealing withmold, you're dealing with
insulation, you're getting thatfiberglass all over you.
It's I've done a lot of work.
I've worked in mill riding, I'vedone sawmill work, but this is
it's it's one of the hardest, inmy opinion, jobs you can do.
(08:17):
It's nasty.
Spiders and snakes, you know,there's I seen a couple weeks
ago that was a uh mama Cody withsome pups in a crawl space.
I mean, you never know.
And so when hiring somebody,it's it's hard to find somebody
willing to work like that, youknow.
So you gotta pay them good, andobviously, you know, I give them
bonuses, we'll go out and eat,you know, on the company card
(08:38):
quite often.
Um, I give the guys anythingthey need in tools, PPE, uh,
obviously, but uh also some givethem some nice merch, you know,
just take care of your guys.
SPEAKER_01 (08:48):
But uh and you kind of went into this one here
earlier, but I'd like you todive into it a little bit more,
especially like when it comes tovacation and and things of that
nature.
How do you balance your personallife with the demands of running
a business?
SPEAKER_00 (09:03):
The biggest thing is just, you know, in the evening
times, just turning it offbecause it's non-stop all day
long.
We have, hey, one thing we haveuh just got for Carolina Ray on
was a virtual assistant, andshe's out of the Philippines,
and she's been great.
Uh man, she's taken taken a loadoff us tremendously.
Um, she handles all themarketing, all the Facebook, the
(09:25):
website, all the cold calls, allthe incoming calls.
She handles, I mean, themajority of everything now in
the office.
So that's been tremendous.
Um, but the biggest thing isjust learning to learn how to
cut it off.
In your mind, you know, cut, youknow, there's a time you guys
gotta be like, all right, youknow, it's time to hang out with
(09:45):
the family.
Um, so um, but yeah, le knowingwhen to cut it off, and that's
pretty much the biggest thing.
SPEAKER_02 (09:54):
Okay.
How do you handle vacationstypically?
SPEAKER_00 (09:57):
Well, I go on about two vacations a year.
That's uh one week each, and uhunfortunately, you know, I gotta
handle all the office stuff.
So I mean, you know, I take uhthe morning time, usually I
start at about eight o'clock,you know, until about 10, and
handle all the emails and thenyou know, hang out with the
(10:19):
family throughout the day.
And then in the evening time,usually I get some phone calls
throughout the day, so I'll justkind of ignore those in the
evening time.
I'll touch base and see, youknow, if everybody's doing okay
and kind of just see howeverything's going.
But I'll try to, you know,that's when I really have to
pinpoint in my mind, you know,hey, you know, it's vacation
time, we'll have to, we'll haveto slow down on this thing.
unknown (10:40):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:41):
All right, perfect.
So what you know, you you kindof went into this a little bit.
Well, what qualities do you lookfor in employees that you hire?
Well, uh as far as personaltraits.
SPEAKER_00 (10:52):
Yeah.
Um well, obviously the biggestthing is the physical part.
I've I've had some guys uh, youknow, want to work and you know,
we get in there and they justliterally you can't physically
do it.
I mean, if you're a big guy, youknow, you just can't do it.
But um, just being cordial withpeople, um, it's just like any
other business.
(11:12):
I mean, you I don't likecussing.
I don't like uh, you know,cracking dirty jokes with with
clients.
So that's the big thing with meis you know, we're
professionals, you know, we'rein our PPE, you know, our shirts
are tucked in.
You know, we are we are we'rehere providing a service, so you
know, we won't let them knowwe're serious about it.
That's the biggest thing.
(11:33):
Um but yeah, that's pretty muchthe biggest things I look for in
employees.
SPEAKER_01 (11:39):
Okay, okay.
All right, so let's head intothe quick fire round.
So basically, I'm just gonnagive you one word and you just
tell me the first thing thatcomes to your mind when you hear
that word in regards to yourrunning your business.
Um first thing is education.
SPEAKER_00 (11:54):
Well, education, uh, it's been a I've learned a lot,
um, but the biggest thing iskeep learning, you know.
It's it's the run wasn't builtin a day, and uh it's every
day's a my new learning curve.
SPEAKER_02 (12:06):
Okay, great, great.
Planning.
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
So usually I do the night before, but you know, any
business you have to come upwith a plan, you know, make
sure, well in construction,obviously you gotta come up with
materials and whatnot, but youknow, you got to go ahead and
it's like uh like Muhammad Alisaid, you gotta fight the five a
million times before you startit.
SPEAKER_01 (12:24):
So Okay, yeah, I like that.
SPEAKER_00 (12:27):
Inspiration.
Inspiration, uh just being, youknow, um happy with what you're
doing, you know, especially ifyou're providing a service, you
know, you're really helpingpeople and just uh just know
that uh you know you're you'reproviding somebody could be
something a life changingexperience.
SPEAKER_02 (12:46):
Commitment.
SPEAKER_00 (12:48):
Commitment, uh well, I think most good business
owners don't have a problem withthat because you have to be
committed to anything you do,you know, have uh have
dedication.
But uh I think commitment comesnaturally if you are a a good
business owner.
SPEAKER_01 (13:04):
Okay.
And what words of advice wouldyou offer to other business
owners who are looking to grow?
SPEAKER_00 (13:09):
Uh, don't be afraid to reach out.
You know, don't be afraid totalk to your competitors, you
know, just a phone call, whatare they gonna say is no.
That's all.
I mean, you can't be afraid toget get rejected.
I mean it happens, but some ofthose phone calls you make might
might change your businesscompletely.
SPEAKER_01 (13:27):
Okay.
And can you up offer any kind ofyou know, particular instance?
Did that happen?
SPEAKER_00 (13:33):
Yeah, with Kimmy.
Uh Kimmy McBurney, you know,she's the other home inspector,
owns one of the biggest homeinspection companies in West
North Carolina, and one day Ijust you know reached out with
her and said, Hey, you know, wedo mold, cross space, and dude,
we've had I don't know how manyjobs come from that.
I mean, it's been that's why I'mhere today, is because I met
her.
So it's just you know, don't beafraid to reach out.
SPEAKER_01 (13:55):
Nice.
I love that.
Love that.
So, what's the next big thingfor for your business coming
into the new year?
SPEAKER_00 (14:02):
Next big thing is we're looking to hire some more.
Um, like I said earlier, buckinginto February now.
So um looking to hire some morefolks, getting them ready to buy
another van.
Um, so anybody, you know,hopefully some people listening
on this podcast, if you'relooking for a job, you know,
it's it's nasty and it's it'shard, but we know we he'll be
there right with me.
(14:23):
I mean, I put somebody in thereto do something I wouldn't do,
but uh but yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:29):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (14:29):
And you already talked about kind of what you're
looking for earlier from anemployee.
So uh is it are you looking forit right as we speak or is it
going to be early next year whenthe job goes up?
SPEAKER_00 (14:39):
Well, actually, it's funny.
I have some flyers in my hand.
I was getting ready to post upat the gym that says help
wanted, you know, paytwenty-five to thirty dollars an
hour.
So I guess we can say we're uhwe're ready to hire right now.
SPEAKER_01 (14:51):
All right, perfect.
So, and and if in case anybodywants to get in contact with
you, what's the best way to getin touch with you?
SPEAKER_00 (14:57):
So I'm pretty old school.
Just give me a call.
Um, you can go to my website atSolidArmsolutions.
Um www.solidarm solutions.com.
Or you can just give me a call.
It's area code 865-474-0959.
And that's my cell number.
SPEAKER_01 (15:14):
Perfect.
And Texas, all right?
SPEAKER_00 (15:16):
Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_01 (15:17):
Perfect, perfect.
And what about any social media?
SPEAKER_00 (15:20):
Uh, we got Facebook.
Um I'm I'm on LinkedIn, but theFacebook is the biggest thing.
Um, I don't have Instagram oranything yet, but the Facebook's
got a good uh good mediaplatform for us.
Perfect, perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (15:34):
All right, well, yeah, fantastic.
You know, that's thank you somuch for being a part of the
community and for all you'redoing.
We certainly wish you continuedto success, and I really
appreciate you coming on.
SPEAKER_02 (15:42):
All right, well, thank you, Cliff.
Yeah, thank you.
All right, that was awesome.
Yeah.
Glad we were able to get outthere that year.
I don't know if that's not.
All right, welcome to this week's episode of Epic
Entrepreneurs.
I am Cliff McCray filling in forBill Gillilan with your local
business training and coachingfirm Action Coach Business
Growth Partners.
I'm excited to have Zeke Seatonwith Solid ARM Solutions as the
focus for our Epic Entrepreneurspodcast episode today.
So, Zeke, please introduceyourself and tell us a little
(01:32):
bit about yourself and yourcompany and what primary
products or services you offerthe community.
SPEAKER_00 (01:37):
Yeah, thank you, Cliff, for having me on.
So, long story short, I'm in thehelping business.
So, what do I mean by that?
Um, well, I've got threecompanies, they all tie in
together, but obviously I'mfocusing on Salt Arm Solutions
today.
Um licensed home inspector forfour years, um, created Salt Arm
(01:59):
Solutions in 23.
Got another company, RadonMitigation.
Uh it's called Carolina Radon.
Uh we focused on people'shealth, you know, helping people
breathe easy, um, keeping peoplehealthy.
Um, just longevity.
Um that's my kind of myministry.
Um, kind of how I can helppeople.
(02:19):
Um not really doing many homeinspections anymore, just really
focusing on, you know, keepinghomes healthy, uh breathing
good, mold remediation, uh,crawl space hand caps, uh, you
know, anything to do withmoisture, um, leaky basements,
we do uh tear-outs, we do, we doit all.
(02:40):
But uh yeah, I guess we'll diveinto that a little more.
SPEAKER_01 (02:44):
All right, perfect, perfect.
Nice introduction.
So if you had to start yourbusiness from square one, would
you do anything differently?
SPEAKER_00 (02:54):
Well, yeah, for sure.
I've learned uh I've learnedfrom my mistakes, but uh I've
made plenty of those.
But no, I what the number onething I would do is don't be
afraid to reach out.
So obviously any business isgoing to be um based off of your
um your referrals.
(03:15):
Um and it was slow at first forthe first you know six months.
We had you know just a handfulof jobs.
Me and a license home inspector,I know real estate agents, but
the ticket in my business wascontractors and other home
inspectors actually.
You know, in the uh in the homeinspection business, you're kind
of you know, you want to keepyourself hush-hush.
(03:38):
You know, home inspectors don'ttalk to one another.
But I was at CE class and youknow, I was wearing my salt arm
shirt and I just went up to someother home inspectors, like,
hey, you know, yeah, I'm anotherhome inspector, but willing to
work with you, you know, send ussome some referrals, I'll send
you some referrals.
So that's actually how I metKenny McBurney, uh, which is my
(03:58):
business partner with CarolinaRadon.
And uh she's helped us outtremendously.
She does the marketing forCarolina Radon.
Um, but yeah, it's just buildingthose networks.
Um, because I that's the bestreferrals you can get is word of
mouth.
Um, you know, you can you can dothe I've done billboards, I've
done signs, but there's noreferral like getting word of
(04:22):
mouth.
You know, something or someservice you've done for somebody
and they can they can refer youand say, hey, you know, they did
this and this is the the waythey did it, the
professionalism, thecleanliness, um, getting it done
correctly.
SPEAKER_01 (04:35):
So okay.
So what have your biggestlearnings been as an owner and
employer since you started yourbusiness?
SPEAKER_00 (04:44):
So again, like I mentioned, we know we did the
billboards.
Um the biggest learning thingfor me at first, you know,
marketing was um I thought theflashing lights and the, you
know, the nice shirts would getyou business and how
professional you are, but youknow, that's not it.
Um some of the some of thecompanies we compete against,
(05:05):
you know, we we obviously we doa better job because we're
getting paid to fix their stuff,but they're getting more jobs.
And I used to think, how in theworld, but it's all about the
marketing, it's all about wordof mouth, you know.
But uh that's the biggestlearning curve for me was really
figuring out that it's it's theword of mouth.
I mean, I'm gonna keep hammeringon that because that's what's
(05:26):
transformed my businesses is isthat uh making those connections
there, being in some in somegroups, you know, like like
today, you know, I'm on thispodcast because I was referred
by Ann with College Hunks.
Um she's in my B and I group.
I was referred from Kimmy tobeing B and I, you know, it's
just a chain of of commandthere, but uh but yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:49):
Okay, okay.
So what are some commonmisconceptions about running a
business and how do you addressthem?
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
Oh man, people think that people think that uh you
can create your own schedule,which you can, you can, you
know.
People think that you work foryourself, but no, you whenever
uh whenever you own your ownbusiness, man, you work for
everybody.
You know, you don't just workfor yourself.
It's it's in me personally, howI how I run things and how I uh
(06:17):
how I do things is I'm kind ofan extremist, so if anything I
do, I'm gonna go to you knowfull till, you know, turn that
baby to rabbit, we're gonnawe're gonna mow it down.
But uh, but man, it's uh I Iit's hard because you can't shut
your mind off at night.
You know, you you're up thinkingabout things, you know, what
things you could have donebetter, or you know, you kind of
(06:38):
have to, that's another learningcurve too, is you kind of have
to learn to shut that off.
You know, after about sixo'clock, I just turn the phones
off, you know, turn the computeroff and just kind of you know
tell my partners, hey guys, youknow, it's time to time to clock
out.
And uh but yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (06:53):
Okay.
So you basically tell them toclock out and go live your life,
right?
Yeah, have a personal life.
SPEAKER_00 (06:59):
You go crazy.
SPEAKER_01 (07:00):
Yeah.
Especially on Friday nights,right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, all right.
So yeah, I I really like that.
So what what have you attributedto your growth so far in your
business?
SPEAKER_00 (07:13):
Well, I'm trying to say not I'm trying to to not
say, you know, word of mouthagain, but uh the growth is
well, obviously hiring peopletoo.
Um that's been a big thing, isI've hired a couple guys now, so
we can get more done, we can getdone quickly.
And we're booking into Februaryright now, so you know, I'm not
we've lost a couple jobs justbecause we're so far booked out,
(07:34):
and these other companies cancome, you know, in a couple of
weeks.
So hiring people has reallymoved things along, I guess you
can say.
Um, but yeah, that's that'shelped with growth.
Um, obviously just knowing,making these connections with
people and treating peopleright.
SPEAKER_01 (07:51):
Okay.
Now, when you're hiring people,what are you typically looking
for?
SPEAKER_00 (07:55):
So, man, it's what we do is super hard.
You know, we're crawling aroundcrawl spaces, it's hazardous.
You know, you're dealing withmold, you're dealing with
insulation, you're getting thatfiberglass all over you.
It's I've done a lot of work.
I've worked in mill riding, I'vedone sawmill work, but this is
it's it's one of the hardest, inmy opinion, jobs you can do.
(08:17):
It's nasty.
Spiders and snakes, you know,there's I seen a couple weeks
ago that was a uh mama Cody withsome pups in a crawl space.
I mean, you never know.
And so when hiring somebody,it's it's hard to find somebody
willing to work like that, youknow.
So you gotta pay them good, andobviously, you know, I give them
bonuses, we'll go out and eat,you know, on the company card
(08:38):
quite often.
Um, I give the guys anythingthey need in tools, PPE, uh,
obviously, but uh also some givethem some nice merch, you know,
just take care of your guys.
SPEAKER_01 (08:48):
But uh and you kind of went into this one here
earlier, but I'd like you todive into it a little bit more,
especially like when it comes tovacation and and things of that
nature.
How do you balance your personallife with the demands of running
a business?
SPEAKER_00 (09:03):
The biggest thing is just, you know, in the evening
times, just turning it offbecause it's non-stop all day
long.
We have, hey, one thing we haveuh just got for Carolina Ray on
was a virtual assistant, andshe's out of the Philippines,
and she's been great.
Uh man, she's taken taken a loadoff us tremendously.
Um, she handles all themarketing, all the Facebook, the
(09:25):
website, all the cold calls, allthe incoming calls.
She handles, I mean, themajority of everything now in
the office.
So that's been tremendous.
Um, but the biggest thing isjust learning to learn how to
cut it off.
In your mind, you know, cut, youknow, there's a time you guys
gotta be like, all right, youknow, it's time to hang out with
(09:45):
the family.
Um, so um, but yeah, le knowingwhen to cut it off, and that's
pretty much the biggest thing.
SPEAKER_02 (09:54):
Okay.
How do you handle vacationstypically?
SPEAKER_00 (09:57):
Well, I go on about two vacations a year.
That's uh one week each, and uhunfortunately, you know, I gotta
handle all the office stuff.
So I mean, you know, I take uhthe morning time, usually I
start at about eight o'clock,you know, until about 10, and
handle all the emails and thenyou know, hang out with the
(10:19):
family throughout the day.
And then in the evening time,usually I get some phone calls
throughout the day, so I'll justkind of ignore those in the
evening time.
I'll touch base and see, youknow, if everybody's doing okay
and kind of just see howeverything's going.
But I'll try to, you know,that's when I really have to
pinpoint in my mind, you know,hey, you know, it's vacation
time, we'll have to, we'll haveto slow down on this thing.
unknown (10:40):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:41):
All right, perfect.
So what you know, you you kindof went into this a little bit.
Well, what qualities do you lookfor in employees that you hire?
Well, uh as far as personaltraits.
SPEAKER_00 (10:52):
Yeah.
Um well, obviously the biggestthing is the physical part.
I've I've had some guys uh, youknow, want to work and you know,
we get in there and they justliterally you can't physically
do it.
I mean, if you're a big guy, youknow, you just can't do it.
But um, just being cordial withpeople, um, it's just like any
other business.
(11:12):
I mean, you I don't likecussing.
I don't like uh, you know,cracking dirty jokes with with
clients.
So that's the big thing with meis you know, we're
professionals, you know, we'rein our PPE, you know, our shirts
are tucked in.
You know, we are we are we'rehere providing a service, so you
know, we won't let them knowwe're serious about it.
That's the biggest thing.
(11:33):
Um but yeah, that's pretty muchthe biggest things I look for in
employees.
SPEAKER_01 (11:39):
Okay, okay.
All right, so let's head intothe quick fire round.
So basically, I'm just gonnagive you one word and you just
tell me the first thing thatcomes to your mind when you hear
that word in regards to yourrunning your business.
Um first thing is education.
SPEAKER_00 (11:54):
Well, education, uh, it's been a I've learned a lot,
um, but the biggest thing iskeep learning, you know.
It's it's the run wasn't builtin a day, and uh it's every
day's a my new learning curve.
SPEAKER_02 (12:06):
Okay, great, great.
Planning.
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
So usually I do the night before, but you know, any
business you have to come upwith a plan, you know, make
sure, well in construction,obviously you gotta come up with
materials and whatnot, but youknow, you got to go ahead and
it's like uh like Muhammad Alisaid, you gotta fight the five a
million times before you startit.
SPEAKER_01 (12:24):
So Okay, yeah, I like that.
SPEAKER_00 (12:27):
Inspiration.
Inspiration, uh just being, youknow, um happy with what you're
doing, you know, especially ifyou're providing a service, you
know, you're really helpingpeople and just uh just know
that uh you know you're you'reproviding somebody could be
something a life changingexperience.
SPEAKER_02 (12:46):
Commitment.
SPEAKER_00 (12:48):
Commitment, uh well, I think most good business
owners don't have a problem withthat because you have to be
committed to anything you do,you know, have uh have
dedication.
But uh I think commitment comesnaturally if you are a a good
business owner.
SPEAKER_01 (13:04):
Okay.
And what words of advice wouldyou offer to other business
owners who are looking to grow?
SPEAKER_00 (13:09):
Uh, don't be afraid to reach out.
You know, don't be afraid totalk to your competitors, you
know, just a phone call, whatare they gonna say is no.
That's all.
I mean, you can't be afraid toget get rejected.
I mean it happens, but some ofthose phone calls you make might
might change your businesscompletely.
SPEAKER_01 (13:27):
Okay.
And can you up offer any kind ofyou know, particular instance?
Did that happen?
SPEAKER_00 (13:33):
Yeah, with Kimmy.
Uh Kimmy McBurney, you know,she's the other home inspector,
owns one of the biggest homeinspection companies in West
North Carolina, and one day Ijust you know reached out with
her and said, Hey, you know, wedo mold, cross space, and dude,
we've had I don't know how manyjobs come from that.
I mean, it's been that's why I'mhere today, is because I met
her.
So it's just you know, don't beafraid to reach out.
SPEAKER_01 (13:55):
Nice.
I love that.
Love that.
So, what's the next big thingfor for your business coming
into the new year?
SPEAKER_00 (14:02):
Next big thing is we're looking to hire some more.
Um, like I said earlier, buckinginto February now.
So um looking to hire some morefolks, getting them ready to buy
another van.
Um, so anybody, you know,hopefully some people listening
on this podcast, if you'relooking for a job, you know,
it's it's nasty and it's it'shard, but we know we he'll be
there right with me.
(14:23):
I mean, I put somebody in thereto do something I wouldn't do,
but uh but yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:29):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (14:29):
And you already talked about kind of what you're
looking for earlier from anemployee.
So uh is it are you looking forit right as we speak or is it
going to be early next year whenthe job goes up?
SPEAKER_00 (14:39):
Well, actually, it's funny.
I have some flyers in my hand.
I was getting ready to post upat the gym that says help
wanted, you know, paytwenty-five to thirty dollars an
hour.
So I guess we can say we're uhwe're ready to hire right now.
SPEAKER_01 (14:51):
All right, perfect.
So, and and if in case anybodywants to get in contact with
you, what's the best way to getin touch with you?
SPEAKER_00 (14:57):
So I'm pretty old school.
Just give me a call.
Um, you can go to my website atSolidArmsolutions.
Um www.solidarm solutions.com.
Or you can just give me a call.
It's area code 865-474-0959.
And that's my cell number.
SPEAKER_01 (15:14):
Perfect.
And Texas, all right?
SPEAKER_00 (15:16):
Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_01 (15:17):
Perfect, perfect.
And what about any social media?
SPEAKER_00 (15:20):
Uh, we got Facebook.
Um I'm I'm on LinkedIn, but theFacebook is the biggest thing.
Um, I don't have Instagram oranything yet, but the Facebook's
got a good uh good mediaplatform for us.
Perfect, perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (15:34):
All right, well, yeah, fantastic.
You know, that's thank you somuch for being a part of the
community and for all you'redoing.
We certainly wish you continuedto success, and I really
appreciate you coming on.
SPEAKER_02 (15:42):
All right, well, thank you, Cliff.
Yeah, thank you.
All right, that was awesome.
Yeah.
Glad we were able to get outthere that year.
I don't know if that's not.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.