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.Subscribe to the WOW Podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0UvJLcLFL03vKiLpd1xN45?si=PRBF-DwYR_uDtfRB8hIsLgApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-wrench-podcast/id1792919657🔧  Wrench Group: https://www.wrenchgroup.com🔧 Wrench IG: https://www.instagram.com/wrenchgroup🔧 Wrench FB: https://www.facebook.com/wrenchgroup🔧 Wrench LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewrenchgroupChapters:0:00 - Why a Top Performer Suddenly Quit His Job1:36 - Meet Richard Kadotani: A 2x GOAT Award Winner2:24 - Richard's Story: From a Small Town to a Big Career3:21 - Why I Couldn't Finish My College Degree4:33 - The Surprising Reason My Dad Wouldn't Let Me Join the Family Business5:55 - How My Dream Hobby Became a Job I Hated7:46 - What Should I Do With My Life? How to Find Your True Passion8:38 - 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 Hit12:52 - The #1 Skill You Learn from the Restaurant Business14:43 - 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 Advancement22:00 - Is It Possible to Make Over USD 100,000 in HVAC?23:56 - How I Made USD 2.5 Million in My First Year25:03 - The Secret to Success? Just Educate the Customer27:32 - Is It Too Late to Get Into the Trades at 38?29:49 - A Message for Anyone Considering a Career in the Trades30:46 - The Making of a 2x GOAT Award Winner31:54 - The Biggest Lesson I Learned About High Performance33:21 - On Track for a 3rd GOAT Award... Then I Left36:31 - Why I Wanted a Selling Tech Position37:35 - How Other HVAC Companies Try to Recruit Top Techs39:27 - Do I Regret Leaving a Great Company?41:39 - What I Learned About Other Companies vs. Service Champions43:10 - The Unseen Support That Makes a Company Great44:17 - Should You Badmouth Competing Companies? (A Salesman's Guide)46:58 - What It Feels Like to Be Recruited by Another Company49:32 - Is It Better to Make a Bad Decision Than No Decision?51:04 - What to Do When Another Company Tries to Recruit You54:12 - Can You Be More Successful at a Different Company?55:09 - Why Company Culture is More Important Than You Think56:43 - 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 Equipment1:06:52 - The High Cost of Repairing an Old System vs. Replacing It1:08:36 - Why Our Install Speeds Are a Huge Client Benefit1:10:32 - How to Communicate Effectively with HVAC Clients1:12:24 - A Simple Way to Explain Complex HVAC Issues1:13:29 - 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 Career1:18:26 - Final Thoughts: Always Make Your Future Bigger Than Your Past