I Wanted the Biggest and Best Plumbing Company | The Trade Talks #155

David Butler had ambitions of being a doctor, so joining the skilled trades as a plumber was purely by chance. In high school, a man pulls up at football practice asking for players interested in digging ditches and trenches to help his lawn and irrigation business. By the end of summer, David was digging it, trenching it, wiring it, and connecting all of the irrigation lines and sprinkler heads. So naturally, plumbing was a logical transition during his time in med-school. He started out making $4 an hour. And his high school sweetheart, who’s now been his wife for 44 years, they were struggling, both pursuing intensive majors, so David dropped out of college and became a full-time plumber with the goal of one day owning a business. And in 1984 he got his masters license and started Butler Plumbing Company, with focused on commercial construction. At a young age, he was mechanically inclined. Learning to work on cars and change the oil with his dad. He made the transition from commercial to residential plumbing when he experienced the tradesman pride of satisfaction — fixing a problem that someone needs. He loves working with his hands and wanted to learn everything. He got his journeyman license within three years. His goal has always been to the be the biggest and the best plumbing with the highest job satisfaction. He sold his six-truck company in 2015 and is now the Responsible Master Plumber for Milestone Home Services in Dallas, Texas — a company that has gone from 3 trucks to 70 trucks and over 700 employees in 8 years. In this episode they discuss residential and commercial plumbing, home service, and even inside details of that dreaded dollhouse plumbers must tackle in Waco, Texas. David discusses that hard work will only get you so far. Many other things must fall into place. Never give up. Keep going. And everyone, at some point, needs a little help along the way. In David’s words, one of the hardest thing to do for an employer is to make payroll every Friday. Our Sponsor:  LeakPro | Leak Detection Equipment LeakPro® has been providing reliable slab leak and swimming pool leak detection equipment for 40 years. Our products can help you find underground water leaks quickly and easily! Go to https://leak-pro.com   Tradesmen built America. This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media... To GROW in the trades!!!!