January is always a natural time to look ahead; however, this year, I find myself also looking back.  As The Blue Collar Success Group® celebrates 15 years, I’m reminded how far the industry has come since the lovely Christy and I founded the company.   We didn’t know then just how dramatically our industry would evolve, or how much we’d evolve alongside it.   

The transformation of the trades

Fifteen years ago, most of us were talking about workflow efficiency, recruiting challenges, and how to get technicians comfortable offering options at the kitchen table. Those conversations are still important today, but the landscape around them has completely transformed.

We’ve watched a generational shift in the workforce. Younger talent motivated by purpose, balance, and professional growth has entered the trades with fresh expectations. This shift has pushed leaders to rethink culture, redefine career paths, and elevate the employee experience. For companies willing to embrace it, this has become one of the greatest opportunities of our era.

Technology has also reshaped the job. Dispatching, pricing, training, and communication tools have given plumbing businesses more control, clarity, and consistency than ever before. Think about it; in 2010, real-time data was a luxury. In 2025, it’s a baseline. Fortunately for our industry, automation doesn’t replace craftsmanship, it amplifies it, allowing leaders to make decisions with supporting data.

Companies that embrace strong training and proven processes are showing that plumbing isn’t just essential work, it’s a highly skilled, highly professional career with an incredible upside. Even as the world races toward AI, the trades remain uniquely human, with hands-on problem solving that can’t be outsourced or automated. That’s why demand for top-tier technicians continues to surge, driving earning potential higher than ever before. And for forward-thinking owners who are building strong teams and smart systems, this moment offers more than stability; it offers the opportunity to create generational wealth and fuel a new era of blue collar prosperity.

 Lessons Ffrom the journey

Looking back on 15 years of coaching, training, and walking alongside contractors, one lesson stands above the rest: success favors the adaptable. The leaders who thrive are the ones who stay curious, stay humble, and stay committed to growth, even when growth demands reinvention.

I’ve watched small shops scale into multimillion-dollar organizations because they embraced leadership development. I’ve seen struggling teams find their footing through communication training and stronger processes. And I’ve met countless plumbing professionals who elevated their careers simply by believing they were capable of more.

Another thing I’ve learned is that professional development isn’t a luxury; it’s a stabilizer. Our work has shown me time and again that contractors are hungry for resources that meet them where they are. And that hunger is what keeps this industry strong. During uncertain seasons, training creates confidence. During periods of rapid growth, it creates cohesion. Whether you’re sending a new technician through a foundational academy or giving your leadership team advanced tools to guide performance, investing in your people always pays off.

Looking ahead with optimism

While the past 15 years brought enormous change, the next 15 promise even more possibilities. 

Artificial intelligence will streamline operations. Data will drive smarter training and forecasting. Homeowners will expect even higher levels of professionalism. And the companies that prepare now will be positioned to lead, not just compete. The plumbing trade sits at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and essential service.  And those are the three sectors that will only continue to grow.

As you step into 2026, I encourage you to take inventory, not just of your numbers, but of your team, your culture, and your growth opportunities. The industry is strong. The demand is high. The tools are available. And the next chapter belongs to the leaders willing to invest in themselves and their people.

Fifteen years in, I’ve never been more confident about the future of this trade. The best days for plumbing professionals aren’t behind us; they’re still ahead.