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Episode 90 Taking a Break


Sometimes in life things happen that we have no control over. We have to take a break to meet the issue head on. Many times this means making the hard choices so that we can have a victory and come out stronger. If we just put our heads in the sand and ignore the facts than you may risk losing everything you have worked for.  In this weeks podcast I address some hard issues that many don’t want to talk about. Join me as I discuss Facing the Facts and Still Keep Surging Forward.

Enjoy and have a great week

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

  ________________.Subscribe on Android

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Episode 89 Seize The Opportunity


Seize the Opportunity

The opportunities are there you just need to seize them.  You can be successful in the trades based on the right choices you make.  You have to make choices of what you want to do to become successful.  Becoming successful is not always about money.  It is about being able to provide a great living for your family.  Success is about making a difference.  It is about being a leader. 

Leadership is not about power.  Often people in leadership think they deserve respect, but respect is earned.  Respect does not come automatically with a title.  As a leader you are there to make others look good.  You are there to bring others up.  Leadership is about servant-hood.

Seize the Opportunity ideas for those of you that want to go to the next level:

  • The Surging Forward website offers training to keep your license current and prep classes so that you can take your Master’s test.
  • The free Surging Forward App on Google Play offers over 60 hours of training and can readily be shared with friends.
  • Most companies offer training and some even offer mentor-ship programs. Check with your company and see what they offer.
  • A new program that is being launched by Paul Abernathy with the Electrical Code Academy. Paul has created a program for a Certified Master Electrical Code Professional (CMECP).  This certification will provide a formal process to be able to evaluate and identify individuals that have met a recognized standard. 
  • Kent Crook from KC Rhino that was interviewed on Episode 87 You Can Start Your Own Business.
  • Raj Guendoo just released his new book “Finding Home: A Journey of Overcoming Fear and Adversity to Finding Purpose.
  • John Maxwell – Motivational Leadership Speaker.

Many feel that leadership is unobtainable.  They feel that they cannot become a leader because they are not known.  Leaders are not born leaders.  They have to work hard.  Don’t just sit around waiting for an opportunity to come along.  Keep preparing yourself so that when an opportunity comes you are ready to seize it. 

Think about what it is that you want to do.  Figure out what it is going to take to get to that next level and then Seize the Opportunity so that You can Keep Surging Forward.

Here are some of the links to the sites I talk about in this Episode:

Electrical Code Academy

Certified Master Electrical Code Professional

KC Rhino

Raj Guendoo

John Maxwell

Enjoy and have a great week

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

  ________________.Subscribe on Android

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Episode 88 Priorties


Priorities

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  Ecclesiastes  3

In order for us to be successful we need to set-up priorities in our life.  During my time as an Instructor I have seen many students that go on to be very successful in the trades and others that seem to self-destruct. 

Why is this?

It seems that we live in a time when people have their priorities mixed up.  They do not realize the consequences of their decisions.   There is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s.  The song was sung by the Byrds and is titled Turn Turn Turn.  This song was taken from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.

Here are a few of the lines from the song:

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

What both the song and the Bible verse are saying is there are times for all these things.  Quality time and having fun is fine, but we do not live in a fantasy video game world. If your priorities in life are only about doing the fun things then you will not have a successful life.  It is important for us to understand our priorities.  If you spend your time only doing fun things like playing video games, watching TV or hanging around drinking beer then you will not be successful.  In the same way if you work all the time, you will have all the money you need and nice things, but you are never home with your family. You have no real life, so again you will not be successful. 

If you want to be successful then you need to find a balance.  You cannot just work all the time and you cannot just have fun all the time.  Life flies by so quickly so you have to have your priorities established. 

Necessities Are a Priority

There are the necessities of life that need to be taken care of like putting food on your table, and making sure you and your family have shelter. These are necessities and these are a priority.

Good Friends and Family are a Priority

Good friends and family are worth the effort even though you may not always agree on everything.  It is a priority to keep you and your family safe. Even if you do not have a family, you need to take care of yourself as well as those around you.

Some people seem to want to live in a world of “what is in it for me” thus losing sight of how they can be of service to others. They want others to do everything for them.  This concept is so flawed because you become dependent on having other people do things for you.  You should be the one doing for others.  By only taking care of your own self and the pleasures of life you miss out on the real meaning of having good friends and family.

A Good Reputation is a Priority

When you are doing for others and working hard companies take notice.  Companies know who their good workers are.  Even if they don’t acknowledge your hard work, other workers around you notice and will want to work with you because of your reputation.

Making Good Choices is a Priority

Your priorities in life should be doing and making choices that are right for your life.  Other people are going to make choices that affect your life.  You can’t react to their choices. Sometimes you need to take a minute and think about how you should proceed.  If you proceed the wrong way you could end up in jail.  You may end up making a decision you regret if you made your decision based solely on emotion.  Before making your decision think about your priorities and what is best for your life.

People want to avoid all struggles, but life happens and it is the struggles that make us stronger.  Each struggle helps us to get stronger to face the next struggle.  You can’t stick your head in the sand and hope that things go away, but you do not have to go through the struggles alone. 

If you hang around the right group of people you will not have to go it alone and if your friends are not there then maybe it is time to get a new set of friends.  Look at your friends see if they are bringing you up or bringing down.  Do they have the same priorities in life as you do or are their priorities counteractive to what you are trying to do? There is always someone for you to reach out to that will help you before you react and make a wrong decision like quitting your job.

What are your priorities? 

If you do not like the place where you work, or the circumstance that you are in and you feel like you are going nowhere; get some input from 4-5 people you respect. Think about where you want to go. 

What are your priorities?  Figure out what skills you will need to take you to the next level.  There are courses out there on line check out Surging Forward.com or I can advise you of other web sites that are out there.

Figure out what is best for your success.  My success is not your success.  Your success is your success. 

Your Surging Forward is your Surging Forward and it is different from another person’s.

Enjoy and have a great week

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

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Episode 87 You Can Do It


You Can Start Your Own Business

If you are thinking of starting a business or you already are in business for yourself then this is a must listen podcast.  During this podcast I share a great interview with Kent Crook from KC Rhino.  Kent is an expert marketer and can show you how you can start or take your business to the next level.  Even if you don’t have a desire right now to start your own business, I think once you listen to this episode you will want to have the freedom to be able to make it on your own.  I look forward to your comments. 

Find out more about Kent at his Website www.KCrhino.com

Stay Safe and Keep Surging Forward

Enjoy and have a great week

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

  ________________.Subscribe on Android

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Episode 86 You Can Succeed in Business


Starting Your Own Business

Welcome to this week’s episode of the Surging Forward podcast.

This week’s episode is a rebroadcast of Episode Number 36 where I spoke with Mike Gesick from my Three Sons HVAC.  His website is  http://www.mts757.com/.  Mike talks about how to start your own business. 

If you haven’t had a chance to listen to  Episode Number 36 or just listen to it again because it is a prelude to next week’s podcast.  You will not want to miss next week episode because I will be talking with a very successful businessman that can help you to go to that next level.  Make sure you subscribe today so you don’t miss a single episode.

Enjoy and have a great week

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

  ________________.Subscribe on Android

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What is Your Why Episode 85


What is Your Why?

(What does this even mean?)

Being successful in the trades require skills.  It requires that you learn the physics involved in how things work and what is going on. But before even attempting to learn these skills you need to understand “your why”.   Most people never really stop to think about their “why”.   This is the reason that many people are not Surging Forward in their life.  They just go about living day to day going where the wind blows.  These people have no goals. 

They never sat down and took the time to ask:

Why am I here?

What do I like to do?

Why do I want to do other things?

What is important to me?

What am I good at doing?

Knowing “your why” will help keep you on the right track throughout your life. 
Understanding “your why” will help you define your goals and help you understand your purpose in life.

You determine what your why is by thinking about the questions above.

Here are examples of some “Your Whys”, but these are just to get you thinking:

Wanting to fix and repair AC units, to help people’s lives be more comfortable.

Wanting to be an electrician to provide power for others.

Aiming to be able to provide safe running water for others.

Desiring to serve others.

Being the best at something you enjoy doing, such as building things.

Creating graphics and cool pictures that can help a company succeed.

Being a good father or mother and setting an example for your children to be able to succeed in life.

“Your why” is “Your” why

“Your why” is “Your” why.  It is not the dream of someone else or their passion. You have to narrow down “your why” in order to be able to set the goals to help you achieve the success that you want. Success is different for all of us.  We often get caught in the Hollywood idea that it is about making big money.  But that is not what it is about.  Success is based on “your why”.  Define “Your” why and that will help you to achieve your success. 

Success does not happen by accident, with the exception of the rare cases of an inheritance that you did not know about.  But even then, if you don’t have a why and you receive a lot of money you will more than likely just waste it.

Life is not like the video games or the movies where we can just live life haphazardly and hope for the best, then die and get another chance.  In games we can keep playing over and over until we get it right.  In real life there is no do over or rewind.  If you make a bad choice it can stick with you forever.  A bad choice when you are young may hinder you, but it does not mean you can’t become successful.  It just may place limitations and cause you to rethink “your why”.  That is why we need to be very conscious of the people that we hang around with.  If you hang around negative people all the time, then you are going to become one of them and that becomes your why.

The choice of “your why” is decided by:  what you are good at, what you enjoy, or just by what you want to do.  It is a choice only you can make. 

That is why “your why” is “Your” why

Take advantage of the resources around you that can help you with “your why”. Hopefully by listening to this podcast it can help you to simply take a moment to stop and think about “your why”.

We have all been created with special skills.  But we often allow other people to define who we are and what they think is best for us to do.  By honing in on our special skills it will enable us to stand out from the crowd instead of just being a number. 

By knowing “your why” it will help you to focus on what needs to be done to achieve success.

When you start, “your why” can be small but then it builds over time.  Be flexible, over time “your whys” can change so that you can Keep Surging Forward.

Start today.  What is “Your” Why?

Once you have determined this; then you can start taking steps to achieving your goal.

If you would like to set up a coaching session contact me at dave@surgingforward.com

 

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

  ________________.Subscribe on Android

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Don’t Wait to be Trained Episode 84


Pursuing Your Dream or Just Following the Crowd

Many people are pursuing someone else’s dream.  They have not even thought about their own dream and don’t have anyone to talk to or guide them.  These people just jump into going to college because that is what everyone is doing and may even be expected of them.  They go to college without even having any idea of what they want to study and are told just to start taking courses and they can decide along the way.  But many are finding this even more confusing and overwhelming with all the career choices.  Many times these people then get out of college and cannot find a good paying job in their field of study.  But they have racked up all this debt because of their student loans that are now coming due.

Not All Trades Schools Are the Same

There are also some people that attend trade schools that charge very steep tuition, but only give students the book work and not the hands on skills needed for the trades.  Working in the trades takes skill that need to be developed.  You have to be able to work out in the field and produce.  Apprenticeship programs are great because you get both the book knowledge and also the on-the-job training to develop hands on skills.

Ron’s Email

I received an email from someone I will call “Ron”.  He wrote to me in hopes that he could save someone some time and money because this is exactly the route that he followed.

Here is a summary of what Ron wrote:

Ron wrote that he felt he got tricked into the whole “go to college” scam.  He went to college without really having any idea of what direction he wanted to go. He graduated with a degree in Personal Training.  Ron started working as a personal trainer and after about 8 months, he received a letter in the mail wanting him to begin paying off the $95,000 school loan.  Ron at this time was 23 years old, married and his wife also had school loans.  Instead of thinking about buying a house and starting a family, they had to work on paying off these student loans.  Both of them were working hard, but did not seem like they were getting anywhere.

Ron’s father-in-law had a small HVAC shop and Ron started working for him.  Ron really did even know what HVAC was, but he was willing to learn and had good work ethics.  At first Ron felt like a failure because he was not working at a job of his degree he thought that manual labor was more for unskilled workers. Ron fell into depression.  Until one day he decided that he was going to make HVAC his career.  He saw that he was able to do things that others could not.  He decided to make HVAC his passion.  Ron stated watching YouTube Videos and listening to podcasts.  He started to gain technical skill and knowledge.  Ron is now only months away from taking the Master’s Test for HVAC. 

Pursue the Training That is Best For You

People often look down on workers in the trades, but college is not for everyone.  The average age of a tradesman is now 56 years old so there is a great need for skilled tradesman.  Many workers are retiring and their knowledge and skills will be lost.  There are many opportunities out there and college is only one option.  Don’t get caught up in the hype of what others are doing. 

Verify, confirm and pursue the training that is best for you so that you can keep Surging Forward.

 

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

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Three Steps to Success Episode 82


Being alert may not only save you on the job site, but it may also change your whole career path.  Join us this week as we discuss Three Steps to Success.

One of the things of utmost importance on the job site is safety.  Those boring safety talks every week, where you are almost falling asleep, begin to take on new importance after you have been on job site for a while because you see stuff happen.  These three steps that I will be discussing will not only help you be safe on the job, but they can also help you be successful in your career.

Three Steps to Success:

 #1 – Being Alert

Being alert on a job site is critical.  There are many moving parts on a large and even a small construction site.  One must always be alert on the site as things can change.  Things can tip over or fall down.  These things happen without warning.   You will have to react quickly in order to be able to avoid possible serious injury.  You also need an understanding of your surroundings and know what to watch out for. 

This same point also applies in life.  One must always be alert and aware of the surroundings in one’s own life.  Being in tune to the things that others may be saying in regards to opportunities.  Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time to hear that someone may be looking for a person with your skills.  If you are not listening, you may miss a once in a life time opportunity or dream job just because you were not alert.  Or by being alert you may see the writing on the wall and realize that it may be time for you to move on because things are not going well at your company.  Again if you are not alert it may have serious consequences.

#2 Understanding the Risks

Each day before you step out on the construction site or work area, take a minute and think about the risk that are out there.  Understanding the risks that are involved with your work will help you be able to avoid many of the accidents that catch others by total surprise.  If you don’t understand the risks, how do you know what could possibly go wrong; a drill can slip, a wall can fall etc.

Understanding the risks in your daily life will help you in making a lot of those hard decisions when you come to that fork in the road.  One road may seem easier, but may lead to tough times.  The other may have tough times at the beginning, but then lead to success.  Which one do you take?  Start by listing the risks and seeing whether they are worth taking or not.  

Money is not always the answer.  A job may offer a lot of money, but it takes you away from your family.  Security is not always the answer either.  Sometimes staying at a job gives a false sense of security and can keep you in bondage. Make a list of the risks and take it to someone you know that has more wisdom than you. Don’t ever feel like you have to do it alone.  Sometimes you are too emotionally connected to understand or even see the risks.

#3 Have an Escape Plan

Throughout the day as you travel on the roads to work or as you are walking around the job site always try to have an escape plan.  You are ultimately the one that is responsible for your own safety.  Always be looking around in case something happens and you want to have a plan of how to move out of the way.  Try not get boxed in so you have room to react quickly to save yourself from injury.  If you don’t have a plan and something happens, you will go into panic mode and may even run into the danger.  Things can change in the blink of an eye.  If you have a plan you do not have to think, you just react and this could save your life.

This is also true in life, as you never know what may happen.  You may think that you are being called into the office to get a raise, but you are being laid off.  Think about having a backup plan because life is not perfect.   You cannot rely on others to take care of you and you cannot rely on a job either; you need to make decisions for yourself.  In the trades you have skills maybe you can start you own business.  Or maybe you have a hobby that you enjoy doing and you can start making money doing it.  Create your own escape plan because all of us are different and all of our escape plans will be different.

These three steps will help you be a success at your job site and in your career.  They will help you to Keep Surging Forward.

 

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

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Learning to Succeed Episode 81


This week’s episode is an encouraging word for those that want to succeed in the trades or their careers.  Last week was labeled as “Honoring Women in Construction Week “.  I did an interview with Ashley Rayburn, a young woman in her 4th year of the Electrical Apprenticeship program.  It was an honor for me  that she was able to take a few minutes to share her ideas of how to succeed in the trades.  I hope that this interview will show how you can work to achieve your goals. 

Education is something that we should never stop doing.  Just because you go to college and get a diploma does not mean that you have arrived; and just because you have not gone to college does not mean you cannot be successful.  Receiving a good education is not about just going to college, as you will hear during this interview with Ashley.  Most of all you will be surprised at the actual cost of her education. So enjoy this week’s episode: Number 81 “Learning to Succeed”.

If you want to get a Tradesman license in your state, renew your Tradesman license ,or even take a course on how to pass the Tradesman license or Contractors license in your state than go to www.surgingforward.com to find out more info.  If you do not see what you need, drop us an email on the contacts page of on Facebook.

We are here to help you to keep Surging Forward

Until next week keep Surging Forward.

If you enjoy this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You Tube page where you can watch the actual podcast; visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like us on facebook click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

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Contractor and Tradesman Courses to help you Get and Retain your Tradesman License; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

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Episode 80 Proud to be in the Trades


Join us this week as we discuss being proud of the skills you have because they allow you to do things that others can’t.

The Trades are Very Important

Throughout history a person would seek out a master in a trade like blacksmithing, stone masonry etc.  and ask to be an apprentice.  As an apprentice the person would learn the skill so that they could provide for their family.  Today we have schools for learning our trades, but the concept is the same.

It is the tradesman that keep our cities intact. Tradesman are very important to enjoying the lifestyle that we have.  If it weren’t for tradesman we would be without the electricity to power our computers.  When you flush a toilet where does all of that water go?  Can you imagine life without plumbers?  How about the AC or heat in our homes?  Or the very building of our homes themselves.  It is important to remember that there is someone behind the scenes making all the stuff that we take for granted work.  These are the skilled tradesman.  A skilled tradesman can take something that was nothing and create something that will benefit so many. 

Being a Tradesman is a Hard Job

Tradesman work is not easy.  There are people who try to work in the trades, but are not able.  Tradesman need to work in all types of extreme weather and conditions.  They need to have an understanding of math and physics. There is also a great deal of skilled involved and mechanical ability.  Every state has their own requirements for becoming a tradesman either Journeyman or Master.  These requirements vary but include hours in the field, hours of training, years of apprenticeship, and tests to receive your license.  We have courses here on the Surging Forward website to help you with these requirements.

Being Proud of Your Skills

So many people think that working in the trades is a degrading job.  But it is not.  It takes great skill to build things with your hands.  The trades are something where age is no barrier.  A person can enter the trades right out of high school or as a change in career later down the road.  You can make a good living working in the trades.  Companies are looking for hard workers that show up on time and do some over-time when asked.  In the trades you can move up the ranks or without going to college many tradesman branch out and start their own businesses. 

Don’t listen to the negativity of some saying that you are a failure because you are working out in the field.  Realize that you are a success because you are making a difference.  Take the skills you have and never stop learning more; in this way you and your family will KEEP SURGING FORWARD.

Let’s start something new – Let’s thank a Tradesman today.

Until next week keep Surging Forward.

If you enjoy this podcast please feel free to leave a comment below, share with a friend and also visit or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SurgingForward/

We also have a You tube page where you can watch the actual podcast visit us at https://www.youtube.com/user/surgingforward

Looking to network and get personal training visit us and like on face book click here

Connect with me on Linkedin

Follow us on twitter click here

Follow us on Instagram.

Contractor and Tradesman courses to Help you Get and retain your Tradesman license; visit our website at www.surgingforward.com

  ________________.Subscribe on Android