Welcome to Next Level Pros, where we explore the journeys of some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. I'm your host, Chris Lee. Throughout my career, I've founded multiple nine-figure companies and learned a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Now, I want to share those lessons with you by bringing on guests who have their own incredible stories to tell. I'm on a mission to find the most unique and entertaining individuals that have done it the right way.
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/Most business owners think they’re burned out because they’re doing too much. The truth is you’re burned out because you don’t actually know where your time is going — and that’s the reason your business isn’t scaling.In this video, Chris walks you through the Impact Time Audit: the one-week process we use with trades and home-service owners to reveal exactly where their hours are disappearing. Once you see the truth on paper, everything changes. You’ll know what tasks drain your energy, which ones are below your pay grade, and what your next hire should actually be doing.You’ll also learn how to track every 30 minutes for seven days, assign Energy and Value levels, place each task into the four Quadrants, and diagnose where your time leaks are. Most owners discover 20+ hours a week trapped in low-value, low-energy work — the busywork that keeps you stuck.This audit gives you clarity. It shows you the exact tasks your next hire should take off your plate and gives you the path to scale without adding chaos.Start your Impact Audit today, and next week Chris will walk you through the five hires every real business needs — and how to know exactly when you can afford them.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!TEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbSPONSORSPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
If you feel burned out in your business, it’s probably not because you’re doing too much — it’s because you’re doing the wrong work.
In this video, Chris Lee breaks down The Impact Quadrant, the simple framework that shows every home-service and trades business owner exactly where their time is going… and why most of it is keeping them stuck.You’ll learn:- Why burnout has nothing to do with hours worked- How to calculate the real value of your time- The 4 quadrants every task falls into (and the one most owners get trapped in)- How to shift out of low-value work and into the high-value, high-energy work that actually scales your businessIf you want to buy back your time, get out of the day-to-day chaos, and finally step into the role of owner instead of operator — this is where it starts.
COMING UP: HOW TO TRACK YOUR TIMECONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIATEXT ME: 509-905-4109INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/chrisleeqb/?hl=enFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chrisleeqb/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleeqbPartner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency:
Join Our Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bmudi9HTK/
At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business.
If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
From living under a bridge to running a $3M plumbing company — this is how Cale Forester rebuilt his life and business from the ground up. We dive into how Cale’s veteran-owned plumbing shop has doubled revenue year after year without outside investment, fancy tech, or massive crews.
Cale and fellow trades leader Dylan Moya sit down with Chris Lee to reveal the simple systems, rebrand strategy, and sales process that turned a “chuck-in-a-truck” startup into a multi-million-dollar operation.
If you own a plumbing, HVAC, or home-service business and want predictable growth built on process—not luck—watch until the end for their exact playbook.
Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
Everyone says, “No one wants to work anymore.”But while most business owners were complaining, two teenagers built JunkTeens — and turned the labor shortage into their advantage.In this episode, we break down how they built a culture where young people show up, work hard, and stay — and how you can do the same inside your company.Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
In this episode of Next Level Pros, hosts dive into an eye-opening conversation with Elaine and Todd, co-founders of Mainstream Electric, Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. After spending over 15 years stuck at $3 million in annual revenue, they made a powerful decision—to get out of their own way.
By confronting ego, redefining success, and seeking mentorship through Nexstar Network, Elaine and Todd transformed both their mindset and their company. The result? A thriving $20 million business that attracted private equity buyers—and a journey that redefined what “winning” truly means.
This is a story of humility, discipline, and the courage to evolve.
🔑 Key Takeaways
The Ceiling Is Internal: Why your business only grows as much as your mindset allows.
Revenue Feeds Ego—Profit Builds Freedom: How they shifted from chasing sales to building wealth.
The Power of Mentorship: How Nexstar Network and a trusted community sparked real growth.
Scaling Through Humility: Why letting go of control was the best business decision they ever made.
The Private Equity Exit: What it really takes to prepare, sell, and stay true to your values.
💡 Episode Highlights
[00:00] – Hitting the wall: $3M for 15 years and the realization that something had to change.
[04:00] – Killing the ego: redefining leadership and embracing coaching.
[08:00] – Lessons from failure: expanding too fast and learning to stay focused.
[12:00] – Building systems that serve both people and profit.
[18:00] – Joining Nexstar Network and discovering the power of shared experience.
[22:00] – Preparing for the private equity sale and what the process really looks like.
[28:00] – Life after the exit: freedom, impact, and Elaine’s next chapter.
💬 Memorable Quotes
“The business only grows as fast as the owner does.”
“Revenue is for ego. Profit is for sanity.”
“Ego is the silent killer of growth.”
“We stopped chasing more trucks and started building a better company.”
📘 Mentioned in This Episode
Nexstar Network – Contractor success and leadership community
Elaine’s Book: Made in Vietnam – A powerful memoir on identity, forgiveness, and resilience
Lessons in leadership, mindset, and sustainable growth for service-based companies
🎧 Listen If You’re
A business owner stuck at a plateau and ready for a breakthrough.
A contractor or service professional looking to scale profitably, not painfully.
A leader who wants to trade ego for excellence and growth for freedom.
Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital Agency: At Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs. Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/
📍Connect
Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!
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Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a
In this episode of the Next Level Pros Podcast, Daryl sits down with his wife Joanna to share the real side of building a marriage and raising a family while growing businesses. Together they open up about the highs and lows of nearly 20 years of marriage, raising four daughters, and navigating seasons where entrepreneurship pulled them in opposite directions. You’ll hear how they built trust, created family culture, and learned to renegotiate their relationship through different phases of life. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your spouse connected and your kids grounded while you scale a business, this conversation will give you practical tools and honest insight from both sides of the journey.🔥
Highlights:
✅ The hidden struggles of being married to an entrepreneur
✅ How to stay connected as a couple when life gets busy
✅ Building family culture with mission, values, and vision
✅ Why opposites in marriage can actually be a strength
✅ Simple practices to protect your relationship while scaling a business
Partner Spotlight: 1SEO Digital AgencyAt Next Level Pros, we teach you the best ways HOW to market your business. If you want additional hands-on help executing, we trust 1SEO, our marketing partner. They implement SEO, PPC, Google Local Services Ads, and high-performance websites that turn stronger operations into booked jobs.
Learn more or book a consult: https://1seo.com/next-level-pros/🎧
Listen on:
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YouTube: / @nextlevelpros
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Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris sits down with David Mayster, owner of Maester Heating and Air in Seattle. David shares his remarkable journey from Ukraine to building a thriving HVAC business, overcoming personal struggles, and learning the hard truths about running a profitable company. This episode is packed with insights for business owners—especially those in the trades—who want to get their pricing right, build a strong team, and scale their business while staying true to their values.
Highlights:
"If you know how to work, America will reward you for that."
"A standardized offer is one of the best things that I could get for you."
"Numbers don’t lie. People do."
"If the company makes a lot of money, we can provide you a lot of opportunity."
Timestamps:
0:00:00 – Introduction & David’s Background
0:06:09 – Starting Maester Heating and Air
0:10:13 – David’s Personal Transformation
0:19:38 – The Power of Money and Business Purpose
0:21:45 – Partnership Challenges and Lessons
0:28:36 – Pricing Strategy and Gross Margin Goals
0:36:11 – Sales Negotiation and Standardization
0:49:19 – Reviewing the Numbers: Revenue and Gross Profit
1:01:23 – Marketing Spend and Customer Acquisition
1:14:22 – Action Items: Standardizing Offers and Scaling Up
Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554
Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!
https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros
Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros
Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, host Chris sits down with Alex Hormozi, founder of Acquisition.com, to dive deep into the mindset, strategies, and lessons behind building and scaling successful businesses. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or aspiring operator looking to level up, this episode is packed with actionable insights on growth, investment, and the realities of the entrepreneurial journey.
Highlights:
“I just enjoy playing the game… I know I would do it if it didn’t make money.”
“At some point you have to expand… I was just in a pond, and everyone else was going after an ocean.”
“If I’m afraid to take a risk now, I’ll never be able to take a risk later.”
“You have to provide value—make them an offer so good they feel stupid saying no.”
“This is the point where most people quit, and that’s why they don’t quit.”
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
02:55 – The Obsession with Business: Playing the Game
04:48 – Transition from Gym Launch to Acquisition.com
09:08 – Defining Moments: Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship
12:45 – The Hardest Decision: Disappointing Family to Follow Your Path
21:03 – How to Work for Free and Actually Add Value
33:13 – What Acquisition.com Looks for in Investments
36:47 – Identifying Founders with Big Visions
45:54 – The Discipline to Say No: Focusing on the One Thing
1:04:49 – Advice for Tough Times: Why You Shouldn’t Quit
Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554
Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!
https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros
Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros
Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, we dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship and family life. Daryl Kelly is joined by his daughter Evelyn Kelly for an honest conversation about growing up in an entrepreneurial household, balancing ambition with family connection, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode is for parents chasing big goals without losing touch with what matters most, and for kids witnessing the journey up close.
Highlights:
"Being an entrepreneur isn't just about building a business. It's about carrying the weight of providing while trying to be present at home."
"Success isn't just one thing, it's a million things combined."
"I just want to be able to have whatever, keep my choices open."
"The reason I want people to be at my house is to see that I'm not chasing money, but I'm building a family."
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:33 – Evelyn’s Unique Path: Graduating High School and College Early
02:37 – Realizing Dad Was Different: The Entrepreneurial Mindset
05:01 – Quality Over Quantity: Making Family Time Count
10:31 – The Impact of Absence: When Dad Was Away
16:10 – Childhood Hardships: Seeing the Ups and Downs
19:14 – Redefining Success: More Than Money
22:36 – What Drives Evelyn: Going 100% in Everything
28:55 – High School Side Hustle: Building a Dance Business
40:46 – Family as the Why: Building a Legacy Beyond Wealth
Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554
Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!
https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros
Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros
Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris Lee takes us on a candid journey through his entrepreneurial highs and lows, sharing the real story behind building Sol Gen Power and the lessons learned along the way. If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or anyone interested in the realities of building and scaling a business—especially in the trades or home service space—this episode is for you!
Highlights:
“Throughout my life, I’ve had a very divisive personality. It’s either you love me or you friggin hate me.”
“There’s not a playbook for doing it. You’re literally just learning as you go, until you get slapped on the hand, and then you change your behavior.”
“The goal isn’t to produce the fruit. The goal is to become the tree that has the ability to continue to produce the fruit.”
“Life was meant to be hard, but when it’s hard with a positive mindset, it becomes bearable and joyful.”
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:19 Various Business Ventures and Experiences
04:56 Transition to Employment and Learning from Entrepreneurs
8:57 Vivint Solar and IPO Experience
25:48 Starting Sol Gen Power and Early Challenges
32:59 Growth and Expansion of Sol Gen Power
Building a Strong Team and Culture
42: 28 Overcoming Financial and Operational Challenges
57:11 Expansion and Acquisition
58:44 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554
Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!
https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros
Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros
Welcome to a new episode of Next Level Pros! In this episode, Chris shares the raw, unfiltered story of his first major business failure, the lessons learned from bankruptcy, and how he rebuilt his career and mindset. If you’re an entrepreneur, operator, or anyone in the trades or home service space looking for real, tactical advice and inspiration, this episode is for you.
Highlights:
“Take everything you believe are going to be your expenses and at least double it, sometimes triple it.”
“There is almost always a way out… Go ask for help. Quit being prideful.”
“Do what you’re physically able to do, not what you’re mentally able to do.”
“The best flattery you could ever give me is something that I 100% know that I did, and it was amazing.”
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
02:34 - Challenges and Mistakes in Early Business
09:55 - Changing the Approach
16:06 Handling “Dead Partners”
19:36 - Impact of the 2008 Economic Crash
24:02 - Rebuilding and Learning from Failures
30:26 - Competing in the Sales Seminar
34:33 - Winning the Sales Competition
47:50 - Lessons Learned and Future Plans
Want me to teach you how to grow your business? Text me! 509-374-7554
Want access to more of my content? Click the link below for all of our latest updates and events!
https://linktr.ee/nextlevelpros
Want to be a guest on our show? Apply here!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YlkVBSluEKMTg4gehyUOHYvBratcxHV5rt3kiWTXNC4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Watch my latest PodcastApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-pros/id1687030281
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2?si=95980cd4e55a437a
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelPros