Highest Paying Blue-Collar Trade Nobody's Talking About (Making $100K+ With No Degree)

Apr 2, 2026

Matt Ebert, founder and CEO who scaled Crash Champions from one shop to hundreds, talks scaling a business, building trust through personal brand and social content, and the huge opportunity in blue-collar trades. Short takes cover technician shortages, six-figure pay in collision work, apprenticeships, leadership development, and the systems needed to grow fast.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Handwritten Card Turned Into Lunch With Mike Rowe

Matt approached Mike Rowe at SkillsUSA by leaving a handwritten card instead of interrupting a private dinner and secured a lunch the next day.
Rowe had researched Matt online first because of Matt's media presence, making the outreach effective.

ADVICE

Match Apprenticeships With Mentor Development

Create formal apprenticeship and mentor programs to convert interest into skilled technicians.
Matt warns training demand outpaces mentors, so invest in mentor development and structured curricula before scaling hiring.

INSIGHT

Execution Trumps Potential in Scaling Businesses

Many people could start and scale businesses, but most don't because of mindset, comfort, or unwillingness to do hard, consistent work.
Matt sees persistence and willingness to 'raise your thermostat' as the competitive edge.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Today's Dropping Bombs episode brings back Matt Ebert — founder and CEO of Crash Champions, and the man who built a $3 billion collision repair empire from starting with just a single shop.

Matt breaks down what it actually takes to scale a business, the real opportunity hiding in blue-collar trades, and why skilled workers are about to become the most valuable people in the workforce.

If you've ever wondered whether the trades are worth it, or how someone builds something this big from nothing, this one's for you.

🔗 Connect with Matt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattebertcc/

Websites: https://mattebert.com/ | https://crashchampions.com/

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs