E-213 Pool Nation Podcast - Breaking Down the 2024 Pool Nation Awards Nominees & Industry Insights

The Pool Industry's Biggest Night Gets Even Bigger

What started as an ambitious vision to recognize excellence in the pool industry has evolved into something far beyond what the Pool Nation Podcast team ever imagined. In their latest episode, hosts Edgar De Jesus and John JJ Flawless (with Zach Nicholas off hunting in Idaho) dive deep into the incredible growth of their 2024 Pool Nation Awards nomination event, revealing just how dramatically the industry's appetite for recognition and community has expanded.

From humble beginnings with skeptical audiences to packed venues with professionals flying in from across the country, the Pool Nation Awards have become a cornerstone event that's reshaping how the pool industry celebrates its top performers. But with great success comes great challenges – and this year's nomination numbers have created some beautiful problems that speak to the heart of a thriving, engaged community.

From Skeptics to Believers: The Remarkable Evolution

The transformation of the Pool Nation Awards from concept to industry staple hasn't been without its challenges. John JJ Flawless reflects on the early days with candid honesty about the initial reception:

Let's be honest, the first year when we were talking to people about, hey, we want to do this nomination event, stuff like that, everybody was looking at us like, what is weird? What's wrong with you? And it was like trying to pull teeth to get people to come, right?

— John JJ Flawless, Pool Nation Podcast

This year's event painted a completely different picture. With 42 attendees – a significant jump from their usual 30 – the nomination night showcased professionals who traveled from Georgia, California, and Seattle specifically to be part of the celebration. The growth isn't just in numbers; it's in the quality of engagement and the genuine enthusiasm from industry participants.

What makes this evolution particularly meaningful is how it reflects a broader shift in industry culture. The pool industry, traditionally focused on technical skills and business metrics, is increasingly recognizing the value of peer recognition and community building.

Breaking Records: The 2024 Nomination Explosion

The numbers tell a compelling story of industry engagement. While the podcast transcript hints at the dramatic increase in nominations (mentioning a jump from around 50-60 in the first year to over 120), the real story is what these numbers represent: a community that's actively looking out for and celebrating each other.

The event's growth has created what Edgar and John call "good challenges." With limited time and venue constraints, they're faced with the enviable problem of having too many deserving nominees to properly showcase in a single evening. This speaks to something deeper than just increased participation – it reflects an industry that's becoming more collaborative and recognition-focused.

The streaming numbers further emphasize this engagement, with Instagram Live sessions drawing 80-90 viewers at peak times, often exceeding 100. For an industry event, these numbers represent significant community investment in celebrating excellence.

The Power of Peer Recognition in Professional Growth

One of the most powerful aspects of the Pool Nation Awards isn't just the final winners, but the recognition that comes with being nominated. John JJ Flawless emphasizes this philosophy:

The nomination event is I think it's an honor just to be nominated, right? You're a winner already. And to think that one of your peers or somebody out there believes enough in you and enough of them also feel the same.

— John JJ Flawless, Pool Nation Podcast

This perspective transforms the entire awards process from a competition to a celebration. When multiple people nominate the same individual – which happens frequently – it creates a powerful validation that goes beyond any trophy or certificate. It's peer recognition in its purest form.

The ripple effects of this recognition extend far beyond the event itself. Nominees gain visibility in their markets, build confidence in their professional abilities, and often find new business opportunities through the network connections made during the process.

Industry Unity: When Competition Becomes Collaboration

Perhaps the most striking observation from this year's event was the level of collaboration among industry professionals who might traditionally view each other as competition. The hosts noted how inspiring it was to see people from competing companies come together to celebrate excellence across the board.

This shift toward collaboration over pure competition represents a maturation of the pool industry. Rather than viewing success as a zero-sum game, professionals are increasingly recognizing that elevating the entire industry benefits everyone involved.

The presenter quality also evolved significantly, with many taking time to share personal stories about how Pool Nation has impacted their businesses and professional development. This level of vulnerability and sharing creates deeper connections within the professional community.

Strategic Partnerships and Community Support

The success of the Pool Nation Awards wouldn't be possible without strong industry partnerships. The podcast consistently acknowledges their "visionary partners" including Ultimate Pool Tools, SPPA, Blu-ray, Excel, AquaStar pool products, Natural Chemistry, Ray Pack, Heritage Pool Supply, and Hayward Pool Products.

Big thanks out to heritage, of course, for opening up their doors again and helping us, giving us the venue in order for us to do it. I thought it was really nice, especially to see all these people that are supposedly competition and stuff like that go up together and celebrate these people.

— John JJ Flawless, Pool Nation Podcast

These partnerships demonstrate how industry suppliers and manufacturers are investing in community building alongside their traditional business activities. Heritage Pool Supply's venue sponsorship, in particular, shows how established companies are supporting grassroots recognition efforts.

Looking Forward: Scaling Success Without Losing Soul

As the Pool Nation Awards continue to grow, the challenge becomes maintaining the personal, community-focused atmosphere that made them special while accommodating increased demand. The "good problems" of too many nominees and too much interest require creative solutions.

The streaming approach helps solve the scale challenge by allowing industry professionals who can't attend in person to still participate in the celebration. This hybrid approach – intimate in-person events with broad digital reach – may become the model for other industry recognition programs.

The commitment to celebrating nominations, not just winners, ensures that the growth doesn't dilute the program's core mission of industry-wide recognition and encouragement.

Key Takeaways for Industry Professionals

The explosive growth of the Pool Nation Awards offers several important lessons for pool industry professionals and other trade industries looking to build community:

• Peer recognition drives engagement: When professionals see their peers being celebrated, they want to participate and nominate others
• Community building requires patience: What started with skeptical audiences has grown into must-attend industry events
• Collaboration beats competition: Industries thrive when professionals support each other's success rather than viewing everything as zero-sum
• Recognition at all levels matters: Celebrating nominees, not just winners, creates broader community investment
• Strategic partnerships amplify impact: Supplier and manufacturer support enables grassroots community building efforts

The Pool Nation Awards have evolved from an ambitious experiment into an industry institution, proving that there was a deep hunger for recognition and community that traditional industry structures weren't addressing. As they continue to grow, they're not just celebrating excellence – they're actively creating a more connected, supportive professional community that benefits everyone involved.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Zach's Hunting Adventure
• 05:30 John's Personal Updates: Quitting Smoking and Family Goals
• 12:00 2024 Pool Nation Awards Nomination Event Recap
• 18:45 Growth and Evolution of the Awards Program
• 25:20 Industry Engagement and Community Building
• 32:00 Recognition Philosophy and Peer Nominations