The ToolShed Podcast

Most builders don't have a lead problem. They have a positioning problem. In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, Mick Hawes sits down with Scott Bywater, founder of Copywriting That Sells, to unpack marketing for builders and why so many residential builders keep attracting the wrong clients. Scott has worked on unique selling propositions for somewhere between 50 and 100 building companies, and...

What actually makes a home sustainable, and why are builders who understand it converting far more of their quotes? Mick sits down with Simon Clark, founder of Sustainable Homes Melbourne, to unpack what actually makes a home sustainable and why builders who understand it are converting far more quotes. They cover why Australia lags decades behind on insulation, why double glazing barely moves the...

Two builders, $150K in debt between them, and the honest story of how business coaching turned it all around. Wayne Preston and Matthew Auld join Mick Hawes to talk about the financial crisis, mental health, and what it actually takes to build a construction business that works for you instead of against you. Connect with Wayne & Matt: Matt's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10003...

I sat down with residential builders Wayne Preston and Matthew Auld for a raw conversation on mental health in the building industry and what business coaching for builders actually looks like behind the scenes. Wayne shares the financial crisis that nearly cost him his house. Matthew opens up about the day his wife rang me worried about him. Both explain why community, not just systems, is what g...

Most business owners aren't lazy or lost, they're sabotaging themselves without realising it. In this episode, Mick Hawes talks with entrepreneur Kassidy Warren about the real difference between purpose and distraction, why business owners create chaos instead of focus, and why he spent $35,000 to join a community and became a hotel owner within six weeks because of it.. Connect with Kassidy Warre...

He started with one spare bedroom renting for $35 a night, and turned it into a $13 million short-term rental portfolio. In this episode I sit down with real estate investor Kassidy Warren to talk about how he actually did it, and what it cost him along the way. We get into the discipline it takes to build something that big, why so many of us let our business become a prison instead of the freedo...

Ben Hansen, known as The Profit Doctor, joins Mick Hawes for Part 2 of this conversation on The ToolShed Podcast, and it's a masterclass in why revenue doesn't guarantee profit. Ben explains why the biggest, most exciting projects are often the ones quietly bleeding a building business dry, and why the "sweet spot" jobs most builders overlook tend to be the real money makers. Connect with Ben Hans...

Ben Hansen, known worldwide as The Profit Doctor , joins Mick Hawes to unpack why so many residential builders and construction business owners are working harder than ever with nothing extra to show for it. Connect with Ben Hansen: Website: www.profitdoctor.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/benhansen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profitdoctorben/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benh...

In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, host Mick Hawes sits down with Cameron Fraser and Matthew Sablinskis, Directors of Limitless Build, a Melbourne-based residential building company specialising in extensions, renovations and outdoor living. Brother-in-laws who started the business together in 2012, Cam and Matt share the exact turning point where they went from plateauing to growing revenue...

Peter Coll has spent thirty years in the construction industry, from apprentice plumber to National Advisor for Building and Plumbing. But behind the career, he was fighting a private battle with addiction and mental health that nearly cost him everything. In this episode, Peter sits down with Mick Hawes to talk honestly about what men in construction rarely say out loud. He shares how his body ph...

Ahmed Mahil, founder and CEO of Luyten, joins The ToolShed Podcast to explain how 3D concrete printing is changing residential construction in Australia, and why it matters for the builders running the businesses behind it. If you're a residential builder or construction business owner curious about where the industry is heading, and whether this kind of technology has a place in your business, th...

This is Part 2 of my conversation with Anthony Tarquinio, director of Melbourne construction company Evve Group, currently operating at 8-figure annual revenue across residential and commercial projects. Anthony gets raw about his "Rocky year" in 2025, copping punch after punch, and what kept him grounded through it. He's honest that his business isn't where he thought it would be six years in, an...

Getting to $100 million is possible. The real question is, at what cost? In this episode, Mick sits down with Anthony Tarquinio, Civil Engineer and Director of Evve Group, an 8-figure construction company building multiple projects simultaneously across Melbourne. This is not the highlight reel version of a success story. Anthony opens up about what coaching actually feels like once the early exci...

What if the biggest thing holding your building business back isn't a lack of leads, staff, or systems? What if it's trying to do everything on your own? In Part 2 of this inspiring conversation, Mick Hawes sits down again with Andy Kearns, Director of Perway Construction Services and long-time Builders Business Blackbelt member, to dive deeper into the lessons that transformed both his business a...

What happens when a builder stops trying to do everything alone? In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, Andy Kearns shares how coaching transformed his residential building business. We discuss builder mindset, business coaching, construction leadership, builder burnout, personal development, and construction business growth. This is an honest conversation about why success in business isn't jus...

Could ATO debt be putting your business at risk without you even realising it? In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, I'm joined down with Registered Liquidator and Chartered Accountant Jarvis Archer to discuss the simple financial mistakes that often lead businesses into trouble. Learn how better visibility of your numbers, understanding director drawings, and managing ATO debt can help protect...

What if the biggest thing holding your building business back isn't a lack of staff, it's a lack of the right systems? In this episode, Mick Hawes sits down with Andrew Sirianni, Managing Director of Dcode Group, to talk about one of the most practical topics for any builder or tradie running a small team: how to use automation and custom software to get more done without growing your headcount. A...

Are your quotes costing you time, profit… or both? In Part 2 of EP 169 of The ToolShed Podcast, Mick Hawes sits down with Joey Hidalgo to unpack one of the biggest bottlenecks in a building business, estimating. Most builders don't struggle because they can't quote… They struggle because they don't have a system behind it. This episode explores how improving your estimating process can lead to bet...

In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, I sit down with Joey Hidalgo, founder of The Measuring Company, to unpack one of the biggest hidden challenges in the building industry, estimating. Most builders don't struggle because they lack work. They struggle because estimating becomes a bottleneck. Late nights, second-guessing numbers, and trying to stay competitive without truly understanding costs...

Are Bigger Jobs Actually Holding Your Building Business Back? Every builder wants the big project the prestige, the revenue, the recognition. But what if chasing bigger jobs is quietly costing you profit, time, and freedom? In Part 2 with Adrian Ramsay, we unpack why the smartest builders don't chase size ,they chase alignment. From choosing the right clients to creating a process that builds trus...

Are your biggest projects actually your least profitable? In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast (EP 168 Part 1) , I sit down with Adrian Ramsay , award-winning building designer and host of Dream Homes Revealed , to unpack the truth about profit, projects, and building a business that works. Adrian shares how smaller "learning projects" can often deliver better margins than large, ego-driven bui...

What if the biggest mistake investors make isn't the stock they pick… but how they think about the market? In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, Mick sits down with seasoned investor Terry Tran to unpack the misconceptions many Australian investors have about markets, valuations, and risk. With nearly 30 years of experience, Terry shares why protecting capital matters more than chasing returns,...

What if the real reason you feel overwhelmed in your business isn't discipline… But design? In Part 2 of this conversation on The ToolShed Podcast, I continue my discussion with ADHD strategist Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation. We dig deeper into the patterns that many business owners experience, burnout, last-minute pressure, and the constant feeling of being busy but not mov...

Most business owners think their biggest challenge is discipline. Work harder. Focus more. Push through. But what if the real issue isn't motivation at all? In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast, Mick Hawes sits down with ADHD strategist and academic Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation, to unpack how ADHD actually shows up in business. Many entrepreneurs struggle with time blin...

What happens when someone stops accepting "that's just how it is" and decides to fix it? In this episode of The ToolShed Podcast , Mick Hawes sits down with Kym O'Leary , founder of COgear Industrial Workwear and inventor of the HMZ tear-away hemming system. With nearly two decades of experience in mining and manufacturing, Kym saw firsthand how women in industrial and construction environments we...