Local Talent: The Entrepreneur’s Handbook Podcast - Episode 12
Today’s episode of the Local Talent podcast highlights the incredible story of Tye
Washington, a banker turned entrepreneur who runs a successful business installing
and servicing water softeners and filtration systems.
Tye tells Jason how he burned out working in the mortgage business in Michigan during
the 2007 financial real estate crash and moved to San Antonio with his wife for a fresh
start. He found a job selling home security systems but got curious about why all his
customers in San Antonio had home water softeners and started doing research about
the local drinking water. Eventually he started working with a water softener company
and then with a plumber, and he then set up his own business with his mentor. Today
he’s known in San Antonio as The Water Man and his business is going from strength to
strength.
This episode teaches a lot of lessons about entrepreneurship, from how Tye
differentiates his services to his networking strategy and marketing plan. You’ll also
learn about water softeners from an expert and hear Tye bust some of the biggest
myths out there about water quality and water softeners.
If you liked this episode, please get in touch with Jason to tell him which other San
Antonio entrepreneurs you want to hear from on the Local Talent podcast, and make
sure that you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss an episode.
Timestamps
[0:35] Tye introduces himself and his business, The Water Man
[2:20] There’s a lot that consumers don’t know about water!
[5:00] Tye explains his transition from banking to water softeners and how he educated
himself about water quality
[8:07] How can you tell if your plumber actually knows about drinking water?
[9:25] Why you need a filtration system as well as a water softener
[12:00] Fixing broken water softeners and being straightforward with customers
[16:57] Tye on working with his mentor and setting up a service repairs business
[21:24] How Tye and his partner achieved the incredible expansion of The Water Guy
business
[25:12] Tye unpacks some of the biggest myths we have about water softeners
[28:38] Lightning rooooooooooouuuuunnnnndd!
[32:04] The one thing Tye wishes he knew before he started his business, and his
biggest business mistake
[36:34] Networking in the San Antonio area
[39:13] Tye’s 10 year plan
[39:50] What water softeners actually remove, and what our tap water should be like
[42:45] Why Tye doesn’t push one particular brand of water softeners and how to
choose a water softener that’s right for you
[47:12] Figuring out price points
[49:09] How Tye unwinds
[51:04] “Fear is one of the biggest demons that people have”: Tye’s words of wisdom
[54:30] When you see a successful entrepreneur taking a break, you’re only seeing the
tip of the iceberg
[59:06] The support system that helped Tye to get to where he is today and his
mammoth vision for the future
[1:01:15] Where to go to find out more about Tye