One Decision In Beverly Hills Changed A Business Forever

A framed house in Beverly Hills, a missing paycheck, and a moment of clarity—those are the beats that set Mike Cottle on a different path. What started as a trade school leap turned into a 30-year blueprint for building a people-first home services company that grows with discipline, not hype. Mike opens up about leaving the risky cash-flow cycles of new construction, acquiring Cole-Services in Garden Grove, CA, and engineering steady 20% year-over-year growth through culture, training, and relentless learning.We explore how sports shaped his work ethic, why independence lets him invest deeply in people, and how weekly one-on-ones, book studies, and role plays create a bench of confident leaders. Mike shares the structures that keep Cole moving—EOS from Traction, peer accountability via Nextstar Network, and a deliberate shift from “spray and pray” marketing to precise, data-driven outreach. He explains how AI-powered segmentation with Peakzi unlocks smarter acquisition and retention, turning every campaign into a targeted bet rather than an expensive guess.The heart of the conversation is leadership you can feel: humility over ego, consistency over shortcuts, and accountability that protects the culture. Mike’s next chapter—building “Cole University”—aims to elevate adult learning with practical tracks for technicians and managers, combining technical mastery with communication and business skills. If you care about meaningful growth in home services, this story is a road map: build your people, give them tools and clarity, and pair craftsmanship with data so every effort compounds.If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend in the trades, and leave a quick review to help more builders and operators find the show.Powered by: www.peakzi.meMore info at: https://cole-services.com/Peakzi Podcast: Home Services Success Stories