From Personal Trainers to HVAC Entrepreneurs

Louis and Travis's journey wasn’t mapped out in advance. Both started as personal trainers, helping people transform their physical health. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it threw a wrench in their careers, like it did for many. The fitness industry came to a halt, and both men found themselves at a crossroads. The pivot? HVAC—an industry they’d never planned on entering but one that would ultimately provide the opportunity they needed.

They met while working in HVAC sales, where both felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction. They were good at sales, but something was missing—like a puzzle piece that just didn’t fit. Working at a large company with limited room for personal growth, they quickly realized they wanted more. They wanted to create something of their own.

From the Car to the Company: Building Prestige

In the early days, it was just the two of them. They worked out of their car, hustling to build the business one appointment at a time. One would drive, and the other would be on the computer, building their website, getting creative with lead generation, and trying to make ends meet. They had no formal business experience, just the raw energy of two driven individuals who believed deeply in their vision.

“Those car rides were the foundation of it all,” Louis recalls. “We’d talk for hours about how we were going to make this company the best. We knew, even before we had employees, that we were going to have morning mindset meetings to set the tone for our day.”

That drive and determination carried them through the tough times and laid the groundwork for what would eventually become Prestige.

The Power of Conviction and Creativity

Early on, with no budget and no marketing experience, Louis and Travis had to get creative. They’d book appointments while on the road, hoping their efforts would result in actual clients by the time they arrived at their destinations. It was a game of persistence, resourcefulness, and sheer willpower.

Travis reflects on their mentality during those early days: “A lot of times, you just have to go for it and start. If you wait until everything’s perfect, you’ll never begin.”

Louis adds, “We didn’t have much—just the certainty and conviction that things would work out. We were in the car with nothing but our belief that we could make this happen.”

Family, Friends, and the Magic of Asking

One of the key factors in their rapid success was bringing family and friends on board early on. They trusted their loved ones to join the mission from the start. That early team helped them build the foundation for Prestige, and, as Louis admits, it added a layer of pressure. “We felt the responsibility of not letting them down,” he says.

But that sense of accountability also pushed them to be better. It fueled their desire to create something not just for themselves but for those they brought into the fold.

Another important lesson they learned along the way? The power of simply asking for what you need. As Louis puts it, “The magic is in just picking up the phone and asking. That undid all the limiting beliefs we had about what was possible.”

This ability to take action and push past their fears created the momentum that allowed their vision to grow exponentially. What started as a small operation on the road quickly began to expand as their mindset and belief in the company got stronger.

The Motivation Behind Hard Work and Growth

The pain of failing, Louis and Travis explain, became one of their greatest motivators. The setbacks they faced, the fears they conquered, and the failures they learned from pushed them to work harder than they ever thought possible.

And one of the scariest moments of all? A financial setback that almost led to bankruptcy but instead, generated the realization that systems - not just sales - was needed to ensure long-term success. That wake-up call forced them to get organized and create the structure that would support future growth.

As Travis reflects, “The setbacks were tough, but they made us stronger. They taught us how to work smarter and keep going, even when things felt uncertain.”

The Road Ahead

Two years later, Prestige is expanding from coast to coast, growing rapidly, and building on the lessons they learned in those early car rides. They’ve gone from employees to their own bosses, but they never lost sight of the values that got them here: mindset, conviction, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of growth.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone starting a business or facing obstacles on their journey. Louis and Travis’ story is a powerful reminder that with a little bit of creativity, and by tackling limiting beliefs, anything is possible.

Tune in to hear more about their journey, the lessons they learned, and the future of Prestige as they continue to build the HVAC business