#135 From Jail To A Career In Construction, A High Paying Job, No Degree Required!

One trade, one comeback story, and one brutally honest roadmap for anyone who thinks they are too far behind to build a good life. Bobby Armstrong shares how he went from a strict upbringing and no high school diploma to earning over $100K a year in HVAC, and how he survived a 15-year addiction battle that nearly took everything. Coach Ike sits down with Bobby, the creator behind Blue Collar Code, to unpack the path that took him from commercial auto body work in Indiana and refrigeration trailers in Chicago to residential installs in Florida, and eventually into commercial HVAC in Arizona. Along the way, Bobby explains how trade school, hands-on experience, and relentless work ethic opened doors that college never could, even after jail, probation, relapse, and years of hiding a severe opioid addiction. You will discover: Why HVAC is one of the most portable, high-demand trades in the country. How non-union techs in Phoenix can start around $20 to $25 an hour and grow far beyond that. The exact behaviors employers look for when experience is limited: punctuality, attitude, loyalty, and willingness to work. Why showing up early, buying tools, and doing the basics consistently can fast-track your reputation. How Bobby got into trade school, paid for it with grants and scholarships, and turned that education into a career with real earning power. Bobby also gets raw about the darker side of that journey. He explains how a weekend habit became a functional addiction, how he kept working while using, what finally pushed him toward rock bottom, and why sobriety only began when he truly wanted it. His story is a reminder that recovery is not about force, it is about readiness, support, and asking for help. For young people eyeing the trades, or anyone who needs proof that a rough start does not have to define the rest of your life, this episode delivers both practical career advice and hard-won perspective. If you want the truth about blue-collar opportunity, addiction, redemption, and what it really takes to rebuild, this one is essential listening. Start the FREE Construction Project Management Introduction Course with CourseCareers Now: https://coursecareers.com/a/ike?course=construction-management&campaign=YT 📚 Student & Alumni Reviews: https://coursecareers.com/reviews 🎓Testimonial of CourseCareers https://youtu.be/RRl88nof5f8?si=dKeh4ZnnJ4Yfoo7l 🤯 Even More Testimonials: https://www.youtube.com/@coursecareers