Managing the leadership challenges that come with being a CEO can be surprisingly lonely.

In this solo episode, John Wilson reflects on the last decade of leading Wilson Companies from a team of seven employees to more than 220. He shares the lessons that only come with experience, including imposter syndrome, difficult decisions, the weight of responsibility, and why leadership often feels different than people expect.

If you're leading a growing company or stepping into a leadership role, this episode offers an honest look at what it really takes to grow as a CEO.

In this episode:

• Why you never really feel ready to be a CEO
• How leadership challenges change as your business grows
• The hidden cost of difficult decisions
• Why success often feels different than expected
• How to avoid becoming the bottleneck
• Why your business can only grow as fast as you do

Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnWilsonOAO

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More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter
• Owned and Operated

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

Google search is changing. AI is changing how homeowners find contractors. And the marketing strategies that worked just two years ago aren't enough anymore.

In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Service Scalers CEO Sam Preston to break down what's actually working in HVAC marketing in 2026. From AI search and Google Business Profile optimization to Meta, Reddit, Yelp, and content marketing, they discuss where home service companies should be investing and where they're wasting money.

They also dive into rising lead costs, why many HVAC companies are struggling this year, and the marketing playbook operators should follow to stay ahead as search continues to evolve.

Whether you're trying to generate more calls today or prepare your business for the next wave of AI-driven search, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can implement immediately.

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In This Episode:

• Why Google and AI search are changing home service marketing
• The biggest marketing opportunities heading into 2026
• Why Google Business Profile is still the highest ROI channel
• How AI is reshaping SEO and content strategy
• Why Meta and social content are becoming more valuable than ever
• The growing importance of Yelp, Reddit, and other high-authority platforms
• The marketing metrics every contractor should track weekly
• The biggest mistakes HVAC companies are making today
• How to prepare your business for the future of AI-powered search

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🔗 CONNECT

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John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/
Sam Preston → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampreston/ (update if needed)
Owned and Operated → https://www.ownedandoperated.com

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💰 SPONSORS

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Comfort Connect

Turn one installation into years of repeat business with Comfort Connect. Give homeowners flexible payment options, stay connected after the job, and create new recurring revenue opportunities. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4wGXqSX

Yelp

Looking for more qualified leads beyond Google? See how contractors are using Yelp to reach homeowners who are ready to book and diversify their lead generation. Learn more: https://business.yelp.com/campaign/ownedandoperated/

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter
• Owned and Operated

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.

If We Had to Start Over, We'd Do This Instead

If John Wilson and Jack Carr lost everything tomorrow, how would they rebuild?

In this episode of Owned and Operated, they tackle one of the biggest questions every entrepreneur eventually asks: would you buy a business, build one from scratch, or take a completely different path?

John argues that acquiring a small home service business is still the fastest way to create wealth, while Jack makes the case for starting lean with a service business that requires little capital and can scale quickly. Along the way, they break down the lessons that took years to learn, the mistakes they'd avoid, and the exact playbook they'd use to grow much faster the second time around.

In This Episode:

• Buy vs. build: which strategy wins today?
• The home service businesses they'd start from scratch
• Why marketing and sales matter more than fulfillment early on
• How seller financing changes the economics of growth
• The fastest path to generating cash flow
• Branding mistakes they'd never make again

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🔗 CONNECT
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John Wilson → https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbwilson1/
Jack Carr → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-carr-home-service/

Breaking $5 Workshop → https://www.ownedandoperated.com/upcoming-events/oao-workshop-breaking-5-million

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💰 SPONSORS
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Service Scalers

Get more high quality leads with marketing built for home service companies. Book a free strategy call with Service Scalers and see what's driving real jobs: https://os.servicescalers.com/go/oao_podcast/referral/podcast

Quick Staffers

Hire trained HVAC and plumbing CSRs without the overhead of traditional hiring. Save $500 on your first placement with Quick Staffers: https://www.quickstaffers.com/

Send Us Mail!

More Ways To Connect with O&O

• John's YouTube Channel
• Weekly Newsletter
• Owned and Operated

Leave a Review

John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

📌 Disclaimer: Some links may include UTM parameters or affiliate relationships, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. Episodes may feature sponsors, but all opinions expressed are our own.