The Truth About Tattoos, Soft Skills, and Respect in the Trades with Josh Zolin Part 1

In this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie is joined by Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc), Founder of Blue Is The New White, and Director Board of Directors in CFESA, to talk about the power of soft skills in the trades. Josh explains why communication, body language, and first impressions matter more than appearance alone. The conversation explores how business owners can build strong team culture, coach technicians the right way, and create an environment where people feel useful and valued. Gary and Josh also discuss balancing compassion and honesty in leadership, giving clear feedback, and helping technicians stay motivated and connected to their work.

In this conversation, Josh talks about why soft skills are the difference between good and great in the HVAC industry. He explains how first words, body language, and attitude often matter more than clothing or appearance. Josh and Gary discuss the importance of challenging personal bias, giving honest but respectful feedback, and coaching technicians one-on-one. They also share insights on building a strong team culture, helping employees feel useful, and creating an environment where people stay motivated and grow as leaders.

Expect to Learn:

• Why soft skills like communication and body language matter more than appearance alone.

• How first impressions are shaped by words, tone, and micro mannerisms.

• What business owners can do to build a strong culture and unity within their team.

• How coaching, leading, and managing each play a different role in employee growth.

• Why balancing compassion and honesty helps technicians improve and stay motivated.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro to Josh Zolin in Part 1

[01:34] - Seven Years Later: Soft Skills Discussion

[03:00] - Dressing for the Job: First Impressions

[05:18] - Tattoos & Changing Workplace Norms

[07:27] - Judging Character Over Appearance

[11:17] - What "Soft Skills" Really Mean

[15:36] - Employee Rut: Passion vs. Employer

[19:02] - Coaching vs. Leading vs. Managing

[22:42] - Compassion vs. Candor Balance

[25:11] - Why "Candor is Kindness."

This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:

Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/

Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/

SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm
Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse!

Follow the Guest Josh Zolin on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshzolin/

Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc): https://www.linkedin.com/company/wcecommercial/

Blue Is The New White: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-is-the-new-white/

CFESA: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cfesa/

Website:

Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc): https://wcecommercial.com/

Blue Is The New White: https://www.blueisthenewwhite.com/

CFESA: https://cfesa.com/

To learn more about Josh Zolin, BITNW Academy, or his podcast "Everything They Don't Tell You", visit https://joshzolin.com/

Follow the Host:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/

Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/