In this episode, Keith Kalfas lays down the honest truth about rejection in business — and how you can transform ghosting and “no’s” into unstoppable momentum for your landscaping hustle. If you’ve ever poured your heart into proposals only to have customers vanish faster than a free donut at a staff meeting, Keith is here to fire you up. He shares how to build unshakable resilience, grow your “thick skin,” and adopt a numbers-driven mindset that helps you plant seeds far and wide — and harvest ...
Jul 01, 2025•14 min
In this episode, Keith Kalfas reveals how setting a $700 job minimum transformed his landscaping business—and how it can do the same for yours. If you’ve been undercharging, afraid to raise prices, or stuck in the “lowball trap,” this episode is your wake-up call. Keith breaks down the mindset, math, and muscle it takes to confidently set a job minimum, stop negotiating against yourself, and build a profitable, sustainable business. You’ll hear how he evolved from $99 jobs to a $700 baseline, ho...
Jun 24, 2025•12 min
In this episode, Keith Kalfas shares a powerful lesson on keeping your emotions in check when running a landscaping business. He reflects on real experiences—like dealing with customer callbacks, weed regrowth after mulch jobs, and mold surprises—and how staying calm, informed, and professional is key to long-term success. Keith breaks down the mindset shift from overreacting to responding with clarity, encourages clear client communication, and reminds landscapers to charge what they’re worth. ...
Jun 17, 2025•33 min
In this episode, Keith Kalfas shares transformative insights on mastering financial systems based on his personal experiences. Highlighting the importance of having robust systems in place, he discusses James Clear's philosophy on systems over standards and introduces the MVSA (Minimum Viable System). Keith provides a detailed breakdown of the 30% and 50% rules for managing finances and achieving a 50% gross profit margin. He emphasizes the routine of 'Friday Finances' and how it brought order t...
Jun 05, 2025•15 min
In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, host Keith Kalfas talks with Coach Carroll, a renowned sales coach and entrepreneur from Louisville, Kentucky. They delve into Carroll’s multiple business ventures, including his new AI-driven project. Carroll shares insights on his journey in building multimillion-dollar businesses, his philosophy on time management, setting healthy boundaries, and the future of artificial intelligence in small businesses. They discuss the importance of adapting to new ...
May 18, 2025•40 min
In this episode, Keith Kalfas shares his thoughts on living a peaceful, inspired, and motivated life by following one's purpose and staying in a flow state. He discusses the pitfalls of comparison and scarcity mindset, the importance of emotional well-being, and the benefits of maintaining a beautiful state of consciousness. Keith also touches on the impact of materialism and societal pressure, emphasizing the value of building meaningful relationships and staying true to one's core values. He i...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 31 min
In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, host Keith Kalfas talks with Joel Kouski from Kouski Landscaping, who has built a $2 million business with 20 employees. Joel shares his story and talks about why staying emotionally detached in customer service is important, while still building real connections with customers. They discuss overcoming challenges, leading with humility and strong character, and using smart sales strategies. Joel also gives practical tips for handling the busy spring seas...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 37 min
In this insightful episode of the Untrapped podcast, host Keith Kalfas interviews Erica Krupin, the founder of Kroopin's Poopin Scoopin. Erica shares her inspiring journey from working at the University of Michigan Hospital to creating a multiple six-figure business specializing in poop scooping. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to entrepreneurship, the challenges she faced, and the strategies she employed to achieve success. Erica also touches on the importance of customer reviews...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr
In this lively episode, Keith Kalfas hosts Austin Douglas from Ditch The Itch, who has built a six-figure business from scratch by removing poison ivy and offering mosquito treatments. Austin shares his journey from part-time work to significant growth, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and networking. He discusses his innovative approaches to marketing and client retention, as well as the development of his training academy. Austin also provides practical advice on poison ivy id...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 11 min
In this episode, Keith Kalfas discusses the intense work required when starting a business, including long hours, stress, and financial struggles. He highlights the importance of healthy eating, proper sleep, and reinvesting earnings into personal growth and education. Keith also addresses overcoming mental barriers like unworthiness and emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with positive, supportive people to achieve success. "Success isn’t about grinding forever—it’s about knowing when t...
Mar 29, 2025•17 min
In this engaging and personal episode, Keith Kalfas shares his raw and emotional journey of overcoming self-sabotage and insecurity. From his early days as a landscaper with dreams of becoming a musician, to his moment of self-sabotage at a city-wide talent competition, Keith emphasizes the importance of persistence and emotional control. Through relatable stories and personal anecdotes, he explores the significance of staying committed to one's goals, controlling negative emotions, and believin...
Mar 15, 2025•37 min
In this thought-provoking episode, Keith Kalfas explores the challenging relationship between empathy and achieving extreme success. He argues that highly successful individuals often have to develop skills akin to a 'personality disorder' to manage their emotions and compartmentalize stressful situations. Through various analogies and insights, the episode delves into the necessity of conscious competence, emotional regulation, and high-level compartmentalization. Keith shares personal experien...
Feb 26, 2025•40 min
In this episode, Keith gets real about the tough balance between working for money and chasing what you love. He talks about his journey dealing with jobs that paid the bills versus work that brought him joy. Keith shares some eye-opening insights on whether doing something just for the cash or trying to turn your passion into your paycheck is worth it. He even brings in some tips from the pros on how to juggle financial needs while still following your heart. If you've ever felt stuck doing a j...
Feb 24, 2025•16 min
In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, Keith Kalfas gets personal and pretty inspiring as he talks about how even the smallest positive gestures can have a massive impact on the world. He shares some cool stories about passing on the right book at the right time or making a YouTube video when you least feel like it can be life-changing for others. Keith digs into how trusting your gut and doing random acts of kindness aren't just lovely things to do—they can totally transform lives, including...
Feb 16, 2025•31 min
In this episode, Keith opens up about the rollercoaster ride of building and running his own landscaping business. You’ll hear about why he now schedules all his landscaping quotes for Mondays. It's part of a strategy to bring more sanity into his hectic schedule and ensure that he’s not just drowning in work but enjoying life. Keith dives into those early days of hardcore hustle when he was grinding seven days a week to keep things afloat. Whether you’re in the landscaping business or any other...
Feb 06, 2025•30 min
In this live episode, Keith Kalfas dives into the realities of running a landscape business, especially when dealing with customers who try to get free work. He shares hard-earned lessons on setting boundaries, valuing your services, and handling tough conversations with confidence. Reflecting on his journey from solopreneur to business owner, Keith explores the internal challenges and strategic shifts needed for long-term success. He also discusses his passion for personal growth, continuous le...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this episode, Keith Kalfas and Mack explores the challenges and strategies of balancing lawn care and landscaping services. It features a discussion between two lawn care business owners on the benefits and fears of transitioning to landscaping, focusing on how to streamline services and manage both effectively. They discuss how to schedule and price recurring maintenance, charge for additional services like shrub trimming, and ensure steady revenue without overwhelming their small crew. The ...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 2 min
After his recent trip to Atlanta for a speaking gig, Keith's got some fresh insights about how the way we see ourselves can really shape our success. He's breaking down the difference between a scarcity mindset that holds you back and an abundant mindset that drives success. Keith shares some personal stories and drops some knowledge bombs on how shifting your identity and aligning with the right energy can totally change your game. If you want to level up in business or life, this episode is pa...
Jan 26, 2025•17 min
In this episode, Keith explored the crucial skill of discernment in business decisions. He shared insights from his experiences in the landscaping industry, emphasizing that saying no can be more beneficial than saying yes to everything. He discussed the importance of focusing on core services, understanding the risks of overextending, and utilizing smart subcontracting. Success lies in mastering what you do best and making decisions that align with your expertise and capacity. When you narrow d...
Jan 19, 2025•21 min
Keeping your landscaping and service business on track can be challenging, but Keith has some great tips and stories today. In this $13,000 project, he and his crew dealt with everything from chopping down massive arborvitaes to detecting hidden PVC pipes. Keith explains the importance of saying "no" to things that aren't in your wheelhouse and why sometimes you need to learn the hard way. In addition, Keith shares some insights from other successful businesspeople who have discovered that strea...
Jan 09, 2025•19 min
In today's episode, Keith dives into a pretty intense story that could really make you stop and think. A few years back, in 2021, Keith had a near-miss that none of us would ever want to face—he almost got seriously hurt while working on a tree job near some high-voltage power lines. And he's shared why that experience serves as a major wake-up call about the realities and risks of working close to electricity. Keith's not just telling this story for kicks—he hopes it opens eyes and might even s...
Dec 30, 2024•11 min
In this episode, Keith Kelfas shares a personal story about cutting corners on a landscaping job due to fear and lack of confidence. He recalls how he started his landscaping business with an obsessive focus on quality and customer care, only to land a wealthy client whose massive property overwhelmed him. Keith recounts undercharging for extensive landscaping work and making a critical error by not using enough weed barrier fabric. This mistake haunted him for years, teaching him valuable lesso...
Dec 27, 2024•18 min
Keith delivers a profound narrative on navigating life's darkest moments in this compelling episode of The Untrapped. He recounts his experiences of financial hardship and emotional challenges, illustrating how he discerned a faint glimmer of hope amidst seemingly insurmountable despair. Keith emphasizes the importance of developing resilience and the readiness to receive life's blessings when they eventually appear. He invites you to consider the broader aspects of success beyond material wealt...
Dec 06, 2024•6 min
In his inspiring speech at the 2024 Lawntrepreneur Academy, Keith Kelfas discusses the importance of grit in overcoming professional and personal challenges. Drawing from his own experiences in the landscaping business and his faith in God, Keith shares powerful stories of perseverance, emotional growth, and the journey through highs and lows. He emphasizes the significance of honesty in business, the importance of setting expectations with clients and staying composed under pressure. Keith unde...
Nov 28, 2024•45 min
On this episode of The Untrapped Podcast, host Keith Kelfas talks with Cornell from Mack Landscaping and Lawn Care, currently attending the Lawntrepreneur Academy event in Novi, Michigan. Cornell shares his journey from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he grew up learning lawn care from his grandmother to starting his own lawn care business in 2016. They discuss the importance of having commercial auto insurance, leveraging online platforms like Google for business growth, and the significance of...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In this episode, we dive into the psychological and financial struggles of running a service business, especially when undercharging creates a cycle of stress and low profitability. Keith Kalfas, shares personal strategies for escaping this 'doom loop' by setting boundaries, improving communication, and learning from successful entrepreneurs. We also discuss the value of staying positive, organized, and building a high-performance mindset, supported by strong personal relationships. Plus, stay t...
Nov 12, 2024•18 min
In this episode, Keith Kelfas offers crucial advice for landscaping business owners facing economic uncertainty. He emphasizes the importance of staying strong, learning new skills, and maintaining a positive mindset. Keith shares insights from books like 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' and 'Guerrilla Marketing Tactics' to highlight resilience and strategic thinking. He also introduces a new sponsor, Durable.co, showcasing its AI-powered website-building tool tailored for landscaping a...
Oct 31, 2024•9 min
In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, Keith Kalfas shares the hardships and unpredictability of the landscaping business, focusing on the importance of resilience and gratitude in the face of challenges. He discusses personal anecdotes and those of others in similar businesses, illustrating how perseverance through difficulties can lead to greater growth. Keith emphasizes learning from mistakes, maintaining faith, and the significance of managing stress and uncertainty. " The pressure turns ...
Oct 14, 2024•16 min
In this episode of the Untrapped Podcast, Keith Kalfas interviews Dan Platta, the Home Service CFO and founder of Best Dan Bookkeeping. They discuss key topics such as managing chaos in business, the importance of having the right team, effective organizational strategies, and Dan's journey from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. The conversation touches on the significance of recruiting top talent, leveraging checklists for operational efficiency, and the biggest lessons learned from past...
Sep 24, 2024•34 min
Join us as we dive deep with David Carroll, founder of Dope Marketing, who shares his inspiring journey of building a multimillion-dollar service business in window cleaning, pressure washing, and soft washing before transitioning into his dream venture, Dope Marketing. Discover the secrets behind his success, automation of service businesses, and how he balanced his family's priorities. Learn about the importance of personal health, making life-changing decisions, and maintaining happiness amid...
Sep 16, 2024•21 min
