This week marks number twenty six of the journey from twenty million to one billion, and the theme is simple. Let go so you can grow.

Justin shares why the past year forced a reset, how K and D navigated one point two to one point five million in lost profitability, and what it looked like to rebuild the leadership team from the inside out. You will hear the story behind new leaders joining the table, how culture was protected through major shifts, and why stepping back is now the most important move for long term scale.

Inside the episode • The biggest lesson of the week: you cannot chase perfection • Why embracing your team’s mistakes accelerates growth • How restructuring created space for real leadership to emerge • Introducing new leaders Brian Gates and Andy Howley and the impact they are already making • The full breakdown of the new eight person K and D leadership team • Why CEOs get stuck acting like COOs and how that stalls growth • The concept of taking back the CEO role and giving the keys back to the team • A powerful quote from Justin’s early days in construction and how it still guides him • The model behind sustainable happiness and why you get out what you put in • A challenge for you as we close the year: define what you desire in twenty twenty six

Justin closes with a message about self trust, living the life you actually want, and going all in on yourself and the people around you.

New week. New clarity. New momentum.

This week on Trades Talk, host Justin White sits down with Nick Bartolo of Essential Partners for a deep dive into wealth building, exit planning, and tax strategy for trades business owners. From Wall Street to the trades, Nick brings a rare combination of CPA expertise, institutional investment experience, and a passion for helping entrepreneurs protect and grow what they’ve built.

In this episode, Nick shares:

• How he went from global investing to advising trades entrepreneurs

• Why most owners misunderstand the “magic number” when selling a business

• How to calculate what really matters: after-tax, reinvested, and sustainable wealth

• The truth about equity rollovers, private equity structures, and risk exposure

• What buyers actually look for—and what they overlook

• Why building a valuable company starts long before you're ready to sell

• How to think like an investor while staying true to your business

• The difference between concentration and diversification at each stage of growth

Whether you're years away from a sale or just getting started on your path to wealth, this episode unpacks the financial playbook every trades leader should know

Welcome back to Weekly Update 25 on the Trades Talk Podcast. Justin shares a high energy breakdown of how he is preparing himself and K and D Landscaping for the year ahead. This episode gives you a front row seat into personal planning, financial readiness, technology adoption, and the mindset shifts needed to win in 2026.

Personal planning before strategic planning Justin explains why personal clarity must come before company planning. When leaders feel off balance in their own life, their teams feel it too.

Three personal planning focus areas for 2026 Justin walks through the three areas he focused on this week • Pre death planning and making sure your family is protected • A simple money system for 2026 • Building a digital calendar with non negotiables for the year

The technology leap at K and D Justin introduces a new role inside K and D: the Coordinator of Technology and Innovation. He explains why the company is going all in on tech and how this shift plays into the long term plan of becoming a technology company that happens to do landscaping.

Financial systems for long term wealth Justin shares the three part money framework he learned from mentor Matt Garrett • Spend less than you make • Hold three months of cash on hand • Invest the rest in simple, diversified tools like S and P index funds He also covers 401k matches, Roth IRAs, and the power of dollar cost averaging.

Event updates and travel schedule • Futurescapes USA in Los Angeles • Iritech irrigation mastermind • Leanscaper Revenue Intensive • Synked Live in New Orleans

The path forward into 2026 Justin previews the launch of the Disruptor Insider newsletter and upcoming guest episodes with leaders like Mark Pyrrah and Nick Bartolo.

• Personal clarity makes you a stronger leader • Technology adoption is becoming a competitive advantage • Simple money systems create long term stability • Planning 2026 begins with organizing your life, your calendar, and your financial structure • Your team performs better when you lead from confidence rather than chaos

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-white-%E2%98%85-35b7a210b/