Rudy, Author at Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

Get Rid of Mustard Algae

Post author:Rudy
Post published:May 16, 2020
Post category:Algae Subscription Content

? Pass the Mustard I did a bunch of stuff with Black Algae, I know most of you are already familiar with those studies. If you are not, check it …

Recession Proof Pool Pro

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 26, 2020
Post category:COVID-19 Pool News Pool Service

Tips on Recession Proofing Your Pool Business I have some real concerns about where we are heading with the shelter in place or stay at home orders. I'm not talking…

Your Vote Counts ✔

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 13, 2020
Post category:Pool News

Take A Break From COVID-19 and Do Something Fun! Voting Starts Today & There is Still Time to Enter ? We put together this Photo Contest to offer a momentary…

Businesses That are Considered an Essential Service

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 8, 2020
Post category:Uncategorized

✍? Is My Business on the Essential Service list? Nothing is causing more confusion during the coronavirus pandemic than the words "Essential Service." The reason it is perplexing is that…

COVID-19 Pool Water Transmission & Pool Service Lockdown?

Post author:Rudy
Post published:March 22, 2020
Post category:COVID-19

A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China, in 2019. The…

How Much DE Should I Add? ⚖

Post author:Rudy
Post published:March 8, 2020
Post category:Apartment Pool Maintenance CPO Certification Class Equipment Hotel Pool Maintenance

Diatomaceous Earth Hey Guys. Hoping your March is off to a good start. I wanted to talk about this for a while, and going into spring seems to be the…

Why The CMAHC Will Make You Question Everything

Post author:Rudy
Post published:February 16, 2020
Post category:Uncategorized Pool News

Hey, Pool Talkers! Quite a few things are going on that we are pretty excited about. There are also some other topics I think are super important. So, this week…

How To Compete With The Internet

Post author:Rudy
Post published:January 26, 2020
Post category:Marketing

Maybe we shouldn't... Maybe those Mother Fathers should compete with us Somewhere along the way, when these e-commerce powerhouses first came about, they managed to convince us that we would…

Top 11 Swimming Pool Blogs to Follow

Post author:Rudy
Post published:December 22, 2019
Post category:Misc.

Top 11 Swimming Pool Blogs to Follow Okay, so we may be a wee bit biased here. We are convinced that Pool Operator Talk News is the best of the…

The Health Department Closed My Pool

Post author:Rudy
Post published:November 24, 2019
Post category:Uncategorized

Have you ever spent any time speaking with your health official? I mean an actual conversation, not just chatting about pH, but what they do aside from pool inspections? These…

Talking Pools Podcast

If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.

Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.

Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.

Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.

If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.

Ask a question here

WARNING:Intentionally Abrasive Language – Every service business wants to be the company everyone recommends—the local expert called after three other contractors have replaced the wrong parts, collected their checks, and left the customer with the same damn problem.

But authority doesn’t come from putting “premier,” “elite,” or “superior” on the side of a truck. It comes from becoming exceptionally good at solving difficult problems, teaching people what you know, documenting your results, and earning a reputation that reaches the customer before you do.

In this episode, Rudy explains how pool professionals and other service-business owners can become the recognized expert in their county—and why anyone who earns that position should charge at least 10% more than the interchangeable competition.

In This Episode

Why calling yourself an expert doesn’t make you one
How to attach your name to a specific, difficult problem
Why teaching customers increases your value
The difference between generic content and useful local expertise
How informed opinions make professionals memorable
Turning difficult jobs into compelling case studies
Why detailed testimonials beat meaningless five-star reviews
Building referral relationships with inspectors, agents, managers, and tradespeople
Becoming the person local media calls for an explanation
Using Google reviews to demonstrate authority
Why experienced professionals should charge more
How to state your price without apologizing or negotiating against yourself
Why premium pricing requires premium communication and reliability
The importance of continuing to learn after becoming the recognized expert

The Bottom Line

Advertising tells people you exist. Expertise convinces them you understand the problem. Reputation makes them trust you to solve it.

Own a difficult problem. Teach what you know. Develop an informed point of view. Document your results. Answer the phone. Show up when promised. Fix the problem correctly.

Eventually, your name becomes shorthand for the solution—and when that happens, charge like you fucking mean it.

The cheapest contractor charges for the visit. The expert charges for the answer.

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Connect With Talking Pools

Follow the Talking Pools Podcast for blunt industry commentary, technical education, business advice, and the occasional uncomfortable truth every pool professional needs to hear.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com