The Trade Den

Stepping off the tools and into management? It’s a whole new game. Suddenly, you’re not just a tradie – you’re a leader. And that means handling an avalanche of calls, decisions, and problems, all while keeping your ground crew productive and your business moving. Today, we’re giving you a simple playbook to cut through the chaos. It’s all about three words: Wins, Flags, and Roadblocks. This system helps you process information fast, make decisions with clarity, and keep momentum high without drowning in problems. This approach will transform how you manage your team – and your time. Because the bigger your business gets, the more overwhelming it can feel… unless you’ve got the right tools to handle it. In this episode you’ll learn:

There’s a fine line between building your business and jeopardising the relationship with your loved ones. We see two extreme habits that can quietly wreck your personal life when business talk follows you home. On one end, there’s the Withdrawal Reflex – shutting down, bottling up stress, and leaving your partner completely in the dark. She starts feeling disconnected, and before you know it, her silence speaks louder than words. On the other end, there’s Open All Hours Syndrome – where every dinner, every car ride, and even quiet moments in front of the TV turn into a never-ending business meeting. We’ve been guilty of both, and we’ve coached countless business owners through the same struggles. We unpack how to avoid these traps and find a healthy middle ground, so your business thrives without your relationship paying the price. In this episode you’ll learn:

You have a momentous decision to make: you’ve been offered a massive and lucrative job contract. Your gut says, “Go for it!” But wait – are you seeing the full picture? Some charge in headfirst, convinced it’s the golden ticket. Others hesitate, overwhelmed by potential risks. But here’s the thing: great decisions aren’t just about gut instinct or playing it safe. They’re about balancing the equation – weighing the upside against the risks and checking your natural bias before making the call. We break down the five key questions that will help you make clear, confident, and strategic decisions – the kind that grow your business without blowing it up: How am I going to fund it? How am I going to resource it? How am I going to operationally deliver it? What’s the risk to my future pipeline? Have I earned the right to take this on? In this episode you’ll learn:

Confidence is the silent force behind every decision you make, every action you take, and ultimately, every result you create. But here’s the kicker—most people think confidence comes first, when in reality, it’s built through action. Think about it – how many times have you hesitated on a big move, waiting to “feel” confident before taking the leap? The truth is, confidence isn’t something you wait for – it’s something you create. In this episode, we dive deep into how confidence shapes your decisions, drives your actions, and determines your success. We break down the four key strategies that help you build unshakable confidence –so you can stop waiting and start taking action. In this episode you’ll learn:

For many business owners, being busy isn’t just a reality – it’s a status symbol. Ask any tradie how business is going, and you’ll hear: “Mate, flat out! Non-stop. Can’t keep up.” And there’s a certain pride in that. Like if you’re not run off your feet, you mustn’t be doing well enough. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Busyness isn’t a business strategy. If you’re drowning in work, stretched thin, and never moving forward, is that really success? Today, we’re challenging the idea that exhaustion equals achievement. Because the most successful business owners aren’t the busiest—they’re the smartest with their time. In this episode you’ll learn:

You’re hustling hard, winning jobs, growing your business. But somehow, at the end of the month, there’s barely anything left in the bank. Overheads have a sneaky way of growing with your business – more subscriptions, more admin, more non-billable costs are quietly eating away at your bottom line. Like Benjamin Franklin said, a small leak will sink a great ship. The good news is you can stop the leaks before they sink you. In this episode, we’re tackling a silent profit killer – sloppy spending. The kind that drains thousands from your business, often without you even noticing. In this episode you’ll learn:

At 15, Jack Whiting was already climbing rooftops. By 23, he had his own company. Sounds like a dream, right? Not quite. Between juggling cash flow nightmares, being underestimated as a young gun, and working ridiculous hours just to stay afloat, Jack learned the hard way that hustle alone wasn’t enough. He had to face another kind of “apprenticeship” …as a serious business owner. Now he’s leading a team, navigating fatherhood, and even voluntarily wearing a proper business shirt! As many business owners discover, putting down the tools can be the toughest job. In this episode you’ll learn:

Struggling business? Missed deadlines? Sloppy work? A disengaged team? Who’s to blame? Most point fingers at their crew. “They don’t care. They don’t listen. I just can’t find good people.” Sound familiar? But what if the real issue isn’t them... it’s you? The shift from being on the tools to leading the business is one of the most pivotal moments in any tradesperson’s journey. Many skilled tradespeople build successful businesses based on their technical expertise, but to scale and achieve sustainable growth, they must evolve into effective leaders. Stepping away from the tools doesn’t mean losing control — it means leading with purpose. It requires trust in your team, clear communication, and a commitment to personal growth. The best trades businesses aren’t built on one person’s hard work alone—they thrive when a strong leader builds, supports, and drives the team forward. In this episode you’ll learn:

Many business owners fall into the trap of hiring first and building processes later, creating misaligned roles, frustration, and wasted resources. We introduce the ‘Scale Team, Not Time’ framework, a strategic approach to growing your business by focusing on three key elements: position, people, and process, in that specific order. It’s important to define roles clearly, recruit effectively, and develop processes that empower your team and business to grow sustainably. In this episode you’ll learn:

Ever find yourself sitting at the dinner table, surrounded by family, but totally checked out? It’s easy to get caught in the hustle and lose the moments that truly matter. Being present isn’t about showing up physically—it’s about showing up fully. Quality over quantity. Real connection over just clocking hours. We’ll show you how to break the cycle, be intentional, and reconnect with your family without sacrificing your business goals. Because, small moments, done right, create big impacts. In this episode you’ll learn:

Corey Tompkins’ shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Western Sydney to building a thriving construction business in Brisbane. Having transitioned from hands-on tradesman to a strategic business leader, Corey discusses the pivotal decisions that propelled his growth, including hiring key team members, shifting to a B2B model, and stepping off the tools to focus on leadership. He also opens up about his personal transformation, shedding 24 kilos and adopting a disciplined mindset that has reshaped both his health and business. This is about more than just business; it’s about mindset, momentum, and making the leap. In this episode you’ll learn:

Making a profit is not a dirty word, in fact it’s your duty as a business owner to prioritise profitability. Stats show that many businesses are barely breaking even or going backwards. If you’re falling into the same trap, you may need to shift focus from just servicing customers to actively managing and maximising profits. There are three principles for financial success: 1. Be unapologetic about making profit: Embrace profitability as a core measure of success without guilt. 2. Know your numbers: Understand financial metrics to make informed and strategic decisions. 3. Value profit over ego: Prioritise sustainable growth and profitability over appearances or pride. In this episode you’ll learn:

You can only truly grow your business once you embrace the magic of “leverage”. Leverage allows you, as a business owner, to maximise your time, resources, and efforts without being bogged down by low-value tasks. It enables you to focus on strategic goals and high-value activities, ultimately leading to better profitability and work-life balance. Rob and Dan argue the need to build a solid foundation—starting with hiring and training the right ground crew and office staff—before advancing to higher-level roles or adopting complex technology. By overcoming limiting mindsets, such as “no one is as good as me, it saves me time, energy and money if I do it myself,” business owners can optimise their time, delegate low-value tasks, and create sustainable growth. Once that foundation is established, you can fully appreciate the impact of leverage, of which there are three forms: 1. Money – Investing in resources like staff, systems, or tools that can generate greater returns over time. 2. People – Delegating tasks to the right team members, such as ground crew, admin staff, or project managers, to free up the owner’s time and enable business growth. 3. Systems – Implementing processes and technology, such as job management systems and accounting software, to improve efficiency, reduce manual work, and scale operations effectively. In this episode you’ll learn:

Running a business isn’t easy, we all know that. But, if you’re striving to step up and grow it much bigger than it is today, you need to build momentum. Unlike motivation, which can be fleeting, momentum is built through consistent action—it’s the driving force that fuels change and keeps you moving forward, even when challenges make you want to give up. And so, how do you build momentum? We suggest adopting four key principles: Start small: Begin with tiny, manageable habits that easily fit into your daily routine. Focus on consistency: Repeated actions, not fleeting motivation, lead to long-term success. Create a supportive environment: Surround yourself with people and structures that foster growth and eliminate distractions. Celebrate progress: Acknowledge even the smallest wins to build confidence and reinforce momentum. These principles help shift focus from all-or-nothing efforts to steady, incremental progress, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of success. By stacking beliefs and consistently reinforcing positive actions, you can unlock sustainable results in both your professional and personal life. Please come to The Trade Den Facebook and share your thoughts with other likeminded business owners. https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden … Book a free Strategy Call www.strategysession.com.au Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Initially facing overwhelm and burnout, Adrian Kowal found himself at a crossroads, feeling overwhelmed and contemplating selling his business – something he had worked incredibly hard to build. With strong support from his family, close friends, and his coaching group, he worked through the tough – and dark – period, leaning on grit and a willingness to ask for help. Reflecting on his growth, Adrian credits the lessons learned and his ongoing efforts to maintain mental well-being and a healthy relationship with alcohol. He tried various methods to regain control, from health routines to therapy, but ultimately found that focusing on a few small habits was the key to rebuilding. Adrian’s story highlights the importance of community, leadership, and mental health. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help when needed and that taking small, consistent steps can lead to massive change. Adrian’s journey inspires many, especially those in the trades, to keep pushing through even the toughest of times. Takeaways from this episode:

Despite what you may have heard, motivation is NOT a magical starting point. Instead, we argue that motivation is a result of five critical factors: Energy drives action: Physical and mental energy levels, supported by healthy habits like proper sleep, exercise, and nutrition, are foundational for motivation. Desire determines commitment: High desire means you’re committed to doing whatever it takes, while low desire leads to inconsistency when challenges arise. Distraction reveals priorities: Frequent distractions suggest a lack of genuine commitment to your goals. Belief fuels execution: Confidence in your ability to achieve a goal boosts your willingness to take consistent action. Delay impacts motivation: Long-term goals can hinder motivation; breaking them into short-term milestones makes them feel attainable. By understanding and optimising these elements, you can sustain motivation, overcome obstacles, and achieve meaningful progress in both personal and professional goals. Isn’t that what we all want? This is the first episode of our Matters series, where we share short, laser-focused ideas and tackle essential topics like mindset, health, family, and money. Let us know what you think of this new concept. Please come to The Trade Den Facebook and share your thoughts with other likeminded business owners. https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden … Book a free Strategy Call https://launch.pravargroup.com.au/onestepcloser Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a refreshing break, you’re brimming with optimism and big-picture thinking. However, the holiday mode can derail momentum if not handled carefully. Starting the year right sets the tone for success! Bosses must strike a balance, keeping their “head in the clouds” (vision and strategy) while maintaining their “feet on the ground” (practical execution). Businesses that fail to hit the ground running risk falling into tactical firefighting, losing valuable time. Now’s the time – a strong January lays the foundation for a productive and profitable year. Takeaways from this episode:

It’s that time of year. You’re all excited to get things started both in business and personally. And it’s a time when many put pen to paper to write down their new goals and resolutions. But, hang on! Resolutions for most people are doomed to fail. They’re often rooted in vague goals focused on escaping pain rather than striving for meaningful outcomes. At Pravar, we recognise the importance of clear, inspiring visions paired with strategic planning and preparedness for challenges. In this episode we encourage you to embrace clarity and intention to ensure lasting success in your personal and professional goals. In this episode you’ll learn:

Welcome to the very last episode of 2024 and an episode where we wanted to take the time to recap on some of the moments and key lessons we’ve spoken about on the podcast that we know have genuinely made a difference in our clients (and listener’s lives) At Pravar Group we limit the number of new clients that come on board so this podcast is our way of doing that and helping as many Trades & Construction business owners as we can to reconnect with their families and create businesses that they love living in. If you haven’t listened to any of the below episodes make sure you take time to go back and tune in OR revisit these to make sure you’ve implemented everything you can to make 2025 your best year yet. And make sure you listen all the way to the end to hear some BIG changes coming in 2025 and what they mean for you. Episodes Referenced: EP 23 - The Most Costly Pricing Mistakes You Can Make in a Trades Business (Pricing Series Part 1) Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 24 - How to Adjust Your Prices as Your Business Grows… Without Losing Customers (Pricing Series Part 2) Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 25 - What You Need to be Charging in Your Trades Business (Pricing Series Part 3) Listen on Apple or SpotifyEP 30 - How to Transition From Being A Mate to A Manager Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 37 - How To Become a Dad Your Kids Will Remember on Apple or Spotify EP 13 - From Almost Losing His Family To Having It All, Turning $6.5 Mil and Working 30 Hours A Week with Nathan Wilson from Rescue U Plumbing Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 5 - If you feel like Shutting Your Business Down … this Episode will Change Your Life with Ahmad Radi from Radi Electrical. Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 26 - Overcoming Adversity: How Zach Hansen Went from Leaving High School at 15 to Leading a Team of 13 & a Turnover of $3 Million Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 36 - Scaling From 12 to 80+ Employees, $14Mill in Revenue & Named Great Place to Work with Simon Parker from Parker Precision Listen on Apple or Spotify EP 27 - Face the Facts: How is Alcohol Affecting Your Personal and Business Success? Listen on Apple or Spotify If you want to have the best 2025 yet and get some support to grow your business and reclaim your time … Book a free Strategy Call here And if you’re not already part of The Trade Den community on Facebook make sure you join so you can be part of our 2025 plans. Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or @pravargroup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s almost Christmas and we’ve spoken the last few weeks about strategies you can implement to not just have a cracking end to 2024 but make 2025 your best year yet. Often this time of year we’re so busy just trying to get to the finish line but if you want 2025 to be DIFFERENT, one of the keys to success is taking the time to actually reflect on what happened in your year. At Pravar, our two step process is the thing that sets so many of our clients up for success, which is the same thing that the top 1% of athletes and business leaders do as well. In this episode you’ll learn:

Frank, like a few other client stories you might have heard, first contacted Pravar when he was working 80+ hours a week, was chained to his phone getting 80-100 phone calls a day, had no admin, no structure and no time for his family … and then he found out his wife was having twins. In under 3 years Frank has completely changed his business and his life. He only works 30 hours a week, he's taken a six week family holiday to Italy and he's now in a position where he's able to start to build his own family legacy and wealth.  But that's not the end of his story. Frank's personal transformation from someone who had no time to eat, drank beers every night and in poor physical shape, to now quitting spoking, fixing his health and becoming a role model for his kids and his family. Frank didn't believe that he could do this … but he DID see other people who had done it before him and that was all he needed to think that perhaps he could make the change too. If you're currently stuck living a life you hate and want to make a change in 2025 book a free Strategy Call here  In this episode, you'll learn:

Talk to any Trades Business Owner, December is just one of those months…increased workloads, looming deadlines, unrealistic expectations from customers and you're trying to do a full month's worth of work in less than 3 weeks  Everyone is tired, worn out and just want a break.  Getting the end of the year right is the difference between setting yourself up for an incredible 2025 OR chasing your tail all year and starting behind the eight ball.  And it doesn't involve some crazy strategy or not taking any time off, today what we're going to be talking about is the 5 percenters that will make sure you get a break, you're not worried about your cashflow AND you've set yourself up to have the best start to 2025 that you can.  In this episode you'll learn:

These client stories are some of our listeners favourite episodes.  And it's not just because they hold the ‘secrets' to growing your business, getting you off the tools and living a life that you love … but it's because they are people, just like you who made a choice to do things differently. Andy Clyde from Inline Cabinetry has gone from working 80+ hours a week, getting hundreds of phone calls, doing EVERY single role in his business himself and not being able to grow his revenue to having his biggest year yet on track to turn over $3.6 million, working 40 hours a week, has a team of 13 and is about to move into a new office space.  But that's not even the best part. His partner Maddie used to not even bother calling to ask for help with their four kids because the answer was always going to be ‘Nah I'm too busy' … Andy used to rush through reading the kids bedtime stories so he could get back to the laptop and was working so much he missed every single event.  Now he hasn't worked a Saturday in months, he goes to the kids sport EVERY SINGLE NIGHT and after a pivotal moment last year, stopped bringing his laptop home completely.  So much of Andy's story is about stepping into the man & leader you need to become to create this freedom and life and that's what you're going to hear today.  In this episode you'll learn:

You found the ‘perfect person', you got them trained up, you've taken a step back off the tools and then they drop the bombshell that they want to finish up.  Over the last two weeks we've gone through how to design a ground crew that actually supports your business goals and how to find the right people … so this week we're talking about how to keep them and how to become a place where people actually want to work. And it's not just paying them more money.  If you haven't listened yet you can find Part One here on Apple and Spotify and Part Two here on Apple and Spotify Aside from being frustrating, there is an actual cost to losing employees, and it's not just financial.  When you have to recruit and retrain there's lost billable time, lost productivity and could even be reputational damage. So we're not just going to teach you today how to build a company that people never want to leave but how to link the physical design of your team, your recruitment process and this final piece all together so that you bring the right people in from day one.  In this episode you'll learn:

Are you putting ads up on Seek but keep wondering “Why is everybody so terrible?” Are you stressed because you can't seem to get any suitable applications at all? If you answered yes, keep reading. Last week we spoke about how to get clear on who you want to hire and when the right time is… Getting this right is the first part of the equation in successfully growing your business and getting your time back.  If you haven't listened to this yet make sure you tune in here on Apple or Spotify.  Today we're getting into how to find the right people. We're going to take you through the reason your job ads aren't working AND other strategies that you can implement to make recruiting one of the easiest parts of your business.  In this episode you'll learn:

Do you feel like there's just no good people to hire? Or maybe you've got no idea how you're going to be able to afford to step back off the tools yourself, or do it without everything falling apart.   Getting the right people at the right time is crucial to growing your trades and construction business but something that we see so many business owners get wrong. This week is the first part in our series around hiring the team that will help you grow and take your business to the next level. In this episode we're going to be talking through some key questions you need to reflect on to make sure that your next hire is both the person that will move your business forward AND that it's NOT someone you're going to have to replace in 6 months time.  If you want to have a productive and profitable ground crew, this episode will teach you how to design a team that is exactly that. And if you want some help to figure out WHO your next hire should be book a free Strategy Call here  Tune in to learn:

Are you: Missing out on precious family moments because of work? Struggling to balance the roles of being a provider and a dad? Unsure how to create meaningful connections with your kids? Or feeling guilty for not being present enough… but don't know where to start? In today's episode, we are diving into a topic that's close to home for both of us… The difference between just being a parent and fully showing up as a dad.  As business owners, we know the pressure of balancing a demanding work life while trying to be there for our families. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that providing financially is enough, but is that really the relationship you want with your kids? Join us as we chat about the impact long work hours are having on your children's development, the unique challenges of being a dad to young children versus adult kids, and how to realise when your work justifications are becoming excuses. In this episode you'll learn:

When Simon started with Pravar he had 12 employees and was turning over $2 Mill a year.  Now he's built a team of over 80 and is on track to do $18mill+ this year.  Today's client story isn't just about the logistics and business strategies Simon had to implement to be able to achieve this incredible growth. It's about the leader and person he had to become to be able to get his team to grow alongside him.  Simon has created such an incredible culture within his business that even when everyone else was struggling to hire he attracted A players and was named the 25th great place to work in a company of his size.  If you want to scale and do it properly, or you're curious how to get your team to lift their standards so they operate at the same level you do … don't miss this episode!  You'll Hear 

What's the first thing you do when you open your eyes in the morning? Do you grab your phone?  Check Emails? Read The News?  Maybe you see a notification you really wish you didn't? If you look at highly successful people in their field whether it's elite athletes or elite business people every single one of them sets themselves up for success every day.  And you don't have to go to the extremes of saunas, ice baths, and an hour of meditation, there are only FOUR simple, sustainable elements that most of them look at to change the game completely.  So today we're going to be using this episode to reflect on the things you might be doing that are either setting you up to WIN or FAIL and what you can implement instead.  If you haven't listened to episode 12 where we go through 2 questions that will help you to stay focused and get more done make sure you check it out On Apple And Spotify You'll Hear 

One of the biggest challenges Trades and Construction Business Owners face is switching gears from being a businessman to being present with their family. Too often, guys get stuck on the hamster wheel; working long hours, not seeing the profits they deserve, and feeling disconnected from their loved ones. In this episode, we're giving you the tools and strategies to help you draw the line between work and personal life. That way, you can show up as a strong leader in your business, but more importantly, as a loving husband and father that your family and friends deserve. Stick around till the end, where we'll share the game-changing techniques our clients are using to leave work stress at the door. You'll Learn:

For a lot of trade business owners, Christmas is the most stressful time of the year. And what many people don't realise is that a successful end of the year starts NOW.  So if you dread the end-of-year rush and want to avoid a slow Q1, this episode is for you.  Join us as we discuss three crucial steps that will help you manage your cash flow, plan ahead, and keep your pipeline full - all while ensuring you enjoy the holiday season.  You'll Hear 

We held our annual Lifestyle Mastermind and Awards night a few weeks ago and thought we'd do a bit of a different episode today to give you some insight into the mastermind itself and the awards night.  Lifestyle clients at Pravar are working towards the outcome of building a trades business doing $3-5 Mill+ in revenue, 10-15% Net Profit, in 45 hours a week or less.  They're not just striving to become better businessmen and get more time and financial freedom, they actually want to invest in themselves to become better husbands, fathers, leaders and just great blokes all round.  These clients on average in 2023 Financial Year were turning over $3.8 million doing and $580,000 in net profit in LESS than 45 hours a week.  So if that's something that YOU want to work towards listen to this episode, find out the common traits they all share between them and if you're not yet working with us book in your Free Strategy Session here to see if you're the right fit and map out your next 12 months.  You'll Learn: 

When people start a partnership they think they'll be able to grow twice as fast, but in all of my years working with Trades & Construction businesses I've found a common pattern.  They usually end up thinking they're helping the other out by answering a call or just jumping in to send a quote, but instead of MAXIMISING their productivity, they step on each other's toes and hold themselves back from growing.  Today we're joined by Chris and Andrew from Kinetic Electrical & Data who were mates at school and went on to start their own business together. They now have 13 employees, both take holidays, prioritise their fitness and are more profitable than they've ever been before..  The topics we cover today are important whether you're in a partnership or not and are things that we see holding people back from growing to their full potential all the time.  You'll Learn: 

As you grow your trades & construction business there comes a time when you need to step off the tools if you want to grow your business to the next level.  And with this step we often see so many business owners get dragged back to site because they feel guilty for ‘leaving the boys'. They feel as though they are being judged for being in the cozy office whilst the rest of the team are out in the heat or freezing cold.  And they struggle to be able to have the tough conversations with team members who are underperforming or taking the piss because they're mates and there isn't the level of mutual respect you need to get the best out of your team.  Being one of the boys has got your business to where it is today but if you want to grow to $1 million dollars plus AND work less whilst you're doing it you need to make the decision to actually be a manager and a leader for your team.  So today we're going to cover the exact steps to take to get there, and if you want some help with this book a free chat where we'll help you to figure out the first step here You'll Learn: 

If you've taken some steps to wind yourself off the tools but realised the second you step off-site you somehow start making less money, and the team take longer than ever to get anything done, this episode is for you! “No one does the job as quickly or to the standard that I do” is one of the most common statements we hear when trades & construction business owners start to step off the tools.   But if you don't learn to navigate this properly you will ALWAYS be stuck feeling like a slave to your business and team. If you're constantly having to go to the site to check on work, fix mistakes, deal with clients OR you're forever feeling as though you're allowing enough time for the work to be done but frustrated that your team just don't meet the deadline … there are three things you can do to fix this or make sure it doesn't happen to you.  Dan and I are going to talk through what these things are, how you can implement them in your business and how to get your team to take accountability and meet the deadlines and budgets you set for them.  You'll Learn: 

“We cannot selectively numb emotion. If we numb the dark, we numb the light. If we take the edge off pain and discomfort, we are, by default, taking the edge off joy, love, belonging, and the other emotions that give meaning to our lives.”  – Brene Brown When growing a business, you will constantly be facing challenges of all sizes and from all directions. Clients will forever be changing their minds, projects will continue to be pushed out and staff will always seem to resign at the worst possible time…and that's just on the business front!   Both in Business and Life, the more we strive and the bigger the game we want to play things have a way of getting harder, not easier — but it is how you choose to view each “setback” and challenge that really matters. It's the actions that you take the moment a challenge appears that will define your success.    So in today's episode, we are talking all about resilience. The word gets thrown around so much these days but what does it mean?  We'll discuss not just the ability to get back up after a tough situation, but how to ensure that each time you face adversity, you come back stronger and stronger. Let's dive in. What You Will Learn:

Today is not about preaching to you about drinking less or quitting altogether.  Instead, we invite you to honestly examine your relationship with alcohol and how it is currently serving you as a business owner, husband, father, family man and friend. Alcohol is deeply ingrained in the Trades and Construction industry. From after-work drinks to Friday pub lunches, it's often seen as a normal part of the job. But have you ever stopped to question why you drink? Join us as we share with you our own experiences with alcohol, the positive impact we have seen on our clients who have taken a hard look at their drinking habits, and the amazing results we've had since choosing to reduce our consumption (Don't worry - Rob still enjoys a good red). So if you're at the top of your game but feel something's missing, it might be time to consider your relationship with alcohol. You'll Hear:

For someone who is only 27 years old, Zach Hansen has had to overcome his fair share of challenges and adversity. He has now become the leader and businessman that most people struggle to achieve in a lifetime. When Zach came to Coaching, he was trapped as fear held him captive, preventing him from delegating simple tasks to his team. Every morning at 5 am, he'd drag himself out of bed to get materials from the supplier, a task he was convinced only he could handle.  He was struggling with stepping off site because he thought that his clients needed Zach to do the job. Now, Zach is off the tools and manages 10 ground crew, an administrator, a bookkeeper and an Operations Manager from the comfort of the factory he never thought was possible. So how did he get here? He worked on his mindset, put himself in front of people who knew more than him and wasn't afraid to ask for help.  Success leaves clues. Listen to this episode to find out what you can learn from Zach's story. You'll Hear 

Deciding what margin you should be charging can be the make or break of whether you win work AND whether you actually have a profitable business.  But the hidden cost that most trades business owners miss is getting their markup and their margin mixed up.  Today's episode we're going to take you through what the difference is between markup and margin, what you should be aiming for AND how you can troubleshoot to find out where the problems or missed opportunities are in your business.  We do get technical so make sure you pause, rewind or if you just want some help and for us to do it with you book in your FREE strategy call over at www.strategysession.com.au Listen in to Learn:

When you think of job costs, what comes to mind?  For most people, it will be labour and materials to complete the job.  If you've got those 2 you're well on your way to understanding the true cost of a job BUT if you aren't also factoring in incidentals, recouping costs for equipment you own OR you're using an hourly rate when you don't understand the true cost of labour - this could be one of the reasons you haven't been making as much profit as you thought.  Last week we spoke about some of the most common mistakes we see business owners in the trades space make when they are pricing and this week we're going to teach you how to accurately build a price that works for you without missing any of your job costs AND means that you'll never need to drop your price again.  Listen in to Learn:

Where did your pricing model come from in business?  For most trades business owners it's usually something they got from an old employer, shared from a mate or something that sounded right at the time.  With the increase in trades businesses shutting down or running at a loss we thought it was time to do a series on all things pricing.  In part one, we are going to take you through how you can price to make PROFIT (and still win work), how your pricing model needs to evolve as your business grows so you stay in front and why copying anyone else's pricing model will severely hurt your bottom line.  Listen in to Learn:

A lot of Trades business owners get to a point where they know they need to hire help BUT they either don't know who to hire and when… or hire the right person at the wrong time.  When this happens instead of unlocking your growth, getting time back, and allowing yourself to get off the tools it often ends up costing you more time, energy & money and in some cases even reputational damage.  Today we're going to be talking through the 3 phases of hiring - who you should bring on at each stage, WHY it goes wrong when you bring someone else on instead and how to make sure you are bringing on people who actually ADD value to your business.  Listen in to Learn:

Are you getting what you want out of your life? Not just your work life… But your family life too? What have you missed out on because of work or needing to do ‘just one more thing'? Are your family missing you? Do you have hobbies any more? What about your friends?  Today we're talking about the truth behind Work/Life Balance and the changes you need to make to be able to have success in health, wealth, business AND connections and not being forced to just have one or the other.  If you feel like you're currently on the hamster wheel of having to work more and more OR you feel like you're constantly having to choose between your friends, family or looking after yourself … this episode is for you.  Listen in to Learn:

How do you GROW your business when you have no more hours to give and you're only JUST paying yourself a wage?  Today's guest was working 100 hours per week, sleeping 4-5 hours a night, felt like he could only focus on his family OR his business, and was faced with the choice to either scale his business back OR make a change.  We're joined by Phil Dawes from The Great Outdawes Landscaping, who started with Pravar back in 2020 and has gone from working from 6am to midnight most nights and weekends to consistently finishing at 2pm with enough time and flexibility to pick his kids up from school and spend time with his family on the weekend.  All whilst growing his business to a team of 17, making more money than ever before, and has been able to focus on his health, losing over 26 kilos in the process.  Listen in to Learn:

Every time we talk about this topic people find hundreds of thousands of dollars (and no we're not exaggerating).  Getting a quote together usually takes a fair bit of time, energy and money… and one of the biggest mistakes we see in the trades and construction industry is after they send out the quote, they jump on to the next one.  If you've been quoting as much as you can but your pipeline and bottom line are still feeling empty, then this week's episode is going to teach you one of the fastest and simplest ways to fill your pipeline AND how to get more people to say YES to your quotes moving forward.  You'll Learn:

Do you want to reach out to NEW customers to fill your pipeline or expand your business but don't want to come across as pushy or desperate? Sales and Business Development CAN be quite easy but most people overcomplicate it. In this episode, we're going to take you through a strategy that will help not just with the challenging market we're in now but moving forward to make sure you've always got a full pipeline of work. There are no advanced sales strategies here, literally anyone can master this and start to implement after the episode.  So if you want the strategies to open doors, generate leads and get your DREAM clients to say yes, don't miss this episode.  You'll Learn:

How's Business Going For You Right Now?  The most common answer we're hearing from the industry right now is that ‘Leads & sales are starting to dry up' and ‘it's getting harder to win work'.  In this episode, we discuss what a pipeline is and the 4 Steps we coach clients on so you can anticipate and become confident in where you are heading in the next 6-12 months.  This episode is a little longer but in under 45 minutes, you'll walk away with everything you need to gain the certainty and clarity to take back control and manage your pipeline, regardless of what is happening in the broader economy and marketplace.    You'll Learn:

One of our core principles in Pravar is to ‘Never Settle' and Ben Wolff from Wolff Energy Solutions is someone who lives and breathes that principle. Ben previously worked 60 hours a week on the tools, only to come home and do another 20 hours in the office on top of that at nights and weekends. Like so many other trades business owners he got into business to try and get some more freedom and time back but he ended up feeling trapped and although there wasn't a way out … and on top of all of that he had over $250K in debt to the ATO and suppliers.  Ben had so many areas in his business where he had set himself up for failure, not because he did anything wrong, but because he didn't know any better and it's something we see time and time again.  If you're not making the money you currently want to see in business or working too many hours this success story and turnaround holds some incredible insights into the first steps you can take to make a change.  You'll Learn:

Almost every Trade & Construction business owner is losing money in these 5 areas. In last weeks episode we spoke about an all too common scenario where business owners will go from $750k to $1mill to $1.25mill or more and expect to make more cash than they've ever made before, but what we see instead is they grow and the money problems they had at $750k follow them so instead they make less than they've ever made. One of the reasons for this is the ‘leaky bucket' and today we're taking you through 5 Strategies we've implemented with clients that has added hundreds of thousands of dollars to their bottom line, that you can implement as well. You'll Learn:

If you're experiencing cash flow problems you just need more cash right?  WRONG.  Well at least in our experience … throughout the hundreds of clients we've coached we've seen that if you see the numbers aren't going the way you want and just start to look for more sales without solving the root cause of those money problems first, you'll often end up in a WORSE situation than where you started with more problems than ever before.  If you've got no shortage of work but when you try to grow your net profit stays the same or actually decreases OR you want to grow and set yourself up for success, this episode is for you.  You'll Learn:

If you're currently working ridiculous hours in your business, wearing all of the hats and trying to keep everything a float, the reason you're probably pushing through is for your family.  But as you heard in our origin story often you working so hard can be the thing that completely tears your family apart, like it almost did for our guest today.  Nathan Wilson owns Rescue U Plumbing and when he came to work with Pravar 7 years ago his wife Ricci had just told him that she felt like a single parent, that their kids didn't even know him and that ‘something had to change or they were all out'. It's a story we hear too often and so today we want to share what can happen if you do take that first step to decide differently.  For Nathan he went from working 7 days a week and all hours of the night, earning $2.2mil with only 2% Profit to now working 30 hours a week and turning over $6.5mil a year with a team of 28 and becoming an inspiration to so many within the Pravar family.  They say success leaves clues and there's A LOT in here so make sure you stay tuned to the end of this one.  You'll Learn: