Innovating Your Trade Business: Ask Better Questions, Assume Less with Mike Simmons

How often do you find yourself making assumptions about your customers instead of asking the right questions to truly understand their needs? In an age where the skilled trades industries like HVAC and plumbing are facing demographic shifts and increasingly informed consumers, businesses must innovate by engaging meaningfully with their client base. On this episode of Transforming the Trades, we're excited to have Mike Simmons, founder of Catalyst A.C.T.S, join us to dive into the importance of strategic questioning over assumptions in business operations. Mike brings a remarkable blend of operational expertise and innovative sales tactics, having rebranded his company to broaden appeal and emphasize action—an approach that could revolutionize the customer interface in the trades. On this episode of the Transforming the Trades Podcast, Lynn and Mike discuss: - Mike Simmons' diverse background and how it applies to the trades - The structural integrity of business aligned with customer integrity - The impact of demographic shifts on customer engagement - Redesigning customer experience by reverse engineering from desired outcomes - The power of asking questions to prevent assumptions in customer service - The link between operational leadership and frontline customer interactions - Preventative maintenance as an opportunity for enhanced customer relations Key actionable takeaways for the Skilled Trades Businesses/HVAC/Plumbing Industry: - Design your business strategies and customer interactions with intentionality for standout experiences. - Empower both leadership and frontline team members to ask more strategic questions. - Consider preemptive services to become the "right before" solution for customers. - Evaluate whether existing industry playbooks are truly serving your business’s unique goals. If you're in the trades and seeking to build a business that not only stands the test of time but also stands out for its customer satisfaction, this episode with Mike Simmons is your blueprint for change.The resources mentioned in this episode are: The book Mike mentions, The Design of Everyday Things By Don Norman, found here: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expanded/dp/0465050654  Connect with Mike Simmons from Catalyst A.C.T.S.  on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesimmons/  The program’s website mentioned Mike Simmons, found here: https://www.findmycatalyst.com/  Remember, when it comes to customer service—ask more, assume less, and always be ready to innovate.  Tune in for an insightful discussion on how the trades can leverage sales thought processes and Mike’s unique strategies to enhance problem-solving and customer experiences. Keep transforming your trade with us here at Transforming the Trades. 👍 If you liked this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and be sure to hit the subscribe button! 🔔 📊Looking for more assets to optimize your operations, customer service, and financial practices? Download my free resource filled with 13 top resources for growing your business. Sign up here: https://transformingthetrades.net/. More content from Lynn: Transforming the Trades Podcast Website: https://transformingthetrades.net/ Podcast YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@transformingthetradespodcast Contractor in Charge Website: https://contractorincharge.com/ This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.