Episode 207: Knowing Your Worth and Embracing Change with Rich Gallo of Pure Swim
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Episode Summary
Today, we once again speak with Rich Gallo, the Founder and CEO of Pure Swim Inc., a second-generation swimming pool maintenance and repair company based out of Valencia, CA.
Founded in 1991, Pure Swim offers its high-end services to pool owners in Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, and Los Feliz, CA. Rich’s team specializes in fresh water systems, chlorine alternatives, as well as preventative maintenance for new pools.
As we emerge from the pandemic, Rich looks back on how Pure Swim was able to continue to thrive in spite of the many challenges that the last two years presented. He also talks about changes across the industry in general, such as the explosion of demand for pools as the work-from-home culture became the norm.
Rich explains the importance of understanding the new economy (ex. inflation) in order to stay ahead of common “chokeholds” and limiting beliefs that hold many business owners back.
He also discusses why every business owner needs to have structure so that they do not get derailed both when chasing new opportunities or navigating times of hardship. He goes on to add that it pays to have a roadmap for the future; otherwise, you risk wasting your potential for growth.
Finally, Rich speaks on his upcoming apprenticeship program and gives his general thoughts on mentoring the next generation of business owners and tradespeople, all the while expressing gratitude for an industry that has grown to be more transparent and collaborative over the decades.
Topics Discussed
01:06 - How Pure Swim emerged from the pandemic unscathed
07:10 - The importance of understanding what’s happening in the current economy
12:02 - Breaking free from common business owner chokeholds
22:49 - The current state of the industry
29:21 - Modeling your business for growth
32:00 - Selling the benefit of your company and the importance of having structure
38:36 - Charging what you’re worth
49:18 - Having a roadmap for the next couple of years
57:30 - Rich’s upcoming projects and the philosophy behind his apprenticeship program
Resources Mentioned
Key Quotes From Episode
What’s happened over the past two years is a shift in demand of people wanting and needing a swimming pool, and how much the home has become a sanctuary and an escape from everything.
If you don’t have structure, opportunity turns to chaos.
When you see an absence of fulfillment with achievement, that’s a major problem.
We know we’re the best. We know we can be the best. But we have to take a step back and always think about how we can be better.
Whether you’re a single guy with five pools or a guy that has 500 customers, every company should always sell the benefit of them in their backyard.
As souls, we’re all equal. We just differ widely in the marketplace as business persons.
