Show Information

Episode Number: 95

Date: July 7, 2025

Duration: 43:45

Host Contact Information

Host: Justin Deese

Website: JustinDeese.com

Contact: Justin@JustinDeese.com

Guest Contact Information

Guest: Stephanie Postell

Company: Anchor Heating & Air

Website: https://anchorheatingandair.com

TikTok: @anchorheatingandairLLC

Facebook: Anchor Heating and Air LLC

Personal Contact: spostell@anchorheatingandair.com

Summary

In this inspiring episode of the Freedom Blueprint podcast, host Justin Deese sits down with Stephanie Postell, co-founder of Anchor Heating & Air in Charleston, SC. From being fired days before Christmas to building a multi-million-dollar HVAC business, Stephanie and her husband David’s journey is a story of faith, perseverance, and unapologetic community-driven growth.

Stephanie Postell shares how personal branding, authentic leadership, and creative social media strategy helped them build a $9M business in under four years—all while keeping their values front and center. Learn how their focus on culture, community, and connection helped them recruit top talent, grow a loyal customer base, and inspire others in the home services industry.

Takeaways

• Origin Story: How losing a job (twice) became the catalyst for starting Anchor Heating & Air.
• Building a Brand on Trust: Stephanie’s unique take on why authenticity beats paid ads every time.
• Community Marketing: Creative, low-cost ways to build loyalty and generate leads.
• Social media for Recruiting: How TikTok and Facebook have become hiring tools—not just ad platforms.
• Culture that Converts: What makes Anchor a place top techs want to work—and stay.
• Faith & Resilience: The deeper purpose behind their business and the role of faith in their journey.
• Freedom in Business: What it really means to work on your business, not just in it.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

Justin introduces Stephanie Postell, co-founder of Anchor Heating & Air, and sets the stage for a high-impact conversation.

01:00 – Launching Anchor Heating & Air

Stephanie shares how she and David were unexpectedly fired and used that turning point to build their own HVAC company.

04:30 – Starting a Business… Two Weeks Before COVID

From honeymoon to hustle—how Anchor’s early days were shaped by a pandemic and unexpected adversity.

06:00 – Scaling Fast: From $2K to $9M in Under 4 Years

The key moves and mindset shifts that helped Anchor Heating & Air grow rapidly and profitably.

11:00 – Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Why community engagement beats paid ads—and the real ROI behind birthday cakes, PTA meetings, and local sponsorships.

16:30 – Rejecting Google PPC & Outmarketing with Authenticity

Stephanie breaks down why Anchor has spent less than $7K on Google ads—and doesn’t regret it.

20:00 – TikTok for Recruiting? Yes, Really.

How a creative approach to social media became Anchor’s secret weapon for hiring top techs.

27:00 – Social Branding = Culture Amplified

Showing the human side of the business through fun, authentic content—and how it drives team loyalty and...

Show Information

Episode Number: 94

Date: June 30, 2025

Duration: 41:14

Host Contact Information

Host: Justin Deese

Website: JustinDeese.com

Contact: Justin@JustinDeese.com

Guest Co-Host Contact Information

Guest Co-Host : Kristen Deese

Company: Virtual CFO

Guest Co-Host Website: www.KristenDeese.com

Guest Co-Host Email: Kristen@KristenDeese.com

Sow The Land: https://www.youtube.com/c/SowtheLand

Summary

In this episode, Justin and Kristen Deese reflect on their first experience raising 50 meat chickens on their property—and the surprising number of business lessons that came with it. From the importance of planning and systems to knowing when to ask for help, they share insights that every home service business owner can relate to. Whether or not you care about chickens, you'll walk away with practical, grounded strategies for building a better business—one stage at a time.

Takeaways

• Start with the end in mind. Like raising chickens, business success requires a clear outcome and a roadmap to get there.
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• Systems must evolve. What works in the early stages won’t scale—know when to upgrade.
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• Research matters—but execution matters more. Get educated, but don’t wait forever to act.
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• Ask for help. Hiring coaches or experts can shortcut costly trial and error.
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• Measure what matters. The results—just like chicken weights—are worth tracking.
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• Don’t let emotion block tough decisions. Business leaders must learn to separate care from sentimentality.
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• Many hands make light work. Delegation and teamwork dramatically increase efficiency.
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Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Chicken Episode

02:00 – Why We Started Homesteading

07:15 – Choosing Meat Chickens: A Short-Term Farm Project

13:30 – Business Begins with Research and a Plan

18:45 – Phase One: The Brooder Stage

24:10 – First Losses and Learning from Mistakes

27:30 – Upgrading Systems as the Business (and Birds) Grow

34:00 – The Power of Routine and Team Buy-In

38:15 – Processing Day: Planning for the Final Step

45:00 – Coaching, Courses, and Outsourcing in Business

53:45 – Emotions vs. Leadership: Making Hard Decisions

59:10 – The Final Product: ROI on 275 Pounds of Chicken

66:00 – Lessons Learned and What We’d Do Differently

72:00 – Applying the Chicken Process to Business Growth

Keywords

#BusinessSystems #LeadershipLessons #HomeServiceSuccess #EntrepreneurMindset #FarmToFreezer #SmallBusinessGrowth #OutsourceWisely #TeamEfficiency #EmotionalDiscipline #ChickensAndBusiness #FreedomBlueprint #JustinDeese #KristenDeese #HomesteadingBusiness #BusinessPlanning #KnowYourWhy

Show Information

Episode Number: 93

Date: July 23, 2025

Duration: 27:29

Host Contact Information

Host: Justin Deese

Website: JustinDeese.com

Contact: Justin@JustinDeese.com

Guest Contact Information

Guest: Chris Gist

Company: Paradise Home Services

Guest Website: www.ParadiseHomeServices.com

Guest Email: Chris.Gist@ParadiseHomeServices.com

Summary

In this episode of the Freedom Blueprint Podcast, host Justin Deese and his business partner Chris Gist discuss their journey in entrepreneurship, touching on personal insights, the importance of freedom, leadership lessons, and the significance of creating a positive company culture. They also delve into their experiences in the HVAC industry and share valuable wisdom on maintaining happiness within a growing business.

Takeaways

• Why they value fun as a core business principle
• What freedom really looks like after a business sale
• How brisket, breakfast, and team culture helped build loyalty
• The role of HVAC in their growth (and why variable speed systems are game changers)
• The importance of creating a business that supports happiness, not just profitability

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Freedom Blueprint Podcast

03:01 Rapid Fire Questions with Chris

05:08 Defining Freedom as a Business Owner

08:15 Lessons from Selling to Private Equity

10:32 Creating a Positive Company Culture

19:04 Navigating Seasonal Business Trends

23:50 Final Thoughts on Culture and Happiness

Keywords

#FreedomBlueprintPodcast #HomeServiceBusiness #HVACBusiness #PlumbingBusiness #PrivateEquityExit #BusinessGrowth #CompanyCulture #LeadershipLessons #Entrepreneurship #BusinessFreedom #HVACMarketing #ChrisGist #JustinDeese #ChrisGist#ServiceBusinessSuccess #BuildToSell #FunAtWork