How Michael Zeller Changed Thousands of Lives — Including Yours

How Michael Zeller Changed Thousands of Lives — Including Yours

The Successful Contractor Podcast – NEW EPISODE

In this powerful episode of The Successful Contractor, host Bob Houchin sits down with retiring coach, trainer, and mentor Michael Zeller — a man who’s impacted thousands of lives through his 40-year career in business, leadership, and service. This isn’t just a retrospective. It’s a masterclass in life and business.

From growing up in a working-class Long Island family to building a body shop, scaling through Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and eventually becoming one of the most beloved coaches at CertainPath, Michael shares the pivotal moments, lessons learned, and wisdom earned through decades of doing the hard work — and helping others do it better.

This conversation is filled with emotion, honesty, and insight that every contractor — from business owner to technician — needs to hear.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The values Michael’s parents instilled that shaped his lifelong work ethic
• Why he walked away from his own business to take a trainee position — and never looked back
• The power of staying humble and becoming a student, even after success
• What makes a great manager — and why most owners get it wrong
• The true reason great employees leave… and what to do to keep them
• How to coach your team instead of bossing them around
• The “cotton candy” of Michael’s career — and what lights him up
• Why your team needs opportunity — and how giving it builds loyalty

Michael’s story is full of teachable moments, humor, and heart. If you’ve ever struggled with leadership, building culture, or wondering if you’re really making a difference, this episode is for you.

It’s not just a farewell. It’s a roadmap. And it’s one you’ll want to revisit again and again.

“We love you, Michael, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”