Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco
Connecting Frisco Businesses and Neighbors!
The Good Neighbor Podcast, hosted by Sophia Yvette, bridges the gap between Frisco residents and the incredible local business owners in the DFW area.
Discover the stories behind your favorite local businesses—because they're not just owners; they're your neighbors! Proud to be the #1 Frisco Podcast and DFW Podcast.
Are you a business serving the Frisco area? Let’s showcase your story! Visit gnpFrisco.com to schedule your free interview today.
Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco
EP #239: Behind the Scenes: How Steve Long Built a Trusted HVAC Business in an Untrusted Industry
What makes Steve Long with Crazy AC Guy a good neighbor?
What does it take to build a trustworthy HVAC business in an industry plagued by consumer skepticism? Steve Long of Crazy AC Guy pulls back the curtain on his entrepreneurial journey during this candid conversation about trust, perseverance, and smart business strategies.
Steve's path to HVAC success began in the mid-90s with an air duct cleaning business that eventually led him to obtain his air conditioning license in 2008. In 2020, he made the strategic decision to rebrand as "Crazy AC Guy" – a catchy, memorable name designed to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The rebranding strategy exemplifies Steve's marketing savvy, which now includes television advertising throughout Collin County and neighboring areas.
What truly sets Steve apart is his refreshing honesty about the challenges of entrepreneurship. "I gamble with my life savings on a daily basis," he confesses, acknowledging the constant risks of business ownership. This vulnerability extends to his service philosophy: providing truthful assessments even when customers might not like what they hear. For potential clients wondering how to identify trustworthy HVAC providers, Steve emphasizes the value of neighbor-to-neighbor referrals, online reviews, and proper licensing verification.
Perhaps most entertaining is Steve's revelation of his "top secret CEO trick" – a phone message claiming he's been "on vacation" for three years that directs callers to his office. This simple time management hack illustrates how successful entrepreneurs create systems that allow them to work on their businesses rather than constantly in them. Steve's parting advice to budding entrepreneurs resonates with hard-earned wisdom: "When you fail, which you will, get back up and do it again, do it smarter." Check out Crazy AC Guy online or give them a call – Steve promises free advice over the phone, with certified professionals ready to handle your HVAC needs with honesty and expertise.
To learn more about Crazy AC Guy go to:
Crazy AC Guy
972-752-5000
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of an HVAC company? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor Steve Long, with Crazy AC Guy. Steve, how's it going today?
Speaker 3:All is well, everything's good. Looking forward to a good summer.
Speaker 2:Great, glad to hear it. We are excited to learn all about you and your business. Can you tell us a bit about your company?
Speaker 3:Yeah, crazy AC has been in business for well. As we started the business in 2020, I had another business called Long Enterprise. Before that we merged it over with a new brand name, so we rebranded under Crazy AC in 2020 and had to have a kind of a fun catchy name to do some different type of marketing and advertising to the people. A little bit more catchy name, awesome. And so how in the world did you get into this industry? Well, I used to own a air duct cleaning and chimney sweep service back in the mid nineties and at that time I merged my air duct cleaning business in with a local air conditioning company in the area. I was an employee for several years and in 2008, I went out and got my license to be a licensed air conditioning guy in Texas, and that's how it all got started.
Speaker 2:And what is the most common myth or misconception in your industry? And what is the most common?
Speaker 3:myth or misconception in your industry. Well, air conditioning people are not trusted or liked. They're kind of like mechanics. You know who do you trust in the business.
Speaker 2:You know to tell you the truth and we take very good pride in giving people options and telling them the truth every time we come out, and to make sure that they're, you know, getting the best bang for the buck.
Speaker 3:How would one know if they have a good HVAC company they're working with? Well, it takes time. Not everybody, you know anybody can work on an air conditioner Like I can hire you to come work on an air conditioner and nobody would ever know?
Speaker 3:I don't know. You don't want me to work on it either. I own the company. I run the company, so I'm not the guy out fixing it. I have a certified background check employees that go out and fix things and that are very knowledgeable of the product and you know that's who we hire to go do that kind of stuff. But I manage it and run it and, like I say, I'm behind the scenes running the company.
Speaker 2:So, Steve, for the clients that are looking for an HVAC company, what are some of the things they can check ahead of time to make sure they are getting the right people to work on their AC?
Speaker 3:Well, you can look at your reviews online. That's a big deal with Google. You can look at Better Business Bureau. You can check our licensing to make sure that you know we're properly licensed, in which we are. As far as I missed that question again, ask that again. As far as I missed that question, again ask that again.
Speaker 2:How would our clients, your clients, know? Let me re-ask that question again. Ideally for the customers that are looking for an HVAC company, what is one thing they should look for to ensure they're getting a high quality company?
Speaker 3:Okay, so referrals are our biggest thing in our company and that's from one neighbor to another and that's our biggest referral system in our company.
Speaker 2:So and who are your target clients and, in terms of marketing, how do you attract them. And who are your target clients and, in terms of marketing, how do you attract them.
Speaker 3:Well, we currently do TV up in the in our area where we market, and the Sherman, denison Durant and all of Collin County in this area, from McKinney to Frisco to everywhere. We do TV in that area and our market is anybody. I mean, if you need your heat and AC system serviced, maintained, replaced, repaired, new construction, we can do it all.
Speaker 2:Amazing and outside of work, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 3:I like to travel, a lot I travel and then if you call my phone, it's a top secret CEO trick. I'm going to tell you right now. My phone says I'm on vacation. Please call the office. And it's been there for three years.
Speaker 2:You like that, don't you? I do, I, I do. I'll keep that in mind. Um, go ahead and, uh, switch gears for a second. Can you describe a hardship or life challenge you overcame and how it made you a better and stronger person today? What comes to mind for you?
Speaker 3:You know, being self-employed is tough. Anybody can go to a casino and take $100 and go gamble. I gamble with my life savings on a daily basis. Okay, I gamble with everything that I own in this business and my heart's in it. I want it to succeed. I mean life's good, I mean it's not bad, so, but in return there's no risk. I mean, with the risk, there's no reward. You know you have to get a risk before you have a reward, and so I've been doing this for a long time. I'm a self-employed entrepreneur and I just I love providing jobs for people. I love what I do. That's all I can say.
Speaker 2:Well, steve, I am right there with you and for all of our new entrepreneurs here. What are some words of wisdom you have for them?
Speaker 3:When you fail, which you will get back up and do it again, do it smarter. It's like they say you fall off of a horse, get back on a ride again. Okay, so if you want to ride, you have to get back on the horse. That's all there is to it.
Speaker 2:So so, steve, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about crazy AC guy.
Speaker 3:Well, one thing they can remember about me. Let me think about this for a second. Remember about me. Let me think about this for a second. We're very upfront and honest and trustworthy and, like I say, just call us for anything. I'll give you free advice over the phone all day long, but when we come out, you may not want to hear what I tell you, but I tell you the truth. That's all I can say.
Speaker 2:And how can our listeners learn more about Crazy AC Guy?
Speaker 3:You can go to our website at wwwcrazyacguycom, or you can even call my cell phone if you like. Should I reveal that right now? They can call me anytime, day or night. I'll be happy to answer. So it's 972-832-2869. If not, you call the office at 972-752-5000. We'll be happy to schedule a service call, a maintenance, anything that you need. So.
Speaker 2:Well, Steve, I really appreciate you being on the show. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Thank you, Sophia.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfriscocom. That's gnpfriscocom, or call 469-221-9345. 9, 3, 4, 5.