In this episode of The Huge Insider Podcast, JC Chanowsky, founder of Patriot Illumination, shares his journey from pressure washing and Navy service to building a $1.2 million Christmas light installation business in Wilmington, North Carolina. JC candidly unpacks the lessons he learned since entering the holiday lighting space in 2016—emphasizing the importance of training, coaching, hiring early, and building systems for growth. He dives into practical sales strategies for service pros looking to add Christmas lights to their offerings, like leveraging existing customer databases, delivering emotional experiences, and never underestimating the power of persistence in landing commercial clients. With anecdotes, real numbers, and tactical advice, JC’s story is a blueprint for turning a seasonal service into a thriving business. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to seven figures, this episode delivers actionable insights for home service pros looking to win the holidays—and their market. Show NotesFeatured Guest JC Chanowsky – Founder of Patriot Illumination Resources: The Huge Insider Newsletter Signup The Huge Insider Podcast Downloadable Action Guide Foundations Platform Trial Offer Huge Mastermind Info Page Huge Foundations Facebook Group Transcript:  What's up everybody? My name is JC Chanowsky with Patriot Illumination in Wilmington, North Carolina, and I've been asked to talk about Christmas lights and share my story and experiences in the Christmas light industry. And if you're listening to this, then maybe you're either. Currently a Christmas light installer or considering doing it.And I wanted to just talk to you about some of the wins and struggles that we've experienced since we started doing the Christmas light install business in 2016. And when I started it, I actually attended a trade show. It was for pressure washing. Probably the one, like the huge that you should be attending.And I'll say that I didn't know that this was a service or an option. And 2016 social media was probably a little bit different wasn't as robust and. And everybody's face like it is now. So you really needed to get out there and make yourself vulnerable and talk to people and find information a little bit differently than we do today.But I was grateful for attending this event and I will say that it transformed and changed the future of my business. I was, running a pressure washing business while working full-time with the Navy. So it was really like a, not really a hobby, but it wasn't a full-time commitment. So 2016, started Christmas lights got a little bit of knowledge about it, but didn't get my hand dirty, didn't get training, was able to install a couple houses, and then finally got to do some training the year after that, which highly recommend if you're, looking to install Christmas lights or even if you are currently installing Christmas lights, have never been to a formal training. Being able to see how others are able to install differently, maybe more efficiently will really change the way you view things. We only know what we know and if.I taught myself how to do something, then that's the way I'm gonna do it until somebody shows me a better way. So that's why firm believer on constantly getting yourself out there, attending trainings, talking to people, networking 'cause. We don't wanna reinvent the wheel, but if there's easier, faster, safer, smarter ways to do things, then I'm all about it.And we're gonna jump on board and go ahead and do that. Got the training done 2019, and 2019 I went full-time. I stopped working full-time in the Navy, so I went full-time into pressure washing full-time into Christmas lights. Got my first. Coach Pat Clark was my coach, attended Sales Boost and joined Conquer what used to be Conquer.I don't know what it's now, but without those three things that happened all at once. Literally I think this was January, I signed up for Conquer Sales Boost and had Pat