Pool Chasers Podcast

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Episode 141: Dakota Sweeney - Overcoming Adversities to Start Her Own Pool Service Business

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Episode Summary

Dakota Sweeney is the owner of Swimming Bear Pool Services, a pool service company in Hesperia/Victorville, CA. For those that have listened to the podcast for a while, you know that’s some of our old stomping grounds.

Our conversation focused on Dakota’s inspiring journey which began with a challenging childhood that included divorced parents and an initially alcoholic adoptive father, as well as an early adulthood working for steady paychecks at Wendy’s, Chipotle, 7 Eleven, and Outback Steakhouse.

A turning point in Dakota’s life came when her adoptive father encouraged her to “find a trade—find skills that no one else can take away from you so that you always at least have a job.” He referred Dakota to his pool guy, which led to her getting hired on the spot in her first interview. Thankfully, she found a welcoming SCP community who patiently taught her the ins-and-outs of the trade.

At one point, Dakota became determined to own her time, master the trade, and make the transition from technician to owner/operator. Going down the rabbit hole of “YouTube University” and other low-to-no-cost solutions to educate herself in the industry-led Dakota to meet the Pool Chasers team. This eventually led her to traveling across the country to start her own business, which brings us to this moment.


Topics Discussed

  • 01:25 - The 2,222-mile journey from Florida to California

  • 09:48 - The opportunities and challenges of doing pool service in the High Desert.

  • 12:05 - Growing up in Vero Beach, Florida

  • 20:56 - Building a strong-willed, no-excuses mindset out of a challenging upbringing

  • 29:12 - Entering the pool industry and learning the trade

  • 36:39 - YouTube University

  • 38:34 - The opportunity to purchase a pool service business

  • 40:57 - Low-to-no-cost ways to educate yourself in the pool service trade

  • 46:09 - What Dakota appreciates about the Pool Chasers community

  • 59:16 - Dakota’s go-to Pool Chasers episodes

  • 1:02:56 - The importance of prioritizing profitability for any business owner

  • 1:06:42 - The advantages of listening to the podcast from a technician’s point-of-view


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Key Quotes from Episode

  • Find a trade—find skills that no one else can take away from you so that you always at least have a job.

  • To listen to the podcast from a technician’s perspective first, and now looking at it as an owner/operator is very beneficial for me because, as long as my head doesn’t get too big, when I have my own technicians, I can tell them, “I remember struggling with this throughout my day. How do I make this part easier for you?”

  • Without this podcast, I would always have this drive but I would not be where I am today.

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