Toolbox Talk

Why would you? It’s a good question. Something's going on for you that makes you click. We all have our one-sentence/pitch. This is mine: You want to improve your business, grow it (a bit, at least) but grow it properly – which means profitably, without loads of stress and with a normal week and holidays for you. I’ll help you put systems and structures in place so you can do that. Net profit...

I interviewed myself for my friends at Your Small Business Coach late last year about what I do and how I help tradies and builders. Want to watch or listen to the interview? -------------------------------------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of these Tradies Toolbox Tips: https://www.smallfish.com.au/trades-business-coach...

How do you work less? Get more effective so you get through more work – sure(!) but that’s like a temporary fix, isn’t it? You’ll be out of capacity again in no time and there’s a limit to how efficient and effective you can be. This really only leaves hiring people or working less and letting bad things happen (whatever they are). So, if you want to work less, you’re probably talking about growin...

Reflect and Reload Being the final week of 2024 I felt it apt to release videos on reflecting on the year coming to a close and another on thinking of what you want for yourself in the year to come. I wrote these videos as Holiday Homework for my clients but I am putting them out there for everyone else to use as well. There's also a worksheet. Last week we were reflecting and this week we are pre...

Time to reflect and refresh over the break I hope you’re taking a break, even if it’s just a short one. I am, I’m staying at home and I’m not doing much at all except eat and drink. One thing I will do is think about how 2024 went for me and how I want 2025 to go. I’ve made my client a holiday homework to do exactly this because it’s Christmas (ahem, not really), and I’m making it available to you...

I just made a guide on where to advertise your jobs to attract the people who aren’t looking on SEEK. Want a copy? (Same with “I just made a video”) You can’t just ‘put the word out’ or chuck a basic ad on SEEK or Indeed and expect to get loads of good applicants for your jobs. You’ll have to work a bit harder -Watch the video -------------------------------------- If you’re interested in growing...

It’s Quieter BUT! There’s work to get but you have to work to get it. Are you doing ENOUGH work to keep your team busy? (Book a call and we’ll check) ---------------------------------------------------------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of these Tradies Toolbox Tips: https://www.smallfish.com.au/trades-business-coaching/...

This week’s Toolbox Tip is the ‘Circle of Coaching’. To be honest, it’s really the circle of any focused activity. Decide what to do Figure out how to do it Actually Do it Listen here on podcast to see how we do it in my coaching program. _________________________________________________ If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of the...

Do you want to know how to do business properly? That’s profitable, without too much stress and too much work and with people in their jobs doing a good job and liking it. You’re a tradie or a builder. You run a business. You’ve started growing and you have a team. Is this YOU? ----------------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some mor...

What’s the intensive and why should you come? It’s a workshop for my clients, most of them (those who can’t make it come via Zoom) to get together up in Byron Bay for 2 days (in November) to work on their businesses. I know that for a lot of you that can be quite difficult - to spend the time working ON your business rather than just IN it (yes a cliche bit it’s valid). This Intensive is a challen...

How to Collect on Bad Debt This isn't unheard of, especially in the trades industry. You do the work in good faith and submit your invoice, but the payment never comes... This week I’m detailing your options if a client refuses to pay. There are a couple of approaches you can take. Starting more gently and progressing to stronger tactics involving outscouring to lawyers, chasers or specialist...

The Price Trade-Off - what happens when someone is cheaper? There has always been tension around price in the trades industry, hasn't there? You're charging enough to cover costs and risks and make a profit - you're doing what's right and what you have to do to keep a business running and profitable. Otherwise, what would the point be? YET there's downward pressure everywhere,...

How you present yourself is important For a trade business or a building business, how you present tells your customer a lot about what to expect from you and your business in terms of the quality of the job you’re going to do, the level of care you’re going to take and how you and your team are going to conduct yourself when you’re on their site or in their business or their home. It tells them a...

There’s a narrative that is apparent in everything that tells us that our competitors are the enemy. You’re all out there competing for the limited business on offer – like seagulls fighting over some chips. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. That’s the story, isn’t it? It engenders a suspicious, jealous, play your cards close to your chest, kind of feeling. “Don’t tell people what you charge, they might c...

Your bookkeeping is important and if you’re doing them properly, they are a hugely valuable resource for understanding your business’s profitability. That’s important. Not just because it’s nice to see how much money you’re making, although it is… BUT also because of the danger of not knowing when you’re NOT making money like you’re supposed to be. Early warnings are good, they give you time to fi...

BJs for Builders - has Jon lost the plot or is there merit to the metaphor?  He obviously feels it is a useful metaphor and it does have merit and the added bonus is it's funny (well we think so).  It's a metaphor for Relationship Marketing.  Something you should all, as trades business owners be investing in.  Business to Business Marketing (as it is also called) is not the only way to ma...

I get my Marmite flown in from the UK... Who cares? You should because here I'm talking about the importance of specific language use, especially in marketing. Especially in YOUR marketing and in how you define your business and the services it provides. What do I mean by this? Well, by saying that ‘I get my Marmite flown in from the UK’, sounds better than ‘I bought it on eBay’, it's a mo...

What can you do to make yourself happier?  No, I’m not trying to become one of those happiness gurus or getting into spirituality.  I’m a coach so I mean this in the context of your business - how can you make yourself happier at work and as a result in other parts of your life as well?  This question was prompted by a recent trip to Bali where I glimpsed again and again how happy and smiley the B...

Research shows that businesses or business owners who have achieved success have commonly encountered similar challenges to those that we are facing. What was the key factor that led to their success? Check out the rest of this week’s Toolbox Tip in this episode.

Your tradie mindsets helped you be successful as a tradie and even to build your business up this far – but that won't help you take your business to the next level – you need business mindsets. Check out the rest of this week’s Toolbox Tip. ---------------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of these Tradies Toolbox Tips: h...

This week's Toolbox Tip podcast is Your Money Mindset.  You've got mindsets around money, are they helping you or holding you back? Check out the rest of this week’s Toolbox Tip. ----------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of these Tradies Toolbox Tips: https://www.smallfish.com.au/trades-business-coaching/ Book a mon...

Assess yourself - what's your mindset or pricing? Is it holding you back? And how can you shift this mindset to something more practical, more beneficial to both parties? A pricing mindset that covers all your business costs … Listen to this week’s Toolbox Tip. And if you want help changing this mindset, we can help you - book a chat with us to talk about it. --------------- If you’re interest...

Do you ever think about how your mindset affects your business? You could harbour s#!tty mindsets and attitudes without even realising it, and these are making it harder for you to grow your business and get the success you want. Having productive mindsets is a tool to better yourself and your business. These mindsets can be categorised into four different types. Two are psychologically based and...

Customer says 'Too Expensive' means something entirely different (Often) Listen here to find out why. --------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of these Tradies Toolbox Tips: https://www.smallfish.com.au/trades-business-coaching/ Book a money-maker call: https://www.smallfish.com.au/chat FOLLOW US AT: Facebook: https:...

How many hats are you wearing? Too many? Too many hats costs you and your business. “How many hats are you wearing? Too many? Too many costs you and your business.” By hats I mean all the different jobs you do in your business and I know, if you’re a trades business owner you’re doing too many. I often see it with my clients. They’re juggling too many things at once. The solution here is to hand o...