The Lighting Trade School Podcast

Your follow-up game is costing you money. You send the proposal, they go quiet, and you label it “ghosted.” Half the time they never even saw it. The other half needed a nudge, a walkthrough, or a real conversation.In this episode I break down a simple truth: fall in love with the answer. Yes or no. Get maybes out of your head. I share what happened this week on my own follow-ups, why in-person proposals still out-close everything, and how I use Loom videos for high-end clients without hiding behind email. We cover calling while you send the estimate, confirming delivery, walking the price in context, and why a real phone call beats ten texts when it comes to objections and clarity.If you want more closes, stop pretending they ghosted you. Pick up the phone, shake the hand, and get the answer.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim. Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/

Too many guys are hiding behind their screens, sending quotes, and wondering why their phones aren’t ringing.It’s October, the start of fourth quarter, and this is our Super Bowl season. Whether you do Christmas, soffit, or landscape lighting, this is when every homeowner in America is thinking about lighting their home. And if you’re sitting in your office sending Jobber links or PDFs instead of shaking hands, you’re missing the point.In this episode, I talk about why meeting clients in person still beats any virtual system, why your reputation matters more than your reviews, and why acting like you’re too busy is costing you real money.If you’re not fully booked yet, this is your wake-up call. Get your ass out of the chair, go meet people, show them who you are, and stop pretending to be someone you’re not. The people who are meant to hire you are waiting for you to show up.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/

Most guys blend in without even realizing it. They wear the same polos, talk the same way, post the same stock photos, and wonder why nobody remembers their name.In this episode, I’m talking about being original, not in a gimmicky way, but in a way that’s you. I share how I built the Captain Matt brand from a single pair of socks, a Tommy Bahama shirt, and a story that made people stop and pay attention.You’ll hear how I went from The Christmas Guys to Barefoot Lighting to Captain Matt Outdoors, and how everything finally clicked when I stopped trying to be “professional” and started being real.If your brand feels flat, if your marketing sounds like everyone else’s, or if you’re hiding behind a logo that doesn’t match who you are, this one’s going to hit home.Find your “socks.” Lead with who you are. Make damn sure people remember it.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/

The mindset killing your creativity and your jobs is simple: designing like a technician instead of a designer. Too many guys hold back, skip the peak, avoid the island, and limit the portrait because they’re already worried about ladders, sidewalks, or wire runs. That thinking kills creativity and costs you work.I break down why you need to switch hats and collect all the photos and site info during the walkthrough, then shut off the tech brain and go full designer. Sell the illumination portrait first. Figure out the install after you’ve been paid to do it. That’s how you push boundaries, close more work, and give clients the projects they deserve.If you want to separate yourself from the “side hustlers” and the cookie-cutter lighting guys, this is the shift you need to make. Stop wasting time planning wire runs for jobs you haven’t even closed. Start thinking like a true designer, pitching the portrait your client deserves, and then let the install brain kick in once the deal is signed. That’s how you get better projects, happier clients, and a business that actually grows.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/

Too many guys wait until September to think about Christmas and then wonder why their goals crash. I call out the September scramble and lay out the systems that make Christmas lighting profitable: planning in takedown season, scripts that collect full client data (name, email, phone, address) before qualifying, a real CRM with next-interaction dates, multi-channel lead flow (yard signs, GMB, IG, referrals), and how to turn “no for now” into installs and upsells. I also hit rental vs. sell expectations, lookbooks that plant ideas (rooflines, ridge lines, branch wraps, wreaths, spritzers), and why arguing in Facebook groups won’t book you jobs, calling the damn leads will. If you want $100K–$1M seasons, this is the blueprint.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/

Everyone wants the big Christmas lighting payday. Few build the machine that earns it.In this episode, Captain Matt breaks down the “Impossible Game” framework:Reasonable goals (if everything stays the same)Radical goals (stretch targets that make you uncomfortable)Impossible goals (so big they force you to become a new operator)We walk through the real math of trying to pocket $150K when you only did ~$50K last year. Storage, hiring, scheduling, checklists, scripts, client experience… every piece that either makes you or breaks you.If you want more profit with less chaos, this is your playbook. Build the SOPs. Automate what you can. Hire to your weaknesses. And stop letting employees “run your business” by default because nothing is written down.Chapters: 00:00 – Big goals vs big reality 02:05 – The Impossible Game: Reasonable, Radical, Impossible 06:40 – $50K revenue → $150K profit (math and gaps) 11:15 – Storage, crews, and hidden costs 15:10 – Why inconsistency kills referrals 18:20 – Process = checklist, not a vibe 23:10 – My Christmas SOP flow 28:45 – Automations that save your time and voice 31:30 – Hiring: start with what you hate most 35:05 – Pre-qualifying correctly 39:00 – Runner math and windshield time 42:10 – Week-one action plan 45:00 – Wrap-upStop setting goals you can’t hit. Build the system that makes them real.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/

What happens when the guy who’s been window cleaning since he was 10 finally says, “I’m done smelling like a pool guy”?Meet Toby Blair, co-owner of Absolutely Clean Services and the founder of Ox Lighting Concepts in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this episode of Captain’s Quarters First Class, Captain Matt sits down with Toby to talk about what it really takes to start over, pivot industries, and launch a lighting business when you're already running a seven-figure company.From growing up in a family service business to managing crews, cleaning windows, breaking his foot, and launching a lighting brand that’s ready to transform Michigan homes, Toby holds nothing back.You’ll hear:The gritty backstory of Absolutely Clean Services (flyers, rollerblades, minivans, and all)Why Toby’s stepping out of soft washing and into smart soffit lighting and landscape designHow breaking his foot gave him clarity (and more hustle)His plan to hit $200K with Ox Lighting Concepts before ChristmasThe power of mentorship, humility, and hard-earned leadership lessonsWhether you're already full-time in lighting or just dreaming of breaking free this one’s for you.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/

From pushing mowers and dodging debt to building a 7-figure hardscape brand, Chris and Rich Vazzana, aka The Patio Bros, did what most won’t.In this raw episode of Captain’s Quarters First Class, we dive deep into how these twin brothers:Started with 19 lawn accounts and no clue about numbersHit rock bottom and almost quit (more than once)Systemized their business to scale out of the fieldBuilt a 2,500 sq ft showroom, a loyal team, and a local brand that actually growsPlus, they drop serious game on hiring, social media, and why systems, not skill, are the real difference between a hustler and a business owner.Whether you’re a landscaper, lighting pro, or service business owner grinding your way up...this one hits deep.💥 Follow them on Instagram: @thepatiobros 🎓 Join their free Process to Profits school: Link in their bioLights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/🔥 Two brothers. One shovel. Seven figures. They didn’t side hustle. They committed. Are you still playing part-time?

Today we kick off the first-ever guest interview on Captain’s Quarters First Class, and I couldn’t think of a better person to launch this with than my friend and fellow lighting savage Shane “Glow Daddy” Duffy.Shane’s not just another entrepreneur. He’s a guy who:Started with vending machines in schools.Built Glass Geeks into a seven-figure window cleaning empire.Transformed GloGeeks into one of the fastest-growing lighting brands in America.In this episode, we dig into: ✅ How he clawed out of a $90,000 tax disaster. ✅ Why imperfect action beats perfect planning. ✅ The unfiltered truth about licensing, scaling, and staying scrappy. ✅ What he’d do if he had to start all over with only $500 and a Home Depot gift card.If you’ve ever thought you can’t build something big because you’re broke, busy, or scared—listen to Shane’s story. You’ll rethink what’s possible.👉 Learn more about GloGeeks: https://glogeeksgang.comReady to join Captain’s Crew?🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures: https://lifetimelightingsystems.comLights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.

Captain Matt is coming in hot with one simple truth: the words you use shape your client's perception—and your paycheck.If you're still saying "pots" instead of "urns," "pergola" instead of "pool cabana," or calling it "landscape lighting" instead of an "illumination portrait"... you're leaving money—and authority—on the table.In this episode:Why verbiage is value in the lighting gameHow to rewire your mindset to match your ideal client’sWhy DIY mindset = broke contractor energyWhat to read, watch, and listen to so you stop sounding like a rookieHow Captain Matt used Nate Mullen’s book and walkthroughs to reprogram his sales languageWhy clients can afford you—but they won’t believe it if you don’tReal-world story of a mentee who didn’t believe people would pay...until he looked in the mirrorThis one is for the lighting assassins who are ready to stop selling parts—and start selling transformations. Your words matter. Your confidence matters more. Study. Elevate. Speak like someone worth $40K lighting contracts.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/

Captain Matt sold lights at $240 a fixture...and still walked away with over $1,000 in profit on a single job. This episode isn't about bragging—it's about breaking the industry's worst habit: pricing by fixture and comparing your rates like you're swinging for ego points.Inside this raw breakdown:Why per-fixture pricing is killing your businessHow to calculate your daily operating number (the real number that matters)Why small fixture counts don’t scale—and how to quote smarterWhen $275 a fixture is a win…and when it’s a train wreckA real job breakdown that made $1,300+ in net profit at $240 per fixtureWhy guys charging $400/fixture are still going brokeWe’re not here to play the average game. This episode is a callout—and a blueprint—to stop flying blind and start pricing for profit, not for pride.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/

Still sending line-item quotes in Jobber or Joist? You’re losing deals you should be closing—because you’re not building value.In this episode of Captain’s Quarters First Class, Captain Matt breaks down his evolved proposal process that closes more jobs, faster, often without stepping foot on the property.Inside this masterclass in client experience and sales psychology: 💥 Why “just sending the price” kills trust and kills the sale 💥 How to create proposals that pre-frame, educate, and close 💥 A breakdown of what to include in every line item (and why it matters) 💥 How Captain Matt stacks value with video walk-throughs of every quote 💥 Why this works especially well for color changing soffit lights and remote salesWhether you're slinging permanent lighting or pitching high-end landscape design, this episode teaches you how to stop being a contractor—and start closing like a pro.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/

Most lighting guys are addicted to the chase—new leads, new clients, new installs. But what if the real money is sitting untouched in your own CRM?In this episode of Captain’s Quarters First Class, Captain Matt breaks down one of the most overlooked strategies in any outdoor lighting business: re-engaging the people who told you "no."Learn how he uses the “No for Now” mindset to pull in five- and six-figures from clients who once ghosted him… and why your ignored leads list might be your most valuable asset.We cover: ⚡️ Why “No” isn’t the end—it’s just a delay ⚡️ How Matt’s email and text reactivation campaigns close $12K+ in a week ⚡️ Real scripts, systems, and follow-up psychology that create conversions ⚡️ The difference between a true “Do Not Contact” and a “Not Yet” ⚡️ Why your follow-up failures are costing you a fortune.Whether you’re a Christmas light installer, a landscape lighting designer, or building your empire with Gemstone Lights, this episode will show you how to unlock the money you already paid for.Stop hunting. Start harvesting.Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.Ready to join Captain’s Crew? 🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/ 🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/ 🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite American-made fixtures at: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/

If you're calling your crew ‘1099’ but treating them like employees… you're playing with fire.In this episode, Captain Matt tackles one of the most misunderstood (and most dangerous) topics in the lighting industry: the difference between true 1099 subcontractors and W-2 employees.If you’ve ever:Paid a guy under the table and called it a “1099”Let someone clock in at 8 a.m. and drive your truck using your toolsSkipped workers' comp to save a few bucksTold yourself, “I’ll fix it later…”…this episode could save your business from an audit, a lawsuit, or worse.Inside:The exact difference between a true subcontractor and a misclassified employee.Why insurance, worker’s comp, and payroll tracking aren’t optional as you scale.How to set up clock-in systems and tax structures that actually protect you.The audit nightmare Matt went through so you don’t have to.How to budget the costs into every job and run a real business, not just a side hustle.This episode isn’t legal advice. It’s battle-tested owner advice from a guy who’s grown crews across Christmas, landscape, and soffit lighting and has seen how fast things can go wrong when you’re not protected.If you're still operating in the gray...this is your line in the sand.

Captain Matt is back with a raw, unfiltered look at what it really takes to start, and restart, in this business. This episode dives deep into what it looked like when he launched The Christmas Guys in 2009 with nothing but printer paper, mailbox flags, and relentless grit. No ad budget. No training programs. Just hustle.But this one goes beyond the glory stories... It’s about being wrong and why that’s a necessary part of your growth. Whether you're pivoting from power washing, letting go of a lawn care brand, or just afraid to admit the first move didn’t go as planned, Matt breaks down how quitting one thing to build the next doesn’t make you a failure, it makes you free.You’ll hear stories about:Why his first target market (nursing homes) was a complete bustHow he turned 3 clients into 9 using flyers and guerrilla tacticsThe expensive lessons from Groupon deals and failed TV commercialsWhy ego keeps too many guys stuck in businesses they hateAnd the hard truth: If nobody knows what you do, nobody can hire or refer youThis one’s for the underdog. The guys staring at a pivot but afraid to pull the trigger. The one who knows they were meant for more, but can’t shake the fear of looking like a failure.If you're ready to start, and keep going even when it hurts... this episode is for you.

Every legacy has a beginning.This is mine.Long before The Lighting Trade School.Before the podcast.Before the coaching.Before the mentoring.Before the installs that made millionaires and billionaires say “damn.”There was a broke dad in upstate New York hanging lights to buy his kid Christmas presents.In this premiere episode of Captain’s Quarters First Class, I take you back - back to the hot cocoa clients, the winter hustle, and the hard lessons that forced me to evolve from seasonal side-hustler to full-time lighting artist.You’ll hear:The real reason I had to go beyond Christmas lights.What it really felt like jumping into landscape lighting blind.How a stranger named Nate Mullen changed the trajectory of my career.And the mindset shift that changed my business, and life forever.This podcast is the continuation of something bigger…A mission to raise the standard in business and life. To train the next generation. Hit play and step into first class.This isn’t just a podcast.This is a call to build something real…To be the guy who stays when others tap out.To be the name people remember because you chose to master your craft when others played it safe.If you're ready to stop dabbling and start dominating...Welcome to Captain’s Quarters First Class.

Captain Matt and Shane “Glo Daddy” Duffy kick off the Christmas season with a deep dive into what really separates the pros from the pretenders in the holiday lighting game.From warehouse management and crew training to creating an experience clients will never forget, this episode pulls back the curtain on 30+ combined years of Christmas lighting success and burnout lessons learned the hard way.They cover:Why October is the most profitable month of the year (and how to prepare for it)The myth of competing on price and why $4/ft companies never lastHow to create a “Christmas magic” experience your clients will pay more forWhy your house better look like you own the companyWarehouse systems that cut crew prep time in halfHiring a warehouse manager and eliminating chaos during hell weekThe secret weapon: music, candy canes, and emotional sellingWhy most Christmas lighting companies burn out after 2–3 yearsHow to use Christmas installs to plant seeds for landscape lighting jobsThis episode isn’t just about Christmas lights it’s about scaling a seasonal empire without losing your sanity or your soul. Whether you run a lighting company, lead a team, or just want to learn how to sell the experience, this is your blueprint to dominate Q4.Ready to Start or Grow Your Landscape Lighting Business?🔹 Learn design, sales, and installation at: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/🔹 Buy elite fixtures from: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/🔹 Join The Illuminati Lounge Club — $47/mo weekly group calls with the 3 Lighting Amigos: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/illuminati-lounge-club🔹 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2196456184072265🔹 Apply for 1-on-1 mentoring with Captain Matt: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/captains-crew🔹 Start your own lighting biz as a GloGeek: https://glogeeksgang.com/🔥 50 lighting assassins. That’s it. The elite rise, everyone else is background noise. You can chase jobs…or become the one others chase. Which are you?

We’re rolling into Dallas to kick off a Guinness World Record–level Festival of Lights build and we’re talking habits: the small, repeatable actions that quietly compound into monster wins.Inside this episode:Always Be Learning (for real): how to build a documented library of lighting details (good/bad day & night photos), ask better questions, and avoid “parrot” advice.Stairs & landings done right: glare traps, elevation changes, placement pitfalls… and why catalogs often mislead you.The Notebook Rule: why we all carry physical notebooks, how “permission to forget” boosts focus, and how to turn notes into SOPs that scale.Morning routines that matter: stretch, move,and think before inboxes and fires. Use your best brain hours to push the business forward.Time discipline: pre-qualify hard, stop wasting hours, measure your week by face-to-face selling moments.ABN - Always Be Networking: take meetings, study other industries’ presentations, and steal follow-up tactics that work.Money habits: keep overhead viciously low then reinvest in skills that separate you.February Advanced Training: limited seats, application required. This is not basics. It’s for doers who demo, learn, and implement.Plus, a quick sponsor shout: Lifetime Lighting’s TITAN (MR11 drop-in) is here hardscape-ready with a full mount family. It’s a weapon for tight spaces and precision work.Want a full deep-dive on stairs/landings, glare control, and detail libraries? Drop a comment and we’ll dedicate an episode.Ready to Start or Grow Your Landscape Lighting Business?🔹 Learn design, sales, and installation at: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite fixtures from: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/ 🔹 Join The Illuminati Lounge Club — $47/mo weekly group calls with the 3 Lighting Amigos: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/illuminati-lounge-club 🔹 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2196456184072265 🔹 Apply for 1-on-1 mentoring with Captain Matt: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/captains-crew 🔹 Start your own lighting biz as a GloGeek: https://glogeeksgang.com/ 🔥 50 lighting assassins. That’s it. The elite rise, everyone else is background noise. You can chase jobs…or become the one others chase. Which are you?

In today’s episode, we break down how we secured a multi–six-figure municipal bistro/festival lighting project, 15,000 feet of cross-street lines over Main Street, and why passion, preparation, and your crew beat “just raise your prices” every single time.Inside you’ll hear:The 100-hour prep that made city officials say yes (presentation strategy, pre-qual questions, binders, and what we’d streamline next time).Passion vs. laziness: why two hours for a night demo is non-negotiable if you want $20K–$40K jobs.Building a brain trust: how we leaned on each other (and the Illuminati Lounge) to pressure-test the plan and sharpen the pitch.Crossing over Christmas clients into landscape lighting the right way (low-hanging fruit → high-margin installs).Value > price: creating separation so competitors justify your higher number for you.Advanced Training (February 2026): who it’s for, who it’s not for, and why there’s an application. If you’re not willing to learn, demo, and implement sit this one out.This is a winners-only conversation: demos after dark, proposals that actually sell, designs that make homeowners and city councils lean forward, and a mindset that takes you from “installer” to lighting assassin. If you want us to go deeper on landing large municipal/downtown projects, drop a comment and we’ll carve out a full episode.Ready to Start or Grow Your Landscape Lighting Business?🔹 Learn design, sales, and installation at: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/ 🔹 Buy elite fixtures from: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/ 🔹 Join The Illuminati Lounge Club — $47/mo weekly group calls with the 3 Lighting Amigos: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/illuminati-lounge-club 🔹 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2196456184072265 🔹 Apply for 1-on-1 mentoring with Captain Matt: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/captains-crew 🔹 Start your own lighting biz as a GloGeek: https://glogeeksgang.com/ 🔥 50 lighting assassins. That’s it. The elite rise, everyone else is background noise. You can chase jobs…or become the one others chase. Which are you?

Contractors keep hearing the whisper: “24V DC burns down houses.” In this episode, we rip that rumor out by the roots. Captain Matt, Shane “Glow Daddy” Duffy, and Nate “The Illuminator” Mullen go deep on the real electrical science, why DC at 24V is safer and more efficient for LEDs, and how a past competitor literally weaponized a fake “white paper” until Nate took them to court, and won. We also unveil TITAN, Lifetime Lighting’s mini-creator workhorse designed to replace a drawer full of niche fixtures (stake mount, subterranean, downlight, soffit, tree hang… it does it all). If you design, sell, or install outdoor lighting, this one gives you ammo for every objection and a smarter way to spec your systems.What you’ll learn:The 24V DC vs 12V AC reality: code limits, efficiency, heat, and why LEDs hate dirty power.Safety that actually matters: fuses vs thermal breakers, overcurrent protection, surge immunity, and preventing wire melt in the real world.VA isn’t watts: how volt-amps shorten life, and wreck your math if you ignore them.Nate’s multi-tap origin story: exposing the bad voltage-drop math that shaped an entire industry.The TITAN reveal: American-made, modular, MR-compatible, and engineered to replace 10+ task fixtures with one family.Sales positioning: sell efficiency, safety, and fewer SKUs without sacrificing performance or margin.Bonus: Edison vs Tesla (AC electrocuted an elephant), King of the Hill returns, and advanced training dates tease.If competitors are throwing shade at 24V DC or Lifetime Lighting, send them this episode. If clients are confused by “watt vs VA,” use this to educate and close. And if your crews are still hanging systems off 25A thermal breakers…fix that now.Ready to Start or Grow Your Landscape Lighting Business?🔹 Learn design, sales, and installation at: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/🔹 Buy elite fixtures from: https://lifetimelightingsystems.com/🔹 Join The Illuminati Lounge Club — $47/mo weekly group calls with the 3 Lighting Amigos: https://www.lightingtradeschool.com/illuminati-lounge-club🔹 Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2196456184072265🔹 Apply for 1-on-1 mentoring with Captain Matt: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/captains-crew🔹 Start your own lighting biz as a GloGeek: https://glogeeksgang.com/