From Helper to Pro: Service-First Lessons with Ahmad Shakur

From Helper to Pro: Service-First Lessons with Ahmad Shakur
By Joe Crisara, America's Service Sales Coach

I still remember one of my first plumbing calls like it was yesterday.

Simple job. Kitchen sink clog. Should’ve been easy, right?

Five minutes in, I’m ankle-deep in water, the customer’s watching from the doorway, and my “simple job” has turned into a disaster movie. I remember thinking, “They don’t teach this part in the manual.”

That was the day I learned something they don’t tell you in trade school: You don’t grow from the calls that go right — you grow from the ones that go sideways.

And that’s exactly what today’s guest, Ahmad Shakur, is all about. Ahmad wrote Service First Plumbing: The Real-World Guide They Don’t Teach in Class — a must-read for anyone in the trades who’s ever felt like they were thrown into the deep end with no map.

Watch the video: Service MVP YouTube Channel
Listen to the podcast: Service MVP Podcast

 
Why Ahmad Wrote the Book
     
     “I kept getting calls from crawl spaces. Same questions, same situations. I realized I was repeating myself — so I wrote it all down.”

Ahmad’s book isn’t a manual about pipe size or water pressure.

It’s a guide to how to think like a professional — how to handle pressure, stay calm, and lead every call with confidence and integrity.

 
Mentors Beat “Fake It Till You Make It”

Social media says “fake it till you make it.”

The field says, “not today.”

     “You’re not reinventing the wheel,” Ahmad told me. “Learn from the people who’ve done it. Swallow your pride and ask.”

The best pros don’t pretend. They listen, they ask questions, and they get better with every mistake.
 
Choose the Right Company
Your first company can make or break your career. Ahmad’s advice:

Look for real training, not “ride with a guy and figure it out.”

Find leaders who answer the phone when you’re stuck.

Remember — you’re interviewing them too.

If they don’t have a ladder, don’t climb there.

 
Run the Call Like a Pro
     “Plumbing is a practice. The moment you stumble, trust wobbles.”

Professionalism isn’t about the logo on your shirt — it’s about your mindset.

The best techs practice their open, their diagnosis, and their presentation until it feels like muscle memory.

 
Discipline Is the Difference
Ahmad nailed it when he said:

     “Follow the process step by step, and you can pinpoint exactly where you slipped.”

That’s how the best techs learn. They don’t guess — they review, adjust, and improve the next day.

 
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Every trade pro knows that moment: you think you’ve seen it all — until you crawl under a sink and realize you haven’t.

     “As soon as you say, ‘It’s just like the last job,’ that’s when you get humbled.”

Growth comes from discomfort. Every tough call is another layer of wisdom.

 
Think Like an Owner (Even If You’re Not One)
Ownership isn’t about a title — it’s a mindset.

Understand how your work affects dispatch, CSRs, and management.

Ask, “How can I help the team win today?”

Step up when the company needs you — that’s how you get noticed.
 
Hot Topics from the Van
Ahmad and I both laughed at this one:

     “Leave your mother in the truck.”

Don’t sell the way you buy. Offer every option — cash, card, or financing — with the same calm confidence. Let customers make their own decisions.

That’s not pressure selling — that’s Pure Motive Service.

 
Where to Get the Book
Service First Plumbing: The Real-World Guide They Don’t Teach in Class
By Ahmad Shakur — Available now on Amazon

 
Closing Thought
This book reminds me why the trades matter — they’re real, they’re raw, and they build people who can solve problems no one else can.

If you’re ready to turn lessons like these into daily habits that pay, join the Service MVP Club — where home-service pros train every week to master Pure Motive Service and grow faster than they ever thought possible.