E-285 Pool Nation Podcast - Upskilling vs Reskilling: How Pool Pros Stay Relevant, Profitable, and Ahead of the Industry

In episode 285 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesús sits down with leadership expert Leanne De Jesús for an in-depth conversation on how pool business owners, service techs, retailers, and builders can grow without burning out, falling behind, or constantly starting over. What is upskilling? Upskilling means improving and expanding the skills you already use in your role — not changing careers, but getting better, smarter, and more effective at what you’re already doing. In the pool industry, upskilling can look like: Developing leadership and people-management skills Improving pricing, financial clarity, and decision-making Learning new equipment, technology, and automation Building sales and customer communication skills Training your team so the business doesn’t rely only on you Reskilling, on the other hand, is learning an entirely new role or function — like moving from service into building, retail, or management. Throughout this episode, Edgar and Leanne break down why most frustration, burnout, and leadership struggles aren’t people problems — they’re skill gaps. They also explain why access to information alone doesn’t create better leaders, and how structure, mentorship, and intentional learning are what actually drive growth. Whether you’re a one-truck operator or scaling a multi-location business, this conversation will help you: Understand when to upskill vs when to reskill Recognize early signs of burnout and stagnation Build stronger leaders and more accountable teams Create growth without chaos Shift from operator thinking to owner thinking This episode isn’t about working harder — it’s about thinking differently so your business can grow with clarity and control. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:05 – Why upskilling and reskilling matter right now 03:00 – Pool Nation events, shows, and upcoming education 06:10 – What upskilling really looks like in real life 09:45 – AI, technology, and staying relevant 13:20 – How pool pros upskill without realizing it 16:10 – The difference between upskilling and reskilling 18:50 – When you should reskill vs improve your current skills 21:40 – Why people think they need to quit when they really need new skills 25:10 – Learning, testing, applying, and sharing knowledge 30:00 – Burnout, overwhelm, and hidden skill gaps 33:10 – Leadership problems vs skill problems 37:20 – Why information alone doesn’t create better leaders 40:50 – Time, structure, and intentional learning 44:30 – Sponsor break 46:00 – Upskilling business owners for growth and scale 50:30 – Hiring for skill vs hiring for personality 55:10 – Upskilling pool techs: sales, safety, and trust 1:01:40 – Retail teams, product knowledge, and relationships 1:07:30 – Why training fails without structure 1:12:00 – Train-the-trainer mindset and leadership confidence 1:17:40 – Why guided learning and mentorship matter 1:21:10 – The most important mindset shift: growth mindset 1:26:30 – Final thoughts and takeaways 1:30:00 – Closing remarks and where to find Pool Nation 🤝 Thank You to Our Sponsors A huge thank you to our visionary partners who make Pool Nation education possible: SPPA –  US Motors (Nidec) –  Blu-Ray XL –  AquaStar Pool Products –  Natural Chemistry –  Raypak – Hayward Pool Products –  Heritage Pool Supply Your support helps us continue to educate, elevate, and strengthen the pool industry.