A Master Plumber's Honest Take on AI | The Future of the Trades w/ Eric Turner

Want us to handle your marketing? Book A Call: https://tradeopsconsultingco.com/grow... Want to be a guest on our podcast? Apply: https://tradeopsconsultingco.com/podc... Description: Eric Turner spent years as a certified educator in English and special education before year-to-year contracts and shaky job security pushed him to find something more durable. In this episode, he shares the full story of how he traded the classroom for the trades and built Turner Signature Plumbing in Atlanta from the ground up. We get into the messy, unglamorous early days: starting at $10 an hour in Columbus, Georgia, bouncing through landscaping, carpentry, and retail before plumbing finally clicked. Eric breaks down the real difference between a laborer, an apprentice, and a licensed plumber, and why becoming genuinely competent takes thousands of repetitions, not a quick certificate. If you've ever wondered whether a non-traditional background can actually translate into a skilled-trade career, his answer is honest and specific. This conversation is for anyone weighing a career change, curious about plumbing as a profession, or tired of hearing that the trades are a "fallback." Eric makes the case that skilled work demands intelligence, grit, and empathy, and that it can offer something office jobs often can't: independence and control over your future. Watch the full episode to hear how a teacher rebuilt his career one repetition at a time, and what he'd tell anyone standing at the same crossroads. If this resonates, subscribe for more honest conversations with people building real careers in the trades. Connect with Eric Turner / Turner Signature Plumbing: 🌐 Website: https://turnersignatureplumbing.com/ 📘 Facebook:   / turnersignatureplumbing   📸 Instagram:   / turner_signature_plumbing   Timestamp:- 0:00 - Intro 3:01 - Eric's journey from teacher to master plumber 5:41 - Why he chose plumbing (the "recession proof" search) 6:39 - Starting at $10 an hour 7:00 - Why sampling different trades pays off 11:44 - Wanting control over your own life 14:56 - The radio interview that changed everything 17:40 - The Lindy Effect 20:01 - How Eric actually uses AI in his business 25:04 - Why he won't let AI run the business 32:53 - The shower cartridge story (where AI failed) 35:42 - "Are you just in your feelings?" 39:44 - Why robots can't replace plumbers 46:19 - Eric's robotics background 51:31 - Why the trades are attractive again 59:18 - The trades aren't a fallback 1:03:23 - Advice for getting into the trades 1:06:03 - Why you need to get licensed 1:09:36 - Dispatching for dollars 1:13:58 - Building an "incubator" for plumbers 1:22:04 - The real cost of scaling a business 1:26:39 - "You're closing 100% — you're underpriced" 1:30:18 - Don't be allergic to money 1:40:52 - Why the middle ground kills businesses 1:51:41 - Charge until they gasp 1:55:05 - Subscription models 2:01:23 - Where to find Eric