What Exploring Other Companies Taught Me About HVAC Success

A top HVAC technician, a two time GOAT award winner on track to earn it a third time, suddenly quit his job. This bold move revealed the surprising truth about real success and happiness in the home services industry.

In episode 59 of the Wisdom of Wrench podcast, host Kevin Comerford sits down with Richard Kadotani to discuss his journey in HVAC. Richard shares why he left Service Champions where he was a top performer, what he discovered working for the competition, and the powerful lessons he learned about company culture, career growth, and achieving a fulfilling work life balance.

If you are a driven professional in the trades, this conversation provides an invaluable look into making major career decisions, the importance of educating your customers, and how to build a prosperous future in the trades. Watch now to hear Richard's full story.

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Chapters:

0:00 - Why a Top Performer Suddenly Quit His Job

1:36 - Meet Richard Kadotani: A 2x GOAT Award Winner

2:24 - Richard's Story: From a Small Town to a Big Career

3:21 - Why I Couldn't Finish My College Degree

4:33 - The Surprising Reason My Dad Wouldn't Let Me Join the Family Business

5:55 - How My Dream Hobby Became a Job I Hated

7:46 - What Should I Do With My Life? How to Find Your True Passion

8:38 - How to Get Started in the Restaurant Industry (From the Ground Up)

9:58 - My First Night as a Bartender (By Accident!)

10:52 - I Opened My Dream Restaurant... Then COVID Hit

12:52 - The #1 Skill You Learn from the Restaurant Business

14:43 - How Do You Get a Job in the HVAC Industry?

15:28 - How Much Money Can You Make in HVAC?

16:39 - What Is Paid HVAC Training & Is It Worth It?

18:35 - Should You Choose HVAC Install or Service?

20:49 - The #1 Skill for HVAC Career Advancement

22:00 - Is It Possible to Make Over USD 100,000 in HVAC?

23:56 - How I Made USD 2.5 Million in My First Year

25:03 - The Secret to Success? Just Educate the Customer

27:32 - Is It Too Late to Get Into the Trades at 38?

29:49 - A Message for Anyone Considering a Career in the Trades

30:46 - The Making of a 2x GOAT Award Winner

31:54 - The Biggest Lesson I Learned About High Performance

33:21 - On Track for a 3rd GOAT Award... Then I Left

36:31 - Why I Wanted a Selling Tech Position

37:35 - How Other HVAC Companies Try to Recruit Top Techs

39:27 - Do I Regret Leaving a Great Company?

41:39 - What I Learned About Other Companies vs. Service Champions

43:10 - The Unseen Support That Makes a Company Great

44:17 - Should You Badmouth Competing Companies? (A Salesman's Guide)

46:58 - What It Feels Like to Be Recruited by Another Company

49:32 - Is It Better to Make a Bad Decision Than No Decision?

51:04 - What to Do When Another Company Tries to Recruit You

54:12 - Can You Be More Successful at a Different Company?

55:09 - Why Company Culture is More Important Than You Think

56:43 - The Right Way to Leave a Company (And Keep the Door Open)

1:02:20 - How Has Your Performance Been Since Returning?

1:03:29 - How Many Calls Should a High-Performing Tech Run?

1:05:38 - Why We Give Our Best Techs the Oldest Equipment

1:06:52 - The High Cost of Repairing an Old System vs. Replacing It

1:08:36 - Why Our Install Speeds Are a Huge Client Benefit

1:10:32 - How to Communicate Effectively with HVAC Clients

1:12:24 - A Simple Way to Explain Complex HVAC Issues

1:13:29 - How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost? (A Tech's Guide)

1:17:21 - How I Bought a Vacation Home in Japan With My HVAC Career

1:18:26 - Final Thoughts: Always Make Your Future Bigger Than Your Past