Episode 08: Aspiring Dentist to Master Plumber - 25 Years of American Plumbing скачать в хорошем качестве

Episode 08: Aspiring Dentist to Master Plumber - 25 Years of American Plumbing

In this episode of The Reasonable Contractor podcast, host Ryan Templin interviews Jason Schmidt, owner of American Plumbing in Burnsville, Minnesota. Jason shares his unexpected journey from aspiring dentist to master plumber, including failing his journeyman test three times and taking over the family business after his father's death in 1999. They discuss the transition from remodeling to service work, honest pricing that undercuts big companies by 50%, and the business systems that create efficiency. Jason explains why the plumber shortage drives premium pricing, and the personal transformations (becoming morning people, lifestyle changes) that support business success. The conversation concludes with direct advice for the next generation: skip expensive trade school, pursue apprenticeships, and build recession-proof careers without student debt. Takeaways: Jason never intended to become a plumber, initially planning to study dentistry at University of Minnesota He failed his journeyman test three times by margins as small as 0.08% before passing Big plumbing companies charge $3,000-$4,000 for water heaters Jason installs for $2,000 The plumber shortage creates supply-demand economics that drive premium pricing across the industry Jason transitioned from remodeling to service work primarily for job happiness and satisfaction Field Pulse digital management costs $99/month per user and streamlines scheduling and invoicing QuickBooks automation eliminated year-end bookkeeping panic and auto-categorizes all business expenses Press tool technology reduced basement bathroom plumbing from 8 hours (copper) to 2 hours (PEX) Both Jason and Ryan became morning people after years of reprogramming late-night habits AI cannot replace skilled trades - it won't unplug toilets or repair frozen pipes Apprenticeships offer good pay from day one with no student debt Sound Bites: "I never thought I'd be a plumber." "Your plumbing license is a license to steal." "I just wasn't happy doing it." "What would take me eight hours in copper, I'm home at lunch." "AI is not gonna unplug a toilet." "You're gonna make good money right out of the gate." "This is the first year I'm ready. I'm just waiting for January 1st." "Slow learners who don't quit." Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to American Plumbing 01:08 - Jason's Journey: From Dentistry Dreams to Plumbing Reality 02:38 - Failing the Journeyman Test Three Times 06:59 - Taking Over After His Father's Death (1999) 11:24 - The "License to Steal" and Big Company Pricing 12:18 - Choosing Service Work Over Remodeling for Happiness 15:01 - Real Numbers: $2,000 vs $4,000 Water Heater Pricing 18:33 - The Plumber Shortage and Market Economics 20:06 - Field Pulse: $99/Month Digital Management System 21:30 - QuickBooks Automation: Eliminating Year-End Panic 23:00 - Inventory Management and Shop Efficiency 26:36 - Copper vs PEX: From 8 Hours to 2 Hours 27:56 - Becoming Morning People: Breaking Late-Night Habits 30:05 - Slow Learners Who Don't Quit Build What They're Proud Of 34:25 - Advice for Next Generation: Apprenticeships Beat Trade School Keywords: plumbing business, journeyman plumber, master plumber, American Plumbing, apprenticeship, trade career, business systems, Minnesota contractor, Burnsville plumber, water heater pricing, morning routine