EP105: Scott Carmichael: From Wallpaper to Painting Business
Introduction:
In this episode Scott shares his start up story of becoming one of the most sought after paper hangers in his market.
And the mind shifts he’s made to building a painting business that scales.
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TRANSCRIPTION:
00:00.00
dybsteve
What happened?
00:00.35
Scott Carmichael
Well we we were doing this house. It was an entire house repaint a few years ago and I had like I had 3 on the team and I brought in this new guy. An experience painter. You know you hear it all the time but we’re working on this house and they had moved out so the house was completely empty. We had the full run of the place and.
00:08.89
dybsteve
And.
00:18.53
Scott Carmichael
They were doing well I had the 3 regulars on my crew and this new guy and then I would day three say and I go in first thing in the morning drop off extra paint I’m walking around the house and there’s a pole in this room. There’s a tray in this room. There’s a ladder upstairs. There’s stuff. All over the house. It’s like oh you know the process is at the end of the day we put everything in 1 area in the shop drape it with the sheet put it to bed that I preach it and that’s what I always want to see right? So I go around the house and I’m picking up tools I picking up ladders and I put it all back in the shop before anybody gets there.
00:48.58
dybsteve
Um.
00:55.85
Scott Carmichael
So buddy comes in and the crew starts coming in. They’ve all other coffees and we’re talking and having a little hu and this guy starts losing his nut someone stole my tools someone stole my ah where’s my tray. Oh it’s gone. He’s walking running around the house someone stole his stuff. Ah I’m standing in and there saying well.
01:02.32
dybsteve
You.
01:09.48
dybsteve
Yeah. Know.
01:15.32
Scott Carmichael
Excuse me, everything’s over here in the shop where it should be I went around this sport and then cleaned up the whole house because you had your stuff scattered all over the place. Don’t touch my stuff excuse me, don’t touch my stuff and he started going off on me and giving me attitude. So I said okay go you know what.
01:24.00
dybsteve
Oh well.
01:32.52
dybsteve
Um, yeah, oh.
01:34.32
Scott Carmichael
This is unacceptable I think he should leave now I don’t need your help anymore. He picks up his paintic and comes at me with he with a two foot pole and he hit me like 2 or 3 times with this day. He’s poking me taking a swing at me just get out.
01:48.50
dybsteve
Whoa. Ah, ah.
01:54.28
Scott Carmichael
Ah, so yeah, he ended up leaving. It was a little bit of a you know little shouting match but kept my cool. Ah we got the job done then the next day or 2 and I sent him a postated check I postated it like a month and a half away you know here.
01:57.99
dybsteve
Yeah here. Yeah.
02:10.85
dybsteve
Can continue. Yeah, yeah, yeah, ah come why can at you with a rolling pool.
02:11.41
Scott Carmichael
Paid in full but you’re going to have to wait my friend that not professional at all. Oh yeah.
02:22.33
dybsteve
All it and hopefully you watched enough crowdy kid we were younger did some wax on wax off blocks for him.
02:26.19
Scott Carmichael
Ah, well the the other part was um around the time I think it was or just after just before I actually received my black belt. So the the crew was standing back and all is a well big well train control is the key to you know? so.
02:36.14
dybsteve
Um, yeah.
02:39.60
dybsteve
Yeah control. Yeah yeah, yeah, says a training paid off thankfully because you’re a black belt. He didn’t get his butt whooped right.
02:45.56
Scott Carmichael
Just kept my cool escorted him out the door when never saw him again. Yes, absolutely.
02:58.43
dybsteve
And for those who’ve never ah, been trained a lot of it is control and you’re taught not to attack but to defend and only when necessary. So yeah I remember while time my trainer like we’re going to teach you how to break somebody’s arm 6 times just by defending yourself just from the blocks. So.
03:05.85
Scott Carmichael
Yeah.
03:12.90
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:17.76
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, she kept you cool my goodness I’ve very I’ve I’ve had some crazy guys but I’ve never read anybody come after me with this rolling pole before but so well done. Yeah yeah.
03:23.35
Scott Carmichael
It yeah, that was the first and last time. But yeah, it was quite a morning.
03:32.89
dybsteve
Hello and welcome to the doyb podcast today’s guest is a second generation contractor operating for 26 years now in Hamilton Ontario canada Scott Carmichael welcome to the show. my friend oh my pleasure glad to have you on. You’ve been a long time. Do ib member.
03:44.83
Scott Carmichael
Um, thanks Steve glad to be here.
03:50.82
dybsteve
1 client and leader in mastermind group e eleven and thank you for your influencing leadership and mastermind and encouraging others along as well and over the years take us back to the beginning. How did you get started in business.
04:06.44
Scott Carmichael
Ah, the beginning it a couple years ago ah or so like I say I have second generation so I grew up in the trade. Um I think I was like 5 or 6 when I first started going on sites started off as coffee boy started off as paint. Boy. You know, filling the trays you clean it up folding sheets did that for years and graduate. Yeah, yeah, yeah, then I I mean I spent summers painting metal railings. Black. It’s just.
04:25.34
dybsteve
And then you up didn’t they stepped up to fill in Putty holes right? Putty Nail holes. Yeah.
04:39.94
Scott Carmichael
Ah, to this day I still cringe when I see great metal railings on projects and that’s brutal and and growing up. Um I mean of course it was one of the things I never wanted to be a painter I never wanted to get you know to keep going um but growing up through high school and college and it was always you know.
04:43.83
dybsteve
Ah, here.
04:50.65
dybsteve
Um.
04:58.54
Scott Carmichael
I Needed a I needed I wanted a car I wanted to go out I needed money so you’ll end up working or working for dad and picked up a skill in a trade which I’m very proud of and very happy and also became ah my dad was a a British trained paper hanger as well. So I became a paper hanger which has been.
04:58.94
dybsteve
Um, we can. Um.
05:06.27
dybsteve
Um.
05:16.29
dybsteve
Um.
05:17.91
Scott Carmichael
An incredible experience over the years but I went to college not wanting to paint wanting to stay away from it and came out with a degree and and material sciences metallurgy and started working in the steel mills here in the city because Hamilton is a big steel town and I will probably.
05:22.22
dybsteve
And.
05:37.20
Scott Carmichael
Late eighty s early 90 s there was a downturn and if you know I get a job in a lab I get laid off get another job get laid off and got into a union shop they went on strike so I had a young family I had 2 ah 2 ah 2 toddlers at home and I was married with a mortgage. So.
05:37.74
dybsteve
M.
05:46.79
dybsteve
M.
05:52.79
dybsteve
Then.
05:56.94
Scott Carmichael
I Went to my dad and said up how want to come on board. Let’s ah, let’s let’s do something here and he turned it around and said I don’t think it’s a good idea. You know you stick where you are this industry’s dead. There’s nothing going on all right? Well I still had a mortgage to pay. So.
06:00.61
dybsteve
But.
06:06.87
dybsteve
Is.
06:14.90
Scott Carmichael
I went out on my own and did dw and twenty six years later I’m still here. Um, we’re still kicking one of the one of the leading guys in the neighborhood. Um yeah, very proud of what I’ve done and I’ve supported my family. My kids are now grown up married out of the house and it’s been fun. It’s been.
06:17.51
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Running.
06:33.60
Scott Carmichael
Quite a ride.
06:33.64
dybsteve
So dw get started. How did you when you first cast started. How did so a lot of us like our generation anyway, when we got into the business. There weren’t the paid lead rackets back then we got started by usually working for builders and Gcs how did you get your start.
06:44.42
Scott Carmichael
Hello. Well back then there was a lot and I did a lot with my dad too. He did a lot of insurance work for the you know restoration company at the time and it was pretty lucrative back then so I I went knocking on doors and restoration companies got in with a few of them.
06:53.52
dybsteve
Okay.
07:03.27
dybsteve
1
07:06.24
Scott Carmichael
And just started doing insurance repaints and that’s that’s the balk of it. They get going and then you’d pick up the the odd private did that for quite a while quite a few years and then I started well say hey I can hang paper so I started hanging paper.
07:19.78
dybsteve
No.
07:22.72
Scott Carmichael
And started building a name for myself and I’d say it snowballed from there but I just went from job to job for years paid the bills week to week. Yeah.
07:32.15
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, move very long into paper and 2 becoming like the ah paper hanger right? So you truly developed a brand of just this excellent reputation. For being the paper hanger. Yeah.
07:48.66
Scott Carmichael
Yeah I I’ve been very fortunate I mean fact, you share another you know, kind of funny story. The first paper I installed by myself was a powder room for a rather high end client west of the city here. Um, it didn’t go well.
07:52.52
dybsteve
And.
08:02.58
dybsteve
Oh.
08:04.42
Scott Carmichael
So I had to buy the paper and redo it and it was at that point I think the client had turned to me so well maybe shouldn’t hang paper and say well I’m going to show you so.
08:18.73
dybsteve
Ah, you know that’s how most of us succeed somebody told us we couldn’t do it. It’s so true.
08:23.95
Scott Carmichael
Ah, yeah, so I doubled down and I started hanging and I learned and I I watched and I learned and I um became the leading installer in the city. Um.
08:28.43
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah.
08:38.60
Scott Carmichael
I’ve done the museums I’ve done some of the you know most influential big pee pig names in the area. Ah yeah, became the go to guy over the last twenty years so it’s ah it was the humble start.
08:38.69
dybsteve
Um.
08:48.23
dybsteve
Yeah, right on but thank you for sharing that because you know the truth is it’s like there’s a lot of times where we were younger. In fact, Jason ah Perris was just on the packass couple episodes ago and we talked about how ah you know offenses. Create drive create drive and um, it’s funny how a lot of people who succeed it was. You know we were spiteed or we wanted to prove somebody wrong. For example I’ll share my stepfather when I was very young said it’d never be anything you know I didn’t have what it takes and and that’s really putting it polite he he was not near as polite when he tried to speak in this. Ah, ah, evil identity into me fortunately, by the grace of god I have enough sense had enough sense I was blessed enough sense to realize that that was him it wasn’t my identity and so I had that plus I didn’t want to be poor like ah I was as a kid.
09:27.53
Scott Carmichael
Great.
09:40.00
dybsteve
And so that together just created this sensationable desire to want to succeed and and that’s how a lot of us. Do it comes from something that sparked this fire to do take the risk that we take correct. Yeah, right on So you’re building this wallpaper reputation for years and years and years.
09:48.41
Scott Carmichael
Absolutely yeah, yeah, what.
09:58.95
dybsteve
Um, what’s the challenge with that though, like what what what ceiling what was a critical constraint. You start to hit over the years as you become the go to like the expert. What’s the critical constraints you hit.
10:11.50
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, ah the the let mean the critical constraint was. It’s really scaling I Can only do so much and I say scaling I mean the training and the the learning curve on wallpaper is extremely steep.
10:18.71
dybsteve
You know.
10:26.38
dybsteve
No.
10:28.84
Scott Carmichael
Um, I’ve trained a couple people over the years and there’s a couple installers around that you know probably could spend a couple more you know could use more trading but they’re out there. They’re trying they’re they’re trying to do it.
10:36.82
dybsteve
Um.
10:40.51
dybsteve
Yeah.
10:43.56
Scott Carmichael
But the the learning curves is extremely steep and and I tell people it’s um, every wallpaper is different. We very rarely hang the same paper twice. So well. Yeah.
10:52.71
dybsteve
How do you mean? How do you mean? it’s different I’m not a paper hanger I’ve never done it. So.
10:58.79
Scott Carmichael
Well I mean we all there are there’s 2 or 3 different types of common residential wallpapers but the combination of the the glues the papers. The inks they’re not all equal some some stretch more some don’t stretch some some the colors run some some you can’t.
11:07.24
dybsteve
What.
11:17.20
dybsteve
Me.
11:18.29
Scott Carmichael
Cut some cut easy. So every paper is different by time a lot of these jobs you do halfway through the job you figured out the paper. Okay, now it’s working now I’m installing it obviously so the stress level on every job is is starts here and by the time you’re done.
11:25.56
dybsteve
Okay, okay here.
11:36.39
Scott Carmichael
Okay, I’ve mastered this paper onto the next one now it it starts all over again and to teach someone that to get into that mindset’s extremely difficult unlike painting you can go to Sher Williams if anymore and grab a can of paint and it’s literally the same can of paint it and.
11:41.33
dybsteve
Ah.
11:51.98
dybsteve
Yeah, okay.
11:56.22
Scott Carmichael
You get a decent brush and you’re okay so there’s less variables in painting than there is in wallpaper. It’s a much higher learning curve and the detail is extremely high. Yeah yeah.
12:09.80
dybsteve
So it’s tough to train if I hear you correctly, it’s tough to train so the ceiling you’re hating is like like I’ve been doing this for years, but it’s tough to scale this.
12:22.89
Scott Carmichael
It’s tough to scale it and it’s tough to scale it at a high level because there’s expectations. Um I mean I’ve even I’ve even walked into jobs you know over the last so ten years ago or whatever and the the guy wouldn’t hire me I wasn’t old enough.
12:29.68
dybsteve
Um.
12:37.60
dybsteve
Yeah.
12:38.95
Scott Carmichael
I didn’t have enough experience. We later became best friends and I I’ve done um teen jobs for him over the years I I think I’m hitting the right age for him now but just perceptions. Yeah.
12:54.63
dybsteve
Yeah, so in ah now this is interesting because I just had this conversation with Paul Dibddall who was the previous podcast and so he in the same respect now. Totally different personalities right? You’re reserved and he’s ah he’s a party waiting to happen you know and. The high eyes into this personality kind of like April you know? and however you guys both are master craftsmen in your niche. You know where you’ve wallpapered and he’s got like this gift for full painting and just doing amazing things you know and but the same thing is where like that doesn’t scale. It is.
13:21.73
Scott Carmichael
Yeah.
13:29.41
dybsteve
Very difficult to train it and so with both of you. Ah, you’ve had to do some um identity shifts and and ah in that you’ve had to also like all right? How do we build? a? Ah how do we build and develop a. What would be from a master Craftsman’s perspective just a simple residential repainting business and that’s tough too because I mean there’s not a lot of pride in like I can roll a wall. You know you know? So then you fall into that. Well everybody can paint category. You know.
13:47.78
Scott Carmichael
Um, yeah.
14:02.16
Scott Carmichael
Um, yeah, true.
14:03.57
dybsteve
Yes, that’s tough work. What work me through. Let’s let’s you know, walk us through that mind shift over the last few years of like hey being this go to expert the expert you know in in your market Wallpaper hanger to building on a painting business that that’ll scale.
14:20.80
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, it was it was I still work on it. It’s still a ah hard transition and and painting there’s different way you know yourself, there’s There’s and most guys do there’s different levels of painting. Um I mean we’re residential painters right? which is completely different than commercial.
14:30.52
dybsteve
And.
14:38.63
Scott Carmichael
Or new construction. Your expectations are different so coming from a high expectation wallpaper to a residential repaint. Your expectations are different and it’s getting adjusting to that and I struggled out training my guys. Ah.
14:47.98
dybsteve
Pitch.
14:57.49
Scott Carmichael
Okay, yeah, it’s great that you’re spending 2 hours painting that door. Ah, but it it. It doesn’t have to look. You know we can do a very good decent acceptable job for 95% of our clients in half that time.
15:00.20
dybsteve
I.
15:05.79
dybsteve
Yeah.
15:13.40
dybsteve
Yeah.
15:16.89
Scott Carmichael
And so it’s a constant learn is it’s It’s a constant shift and it’s constant training The we’re getting there.
15:20.90
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, when I was younger back in Michigan we had my first company I remember bumping into my art teacher from high school and at the credit union he goes hey Steve how are you he goes hey I see you know you’re doing well with the business. And things are getting going. He says I just want to let you know he says I’m I’m available in the summers and and he and he holds up his his his index finger in his thumb like he’s holding an artist’s brush and he says Steve I can I can cut a really fine line and touch.
15:49.65
Scott Carmichael
Ah.
15:57.67
Scott Carmichael
Ah, yeah, yeah, oh and.
15:57.74
dybsteve
Ah, bet you King and.
16:02.28
dybsteve
ah ah yeah talking about taking 2 hours to cut a door pie take 2 hours to cut that perfect line. You know? and so ah, there’s production values that we have to consider you know like yeah yeah I’ve got to move it.
16:09.70
Scott Carmichael
Um.
16:12.91
Scott Carmichael
Um, absolutely yeah.
16:17.58
Scott Carmichael
Yeah I’ve I’ve had those guys do over the years. You know it’s It’s the hiring. It’s binding the right guys to fit into those those categories to get the jobs done. Yeah.
16:19.94
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah.
16:26.80
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, indeed indeed so with the shift and and whatnot where does your drive come from.
16:38.76
Scott Carmichael
Ah, but but drive comes from my family Nicole and I we we want to live a certain life and have a certain things available to us. So that’s my drive. Um.
16:39.41
dybsteve
Yeah.
16:48.69
dybsteve
Well for example, let me jump in you just returned from like a long weekend in New York City before that you were what down in Miami for like a week or something South Florida ah
16:54.98
Scott Carmichael
But yeah.
17:02.10
dybsteve
Not south beach maybe and so prior to that you were you were away for a couple weeks in Australia you were down under great you and Rob Vokovvich were trying to hook. Ah you know connect. But yeah, so.
17:04.17
Scott Carmichael
Um, yeah, not this time? Um, yeah.
17:18.85
Scott Carmichael
Ah.
17:19.26
dybsteve
Ah, it’s a really nice ah transition that you’ve made and the lifestyle that you you guys have been creating for each other um which is fantastic. So yeah I get that you know it’s a different stage of life to slow down and be able to enjoy it all and it’s great because now the whole business doesn’t rely on just you you know as you.
17:26.40
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, yeah.
17:38.18
dybsteve
Keep building on your team and expanding your team. What’s good.
17:42.54
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, no it. It is greatness has forwarded us to do these things. Um I I had a client couple weeks ago. He was a little. We don’t work weekends we work Monday to Friday don’t work weekends and I was going away for a weekend of New York city and he he got a little upset.
17:57.28
dybsteve
Um.
17:59.62
Scott Carmichael
That we weren’t available on Saturday and all so the the gc a buddy of mine. He turned around and said well Scott enjoys life. He works hard and he enjoys himself. He’ll be here Monday what it’s about at all.
18:06.94
dybsteve
Yeah.
18:14.95
dybsteve
Ah, that’s it. Yes, yeah, yeah, absolutely absolutely um through ah through through this. What’s been a paradigm shift for you.
18:18.56
Scott Carmichael
Yeah.
18:27.10
Scott Carmichael
A Paradig shifted the last really the last couple years I am not the the end. All I mean sure I I am the but I run the business I am the business but I don’t have to do everything I don’t have to be the all the all everything. Bringing in the team bringing in the right people delegating and leaning on I mean when I say team I mean you know my painters I’ve got the 4 painters going now. My team’s also Nicole um, and it’s my suppliers. They’re a huge part of my team. So.
18:54.79
dybsteve
Um, and you.
18:57.19
dybsteve
M.
19:05.53
Scott Carmichael
Using everything and building those relationships and it’s been huge.
19:06.54
dybsteve
So what? you’ve essentially done is you’ve you’ve you’ve shed the superman complex which is a really big deal because you’re a huge now is it Marvel fan or how do you want to? I don’t want to misate this.
19:23.41
Scott Carmichael
Um, ah yeah, be DCI.
19:25.60
dybsteve
Dc okay I knew there was something there I’m like I don’t want to see there. Okay, you know a spanish is a mexican ahola I’m not sure so Dc fan you know? ah I remember 1 time we were traveling I forget where we’re probably moving from one state to another.
19:32.77
Scott Carmichael
Ah.
19:40.65
dybsteve
And we pulled up out of nowhere we’ were in the middle of nowhere traveling across the midwest heading back to Florida I think from Colorado and we saw these ah Superman ah, ah, cutouts and Superwoman or whatever and I said pull over we got jump out and take some pictures for Scott and send it to him. Ah yes, you’re a huge superman fan.
19:55.61
Scott Carmichael
Um, ah I was awesome. Absolutely.
20:00.50
dybsteve
And yet yeah you’re shedding the superman complex and superman complex for those first time the heard it’s where you feel like if it’s got to be done. You know if if you want it done right? You got to do it yourself and you know which is the wrong way to think if you want to grow and to scale which you’re doing and that’s ah, a huge shift.
20:08.80
Scott Carmichael
Yeah.
20:16.13
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, it has been it’s been it’s been hard it’s been a challenge but then I leave lean back on the comics and Superman leads to justice league and they help him so right.
20:19.29
dybsteve
Yeah.
20:28.43
dybsteve
Ah, awesome I didn’t know that. Okay, no yeah, that’s good to know. Ah, ah there you go there, you go? Okay, fantastic, good deal. Oh.
20:33.13
Scott Carmichael
So I’m billing out my Justice league here, but ah yeah, and yeah, it’s fun.
20:45.40
dybsteve
What? Ah what encouragement would you have for others who were kind of at that juncture and and they’re struggling to delegate and to to let some things go.
20:54.68
Scott Carmichael
Ah, you got to you got to keep trying I mean over the years I’d tried things or hired people and then you back off and you hear this story guys. You know I’ll get up I had 2 painters I’m going by myself again. You have to sit back. Evaluate. Adjust adapt and move forward I have done this so many times in 26 years ah it’s part of a normal cycle for me and I’m going I’m going through that now we’re going. We’ve got the 4 we’re busy, we’re booked out for a couple months
21:16.63
dybsteve
M.
21:29.65
Scott Carmichael
So now I’m looking for more I want to get another crew going. So I’m sitting back and evaluating. Um, where can I find them don’t give up keep going keep slugging. Ah you’ll keep chopping wood. Whatever analogy you want to do Ah, it’s and it all comes down to the compound effect. Keep.
21:36.90
dybsteve
M.
21:45.46
dybsteve
Um.
21:49.53
Scott Carmichael
Doing the same things keep moving forward daily. It will build. Yeah.
21:54.53
dybsteve
Um, right on the implementation of what would you say has made the biggest impact in your business.
21:59.99
Scott Carmichael
Ah, biggest it. Oh it couple things. Um I mean the implementation implementation of of the systems you’ve built saved the do I B is really helped. Um, we we share a lot of the same values and the same concepts and.
22:09.96
dybsteve
On you. Thank you.
22:18.74
Scott Carmichael
Staying top of mind reaching out building relationships um has been huge I mean people stop me in the stores people stop not just to paint stores. But.
22:30.69
dybsteve
Um.
22:34.23
Scott Carmichael
And the local stores people comment on on some but some of the videos and things and and some of the brand I’m building which which is great and then some of the things that I’ve learned I’m I’m always reading I’ve always got 2 or 3 books on the go.
22:41.50
dybsteve
Um, m.
22:50.15
Scott Carmichael
And I think years ago I read Dave Dave Ramsey’s makeover which was huge then I progressed into the profit first and I run the profit first system it. It’s it’s a cash flow concept. It’s huge. It’s really helped me get a handle.
22:50.33
dybsteve
Um.
22:52.58
dybsteve
You.
23:02.79
dybsteve
I.
23:09.68
Scott Carmichael
And stay on top. We’re we’re running debt free Um, everything is paid off every month. It’s a great place to be That’s been Huge Yeah, you’re welcome.
23:10.81
dybsteve
No.
23:17.36
dybsteve
Right on. Absolutely absolutely thank you! What are you doing to cultivate culture.
23:27.74
Scott Carmichael
Ah culture I’m always very conscious of I get to know my team. We we have a a good relationship I I don’t identify as the boss. Um I’m I’m their leader.
23:33.15
dybsteve
Um.
23:44.47
Scott Carmichael
I’m there to coach them on the projects I think we have a good relationship. We we try to do monthly breakfast meetings. Um that that helps. Um, yeah.
23:55.96
dybsteve
Yeah I know you do daily encouragement. Yeah.
24:00.91
Scott Carmichael
Yeah I Yeah I do that not a with my team I do that you know with a mastermind um it and it’s it’s it’s self-serving because ah I need it? Yeah yeah, you know I’m I’m reaching out and building this and sharing this with the team trying to build that relationship. We’re all on ah on.
24:08.69
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, we all do.
24:20.11
Scott Carmichael
Um, on a very good. It’s a safe level and I tell them you know any questions ask any concerns ask and I try to spend time with them when we’re on jobs one on one to build that relationship I. Um, I’m their leader and their friend ah to a point but I’m still the business owner. But I think we’ve got a really good release ship and they they work for me. Yeah.
24:44.66
dybsteve
Um, yeah, you know you? Ah you mentioned the mastermind too. Ah there’s like couple weeks ago you’re like all right who did their weekend review. And I’ve got my planner right here and I was like whoa wait a minute. Yes god I hadn’t done mine yet I was like oh gosh I yeah yeah, like taste of the reminder a coach. Ah.
24:57.90
Scott Carmichael
Um, yeah I mean I’m I’m working on my too. So I.
25:14.46
dybsteve
ah ah ah yeah that’s awesome. That’s awesome. You mentioned books what are what are what are what are some business books. Besides so we’ve got Ramsey profit first Ramsey’s total money makeover profit first by Mike Mccaliququitz micli mckelowitz I believe apologize Mike.
25:16.14
Scott Carmichael
Ah, and.
25:27.59
Scott Carmichael
Yes, yeah, or or he calls himself. Yeah, more to bike Mike or something I think he uses that handle too. Yeah, ah I’ve read a few of his books and the prophet first is probably the the most influential books. Ah.
25:33.97
dybsteve
For ah you have more to like why? yeah the compound effect.
25:45.85
Scott Carmichael
From him for me. Um Darren Hardy stuff um compound effect excellent book and there’s different iterations of people have written different versions of that. But it all comes down to the same just keep chop on that wood you know are.
25:52.80
dybsteve
Like. No. And and the breakthrough will come.
26:04.67
Scott Carmichael
Um, yeah, yeah, you know how do you eat? An elephant is one bite at a time right? So just keep slugging. Um, try to think of other ones. There’s been so many I’m reading ah believe it’s Dan Sullivan’s 10 times.
26:07.68
dybsteve
There here.
26:15.26
dybsteve
What are you reading? Currently I think oh 10 x is easier than 2 x right? Okay, yeah, yeah, it’s cold luck. Okay.
26:23.30
Scott Carmichael
I really really dig in that one. Yes, that’s it. Yeah yeah, yeah, it’s good and reaching and ah the concept of dropping the eighty focusing on the twenty the eighty twenty principle
26:38.17
dybsteve
Yeah, because the values in the twenty here we go all right? Let’s do it I’m gonna I’m gonna circle back to you after this interview and say okay.
26:41.79
Scott Carmichael
Ah, yeah, yeah, that’s gold So we’ll see maybe some big changes coming up here. Ah all right? You know it’s coming no problem.
26:55.79
dybsteve
Ah, ah yeah, ah so we streamline operations admin sales processes with tech right? Thats tech is a huge component in du ib because we believe in freeing up your time.
27:04.36
Scott Carmichael
The home.
27:12.57
dybsteve
Ah, so what does your tech stack look like.
27:16.61
Scott Carmichael
My tech stack I run well I use some of the very common ones I books are all done on Quickbooks online which is all done on my desktop but a lot of the other stuff I I run most of the business on my phone. Um.
27:25.72
dybsteve
Um.
27:29.79
dybsteve
No.
27:34.60
Scott Carmichael
It’s just evolved that way cause you’re always on the move. Ah I’m currently using paint scout which is really really really with the production rates and the presentations has really streamlined my estimates I can present goal.
27:37.40
dybsteve
Um.
27:39.99
dybsteve
Enter.
27:45.77
dybsteve
Me.
27:52.35
Scott Carmichael
Do an estimate present that estimate on the spot. Simple ones you’re within 10 minutes 10 15 minutes they’ve got it right there which is really helped all it. It’s gold hundred percent it’s
28:03.75
dybsteve
So how important is it to present on the spot.
28:12.31
Scott Carmichael
Got to strike with the irons hot. You know they’re there. They’re motivated. You’re hitting the key points. You’re you’re you’re going through your sales dance and is real men. It’s it’s fantastic. Yeah.
28:15.30
dybsteve
Who. Yeah, yeah, yeah, a point I like to make is could you imagine going to like a car dealership and finding the truck or car you want to buy and the salesman says all right I’ll email you the price in a few days. What’s like but.
28:32.40
Scott Carmichael
Um, yeah I Really yeah yo you’re hungry right? So yeah, that that’s huge, um.
28:37.91
dybsteve
You just test drove it like is you want take this thing. Oh no, yeah yeah, yeah, okay.
28:51.42
Scott Carmichael
We also use Monday ah for for for scheduling and following up and then I track track the progress of the jobs on there whether we have colors deposits if it’s a rain day and I’d started rolling that out with the team which is we which is gonna be huge to help.
28:55.31
dybsteve
1
29:04.23
dybsteve
Um.
29:08.14
dybsteve
Where yeah, yeah, okay, fantastic.
29:10.93
Scott Carmichael
I Want to get my lead a little more on that to free up some of my time so I can build build the team a little more this summer. Ah, that’s the biggies. Yeah.
29:24.97
dybsteve
You mentioned mastermind what’s how would you explain what a mastermind group is to others who aren’t in a peer group and and then the value that it’s been for you over the years
29:33.96
Scott Carmichael
All like well you you said it’s it’s It’s a peer group So we’re all, we’re all in business. We’re all painting contractors. We’re all fairly close we’re but we’re all a different level. Some are some are beginning some.
29:40.93
dybsteve
Um.
29:47.32
dybsteve
With me and.
29:51.40
Scott Carmichael
Some are been around a long time but it ranges and ah ah we all have different experiences and it but the key one of the best parts is. It’s a safe place. It’s a safe place to Calm. Ask your questions venture ideas. Ah. Voice your concerns or even your your issues or anything that’s frustrating you at that time and because I’ll guarantee someone has gone through it in the group. It is a safe place to get some feedback on.
30:16.12
dybsteve
In.
30:25.17
dybsteve
Um.
30:28.98
dybsteve
Yeah, right on right because being an entrepreneur can be a lonely lonely road but doesn’t have to be okay, awesome. Thank you so much Scott I know we’re tied on time.
30:29.66
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, don’t reinvent the wheel. Yeah, absolutely no.
30:44.74
dybsteve
But before we roll out is there a question I should have asked or a final point that you’d like to make.
30:49.92
Scott Carmichael
Ah, yeah I was thinking about this. Um I don’t know you’ve never asked. You never asked me this over the years I don’t think of but the company’s Dw painting and a lot of clients off often. Ask you where is dw come from. You know.
30:58.84
dybsteve
But thought in the end in the intro I had it but I’m like wait a minute you I I do I know this answer if I better not. Ah so thank you for bringing that. Ah.
31:13.29
Scott Carmichael
Ah.
31:17.70
Scott Carmichael
They’ll pra I get a lot of looks dw. Your initials are s C It doesn’t make any sense. Ah um, but it it it does and that’s part of my drive. My drive is my family Ah when I started Dw my son was he was a newborn.
31:18.98
dybsteve
Yeah, ah.
31:29.33
dybsteve
Okay, here right? on right on That’s awesome. Okay, you you solve that mystery for me so like okay.
31:32.50
Scott Carmichael
So my kids are desiree and William so that would be DW so the business is grounded in family. It’s grounded in in my kids and that’s my drive. So dw.
31:49.42
dybsteve
Supposed to know this or I can figure it out and ah.
31:53.12
Scott Carmichael
Um, no yeah.
31:54.79
dybsteve
Ah, ah, right on. Well if somebody wanted to follow up. What’s the best way that they could reach out to get a hold or connect with you.
32:00.35
Scott Carmichael
Ah, they well they can find me on most of social media platforms Facebook Instagram ah I’m on there or it probably best to email me a Scott at dw painting a wallpapering.com I know it’s about that long but it gets to me.
32:04.46
dybsteve
And.
32:12.56
dybsteve
Yeah, yeah, it works yep and I highly encourage everybody to follow you on Facebook and and Instagram because you’re just cranking out some just awesome videos and they’re awesome because they’re so simple. You don’t have complicate them. You know you just walk through here’s what we’re doing you got like the video and video thing going and I’m like Scott how’d you do that? you know, ah and I even reached out to you and you had the awesome captions in the corner I’m like how’d you those captions you know.
32:32.49
Scott Carmichael
Yeah, ah.
32:43.53
Scott Carmichael
Ah.
32:43.87
dybsteve
And I’m not fluent on Instagram like I post there but I don’t really engage there engage on Facebook because I like the conversations but I know especially for painting companies. You need to be on Instagram and so I’m like how do you? How to do that Instagram financial thing youing you you know? so I want encourage everybody to connect with you. Ah Facebook and Instagram and.
32:46.57
Scott Carmichael
Um, right.
33:03.19
dybsteve
And check out all the cool stuff you’re doing because it’s making a difference. You’re staying top of mind you’re crushing the u ib system and continuing to double your business which is which is awesome. So thanks again Scott I appreciate you coming on. It’s been my honor and pleasure to know you and and and to work with you over the years and and watch all these cool changes.
33:08.39
Scott Carmichael
Great.
33:21.28
Scott Carmichael
Oh great see if that’s awesome and thanks, thanks for having me this has been a blast and thanks for being there for me I know you’re you’re just a text message away I appreciate it appreciate everything you do Thanks buddy your own. But.
33:22.29
dybsteve
Come about.
33:31.63
dybsteve
Awesome! My pleasure. Thank you.