Self Employed & Marriage Stress [REAL TALK] From Experience

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want… is one brave step? In this episode, I share a raw reflection on going from nothing to watching long-prayed-for dreams unfold — and the uncomfortable truth about what it actually takes to move forward. It's not just information. It's not just motivation. It's faith in action. We talk about why staying the same can become more painful than changing, how small risks unlock big momentum, and why inner growth matters more than outward success. I also open up about the spiritual roots that have been transforming how I handle stress, setbacks, and relationships — and how deeper roots lead to stronger fruit in every area of life. If you've been stuck, hesitant, or waiting for the "right time," this episode is your reminder: movement creates clarity, not the other way around.     "Nothing is going to happen until you take the first step." – Keith Kalfas   In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why gathering information isn't enough — action is the real turning point The moment when the pain of staying stuck finally pushes you to move How even small financial or emotional risks build confidence and momentum A powerful mindset shift about failure, dignity, and simply trying The "roots and fruits" principle for lasting success, peace, and leadership Handling difficult people without losing your calm, character, or joy Why inner spiritual growth strengthens your ability to succeed outwardly Lessons about success, patience, and long seasons of unseen progress Letting go of bitterness and choosing peace when others disappoint you Why building a relationship with God can transform how you work, lead, and live   Key Takeaways: Dreams don't move forward when you feel ready — they move when you step forward anyway. Real success is built from the inside out, through faith, patience, character, and the courage to act even when it's uncomfortable.   Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP    

A lot of business owners believe that hustling non-stop is the only path to success, and they justify neglecting their relationships in the name of providing. But the real lesson here is about service—putting family first, letting go of scarcity, and realizing that abundance isn't just about money, it's about love and connection. When you act from this place, everything else falls in line.   Unlock a deep-dive conversation with Keith Kalfas as he explores the realities of being self-employed, running a small business, and maintaining healthy relationships. This episode is a must-listen for business owners, especially those balancing intense work schedules and marriage, seeking wisdom on navigating stress, work-life harmony, and the path to conscious leadership.   In this Episode You will Discover:  The real challenges of balancing business and personal relationships, especially for self-employed professionals in the service industry. Insights on how emotional cycles and communication patterns can impact long-term relationships. The importance of prioritizing family and connection, and how shifting your focus from work to loved ones can transform both home and business life. The power of shifting your mindset from scarcity to abundance, and how gratitude is the secret to happiness and success. Life lessons on letting go of drama, accepting responsibility for your own experience, and finding peace and fulfillment through self-awareness.   "So it's kind of like if she really knows that you're there for her no matter what and you have her back, then she'll let you go out and be a workaholic...because she trusts you now."  - Keith Kalfas   Topics Covered:  00:00:00 - 00:01:16 — Introduction: Business-Life Balance Keith Kalfas goes live for the first time during the Untrapped Podcast, sharing the challenges of owning a service business while maintaining a marriage or serious relationship. He draws a stark contrast between entrepreneurship and the traditional 9-to-5 and previews the episode's focus on personal experience and relationship stress during the busy summer months. 00:01:17 - 00:02:37 — The Stressful Summer Rush Keith highlights the overwhelming nature of June for landscaping/lawn care businesses, describing how personal matters take a back seat. He cautions that relationship tensions can peak during periods when business consumes all attention and urges mindfulness of time spent with loved ones. 00:02:38 - 00:04:33 — The Personal Toll: Real-Life Stories Through candid personal stories, Keith Kalfas describes heartbreaking episodes of marital conflict stemming from his workaholic habits, culminating in threats of divorce. His wife's demand for attention reveals a universal tension in entrepreneur relationships: the struggle to assure loved ones that they come first. 00:04:34 - 00:06:37 — Emotional Needs & Priorities Keith breaks down the emotional dynamics that fuel domestic disputes, explaining why partners may provoke arguments to validate their importance. He advocates putting God, family, and relationships before business for long-term sustainability and trust. 00:06:38 - 00:08:37 — App Solutions & Relationship Wisdom Quick tips on service business software: Housecall Pro and its benefits for efficiency. Keith weaves in profound relationship advice, referencing books like "The Way of the Superior Man," "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus," and "The Five Love Languages," describing levels of masculinity and conscious partnership. 00:08:38 - 00:12:51 — Stages of Relationships & Authentic Masculinity Discover how ego, roles, and shell personalities can sabotage intimacy. Keith outlines the "dance" of masculine/feminine energy, describing the destructive cycle of resentment and the importance of emotional bank accounts, boundaries, and building trust through integrity. 00:12:52 - 00:17:29 — Conscious Love & Self-Work Keith emphasizes that true connection takes years of conscious effort—a process of healing childhood wounds, servant leadership, and ego death. He guides listeners through the path of becoming a statesman, capable of leading self, family, and business. 00:17:30 - 00:20:38 — Spiritual Growth & Relationship Commitment The spiral of self-love, forgiveness, and enlightenment is discussed. Keith warns about the evolving polarities between partners and attests to the power of long-term commitment for personal and professional growth. He stresses that anything not rooted in "Truth" will eventually dissolve. 00:20:39 - 00:22:02 — The Dark Night of the Soul Listeners learn the role of profound suffering—from physical illness to loss—in forcing consciousness evolution. Keith details the stages of trauma and the transformative effect of moving into gratitude. 00:22:03 - 00:24:07 — The Secret of Gratitude How gratitude transforms suffering and life circumstances, referencing Dr. David Hawkins' "Power vs. Force." He contrasts low vibrational states of shame and blame with the liberating power of acceptance and thankfulness. 00:24:08 - 00:26:56 — Radical Ownership & Change Entrepreneurs are challenged to accept responsibility for their relational realities and family dramas. Keith uses pop culture and biblical references to argue for unconditional commitment and the wisdom of letting go of material attachments. 00:26:57 - 00:30:38 — Real-Life Implementation: Habits & Mindset Keith shares his journey of implementing a weekly date night despite enormous resistance and stress. He highlights how small shifts in prioritizing relationships over perpetual work lead to breakthroughs in happiness and abundance. 00:32:36 - 00:36:27 — Mindset Shift: Creating Your Reality A powerful segment on the physics of perception and energy; Keith summarizes how your mindset and beliefs actively shape marriage, business, and life outcomes. He urges listeners to shift from drama and suffering to active gratitude and peace. 00:36:28 - 00:40:02 — Handling Problems & Breaking Drama Cycles Keith challenges listeners to step up and handle problems with maturity. He narrates a recent business mishap that caused anxiety and how connection, presence, and solutions are the antidotes to suffering.   Key Takeaways Balancing Business and Home Life - Being self-employed, especially in a seasonal business like landscaping or window cleaning, blurs the lines between work and personal life, often leading to stress in relationships. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5, business owners frequently bring work home, resulting in continuous pressure and less quality time with loved ones. Impact on Relationships - Intense work periods can strain marriages or partnerships due to lack of attention, leading to feelings of neglect and frequent arguments. Communication and reassurance are critical; your partner wants to feel prioritized and secure, knowing that they come first even as you pursue business goals. Self-Work & Leadership Lasting change starts with inner work: healing past wounds, forgiving yourself and others, and evolving toward conscious leadership.  Leading yourself well is foundational before you can successfully lead a family, business, or community.   Connect with Keith Kalfas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resource Links Jobber CRM Free Trial:  getjobber.com/kalfas. Footbridge Media for Contractors: footbridgemedia.com/Keith Untrapped Alliance Application: keithkalfas.com/alliance   Written and Edited by: Ma. Teresa Catangay-Bardinas   

 Unlock the secrets to preventing self-sabotage and elevating your business with Keith Kalfas in this transformative episode. Dive deep into real-life stories, powerful mindset shifts, and actionable strategies for entrepreneurs, contractors, and small business owners. Keith Kalfas shares how everyday interactions—like an overlooked dirty coffee cup—can reveal hidden pitfalls in your own business operations.   Here's Why You Need to Listen: Learn why customer service burnout leads to sabotage, how to cultivate gratitude, and the critical importance of a supportive brotherhood for entrepreneurs. Plus, discover practical advice on solving problems, shifting perspectives, and avoiding envy-driven decisions. Perfect for those seeking to strengthen their business, leadership, and personal fulfillment!   "When you change the way you see things, the things you see literally change. So a wise man once said, "You can change how you see it. If you can't change it, change the way you see it." Right? Very important." - Keith Kalfas   Topics Covered: [00:00:08] The Hidden Danger of Business Sabotage: Keith Kalfas opens with a relatable story from a restaurant experience, drawing parallels to how small oversights can undermine any business. [00:01:21] The Burnout Trap: Learn why long-term stress and routine can lead business owners and employees to sabotage their own success—often without realizing it. [00:04:02] Personal Burnout Experience: Keith Kalfas shares his own struggles with burnout in the landscaping industry, opening up about how perspective and gratitude can transform your business journey. [00:06:52] Philosophical Wisdom vs. Practical Content: Why mindset shifts are just as vital as industry knowledge—and how combining both makes for a thriving business. [00:07:31] It's Not the Customer's Fault: An essential reminder about responsibility, customer service, and how to handle tough situations without letting personal stress impact clients. [00:10:08] Overcoming Goliath Problems: Powerful advice on seeing business challenges as growth opportunities, featuring insights from books like Man's Search for Meaning and Principles by Ray Dalio. [00:12:51] The Power of Brotherhood and Mentorship: Find out why building a supportive network is crucial to both personal and professional resilience. [00:14:01] Self-Sabotage in Business: Thought-provoking questions to help you reflect on ways you might unconsciously hinder your own success—and how to shift your mindset for the better. [00:15:32] Chasing Success vs. Finding Peace: Keith Kalfas shares hard-won lessons about the emptiness of chasing material success without inner fulfillment.   Key Takeaways   Avoid Sabotaging Your Business - Even small oversights, such as a dirty coffee cup, can damage your reputation and harm your business if left uncorrected. Combat Burnout Proactively - Long-term burnout can lead to self-sabotage. Recognize when you're feeling burnt out and take steps to rejuvenate. Value Brotherhood and Mentorship - Lean into support networks and give back. Surrounding yourself with wise peers and mentors keeps you grounded. Seek Inner Peace, Not Just Wealth - Material success is hollow without peace and true friendships. Cultivate a meaningful life beyond possessions.   Connect with Keith Kalfas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resource Links Jobber CRM Free Trial:  getjobber.com/kalfas. Footbridge Media for Contractors: footbridgemedia.com/Keith Untrapped Alliance Application: keithkalfas.com/alliance   Written and Edited by: Ma. Teresa Catangay-Bardinas     

In this episode of The Untrapped Podcast, Keith delivers a brutally freeing mindset shift for 2026: if you're stuck replaying a victim story—"this is unfair," "they mistreated me," "why me?"—you need to snap out of it fast by asking one question: Who cares? And the raw truth is… nobody does (and that's exactly why it's powerful). He shares a real moment at 3:30 AM cleaning up dog vomit and realizing no one is watching, no one is validating the struggle—so he cuts the negative emotion, drops the story, handles it, and moves on. Keith challenges you to stop whining, stop complaining, and stop dumping your problems on your partner, family, or social media—not because suffering isn't real, but because your energy is your responsibility, and your future success depends on how quickly you can become more conscious, more aware, and more constructive about what you carry and what you spread.     "If you're telling yourself a victim story, you need to get out of it immediately." – Keith Kalfas   In This Episode, You'll Learn: The one question that can snap you out of victim mode immediately Why "nobody cares" can be the most peaceful realization you'll ever have The difference between processing pain vs performing pain How victim stories quietly sabotage your success, relationships, and energy Why your emotional energy is your most valuable asset in 2026 How to stop being a "Debbie Downer" without suppressing your feelings A more constructive way to deal with suffering without dumping it on everyone     If you want to be more successful in 2026, you can't drag old emotional patterns into the new year. The episode challenges you to: ✅ Drop the stories ✅ Become more conscious ✅ Protect your energy ✅ Stop complaining as a lifestyle ✅ Bring better energy to your partner, family, and community Because your mood doesn't just affect you — it affects everyone around you.   Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP    

What does it actually take to build a multi-million-dollar service business, stay sane through recessions, and still love the work after 26 years? In this episode, Steve DHondt (PMS Brick Pavers) invites us into his shop, his mindset, and his faith-driven approach to leadership and growth. Steve runs a $6–7M outdoor living and hardscaping company with 60+ employees—and he's calling it now: a massive wave of home-service businesses won't survive past 2026 if they don't get lean, efficient, and intentional. We talk about debt, consolidation, leadership, equipment, family trade-offs, and how to believe in yourself when things get heavy and messy.   "I'm not rich — my business is. I get paid a salary like everyone else. Because when I don't choke my business with my personal lifestyle, it can keep growing, keep providing, and keep taking care of the people in it." – Steve Dhondt   In this episode, we cover: Why 35% of home-service businesses may not open in 2026 What smart debt vs pride debt looks like in real life Consolidating services so your team can actually win How AI + software automation keeps small shops competitive Leading through recession without panicking What "efficiency" really means in the field Missing dinners, guilt, family tension—and how to handle it Growing past the five-year itch when you're burned out Equipment strategy: buy cheap vs buy once and win on efficiency How Steve thinks about faith, fear, and confidence   Key Takeaways Efficiency Beats Ego: The nicest personal truck doesn't pay the bills. Revenue-producing assets do. In a tightening economy, upgrade equipment, systems, and software—not your image. If it doesn't increase safety, productivity, or profit, it's optional. Simplify or Get Burned Out: Stop offering every service under the sun. Consolidate, specialize, and systemize what you do every day. Random jobs create chaos, weak crews, and nonstop fires. Simplicity scales—complexity drains your life. People Are the Real Business: You don't just build patios—you build people. Invest in your team's tools, training, and lives outside of work. When employees feel supported and trusted (even allowed to fail), they take better care of customers than any owner ever could   Connect with Steve Dhondt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steveisalwaysright/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-dhondt-534b23166/ Website: https://www.weretheguys.com/about-us Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance  

In this episode, Keith welcomes Angel Ellis, a landscaper and small-business owner who transformed his life from hardship and incarceration into purpose, stability, and entrepreneurship. Angel shares his emotional turning point, how he rebuilt his identity, restored family relationships, and found the clarity to build a thriving landscaping company from scratch. The conversation explores practical business lessons—starting a service-based company legally, using local resources, transitioning from a job to full-time business ownership, staying aligned in marriage, and keeping priorities straight at home. Angel emphasizes discipline, personal responsibility, momentum, and the power of faith when overcoming fear, roadblocks, and uncertainty. This episode is perfect for entrepreneurs in landscaping, home services, or blue-collar trades who want motivation, resilience, business clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.   "Now we only work Monday through Thursday by choice to have the weekends, more time for the wifey for life, have more time for ministry, serve King Jesus, and it's just awesome." – Angel Ellis   Topics Covered: How Angel rebuilt his life and launched a landscaping business from scratch   Practical steps to legally start and structure a lawn-care or home-service company   Transitioning from a day job into full-time landscaping with momentum and confidence   Work–life balance in the lawn-care industry, prioritizing marriage, home, and well-being   Scaling a small landscaping or service business with integrity, discipline, and consistency   How mindset, resilience, and community support drive long-term growth in lawn care and entrepreneurship   Key Takeaways Business Starts With Simple Action: Don't overcomplicate the launch of a landscaping or home-service company. You don't need a perfect plan to begin — just the willingness to ask questions, call the city or county, follow the legal basics, and put boots on the ground. Momentum doesn't come from theory, it comes from motion. The moment you commit and start saying yes to real work, the business begins to open up faster than you imagined. Don't Stay Half In and Half Out: Holding onto a job while trying to grow a lawn-care business can keep you stuck at half speed. Once Angel finally released the safety net and went all-in on his company, the work surged and his confidence skyrocketed. Entrepreneurship rewards commitment — when you're no longer split between a paycheck and a purpose, you create the urgency, energy, and freedom that full-time ownership requires. Private Peace Fuels Public Growth: A thriving landscaping business isn't just built in the field — it's built at home. Alignment in marriage, healthy prioritization, and peace inside the household create sharper decision-making, clearer leadership, and the emotional bandwidth needed to grow. You never want public success and private collapse. A stable home is the competitive advantage most entrepreneurs overlook.   Connect with Angel Ellis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prokutzlawncareandlandscaping/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProKutzLawnCare Website: prokutz-lawncare.com Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance  

In this episode, Keith Kalfas breaks down the five essential elements every business owner must understand and master to grow a profitable landscaping or home-service business. Pulling insights from James Clear's Atomic Habits, business mentors like Bob Proctor and Brandon Vaughn, and his own decade-plus of entrepreneurial experience, Keith gives a clear roadmap to leveling up your business—starting with YOU.     "When you take yourself and your business absolutely serious, that's when your customers take you serious—like a tuning fork."– Keith Kalfas   Topics Covered: YOU – The Foundation of Your Business Your business can only be as strong as the person running it. Keith shares why prioritizing your health, mindset, sleep, schedule, and spiritual foundation is the first step to success. "Put the oxygen mask on yourself first." Your Market Understanding your market is essential—even if it feels saturated. Competition is a sign of demand. Show up consistently, take yourself seriously, and you'll rise into the top 10% faster than you think. Learn how value perception helps you charge more and serve better. Your Marketing Marketing is simply promising a specific result to the marketplace. From social media and door hangers to branding and CRM messages, Keith explains how to build a marketing engine that attracts customers nonstop. When you fall in love with marketing, you'll never run out of business. Your People Stop doing everything yourself. Keith breaks down the importance of building a team, leveraging technology, and eliminating exhausting "context switching." He also shares how tools like Jobber's AI receptionist can handle calls and admin work so you can focus on growth. Your Systems Systems are how you reach your goals—consistently and predictably. Keith explains the MAPS framework (Marketing, Administration, Production, Sales) and the difference between: Soft systems: communication methods, workflows Hard systems: equipment, tools, physical infrastructures Learn how systems thinking works, why it creates business synergy, and how even major companies like Coca-Cola run on these principles.     I ONLY do this once a year. Get 15 years of my systems, training, courses, and coaching for 93% OFF. 🔥 Get the Black Friday Bundle here: 👉 https://www.keithkalfas.com/blackfriday You'll get: Landscaping Business Startup Course High-Profit Landscaping Secrets Business Marketing Blueprint Business Money Blueprint Two weeks FREE inside the Untrapped Alliance private coaching group  And more…    This offer ends soon. Don't miss it.   Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP    

In this episode of The Untrapped Podcast, Keith drops a brutally honest look at the least talked about part of running a landscaping business: where the hell do you store your equipment when you're just starting out? From hiding trailers in random parking lots to begging for space at a factory, Keith opens up about the stress, fear, and shame that hits when you're hustling with no place to park your truck, trailer, or tools—and how that chaos bleeds into your confidence, marriage, and mindset. But the conversation goes way deeper than storage. Keith breaks down the psychological tug-of-war every new business owner faces: survival mode vs. vision mode. He shares real stories of towing threats, HOA fines, break-ins, and racing against storage-unit closing times… then contrasts that with the moments of inspiration, clarity, and big dreams that come only when the noise finally stops. You'll hear about maintaining perspective during 90-day sprints, avoiding burnout in the busy season, and why losing your "larger view" is what actually drags you into apathy and depression. This is Keith at his realest—no sugarcoating, no guru talk. Just the raw truth about anxiety, responsibility, growing up as a business owner, and refusing to stay trapped. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, ashamed, or one breakdown away from parking your trailer in a stranger's yard out of desperation… this episode is your reminder: you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you can build the stability and freedom you're fighting for.     "If you feel overwhelmed, that's not a sign to quit. It's a sign you're on the edge of leveling up." – Keith Kalfas   Topics Covered: The early grind of having nowhere to store your truck, trailer, or tools Towing scares, HOA drama, and hiding equipment just to stay afloat How constant anxiety leads to rushed, survival-mode decisions Working nonstop yet still feeling like you're falling behind Being broke forcing creativity, resilience, and uncomfortable growth Breaking out of "employee thinking" and stepping into an owner mindset Community tips and real-time advice from other contractors How different seasons shift your mindset—hustle mode vs. big-picture mode The burnout loop: long days, shrinking perspective, and creeping depression Why industry events and community support (like GIE) keep you sane and motivated   Key Takeaways Solve the "Parking Problem" EarlyYour sanity depends on stability. A reliable place to store your trailer and equipment isn't a luxury—it's foundational. Lock in a storage lot, co-op deal, client yard, or commercial space early so you're not living in constant fear of tows, fines, or break-ins. Survival Mode Isn't a Business Plan Shift from panic decisions to long-view leadership. When you're overwhelmed, every problem feels like a crisis. But long-term success comes from stepping out of reaction mode—planning seasons, protecting your mindset, and keeping perspective even when the grind gets ugly.per day. Bigger tickets + fewer trips = cleaner math and calmer schedule. Community Keeps You From Breaking Don't build alone—borrow strength from others. Events like GIE, industry groups, and fellow contractors give you clarity, solutions, and the reminder that you're not the only one fighting through chaos. The right community can shorten your learning curve and keep you moving when you'd otherwise burn out.   Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP    

In this episode of The Untrapped Podcast, Keith gets blunt about breaking plateaus in your landscaping business. Stuck doing the same $300 jobs and wondering why nothing changes? Keith shares how he raised prices, lost the wrong clients, and rebuilt around higher-ticket, white-glove packages—think bundling gutters, shrub trims, bed edging, windows, and lawn care into one profitable day. He digs into math-first pricing, route density, and incremental increases (small for existing clients, bigger for new) so your average ticket and net margin finally move. No victim mindset, no busywork trophies—just a hard "cross the Rubicon" moment: choose ownership, package value, market smarter in targeted neighborhoods, and aim for profit per day (not hours worked). If you're ready to stop playing small and start stacking real wins, this one's your wake-up call.     "When the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing — that's when you change." – Keith Kalfas   Topics Covered: The real definition of insanity in business Why raising prices feels scary (but necessary) The "higher-ticket jobs" breakthrough The power of packaged services Route density, travel time, and profit killers When staying the same becomes more painful than changing Victim mindset vs. ownership Why entertainment-driven content makes growth harder   Key Takeaways Raise Prices—Incrementally and IntentionallyBump existing clients in small steps, quote new clients higher. Confidence + consistency = better margins without a mass exodus. Chase Average Ticket, Not Hours Design your pricing around profit per day. Bigger tickets + fewer trips = cleaner math and calmer schedule. Tighten Your Route, Grow Your Wallet Route density kills dead time. Shorter drives, less fuel, more jobs done—that's real margin.   Connect with Keith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas   Resources and Websites:  Start Getting Leads Now https://www.footbridgemedia.com/keith The Untrapped Alliance: https://www.keithkalfas.com/alliance Resources You Need To Build A Successful Business https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources 🙋♂️Get My Free Landscaping Business Startup Video Series Here👇  Here https://www.keithkalfas.com/Landscaping-Series Landscaping Course https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/store/8bFERMcs LANDSCAPING BUSINESS  How to Guide: https://www.keithkalfas.com/16 Get Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs Get Ballard: https://www.ballard-inc.com/ Easy Budgeting Blueprint: keithkalfas.com/budget Smartphone Video Creation Guide: Keithkalfas.com/smartphone Identifying Your Superpower: Keithkalfas.com/superpower Become An influencer And Monetize Your Expertise: https://www.keithkalfas.com/influence Multiple Ways to Monetize: https://www.keithkalfas.com/multipleways LevelUp Your  Landscaping Business to $100K and beyond: https://www.keithkalfas.com/LEVELUP    

Unlock the secrets to building your landscaping business and personal brand in this inspiring episode! You will discover Keith Kalfas' proven strategies for overcoming self-doubt, mastering social media marketing, and creating engaging content—even if you're new to being on camera. Learn practical tips for leveraging tools like CRM software, effective video creation frameworks (such as Keith's POPP method), and the oscillation technique to grow your audience, attract more customers, and boost your confidence. Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your influence, this episode offers actionable advice on turning your passion into multiple streams of income and fostering genuine connections with your audience—all while staying true to yourself.   What You Will Discover:  Building a Business That Serves You: Keith opens up about his journey: his most profound passion isn't just landscaping, it's helping others break free from scarcity mindsets, overcome self-limiting beliefs, and launch their own businesses for financial independence. He reflects on how he's helped thousands start and grow landscaping businesses.   Social Media Secrets & The POPP Method: The episode dives into Keith's success with social media and how it became a secondary, gratifying business. He unveils the POPP Method ("Passion Over Pressure to Peacock"), which helped his videos reach tens of thousands—even millions—of viewers, regardless of background or resources.   Techniques to Boost Engagement: Listen in for practical advice on making dynamic and compelling videos, including Keith's "oscillation method" (mixing high and low energy), using your unique strengths, and reading the room so your content is engaging without going overboard.   Humanizing Your Brand: Keith explains the importance of showing your personality—even a little eccentricity—to make your brand memorable, build trust, and attract more customers. He gives examples of mixing humor or high energy with professionalism to connect with viewers on a real, human level.   "My truest passion isn't actually even running my own landscaping business. It's helping other people overcome self-limiting beliefs and blocks and get out of a poverty scarcity-stricken mindset so they can take charge of their lives and start their own business and be their own boss and become financially independent and grow their self-worth, right?"— Keith Kalfas   Episode Overview:  00:02:02 – 00:05:26 | Keith's Mission: Helping You Break Through Limiting Beliefs Keith gets personal about his journey, sharing that his passion isn't just about running his own landscaping business but about truly helping others overcome self-limiting beliefs. Having helped thousands start their own businesses, he's focused on guiding others to break free from poverty mindsets and achieve financial independence. He also addresses his own challenges with "imposter syndrome," explaining that true fulfillment for him comes from teaching, content creation, and empowering others through social media, rather than growing a massive landscaping empire himself. 00:05:26 – 00:07:29 | The POPP Method for Social Media Success  Keith invites you to consider building your own brand through platforms like YouTube or a podcast, tackling the everyday worries of oversaturation and lack of confidence on camera. Introducing the POPP method—Passion Over Pressure to Peacock—he emphasizes that anyone, regardless of their background, can generate impressive engagement. Keith explains how channeling genuine passion, rather than worrying about appearances or social status, leads to authentic content that resonates and gets results. 00:07:29 – 00:08:29 | Harnessing Energy and Audience Engagement Online  He discusses how using dynamic oscillation—shifting between high and low energy—can multiply your social media engagement. Keith provides examples from his personal journey, where applying these methods turned his ordinary videos into viral hits with millions of views. 00:08:57 – 00:10:48 | Real-Life Lessons: Confidence, Presence, and the Fine Line of Passion  Keith shares a story about winning a karaoke competition by being authentically passionate, even if not the most technically skilled. He reflects on the "thin line between genius and lunatic," describing how fully committing to your unique strengths and quirks can be your superpower if carefully balanced and kept in check through continual feedback. 00:11:14 – 00:14:54 | Embracing Uniqueness and Turning Up the Volume—Your Way  Using relatable anecdotes about singing, dancing, and employing eccentricity, Keith encourages listeners to discover their authentic selves and then dial up those unique qualities. He stresses not to imitate others but to focus on your own strengths, using them to create content that's true to you. Reading feedback and responding to it is key to finding the balance between engaging and over-the-top. 00:14:54 – 00:16:18 | Feedback, Confidence, and Layered Awareness  Keith explores the importance of building confidence in small increments by using feedback to refine your approach. He implores listeners to build self-awareness, adjust their energy, and act in ways that are appropriate to the content, setting, and audience—using oscillation to keep engagement high while maintaining professionalism. 00:17:37 – 00:21:19 | Authenticity, Humor, and Timing: Know When to Turn It Up  Through playful stories about vlogging at Walmart and suggesting humorous ad concepts to a team of financial advisors, Keith illustrates the value of time, place, and appropriateness in content creation. He reminds listeners that even professionals can show their human side with well-timed humor or enthusiasm, strengthening their brand identity. 00:21:19 – 00:22:26 | Free Guides and Defining Your Superpower in Content Creation  Keith transitions to announce his new free resources, including a "How to Create Social Media Videos with Your Smartphone" guide and a framework to help define your personal niche and uncover your "superpower." He encourages listeners to comment if they are interested in learning how to become an influencer, market their business, or monetize their personal brand online.   Key Takeaways   Build Multiple Income Streams - Leverage skills to create supplemental revenue sources, such as content creation and social media, for financial freedom. Accept Constructive Feedback - Use feedback from your audience to refine your content, style, and confidence—growing your influence over time. Lean Into Your Strengths - Identify and amplify your unique attributes rather than trying to imitate others to build a more powerful personal brand. Develop a Personal Brand Strategy - Define your niche, discover your superpower, and create content that resonates with your community and grows your influence.   Connect with Keith Kalfas: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/resources Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas     Resource Links Jobber CRM Software: https://getjobber.com/kalfas Footbridge Media: footbridgemedia.com/keith Untrapped Alliance Group: keithkalfas.com/alliance Social Media Video & Superpower Guides: keithkalfas.com/smartphone keithkalfas.com/superpower   Edited and Written by: Ma. Teresa Catangay-Bardinas