Are your sales reps following a script, or thinking strategically about each opportunity? Jeff Cramer, Sales Coach for Nolan Consulting Group and founder of Perceptive Learning, tackles one of the most common problems in trades sales: autopilot selling. When reps run the same process for every customer, they create tactical fatigue—high volume, low profit, and constant price pressure. Jeff explains how to build a sales GPS that aligns every action with your business goals, why strategy must come before tactics, and how role-playing can transform your team's preparedness. If your reps are busy but not profitable, this conversation will change how you approach sales.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Graco

COO of Coeur d'Alene Painting Group, Desiree Cleave, knows what it means to conquer the chaos - running multiple businesses, raising kids, and navigating family business leadership dynamics all at once. In this honest conversation, Des shares what it really took to find her voice in business, create the daily habits that set her up for success, and learn that sometimes the best thing you can do is just reroute.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Acrisure

Business is Messy is back, bringing you practical solutions to the challenges every growing trades business faces. Brian Nolan and Colin Nolan are digging into three challenges facing their clients right now: shifting sales teams from immediate-results thinking to relationship-building, navigating the complexities of family business succession, and creating accountability systems that actually stick.

Have a business mess you'd like Colin & Brian to address? Drop us a note at info@nolang.com and we'll put it in front of our Coaches on an upcoming "Business is Messy" episode

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by ProfitWorks.

Rob Vallentine, National Mental Health Trainer, joins us following his powerful Grand Summit keynote that left attendees still reaching out months later with gratitude. Rob shares how equipping managers with mental health response skills can transform workplace culture, improve retention, and help leaders connect with their teams before problems escalate. Learn about the upcoming Mental Health First Aid Certification workshop in March - a practical training that teaches leaders how to notice warning signs, listen without judgment, and respond with confidence when team members are struggling.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Safety Reports

Succession planning isn't just about paperwork—it's about trust, timing, and knowing when to let go. Susan Kussin Tompkins shares her 32-year journey at Kent Countryside Nursery & Landscaping, from unexpected tragedy to a proud, intentional transition. She discusses implementing Profit First across two revenue streams, using winter downtime strategically, and why starting succession conversations earlier make everything easier. This is real talk from a business owner who's preparing to watch her legacy thrive in the next generation's hands

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Spartan Digital Marketing

Eric McDonald built CHP Paint Co.'s culture on a simple principle: you can't out-produce bad culture. After experiencing severe burnout in 2021, he made drastic changes—4-day work weeks, comprehensive benefits, employee recognition programs, and a two-week December shutdown. The results? Productivity increased, profitability soared, and December's "planned loss" became the strategic investment that transformed his entire year. Eric shares how to budget for culture and why bottom-line thinking beats chasing top-line revenue every time.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Red Key Solutions

Start 2026 strong by focusing on what matters most: developing yourself and your key leaders. Brian Nolan shares his personal development goal of completing a Half Ironman and explains why setting challenging goals creates the foundation for developing others. Using the field supervisor role as an example, he breaks down the three critical areas any key leader must master—emotional intelligence, financial management, and systems—to effectively develop their teams and drive business results.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by The Sherwin-Williams Company

HR compliance isn't just paperwork—it's what stands between your business and costly mistakes that can derail growth. In this conversation, Lisa DeMaria from Utopia Solutions breaks down the five most common HR misconceptions in trades businesses, from misclassifying workers to why your office manager can't do it all and the multi-state compliance traps that catch expanding companies off guard. This conversation gives you the roadmap to get HR right before problems show up at your door—protecting your business while creating the kind of culture that keeps great people around.

Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Boolean Automation