Healing the Hustle: A Guide to Confronting Burnout in the Trades

Burnout in the trades is often a silent killer, a slow decay that catches business owners off guard after years of relentless grinding. Nate Agentis , VP of Plumbing at BDR , joins the show to share his raw, personal journey through the pressures of inheriting a family plumbing business, navigating a tragic stage four cancer diagnosis in his family, and facing a mental health breaking point during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nate discusses the danger of tying your entire identity to business growth and introduces the “balance wheel” exercise to help contractors audit their personal lives. From the importance of finding a neutral third-party counselor to the power of small daily habits, Nate provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs to build a lasting legacy without sacrificing their health, family, or sanity. Join us as we discuss: [2:49] Why the grind mentality ultimately leads to burnout and regret [13:09] How bringing in a corporate outsider helped Nate 3X his family business [21:59] Leaning on others to help alleviate the pressures of business ownership [29:07] Why a healthy work culture starts with a healthy owner Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Get Shit Done! by Nate Agentis You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here . Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.