Toolbox Talk

Sometimes conflicts arise and often the cause is a misunderstanding, having two different understandings of the situation. But I believe you can avoid conflicts if you have a proper communication system in place. Let me show what it is.

Remember last time I had a nasty experience with a tyre guy? They sent me an offer recently and I was tempted to do it. Their strategy is clever even though I feel bad about them. Let me show what they sent.

Let's run a quick website analysis of your trades business. If it isn't bringing enquiries or reassuring people that you are what they thought, then it's not doing its job. Here are some thoughts on what to do about it.

Today, I'll show you what I do when I don't use tradies. I tried to do some DIYs at home to make a quick fix on things that bother me a lot. Want to see my work?

Are you guilty of buying into urgent matters in your trades business all the time? Don't panic, I've got a hack to share with you in managing interruptions in the workplace.

This is episode 4 and today I'll talk about how well you do your sales process. Are you wasting your marketing money or not?

There is an internet meme going around about the definition of insanity. But I don't agree to it at all. So I tried digging more into it and here's what I found.

Everytime I run the Tools Down workshop, I always ask the attendees how they respond to a busy period or a difficult situation, and I got the same answer most of the time, 'just putting my head down and getting on with it.' It's funny because their wives start to nod too. They say, "He does that Jon. He does that all the time."  I know it's a...

Is a 'Quiet January' a common theme in your trades business? It doesn't have to be. Here's what you should do.

Have you ever heard of 'Vanity' marketing? I think that many people are guilty of doing it. I'm sure you haven’t heard about it yet because it's a term I just made up myself. And I like to call it ‘vanity’ because it's just a way of making people look good, having to spend all their money, time, and effort without getting any value from it. And it's sad to see that many people fall into this trap...

It's the time of the year - Christmas rush projects for trades business! You're probably busy and your business (and your customers) are in charge, not you.

I just had a bad experience with a tyre company last time so I want to emphasize the importance of integrity in your trades business.

Do you follow up your quotes properly? Research says, 80% of sales closed after 5 follow-ups. And so you need to have a good follow-up system for leads.

Value your time and make your customers value it too.  Check this out.

If you recall from the last journey I had, I was talking about moving into a new house and the experienced I had with the flea guy. This time it's the removalists. I engaged in a removal business in Byron Bay to move us from one house to another before when some unpleasant things happened in my life.  It was a positive experience I had with these guys. I'm moving houses again so I hired them...

I have a funny story again. My old client and a friend of mine runs a car mechanic workshop in Mona Vale. And he likes to give discounts to his customer (I'm sorry mate if you're reading this, you know who you are).  One time, we were sitting at his workshop and the customer came, ready to pick up the car, and pay for the labor and cost to fix it. My mate said, "Your car is ready, the bill is...

A story... I'm moving house and so I need a lot of tradies to help me with this transition. I feel quiet excited about it and I have been very busy packing our things but GUESS WHAT? S#!t things happen to me (I know no one's to be blamed but me) and I wish everyone knew what I've been through that day. So I decided to share my story with you of what it's been like for me to be a customer and see w...

Sick of being told you're too expensive? Get some certainty behind you and you'll feel better.

Get yourself an Upsell Question and Stop Leaving Money on the table.

Find Your Passion! You'll be successful if you do. Bullshit, I say.

Big Changes Scary - Small Ones Work too! I'll show you how.

If you submit your quote and your customer goes quiet, it's not much fun. You can't eliminate it completely but you can make it happen a whole lot less if you do two things...

Customer not happy with invoice? Your fault.

Here’s your four-point plan to be more gritty and to be more gritty and to be more successful in your business.

Ever hired on a handshake and regretted it later? Do this instead.