The Site Shed | Systems, Strategy and Growth for Tradies and Contractors

The funny thing about success is that people think of it as an overnight thing instead of a journey. Most people don't see the hard work that owners and the team have put in to thrive. It is important to note that many factors are in play when it comes to success, and only those who are willing and disciplined enough will get to taste and experience it firsthand. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Sam Friend, the managing director of Stag Electrical. Sam shares how Stag Electrical started and how it has evolved to become the company that it is today. Sam talks about what it took to expand their services and why he thinks a business’s biggest asset is its staff. He also discusses the importance of marketing and what he envisions the company to be like in the future. Check out this episode today! Discussion Points: 0:00 The Elevation Program 4:20 How Sam started Stag Electrical 8:58 How Sam’s experience in industrial electrical projects influenced his operations 10:05 Implementing systems with the team 11:05 What does ‘grow’ mean?12:16 Expansion of services 14:16 Facilitating logistics 16:00 Team building, staff, recruitment 17:35 Staff as a business’s biggest asset 20:58 Giving your team a voice during toolbox meetings23:02 Mindset or process on how to get feedback from guys on the ground25:41 Designing vision and goals for Stag Electrical 27:44 Improving the onboarding process28:51 Sam’s leadership journey and evolution 34:16 Consistency in processes 36:42 Sam talks about what he’s doing in his business nowadays 43:03 Google Ads and marketing 50:06 Where Sam sees Stag Electrical in the future About the Guest: Sam Friend is the managing director of Stag Electrical Solar & Refrigeration. The company was established in 2007, and Sam has slowly grown it through refining processes along the way, ensuring a solid foundation guaranteeing they will still be here for years to come. The company’s team of 22 have over 13 years of experience providing expert customer service. They currently offer their services across two states ACT and NSW and have offices in Canberra and Young servicing Murrumbateman, Temora, Cowra, Yass, Boorowa, Cootamundra, Grenfell, and Harden.Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys Elevati Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Scaling a business is what business owners dream of. And to get to that point, many components are involved as one thing always impacts another. However, it’s worth noting that although the journey towards success isn’t always a breeze, with a lot of hurdles to be overcome, it’s all worth it once you see the work pay off. This is what we discuss in my conversation with Patrick Readyhough. He is the owner of a mid-sized roofing company called Pond Roofing that he acquired in the year 2012. He had his fair share of triumphs and trials in business, but it is a mixture of different things that led him to where he is now. We talk about the importance of leveraging your business’s database and how to retain customers instead of always looking for new ones. We also talk about accountability and coaching and how Patrick’s role has evolved over the years he’s been in business. Tune in to this episode today! Discussion Points: 0:00 The Elevation Program and Introduction 6:50 Background of Pond Roofing company 8:35 Why Pond Roofing prefers to work with homeowners 10:38 Patrick’s take on the marketing front from his personal experience 13:54 Leveraging your database for the business 16:38 Doing a little bit of everything 17:32 Looking the part so people choose you 20:27 Tools for measuring off maps 21:50 How Patrick acquired his company 27:13 Changes to operations upon acquiring the company 28:50 Empowering your teams to scale your business 30:23 Approach Patrick took to making changes in the company 31:44 Accountability and coaching 33:22 Finding a better way of doing things 34:44 How has Patrick’s role changed throughout the years 37:50 Removing yourself from what you’re doing by bringing other people in 42:13 How your business can benefit most from you 43:03 Recruitment, staff, and retention49:54 Obstacles and friction points that Patrick learned to navigate 53:43 How Patrick developed into becoming the leader he wants to be About the Guest: Patrick Readyhough has been in the home remodeling and construction industry for over 20 years. His journey began in college, running painting crews to help pay for his tuition while attending Virginia Tech. After graduating, he gained experience working for a national homebuilder. In 2010, the timing was right for him to join forces with Betsy Pond. Together, Betsy and Patrick fine-tuned Pond’s operations to increase the overall quality o Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Everyone knows the importance of setting goals, but achieving them is a different thing for most people. One can create a goal today and forget about it the next month or give up on it, especially when it gets tricky. If this seems to be the case with you, you need not fret. There are practical ways to go about it so you can see your goals come to fruition! In this podcast episode, I talk with one of our highly-esteemed guests in the show, Al Levi. Al shares practical ways to set goals, whether personal or in business, and achieve them. These ways are the very ones he uses himself, so you can be sure that they work. We discuss the importance of accountability and beliefs. We also talk about why you need your goals to be clear and why meetings make up a vital part of achieving your goals. Tune in to this episode today! Discussion Points: 0:00 The 7-Power Offer 3:35 Al talks about the 7 Power Contractor 6:48 The importance of mindset training 7:52 Working together towards the same direction 9:58 The org chart 10:25 Writing your goals down and holding yourself accountable 12:29 Ten golden rules for personal and business 14:16 Clarity of goals 15:05 Meetings are essential; meetings with ‘me’ 16:44 Examine what you truly believe and fix your struggles 18:11 Writing down the positive and negative beliefs and destroying the latter 20:51 Helpful recommendations on how you can revisit your goals22:48 Accountability 27:48 Framework for goals 34:00 Four things people in your flat org chart should know 36:04 Why people don’t want to set goals38:48 Get better at numbers (even if you don’t like them)41:37 Main goals to focus on 44:26 What if you don’t reach your goals despite following everything? About the Guest: Al Levi is president of The 7-Power Contractor (formerly Appleseed Business), a business consulting and training firm that has helped hundreds of service and installation-based contracting businesses run better since 2002. He also is a columnist for Plumbing & Mechanical (PM) magazine and Reeves Journal, and the author of “The 7-Power Contractor: Run Your Contracting Business With Less Stress and More Success”. The book lays out seven simple business powers that hundreds of owners have implemented successfully, often transforming their businesses.Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - ( Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

When COVID hit last year, there was this sense of panic. Many business owners thought of the worst, tradies not exempted - closing down their businesses. But we’ve seen resilience throughout last year, and many have survived even thrived. Now that a new year has come, is there still a sense of doom and gloom, or are things looking up? In this week’s podcast episode, I talk once again with Michael Steckler of Tradify. We discuss the reason behind the Tradify Pulse reports and how it has helped more tradespeople understand what’s happening business-wise. Michael also shares the key insights they have found into their latest report and what advantages await those who are open about using software to automate and ease their processes. Tune in to this episode today! Discussion Points: 0:00 Tradify Offer 3:27 Tradies still have a positive outlook as of the moment 4:26 More tradesmen are getting more work 5:54 All the doom and gloom predicted did not become a reality 7:08 What does Tradify do?9:59 Differences in the pace of trades businesses adopting technologies 12:12 Trades business owners are more open-minded now13:22 How Tradify works with customers 16:06 Reason why Tradify collated a report 17:38 Important recommendations from the previous report 22:48 Delving into the recent Tradify report 24:21 Key insights of the recent Tradify report 28:21 Other trends from the Tradify report 32:09 Talent pool availability 37:00 Tradify report on the admin side of business 41:34 Software and automation put business owners at an advantage About the Guest: Michael Steckler is the CEO of Tradify, a job management software app made especially for tradies. Tradify is an application that helps tradespeople manage and grow their business, especially when it comes to managing their finances. This software has helped tradies shorten their time working on administrative tasks and focus more on enjoying their lives outside work. Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys Elevation Program - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/elevation/)Tradie Web Guys’ Apply (qualification) page (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply/) Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Do you ever feel like meetings are not important? This dread of meetings may be because of the lack of structure that provides value to these sessions. The good news is that you don’t have to dread it any longer, as there is a way to make sure that you can get the most out of it - tap into the geniuses of people, break down ideas, and solve problems; all of which will propel your business forward. In this episode, I welcome Eric Anderton to the show. Eric and I talk about valuable information about meetings. Eric shares what a well-structured meeting looks like that will get you to solve the problems that you face in your business. He also talks about identifying your rally cry, areas of fierce focus, and the critical number you tie to each area of fierce focus. This episode helps make the most out of your meetings. Tune in today! Discussion Points: 0:00 The Elevation Program 4:08 Eric shares his story 4:56 Reasons why most companies despise meetings6:45 A well-structured meeting is valuable 8:03 The first thing to do to have an effective meeting9:32 Three main principles in Eric’s meeting framework 10:27 Importance of having regular meetings 11:11 Different types of meetings15:19 Conducting an effective problem-solving meeting17:03 Involve people and tap into their genius19:35 Helping people break down their ideas22:24 Frequency of problem-solving meetings 23:11 How to apply outcomes in meetings 24:40 Identify your rally cry 25:43 Areas of fierce focus 26:32 Tie a critical number to each area of fierce focus 27:20 The kinds of meetings and who you want to meet with 33:58 Why an outside facilitator helps with meetings34:50 The need for follow-up 36:32 Make meetings part of the cultureAbout the Guest: Eric Anderton has more than two decades of career and entrepreneurial business experience, alongside 25 years of public speaking, small group facilitation, and one-on-one mentoring. He is a trusted leadership advisor, executive mentor, and expert meeting facilitator for construction companies that range in revenue from $10 million - $1 billion.Since 2004 he has helped his clients increase profitability by clarifying their business purpose, building strategic plans, developing their best people, systematically innovating through obstacles, and executing their most important priorities.Resources: Tradie Web Guys Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Business transitions due to physical or mental limitations caused by untoward incidents are a painful reality. Most business owners find that the only viable solution once this happens to them is that they have to close shop and go out of business which doesn’t always have to be the case. You can survive and have a thriving business, given that you seek the help you need to go through this transition smoothly. In this podcast episode, the second part of the series, Adapting to Forced Change, Genevieve and I talk about what a business transition looks like when forced off the tools as a business owner. We discuss the importance of accountability and how having someone who can help you get another perspective on your dilemma is crucial. Gen also shares a case study that will encourage you to push through when you go through unfortunate circumstances like accidents or illnesses. Check out this episode today!Discussion Points: 0:00 The Elevation Program 5:25 The inability of most businesses to pick up the business owner’s role5:59 Keeping owners off the tools 8:50 Creating a routine around the new normal 9:42 The need for accountability11:01 Physical limitations are a painful reality 13:33 Business mentoring 16:02 A holistic look at your business16:57 Thinking outside the box17:27 Income protection insurance 18:01 Case study 21:42 Takeaways from the episode About the Guest: Genevieve Cassuci is a qualified health professional with postgraduate qualifications in Rehabilitation Counselling with substantial experience in the health sector. Besides that, she has concurrently personally owned and partnered in several business operations in Allied Health, professional consultancy, food manufacturing, hospitality, events management, franchising, and export.Eventually, Gen identified the benefit of blending her business acumen with the needs of people who have acquired a disabling medical condition. Through Pivotl she, and her team mentor and guide business owners and want-to-be entrepreneurs to recreate, re-structure, re-think, re-adjust and re-assess their business, now that they have medical limitations to factor into their futures.Genevieve and her team work with new and existing business owners and entrepreneurs from various industries and in any location to grow and diversify their businesses.Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys El Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Change is scary, mostly if the change happens due to conditions, whether physically or mentally. While it is true that we do not have control over the things that happen to us, we have a say and a responsibility to adapt and plan. The growing issues around health nowadays, including the importance of addressing mental health problems, stifles business owners. Still, with proper guidance and the right processes, there is a way to resolve it. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Genevieve Cassuci, Director and Co-founder of Pivotl. We discuss how essential planning is for businesses to accommodate physical and mental health conditions. She also shares why getting guidance from qualified professionals is necessary to resolve these issues, and Gen also touches on the benefits of having systems in place. Tune in to this episode today!Discussion Points: 0:00 The Elevation Program 0:56 Genevieve shares her story 5:43 How a scenario planning looks for mental health issues7:15 Identifying mental health issues 8:05 Working out what’s going on and finding solutions12:57 It is difficult to accept that something has to change16:27 Guidance from someone qualified is important18:06 The right process when someone is not truthful 22:06 Looking into your onboarding processes25:48 Things to put in place to accommodate changes 26:59 Importance of insurance 31:40 Business planAbout the Guest: Genevieve Cassuci is a qualified health professional with postgraduate qualifications in Rehabilitation Counselling with substantial experience in the health sector. Besides that, she has concurrently personally owned and partnered in several business operations in Allied Health, professional consultancy, food manufacturing, hospitality, events management, franchising, and export.Eventually, Gen identified the benefit of blending her business acumen with the needs of people who have acquired a disabling medical condition. Through Pivotl she, and her team mentor and guide business owners and want-to-be entrepreneurs to re-create, re-structure, re-think, re-adjust and re-assess their business, now that they have medical limitations to factor into their futures.Genevieve and her team work with new and existing business owners and entrepreneurs from various industries and in any location to grow and diversify their businesses.Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys E Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

We don’t want chaotic turnovers; we want smooth transitions when it comes to an exit. Most business owners dream of it but don’t see the need to plan today, which is not the wisest thing to do. Whether an exit for you means selling your business or staying as the owner but having someone manage it for you, a graceful exit is possible. In today’s podcast episode, the third and final of the Exit Strategy vs. Wishful Hoping series, Danielle Putnam and I discuss how to go about a graceful exit. We also discuss the importance of identifying your time’s highest use and why it is crucial to delegate some of it. We also tackle the importance of technology and a lot more. Take time to listen to this episode today! Discussion Points: 0:00 Offer and Introduction 1:52 Recap of the previous episodes3:16 How to gracefully exit 7:34 Identifying the highest use of your time 9:46 Work with the end in mind10:00 Having the right people on your team 12:23 Being honest 13:40 Offloading tasks to other people 14:23 Technology is crucial 15:18 Exit from other stuff to focus on what’s valuable 15:28 Delegate and free up your time About the Guest: Danielle Putnam is the president of The New Flat Rate, a company that she and her father founded in 2011. She is also the immediate past President of Women in HVACR, an organisation that encourages more women to enter the trades. Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys Elevation Program - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/elevation/)Tradie Web Guys’ Apply (qualification) page (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply/)Visit The New Flat Rate’s website (https://thenewflatrate.com/) Contact Danielle through email ([email protected]) Listen to the previous podcast episodes in this series. TSS 283 (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/danielle-putnam/) TSS 284 (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/danielle-putnam-2/)Books mentioned in this episode: Good to Great: Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Are you making your business valuable and saleable enough? Buyers look into the value of your business before they even consider buying it. And if you want a successful exit from your business, it’s time to put in the work needed to build value. Aim to understand the factors involved in creating a more valuable business that buyers will want to buy. In today’s podcast episode, I talk once again with my guest Danielle Putnam. This episode is the second of a three-part series called Exit Strategy vs. Wishful Hoping. Danielle discusses the things buyers look into during the acquisition of your business. She also shares the areas that a business owner should look in to create more business value. She encourages business owners to make constant room for improvements in their business today. Tune in to this episode! Discussion Points: 0:00 Elevation Program 1:09 Episode overview 4:04 Making your company as valuable as it can be today 4:47 Monthly recurring revenue 5:35 Service agreements 7:07 Profit margin 8:53 The importance of tracking 10:05 What buyers look into during acquisition 12:11 Being honest and realistic about what your profit is 14:18 Increase the value of your business numerically 17:30 What value building should be like daily19:01 There is room for improvement 19:45 Adding value to your existing customers 22:29 Make a distinction between what’s valuable or not 23:18 Danielle shares important takeaways About the Guest: Danielle Putnam is the president of The New Flat Rate, a company that she and her father founded in 2011. She is also the immediate past President of Women in HVACR, an organisation that encourages more women to enter the trades. Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys Elevation Program - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/elevation/)Tradie Web Guys’ Apply (qualification) page (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply/)Visit The New Flat Rate’s website (https://thenewflatrate.com/) Contact Danielle through email ([email protected])Listen to the first podcast epis Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Most trades business owners are not aware of the fact that they can sell their business. A reason why an exit strategy is not something they plan on doing until later. But from the moment you opened your business, you can already start planning your exit strategy, starting with identifying why you want to exit your business, so you can gear up towards making your business saleable when the time comes. In today’s podcast episode, I welcome my guest Danielle Putnam. This episode is the first of a three-part series called Exit Strategy vs. Wishful Hoping. We discuss why most business owners fail to create an exit strategy from the beginning. Danielle also shares a framework to follow for an exit strategy and the importance of understanding your organisational chart. Find out more about what an exit strategy is and how you can start planning it by tuning in to this episode. Discussion Points: 0:00 Offer and Introduction 3:08 Danielle shares her story 7:27 Most business owners don’t have an exit strategy from the get-go9:48 Most business owners lack an understanding of business dynamics 13:04 The exit strategy is about freedom 15:12 Framework for an exit strategy 16:37 Things a buyer wants to know before buying a competitor 19:34 The beginning phase of an exit strategy22:28 Evolution happens in business23:15 The organisational chart 24:11 Recognise how many spots you as the owner is filling 25:23 What true success is 25:57 Have high-level talent in your team About the Guest: Danielle Putnam is the president of The New Flat Rate, a company that she and her father founded in 2011. She is also the immediate past President of Women in HVACR, an organisation that encourages more women to enter the trades. Resources: Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/)Tradie Web Guys Elevation Program - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/elevation/)Tradie Web Guys’ Apply (qualification) page (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply/)Visit The New Flat Rate’s website (https://thenewflatrate.com/) Contact Danielle through email ([email protected]) Dominic Rubino’s Podcast - Cabine Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

The journey towards a successful business is not without challenges. The good thing, however, about doing business today is that there are a lot of tools available to help with growth. There are so many business owners though who think that utilising these tools will only mean another expense and a waste of time when it’s actually the opposite as it could translate to more savings and more time on your hands. In this week’s podcast episode, I am joined by Peter Kendall. He is the Director and Founder of Expanse Builders and We Hang Doors. He is one of The Site Shed’s avid podcast listeners. Peter shares his business journey and how he has brought it to where it is today. He also talks about how he is utilising Facebook to gather leads and bring in new customers. His story is indeed inspirational and encourages business owners that growing one’s business is not an impossible feat. Get inspiration and wisdom from today’s episode! What’s Discussed in This Episode: 0:00 Offer and Introduction 5:45 Peter shares his business story 11:59 Marketing strategies Peter implemented13:39 Reach your customers where they are 16:31 Facebook marketing and facebook community groups 17:53 Building a following 19:47 Business mistakes Peter made and what he did 21:55 Utilising software to streamline your operations 30:27 Importance of getting feedback from clients 33:27 Peter shares his sales process 37:26 Prompting people on things they haven’t thought about yet 38:42 Addressing questions and doing follow-ups 46:54 Automating your processes reduces error 47:48 Checklists and procedures for consistency 53:32 Peter shares how he realised that he needed a business process 56:33 Things Peter learned during the pandemic1:05:19 Next steps of Peter’s business About the Guest: Peter Kendall is director of We Hang Doors and Expanse Builders. He is an active follower of The Site Shed podcast from its inception and is a member of our community. Peter has grown his business significantly throughout the years and is a testimony that success, when coupled with diligence, right processes, and tools is not out of our reach. Resources: Check out Peter Kendall’s website for Expanse builders (www.expanse.builders) Tradie Web Guys ‘automation’ - (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/automation/) Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Successful companies do not just earn tons of money, they also know how to keep their employees. In today’s workplace, employees coming in and going out seems like a norm when it should not. Your employees are a vital part of your company and contribute a lot to your success, if they are leaving you every now and then it’s high time to evaluate your practices and implement ways to make them stay. In this third and final episode of this ‘Creating an Amazing Employee experience’ I talk with Erica and Stephen of Power Selling Pros. We delve into practices that successful companies implement to retain their employees. We also discuss why a company culture that is designed with intention is important for your company and the people who work for you and many more. There are a lot of amazing takeaways from this episode that you’ll learn a lot from as a business owner. Tune in now! What’s Discussed in This Episode:0:00 Offer & Introduction 1:59 Retention starts with the job application experience 5:46 Recruiting is a marketing exercise6:34 Money isn’t the only reason employees stay 7:58 Creating opportunities for your employees 9:29 Give your employees a clear direction 10:34 Let your employees know that they’re valuable 14:23 A good onboarding is essential 16:34 Designing your company culture with intention17:59 The struggle of ongoing training 18:24 A training calendar 22:30 Processes are important 24:26 Important points to remember About the Guests:Stephen Dale is an established business coach and mentor in the industry. He worked as a home service operations manager for 18 years—amassing various notes, information, and processes on managing a business effectively. In the past three years, he has been Power Selling Pros’ director of training, helping hundreds of companies figure out ways to run their business procedures faster and more efficiently. Erica Leonor is a professional customer service coach and sales trainer. Her extensive knowledge of leadership mechanics, customer approach, and cultural awareness has helped her identify the needs of different organizations. She is regarded as a Master Jedi Trainer at Power Selling Pros, providing practical solutions to business problems. As a motivational speaker, Erica aims to make the journey towards success for business owners an easier route. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or l Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

When it comes to creating an amazing employee experience, do not undermine the power of purpose. There’s a lot of talk about this and yet there are still so many who neglect or put aside creating one for their companies that they’re missing out on a lot. Your purpose is vital as it provides direction and clarity not just for you but even for your employees.In today’s podcast episode, Erica and Stephen of Power Selling Pros join me once again for Part 2 of the series ‘Creating an Amazing Employee Experience’. We talk about how most companies lack a mission statement and what it does. We also discuss why it’s not wise to copy and paste purpose statements of other companies. We also tackle practical ways for companies to start crafting purpose statements that align with who they are. Understand what purpose is and begin crafting one for your company. Tune in to this episode today. What’s Discussed in This Episode:0:00 Offer & Introduction 3:35 Recap of the first episode 4:40 A lack of a mission statement and purpose in companies 5:05 Purpose gives direction6:38 Questions Stephen asks to reflect on purpose 8:41 How most vision, mission statements are cliché 9:08 Digging deeper into your purpose statement10:48 Start with a small daily purpose 12:58 Thoughts drive behavior 14:54 Looking into the kind of meetings you have with employees 17:20 Where to begin when creating your purpose statement19:16 Revising your mission statements when necessary 19:56 Takeaways for this episode About the Guests:Stephen Dale is an established business coach and mentor in the industry. He worked as a home service operations manager for 18 years—amassing various notes, information, and processes on managing a business effectively. In the past three years, he has been Power Selling Pros’ director of training, helping hundreds of companies figure out ways to run their business procedures faster and more efficiently. Erica Leonor is a professional customer service coach and sales trainer. Her extensive knowledge of leadership mechanics, customer approach, and cultural awareness has helped her identify the needs of different organizations. She is regarded as a Master Jedi Trainer at Power Selling Pros, providing practical solutions to business problems. As a motivational speaker, Erica aims to make the journey towards success for business owners an easier route. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Managing a trades business is not a one-person show. Different factors affect the growth of your company, and one of those factors are your employees. Since employees represent your business's branding, getting them engaged and motivated will reap better results and long-term benefits that you and the whole company will enjoy. So, how can you develop or nurture an amazing employee experience in your company?In the first episode of the three-part series called “Creating an Amazing Employee Experience”, I welcome Stephen Dale and Erica Leonor, professional trainers at Power Selling Pros. Stephen, Erica, and I discuss why paying attention and conversing with employees impacts the business, the values of having a savings account, and the difference between paying people and appreciating their efforts. We also highlight why leadership plays a crucial role in molding the roadmap to success.So, tune in now to learn more about employee experience and how you can make changes to your business.What’s Discussed in This Episode:0:00 Offer & Introduction3:42 A rundown of Power Selling Pros5:19 Why accountability coaching is essential for your company8:40 The company culture and design set up everyone’s success11:31 Setting expectations and deliverables in the business13:10 Dealing with different people and the importance of teaching the fundamentals15:10 How the leadership style affects employee experience16:54 Managing the energy rather than the employees’ personality18:34 Knowing what success looks like to the employee23:20 The cultural impact of having a goal24:44 Individual-based conversations matter27:35 Understanding the value of money and saving30:52 The problem with ‘one employee review’ in a single business year32:55 The gravity of investing time and effort in your employees’ lives36:09 Productivity increases when employees are engaged and inspired37:52 What business owners can do to motivate their employees40:33 Giving workers time to prepare for the meetingAbout the Guests:Stephen Dale is an established business coach and mentor in the industry. He worked as a home service operations manager for 18 years—amassing various notes, information, and processes on managing a business effectively. In the past three years, he has been Power Selling Pros’ director of training, helping hundreds of companies figure out ways to run their business procedures faster and more efficiently. Erica Leonor is a professional customer serv Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Businesses, no matter the type and purpose, need employees to complete certain tasks or activities. These workers are part of the process that keeps the business rolling. Hence, hiring someone fit for the position, not only because of the skill and competence, is very important for the business to grow. In this third and last episode of the Creative Recruiting series, Ryan and I will conclude this informative conversation with recruitment key points and takeaways. We will talk about why you should hire people with the right attitude, why your company’s core values and the applicant’s personal values need to be aligned, and why a bad hire is costly. Tune in now to be more informed in your next recruitment campaign plans. What’s Discussed in This Episode:03:55 Hiring for attitude not experience 07:05 Always continue recruiting and looking for talent 08:04 Recruitment is similar to customer marketing 10:10 The Bench Process 12:59 Values alignment matters during the hiring process 16:02 Behavioural assessments 18:04 Interviews look at the cultural fit of the applicant What is the cost of a bad hire 22:06 Summary of the episodes and this series About the Guest:Ryan Englin is the CEO of Core Matters, an organisation focused on developing the recruitment systems and processes of different businesses. With over ten years of professional experience in the field, Ryan has provided strategic and marketing assistance to different companies. He coaches businesses on the right ways of attracting the right people, and has created unique approaches to develop and maintain systems for independent contractors in the industry. Ryan aims to help companies find the perfect fit in their growing team of professionals. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)The Core Matters Website (https://thecorematters.com/) Reach Ryan through email ([email protected])Kolbe Website (https://www.kolbe.com/) Listen to the first and second part of the seriesPart 1: The Recruitment Attraction Model (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/ryan-englin-1)Part 2: Creating a Recruiting Engine (lhttps://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/ry Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Have you ever experienced recruiting somebody only to fire them after three weeks? This is a great waste of resources on your part and downright frustrating and exhausting too. But, what if you can change that cycle and find efficient ways to bring people in who are willing to stay for the long haul, join you in your business journey and excited about the destination of your company?In this second episode of the Creative Recruiting series, Ryan and I will discuss the little ecosystem he has created which has greatly impacted many businesses, particularly in their recruitment process. We will also talk about how employees impact your profit, the importance of the employee perspective in your business, and why core values dictate the direction of your company.Join us now as we delve deeply into the recruitment process. What’s Discussed in This Episode:Automation in business [03:25]Hiring process should not be rushed [04:25]Using the core fit hiring model [06:33]Establish your company’s vision first [07:10] Core values do not change [08:54]Importance of having core values and a clear vision for the brand [11:04]Your values and story affect how people talk about your company [13:08]The Find Process [17:56]Job modelling [18:06]The 360 marketing plan [21:13]Automate through applicant tracking systems [22:19]Hiring process of the recruitment engine [25:48]Testing for behavior not for skills [27:00]Setting and following the predetermined expectations [28:11] The Onboarding process [31:14]Compliance vs transition period [31:23]2-4-12 launch method [32:42]Investing time and engaging with employees matters [34:51]Assessment of the process [36:25]About the Guest:Ryan Englin is the CEO of Core Matters, an organisation focused on developing the recruitment systems and processes of different businesses. With over ten years of professional experience in the field, Ryan has provided strategic and marketing assistance to different companies. He coaches businesses on the right ways of attracting the right people, and has created unique approaches to develop and maintain systems for independent contractors in the industry. Ryan aims to help companies find the perfect fit in their growing team of professionals. Resources: Come and visit my website at ( Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

The recruitment space is always evolving and moving towards different goals. As a business owner, it is important to attract talented people to be part of your team. Hence, improving your recruitment, onboarding, and retaining processes is essential if you want to build a team that is going to help take your business to the next level. In this first episode of a three-part series called Creative Recruiting, I will be joined by Ryan Englin, the CEO of Core Matters. Ryan and I will be discussing how attracting the right people to join your team creates a difference, how company branding influences your systems, and how motivators help your recruitment processes. Importantly, we will be focusing on why recruiting people with the right attitude helps your business.So, join us today and learn the tricks and strategies to win the attention of talented folks looking for jobs out there!What’s Discussed in This Episode:The interest for better recruitment processes [04:29]The bread and butter of Core Matters [07:43]Introducing a career path is more rewarding than just a job position [10:22]What companies need to remember [12:20]Responding swiftly to potentiality excellent workers matters [12:55]Businesses should be attractive to attract good people [13:46]Using the right processes of qualifying makes the hiring process easier [15:17]Qualifications of someone you want in your business [16:20]Employer branding affects your recruitment process [18:51]The things that attracts potential employees [23:17]Specific company purposes drive the modern workforce [23:38]Non-monetary rewards for accomplishments [25:59]Values-driven employee referral program [26:42]Placing motivators in your recruitment process [28:55]Using outcome-based measurements or metrics [32:35]Systems help businesses grow [33:13]Difference between managing people and managing systems [34:19]Getting results through changing your approach in the process [35:21]About the Guest:Ryan Englin is the CEO of Core Matters, an organisation focused on developing the recruitment systems and processes of different businesses. With over ten years of professional experience in the field, Ryan has provided strategic and marketing assistance to different companies. He coaches businesses on the right ways of attracting the right people, and has created unique approaches to develop Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

On average, everyone spends more than eight hours of their time doing work tasks and completing documents. Some even go beyond that time frame to get the job done. As entrepreneurs, a huge percentage of our day is given to our company. So, how can we manage it properly? In this last episode of the Ownership Thinking series, Jeremy and I will be discussing the things you should and shouldn't be talking about at work, the benefits of having a system or process, and the importance of assigning work tasks to others. If you haven't watched the last two episodes of this series, I encourage you to check it out first. Some things discussed here are connected to the previous episodes. If you've seen them, then tune in to this last episode now!What’s Discussed in This Episode:How Jeremy realised talking work at work is exhausting [4:03]Having a system and process speeds up tasks [6:38]The goal of a process is consistency and not perfection [9:20]Disadvantages of over systemizing [11:08] Leaving space for workers’ creativity [11:41]Only documenting the things that need a process [12:44]Structure a foundation and improve it later [15:40]Get things done by establishing what works best for your business [17:30]Take the time to learn and pass it on [19:57]Delegating tasks to others to ensure growth [21:38]Involving workers in the process creates an impact [21:47]Leaders should first start the process [22:36]Recap of the ownership thinking series [23:41]Business owner is a leader who values the growth of his or her people [24:04]Guaranteed traction with Jeremy [25:16]About the Guest:Jeremy Macliver is a certified EOS implementer, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who is passionate about helping business owners get what they want from their business. Under his wing, multiple businesses flourished in high growth phases in different industries, such as construction, automotive, and service. Now, Jeremy focuses on sharing his insights and lessons to leadership teams to reignite their passion and to guide them through the process of building long-lasting organisations that are accountable to their vision. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)Guaranteed Traction Website (www.GuaranteedTraction.com)Reach Jeremy Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

The promises of more time, more income, being your own boss are most likely what attracted you to start your own business. And while all these things can come true, it doesn’t happen instantly. If you want to become a business owner, there’s a need to start thinking like one, which results in acting like one, otherwise you’ll end up burnt out juggling between different tasks like you’ve taken more jobs for you to do just so the business doesn’t fall apart. This podcast episode today is the second part of the series ‘Ownership Thinking’ with Jeremy Macliver. We will discuss what it means to start thinking like a business owner. Moreover, we will talk about accountability in the business, understanding what your strengths are and utilising them to grow your business, and why it’s important to build a team that is able to support you in achieving your business goals. We have very interesting discussion points aimed at helping you become the business owner you ought to be. Tune in to this episode now. What’s Discussed in This Episode:Transitioning from worker to business owner [05:35]No school for entrepreneurship; instead it’s living with experience [08:07]What accountability stands for in business [09:10]Playbook for business, the accountability chart [10:44]Identifying the work roles in the business matters [11:54]Understanding your strong points and abilities creates an impact [14:20]Hiring the right people for the right position [15:16] You can still be the owner without running the business [17:03]Improving interests and skills for the better [18:24]Basic knowledge of the things going on in your business [19:18]Using metric systems for forecasting and understanding your business [23:21]Culture of empowering people to make decisions and solve problems [25:22]About the Guest:Jeremy Macliver is a certified EOS implementer, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who is passionate about helping business owners get what they want from their business. Under his wing, multiple businesses flourished in high growth phases in different industries, such as construction, automotive, and service. Now, Jeremy focuses on sharing his insights and lessons to leadership teams to reignite their passion and to guide them through the process of building long-lasting organizations that are accountable to their vision. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or l Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Sports and business are alike in so many ways. A lot of analogies are formed between the two because of it. For instance, sports teams require a clear vision, mission, goals, and strategies among others if they want success and that is the same way with businesses that we build and manage. But even with all their similarities, they differ in the way they are hitting their goals as most businesses, if not all, are struggling with producing the results they want. In today's episode, Jeremy Macliver and I delve into where the difference lies, and what can be done about it .We also talk about Jeremy’s professional experience and what his business offers to entrepreneurs, specifically tradies. Then, we tackle and point-out the similarities of a sports and business team and how each element builds upon the other towards success. Jeremy also points out how critical it is to define your measure of success. Understand your business more through the language of sports by listening to this podcast episode now!What’s Discussed in This Episode:Jeremy’s professional background [02:49]What Guaranteed Traction offers [06:12]Learning from experiences and struggles [07:59]Take action [10:44]Get the right people in your corner [11:29]Guaranteed Traction is client-focused [15:17]Importance of having the right mindset [16:23]Similarities between sports teams and businesses [19:04]Define what winning is at the biggest level [22:59]Break down goals into achievable chunks [24:11] Build and train your team [26:16]Aligning business values and attitudes [28:42] The advantage of having a coach [31:32]Assign right people for the right positions [33:56]Give attention to the middle of your goal-achieving process [37:17]About the Guest:Jeremy Macliver is a certified EOS implementer, serial entrepreneur, and speaker who is passionate about helping business owners get what they want from their business. Under his wing, multiple businesses flourished in high growth phases in different industries, such as construction, automotive, and service. Now, Jeremy focuses on sharing his insights and lessons to leadership teams to reignite their passion and to guide them through the process of building long-lasting organizations that are accountable to their vision. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my lat Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Pictures indeed paint a thousand words. Photos are better proof of evidence for your work, alongside customer feedback and reviews.In today’s episode, photography and video specialist, Aaron McKay discuss the importance of having a website and a well-curated project gallery. Project galleries serve as touchpoints for promising clients and possibly be the final push they need to acquire your services. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of using drones in content creation in any field of work. May it be in construction or agriculture.Know more about how critical content creation and capture in expanding your network. Listen to this podcast episode today!What’s Discussed in This Episode:Aaron’s professional background [04:31]Building a project gallery [05:14]The convenience of using phones in content creation [07:27]Value of time lapse shots for Tradies [09:54]Learn the fundamentals and basic principles [10:58]Drones: How do you use them properly? [13:54]Drone-use restrictions in major cities [15:02]Things to consider before capturing media content [20:40]Practical construction uses for drones [23:12]Integrate the use of specific software [24:53]Starting points for content capture [27:01]Build your own library of touchpoints [32:25]No excuses: do what you need to do [37:14]Tradie work is not uninteresting [38:32]Aerial photography training by Aaron [42:13]About the Guest:Aaron McKay has been part of the photography and video specialty industry for over 20 years. With his skills acquired throughout the years, he carries it into the aerial media field and uses drones for aerial photography and video, mapping, data analysis, and 3D modelling since 2017. Aaron aims to provide excellent yet affordable services to his clients.Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)Check Aaron’s Aus Aerial Media profile at (https://www.ausaerialmedia.com.au/)Reach Aaron’s social media at (@ausaerialmedia)Contact Aaron through email ([email protected])Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Sh Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

It is not too difficult to see what impact the coronavirus crisis has on businesses. Unemployment is at an all-time high now and it seems like everyone is just doing what they can to survive. But how are companies holding up as of the moment especially in the trades? Ever wondered how you are stacking up against other trade companies? In today’s podcast episode, Michael Steckler, CEO of Tradify talks about the Tradify Pulse Report. Michael expounds the reason behind the status report, and what are the key takeaways and recommendations from the report that are especially useful for tradies who need to keep up with the demands of the current situation. We discuss how this pandemic highlighted the needed shift from traditional means to digital to make things easier. If you are still sticking to your pen and paper techniques, this episode will surely make you seriously consider a shift to using the digital methods. What’s Discussed in This Episode:Conducting customers’ status report [04:39]Effects of COVID among businesses [07:11]The report as an outline for the industry moving forward [08:32]How the pandemic affected the tradies’ workload [10:05]Key takeaways from the report [12:10]Making money isn’t always the purpose [13:58]Shift from traditional to digital [14:48]The effects of proper planning [16:58]Digital technology and online portfolios [19:54]A software is as good as the information it gets [22:08]Give emphasis on customer support [22:46]The revolution of software as service businesses [24:16]Revelations from satisfied software users [25:40]Recommendations based on the report’s results [26:57]Softwares makes transactions easier [29:12]Be open to learning new technologies [35:16]Communicate better through SAAS [36:37]The next steps for Michael [38:53]About Michael Steckler:Michael Steckler is the CEO of Tradify, which is a job management software app made especially for tradies. Tradify is an application that helps tradespeople manage and grow their business, especially when it comes to managing their finances. This software has helped tradies shorten their time working on administrative tasks and focus more on enjoying their lives outside work. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast o Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Managing the financial aspect of the business always brings in headaches, especially among those who are not familiar with financial terms and processes. Usually, what most tradies and founders do is just leave these issues for accountants and bookkeepers to handle, avoiding it altogether. However, as a responsible business owner, there is a need to know and somehow grasp what is going on in the financial aspect of your business. This is easier said than done especially because of communication barriers between the two parties. In today’s podcast, we will be uncovering Katie Marshall’s book, Profit First for Tradies. Katie is a certified profit first coach who helps tradies, in particular, manage their finances and how to coordinate with their accountants and bookkeepers effectively while following the profit-first framework. In this podcast, we will also discuss the importance of financial literacy across all ages and professions. If you want to know more about this framework and its direct and indirect effects to your business, tune in to this episode now!What’s Discussed in This Episode:Katie’s professional background [02:49]What is profit first? [05:24]Why Katie wrote the Profit First for Tradies book [07:07]Importance of financial literacy [09:50]It gets worse before it get better [12:27]The perspective of profit first [15:00]The framework raises the red flags [16:29]Profit first reports based on balance sheets and reports [18:56]Identify and separate the accounts [20:08]Allocate an appointment with yourself [23:03]Break down a vision into actionable steps [26:05]Indirect positive effects of the profit first framework [27:31]The shift that makes a client interested in checking their finances [30:21]Tradies, accountants, and profit first [31:37]Katie’s tips for tradies [35:17]About the Guest:Katie Crismale-Marshall started out as a financial planner before she encountered the profit first framework. She, now, is a certified profit first coach and is the newly acclaimed author of Profit First for Tradies. She manages a bookkeeping business, Efficient Tradie, that primarily focuses on helping tradies with their bookkeeping to make it efficient and simple. With this framework, Katie sees how her clients change their view about bookkeeping, from avoiding it to checking into it closely. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)Tradie Web Guys ( Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

We’ve all been there—the barrage of questions fired at you, the requests that go beyond what’s reasonable, the phone calls every now and then on project updates. One of the biggest problems we all face at the start and middle of a project is dealing with our client’s expectations. We just can’t seem to put their worries and queries to rest. However, since they are making the biggest investment in their lives, it’s unavoidable for them to want to hear feedback now and again. So what can you do to manage those expectations?Overcoming the communication barrier between client and tradie and understanding that they don’t speak the same language that you do are key to handling your clients. And that’s what we’re here to discuss with Russ Stevens, Co-Founder of the Association of Professional Builders. From onboarding clients to doing milestone meetings, you’ll find so much value in this episode that it’s a crime not to watch.Be a pro at handling your clients from start to finish by tuning in to this episode!What’s Discussed in This Episode:What Russ and the Association of Professional Builders do for tradies [02:52]How to deal with client expectations from start to finish [03:39]Be proactive, not reactive [06:05]Systemisation is a never-ending improvement [08:16]When you try to go the extra mile for the client, a scope creep is to be expected [09:05]Proper communications set proper client expectations [11:23]Enabling the client to see the project’s progress using software [12:38]Business education may not have been taught at school, but it can be developed [13:49]How to improve and smoothen your client onboarding process [15:57]Upon onboarding your client, do not rush, take your time [18:27]When talking to your client, try to steer clear from the tradies jargon [19:13]Automating and streamlining your client onboarding process [20:31]Client offboarding is just as important as onboarding [22:17]Russ’ advice on doing milestone meetings [23:35]Should you include possible project variations on milestone meetings? [25:24]Attracting the right type of customer from a marketing and sales perspective [26:46]Asking the right questions to avoid disqualifying the right clients [28:49]Remaining proactive with a potential client to get a potential sale in the long run [30:35]The new way to attract quality leads [32:59] Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

When you’ve spent so much time mastering and perfecting your craft, delegating your task to someone who may or may not be up to par with your standards would be the last thing you’d ever want to do. However, if growing your business is your goal, sometimes, you need to take the tradie hat off and put the trades business owner hat on.Making that sudden mind shift might sound easier said than done. That’s why Bruce Poling, Director at The Joinery Coach, joins us today to share his story on how he made that shift himself. We talk about how he sold his joinery business and started to pursue business coaching, what the value of a good onboarding process is to make sure things get done right from the start, and why you should be receptive to coaching and new learning.Take notes and get yourself started as a trades business owner today by tuning in to this episode!What’s Discussed in This Episode:How Bruce went from joinery to manufacturing [03:34]Selling his business and working for a software company [04:17]Why he decided to sell his joinery business [05:58]Making his business saleable [07:21]Determining whether your business is taking you where you want to be [09:25]We’re more than who we think we are [11:44]When you start a business, you need to get out of the technical mindset [14:07]90% of everything joinery does is pure manufacturing [16:19]Sometimes, it’s best to just have a few experienced people on a team [17:08]Putting the right people in the right places [18:37]True apprenticeship is nurturing people to become highly-skilled ones [19:41]There is no skill shortage, just ones that we failed to make look attractive enough [21:29]If you want to hire and retain good people, provide them with a career path [22:28]Having a good onboarding process is key to getting the job done right [23:39]Growing your company means adapting to a tech-driven world [25:55]Hold yourself accountable for learning things you need to know as an owner [29:26]Don’t try to do everything; delegate your tasks [32:50]Be receptive to new learning and don’t be averse to getting coached [33:25]Figure out what problem you need to solve [37:21]Find someone who can solve that problem [37:55]Negative feedback is not always negative [40:06]Alignment of your brand is crucial in succeeding in the indust Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

People always have an inherent fear of the unknown, new, and different. And so, systems and processes that seem alien to you and your team can breed myths and misconceptions. What if in adapting systems, I put myself out of work? Will this new system guarantee success? Or failure? However, these myths won’t be anything but non beneficial to your trades business. The first step to clearing the fog is grasping the concept behind SYSTEMology.Today is the third and final episode of the ‘SYSTEMology - Create Time, Reduce Errors, and Scale Your Profits’ series with bestselling author, Dave Jenyns. We’ll talk about the biggest myths around systemisation and how you can create the least path of resistance towards embracing it.Build a climate of trust, change, and creativity within your team by tuning in to this episode!What’s Discussed in This Episode:Culture is key in implementing systems [05:17]The biggest challenge is the resistance to systems [06:56]Systems are basically your business’ playbook [09:20]Systemisation gives more space for creativity [10:17]Managing expectations to avoid scope creep [12:47]Documenting and applying best practices to delivery consistency [15:01]Creating systems allow team members to sneak a peek at success [16:06]The seven steps of SYSTEMology [17:50]Perfecting the systems is a trial-and-error process [20:03]The biggest myth in systemisation [22:34]About the Guest:In 2016, David Jenyns successfully systemised himself out of his business, one of Australia’s most trusted digital agencies, melbourneSEOservices.com. Through this process, he became a systems devotee – founding systemHUB & SYSTEMology. Today, his mission is to free all business owners worldwide from the daily operations of running their business.With two books to his name and the SYSTEMology movement, David offers mission-centered systemising to scale up businesses and take away much of the pressure that comes with being an entrepreneur.Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)Check out SYSTEMology (https://www.systemology.com/)Business Process Simplified with Dave Jenyns ( Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Running a business and finally becoming our own boss is something that we all want as tradies. But as soon as we start our own business, we realise we know nothing about managing it at all. What’s even worse is that we end up counterintuitively doing all the leg work and not being able to get the free time that we want in the first place!While the entire business process itself may be the brainchild of the business owners, they are certainly not the best people to document and execute them. Today, we’ll find out why as Dave Jenyns, author of SYSTEMology, joins us once more in Part 2 of our ‘SYSTEMology - Create Time, Reduce Errors, and Scale Your Profits’ series. In this episode, we’ll learn more about the critical client flow and how you can adapt that to improve your business process.Learn how you can remove yourself from your business by tuning in to this episode!What’s Discussed in This Episode:Why business owners are not the best people to document processes [02:49]The beauty of getting the wheels turning without doing much of the work [06:15]The cost of blindly starting a business [08:12]What having good systems mean to your business [09:58]All business problems stem from having bad systems in place [10:47]How do you create a critical client flow? [12:00]Don’t over-complicate your critical client flow [14:25]Creating different critical client flows for different product lines [15:28]SYSTEMology: The building block of small businesses [17:01]3 P’s: The killer combination [17:37]About the Guest:In 2016, David Jenyns successfully systemised himself out of his business, one of Australia’s most trusted digital agencies, melbourneSEOservices.com. Through this process, he became a systems devotee – founding systemHUB & SYSTEMology. Today, his mission is to free all business owners worldwide from the daily operations of running their business.With two books to his name and the SYSTEMology movement, David offers mission-centered systemising to scale up businesses and take away much of the pressure that comes with being an entrepreneur.Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)Check out SYSTEMology (http Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

With the internet changing people’s ideas about entrepreneurship over the years, millions saw opportunities in starting their own business—most notably in the small business sector. How many of them pulled through? And in between the height of their business and the brink of closing down, do they ever get to measure the ‘shoulda-woulda-couldas’ towards becoming better businessmen? Starting a business is one thing. Managing it is another. But management doesn’t mean you look after every part of the business yourself. We have process-organising and systemisation for that. Most business owners know that not systemising is costly but just haven’t given it the importance it so deserved. So what's the true cost of the failure or point-blank refusal to systemise? That’s what we’ll talk about in our first episode of the SYSTEMology - Create Time, Reduce Errors And Scale Your Profits series, with our guest, the author himself, David Jenyns. Learn more about the consequences of saying “No” to systemising your business by tuning in to this podcast! What’s Discussed in This Episode: The importance of building a business that works and grows without you [07:08] You are the business, that is, until you change something [08:17] Recognizing opportunities and changes [11:02] Conquer challenging situations through standing by your system Snakes and Ladders: Playing business by the steps or ten in advance [12:44] Take the opportunity to grow (the business) without being too “involved” [13:49] Business is about systems [15:25] Focus on what you do best as a businessman [15:46] Don’t try to quantify the cost of not systemising—you can’t [16:19] Instead, quantify opportunities for improvement [17:02] Systemise by chunks [18:32] Business giants can systemise—so can you [19:50] You don’t have to be McDonald’s to apply a system that works [20:44] Complicating is far from organising [20:52] Simplify [21:31] About the Guest: In 2016, David successfully systemised himself out of his business, one of Australia’s most trusted digital agencies, melbourneSEOservices.com. Through this process he became a systems devotee–founding systemHUB & SYSTEMology. Today, his mission is to free all business owners worldwide from the daily operations of running their business. With two books to his name and the SYSTEMology movement, David offers mission-centered systemising to scale up businesses and take away much of the pressure that comes with being an entrepreneur. Resources: Come visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) C Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

What if there is a way for you to train your tradies on how to fix electrical wiring without running the risk of electrical shock? What if you get to learn how to install a solar panel without having to be on site? As sci-fi as they may sound, with the digital transformation taking place all around us, it’s no longer hard to imagine these changes occurring in the workspace. Virtual reality is slowly creeping its way towards vocational education and training, and it’s making life for us tradies so much better! This week, we’ll have another incredible and informative episode as we chat with Doug Donovan, CEO and Founder at Interplay Learning, about how VR and AR technology is slowly paving its way towards a better way of skills learning and training. Here, we’ll get to hear more about how this technology can make learning faster and safer as well as give us a sneak peek into what the future of the trades industry may look like. Hop on to this episode as we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of virtual reality. What’s Discussed in This Episode: Why schools should slowly tap into VR technology [05:37] A brief background on Doug and Interplay [08:42] Most European countries are way ahead in terms of R&D and VocEd [14:15] The effect of the decreasing number of tradies in the US and AU [15:55] VocEd requirements in some states in the US have slowly disappeared [10:37] The advantages of VR and AR training for tradies [18:50] Most skills required in running a business are not taught at schools [22:16] Most companies prioritise attitude over aptitude [25:01] Simulation training condenses learning time [17:41] Startups are starting to adapt sim training to improve business processes [28:11] VR and AR make it possible to conduct community learning [36:58] Book knowledge has yet to creep its way into VR learning [39:52] Interplay’s secret way of handling new technology [41:19] Most of their training are based on current market demands [42:56] What makes virtual reality the best and safest technology as a tool for learning [31:44] The adaptability of tech-based programs are what makes them great to use [46:32] Virtual reality vs augmented reality [51:58] The value of experiential learning [53:45] Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Isn’t it just hard to motivate yourself when you’re not even sure what kind of metrics you have to meet to achieve a certain goal? We all want our businesses to achieve greater heights. But without setting clear steps that you and your team can commit to, the journey might take you forever, if not never! So what can you do to make sure everyone plays their part in the journey towards achieving that goal? We’ll know the answer as we reach the 3rd and final part of our “Measuring What You Manage: The Only Way to Run a Profitable Business at Scale” series with Danny Kerr. Today, we’ll talk about how you can keep you and your team accountable to ensure the growth of your business. We’ll be looking at the organisational chart and how that ties in with accountability. If you want to accurately measure your company’s financial results, then you’ll find a lot of value and insight by listening to this episode now. What’s Discussed in This Episode: Why is accountability important? [04:22] We all need someone to keep us accountable [07:02] Holding yourself and your team accountable [08:13] How to ask for a raise [09:39] By presenting career opportunities, you can retain your best talents [10:09] To give your team numerical goals, give them a bigger goal [13:52] The link between the organisational structure and accountability [11:46] The benefits of having an organisational structure [15:06] How to identify what key metrics to include [22:01] The key is to have measurable goals that have bonuses on them [24:33] Why you need to bake your key metrics into the employee agreement [18:37] Using tools to effectively communicate with your team [25:04] No big idea can be created until it’s project-managed to existence [27:14] The project management checklist is an ongoing work-in-progress [29:51] Competency models for standard operating procedures [31:13] Companies should link their budget, org chart, and job description with each other [34:11] Budgeting, forecasting, and accountability all need to work together [33:31] To remove yourself from the business, you need to have an org chart [35:23] The three faces of leadership [38:44] Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

One thing that tradies like us fear is the unpredictability of our business’ future. It’s like trying to cross the road with blindfolds on hoping you don’t get hit by a bus along the way. However, what if you have the ability to foretell your business’ financial future beforehand? That’s what we’re here to discuss in Part 2 of our “Measuring What You Manage: The Only Way to Run a Profitable Business at Scale” series with Danny Kerr. Today, we’ll learn more about forecasting, what steps you need to take to make a sales plan, and what makes it so key in ensuring the survival of your business in drastic situations. Take charge of the future by tuning in to this episode today! What’s Discussed in This Episode: What is forecasting? [03:19] Data is the building-block of forecasting [04:11] Start with your financials [05:17] The difference between goal-setting and working on it is having a sales plan [08:05] Stages in forecasting [06:01] A sales plan is the contractor’s holy grail for tracking their business [10:48] It’s alright to take a risk, just not a blind risk [11:59] About the Guest: Danny Kerr created his own success in life by starting his own trades business and used the profits to buy his first home. By age 20, he had taken a leadership position with a franchise company and grew sales by 225% in one year. He then spent the next 6 years scaling businesses before co-founding Breakthrough Academy as a way to open horizons for other trades entrepreneurs. Breakthrough Academy now works with over 300 contractors across the continent, managing over $900 million worth of revenue, and was rated Canada’s 16th fastest start-up by MacLean’s magazine in 2018. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) Visit The Top 3 Mistakes Growing Trade Businesses Make series with Danny Kerr (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/attracting-talent/) (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/gross-profit-margin/) ( Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

One of the main reasons most tradies get into business is to earn more money. Yet ironically, financial education is one of the things we were never taught at school. So when we dive into the profit and loss statement, we end up staring at it with a puzzled look, not really knowing whether business is good or bad. Well, there’s no need to get dizzy just by looking at those numbers anymore. In this week’s podcast episode, Danny Kerr—co-founder of Breakthrough Academy and a repeat guest—joins us once more in the first episode of the “Measuring What You Manage: The Only Way to Run a Profitable Trades Business at Scale” series. Today, we talk about budgeting and how it is essential to be able to interpret and break down your financial data effectively. In this new fiscal year, nothing could be more important than knowing your numbers. Get into grips with your financials by tuning in to this episode now! What’s Discussed in This Episode: What’s new with Danny Kerr? [02:20] The value of sharing learning experiences with other tradies [05:55] A brief overview of today’s topic [07:23] If your personal financials are a mess, so are your business financials [10:39] Learning how to budget should be a tradie’s priority [08:22] How Danny learned how to save [11:48] The little changes you make in your trade can make a big difference [16:05] Good budgeting can protect your from unforeseen circumstances [17:43] The importance of percentages [14:22] There’s a difference between what’s your account and what you’ve made [18:48] Do a proper job costing [20:01] More, less, or the same? Why? [22:58] Once you see a pattern, job costing becomes fun [24:42] How to do budgeting the right way [21:03] Turning the budget into bite-sized chunks [26:00] You should invest more in your accounting department [29:50] It’s essential to also get into grips with your financials [27:57] Gross profit is more important that net profit [31:48] Most people make between 10% to 20% net profit [33:26] KPIs to track when measuring results [30:16] If you know your average job size, you can project your budget [34:35] Abo Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Most of us believe that once you hit the ceiling with your skills, abilities, or even the service that you give for your business, there is no way you can get any further than that. But what if there is a way for you to push beyond your limitations? What if there is a way for you to make your business even better than what it was yesterday? In this week’s podcast episode, Paul Dunn, a world-renowned entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, joins us to share his incredible business insights and the value of doing great little things for you and your business that eventually builds up to bigger, more significant results. He also shares with us his philosophy called “towards awesome service,” and how that can make a great impact on your business. Work your way towards a better self and tune in to this episode now! What’s Discussed in This Episode: Paul’s brief backstory [03:36] How you do one thing is how you do everything [09:32] Why you should show up on odd times [10:40] The essence of using odd times [12:52] The concept behind ‘towards awesome service’ [07:10] The role of technology in punctuality [16:05] Using odd times for your meetings [13:41] Why you need someone else to answer your phone for you [21:57] The person who answers the phone for you will do a better job than you do [17:36] The essence of creating organisational structures in building client trust [29:33] No trust equals no sale [31:51] The little things add up to significant victories [25:26] You can always get people to do a job you don’t have skills to [36:36] People know how to do the business but not run the business [34:42] The simple things can make great impacts on the world [37:57] B1G1’s latest initiative [39:36] About the Guest: Paul Dunn is an award-winning entrepreneur, a four-time TEDx speaker, and a world-class keynote speaker. He is the co-founder and chairman of B1G1, a global initiative that helps 2,300 businesses around the world make global impacts through little, daily activities. B1G1 has helped businesses make 150 million global impacts to date. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or l Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Do you sometimes wonder why no matter how good a name you’ve made for yourself, you end up either plateauing or losing clients? As frustrating as getting your customers stolen sounds, it is a reality that happens to most of us. But what if I tell you there is something else you can do other than scratch your head in dismay? In Part 5 of our ‘Protecting Your Trade Business From Legal Risk’ mini-series, Helen Kay joins us once again to discuss with us the clauses you can include in your contracts to restrain your sub-contractors from running off with your clients, why you need to do due diligence when starting your trade business, and the process of amending your existing contracts. Don’t wait for your competitors to get their hands on your customers by tuning in to this show now! Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains information that resonates specifically with the Australian legal system. If you are offshore and have inquiries about your market, please seek legal advice from qualified attorneys in your country or state. What’s Discussed in This Episode: How your leads can get stolen [04:55] Do your research before committing to a business name [06:06] The effect of having the same social media handles as another business [07:44] What makes social media prone to client-theft [07:16] The essence of having a trademark [09:22] Include restraints of trade [13:01] You can’t restrain your clients but you can restrain your sub-contractors [14:32] Establish an agreement with everyone in a business sense to protect your IP [12:08] Preparing clauses for restraints of trade [16:15] The frequency in revisiting a contract [19:11] Signing contracts digitally [22:28] Telltale signs of an unwilling client [23:44] How to amend a contract [18:03] Will Helen deal with tradies without terms and conditions? [25:52] The essence of having an NDA [27:03] Protecting yourself from losing clients due to slanderous remarks [29:49] Contracts are your friends [31:58] About the Guest: Helen Kay is a business lawyer. In fact, she is The Contracts Lawyer. Helen Kay is the owner and managing director of Rise Legal. She is a highly accomplished commercial and property lawyer with e Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

With the emergence of technology, millions and millions of talent are now accessible at your fingertips. However, just when we thought things were getting easier, they actually got trickier. With a lot of contractors to choose from, it gets more and more challenging to find the perfect fit! But when you do find the right candidate and are now ready to start inking that legally-binding contract, you might want to consider a few things first before it starts becoming your nightmare. Today, Helen Kay—a contracts lawyer and a repeat guest—is back by popular demand in Part 4 of our mini-series ‘Protecting Your Trade Business From Legal Risk’ to discuss with us the difference between a contractor and an employee, some of the risks that you need to weigh before getting into a contract with someone, and the practicalities when hiring a contractor. Make wise onboarding decisions and start forging contracts with the right people by tuning in to this episode! Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains information that resonates specifically with the Australian legal system. If you are offshore and have inquiries about your market, please seek legal advice from qualified attorneys in your country or state. What’s Discussed in This Episode: What is Rise Legal? [03:45] Legal disclaimer [04:47] What makes today’s topic timely [05:14] Don’t rush into it [06:35] Why you need to get necessary legal documents in place [09:53] Overview of today’s topic [07:26] Identifying a contractor and an employee [11:45] Hiring contractors vs hiring employees [12:40] What is a contractor? [10:28] The best thing to do is to err on the side of caution [16:19] If 80% of your worker’s income comes from you, you should pay the employee benefits [15:08] Contractors can delegate their work [17:34] Contractors get paid based on a quote; Employees get paid based on work hours [17:44] Contractors provide their own assets, employees don’t [17:55] Contractors take commercial risks [19:22] Six factors that determine whether your worker is an employee or a contractor [17:25] Ways to draft a contract with a contractor [20:07] Deliberate on the legal and insurance risks before signing a contract [23:55] Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

When you set a goal for your company, most of the time, you’d like to charge into it right away without pause. Achieving it in the timeline that you’ve set only sounds natural. However, by charging into it without a real strategy, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. So how do you ensure that you and your team can efficiently work together to achieve those goals? In Part 3 of the ‘Strategic Planning for Business Success’ mini-series, Kim Archer from BDR—a company that provides training and coaching services to the HVAC industry—joins us once more to talk about how to keep you and your team accountable for achieving your daily goals to set your company up for success. We will also learn the significance of having an accountability partner in making sure that those goals are met and why it’s important to celebrate when you meet those goals. Efficiently measure results and start hitting your goals by tuning in to this episode now! What’s Discussed in This Episode: Why companies fall over when it comes to accountability [04:17] The difference between a dream and a goal is writing it down [05:10] Strategy and discipline go together in achieving your goals [05:54] Taking time in hitting your goals is okay [07:37] Having an accountability partner makes you a better leader [06:30] Staying focused on your gifts can help you get your goals faster [08:24] Know how to celebrate when you hit your goals [09:59] Involve your team in keeping accountability [10:38] The frequency of which your team needs to revisit your goals [11:31] How to better deal with rank-and-file team members [19:10] The essence of organisational chart in handling your staff [20:24] Love your team [21:01] How team accountability plays into measuring results [12:29] Why upselling is essential [22:59] Finding out what results to measure [21:40] How to keep accountability in small businesses [24:51] About The Guest: Kim Archer is the lead trainer for BDR’s financial courses, Accounting & Office Management and QuickBooks for the HVAC Contractor. She also serves as BDR’s Vice President for Dealer Coaching and is the architect of BDR’s Profit Launch business planning workshops. Resources: Come and visi Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Many businesses all over the world have suffered tremendously in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of businesses were shut down and people were downsized. However, does it really just have to do with the pandemic? Or does it also have to do with how much effort business owners put into strategic planning? This episode marks the second part of the ‘Strategic Planning for Business Success’ mini-series with Kim Archer from BDR, a company that provides training and coaching services to the HVAC industry. Today, we will learn the importance of strategic planning in preparing for contingencies, how to effectively build a business roadmap that can lead to business success, and how to build a roadmap that’s easily achievable for you and your team. Convert crises into opportunities and tune in to today’s podcast episode. What’s Discussed in This Episode: How strategic planning prepares you for contingencies [05:11] The compounding effect of operating without a business roadmap [07:04] Complacency is what makes businesses fail [08:03] Business planning is like exercise [09:34] Understanding the depth of your financials is essential in business planning [10:16] The first step in running a business is knowing how to [11:23] Understanding financials is critical to your business success [12:16] Most businesses fail because of cash, not their ability to make a profit [14:20] Don’t waste a crisis [16:56] How to build a business roadmap [17:37] Determine how much you need to retire and when [18:05] Determine how to get to your desired net profit [19:25] The essence of using an organisational chart and sharing it with your team [22:27] How to translate business goals into net profit [24:11] Transactional costs and generating the most gross profit dollars [24:46] The ‘Grow, No Grow’ strategy [25:28] The value of mind mapping [27:28] Mind mapping brings clarity to a business process [28:03] You don’t need more leads to improve gross profit sales [29:35] Break your business plan down to a daily goal [30:18] Start your business plan from the end [31:16] About The Guest: Kim A Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

As business owners, most of our focus goes to turnover rates, revenues, and profit margins. However, we often fail to see the bigger picture and realise we’re nowhere near our business’ end-goal. Sometimes, you need to take your foot off the pedal, get in touch with the people that make up your team, and reevaluate whether you are still working towards the goal that you initially set for your business. In Part 1 of the ‘Strategic Planning For Business Success’ mini-series, we have Kim Archer from Business Development Resources—a company that provides training and coaching services to the HVAC industry—to share with us the value of communicating with your team and how it is essential in bringing in the right talent. With her experience, she will share with us the essence of rediscovering your personal goals to better advance your business. Reconnect with your team members and effectively work your way towards your end-goal by tuning in to this episode. What’s Discussed in This Episode: Regularly revisiting your strategies is a big turning point for your business [03:31] Business plans are built to support your personal goals [4:09] Business requires perseverance to get to the end-goal [06:18] It’s not what you turn over, it’s what’s leftover [07:29] Training vs coaching [11:09] BDR’s journey in the training and coaching industry [09:12] Who can benefit from today’s topic [11:55] How to keep the right talent [14:49] Recruitment: The biggest challenge to any business [14:19] The goal should be to get bigger, not to increase profit margin [18:37] Unresolved turnover issues hinder business growth [19:41] The essence of sharing your business plan with your team [20:40] What and how to communicate better with your team [15:15] The mission statement brings unity in your team [23:38] A good value, mission, vision statement attracts good talent [24:22] Maintaining good energy within the team through effective communication [25:05] Communicating your mission statement with your team [22:13] Breaking those goals down into bite-sized chunks is empowering [29:12] The essence of rediscovering your personal go Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Most business owners daydream about sailing away in a yacht, bathing in the warm sunlight with that cool ocean breeze and whispering to themselves that ‘This is life!’ all while running a business in another part of the world. But while you think this is something that’s just too good to be true, think again, because it is possible. In this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Darren McKavanagh, owner and director of The Kitchen Maker, and a living proof that working remotely for your business is never beyond your reach. We talk about the lessons he has learned throughout his career and the essential tips in order to make working remotely for your business work. Tune in to today’s episode and learn how all this is possible! What’s Discussed in This Episode: Darren and The Kitchen Maker [02:15] Lessons learned about working remotely [03:23] Communication is key for your skeleton-staff [05:12] Managing the team remotely [05:37] Changes he has made within his organisation’s workflow [06:57] His role within the business [08:24] Always get back in touch with the grassroots [09:27] Remove yourself from the business to let it grow [12:00] Good team relationship equals smoother workflow and better retention rate [18:39] The relationship between mentoring and better retention rate [19:44] Manage your team without having to micromanage [11:01] Scheduling and having a roadmap is essential for any business [22:11] Train your managers well and they will do the job well [23:42] Major changes in Darren’s business [20:56] Things that Darren would do differently [29:57] Darren’s advice on working remotely [32:00] Creating a reliable system will get the business going [34:09] Being more hands-on with the team vs. working remotely: Darren’s choice [26:45] About The Guest: Darren McKavanagh is the owner and director of The Kitchen Maker, a family business initially dedicated to supplying materials to kitchen and joinery companies. Founded in 2002, their wide array of services has then expanded to include interior designing and customizing kitchens, bedrooms, laundries, etc. Darren enjoys going on trips in his yacht and skiing. Resources: Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Any business who wants to deliver their services in a better way understands the need for them to have systems and processes in place. Most of the time we retain our clients and build long-term relationships when they see how efficient we are in giving them the service we promised. This holds true even in the solar power industry. In this week’s podcast episode, we continue our conversation with Gareth Felton of GreenElec. Our topic is focused on the customer journey and the processes involved in setting up solar power in a commercial setting. Gareth also shares why it’s important to build relationships with clients and how everyone in the industry would benefit from increasing the standards across the board. We also talk briefly about future storage and virtual grids. Tune in to this episode. What's Discussed in This Episode: Future storage and virtual grids [3:45] Changing service offerings to include support and maintenance [12:11] Energy audit/A solar feasibility report [16:15] Checking on efficiency of current appliances in the commercial building [16:50] Prelim design [18:06] Design and installation planning process [19:41] Design confirmation and proper site inspection [25:38] Get an engineering report [26:31] Installation [28:04] Inspection report and system evaluation (during and after installation) [29:56] Commissioning process [31:38] After sales support [32:18] The customer journey and processes involved in a commercial setting Building long-term relationships with clients [36:53] Raising the standards in the industry [39:11] About the Guest: Gareth Felton is the Founder and Director of GreenElec. He is an electrician, a solar and battery designer and a rugby enthusiast. In 2008, during the last year of his apprenticeship, Gareth decided that he wanted to offer more to the community than what other electrical companies were prepared to, and so he created GreenElec. He wanted to create a multidisciplinary electrical contracting company that empowers community members through education about how they can control the way they produce, use and store energy on a day to day basis. Further to this, Gareth visioned a company where customers can experience a centralised process of having their electrical, communications, home automation, solar energy, battery storage and home automation needs met. Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

A lot of people are making the move towards renewable and sustainable energy using solar power. And solar power has definitely evolved throughout the years because of technology advancements and still continues to do so. In this week’s podcast episode I talk with Gareth Felton, founder and director of GreenElec. Our discussion revolves around how solar power has evolved and the technologies developed within the solar space. He also talks about how solar is constantly changing due to compliance and reassessments being conducted to give way for improvements. Other topics that we talk about include ways clients can get their ROI on their investment into solar, and the options clients have in the financial perspective, etc. If you’re contemplating a shift to solar power then this is a podcast you have to listen to. What’s Discussed in This Episode: A brief background of GreenElec Solar power technology and how it’s constantly changing [7:06] Addressing misconceptions regarding solar power [8:55] Compliance and reassessments aimed at making improvements [10:37] Main changes coming through in solar power [11:31] Biggest goals for panels [12:43] Efficient panels, shading, direct sunlight, UV [12:58] Solar harvesting and efficiency of self-consumption [13:48] Three ways to get ROI on your investment into solar [15:43] Benefits and downsides of batteries for those moving off grid [17:02] When is solar a good investment (residential & commercial setting) [21:00] How people are more educated and ready to make changes as they shift to solar [22:07] Solar panel installation [24:03] Significant changes that are going to happen or happening to solar power [27:16] Who is mostly affected by the evolving technology for energy [29:09] Development of other forms of renewable and sustainable energy [30:10] Handing over the monitoring system for solar power to clients [312:41] Obtaining data prior to recommending installation of solar panels [32:40] The importance of monitoring [33:53] Construction of homes that are energy efficient [36:20] Financial side of buying solar [38:49] Issues around consulting solar experts with regards Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Streamlining your company’s processes are vital to your business success and growth. We have discussed this time and again in our podcast episodes to stress the importance of it. In this third and final installment of the series ‘Creating the ultimate communication framework in your trade business’, we talk with Aaron Salow. He provides us with an understanding of how streamlining processes work, where does one start with implementation, workflow, the need to be proactive with customers, and a lot more. If you’re excited about transforming your business for the better, this is definitely the episode for you. What’s Discussed in This Episode: How XOi develops the processes that companies can use and follow [3:20] Where does the work for streamlining company processes begin [7:00] Starting point for implementing better company processes [7:41] The problem with redundant roles in processes [11:34] Aaron’s take on ‘over processing’ [11:18] Ultra transparency [15:18] Existing technology and integrations [17:25] Over investing in technology and solutions [21:29] Critical things to avoid when streamlining processes [17:13] Proactive communication with customers [23:26] Delivering better service by understanding your workflow [24:30] What are your company’s critical functions [35:32] Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) XOi (http://www.xoi.io/) Email Aaron for more information ([email protected]) Check out Part 1 and 2 of this series: Part 1: The impact of technology in modern business (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/aaron-1/) Part 2: Technician’s three lines of defence – workflows, knowledge base and live calls (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/aaron-2/) About the Guest Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Having a powerful ecosystem of tools that includes a structured workflow process, a knowledge base, and live chat will lead to a significant pivot in your business. Merely having a clear understanding of the delivery you need to make will automatically result in a radical change. Aaron Salow is back for Part 2 of our ‘Creating the ultimate communication framework in your trade business’ series. Today we talk about implementing workflows, the perks of having a knowledge base where you can pull information from and access to a virtual mentor, etc. Head to the show now to find out how you can improve communication in your business. What’s Discussed in This Episode: Overview of episode [03:11] Creating the 3 lines of defense [03:46] Integrating the workflow tool into the current process [06:56] How a residential contractor saved time and money [08:05] Provide a training opportunity [15:32] Create pathways for guys to ask for help [18:14] Appeal to the younger generation [22:21] Getting the entire organisation to buy in the process [12:36] The value of videos in our current time [23:59] About Our Guest: Aaron Salow is the founder of XOi Technologies which is based in the U.S. Coming from a manufacturing construction background, he saw there was a skilled trades gap with millions of unfilled skilled trade positions in the U.S. He and his co-founders started their business in a bid to address this problem and help the industry to grow. Their business aims to empower customers to effectively put their best technician on the site. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) XOi (http://www.xoi.io/) Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spoti Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Technology is constantly being updated with changes in business happening so fast that there’s always something new coming out. The addition of amazing tools and software has radically changed the landscape as unnecessary workload is reduced even more. In Part 1 of our ‘Creating the ultimate communication framework in your trade business’ series, we have Aaron Salow from XOi, a technology made to support field service companies. With years working blue-collar jobs, Aaron knows what tradie guys need. We talk about the role technology plays in building trust, how to improve adoption, the benefits brought by technology, and more. Tune in to find out how technology can take your business to the next level. What’s Discussed in This Episode: Aaron’s background [2:57] Overview of episode [06:00] Technology communications need to build on trust [07:12] Why you need to educate your customer [10:01] Use technology to fix issues [17:04] Add benefits to 3 stakeholders [19:57] Get customer engagement [23:10] Present an opportunity for the business to win [24:09] How technology adoption can be improved [13:05] Supports others to use their crafts differently [27:22] Helps people leave their legacies [27:55] Gets people to work on what they like [30:29] Benefits of adopting technology in the tradie industry [25:57] Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) XOi (http://www.xoi.io/) About Our Guest: Aaron Salow is the founder of XOi Technologies which is based in the U.S. Coming from a manufacturing construction background, he saw there was a skilled trades gap with millions of unfilled skilled trade positions in the U.S. He and his co-founders started their business in a bid to address this problem and help the industry to grow. Their business aims to empower customers to effectively put their best technician on the site. Connect with me on Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Crisis breeds opportunity, that’s what I say again and again. Businesses have been put in a tight spot due to this pandemic but it doesn’t mean that it’s the end. Choose change and start the work of reinventing your business to cater to what your customers need the most nowadays. Instead of worrying, focus on adapting. In the current business climate, we have two options, we either adapt or die! In this week’s episode, I talk with Nils Vesk of Ideas with Legs. We talk about how businesses should grab the opportunity to redesign and re-evaluate their processes to suit the environment we are in. Nils also shares the importance of reinventing from a customer’s perspective and how to leverage on what you are currently doing, and a lot more. I believe that this topic is becoming more relevant now and so I encourage you to tune in to this episode. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) Ideas with Legs (www.ideaswithlegs.com) Contact Nils Vesk through email ([email protected]) The Site Shed Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSiteShed) Innovate Your Business Series Episode 88 - Using innovation to grow your business (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/using-innovation-to-grow-your-business/) Episode 89 - Creating innovative business models and processes (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/creating-innovative-business-models-and-processes/) Episode 90 - Creating an innovative customer experience (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/creating-an-innovative-customer-experience/) Innovative Thinking Episode 149 - Innovative thinking Part One (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/innovative-1) Episode 150 - Innovative thinking Part Two (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/innovative-2) What’s Discussed In This Episode: How the playing field is leveled for businesses now [5:45] Why those who a Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

If you are serious about protecting your business then the safeguarding of intellectual property, your brand, is one of the things you can start looking into (if you haven’t) to protect it from any legal risks in the future. In this episode with Helen Kay, The Contracts Lawyer, we have an interesting and informative conversation regarding keeping one’s intellectual property safe specifically by registering a trademark. She clarifies to us that having a business name is different from registering a trademark as the latter is your way of securing your brand, making sure that you alone have the right to use it. She stresses on how your brand is one of your business’s most important assets, the benefits of registering your trademark, and she also guides us into the practical steps for registering a trademark, etc. Tune in to this episode to gather this information we made available to you. Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) The Contracts Lawyer (www.thecontractslawyer.com.au) IP Australia (https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/) Check Part 1 of this series (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-1/) Check Part 2 of this series (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-2/) What’s Discussed in This Episode: Overview of episode [4:16] Registering a trademark [6:09] The difference between the ™ and ® symbols [10:12] Business names and trademarks [10:51] Benefits of registering your trademark [11:57] Registering similar business names [14:23] Check if your name is trademarkable [17:19] Identify the goods and services your business is about [21:04] Search for existing trademarks [22:17] Two ways to apply for your trademark [22:45] Practical steps for registering a trademark Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Resources: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) The Contracts Lawyer (www.thecontractslawyer.com.au) Personal Property Securities Register (https://www.ppsr.gov.au/) Check out Part 1 of this series with Helen Kay (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-1/) How to Sell Your Trades Business Series Episode 220 (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/brandon-1/) Episode 221(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/brandon-2/) Episode 222 (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/brandon-3/) Selling your business. This topic should make business owners curious about whether they are planning to sell or not. As a business owner, it can be considered a wise thing to do if you start preparing your business with the end in mind, especially because one of the key factors that determine if a business is thriving is if it is ready for sale. In this episode with Helen Kay, The Contracts Lawyer, she emphasises the importance of getting help from experienced professionals to help with the sale of one’s business and the tasks that business owners can do themselves to make sure the sale goes smoothly. She also talks about the stages of selling a business, the seller’s due diligence, etc. I highly recommend that you tune in to this episode as it provides vital information about preparing your business for sale. What’s Discussed in This Episode: An overview of The Contracts Lawyer and recap of the previous episode [3:54] Getting into the business of ‘selling your business’ [5:27] The legal business health checklist [8:47] The importance of working with experienced professionals [10:42] Stages of selling your business [12:53] Ensur Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Resource Links: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) The Contracts Lawyer (www.thecontractslawyer.com.au) Australian Consumer Law (https://consumerlaw.gov.au/australian-consumer-law) Debt Collection Information (https://www.accc.gov.au/business/treating-customers-fairly/debt-collection) Check our previous podcast with Helen Kay as one of our guests (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/coronavirus-1/) When we’re asked why we’re in business we all have a common answer and that is to earn an income. As much as we love and are passionate about what we do, the very goal of every business, even with tradies, is having income. But most business owners, especially those who do not receive upfront payments for services, are faced with the problem of not getting paid on time or not getting paid at all for jobs that have already been accomplished. This was a problem prior to the pandemic and has become a pressing issue now because of the current climate we are experiencing. In this podcast episode, we will talk with Helen Kay, The Contracts Lawyer. She is going to enlighten us by providing helpful tips to address this dilemma. We will cover topics such as different payment structures, the importance of contracts and invoices, payment terms, different clauses to put in your terms and conditions, setting up of systems and processes to ensure that you get paid, and a lot more. There’s a wealth of information that you wouldn’t want to miss so tune in to this episode! What’s Discussed in This Episode: How Helen Kay had to reinvent the advise she gives due to this pandemic [9:08] Contracts and invoices [13:45] Setting up the terms and conditions [17:09] Why terms and conditions should be updated [18:58] How to communicate the updated terms and conditions to your clients [20:05] Terms and conditions for current contracts [20:48] Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Resource Links: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) Get in touch with Al through his website https://7powercontractor.com/ Get in touch with Ellen through her website https://ellenrohr.com/ You can also access Al Levi’s Training Module program using The Site Shed’s discount code at https://www.7powercontractor.com/tss/ Check out Matt’s last podcast with Al and Ellen - https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/when-is-the-right-time-to-expand/ This pandemic has created not just a panic towards our physical well-being but is affecting us in so many other ways. Business owners are stressed, they seem to think that hope is lost and are running out of ideas on how to make their businesses stronger even in the face of this crisis. In this episode, Al and Ellen provide practical help to all business owners who are struggling now. They believe that something, in fact, a lot of things can still be done to emerge stronger after this crisis. We will talk about refining business objectives, the role of communication to get your business’s message across, seizing and spotting of the right opportunities that this crisis presents, and a lot more. If you are a business owner finding it hard to navigate through this crisis yet bent on emerging stronger when this is all over, this episode might just be what you need. What’s Discussed In This Episode: Who to listen to during this crisis [8:43] Refining business objectives with the changes happening [9:53] Why having systems in place prior to this crisis is important [12:41] The critical role of communication during a crisis [15:36] How triage makes us focus on what’s important [16:18] Al’s narrative on how he survived past crises with the right attitude [21:17] Seizing the opportunity to step into greatness [24:55] Understanding your KFP (Known Financial Position) [27:50] Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed

Resource Links: Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/) Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/) Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply) Get in touch with Joe at Winning Reviews (https://www.winning.reviews/) Reviews and testimonials are conversion factors which tradespeople and contractors shouldn’t neglect. Time and time again, we’ve seen people become customers after reading positive reviews or testimonials. The power of reviews is definitely something that tradies should learn to harness and manage responsibly. In this episode, we put the spotlight on reviews and testimonials. Joe Mikitish is with us today as we dive into the entire landscape including how to obtain reviews, where to put them up, and making them a part of your process. We also discuss how to handle negative reviews when they come up, which happens in any industry. If you’re a business owner interested in utilising reviews and testimonials the right way, this episode is exactly what you need. What’s Discussed In This Episode: Joe’s background and what Winning Reviews does [06:04] Who are the businesses they work with [08:01] The transition to digital word-of-mouth [09:40] The problem with relying on Facebook and Google reviews [14:47] Other platforms for reviews [16:37] The longevity of free real estate in Google My Business [18:37] Joe’s process around navigating negative reviews [22:00] Making obtaining reviews as part of the process [25:19] Soliciting reviews while following Google rules [27:19] Leveraging customer reviews [32:40] Re-engaging customers [38:32] The relationship between reviews and search engine rankings [45:38] The difference between Google Maps and Google My Business [47:53] Publishing reviews on your website [50:44] Reviews as social proofs [52:36] About Our Guest: Joe Mikitish is the co-founder of software company, Winning Reviews. Coming from an engineering background, he has worked for companies like Microsoft Your Next Step:Join Tradie Academy, our free community packed with templates, checklists, and resources shared by podcast guests, coaches, and successful tradies.👉 Join free and grab your next growth tool here: https://tradie.wiki/podFollow The Site Shed:Facebook: The Site ShedInstagram: @thesiteshedLinkedIn: Matt JonesWebsite: thesiteshed.comYouTube: @TheSiteShedIf you enjoyed this podcast and the series, please take 5 minutes to leave us a review:⭐ https://lovethepodcast.com/TheSiteShedLove the audio version of this podcast? Subscribe to the link below:⭐ https://followthepodcast.com/TheSiteShed