Lighting For Profits

From a small Christmas lighting side hustle to nearly 300 holiday lighting accounts, this entrepreneur built a business around his biggest Why: family and freedom. In this episode, he shares his journey through failed launches, GET LIT Christmas Lighting, and expanding into landscape and permanent lighting while focusing on marketing, sales, leadership, culture, and building a business that can run without him. Plus, family, travel, pickleball, golf, snowboarding, and the lessons behind building a business—not just a job.

How do you scale a business into a $233M acquisition? Levi, founder of Next Level Pros, shares his expertise in business strategy, marketing, lead generation, and sales optimization. From managing $2.2M in monthly ad spend to generating over 25,000 leads per month, he reveals the strategies behind scaling businesses, building powerful brands, and driving sustainable growth.

What does it take to build a career, a company, and a legacy from knocking doors? In this episode, Sam Taggart—CEO of D2D Experts and Founder of D2DCON—shares his journey from selling curb addresses and magazine subscriptions to becoming one of the most influential voices in the door-to-door sales industry. With 400+ personal alarm accounts sold, executive experience, multiple seven-figure businesses, and thousands of sales reps trained, Sam breaks down the mindset, sales strategies, leadership principles, and recruiting lessons that helped him rise to the top.

Get ready for a conversation about sales, leadership, recruiting, resilience, and what it really takes to become a sales carnivore.

How can service businesses turn more calls and leads into actual customers?

In this episode, we’re joined by Indra Chitre, President & CFO at CallSource, and Tiffany Tran, Senior Director of Call Center Operations & Client Success at CallSource, to talk about lead conversion, customer experience, and smarter follow-up strategies.

With over a decade of experience at CallSource, Tiffany shares practical insights on missed calls, unsold estimates, past customers, outbound calling, and how businesses can build stronger systems that turn more opportunities into measurable revenue.

In this episode, Patrick Martinez, Founder of Elite Sales Academy, shares practical sales strategies for luxury contractors. With over 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship, sales leadership, and business coaching, Patrick breaks down how contractors can increase revenue, improve closing ratios, and build scalable sales systems—all while creating exceptional client experiences.

Brad and Reid McEowen with Blingle! of Plano join us to share their journey of building a family-owned outdoor lighting business in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. From custom landscape lighting to permanent holiday lighting, they discuss what it takes to grow a business, serve a community, and create an experience customers remember. Along the way, we explore family, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a lasting legacy.

With 35+ years in the lighting industry, our guest has helped develop innovative lighting products across multiple channels while contributing to the standards that shape the industry. As an American Lighting Association member, engineering committee member, and UL Technical Committee member for UL 1838, 1598, and 153, he brings a unique perspective on where lighting technology, innovation, and industry standards meet.

Dave Carroll, founder of DOPE Marketing, joins the show to share how he went from building a successful home service business to helping businesses grow through direct mail and traditional marketing. Dave breaks down the power of automated direct mail, handwritten notes, and personalized gift boxes, and why these strategies can still make a big impact in today’s digital world. He also shares lessons from working with businesses ranging from local home service companies to major brands like Nike and Ashley Furniture.

Brad Mortensen, Founder and CEO of RepCard, joins us to share his journey from door-to-door sales and sales leadership to building a technology platform used by thousands of businesses across the field sales industry. We talk about the challenges that inspired RepCard, how technology can help sales teams simplify operations and close more business, and the lessons Brad has learned about entrepreneurship, leadership, faith, and family along the way.

I'll be going into detail on the Landscape Lighting Secret formula that has helped members of LLS generate over $74M in sales.

What does it take to build a successful business while serving as a firefighter? In this episode, Hunter Woolsey shares his journey of balancing life in the fire service with entrepreneurship. As the owner of East Texas Outdoor Lighting Solutions and Pegasus Outdoor Lighting, Hunter discusses the lessons he's learned about leadership, business growth, real estate investing, and creating opportunities beyond a traditional career. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone looking to build a life with greater freedom and purpose, this conversation is packed with practical insights and inspiration.

What separates ordinary outdoor lighting from breathtaking nighttime design? In this episode, Greg Matthews, Founder and CEO of Luxury Illumination, shares why exceptional landscape lighting is about strategy—not simply adding more fixtures. Discover how a design-first mindset transforms luxury homes into unforgettable nighttime experiences, why sometimes less light creates a greater impact, and what it takes to raise the standard in the landscape lighting industry. Whether you're a contractor, designer, or homeowner, this conversation will change the way you think about outdoor lighting.

What does it take to break free from the limitations holding you back? In this episode, Sean Michael Crane shares his powerful journey from addiction, depression, and hopelessness to becoming the founder of Unstoppable 365, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and coach. Learn how mastering your mindset can transform your business, relationships, and life—and discover practical steps to unlock your true potential.

Discover how outdoor lighting businesses can generate more qualified leads, book more projects, and increase revenue using targeted online advertising and proven marketing strategies. In this episode, we break down what's working today to help lighting contractors attract the right customers and grow with confidence.

What if every missed call was costing you money? In this episode, Aaron Cooper, CEO of Sameday AI, shares how AI is transforming the home service industry by answering calls 24/7, capturing more leads, booking more jobs, and creating a better customer experience—without adding more staff. Whether you're a contractor, home service business owner, or entrepreneur looking to work smarter, you'll discover practical ways to use AI to grow your business, improve operations, and gain more freedom.

For six years, he's been a devoted husband to Becca and a proud father to two beautiful daughters. Whether in fitness, business, family life, or the lighting industry, he believes in one simple principle: show up every day and get 1% better. Join us as we dive into his journey, lessons learned, and the mindset that fuels growth both personally and professionally. And when he's not working or spending time with family, you'll probably find him chasing ducks in the great outdoors.

Join Ryan Phillips, a CEDIA industry professional with over 20 years of experience in Audio/Video Design, Automation, Lighting, Shades, and Construction. In this podcast, Ryan shares insights on creating seamless technology experiences that enhance both residential and commercial spaces without compromising design. From outdoor living solutions and smart home innovation to elegant system integration, each episode explores how technology can deliver exceptional performance while remaining beautifully invisible. Whether you're an integrator, designer, builder, or homeowner, you'll gain practical knowledge and industry expertise to help you create spaces where technology and design work together effortlessly.

In this episode, we sit down with the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Holidynamics to explore the business behind some of the most spectacular holiday displays across North America. With over 13 years of experience in the holiday lighting industry, our guest shares insights into working with zoos, theme parks, botanical gardens, attractions, retailers, and professional installers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Discover how Holidynamics develops and tests commercial-grade holiday lighting and décor through its own installation division, ensuring products perform in real-world environments before reaching customers. From creating unforgettable holiday experiences to driving innovation in the lighting industry, this conversation shines a light on what it takes to bring seasonal magic to life.

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Hardaway, Chief Operations Officer of Novelty Lights, to talk about leadership, operational excellence, and the evolution of the lighting industry. With over 36 years of experience across entertainment lighting, architectural solutions, seasonal products, and global sales strategy, Jim shares valuable insights on scaling businesses, driving profitability, and leading with vision in a competitive market.

From a small two-person team in Covington, Louisiana to experiencing accelerated growth through learning, mentorship, and consistency — this podcast shares the real journey behind building in the lighting industry. Hear stories about humble beginnings, challenges, business growth, and the lessons learned along the way with the help of Landscape Lighting Secrets and Ryan Lee.