Pete Cicconi runs Twin Cities Electric out of Shakopee, Minnesota. He got here the long way. He started as a 17-year-old vocational student in Pennsylvania, went through a five-year apprenticeship, hit a health crisis that turned out to be ankylosing spondylitis, moved to Maine, and eventually landed in Minnesota after meeting his wife. Then he opened his own electrical company right before COVID hit and pushed through it lean, no employees, low overhead.
The heart of this one is how Pete wins work. Not by being the cheapest bid. He leads with trust and transparency, walks people through the whole thing in person, and still writes every estimate custom instead of hitting a button in some software. As he puts it, it's more than transactional, it's a relationship. That is also why he rebranded the whole company in 2024 around his golden retriever Bruno. A golden means family and friendly, and that is exactly who he wants showing up in your home.
We also get into the honest stuff. Hitting a ceiling trying to grow past himself and one apprentice, how hard hiring is, and how he actually uses AI day to day, cleaning up his writing and doing voice-to-text on estimates rather than chasing the buzzword version. He closes with a message for the next generation: drop the college-only stigma and dream big, because the sky's the limit in the trades.
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Chapters
- 00:00 - Introduction and Pete's background
- 01:16 - Early influences and vocational school
- 02:30 - Starting his apprenticeship and moving to Maine
- 03:55 - A health crisis and an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis
- 05:56 - Relocating to Minnesota and getting licensed
- 08:02 - Starting Twin Cities Electric and navigating COVID
- 09:59 - Building the business and rebranding
- 12:00 - Hiring, training, and growing the team
- 14:59 - Branding, the logo, and the family connection
- 17:59 - The challenges of hiring and how to improve it
- 20:05 - Winning bids and building customer trust
- 23:01 - Using technology and AI in the business
- 27:03 - Explaining the bid process and customer communication
- 29:55 - Advice for young people and future tradespeople
- 32:58 - Encouragement to dream big in the trades
- 34:56 - Closing remarks and contact info
The big takeaways
- Lead with trust, not the lowest price. Pete wins bids by being transparent and walking customers through the work in person. The relationship is the differentiator, not the number.
- Write the estimate custom. He still builds every quote by hand instead of leaning on estimating software, because the personal read on the job and the customer is the point.
- Use AI for the unglamorous parts. Cleaning up his writing, voice-to-text on estimates. Not the buzzword version, the version that actually saves time.
- Your brand should feel like who you are. Rebranding around Bruno the golden retriever was not a gimmick. It signals family and friendly, which is exactly what a service company in people's homes needs to project.
- Growth has a ceiling when it all runs through you. Pete is honest about how hard it is to scale past himself and one apprentice, and how much of that is hiring.
- The sky's the limit in the trades. His message to the next generation is to drop the college-only stigma and dream big.
Full Transcript
Reasonable Tech Dad (00:00) Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to another episode of The Reasonable Contractor. I am your host, Ryan Templin, the Reasonable Tech Dad, and I am here with a new friend today. This is Pete from Twin Cities Electric out of Shakapee. And from what I see on the website, Pete's a family man, three kids, very much a mission about helping people, and that's my kind of vibe. Lots of homeowners helped, lots of panels replaced, but I think he's probably the better guy to describe it. So Pete, thanks for coming on, man. Why don't you tell us your story? How'd you get started?
Pete Cicconi (00:31) Thanks for having me. yeah, it's kind of roller coaster, if you will. but I I first gained my interest into the skilled trade of the electrician world. as a young seventeen year old kid. there was a vocational school available.
for juniors and seniors with many programs and so I had to decide what program I wanted and it came down to auto mechanic and electrical. 'Cause I knew I like to work with my hands, I have a mechanical mind, I like to be challenged. So with the guidance from my father and my uncle, who was a mechanic, my uncle,
Reasonable Tech Dad (01:16) Nice.
Pete Cicconi (01:17) They kind of steered me toward the trades, which I'm glad they did. I ended up liking the program very much. graduated out of that with a certificate. And then scary. Then then after high school, I, you know, I didn't what's up, honey. It is scary. I know, we'll change it. Yeah. I am solo parenting right now, so we are
Reasonable Tech Dad (01:27) Ha ha ha.
Reasonable Tech Dad (01:43) I get it, buddy. We love that kind of stuff here. Yeah, the tech dad brand, that suits the show. Don't worry about it for a second.
Pete Cicconi (01:46) That's it. That's it. Multitasking. so it came down like I was ready to be done with school. I wanted to hit the ground running, so to speak. I wanted to start working, making money, gain independence. College wasn't really my direction in life. basically what it came down to for me was either enlisting in the Marine Corps,
was gonna be my only option but given the fact that I went to that vocational school I was like, Well, let me take my shot out in the real world, see how see if maybe I can get under the wing of a electrical contractor and if not, plan B enlist. So
I I struggled for about a year but eventually I got into an apprenticeship. it was July fifteenth of twenty or two thousand five. Never forgot the day. it was very impactful for me. I remember getting my application and I actually drove an hour to submit my application on the last day they were taking
And when I got to the shop after work, the owner was leaving. So here's this crazy guy running with a paper. Hey, wait, you know, submitting it. And then I called them like every week about the position. So that's what landed me that position was that eagerness and drive. And then I just was a loyal employee. I mean, they gave me a shot, they took me under their wing, they put me into a five year apprenticeship. Probably a little bit more unorthodox than Minnesota's. I'm not from Minnesota originally.
Reasonable Tech Dad (03:12) Absolutely.
Reasonable Tech Dad (03:25) Okay.
Pete Cicconi (03:25) I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, bit of a transient. And then after high school, migrated to New York State, Binghamton area, Binghamton, New York. And that was where I got that apprenticeship position because I knew there was gonna be nothing for me in the country. There's just I mean, you just have factory jobs, that's about it. So in that I had you know, obviously I had more plans for my life and bigger aspirations and
Reasonable Tech Dad (03:28) Interesting.
Pete Cicconi (03:55) So but they took me under their wing. It took about a year and a half after high school to get in somewhere. I did have some doors of opportunity open that I unfortunately had to close because of circumstances.
Reasonable Tech Dad (04:05) Such as life.
Pete Cicconi (04:06) But stuck with them five years, went through their apprenticeship program, which was state state registered, state approved apprentice program, kinda like what Minnesota has in the sense that like through the is it the Minnesota Electricians Association or the Electricians Association, you can go to class. It's I think it it runs along with the school year. I think it's like from September, but it wraps up a little bit earlier. I wanna say like right around April or May is when classes are
Reasonable Tech Dad (04:35) That's exactly right. I was in a Minnesota Tech electrical program. I did that at Anokatech, from O seven to O nine. That exact thing you're talking about. And I think it used to be the Board of Electrical and now it's all under the Department of Labor and Union, or Labor and Industry maybe.
Pete Cicconi (04:36) but
Pete Cicconi (04:41) Okay, yep.
Pete Cicconi (04:51) Yep, yep, it's all approved. I think the classes here are more virtual like what we're doing. whereas what I went through it was a it was more of a live element, like you had to show up. yeah, so you you know. but it was I yeah. I feel like it was manageable, being that it was one night a le week. So it allowed you to work. You you're literally getting paid to learn.
Reasonable Tech Dad (05:04) Same.
Yep. Had to do the labs, had to wire.
Pete Cicconi (05:19) while while working. So I think it was a win win. granted like working out of town sometimes it was difficult making it to class. but I did that for five years. Basically the fifth year was just more of a prep to get you ready for your journeyman's test. but graduated out of that program, did was a journeyman electrician for a few years. and then I had a bit of a like
health crisis if you will. something was going on, wasn't sure. company laid me off. Basically was like figure it out. I was trying at the time, but yeah, just getting a runaround from the doctors. I mean I learned a lot, like, especially with the medical field, like, you have to be your own advocate. I think there's some some doctors that just can't admit they don't know. I think there's a lot of ego and pride there.
Reasonable Tech Dad (05:56) Scary.
Reasonable Tech Dad (06:07) Agreed.
Reasonable Tech Dad (06:14) Would agree one hundred percent.
Pete Cicconi (06:15) Yeah, so I mean it took a while but eventually I had to relocate to the state of Maine. That's where my mom's side of the family all live. And so, I found a great doctor, looked me in the eyes, was like, We're gonna figure this out, Pete Which was great to actually have somebody to listen for once. It did, it did.
Reasonable Tech Dad (06:31) Felt I bet that felt amazing.
Pete Cicconi (06:35) It felt like at the time like nobody nobody would believe you. They like you were just crazy, like there was nothing wrong with you. But you knew there was something wrong. Like you felt her. And so lo and behold, ended up getting diagnosed by a rheumatologist with ankle loosing spondylitis or A S for short. and at the time, like I had lost a lot of weight, I was a hundred and forty eight pounds, and if it wasn't for my brother and my grandmother, I probably would have
Reasonable Tech Dad (06:44) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (07:03) been homeless basically. so a bit of a soul searching thing going on there. eventually figured life out, got diagnosed, started medicating on Humera, gained my weight back, the pain pretty much went away. doesn't cure it, it just slows the progression of what I have down.
Reasonable Tech Dad (07:25) Interesting.
Pete Cicconi (07:26) Yep, it it's like arthritis on steroids. It causes inflammation all over and it's just some bad stuff. but you know, it allows it gave me my life back, which I'm grateful for. And I basically h did some soul searching. Eventually I met my wife. she's from Minnesota, so that's how I ended up here. Yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (07:38) No doubt.
Reasonable Tech Dad (07:47) And that's how you ended up here. That's a common story. Meet a Minnesota lady, that's how you land here. It's funny how they have that power.
Pete Cicconi (07:53) It's such a common theme, isn't it? Yes. Yes, always, always. It's a great state. I l I really love it here. yeah, we were we were able to adjust and everything coming out. I ended up going to college for electrical engineering for a little while and then I ended up getting like almost finished, but then I decided I didn't really like it. I'm not really a desk guy, if you will. I like to move around.
Reasonable Tech Dad (08:02) It really is.
Pete Cicconi (08:20) And so I went back into the electrical field, got my journeymans again in the state of Maine. worked for worked for a guy, worked for a guy for a little while and just I just felt like the culture at that company was not really great. It just felt really toxic. And so I ended up I guess it was kind of the straw that broke my back because I mean for me to start my own business that always felt like a pipe dream, especially as an apprentice, like
You think about it but you're just like, you know, maybe I'm not cut out, you know, all the head trash and whatnot and what do you do?
Reasonable Tech Dad (08:56) I've had guys on this show say the same thing about how when they were working as a tradesman doing their own business was never on their radar or it seemed overwhelming, they didn't want the headaches. So that's interesting. What made you make the jump? Just the lack of culture, like desperation, maybe?
Pete Cicconi (09:09) Well, I think I think so. It was just working for a a gentleman who was the same age as me and he micromanaged everything and and I felt like everybody I felt like everybody that was there was just miserable.
And so I was I came to this, I don't know, just this crossroad where I was like, well I can continue working for a company where everybody is miserable, it just sucks the positivity out of you, it's toxic, I just or or I can start my own business, maybe I fail, but maybe maybe I succeed. And so
Reasonable Tech Dad (09:46) Absolutely. That's that's the unknown with any step like that.
Pete Cicconi (09:50) Yeah. So you gotta go watch T V. Watch T V? So then yeah, always. So then the
Reasonable Tech Dad (09:53) Sidekick.
Pete Cicconi (09:59) Obviously, I mean I I definitely give a lot I have to give a lot of credit to my wife too. she gave me a lot of that, she instilled a lot of that confidence too, in me to kind of give me that that push I needed to do it. So got my masters for the state of Maine, started my company there for a little while, wanted to get a feel for it, make sure I liked it. I liked it. And then we moved out here, started all over again, had to get the Maine or the Minnesota Masters
Reasonable Tech Dad (10:08) Love that.
Pete Cicconi (10:27) License test was a doozy as you
Reasonable Tech Dad (10:31) I was just gonna I was waiting to ask that exact question because when I I when I worked in the field for years after I got my tech degree, I ended up doing some traveling with doing some electrical work and I had heard when I was out in Idaho that the Midwest, but Minnesota in particular, like if you get a journeyman license or a master's in Minnesota, you can pretty much go anywhere and it's no problem. Yeah, we'll we're we'll certify ya. But it's not the case coming. So I was curious when you s did your licensing on the East Coast, if you had to re certify here.
Pete Cicconi (11:02) I just had it I had to sit for the the test, but they accepted all my all my credit hour my on-the-job training hours, all my schooling, everything. 'Cause I I that was the first thing I did before I moved out here, is I wanted to make sure it was all, you know, approved first and so I sent Dolly or the Department of Labor and Industry everything they required and they approved it and then I was able to sit for my masters.
Reasonable Tech Dad (11:05) Okay.
Reasonable Tech Dad (11:27) Sweet. And then
Pete Cicconi (11:29) Yeah, my fingers were crossed on that one. I was just so grateful. I was like, man, if I had to start all over again, I would have been so mad, but thank God it worked out.
Reasonable Tech Dad (11:37) Yeah, I lost three years of as an apprentice where I thought I was getting my master hours. There was supposed to be a I went to an an industrial route out of school. I went and worked at a cheese facility here in Lesour, Minnesota, and they said that they had a master at working at the Cambria shop down there. And come time to start getting my test stuff ready. They're like, Yeah, that master's not here. SOL on the the hours. It was pretty bad. D
Pete Cicconi (11:45) Okay. Yep.
Pete Cicconi (12:00) Really? So like the hours that are long like obviously you had pay stubs with hours on but
Reasonable Tech Dad (12:05) Yeah, but I wa I was not on top of it enough. I was at like two and a half years and I was young and I was just kind of I was I was pretty mad about it and I was in my mid twenties and you know, you know that mid twenties thing. I was never smarter than I was at that age. All you had to do was ask me. I had the answer to everything. And I kind of turned my back on it. I like, Cool, fine, I'm out and I went and tried some entrepreneurial suits suits or s some paths that way, but that's a story for another time.
So then how did when you came back to Minnesota, how did you end up with Twin Cities Electric? Was that right away after you got your masters?
Pete Cicconi (12:39) So yeah, so I started the company. It came down to three business names. Two of which were taken. This was the only one available and I just stuck with it 'cause I felt like it, you know, obviously the name was really good. I couldn't even believe it was available. There is a backstory to all that, but I decided to take it on and basically rebuild the brand, if you will.
Reasonable Tech Dad (12:54) Yes. Agreed.
Reasonable Tech Dad (13:03) Okay.
Pete Cicconi (13:05) Po chose a great time to start as you can probably already already fathom. so I eventually started I wanna say it was right around like October ish, November of twenty nineteen. Yeah. Then twenty twenty hit. yeah. Yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (13:18) COVID on the way, COVID on the way.
Pete Cicconi (13:22) Just two weeks to slow the spread, man. Two weeks and then we ended up in, you know, crisis for years to come and I r just remember everyone calling me and they're like, I gotta cancel my appointment and they didn't nobody wanted me in their house and I was like, Wow, I really chose a great time to start a company. Yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (13:40) Intense dude. How'd you navigate that?
Pete Cicconi (13:44) Well, I just kinda came to this conclusion, like obviously I'm a man of faith. I believe in Christ and I prayed a lot and I just put it on him and I was like, Lord, if I can get through this, I can get through anything, but obviously if this is not your will for me, then so be it. I have to accept that and we'll figure it out. Figure I feel like that's a lot of things in life. You just gotta figure it out. You adapt and overcome. And so
Reasonable Tech Dad (13:51) Amen.
Reasonable Tech Dad (14:03) I love that. I love that. Yes.
Reasonable Tech Dad (14:11) Yes. One one foot in front of the other. You can just handle what's in your face right now.
Pete Cicconi (14:15) That's it, that's it. So through a lot of p prayers of that guy right there. yes. I got through it slowly. I think it helped also the fact that, you know, starting out obviously my overhead was like low.
Reasonable Tech Dad (14:21) Amen to that, sir.
Pete Cicconi (14:34) So that helped a lot. I didn't have any employees I was responsible for. Plus I was just kind of navigating how to run a business because no one ever taught t you know, no one ever taught me how to do that. So a lot of lot of book reading, a lot of networking with other fellows throughout that's what I love about the internet because it really helped me grow my business, just the networking itself alone.
Reasonable Tech Dad (14:44) Sure.
Reasonable Tech Dad (14:50) Yes.
Reasonable Tech Dad (14:58) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (14:59) through some of the Facebook groups that are out there, like Rebs is one of so shout out to that group.
They they are just it's just basically a collaboration of electrical contractors. And yeah, you got some guys in there that you know, whatever. Not very helpful, but I feel like a majority of that community is pretty helpful. And they're we're just all there to help each other out and help each other grow, which I love, and that's what really helped me grow my business. So figured out a lot of things, obviously made some mistakes along the way, and then ended up doing like a rebrand. I want to say like
Like back in 2024, changed the look, kept the name, but like changed the look and everything. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, the dog is actually my golden retriever, Bruno. So And it just it just Yeah, it just seemed to make sense because
Reasonable Tech Dad (15:43) Is that to the the green, kinda the green and black with the the is that a Labrador dog? That logo's sick, dude. I like it a lot.
Reasonable Tech Dad (15:53) It's Bruno That's awesome doing it.
Pete Cicconi (16:02) Obviously we're dog people and my wife and I and like he's just such a good, awesome, amazing dog and
Reasonable Tech Dad (16:08) That's family, man.
Pete Cicconi (16:10) Yeah, and so like it just made sense because like we're we're home we're a service based company, mainly working residential. We do some commercial but mostly residential. We're in a lot of homes and so it's like it just made sense for me to have him as the mascot because when I think of a golden retriever, like I just think of family and friendly and who doesn't like a golden retriever? I mean, most people do and golden just love people. And so I just wanted people to
Reasonable Tech Dad (16:38) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (16:40) kind of make that connection with us and who we are because we work with families, we're you know, we're friendly, we want to be your you know, we want to be your go-to electrician. That was kind of the parallel I wanted people to draw there. so and people have loved I've got nothing but positive feedback on it. the artist I was working with out of
Reasonable Tech Dad (16:54) I think you drew it up well.
Pete Cicconi (17:03) I think he was out of like North Carolina, Fortitude, Creative. Shout out to Jason there. yeah, he did. He's a great artist. And he he kinda wanted to go the Norse way. I get it with Vikings and the Scandinavian culture and all that here. And I was like, well, I yeah, I I feel like it's a little too aggressive. It's a little too aggressive. What about a dog?
Reasonable Tech Dad (17:08) Okay. Hey Jason, nice work.
Reasonable Tech Dad (17:27) Not fitting the family vibe, sure.
Pete Cicconi (17:30) Yeah, I'm sure a lot of men would like it, but you know, that we do work with women too and so
Reasonable Tech Dad (17:31) But the lady makes a lot of those house decisions when it comes to home service.
Pete Cicconi (17:37) They they are the boss. Yeah, literally. Like you look at my phone, my my wife's name is in there and it's in in between the first and last name it says the boss. So it's how it is. That's the reality. So Yeah, yeah. So just trying to steadily grow it.
Reasonable Tech Dad (17:47) Yep, that's a very common label for the the the absolutely. And it makes the family work that way.
Pete Cicconi (17:59) Again, I've learned a lot. I think for me the hardest thing is trying to grow beyond myself and an apprentice. that's been the challenge. so I'm I'm thinking about maybe looking into getting some more coaching to help me kind of grow there because I feel like I've kinda hit a a ceiling there. So Yeah. well
Reasonable Tech Dad (18:19) Little bit of a plateau, yeah, for sure. Do you have employ is it just you or do you have guys?
Pete Cicconi (18:26) I have employ I I had an employee. I I'm gonna ha be hiring another apprentice here shortly. I think for you know, I the thing is like I don't mind giving people a shot because everybody's gotta start somewhere. I was that guy, like I didn't have any formal education, I didn't have any experience and when I tried getting into this trade, like literally every door was slammed in my face because I had no experience. That was like the most
Reasonable Tech Dad (18:52) So you've been there. You've been in that tough spot.
Pete Cicconi (18:55) Yeah, yeah. You just gotta persevere and not give up and just keep on keeping on. So I I gave guys a shot. I had
Reasonable Tech Dad (19:01) Well said.
Pete Cicconi (19:05) You know, there two of were Dunwoody grads. The last one was a gentleman who obviously didn't have any experience, but he you know, at the time really thought this is what he wanted to do as a career and and I believed him and so, you know, you put a lot of training into somebody, a lot of time, effort, energy, you send to school and and then one day just decided, it's not for me. And so it kinda
Reasonable Tech Dad (19:34) Oof. Oof.
Pete Cicconi (19:35) Yeah, kinda stunk like you know, and I'm not the only employer that deals with this like everybody has. but it just stinks because it's like you put all that time into someone and then just one day they're just like, I'm out, you know, and it's like, Well, now I'm back to square one again. So
Reasonable Tech Dad (19:40) Of course.
Reasonable Tech Dad (19:51) Yeah. So how are you thinking? Are you thinking about that hiring process differently now? Are you thinking more along finding someone with experience or you want to stay the route of giving somebody a shot? Where what have you taken away from that challenge and how you're going to move forward?
Pete Cicconi (20:05) I you know, I have kinda leaned toward the qualification route of having the schooling under your belt at least, because then it's like, well, they got a little skin into the game. You know, they paid for the the this the two year associate degree in electrical construction, whether it's from Anoka, Dakota or Dunwoody.
Reasonable Tech Dad (20:27) Yep.
Pete Cicconi (20:28) So, you know, I I feel like that's probably more prono promising in terms of, you know, where that person's gonna end up and what their aspirations are as far as this field goes, versus someone who's just kind of like a butterfly and they're just like, Well, maybe, you know, and they have no investment. You know what I mean? I'm sure there's great guys know what they want and
Reasonable Tech Dad (20:43) Yeah. Yeah. I do.
Pete Cicconi (20:51) got that direction but I feel like at eighteen, nineteen it's like you you're gonna go through so many changes mentally that it's hard to work out. Yeah. Yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (20:58) It's hard to lock in a direction at that age for sure. So that's a little bit on the challenges side of things as far as hiring. What what do you think makes you win the bids when the when you go in the door and you're bidding against the other guys? Cause it I mean, everybody does at least three is usually the rule of thumb. What what makes Pete and Twin Cities Electric stand out, you think? What's what's their strengths?
Pete Cicconi (21:20) I think ultimately what it comes down to is, you know, I think th what I've tried to showcase and that's basically transparency throughout like my website, my reviews, my social media, is who I am, right? And so I think people like that. They really like that. They can kinda get to know me a little bit, through that exposure prior to even me walking into the door.
Reasonable Tech Dad (21:47) I did that before this episode. I feel like you've got it painted well pretty well, dude.
Pete Cicconi (21:51) Thank you. I think that's important, right? You wanna establish something out the gate just to build a little bit of incremental trust, even if it's just a little bit. You know, and it helps kinda break the ice and
But I think also the fact that for right now, it's it's me who is also doing the work, the owner of the company. So I feel like a lot of homeowners obviously know that the care and the quality that goes into that work is gonna be A plus. no corners are gonna get cut. 'cause it's my business, right? I it's my baby, like I put a lot into this. I don't I don't
see it go to the wayside. So I really feel like and then I you know, obviously my personality, I feel like I'm a really laid back guy and I just really like to help people and solve problems and bring their visions to life. And so I think, you know, all that together, I think that's what people like. at least for the the bids I do win. because at the end of the day like I tell most everyone like
Reasonable Tech Dad (22:53) Nice.
Absolutely.
Pete Cicconi (23:01) It for me it's more 'cause like for me it's more than transactional. It's it's a relationship. That's what I wanna create. A r because every time like and maybe it won't happen a lot in your life, let's hope it doesn't. But should you ever need an electrician, I wanna be your number one go to guy 'cause you know I'm gonna take care of you. So that's kinda I think that's the why, why they go with it. So
Reasonable Tech Dad (23:08) Yes. Agreed.
Reasonable Tech Dad (23:21) I like that. Yes.
Reasonable Tech Dad (23:28) Mm-hmm. That's why you're winning the job. So that makes tons of sense, dude, through establishing your values up front and building trust. Cause that's who, you know, there there's some you hear across a number of business sources out there that people buy from the people they like, know and trust. And that last piece I've realized since, you know, drawing prints and my background and coming into project management this year that one thing I do very well is that I establish trust real quick, just from being genuine. Like people can feel your soul.
Pete Cicconi (23:31) Yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (23:56) People can feel your heart and your intention early on. And I'm not saying there's not guys out there that can portray that early on and then not operate with integrity, but I'm saying that somebody like you who genuinely has that relationship in mind, I think that that's amazing and I think that probably comes through to people on why you're winning jobs, dude. That's that's fantastic. what kind of back end stuff? Like so as if you're a solo guy, have you started dabbling with AI for any of your estimates or business stuff? Have you
Pete Cicconi (24:13) Thank you.
Reasonable Tech Dad (24:25) What kind of if you're the one doing the work, how do you from winning a bid to getting the estimate done to you know, getting the paperwork signed and starting the job or do you not do much paperwork on residential? Is it pretty straightforward? Do you not ha have a lot of back end work that you have to execute?
Pete Cicconi (24:43) There is a process. Obviously the first thing is getting your foot in the door, right? Because what you just stated with meeting somebody face to face, there's you are one hundred percent more apt to make that connection with somebody than just a voice over the phone. I'm just a guy on the phone and
Reasonable Tech Dad (24:59) Agreed.
Reasonable Tech Dad (25:03) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (25:03) Typically if if somebody wants to keep it at that level, then it's they just it's just about the price, right? And I don't want it to be just about the price. I want it to be about more than that. The the quality of work, the process, like what that what that whole experience is even gonna be like for them with with me into their home. They're their biggest their biggest asset they own, like most people, their house is their biggest asset they own, right? So I feel like it's important we are careful with whom we bring into it.
Reasonable Tech Dad (25:23) Yes.
Reasonable Tech Dad (25:33) I would agree.
Pete Cicconi (25:34) And so I just think that's the first step is getting the foot in the door, meeting them, making sure we're a good fit. And then from there, I usually try to clo I usually try to do the the bids right on site. So obviously making sure when we're going out, hey Mrs. Smith, is there gonna be enough time?
do it were usually an hour. I've had some take me two hours because I wanna take my time. I don't wanna rush it. You know, I don't wanna miss anything. I wanna make sure I'm being thorough. And I feel like that's that's if I'm not doing that, honestly, I feel like that's that's a disservice to the client.
Reasonable Tech Dad (26:07) I like that.
Pete Cicconi (26:15) So just making sure they have the time to. and then also like making sure that all decision makers are gonna be present. I think that's important too. Because it's really hard for somebody for me to break down what I'm talking about to a homeowner, like I gotta be careful about the lingo I use because I've literally had people tell me after trying to explain something like I literally do not understand anything you just said, but okay
Reasonable Tech Dad (26:43) That all went.
Pete Cicconi (26:45) Yeah, exactly. Exactly. It's like, man, I gotta put this down I gotta dumb this down a little bit. Like how do I rephrase this? Like and I feel like photos help a lot too. So like I'll take my tablet with me and I have like slides made up in it so I can kind of show people things which clears things up. So just making sure all decision makers are present so they don't have to try to explain to their spouse what I just said and probably mess it all up anyway.
Reasonable Tech Dad (27:03) Cool. Cool.
Reasonable Tech Dad (27:15) Yeah.
Pete Cicconi (27:15) And then you're there for questions. If they have any questions or concerns, I'm here. Let's let's answer away. So that's kind of the process and then usually I like to do it while on site. Again, if they have any questions or whatever. And then also I can see, you know, the moment I always wait to show the price last because I don't want them I want them listening to me and what I'm saying. I don't want them focused on this number. 'Cause
Reasonable Tech Dad (27:20) Interesting. Cool.
Reasonable Tech Dad (27:41) The number. Yeah, that makes tons of sense. I think it's important. Well that's how you get that's how you get them to understand. You know, we talked to a l I talk to a lot of guys on here and we do talk about this process quite a bit. making sure that they are understanding the scope and clarifying the scope, because that's where miscommunications happen and that's where relationships get hurt, is when people don't understand scope. And you if you're right that if people have a number in their head and you can tell that right away, like when you said that somebody calls on the phone and they're just price shopping in
Pete Cicconi (27:44) Legion.
Pete Cicconi (27:59) Yep.
Reasonable Tech Dad (28:09) I've recently had jobs where people were, you know, hey, I just want to spend this much and this is what I want. And then afterwards they're like, This sucks. Well, this is what you asked for. You know what I mean? And I try you know what I mean? You have to try to control that process as much as you can. So I think that that's probably a good approach in what you're talking about and not getting that number out to the end. Do you use a software on site then? Is that pretty fast for you? Or are you taking notes? Are you a hand guy? Like through do you
Pete Cicconi (28:35) I I I I said I do everything custom. I tried the whole software out and I just I did not like it. I just the terminology that they use, I I just felt like it can be n I don't wanna say misleading, but th maybe added a little fear to it or
Reasonable Tech Dad (28:59) Okay.
Pete Cicconi (28:59) It definitely keeps things vague. It keeps things very vague. Like I get the I get the approach. Do you wanna let the cookie b you know the cookies out of the cookie jar. If you're troubleshooting or something. So But I I've just I came to this approach where I just do everything custom. So yeah, it takes me longer to like type up what the proposal will be or give options or whatever have you.
Reasonable Tech Dad (29:02) There you go. Yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (29:10) Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
Pete Cicconi (29:28) And then like obviously to help aid in that, I I do from time to time I'll pivot to AI and I'll have it kinda clean it up. W like we we live in a day and age right now where I feel like everybody just exp expects everything to be like available right away.
Reasonable Tech Dad (29:39) There you go.
Pete Cicconi (29:49) And so I feel like just to kind of expedite the process, I do a lot of the the voice to text stuff. my gosh. And so I will obviously have it go in, tell it what I want, proofread it, put it over into like an estimate, professional estimate, and then we'll do our presentation.
Reasonable Tech Dad (29:55) Same.
Reasonable Tech Dad (30:11) Got it. That makes sense.
Pete Cicconi (30:12) That's kinda the process and then if there's any questions I can answer for the h you know, the husband or the wife or whoever's there. but that's kinda been my process and kinda what I've been doing for a while now and I really like it a lot and I think a lot of people do too.
Reasonable Tech Dad (30:20) Gotcha.
Reasonable Tech Dad (30:29) Yeah, doing well, man. That's awesome. And I know I I we could be and you could probably keep going longer, but I do want to be respectful of your time and I know you're solo dadden over there. So let's wrap up real quick with one. I mean, I feel like you've already kind of done this, but we always like to finish up on this show with talking to the next generation and getting them into the trades. And I think you really touched on it. One with your story and two with your hiring process and where kids are at at that time and kind of the challenges around that. But if you could talk to people, kids that are coming up.
And they're, you know, scared of AI, scared of whatever, at that age where they just don't know. Tell them why they should or should not get into the trades.
Pete Cicconi (31:08) Well, I I do feel like even back when I was in high school, just I know the wife is home, so we're not in a huge rush here, so but I I know you got your your side too. So
Reasonable Tech Dad (31:19) Got it. Okay. Fire away then. Take your time.
Pete Cicconi (31:25) I would just say like back when I was in high school, it it and it definitely came to a lot of realizations and conclusions from reading a lot of books on business. But back when I was li in high school and I and I think it's like this still today, there's this like push and maybe not so much today, maybe that's kinda gone away, but I know for me, like back when I was in high school, like there was this push to just like college is the only way to success. College is the only way you'll succeed. You gotta get a degree. Like the ch the tr the you know, the stigma that's
Reasonable Tech Dad (31:50) One hundred percent that was my generation too.
Pete Cicconi (31:55) Out there with the trades that like all that needs to be thrown in the garbage, first of all. you can the sky is the limit with with the trades, and I'll say with most trades too, and that even goes into like landscaping and I'm telling you, there's guys that are making more than doctors. I'll tell you that right now. And
Reasonable Tech Dad (31:59) Yes.
Reasonable Tech Dad (32:05) Yes.
Handyman, all of it, man.
Reasonable Tech Dad (32:15) Easy. Easy
Pete Cicconi (32:18) And so the only thing that limits you is the garbage you allow that people tell me that people tell you that you allow in here. You gotta throw that away. The sky's a limit. You you it's you against you, literally. Like and so if you can get over the toxic mindset, surround yourself with positive people, people that are in business, people that are successful, you know, people like that, they're only gonna lift you up in life. I would say that for sure. And have big dreams.
Reasonable Tech Dad (32:29) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (32:48) Don't let anybody limit you to you know anything like that. You the sky's the limit with the trades and that's electrical plumbing HVAC
And and now with the internet, I mean there's just so much exposure now with that. With with business owners just talking about their start, where they came from, where they ended up and then it's just it's insane. So I would say go for it. Go for the trade. This again, the sky's the limit. It really is. You can go anywhere with this. dream big.
Reasonable Tech Dad (33:13) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (33:19) Yeah, just just keep just persevere, have a have a strong mind, persevere, mind like a sponge, read books on business, not work with guys that are in the field, like the internet, like d all these groups out there, like if you do all that, like you'll you'll grow. You'll you'll go somewhere.
Reasonable Tech Dad (33:38) You'll crush it, man. Find good people is a huge piece. Find good people that dream big and have executed and people that are on top of their stuff, you know what I mean? Rather than being distracted by things that seem, you know, social and whatever, you know. Find good circles of people who have goals and ambition, I think, is a huge thing you said. And that exact term you you I it's interesting I asked this question, and that sky is the limit. So many guys use that exact terminology because
Pete Cicconi (33:44) Yes.
Pete Cicconi (33:50) yeah.
Reasonable Tech Dad (34:08) We talk about how you really can pick what level you want to operate at. And I think young people that, you know, maybe they do want to have social life, maybe they do want to have a family. And you can work in the trades and work a job and make really nice money and take care of your family and have time for that social life that you want to have. And then if things change, you can shift, you can turn it on, you can go after business, you can go after money, you can go after bigger things when you want to.
And if that's not working for you, you try it, you come back. The trades are very safe. There's a lot of ways you can move laterally. There's a lot of ways you can move forward. There's a lot of ways you can go backwards. So I think you reiterated a lot of that that capability, but especially the sky's the limit. Like if you want to dream big, the trades is an excellent vehicle to get where you want to go, I think.
Pete Cicconi (34:56) Yeah, it's not going anywhere for a long time. I mean, I know AI's coming in, I mean there's robotics, but I I mean, it's still gonna be a while before I think we see a robot like running wire.
Reasonable Tech Dad (35:11) Yeah, even the best minds. Elon Musk, all the the guys that are making the robots are like, we're gonna still be I the guy last night was saying, this the roof guy, Josh Sky Armor, was like, Man, I'm still gonna be going on roofs for a long time. I don't care what anybody says, right? And that's been pretty clarified that the the trades are safe. They're safe too. So you you want some comfort, you want some th something you know that you got flexibility and it'll take good care of you and anybody else you wanna take care of, the trades are an excellent
kids.
Pete Cicconi (35:43) It's not just a route for, you know, a plan B or dropouts or failures or any of that's all BS. Like Yeah, we gotta get rid of that. We gotta get rid of that. So
Reasonable Tech Dad (35:53) That stigma you talked about, that's not real. Yes. Agreed, man. Well, Pete, this has been fantastic, dude. Thank you so much for coming on and sharing your story and talking about family and everything and talking about faith. That was awesome, dude. And if anybody wants to get a hold of Pete, TwinCities Electric LLC.com. What else do you want to shout out? You got socials out there you want people to go to, Pete? I can link to it when I do the clips and the content.
Pete Cicconi (36:04) Yeah. Yeah man. Thanks for having me. Yeah.
Pete Cicconi (36:17) yeah, if they're they want to become a fan, you can like our Facebook page, we have an Instagram, I would say those two pages for sure. and then just check it out the website.
Reasonable Tech Dad (36:31) Awesome. Pete from Twin Cities Electric, ladies and gentlemen, out of shock Pete. Pete, thanks again, man. All right.
Pete Cicconi (36:37) Yeah, thank you so much, Ryan. Take care.