Born For The Trades: A Home Service Podcast
"Born For The Trades: A Home Service Podcast" is a weekly podcast hosted by Mandeep Bhalla that aims to inspire and educate home services business owners. Each episode features successful industry leaders, like Tommy Mello, Ken Goodrich, and more, who share their stories and provide valuable insights into the home services industries. Through its focus on the successes of well-known business owners, "Born For The Trades" provides a unique perspective on the home services industry and offers valuable insights and advice for those looking to grow their businesses.
Born For The Trades: A Home Service Podcast
Door-to-Door Isn’t Dead: How Contractors Can Sell With Authority in 2025
In this episode of Born For The Trades, Mandeep sits down with one of the most disruptive voices in sales today: Sam Wakefield. An international best-selling author, coach, and host of the Close It Now Podcast, Sam’s mission is to help contractors break out of the price-cutting spiral and start selling with confidence, authority, and real results.
Right out of the gate, Sam tackles a hot take that turns heads: door-to-door sales aren’t dead, they’re evolving. In fact, they're making a bold comeback. He explains how too many contractors rely entirely on digital leads and miss out on the power of real-world connections. The truth? The trades are about trust, and nothing builds it faster than showing up at the door, being human, and being helpful.
But don’t expect scripts and sleazy tactics here. Sam dives deep into his core belief that identity beats scripts every time. He explains what a “sales identity” really is, and why knowing who you are, and how you show up, will always outperform the perfect pitch. If you’ve ever felt like you're "faking it" during a sale, this part is a game-changer.
One of the most practical segments? Sam’s take on the dreaded “three bids” objection. You’ll learn how to shift the narrative so you're not one of three; you’re the only choice that makes sense. Sam shares how contractors can move from competing on price to competing on value by reframing the way they educate and engage homeowners.
He also shares real-world guerrilla marketing wins, including one story where a low-cost, boots-on-the-ground campaign outperformed a digital ad budget 10x its size. His philosophy is clear: don’t wait for leads. Create your own momentum. And he shows you exactly how to do it.
For any contractor trapped in the "discount to win" mindset, Sam lays out a first step that’s simple, but not easy: stop chasing volume and start building authority. He shows how high-ticket sales aren’t about saying more; they’re about saying the right things, to the right people, with total clarity on value.
Whether you’re a business owner, sales lead, or a technician trying to step into selling, this episode offers a fresh, no-fluff roadmap for turning shaky conversations into confident closes.
This one’s for the contractors who are done racing to the bottom and ready to rise to the top.
