Ready for a real-world success story that proves the trades are wide open for ambitious go-getters? On this episode of Catalyst, hosts Jennifer Bagley and Chuck Staszkiewicz welcome Darren Dixon, an HVAC industry legend, and his son, Tyler Dixon, who swapped college plans for a fast-track sales career in home services. Tyler shares his path from general manager of a fitness club to high-performing comfort advisor at DND Air, breaking six-figure income before age 22—all thanks to tech-forward processes, strong mentorship, and a relentless drive to connect with customers.Discover practical hiring, onboarding, and training insights, hear how new technology like “Perfect Match” empowers younger sales stars, and get actionable advice for owners and aspiring salespeople who want to level up. Perfect for business owners, comfort advisors, tech-savvy recruits, or anyone wondering if the trades are the new American Dream.Timestamps:00:00 – Meet the Hosts & Guests01:30 – Tyler’s Journey: From Fitness GM to Trades Newbie06:03 – Facing Fears and Making the Leap12:24 – Why HVAC Sales Is a Winning Career16:05 – Onboarding: Tyler’s Three-Week Sales Training Breakdown17:56 – Leveraging Technology: Perfect Match and Customer Experience22:47 – Building Value, Trust, and Higher Ticket Sales25:10 – The Power of Communication Over Technical Jargon27:21 – The Critical Installer-Sales Relationship29:18 – Marketing with Integrity: Transparent Sales vs. Tune-Up Flips31:07 – Generational Opportunity: The Future of Trades Careers34:11 – Tyler’s Pre-Call Prep & Building Relationships36:44 – Learning and Self-Development on the Road43:22 – The Power of Process: Metrics, Mindset, and Detaching from Outcomes49:10 – Debriefing Calls: Learning from Every Experience51:12 – Final Thoughts & The Importance of CommunityGuest Details:Darren DixonTitle: Founder & CEO, fyxifyBackground: With 30 years in the trades, Darren's career spans from a comfort advisor to franchise development in one-hour heating and air conditioning. Now at fyxify, he focuses on merging technology with consumer-centric services.Tyler DixonTitle: Home Comfort Specialist at D&D Air ConditioningBackground: Former top-performing fitness general manager. In his first year in HVAC, Tyler’s on track for $3 million in sales using cutting-edge tools and process-driven training.Relevant Links:FyxifyCatalyst for the Trades PodcastOpus and GoldsCI Web GroupEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

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