UnGooglizing the Industry Debate with Ismael Valdez

In this powerhouse episode, Chris Yano sits down with Ismael Valdez, former CEO of NexGen, founder of Nuve, and straight-talking industry disruptor, to break down the REAL issues plaguing contractors today—and what it actually takes to grow and lead a successful home services business in 2025 and beyond.

 

This isn't just another podcast episode. It's a masterclass in leadership, accountability, AI, branding, and the future of the trades. From calling out fake mentors and lazy operators to talking billion-dollar visions, robotic labor, and how personal branding is becoming a business necessity—this is the episode you didn't know you needed.

 

🔥 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Why most contractors operate like employees, not CEOs—and how to fix it

The accountability gap killing growth in small to mid-sized businesses

Why contractors are losing leads due to poor online reviews

The rise of AI and robotics in trades: what’s coming and what to do about it

The future of branding (both personal and company) in an AI-dominated world

What separates real mentors from the frauds in the home services space

How Nuve is changing the game by listening to contractor feedback in real time

 

⏱️ TIMECODES:

00:00 - Intro & Ishmael’s return

00:51 - The economy, interest rates, and the outlook for 2026

02:05 - The real impact of immigration policies on the trades

04:49 - Why Ishmael is still grinding after a big exit

06:17 - Nuve’s mission and learning from contractor feedback

08:00 - Yelp, Google, and the brutal truth about reviews

10:01 - Every contractor messes up—what matters is how you respond

14:45 - Most “CEOs” still think like employees

17:08 - The rise of fake mentors & predatory coaches in the industry

21:00 - Nobody is coming to save you—do the work

24:14 - AI and the future of CSR & dispatch

26:09 - Robotics in trades: the change is coming faster than you think

31:06 - Brand is everything: company + personal brand strategy

36:11 - Why you MUST get on camera (or find someone who will)

42:05 - Why most contractors suck at social media—and how to fix it

44:52 - The metric that matters most in social: SHARES

47:30 - Final thoughts & actions to take now

 

🔗 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Nuve: https://www.nuvehome.com/

Prolific Brand Design: https://prolificbranddesign.com/

 

Thank you to our Sponsors!

 

Rilla: https://www.rilla.com/tothepoint

Chiirp: https://chiirp.com/

Contractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com/ryno/

Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePoint

Avoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepoint

 

🙌 CALL TO ACTION:

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Let’s keep building—together. No. Zero. Days.