In this episode of The Craft & Calling Podcast, Christene Marie sits down with Seth Wixtrom, a tradesman turned business builder who grew up in construction, learned problem-solving on job sites, and now helps home service businesses leverage systems and automation to scale with integrity.

From swinging a hammer at age 11 to leading with GoHighLevel AI tools, Seth shares timeless lessons about:

• The character the trades build in us
• Why creativity thrives under constraints
• How to raise the next generation for resilience, not just success
• Why businesses fail at exit, and how to avoid being the system yourself

This conversation dives deep into balancing grit with growth, and why protecting your culture is just as important as protecting your bottom line.

0:00 Intro

1:24 Growing Up in the Trades

3:24 Self-Directed Education & Problem-Solving

8:24 Blending Blue Collar Grit with Entrepreneurial Freedom

16:10 Shaking Things up: Leaving a Job and Building Memories that Last

22:21 Viktor Frankl & Meaning through Experiences

25:04 The Rise of AI in Home Services: Balancing Automation with Connection

31:18 Customer Experience & Predictability in the Trades

35:25 GoHighLevel as “Salesforce for Small Business”

45:30 Building Processes for Legacy and Exit

48:00 Don’t be the System: Why Venture Capitalists Undervalue Family Businesses

50:16 Closing Remarks

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EGSbGY8Cb/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580176657539

The Craft & Calling Website: https://thecraftandcalling.com

🎧 Subscribe to The Craft & Calling Podcast so you don’t miss weekly conversations with trades leaders. ⭐️ Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other builders find the show. 💬 Share this episode with a fellow trades leader who cares about building what lasts.

📚 Books Recommended in this Episode:

• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Seth Wixtrom is a Digital Solutions Architect and founder of Excelsior Digital Consulting, where he helps small businesses grow by solving the tech challenges that hold them back. More than just a systems expert, Seth is deeply passionate about empowering business owners to focus on what they love: by creating seamless, scalable solutions that align with their vision. His work is grounded in empathy, clarity, and a genuine desire to help others make confident leaps forward.

GoHighLevel Automation Expert

Connect with Seth Wixtrom:

• 🌐 Website: https://www.excelsiordc.com
• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwixtrom

#CraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #LegacyBuilders #BuildWhatLasts #FromTheField #ConstructionLife #HomeServiceBusiness #EntrepreneurshipInTrades #LeadershipGrowth #FamilyBusiness

In this episode on The Craft & Calling, Christene Marie sits down with Gregg Boomer, who recently exited his decorative concrete coatings business after 11 years. Gregg shares how he built a thriving trades company around values, systems, and customer care that turned clients into raving fans.

From handwritten thank-you cards and custom gifts to building automated yet personal communication, Gregg explains how small touches created nearly 50% of business through referrals. He also discusses the importance of designing businesses that support your life - not the other way around - and how leaders can create systems that make exit possible.

Whether you’re just starting in the trades or scaling toward succession, Gregg’s story is full of practical wisdom and inspiring perspective.

• How Gregg turned customers into “raving fans” with small, personal touches
• The systems and CRMs that helped his business scale consistently
• Why referrals became his most powerful marketing tool
• The importance of designing a business that supports your life — not the other way around

0:00 Intro 1:20 Balancing Business with Raising Young Kids 3:30 Lessons from Athletics and Leadership Communication 7:30 Learning to Truly Care for People, Not just Customers 9:14 The “Raving Fans” Philosophy 10:46 Small Touches that Leave a Lasting Impact 13:10 CRM Systems and Automation 17:20 Referrals as the Strongest form of Marketing 23:45 Emotional Touches vs. Transactional Service 26:07 Systems, Scaling, and Preparing for Exit 29:41 Building Business Around your Values 31:04 Closing Remarks

🔗 JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY⚒️ :

• Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EGSbGY8Cb/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580176657539
• The Craft & Calling Website: https://thecraftandcalling.com

⭐If this episode resonated, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more trades leaders find the show. 🎧Subscribe to Craft & Calling for weekly conversations on building legacy in the trades. 💬Want to be part of the conversation? Join the Craft & Calling community for real-time strategies and support.

📚Books Recommended in this Episode:

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Good To Great by Jim Collins

Gregg Boomer is an entrepreneur and former owner of a successful decorative concrete coatings business, which he ran for over 11 years before exiting. Known for turning customers into “raving fans” through values-driven service, Gregg built his company around personalized touches, strong systems, and a deep commitment to relationships.

Today, Gregg and his wife continue to support business owners through new ventures, helping leaders design businesses that align with life and values.

📍 Connect with Gregg Boomer:

• Website: https://www.bestofthemidlands.com/home
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggboomer/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggboomer

#CraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #HomeServices #LegacyBuilding #Entrepreneurship #SystemsAndScaling #CustomerExperience #ReferralsMatter #LeadershipInTrades #BusinessThatLasts

In this first episode of The Craft & Calling Podcast, host Christene Marie shares the heart and vision behind The Craft & Calling: a community built for tradespeople, designed for legacy.

From her family’s 100-year-old painting business to her work with multi-million-dollar construction companies, Christene has seen firsthand what’s missing when owners go it alone, and what becomes possible when leaders share what works, build what lasts, and invest in their own growth.

This episode lays the foundation for everything ahead: why The Craft & Calling exists, what it means to balance your craft with your calling, and how we can co-create businesses and lives that endure for generations.

• The story behind The Craft & Calling and why legacy matters in the trades
• Lessons from a 100-year-old family painting business about culture, succession, and scaling
• How to balance your craft (skills, business, operations) with your calling (purpose, leadership, legacy)
• Why building a member-led community creates stronger, lasting businesses

0:00 Intro

0:49 Lessons from a 100-year Old Family Business

6:24 Legacy: The Craft & Calling Mission

10:06 The Bridge Between The Craft & Calling: Creation

14:18 The Masculine & Feminine within Business

16:03 Building a Member-Led Community

17:50 The Four C’s: Connection, Collaboration, Celebration, Contribution

26:40 The Goal: Create a Legacy

🔗 JOIN THE CRAFT & CALLING COMMUNITY⚒️ :

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EGSbGY8Cb/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580176657539

The Craft & Calling Website: https://thecraftandcalling.com

👉 Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. ⭐ Leave a review to help more trades leaders find the show. 💬 Share this episode with someone building their own legacy.

#CraftAndCalling #TradesLeadership #LegacyBuilders #BlueCollarStrong #TradesPodcast #BuildWhatLasts #FromTheField #ConstructionLeadership #EntrepreneurshipInTrades #CraftAndCallingPodcast