Episode 247 Pool Nation Podcast: Feeling buried in day-to-day chaos? In this jam-packed episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zach the Pool Boy reveal Habit #3 of Highly Successful Pool Pros: Build Systems, Not Just Skills. Discover why documented processes—not the owner’s memory—unlock profit, freedom, and sustainable growth for service, repair, and retail companies.

Edgar and Zach break down a step-by-step blueprint for creating a repeatable training system, preview the business-first course lineup at the 2025 Pool Nation Conference, and share upcoming dates for the Pool Nation Awards and Women’s Summit. Whether you run 20 pools or 2,000, you’ll learn practical ways to:

Reduce chemical costs, labor, and burnout with simple checklists

Onboard new techs in days instead of weeks with video-based SOPs

Turn financial metrics into money by knowing your numbers

Boost team performance through accountability and collaborative culture

Perfect for pool service entrepreneurs, route owners, retail managers, and anyone ready to scale smarter.

Episode Timeline

00:00 High-energy intro & sponsor shout-outs 01:30 Zach’s “fine-tuning year” and why 2025 is all about systems 04:30 Key dates: Pool Nation Awards nominations (June 18) & Women’s Summit (Aug 21-22) 05:30 Sneak peek: Business-focused courses at the 2025 Pool Nation Conference 11:00 Talent Life Cycle & leadership tracks with Doreen King 15:00 Habit #3 deep dive—why scalable systems beat heroics every time 25:00 Real-world examples: daily route checklists, inventory par levels, communication logs 33:00 4-Step Training Blueprint: Identify ➜ Create Materials ➜ Schedule ➜ Document & Review 52:00 Final takeaways: freedom through systems & building a machine that runs without you 59:00 Teaser: customer-retention systems coming in the next episode

In Episode 246 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac spill the tea on huge announcements shaping the future of Pool Nation and the pool industry as a whole.

We kick things off by welcoming a new visionary partner, Nidec US Motors, whose innovative approach and focus on education align perfectly with our mission. You’ll hear why this partnership couldn’t come at a better time as pool pros face new challenges with variable speed motor regulations across the country.

Next up, a major milestone for Pool Nation — we officially welcome Doreen King as our new VP of Business and Leadership Development! Doreen shares her incredible journey, career insights, and how she will help us elevate our business education to help pool pros thrive in every stage of their journey — from running solo routes to scaling empires.

The team breaks down the brand-new Pool Nation Path to Growth and Roadmap, unveiling how this strategic framework will support pool pros at each phase of their business evolution. From fundamentals to executive leadership, we’ve built a roadmap to take your business — and YOU — to the next level.

Plus, hear about:

✅ The Executive Edge — a powerful new way to access personalized business and leadership consulting through Pool Nation. ✅ Women’s Summit 2025 — registration is open and already filling up fast! ✅ The Pool Nation Conference — why this will be the only conference focused entirely on the business side of your pool business.

If you’re ready to elevate your mindset, sharpen your leadership skills, and scale smarter, this is a can’t-miss episode.

[00:00] - Introduction & Studio Vibes Meet Spider, shoutouts, and kicking off the live show energy.

[06:20] - Healthy Mind, Healthy Biz Zach shares how small changes in health impact stress and business clarity.

[12:50] - Exciting Announcements Welcoming new visionary partner: Nidec US Motors.

[22:12] - A Major Addition to Pool Nation Introducing Doreen King as VP of Business & Leadership Development.

[31:30] - Doreen’s Story From hospitality and corporate leadership to Pool Nation — her journey and why she said "yes."

[45:55] - The Vision Behind Pool Nation John and Zach reflect on the 10-year vision and why Doreen fits perfectly.

[57:00] - The Path to Growth Doreen explains the 4 phases of pool business and what skills each stage demands.

[01:10:48] - The Pool Nation Roadmap How the Fundamentals, Accelerator, Essentials, and Advantage tracks work and why they matter.

[01:23:00] - Executive Edge Introducing a new consulting and training solution for pool pros at every level.

[01:28:00] - Final Thoughts Why this matters, how it elevates the industry, and where you can get involved.

In episode 245 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” Nicholas rip the curtain off the five habits that separate average pool service companies from industry superheroes.

After some laugh-out-loud banter about rental-property stress, sleepless nights, and the wild Shannon Sharpe lawsuit, the crew dives deep into Habit #2: Investing in Learning and Education—showing you how constant learning transforms stress-filled service calls into profitable, confidence-boosting wins.

You’ll learn:

Why mastering new tech, chemistry, and business skills instantly boosts authority and lets you charge premium prices.

How to turn every class, boot camp, or podcast into cash-generating “aha” moments (even if you’ve heard the topic before).

The mindset shift that eliminates backyard anxiety forever—so you can solve ANY problem without second-guessing.

Real-world stories: pop-up heads, phantom spa leaks, and the in-floor check-valve fix seven other companies missed.

Plus:

Pool Nation Awards timelines, Women’s Summit dates, and the upcoming $10K Pool Pro Championship.

Why Google’s AI revenue surge matters to pool pros.

Sponsor shout-outs packed with tools that cut costs and fatten margins.

Listen in, level up, and start using education as a profit multiplier today.

Timestamps

Timecode Segment

01:00 Edgar, John & Zach recap the week: rental house sold, no-sleep winds, Shannon Sharpe drama 07:00 The hidden stress of unfinished to-dos—and why focus matters 11:30 Pool Nation event rundown: Awards nominations, Women’s Summit, $10K Championship 18:50 Habit #1 recap: Knowing Your Numbers 24:00 Deep dive—Habit #2: Investing in Education 32:45 Phosphate “aha” moments & why old-school thinking kills growth 38:10 How lifelong learning builds brand authority and premium pricing power 44:20 Train-the-Trainer stories: beating stage fright and sharpening your saw 49:30 Real-world case study: the spa leak seven companies couldn’t fix 56:00 Sponsor break (SPPA, Pool Invoice, Blu-Ray XL, AquaStar, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward) 60:30 Final thoughts: turning knowledge into marketing gold 63:40 Teaser: next week’s big Pool Nation Conference reveal

In episode 244 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac dive into the first of the 5 Habits of Highly Successful Pool Pros—and it's the one that most pool pros overlook: Knowing Your Numbers. From understanding your cost of service to building a business with purpose, we break down what sets thriving companies apart from those just grinding day to day.

Whether you're managing 40 pools or scaling to 13,000, this habit is the foundation of profitability and long-term success. Plus, hear wild stories from Coachella Fest chaos, ducks in pools, and John’s analogy that will have you thinking differently about your business horsepower.

🚨 Bonus: We announce the return of the Pool Nation Awards, the Women's Summit, and the brand-new Filthy Five series—covering the worst habits pool pros need to break.

✅ Perfect for service techs, repair pros, and business owners ready to level up their pool business.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro: Edgar botches the intro and adds “flavor” 03:15 – John breaks down Coachella chaos and AirBnB pool nightmares 14:30 – The Five Habits of Highly Successful Pool Pros (overview) 17:45 – John suggests: Let’s do “The Filthy Five” next! 19:00 – Habit #1: They Know Their Numbers 25:30 – Why most pool pros grind hard but don’t grow 29:10 – John’s “horsepower vs. traction” analogy 🔥 34:00 – Why knowing your cost of service is a game-changer 38:00 – The dangerous grind: scaling without clarity 43:00 – Zach’s early journey of avoiding financials 48:00 – How tracking numbers saved Zach’s business 53:10 – John: “We’re not a charity—we’re a business.” 59:30 – Eric’s takeaway: Trade shows break the grind 1:02:15 – Rich: “The biggest room is the room for improvement” 1:05:00 – Final Thoughts: Track it, manage it, profit from it 1:09:00 – Preview of next episode: Habit #2 and beyond 1:10:00 – Sign-off: Zach owes John and Edgar $18 each 😂

🎧 Listen now and start building a business that thrives, not just survives. 🔗 Visit PoolNationPodcast.com for episodes, boot camps, and more!

In episode 243 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we dive deep into the recent Pool Nation Boot Camps at Heritage Pool Supply and Raypak Headquarters in Oxnard, California. Edgar and Zac break down key moments from both events, including highlights from the $10,000 Pool Pro Repair Tech Challenge qualifiers, hands-on training with automation and heaters, and powerful business education sessions focused on leadership, KPIs, and cost of service.

Hear real stories from pool pros who traveled from across the country—Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, New York—to invest in their businesses and grow their teams. We also talk about the rise of team-focused training, peer-to-peer networking, and the kind of education that goes beyond the technical side of pool service and repair.

Plus, we introduce a new topic for our next podcast series: The 5 Habits of Highly Successful Pool Professionals—a deep dive into the traits that separate good pool pros from great business leaders in the pool industry.

Whether you're a pool service tech, repair pro, or business owner looking to scale, this episode is packed with inspiration, insights, and practical takeaways you can use today.

Powered by our amazing partners: SPPA, BluRay XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward, Heritage Pool Supply, Poolside Tech, and Pool Brain.

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] – Podcast Intro

• [00:01:00] – Edgar and Zac talk life updates: college visits and real estate transitions

• [00:04:00] – Recapping the Heritage Boot Camp: attendance, energy, and team participation

• [00:08:00] – Employee engagement, team-building, and national attendees

• [00:12:00] – Hands-on training: wiring automation, heater repair, teamwork at the stations

• [00:16:00] – Business education: foundational leadership principles for every business stage

• [00:20:00] – Doreen’s leadership framework tied to the 4 business phases

• [00:22:00] – Touring Gold Medal Pools: operations, systems, and culture

• [00:24:00] – Matrix training recap: operational KPIs, financial KPIs, and business fundamentals

• [00:26:00] – Accountability training: driving real results after training

• [00:33:00] – Raypak Boot Camp Recap: intimate vibe, deep heater training, and IPSA support

• [00:39:00] – Hot Room at Raypak: live fire heater testing and manometer training

• [00:43:00] – Automation training with The Attendant: streamlined, hands-on experience

• [00:45:00] – Business day at Raypak and why attendance exceeded expectations

• [00:49:00] – Championship qualifiers: energy, pressure, and standing ovation moments

• [00:55:00] – Upcoming podcast preview: The 5 Key Habits of Successful Pool Pros

• [00:58:00] – Final thoughts and gratitude for attendees, sponsors, and the Pool Nation family

In Episode 242 of the Pool Nation Podcast Get ready to laugh, learn, and level up in this Best of 2024 - Part 1 episode of the Pool Nation Podcast! We’re taking you on a wild ride through the most unforgettable moments of the year – from highway shoutouts and Yelp horror stories to golden advice on running a successful pool business.

We highlight the community spirit of Pool Nation, feature inspirational journeys from retail pros, and dive into powerful strategies on handling complaints, growing your brand through social media, and innovating your business during tough times (yes, even during the tab shortage!).

🚨 Don’t miss this jam-packed episode full of laughs, learning, and legendary guests!

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 00:50 – Jay Breakfield freeway story & Instagram shoutout 02:15 – Big shoutout to Jeanette – Pool Nation family 03:00 – Interview: Eugene Lockman – “Chlorine and Cashflow” 04:45 – How to handle customer complaints (and the Yelp nightmare) 07:00 – Turning problems into opportunities and loving your customers 08:00 – Nathan joins the podcast and “solves world hunger” 09:15 – Doreen King & Leanne De Jesus join the show – leadership, influence, and podcast debuts 10:00 – Pool Pro Magazine’s 30 Under 40 Winners 11:00 – Zach’s Black Onyx bracelet saga and bad mojo continues… 12:30 – Megan Kendrick joins the show in person 13:15 – Dustin Anderson, Danielle Barr & studio shoutouts 15:00 – Behind the scenes of the photo shoot fail (Poo shirt alert!) 16:30 – Zach, John, and Leanne reunite in Texas – mini road trip meltdown 18:30 – Bootcamp class preview: Hiring Right with Leanne 21:00 – Jeanette spotted on magazine cover at Texas Pool Supply 22:00 – Real talk on car sickness, old photos, and John’s driving 26:30 – Podcast with Omar & Todd (Aquastar) – giveaways, events & banter 29:00 – Failing at promo: the audience tells us what to fix 32:00 – In-studio with Academy Pool Supply (Retailer of the Year) 39:00 – Social media strategy and content that actually works 41:30 – The power of video and building trust before the sale 43:00 – Building long-term customer loyalty through quality installs 45:00 – Back-to-back sponsor shoutouts 48:00 – Javier Pian – 1987 to now: 30+ years of professionalism 54:00 – Damien & Sarah’s $75K idea: Renting liquid chlorine systems 57:00 – Raypak Training Team joins live – Brad, Dave, Ken, and TJ

In Episode 241 of the Pool Nation Podcast join industry veterans Edgar De Jesus, John JJ Flawless, and Zac the pool boy Nicholas on this power-packed episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, where they dive deep into the impact of new tariffs on the pool service industry. Discover how rising costs on chemicals, pumps, motors, and more can affect your profit margins—and learn actionable strategies to stay ahead of the game!

In this episode, our hosts share insider tips on: • Tariff Breakdown & Price Increases: How tariffs could mean 20-50% hikes on key pool products, and what that means for your bottom line. • Inventory & Pricing Strategies: The importance of tracking expenses in real time, maintaining the right stock, and locking in costs before prices surge. • Customer Communication & Relationship Building: Proven methods to transparently communicate changes to your customers, ensuring trust and long-term loyalty. • Business Growth Tactics: Insights on leadership, operational efficiencies, and adjusting pricing to fuel expansion—even in uncertain times.

Time Stamps:

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome: Get introduced to the Pool Nation Podcast and our seasoned hosts.

[00:01:00] Meet the Hosts: Edgar, John JJ, and the ever-energetic Zach set the stage.

[00:02:00] Event Prep & Bootcamp Insights: Zach shares his hectic pre-event schedule and what to expect at the Heritage Bootcamp.

[00:04:00] Business & Technical Tracks: A sneak peek into the dual-track bootcamp covering leadership, operations, and technical training.

[00:08:00] Tariff Deep Dive: An explanation of the new tariffs affecting imported pool products.

[00:10:00] Impact on Product Pricing: Discussing how cost increases on chemicals and equipment could hit hard.

[00:13:00] Proactive Cost Management: The need for continuous cost tracking and avoiding the “rear view mirror” approach.

[00:17:00] Adjusting Pricing Strategies: Tips on reevaluating and adjusting service rates to maintain profitability.

[00:23:00] Communication Tactics: How to keep your customers informed and build strong relationships.

[00:29:00] Networking & Reps: Emphasizing the value of strong industry relationships and open communication with suppliers.

[00:34:00] Growth & Pricing Adjustments: Strategies for adapting pricing as your business scales.

[00:41:00] Real Talk on Rate Adjustments: A candid discussion on overcoming the challenges of rising costs.

[00:47:00] Selling Value Over Price: How educating your customers about quality service can set you apart.

[00:56:00] Final Thoughts & Future Outlook: Wrapping up with key takeaways and what to look forward to in upcoming episodes.

Subscribe and tune in every Friday at 9:00 AM Pacific for the latest trends, product insights, and training tips to help you become a nation of pool pros. Stay informed, get proactive, and keep your business thriving even when times are tough!

Welcome to Episode 240 of the Pool Nation Live Podcast – your ultimate insider guide to the pool service and repair industry! In this action-packed episode, host Edgar De Jesus (the reigning Marco Polo champion) teams up with co-host John JJ Flawless and Zac "the pool boy" Nicklas to dive deep into the challenges and trends shaping the pool business today. With over a decade of industry expertise, the team dissects the impact of new tariffs on imported pool products, rising equipment costs, and the crucial need to know your numbers in today’s competitive market.

Not only do they tackle serious topics—like how tariffs on chemicals, pumps, motors, and LED lights can squeeze profit margins—but they also sprinkle in plenty of humor and lively banter. From playful jabs about belts and beards to candid discussions on customer experience and operational efficiencies, this episode delivers actionable insights to help pool pros adjust their pricing strategies and protect their bottom line in an ever-evolving economic landscape.

Episode Timeline: 00:00 – 03:00: Introduction & Banter • Meet Edgar, John, and Zach, and enjoy a fun exchange on belts, beards, and pool pro personas.

03:00 – 06:00: Branding & Industry Vibes • Discussion on personal branding, pool industry images, and the spirit of Mr. Universe.

06:00 – 10:00: Tariffs Explained • A clear breakdown of what tariffs are, how they work, and why they matter for pool products.

10:00 – 15:00: Impact on Profit Margins • Deep dive into how tariffs are driving up costs on everything from pool equipment to chemicals and what that means for your pricing strategy.

15:00 – 20:00: Tracking Your Numbers • Best practices for monitoring job costs, adjusting quotes, and staying ahead of rising expenses.

20:00 – 25:00: Enhancing Customer Experience • Tips on maintaining a competitive edge through operational efficiencies and exceptional service.

25:00 – 30:00: Final Thoughts & Call to Action • Wrap-up with final insights, sponsor shout-outs, and advice on preparing your business for ongoing challenges.

Tune in for expert insights, real-life strategies, and plenty of laughs to help your pool business thrive—even when the going gets tough. Don’t miss this must-listen episode that’s both informative and entertaining. Subscribe now and join the Pool Nation family every Friday at 9:00 AM Pacific for your weekly dose of pool talk!