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Episode Summary

In this powerful post-Thanksgiving episode, Roger gets real about the year that pushed every limit, slammed every boundary, and tested every ounce of grit. Between closing down 20 years of Boston business, rebuilding life and work in Tampa, surviving construction chaos, hurricanes, inspections, delays—and somehow still serving clients across two states—2025 wasn’t just challenging.
It was emotional CrossFit.

But this episode isn’t about struggle. It’s about support, teamwork, gratitude, and the people who kept the ship afloat when the storms hit hardest.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

🏚️ Closing Boston: More Than a Business Move

The emotional weight of packing two decades into a truck.
The memories, tears, scars, and lessons that didn’t fit neatly into boxes.

🌴 Tampa: The New Chapter That Didn’t Read the Manual

How building a life and business in Florida turned into full-contact construction therapy. Dust everywhere. Delays everywhere. Confusion everywhere.

💛 The People Who Became the Real Story

Ana – the quiet force, the anchor, the emotional ballast who held the home together while Roger held the ladders.
Lismar – celebrating 2 years of bringing order, clarity, and momentum to Shades In Place when everything else was chaos.
The Installers – the boots on the ground turning measurements into magic. Kevin, Mel, Ryan, Anthony, Doug, and the extended crew in both Boston and Tampa.
This was not the year of solo wins, it was the year of collective survival.

🧭 Why We Didn’t Sink This Year

Because of everyone rowing: partners, neighbors, clients, friends, and a couple angels disguised as contractors. The storms were loud… but the support was louder.

💡 The Lesson Roger Is Carrying Into Next Year

Courage is powerful, but courage alone is exhausting. This episode is a reminder that grit, yes but also gratitude, teamwork, community, and delegation are what carried Roger through the heaviest season of his life.

✨ Key Takeaway

“We didn’t make it because I’m tough. We made it because we are a team—
A very audacious, slightly chaotic, deeply committed team.”

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

SUMMARY:

If you’ve ever said the phrase “Nobody will ever do this better than me,” congratulations: you and I have something in common. We also share the same exhaustion, the same overflowing inboxes, and the same belief that sleep is a luxury for other people.

In this episode, I tell the story of the moment I finally swallowed my pride, loosened my grip, and learned one of the hardest lessons in business: letting go is not losing control, it’s gaining freedom.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

1. My old (and very stubborn) mindset

Why I resisted delegating like a toddler refusing vegetables.

2. How hiring help shocked me

Every task came back faster, cleaner, clearer — and with improvements I never imagined.

3. The transformation after two years

Because of Lismar, Shades In Place runs smoother, I can breathe again, and I even watch TV without guilt.
(Yes, that last part still surprises me.)

4. What happens the moment you let go

• Your business has more oxygen
• Your brain switches from “reacting” to “creating”
• New opportunities finally have space to show up

BIG TAKEAWAY:

Hiring help didn’t just improve my business — it improved me.
Letting go didn’t make me weaker. It made me a better leader, husband, creator, and business owner.

If you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or convinced you’re the only one who can do the job… this episode is your permission slip to rethink everything.

INSPIRING BLOG - The Day I Finally Learned to Let Go

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Roger shares how moving from Boston to Florida was meant to be a shift of pace, but ended up being the same hustle in a warmer climate. With the analogy of the snooze button, he reflects on how he brought his old patterns with him, and how the real change only happened when he allowed himself to slow down, tune into purpose, and stop being tied to “strings” (old habits, old expectations, automatic responses). Through work in the window-treatment business and life transitions, he unpacks what it really means to hit pause, wake up fully, and live intentionally.

What You’ll Hear:

• The moment he realizes the Florida dream had become “Boston’s hustle – just sunnier.”
• How watching his partner Ana’s morning ritual and the sacred ‘snooze’ made him rethink his own patterns.
• The metaphor of the snooze button: why delaying isn’t always laziness — sometimes it’s necessary preparation for being fully awake.
• The pivotal shift: saying “no” to projects that feel like old habits, letting go of strings that tethered him to the same cycles.
• The makeover of work and life: watching the sunrise through sheer shades, recognizing that not everything needs to be motorized (especially you).
• Application to entrepreneurship, leadership and life: how to stop working the same way and start living differently.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize the old pattern: A new location or title doesn’t automatically change the internal rhythms.
• Honor the snooze: Pause, reflect, recharge — you can’t skip to “awake” without the interim.
• Choose your strings: You’ll always have responsibilities, but you don’t have to be tethered to every one of them as if they define you.
• Design your tempo: Just like window treatments set the light and mood of a room, your habits set your rhythm of life.
• Be awake for your purpose: The final goal isn’t more hustle — it’s more alignment with why you began in the first place.

Resources & Links:

• Inspiring Blog: The Snooze Button of Life: Window Treatments & Florida Lessons

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

Not every room in your home needs the most expensive window treatments and that's not settling, that's smart investing. In this practical episode, Roger Magalhaes reveals how the same principles that guide lawn care decisions apply to choosing window coverings for guest bedrooms and low-traffic spaces.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ Budget-friendly window treatment options - When to invest premium and when to go practical
✅ Guest bedroom window covering ideas - Cost-effective solutions that still look great
✅ Smart home investment strategies - How to balance value, practicality, and aesthetics
✅ DIY vs professional installation - Which window treatments are worth doing yourself
✅ Window treatment ROI - Understanding where your money makes the biggest impact

Perfect for: Homeowners planning renovations, DIYers looking to save money, window treatment dealers educating clients, or anyone trying to balance budget and quality in home upgrades.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to make smart, strategic decisions about window treatments that maximize value without sacrificing style.

Key Takeaway:The most expensive option isn't always the best option. Smart investing means matching quality to usage and prioritizing where it matters most.

Related Resource:📖 Read more: Budget-Friendly Home Upgrades: Grass, Grit & Guest Bedrooms

Keywords: budget-friendly window treatments, guest bedroom window covering ideas, affordable blinds and shades, smart home investment strategies, DIY window treatment installation, window treatment ROI, cost-effective home upgrades

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

In 2006, a "simple" motorized shade installation nearly broke Roger Magalhaes. No YouTube tutorials. No tech support hotline. Just frustration, sweat, and a remote that refused to cooperate. Fast-forward to today: the same job took less than 25 minutes. What changed? Everything.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ Building resilience in business - How the hardest jobs shape your expertise and confidence
✅ Motorized shade installation tips - Lessons learned from decades of troubleshooting
✅ Overcoming business challenges - Why your toughest moments are actually your best teachers
✅ Window treatment training benefits - How investing in education transforms impossible into routine
✅ The growth mindset for installers - Why "you cannot break me" becomes your competitive advantage

Perfect for: Window treatment installers facing tough jobs, entrepreneurs dealing with failure, trade professionals building skills, or anyone who's ever wanted to quit when things got hard.

🎧 Listen now to hear how the jobs that almost break you are the ones that make you unbreakable.

Key Takeaway:The easy jobs make you money, but the hard ones make you unbreakable. Training, scars, and resilience turn frustration into expertise.

Related Resources:📖 Read the full story: You Cannot Break Me

📚 Recommended book: Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

Keywords: building resilience in business, motorized shade installation tips, overcoming business challenges, window treatment training, installer mindset, learning from failure, trade professional development

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

New house. New city. New fat bike. New beginning. Then two hurricanes hit Tampa in two weeks and parked all those dreams under tarps. In this raw episode, Roger Magalhaes shares what happens when life forces you to pause and why sometimes the gift you didn't ask for is exactly what you needed.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ Rebuilding after natural disasters - How hurricanes stripped everything down to what truly matters
✅ Tampa hurricane recovery stories - Real talk about starting over when Mother Nature crashes the party
✅ Dealing with business disruption - Staying focused when your plans get completely derailed
✅ Finding clarity through adversity - Why forced pauses can lead to stronger foundations
✅ Resilience during life transitions - Pedaling through life's storms with purpose and perspective

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs facing unexpected setbacks, Tampa residents recovering from hurricanes, anyone whose "fresh start" got disrupted, or people learning to rebuild with clarity instead of just speed.

🎧 Listen now to learn why sometimes you have to earn the ride—and why that makes it so much sweeter.

Key Takeaway: Life's hurricanes (literal or metaphorical) have a way of stripping everything down to what truly matters. Rebuilding with clarity and purpose beats rushing back to "normal" every time.

Related Resource: 📖 Read more: Fat Bike Meets Fat Biker: Tampa Hurricane Recovery

Keywords: Tampa hurricane recovery, rebuilding after natural disasters, business disruption recovery, dealing with unexpected setbacks, resilience during life transitions, starting over after disaster, hurricane recovery stories Florida

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

Stop underpricing your window treatment expertise and start attracting clients who value quality craftsmanship. In this game-changing episode, Roger Magalhaes reveals why the same bottle of water costs $1 at the supermarket and $5 at the airport. And what this pricing psychology means for your window covering business.

If you've ever struggled with price objections or felt frustrated by tire-kickers, this episode will transform how you position your services. Roger shares proven strategies for moving your business from the "discount aisle" to the "premium lounge" where clients appreciate your expertise and pay accordingly.

What You'll Discover:

• Why window treatment installers unintentionally limit their income by anchoring prices too low
• The psychology of perceived value and how location affects pricing power
• Practical steps to reposition your brand and attract high-value clients
• How to communicate your expertise as a premium experience, not just a product
• Real-world examples of strategic pricing shifts that increased profitability

Perfect for: Window treatment installers, custom blind dealers, interior designers, and home improvement professionals ready to elevate their pricing strategy and attract quality clients who value craftsmanship over cheap quotes.

Your expertise is a Ferrari. It's time to price it like one.

Keywords: window treatment pricing, custom blinds business strategy, window covering installer tips, premium pricing strategy, interior design business, motorized shades pricing, window treatment sales, home improvement pricing psychology, custom window treatments, professional installer business growth

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...

Send Us Your Questions & Feedback!

From "Crazy Train" to calm sanctuary...discover how rock legend Ozzy Osbourne's music reveals profound truths about window treatments and the spaces we create. In this unexpected and deeply personal episode, window treatment veteran Roger Magalhaes connects the power of heavy metal anthems to the transformative impact of motorized shades and blackout window treatments.

This isn't your typical window covering podcast. Roger explores how music, memory, and home design intersect to create spaces that reflect who we are. Whether you're a homeowner seeking the perfect blackout solution or a window treatment professional looking for fresh inspiration, this episode delivers powerful insights wrapped in unforgettable storytelling.

What You'll Learn:

• How motorized blackout shades create the ultimate sleep sanctuary
• The connection between personal identity and home design choices
• Why "Shot in the Dark" is the perfect metaphor for room-darkening window treatments
• Practical benefits of automated window coverings for modern living
• How to help clients understand the emotional value of quality window treatments

Perfect for: Homeowners researching blackout shades, window treatment professionals, interior designers, music lovers, and anyone who believes your home should reflect your personality: loud, proud, and unapologetically you.

Because if Ozzy taught us anything, it's that the most profound lessons come from the loudest places.

Learn more: https://www.shadesinplace.com/ozzy-osbourne-shades-home-memories/

Keywords: motorized blackout shades, automated window treatments, blackout blinds for bedrooms, smart home window coverings, room darkening shades, motorized roller shades, window treatment installation, custom blackout solutions, home automation shades, sleep sanctuary design, Ozzy Osbourne, window covering podcast

🎙️ No Strings Attached - by Roger Magalhães

A bold podcast weaving window wisdom, entrepreneurial grit, and the immigrant hustle—with no strings attached.

🎧 This episode is brought to you by BlindsOnline.com

Looking for window treatments without the overwhelm? BlindsOnline.com makes it simple and affordable to shop for blinds, shades and shutters from the comfort of your home. With over 60 years of combined industry expertise behind the scenes, you get curated selections, honest advice, and no-nonsense pricing — because buying blinds shouldn’t be complicated.

👉 Visit BlindsOnline.com and make window shopping easy again.

🔗 Explore More:

👉 Shades In Place Inc. – Custom Window Treatments: www.shadesinplace.com
👉 Trading Up Consulting – Industry Training & Mentorship: www.tradingupconsulting.com
👉 Podcast Page: www.shadesinplace.com/podcast
👉 Trading Up Academy: Learn To Install Window Treatments

👉 We Dress Naked Windows Blog
...