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by Paul W. Abernathy
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- 2 days ago35 min
Master The NEC | Episode 60 | Electrical Code Academy, Inc. and EC & M Magazine Unite
Big news is coming from Electrical Code Academy, Inc.In this episode, Paul Abernathy shares the recent agreement between Electrical Code Academy, Inc. and EC&M Magazine, where Paul will be contributing six articles annually, along with twelve videos and twelve podcast episodes each year focused on key issues affecting the electrical industry.The content will cover important developments in the 2026 National Electrical Code, but it will also go deeper into one of the most important relationships in the field: the interaction between electrical inspectors and electricians.Paul will discuss how inspectors and electricians often approach the NEC from different perspectives, why interpretation can sometimes lead to disagreement, and why professionalism, communication, and mutual respect are essential for every project to succeed. Whether you are an electrician, inspector, contractor, engineer, AHJ, or code professional, this episode sets the stage for a powerful new series designed to bring clarity, practical insight, and real-world experience to the NEC conversation.With nearly four decades in the electrical industry, including experience as a master electrician, electrical inspector, electrical supervisor, plan review professional, and NEC Code-Making Panel member, Paul brings a unique perspective to both sides of the inspection process.This new collaboration with EC&M Magazine is about more than articles, videos, and podcasts. It is about helping the industry better understand the NEC, improve communication in the field, and build stronger working relationships between electricians and inspectors.Topics include:The new EC&M Magazine collaborationThe upcoming 2026 National Electrical CodeCommon challenges in NEC interpretationThe relationship between electricians and inspectorsWhy respectful disagreement mattersHow better communication leads to safer, smoother projectsWhat listeners can expect from the upcoming article, video, and podcast seriesWhether you are preparing for the next code cycle, working in the field, performing inspections, designing electrical systems, or training the next generation of electricians, this episode is one you do not want to miss.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- 1 weeks ago25 min
Master The NEC | Episode 59 | Never Give Up: Ace Your Electrical Exam With the Right Study Plan
In this motivational episode, we explore why persistence and preparation are the keys to passing your electrical exam. Too many aspiring electricians fail because they either cram at the last minute or don’t use their study programs effectively.Research from Cornell’s Learning Strategies Center shows that breaking your study sessions into shorter periods over several days leads to better exam performance than marathon cramming. We’ll discuss how giving yourself ample time and using active preparation and review—creating flash cards, testing yourself and mixing up topics—can make the material stick.We also dive into our Fast Trax® program, a structured learning tool that offers step‑by‑step NEC code training, in‑depth exam prep and interactive courses designed for apprentices, journeymen and master electricians. Properly following a program like this is crucial; it provides guided lessons on grounding, bonding, load calculations, conductor ampacity and more.We’ll share stories of students who struggled because they didn’t commit to the schedule and how adjusting their approach turned things around. Tune in to learn strategies for staying on track, keeping your confidence high and ensuring you walk into the exam prepared and ready to succeed.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- Apr 14, 202656 min
Master The NEC | Episode 58 | A Few Code Questions and What’s Happening Now
This episode is powerful because it addresses a question posed via the Let’s Ask Paul Portal at https://FastTraxSystem.com. Today’s questions are about using a 15A Receptacle on a 20A Commercial Branch Circuit and a classic Transformers Question.Of course, we will also chat about anything, so come on and listen. We are excited to announce that we have passed 2,000,000 unique downloads this year. Thank you to everyone for your support and for keeping the podcast alive while I have been taking care of my wife and family.Listen as Paul Abernathy, CEO and Founder of Electrical Code Academy, Inc., the leading electrical educator in the country, discusses electrical code, electrical trade, and electrical business-related topics to help electricians maximize their knowledge and industry investment.If you are looking to learn more about the National Electrical Code, for electrical exam preparation, or to better your knowledge of the NEC, then visit https://fasttraxsystem.com for all the electrical code training you will ever need by the leading electrical educator in the country with the best NEC learning program on the planet.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- Apr 14, 202622 min
Master The NEC | Episode 57 | Reviewing a NECA Question of the Day
This episode is powerful because it focuses on a question presented to NECA as a Question of the Day. Listen as Paul explains the use of PVC on a fuel dispensing pump, and its use of Rigid Metal Conduit, and the question is about the bonding rules. Let’s break it down and expand on the answer provided by NECA to the individual who submitted the question.Listen as Paul Abernathy, CEO and Founder of Electrical Code Academy, Inc., the leading electrical educator in the country, discusses electrical code, electrical trade, and electrical business-related topics to help electricians maximize their knowledge and industry investment.If you are looking to learn more about the National Electrical Code, for electrical exam preparation, or to better your knowledge of the NEC, then visit https://fasttraxsystem.com for all the electrical code training you will ever need by the leading electrical educator in the country with the best NEC learning program on the planet.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- Mar 10, 20261h 2m
When the Dream Needs a Day Job: Turning a Failing Business Into a Side Hustle
In this episode, we tackle one of the hardest truths in entrepreneurship—knowing when a business isn’t ready to stand on its own. Too many people pour thousands of dollars, years of time, and even money from family into ventures that simply aren’t producing enough income to survive. At some point, determination can turn into financial damage. We discuss how to recognize when it’s time to shift gears, get a steady job to stabilize your finances, and move the dream into a side hustle instead of letting it destroy your bank account and relationships. Stepping back from a struggling business isn’t giving up—it’s making a strategic decision to protect your future while continuing to build your vision the smart way.Opening QuestionsAt what point does a business stop being a “startup phase” and start becoming financial self-destruction?How do you know the difference between “pushing through hard times” and “refusing to accept reality”?Is it possible that the smartest business decision you can make is getting a full-time job?Why do so many entrepreneurs treat the idea of getting a job like it's failure?Is pride the biggest reason people keep pouring money into a dying business?Reality Check QuestionsIf your business hasn’t paid you in a year, is it really a business or just an expensive hobby?How many months of losses should someone realistically tolerate before reassessing?If your spouse or family is financially supporting your “business,” are you really running a business?When you start borrowing money from family to keep a business alive, has it already crossed the line?Is there a point where continuing a failing business becomes irresponsible to your family?Ego vs RealityWhy do entrepreneurs sometimes confuse stubbornness with determination?Is quitting the wrong business actually a smart entrepreneurial move?How much of entrepreneurship is about knowing when to pivot or pause?Do social media success stories make people feel like they must grind forever even when it's not working?The Side Hustle StrategyWhy is turning a struggling business into a side hustle often the smartest move?What are the advantages of building a business while working a stable job?How does having steady income actually help a business grow smarter?Why do many successful businesses start as side hustles rather than full-time ventures?Is it better to grow slowly with stability rather than forcing growth with debt?Financial ResponsibilityWhat financial signals tell you it’s time to stop treating something like a full-time business?Should every entrepreneur set a financial “kill switch” before starting a business?How much savings should someone realistically have before trying to go full-time with a startup?Is taking money from family to support a failing business ever justified?What’s the long-term damage to relationships when businesses collapse after family investments?Hard Truths SegmentIs it possible that some ideas are just not viable businesses?How do you know when the market has spoken?What’s the difference between “this needs more time” and “this will never work”?Why is it sometimes smarter to pause a business than destroy your finances trying to save it?Encouragement SegmentDoes moving a business to a side hustle mean the dream is over?Can getting a stable job actually accelerate your future success?Why is patience often the missing ingredient in entrepreneurship?Is the real entrepreneurial skill knowing when to adapt instead of when to grind harder?Powerful Closing Question “Is the goal to prove you're an entrepreneur, or to actually build something sustainable?” Strong Closing Statement You Could Use “A real entrepreneur isn’t someone who refuses to quit. A real entrepreneur is someone who refuses to destroy their future chasing something that isn’t ready yet.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- Feb 21, 202647 min
Master The NEC | Episode 55 | Burning Bridges in the Electrical Industry
In today’s connected world, burning bridges in the electrical industry can cost you far more than you realize. In this episode, The Electrical Guru dives into the real-world consequences of publicly criticizing inspectors, manufacturers, educators, and fellow electricians—especially on social media.The electrical trade is a tight-knit community where reputations travel fast, and opportunities often depend on professional relationships built over years. One emotional post or public rant can quietly damage your credibility, limit future support, and close doors you didn’t even know were open.Whether you’re an electrical contractor, apprentice, inspector, or industry professional, this episode delivers straight talk on why professionalism matters, how online behavior impacts your business, and what smart electricians do instead of burning bridges.If you’re serious about long-term success in the electrical industry, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.Listen as Paul Abernathy, CEO and Founder of Electrical Code Academy, Inc., the leading electrical educator in the country, discusses electrical code, electrical trade, and electrical business-related topics to help electricians maximize their knowledge and industry investment.If you are looking to learn more about the National Electrical Code, for electrical exam preparation, or to better your knowledge of the NEC, then visit https://fasttraxsystem.com for all the electrical code training you will ever need by the leading electrical educator in the country with the best NEC learning program on the planet.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- Jan 30, 202632 min
Master The NEC | Episode 54 | My Thoughts on Home Inspectors
This episode is powerful because it focuses on the value of Home Inspectors to the electrician and not just the buyer and/or seller. You may be shocked, pun intended, to learn what Paul Abernathy, a nationally recognized electrical expert, thinks about home inspectors and what they bring to the table for electricians. We, as electricians and electrical contractors, are always looking to grow our business, to increase our exposure, and to simply be the best we can be.So, embracing the Home Inspection Industry is very important to an electrical contractor’s success. Yes, I know the actual Electrician likes to bash the stuff in a home inspection report when things are called out that seem frivolous, but at the end of the day, you, the Electrician, are getting paid to either fix the issues or give a detailed explanation of what is acceptable. Once that interaction is done, it’s up to the negotiation between the buyer and seller, and nothing you say in a report, be it the home inspection report or electrical follow-up evaluation, should be biased or one-sided. Simply state the facts, collect your check, and move on. Listen as Paul Abernathy, CEO and Founder of Electrical Code Academy, Inc., the leading electrical educator in the country, discusses electrical code, electrical trade, and electrical business-related topics to help electricians maximize their knowledge and industry investment.If you are looking to learn more about the National Electrical Code, for electrical exam preparation, or to better your knowledge of the NEC, then visit https://fasttraxsystem.com for all the electrical code training you will ever need by the leading electrical educator in the country with the best NEC learning program on the planet.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
- Jan 15, 202637 min
Master The NEC | Episode 53 | Do Your Service Techs have Soft Skills?
This episode is powerful because it focuses on the importance of soft skills, such as communication and conflict mitigation, that all service employees need to be trained to understand the importance of Soft Skills in the Trades. The company's reputation can be destroyed by one bad service call. The results of poor people skills can undo thousands of hours, if not years of hard work, when it could have all be avoided with some soft skills training.Listen as Paul Abernathy, CEO and Founder of Electrical Code Academy, Inc., the leading electrical educator in the country, discusses electrical code, electrical trade, and electrical business-related topics to help electricians maximize their knowledge and industry investment.If you are looking to learn more about the National Electrical Code, for electrical exam preparation, or to better your knowledge of the NEC, then visit https://fasttraxsystem.com for all the electrical code training you will ever need by the leading electrical educator in the country with the best NEC learning program on the planet.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
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About Ask Paul | National Electrical Code
Welcome to Ask Paul the podcast where nationally recognized electrical code experts answer your electrical code-related questions on a weekly podcast. Join us as we answer questions submitted on the www.PaulAbernathy.com website. Get answers from National Electrical Code Panel Members who give their own opinions to answering NEC-related questions. Please be sure to visit https://fasttraxtube.com and subscribe for a FREE ACCOUNT to listen to all our new podcasts starting March 1, 2024.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ask-paul-national-electrical-code--4971115/support.
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