January 7, 2026

A Challenge for 2026

For HVAC owners who are ready to lead, not just survive
2026 is here—and this year is asking something different of you.

  • Not more hours.
  • Not more stress.
  • Not more heroics.
It’s asking for clarity..
If you own an HVAC company, you already know how to work hard. The real question for 2026 is whether your business can work without you constantly pushing it forward.
So here’s the challenge.

The 2026 Owner Challenge

Answer these questions honestly—no filters, no excuses:

1. What breaks when you’re not there?

If you disappeared for 30 days, what would slow down, fall apart, or stop entirely?
Dispatch? Sales? Service quality? Leadership decisions?

Wherever the cracks show—that’s not a people problem. It’s a system problem.

2. Who actually owns the outcomes?

Do you have real leaders… or just good employees waiting on your approval?

In 2026, the strongest HVAC companies are built on:

  • Clear roles
  • Defined authority
  • Measurable accountability

If everything still funnels through you, growth will always feel heavy.

3. Are your numbers telling you the truth?

Most owners look at revenue. Smart owners look deeper.
This year, the challenge is to truly know:
  • Service-to-membership conversion
  • Average ticket by technician
  • Replacement close rate
  • Capacity and efficiency per truck

If you can’t see it, you can’t fix it.

3. Are you training until the wrong way disappears?

Training once isn’t training.
The challenge for 2026 is repetition:
  • Consistent ride-alongs
  • Weekly call reviews
  • Ongoing coaching—not “set it and forget it”
Great companies build improvement into the system.

2. Are you building a business—or a job?

Be honest with yourself.
If your income, sanity, or growth depends entirely on you:
  • You don’t own a business
  • The business owns you
Right now is the time to change that equation. You can make faster improvements with a part-time coach.

The Real Challenge

This isn’t about chasing more revenue.
It’s about building:
  • A company that runs predictably
  • A team that makes good decisions
  • A culture that doesn’t rely on fear or pressure
  • Margins that reward the risk you take as an owner
That takes intention.
That takes leadership.
That takes courage.

Your 2026 Commitment

So here’s the challenge—write this down:

This year, I will stop being the solution to every problem and start building systems that prevent them.

Do that, and everything changes:
  • Growth becomes calmer
  • Teams become stronger
  • The business becomes more valuable
If you accept the challenge, this year can be your turning point.

A Challenge Worth Taking

2026 doesn’t need another burned-out owner. It needs more HVAC leaders willing to build something that lasts.

Are you ready to lead differently?

Here’s to fewer fires, better margins, and a business you’re proud to own.


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Hello 2026!

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January 7, 2026