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!
