245. David Royce: From Pest Control to Power Moves, how being a door-to-door salesman led to selling his pest control company for over NINE FIGURES, the art of closing deals and entrepreneurial lessons

245. David Royce: From Pest Control to Power Moves, how being a door-to-door salesman led to selling his pest control company for over NINE FIGURES, the art of closing deals and entrepreneurial lessons

Author: Audioboom Studios July 28, 2025 Duration: 1:13:38
This week, Jason is joined by a serial entrepreneur who has built four of the most successful environmental service businesses in North America, David Royce!
David is the founder and chairman of Aptive Environmental providing pest solutions to thousands of cities in 34 states. David’s companies have been highlighted in national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and Inc. Magazine. In 2015, David was awarded the Earnest Young National Entrepreneur of the Year award. 
David shares his journey from knocking on doors as a pest control salesman to becoming Rookie of the Year by mastering sales through relentless study. He breaks down the art of closing deals, why perfecting your pitch is everything, and how taking initiative—like creating a training manual—helped him dramatically increase his earnings summer after summer. David also dives into why “unsexy” jobs are underrated, how he nearly bankrupted his business before scaling it nationally, and the ways Tony Hsieh of Zappos influenced his approach to company culture. He opens up about his biggest career mistake, the importance of mastering sales as a lifelong skill, how to manage newfound wealth, what he looks for (and avoids) when hiring, and what’s next on his entrepreneurial journey. Plus, he shares his best advice for anyone looking to build a successful business from the ground up.
David reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!
Host: Jason Tartick
Co-Host: David Arduin
Audio: John Gurney
Guest: David Royce

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Ever wonder what really happens behind the boardroom doors or before a product hits the market? Trading Secrets pulls back the curtain on the unspoken rules and hard-won lessons from the world of business and beyond. Hosted by Audioboom Studios, each episode feels like a candid conversation with someone who has been in the trenches, exploring not just the successes but the pivotal failures and personal insights that shaped their journey. You’ll hear stories that blend practical entrepreneurship with broader news trends, all framed through a lens of genuine self-improvement. This isn’t about dry theory or generic advice; it’s about the tangible, often messy realities of building something meaningful. Tune in for a podcast that values depth over soundbites, offering perspectives that educate and challenge conventional thinking in business and life. The discussions are designed to equip you with a more nuanced understanding of how decisions are made and what it truly takes to navigate complex professional landscapes.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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